If you guys were wanting to try and take the biggest kudu bull you could find in SA or Namibia, preferably in Namibia and not behind a small fenced place in SA, who would you recommend to go with? I'm willing to put in the time necessary, and would love to throw in a mtn zebra as well. Thanks for the input.

In 2011 we hunted one of the Namibian conservancies. No fences at all and some big kudu available. The conservancy was just outside of Etosha and there was a lot of game including mountain zebra. PM me if you want more details.

Botswana on Clive Eatons place, Tholo Safaris. My goodness, I didn't know there were concentrations of huge Kudu like that anywhere in the world. In a good day, You will look over a dozen "shooter bulls" anywhere else. In a bad day, you may only see half a dozen big Kudu bulls

It's a huge statement to make saying "XYZ Safaris has the best Kudu hunting in Africa!" But you may be hard pressed to find a better Kudu hunt. Plus he has the most incredible Bushman trackers. Loads of Eland and a host of other plainsgame.

It's my favorite plainsgame hunt, hands down, mainly because of the Kudu, Eland and Bushman trackers.

quote:

Originally posted by Wendell Reich:
Botswana on Clive Eatons place, Tholo Safaris. My goodness, I didn't know there were concentrations of huge Kudu like that anywhere in the world. In a good day, You will look over a dozen "shooter bulls" anywhere else. In a bad day, you may only see half a dozen big Kudu bulls

Does not have Mountain Zebra otherwise I would suggest Munyamadzi in Luangwa late season. Biggest Kudu I have ever seen reside here.

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Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by Wendell Reich:
Botswana on Clive Eatons place, Tholo Safaris. My goodness, I didn't know there were concentrations of huge Kudu like that anywhere in the world. In a good day, You will look over a dozen "shooter bulls" anywhere else. In a bad day, you may only see half a dozen big Kudu bulls

Does not have Mountain Zebra otherwise I would suggest Munyamadzi in Luangwa late season. Biggest Kudu I have ever seen reside here.

You are right. I have video of some huge Kudu Bulls from Munyamadzi. Even one we hunted that I think was 56". It's actually a great video and an incredible shot. I need to edit it and get it out.

Wendell, just looked at Tholo website. Looks like you will pay out the wazooo for road transfers, airport pickup, etc? There was also no price on the kudu plains game package that I could see. Looks like a nice place though.

Looking for large private ranches or a huge Conservancy, these guys can fill your wish list.

http://omujevehuntingsafaris.com/

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Originally posted by JGRaider:
Wendell, just looked at Tholo website. Looks like you will pay out the wazooo for road transfers, airport pickup, etc? There was also no price on the kudu plains game package that I could see. Looks like a nice place though.

Sorry, maybe that isn't very clear on the road transfers. $600 is round trip per vehicle. $300 each way. You are not charged for those two days either, so, it's not out of line with some others. People do like to see this for free, but they are paying for it one way or another.

$425/day for a 1x1 with Kudu at $1200, that's tough to beat when you are talking about Kudu and PG of this quality. In fact, it's pretty competitive with most areas that can't compare to here.

He does one package only. A 7-day 2x1 Kudu, Gemsbuck, Eland and Blue Wildebeest for each hunter for $5900.

quote:

Originally posted by Wendell Reich:

quote:

Originally posted by JGRaider:
Wendell, just looked at Tholo website. Looks like you will pay out the wazooo for road transfers, airport pickup, etc? There was also no price on the kudu plains game package that I could see. Looks like a nice place though.

Sorry, maybe that isn't very clear on the road transfers. $600 is round trip per vehicle. $300 each way. You are not charged for those two days either, so, it's not out of line with some others. People do like to see this for free, but they are paying for it one way or another.

$425/day for a 1x1 with Kudu at $1200, that's tough to beat when you are talking about Kudu and PG of this quality. In fact, it's pretty competitive with most areas that can't compare to here.

He does one package only. A 7-day 2x1 Kudu, Gemsbuck, Eland and Blue Wildebeest for each hunter for $5900.

That is a smoking hunt deal. You know, the problem with PG being like having sex with your sister after hunting DG might have something to do not going after trophy animals.

I have shot the big four and plenty of buffalo, but going after a specific species of plains game like a big kudu is a fun hunt.

Be aware that Namibia had a rabies epidemic that killed a lot of kudu. Not sure what exact areas got hammered, but when I hunted in northern Namibia I didn't see anything bigger than 52. But then again, I was after leopard and a big gemsbok, so I wasn't too concerned.

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That is a smoking hunt deal. You know, the problem with PG being like having sex with your sister after hunting DG might have something to do not going after trophy animals.

Um ... whut?

I think I know what you meant, but not what you mean ... if you get what I mean.

So if you're 1x1, you just pay the day rate and trophy fees I guess? Sounds like a great hunt if you can stomach an extra $600 for transfers.

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Originally posted by JGRaider:
So if you're 1x1, you just pay the day rate and trophy fees I guess? Sounds like a great hunt if you can stomach an extra $600 for transfers.

Correct.

So you book for them I take it? Is there any way he'd make me a deal on that 2x1 package, but I'm solo? Or book me with another hunter? 1x1 for same animals is $8000, or close to it, + transfers

quote:

Originally posted by Wendell Reich:

quote:

That is a smoking hunt deal. You know, the problem with PG being like having sex with your sister after hunting DG might have something to do not going after trophy animals.

Um ... whut?

I think I know what you meant, but not what you mean ... if you get what I mean.

Well Wendell, most guys who have shot a buff or some other DG find everything else boring/unexciting/practically taboo.

Not me. But that doesn't mean I want to have sex with sister. Does that help?

JG: the $600 is nothing in the scheme of things. You could get it free but be charged for a hunting day.

