It looks like my wife and I will soon be booking our first trip to RSA (in the Eastern Cape/Karoo). Tentatively we are planning to go in 2019. My question is related to timing in the year....

We would like to go as early in the year as possible. When would you guys advise going? Is March/April too early? What is the weather like at that time of year? I know the Kudu rut is usually later....but are there any other factors we should be considering?

My wife does not hunt, but will do a combination of activities including shopping, sight-seeing, and tagging along with me on a few hunts.

Target species will be:

Black Wildebeest
Blesbok
Blue Wildebeest
Bushbuck
Kudu
Grey Duiker
Impala
Mt. Reedbuck
Hartebeest
Springbok
Steenbok
Warthog
*possibly Nyala

Talk to your outfitter about the Kudu rut in the area you'll be hunting. Late April to the end of May would be the time frame I'd be looking to book if you want to catch the rut.

Wade, that's pretty early...vegetation will still be lush, and rains are quite possible. It might be OK in open areas, but when I hunted the Eastern Cape, it was hilly and thick...might hurt game visibility.

This is Eastern Cape in early May..quite green, but between my wife and I we took 20+ animals on a 10 day hunt. I've been on 5/6 different Ranches there and animals are plentiful. You shouldn't have a hard time with your desired animals.

Do you have an outfitter in mind? I would highly recommend Ezulu/Swartkei Safaris... Ezulu

ps...the earlier you go the more ticks there will be...not a huge deal if you prepare properly, unfortunately I didn't and more than half of our hunting party came down with African Tick-bite fever a few days after returning home. A good dose of antibiotics cleared it up, but not before suffering through some extremely sweaty nights.

Wade,
Kudu rut is generally May and early June. The great thing about the Cape is the weather is usually pretty nice from May on...

I have hunted with Russell Lovemore of Safaris International but there are a number of good outfitters there. Blauwkrantz being one of the best as well. Check the Hunt Reports and visit outfitters in Dallas at DSC. You will connect with the right outfit for you and the missus.

I hunted the cape the first two weeks of July and it was perfect in regards to hunting. Light jacket weather. Not ideal temp for your wife to lounge by a pool but perfect hunting weather.

Thanks for all the responses so far guys.

I have been doing quite a bit of research...and I plan on booking with Victor Watson of Karoo Wild Safaris. He posts here from time to time.

I would suggest moving Nyala from *possible to a *must have animal. I took a look at his website and his prices are very reasonable.

Victor and Lindsay Watson at Karoo Wild Safaris showed my wife and I a great hunt the second week of last June. In seven days hunting, I took a nyala, warthog, kudu, gemsbok, and black wildebeest. Muffed an easy shot on an impala, and could have taken other species if I'd wanted them. My wife only hunted half the days; the other days Lindsay took her seeing various sites.

Eastern Cape is an incredible place with huge variation in biomes and wildlife. I hope you'll set time aside to take in some scenery, maybe visit the coast, and Addo Elephant park.

As for price list, except for baboon and jackal, the prices look good.

I hunted the Eastern Cape twice and took springbok, gray duiker, steenbok, bushbuck, nyalla, vervet monkey, and Egyptian geese. I passed on a 55inch kudu, I already had one.

As for timing, March and April are warmer, I was there in May and the weather was good, cooler.

I'll look forward to reading your report.

I also recommend Swartkei Safaris, Ive hunted with and booked hunts for Phillip and Charles and there are no better PHs in Africa. I knew his whole family and no finer people can be found..

Vegitation can be heavy but that depends on where you hunt, Some of that country is high mountain range, some is lower veld and more like Texas hill country.

As to timing, in RSA, its not near as critical as in other countries and success is pretty much guaranteed whenever and wherever you go...In the higher elevations it can snow, but it can do that in Texas!! and being from Idaho a little snow bothers me not, and they rain Ive hunted in there wasn't that bad. Figure the season there is just about the opposite as it is in the USA..

Bottom line is if you have a good Safari company you will do well.