Where would members feel is the best S.A. area or ranch that most encompasses the free roaming wild African wilderness spirit? Where are wild lions still likely to be passing through etc??

There are lots of them of very large size with breeding populations of game. Probably very few with freely roaming, breeding lions.

There is a place in or around the Timbavati which is not advertised. The prices are sky high and a couple of years ago a free ranging Lion tag was $120,000.

Otherwise these places are few and far between However there are very substantial fenced properties that can offer you the Out Of Africa experiences, and in style.

If you want Tsetse fly and to hear the grunt of a bush Lion then you need to look north of the Limpopo.

You can look on the internet for "Ekland safaris" They are near the Northern border with Zim. 18 000ha (+- 40 000acres)
They have all of the Big-5 roaming free. Super exclusive lodge as well as Safari tents as accommodation.
The owner is Yawan Kayali from Spain.

Hunting on land considered to be "Greater Kruger", in other words private land which borders the Kruger National Park and have no fences between them and the Park, ought to be good for that wild feeling. Several outfitters have access to those properties.

fritz when did ekland have free walking lions?

You can contact umbabat, it's a place not too far from timbavati.

Thanks, some interesting responses.
Matt

I realy think they are doing themselves a dis= service by calling them "ranches". They are large,well managed concesions of land that hold the fisrt timers picture of Africa.Large almost endless herds dotted with the neccecary buggers. Where you hunt will dictate what you can hunt. Dont leave out their northen neighbors as they offer some of the best big 6 hunting still left.

I was wondering about the lion issue per this thread in SA as well due to a recent article in the DSC's Game Trails, Fall 2011 by Larry Weishuhn titled "Stalking the King of Beasts (and Kudu Too)"

In this article, he is hunting with Frikkie du Toit and on a property owned by Thandeka Safaris where Mr. Weishuhn claims the lions are "wild lions that have been relocated to this property, are free ranging, kill their own food, and Are as Wild as Any Lion in Tanzania!".

Anyone else read this article? Comments?

Never read the article, Comments- I am sure you will get a few.

Frikkie Dutoit, did not send send 25k worth of trophys to a taxidermist for shipment back to the US. They never got any animals back from RSA

These were trophys that my 2 brothers,dad and friend shot in 1999.

I had heard he was out of business. It looks as if Larry didnt do his homework.

A friend of mine guided Weishuhn on a West Texas mule deer hunt out here about 10-12 years ago. Let's just say I wouldn't put a lot of stock in some of what Weishuhn says, or writes for that matter.

quote:

Originally posted by donner:
fritz when did ekland have free walking lions?

They have the Lions in a huge area where they hunt for them self and live like a normal pride. I did the "anti-poaching" on Ekland for almost two years and I can tell you that it gets hairy when you patrol in that area and walk into a pride. They do not like it for some reason.

In the same area of the Lions there are Rhino and Hippo as well and also most of the normal plains game and Leopard. Still there are poachers that will take a chance to get their hands on a Rhino.

been to ekland 12 times and have been in the lion place several times!know the ph and father well!we have our camp 30 min from ekland!have been chased by the hippo in the dam also!