I am looking at booking for this summer. Any big advantage or issues to one place or the other? Thanks, Al

What do you want to hunt?

My first hunt was to Namibia; I have never hunted SA.

Others will tell you if you don't shoot a buff you are practically wasting your time. IMO, Namibia was all new to me: the people, the places, and the animals. And for the next few years I got to look at my huge kudu, the stunning gemsbok, the dainty springbok, the unique blesbok and red hartebeest, and the eye catching zebra skin while thinking about my first buffalo hunt.

Both have there on paticular traits to offer. There is a whole list of questions you need to answer about fences, property size etc. etc.
Check out some hunt reports on the 2 countrys. For example "Little Joes" RSA report he is putting out has some outstanding scenery in it.

As others have stated a great trip can be had at either destination. Look at when you want to go, what animals you want to hunt and if you want to do any sight seeing while in Africa and that will help narrow it down.

I have made 4 trips to South Africa to the same outfitter, have always had a top notch experience and don't plan on making any changes in the future.

Start with asking yourself if you are willing to hunt within a high fence. Many hunting areas in SA are fenced...not so many in Namibia.

bobgrow, We, my son and I, want to hunt kudu, zebra, impala, gemsbuck, wildebeast and warthog. We would certainly consider some changes to that, except zebra. My son really wants a zebra rug. Thanks, Al

acy284 you have a private message waiting.

Both countries offer very similar hunting.Especially if you are hunting The Northern Cape and NW Eastern Cape. Both have large hunting farms and conservancies set up for for photography and/or hunting.
The big differance is that SA generally has a bigger variety of game on offer.
Do your homework not all Apples are the same.
Many of the Zebras in Namibia are Hartmanns and tricky for US Import ( I may be wrong)

All your listed animals can be found easily at both locations.

PM SENT

SA does have large low fence areas available.
good luck in your choice and the best of luck I hope you have an enjoyable future trip

I had absolutly zero problems bringing my Hartmanns zebra into the states.
They have plenty of both species where I went in Nam. & I took 1 of each.
Just hunt with a reputable outfitter & the paper work should be no problem.
I'd go to Nam. as it is hunter friendly at the airport, only 1 pg. for the gun permit, took about 15 min. to clear everything.
I compare it to going to Texas, it's just that easy & no bribes to pay.

quote:

I had absolutly zero problems bringing my Hartmanns zebra into the states.
They have plenty of both species where I went in Nam. & I took 1 of each.

Good to know thanx. You dont have to pay any bribes in SA either or hassle with firearms if your paperwork is pre -approved by a reputable outfitter. Both destinations are great.

NAMIBIA !

http://www.kapstadt.de/schindlers-africa

quote:

Originally posted by acy284:
bobgrow, We, my son and I, want to hunt kudu, zebra, impala, gemsbuck, wildebeast and warthog. We would certainly consider some changes to that, except zebra. My son really wants a zebra rug. Thanks, Al

PM sent

I wanted to hunt Nyala and Bushbuck. I've got a thing for the spiral horns So for me it was South Africa.

Just a greenhorn with only three planes games safaris (two to RSA and one to Namibia), but still I think I would say Namibia.

If you find time, take a look at my report from Namibia.
I can highly recommend Johann and Vera Veldsmann. www.shona-adventures.com
This is a open range property with no fences, and is dangerous game country as well, which add a little spice to the whole experience

http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2231037451

Although there is some variance, you can generally hunt more for less in Namibia. That's not to say there are not some excellent opportunities in S.A. which give you a lot for your money. Namibia generally puts less less red tape in your way and is more friendly toward hunters. Some South African game farms are pretty small and are clearly put-and-take operations. Likewise, there may be a few of those in Namibia, but most Namibian game farms are large and the game is truly wild, most likely having been native born and never having seen the insides of a stock trailer or holding pen.

PM sent

Namibia is very often quite a bit cheaper than RSA, Namibia is Safer than RSA (try renting a car and driving around RSA and see how that feels), and Namibia has a LOT of unfenced hunting (RSA, not so much). Unless one is looking to hunt species that are not really available in Namibia (Nyala for example) I would choose Namibia every day of the week and twice on Sunday. I would contact Greg Brownlee at Jeff Neal Inc. and hunt with Westfalen Safaris in Sept. or Oct for best results.

http://www.westfalenhuntnamibia.com/gallery.html

acy,

PM sent.