If you are not bound to Namibia/ RSA, consider Coutada 9 in Moz...huge, free range kudu. No Mtn. zebras, but many of the zebra there have little or no shadow stripes. And...warthogs with tusks like the handlebars on a Harley-Davidson! Real wild Africa, all the way.

In Namibia Van Heerden Safaris would be a good bet, having large conservancies to hunt from with both the animals you speak of.

From what I hear an excellent PH with a wonderful reputation.

Hope this helps

Westfallenhof (website) in Namibia had tons of kudu when I hunted there. They also had mountain zebra everywhere.

I have never seen so many shooter kudu.

quote:

Be aware that Namibia had a rabies epidemic that killed a lot of kudu. Not sure what exact areas got hammered, but when I hunted in northern Namibia I didn't see anything bigger than 52. But then again, I was after leopard and a big gemsbok, so I wasn't too concerned.

I talked to several Namibian outfits at DSC and all of them mentioned the Kudu Rabies outbreak and cautioned not to expect really big bulls. They ranged from 2 hours SE of Windhoek to 4 hours N.

If you are willing to pay to hunt the best concessions the biggest Kudu are in SA.
We also hunt a few Namibian concessions but their Kudu are not what they used to be pre-Rabies etc.

If you want to go after the biggest of anything and are willing to put in the time then Hilton has probably the best record of any PH I know in closing the deal on really to class game. He has a lot of his clients with their names in the top of both books.
Cheers
Ian

quote:

Originally posted by Hunting the Box H:
If you are willing to pay to hunt the best concessions the biggest Kudu are in SA.
We also hunt a few Namibian concessions but their Kudu are not what they used to be pre-Rabies etc.

If you want to go after the biggest of anything and are willing to put in the time then Hilton has probably the best record of any PH I know in closing the deal on really to class game. He has a lot of his clients with their names in the top of both books.
Cheers
Ian

Thanks for the reply. What are the best concesions, and who is Hilton?

For free range is is hard to beat the Deka area in Zim. In 2012 I shot one that was 58 3/4" and very heavy. It was fighting with another one that was just as big. Also saw several that were over 56" My friend shot one of those.

quote:

Originally posted by Hunting the Box H:
If you are willing to pay to hunt the best concessions the biggest Kudu are in SA.
We also hunt a few Namibian concessions but their Kudu are not what they used to be pre-Rabies etc.

If you want to go after the biggest of anything and are willing to put in the time then Hilton has probably the best record of any PH I know in closing the deal on really to class game. He has a lot of his clients with their names in the top of both books.
Cheers
Ian

In RSA you usually see the eastern cape kudu. They are nice but not near the biggest out there. Check Rowland and ward record book for the locations of the biggest.

I agree with Wendell that Botswana ranches have some big ones. I saw a lot of nice bulls in Namibia as well.

I hunted Wabi in may last year and it must have been just when the epidemic broke out (at least at Wabi) because everyone was so surprised to hear it. Still, We saw many fine bulls and I took a 54.5" bull that I am eagerly waiting for. Sadly, I also had to put down another very old bull, clearly in the late stages of rabies. He was just standing there, drooling and swaying back and forth. We walked up to him and shot him and he did not even notice us. He had a broken horn but the one he had was quite long.

I am sure there are many great places in Namibia but Wabi should probably go on your list as well.

Here is another point to consider: kudu bulls in Namibia tend to have tighter curls and wider spreads. The tight curl means a 56 inch bull has taller horns that one that might measure considerably more but with deep wide curls.

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
Here is another point to consider: kudu bulls in Namibia tend to have tighter curls and wider spreads. The tight curl means a 56 inch bull has taller horns that one that might measure considerably more but with deep wide curls.

I would agree with that and I would add that mature kudu in Namibia tend have two full curls while the kudu from SA tend to have less than two full curls.

To my eye the horns of SA bulls with their tips still pointing in do not look as "ballanced" as the horns on Namibian kudu.

One of my friends hunts some low fenced cattle ranches in northern South Africa right n the Botswana border...saw some really fine bulls when I was their 3 years ago...my wife took a fine 51 3/4 in bull we saw 4 bigger. He hunts high fence too..PM me if your interested.

Ed

African Twilight Safaris has what you want.

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:

quote:

Originally posted by Hunting the Box H:
If you are willing to pay to hunt the best concessions the biggest Kudu are in SA.
We also hunt a few Namibian concessions but their Kudu are not what they used to be pre-Rabies etc.

If you want to go after the biggest of anything and are willing to put in the time then Hilton has probably the best record of any PH I know in closing the deal on really to class game. He has a lot of his clients with their names in the top of both books.
Cheers
Ian

In RSA you usually see the eastern cape kudu. They are nice but not near the biggest out there. Check Rowland and ward record book for the locations of the biggest.

I agree with Wendell that Botswana ranches have some big ones. I saw a lot of nice bulls in Namibia as well.

Not entirely true , East Cape Kudu are from the Eastern cape, the SE parts of SA .

SA has Southern Greater Kudu in Natal, and the Northern provinces of SA.
Try Garry Kelly Safaris
Chris Troskie Safaris
Ian / Hylton - Hunting the Box

P.S. A friend just took a 56" Free range East Cape Kudu off of one of my open hunting areas.

Hi guys

IF\F you want a chance at a really good kudu bull i think the best area are lydenburg ohrigstad burgersfort give me a call if you are interested.

Luan

Coutada 9 has exceptional kudu, every year a 60 incher is taken. Biggest group of bulls I've counted there is 23 in one group. No mountain zebra but a sub species of the burchell's called Crayshawi. Has no shadow stripes at all. This area is massive, over a million acres unfenced. Very good for many other kinds of plainsgame.

I LOVE Namibia, but if I were going for Kudu specifically, I would give them another few years to recover.