Some years ago I started dreaming about my first hunt in Africa and began reading here, but any firm planning was delayed by a number of issues ( caring for my parents, career change, many more ). Nonetheless, I had been painstakingly saving towards a trip.

My family responsibilities are over now, and I suddenly came upon a bit of unexpected income....so the dream is on track to being realized ! I am in a position to take a plainsgame hunt in 2009.

Much of the information I once had saved has been lost in a previous HDD disaster, and that which remained is dated. I realize that situations and operations in different countries and with various PH's may have changed ( in a few conversations /emails with same I have found that to be exactly the case) , so am looking for new insight. Frankly, the more research I do on my own the more excited/confused I get. I've got a few ideas, but am interested in seeing how many ( if any ) of the suggestions "jive" with those.

Here is my criteria, and any thoughts/suggestions from the members would be greatly appreciated.

AREA: Not set on any country, but am not interested in taking 200 yard shots at game...I like the heavy cover and getting close....and live in an urban area where I can't practice shots at those distances. I had been thinking of the Limpopo area, but am open to other suggestions ( perhaps a specific region in another country)?

GAME: Not species specific other than Kudu and Zebra. Gemsbok, wildebeest, eland are of some interest.

ACCOMODATIONS: I don't need fancy comforts, and would gladly stay in a tented camp and eat spam sandwiches if it didn't require costly charters to reach. The idea of having my skivvies laundered daily appeals to me, though

BUDGET: I'll have about $13K to devote to air travel and direct 1X1 hunting costs, with extra set aside for gear, etc. No taxidermy anticipated other than a pedestal mount for the kudu.

I'm looking forward to a real, well-rounded hunting experience, rather than just taking trophies, and am interested in a PH that is capable and willing to spend time teaching me about the flora and fauna of the area.

Oh, and no shooting off of bakkies or from water-hole blinds, either.

Thanks for you patience. Any thoughts appreciated, and PMs welcomed.

Bob

Congrats on making your dreams come to reality. You will get a lot of suggestions but one thing I would advise you to consider is a tracking hunt with the Bushmen in Botswana for eland and kudu. I seriously considered such a hunt myself set up by Wendell Reich. The price should be within your budget.

I agree with Yukon Delta on hunting Botswana with the Bushmen. I think it's the best game farm hunting experince you can have but I'm bias. Bob, I'll send you more info in a PM.

Peter Durkin
Afrcian Excursions

Bob,

Glad to see you are ready to make a commitment on a safari. The first one is always the most exciting.

If you do not want to shoot at long range that pretty much eliminates a safari desination in the Kalahari region which takes in most of the Namibian and Botswana plains game hunts as well as western/central RSA and the Cape region.

The Limpopo region of RSA, the lowvweld of Zimbabwe and upland areas of Mozambique in most cases will provide the closest shooting. They also have some excellent plains game hunts.

The Limpopo is good hunting but quite developed with fairly small fenced properties. We do work with an operator having 30,000 acres on the home ranch there and a beautiful lodge. He also has frontage right on the Limpopo river. All the species you mentioned are available in good numbers there. They offer several very attractive packages making the hunt fit your budget.

In the lowveld of Zimbabwe the hunting is very good also and the properties unfenced. We work with a couple of great operators there. This hunt will give you a look at a "Classic" safari without the high cost. You will hunt plains game in the same habitat as you will find elephant, buffalo, 2 types of rhino and both big cats all the while living in a very comfy permanent camp. All the animals you want are there except the gemsbok which is not indigenous to Zimbabwe's lowveld.

The area I'm think of in Mozambique is very wild and completely unfenced. The camp is a traditional tented affair but of course with en suite bath. This area is called Coutada 9 and you will hunt about 100,000 acres of 1,000,000 acres of sparsely inhabited country. This is the best plains game hunting I have every expereinced outside of fenced and stocked RSA game farm. You might have to change your want list a litte as the available game is different there. The kudu are excellent and even on a 7 day hunt you should get 54"-55", eland very good along with big bushbiuck, the best warthog I've ever seen, lots of hartbeest and baboon with good numbers of oribi, reedbuck, duiker(2 kinds). Sable are plentiful but require a 10 day booking at a higher rate.

This area is wild as can be and has buffalo, elephant, lion etc.

To sum up the areas the Limpopo I think maybe a litte to tame for you but has all the game you want. Actually the gemsbok are not indigenous to the Limpopo either. The Zim hunt and more so the Mozambique hunt offers a real hunt. You will do lots of walking and these guys frown on shooting from the vehicle. This is not the standard plains game Land Cruiser safari. You will really hunt on either of these safaris.

These hunts are a little more expensive than the aveage wack um 'n stack 'em Namibia or RSA hunt but it would seem you are not looking that.

If any of this sounds interesting let me know and I'll provide more details and full pricing.

Mark

Bob,

Your game list and budget looks tailor made for Namibia, with no need to go behind game fencing except for a wildebeest (I think), if that matters to you. A lot of Namibia is open, but heavy cover and close shots can be found. Lots of really good operators there offering everything from luxury chalets to tents pulled out of the back of a truck at the end of the day and just about everything in between. I'm sure some of those operatotrs or their agents will soon be in contact with you.

I like to put in a plug for Claude Thorburn when this question comes up. I had a really fun hunt with him a couple of years ago. The last part of the hunt was tracking eland in thornbush on the Waterburg Plateau. I don't think you could find a spot there clear enough for a 75 yd shot unless you were standing on a trail.

To help narrow down your options, there are many reports you'd find helpful in the Hunting Reports-Africa section here. The Hunting Report might interrest you as well. In the March issue, a short article on an operation in northern Namibia that offers hunting from mobile camps on a huge conservancy really caught my eye.

Enjoy planning your hunt and keep notes, you'll want to go back.

Dean

I would bet you would enjoy a package hunt with one of my guys in Namibia. I can email you info concerning them just send me your email address if you are interested.

Go to Namibia, forget SA. Prices are usually cheaper in Namibia and there is no hassle going thru the airport.
My Son and I hunted SA and Namibia in 2005. We were not impressed with SA. To many high fences and tame.
We hunted east of Windhoek with a local PH. He also owned the company. One man operation. He has a degree from the local Agriculture College so is very familiar with local flora/fauna. We had 118 square miles of low fence areas to hunt in. We never had a shot over 100 yds. As I remember we shot 10 animals, 4 of which went in Rowland Ward. Kudu, Red Hartebeast, Springbok and Duiker. We also shot Warthog, Jackal, Steenbuck, Baboon and birds. The birds, Jackal and Baboon were free. The PH supplied the shotgun and ammo for the birds. We stayed in a farm Bed and Breakfast and a tent.
We had an excellent hunt and will return if the guy is still in business. His name is Hentie Van Heerden, Van Heerden Safaris in Windhoek. I'd sure check him out before I booked a hunt.
Good luck.

I hunted Namibia in '05, with a one man operation (actually his wife guides as well). More like visiting a Texas or Oklahoma rancher and staying with the family as a houseguest than a safari client. Plenty of game, shots usually less than 100 yds; most of the area if it was further away than that, you'd never see it.

My costs with that operator would fit your budget, including taxidermy and shipping. It was 13,500 back then.

Thanks for the replies, folks. Been getting lots of ideas via PM as well.

Lots of good "food for thought" keep 'em coming!