Mad Dog

I had a great plainsgame hunt in Namibia; our PH told us that the minimum sizes/scores for most game animals were larger than in RSA. He said many of the animals we saw in Namibia could be shot in RSA but not legally so in Namibia...so...better quality of game...

I had a wonderful time in Namibia and plan on returning this year. I've shifted views a little on the whole fence issue. Originally it was the selling point for me in picking Namibia over RSA. However, some areas of Namibia are in fact high fenced and I was skunked on the one animal I wanted that we had to hunt on a friend's high fence concession. Guess what I'm saying is if the area is large enough and the brush thick enough that fence is irrelevant. I'm sure there are situations where the fence is a big deal to fair chase. Just my thoughts and everyone has to make of their own mind. Just check out the outfit before you sign up and you should be fine. This is certainly the forum to find out the good, bad, and ugly among hunting outfits.

Don

Al,

I've hunted both South Africa and Namibia for the last 17 years. Both countries are in effect, "Africa light," which is to say a mix of the first and the third worlds with much in the way of modern infrastructure and services.

The "real" Africa is Zambia, Tanzania, Congo and the like where you are in the wild, do not hunt on fenced, however large, game farms and will not find a six-pack at a nearby grocery shop if not in the refrigerator at the lodge or farmhouse where you are sleeping.

Both countries provide a fascinating hunting experience. South Africa is generally more expensive and has more game that is relatively more available. It can be complicated and sometimes risky for novices to try to move around alone. Last year I drove from Joburg to Natal down the under repair N2 highway and got "stopped" in a traffic ripoff by two policemen who tried to impose a "spot fine." I talked my way out of it, arguing that a tourist should get off with a warning. Going into downtown Joburg can be even more risky without a knowledgeable escort. That is nowhere the case, generally, in Namibia.

Namibia is both huge and empty. With two million people (roughtly 5% the number in South Africa) you feel the space. Both countries require long travels to get to some of the sites there, either to hunt or for tourism. South Africa has the historic centers of Zulu-British-Afrikaaner and British-Afrikaaner conflict, and an infrastructure of serious monuments and buildings from the Union Buildings of Sir Herbert Baker (who also did the government buildings in New Delhi) to the town of Stellenbosch in the Cape and the charm of Cape Town itself. Windhoek and Swakopmund are also charming but more recent and on a smaller scale.

All-in-all I'd argue for Namibia as your first plains game experience in Africa. Yes, you can hunt buffalo and elephant there in the Caprivi strip, but try plains game first.

Regards and welcome to the Board,
Tim

quote:

Originally posted by acy284:
bobgrow, We, my son and I, want to hunt kudu, zebra, impala, gemsbuck, wildebeast and warthog. We would certainly consider some changes to that, except zebra. My son really wants a zebra rug. Thanks, Al

With the list you have I would hunt Namibia with Kalahari Hunting Safaries. They will put together a package for those animals at a very reasonable cost. I have hunted both places and Tanzania and much prefer Namibia and the Kalahari. I am taking my 4th trip to Namibia in August, my 7th Safari and will probably only go to Namibia from now on. If you would like to know more PM me............Tom

I tell people to hunt South Africa first, mainly because it as as Tim said, "Africa light," and it has game animals that occur naturally nowhere else as well as all of the important antelopes found in Namibia.

When you hunt Africa again, which you will, try Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana or Tanzania and you can taste the "real" Africa.

Do it the other way around, and South Africa (even Namibia) will seem mighty tame.

Bill Quimby

I've hunted Namibia 2X now, RSA not. No particular reason. Namibia was great both times. I would like to hunt the Eastern Cape, tho'.

quote:

Originally posted by billrquimby:
I tell people to hunt South Africa first, mainly because it as as Tim said, "Africa light," and it has game animals that occur naturally nowhere else as well as all of the important antelopes found in Namibia.

When you hunt Africa again, which you will, try Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana or Tanzania and you can taste the "real" Africa.

Do it the other way around, and South Africa (even Namibia) will seem mighty tame.

Bill Quimby

+1

Read the two hunt reports at the bottom of my post. I enjoyed Namibia but Zambia felt like the 'real deal". You can get that same feel in Zim I am told for much less as well.

I'm returning to Zambia this year. I'm not returning to Namibia. Again both were fun but I prefer to feel like I'm walking in the middle of Africa and not a cattle ranch with adequate game to chase.

Just a different experience.

I would head to eZulu game reserve in South Africa, it is an incredible place and you will hunt a huge variety of animals. 80000 hectares. Very comfortable for wife and kids as well.