I'm not going to Africa this year so plenty of time to sit and plan for next year for what will be my 4th hunt in Africa. I've gone through what I think is a fairly typical progression for an African hunter even though my previous 3 hunts have all been plains game. Namibia on a very large unfenced area, Zim on an approx 100k fenced area, and Zim again on the Save with a well known operator there. The Save was my favorite experience.

I'm asking myself what is the next step. Logically it would be for DG somewhere, but that is not the purpose of this post. So for sake of the post let's say that the next hunt will be buf and a small PG bag.

For this hunt the two areas on the table are the Save or Omay. I think the chances for hunting success are very good in both areas. What I want to understand is the difference of the African experience between these two areas. I know what the Save is like so how does it compare to the Omay. In Africa you want to feel as isolated as possible, or at least I do. I can't swing two weeks in the Selous to get that ultimate experience and wondering if the Omay will provide that "next step" or would I be just as well served back in the Save.

If anyone has opinions on these areas and the "African experience" they provide I'd appreciate it.

Wyatt,

I love the Save and have had many happy clients there but if isolation is your priority the Omay should provide that in spades.

Mark

I have hunted the Omay south area several times. It is communal land so you will see a lot of little villages and a lot of natives. There are large areas with out either though. Good buff populations in some areas, Lots of elephants during some times of the year but few leopards or lions. You will see a lot more plains game in the Save.

465H&H

I have hunted Omay South and in the SAVE.

I shot plains game cape buff, and elephants, in both.

In the Omay you will get to go and see some remote villages, and a lot of natives as 465has stated.

There are decent buff in the Omay, and some good plains game, and the cw elephant hunting is great. I also shot a 55 lb bull elephant there.

There is a lot more plains game in the SAVE, and more different species.

Cape buff in the SAVE are quite a bit bigger, both in bodysize and in horn size.

The cow elephants are a bit more agressive too.

I have not been to the Save but I can confirm what the others are saying re: the Omay. I also wanted the "totally remote" experience but was surprised at the number of people in the area. Some parts were isolated but any travel from one part to the other will invariably bring you into contact with the locals. There was not an abundance of plains game when I was there (2011).
JCHB