Where to go for a "big" safari

21 January 2014, 23:02

I am planning my first safari and doing all the requisite research, reading, and talking to friends who have experience. It seems that most people go for one to two weeks, and hunt one or two DG and the rest plains game. If you were to go old school and go for 21-28 days and try to get all the DG but rhino AND the various desirable PG ie Kudu, Sable, etc. where would you go?

21 January 2014, 23:20

Biebs

Mark, what's your budget? Tanzania has many interesting species, including Gerenuk, Thompson"s and Grant's Gazells, Hippo, Croc, Buff, and Elephant. If you don't require the oddities of the expensive antelope species, I'd probably do Zimbabwe...better Elephant and much less expensive. Mozambique would also be great, but Elephant is non-exportable to the USA from there. You could also do back-to-back safaris, which I like to do, and do maybe a good Elephant hunt, followed by a hunt in another area for game not available, or in better numbers, in another concession.

Welcome to AR! Others will chime in, I'm sure, including outfitters.

21 January 2014, 23:27

Markschu

I was leaning toward Zim, but I've always heard such wonderful things about Selous, I am willing to pay the Tanzania premium if you experts feel its worth it.

21 January 2014, 23:37

fujotupu

quote:
Originally posted by Markschu:
I was leaning toward Zim, but I've always heard such wonderful things about Selous, I am willing to pay the Tanzania premium if you experts feel its worth it.

If you have the time, take a look at a 28 day split hunt which involves both the Selous and a Masailand concession.

By taking this option you will have the possibility of taking both southern and northern species in one outing; unique to TZ and nowhere else in Africa would you experience a similar situation.
Run a check on the listed species available and if you will be at the convention, pay the TZ outfitters (the reputable ones) a visit.

Be forewarned that charter costs are not a joke.

21 January 2014, 23:38

Navaluk

Well I've hunted both Zim and Tanz. There is no question I believe, that if you have the coin and the willingness then Tanzania is the better Safari. Also, if you do go to Tanzania you really ought to hunt and see Maasailand, not only for the unique species, but for the absolutely unique terrain. The Selous in all it's glory looks like Niassa or most places in Zambia and Zimbawe not to mention other places. Yet Maasailand does not. It's absolutely different just like the rainforest is absolutely different.

If you just want a cost effective high body count and a complete checklist, look at South Africa or the former farm/ranch country of Zim.

It all depends on what you factor in as important.

21 January 2014, 23:46

Markschu

Thank you for your replies. I do have an outfitter that has camps in both Selous and Masailand. It's not cheap, but at least now I know my savings goal. I am planning for next year. Thanks again.

22 January 2014, 01:31

butchloc

if you are planning on next year,think strongly about booking now in order to lock in the best time slot

22 January 2014, 02:11

Markschu

quote:
Originally posted by butchloc:
if you are planning on next year,think strongly about booking now in order to lock in the best time slot

next year = 2015

22 January 2014, 02:27

BrettAKSCI

Who's the outfitter?

Brett

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22 January 2014, 02:36

JTEX

quote:
If you have the time, take a look at a 28 day split hunt which involves both the Selous and a Masailand concession.

Damn I wish I had a rich Uncle.....or a rich anything for that matter....

.

22 January 2014, 02:41

AnotherAZWriter

I have hunted Masailand and the Selous, as well as Kigosi. I prefer the latter two. I know a lot of people love Masailand, but too many people for me.

22 January 2014, 03:42

Adamsdjr

If Elephant is important your chances of getting one are very slim in the Selous. Also, Lion is going to be difficult as well. My son and I hunted the Selous this past summer for 21 days and had a wonderful safari, leopard, buff, croc, hippo and a bunch of plains game. It was a great experience with the buff and leopard hunting simply great and I will do it again. This year we both want to get a bull ele so we will be hunting Zim with CMS for 24 days. Lion is also on our list and I think our chances with CMS are much better for lion than in the Selous.

22 January 2014, 04:08

Safari2

quote:
Originally posted by Adamsdjr:
If Elephant is important your chances of getting one are very slim in the Selous. Also, Lion is going to be difficult as well. My son and I hunted the Selous this past summer for 21 days and had a wonderful safari, leopard, buff, croc, hippo and a bunch of plains game. It was a great experience with the buff and leopard hunting simply great and I will do it again. This year we both want to get a bull ele so we will be hunting Zim with CMS for 24 days. Lion is also on our list and I think our chances with CMS are much better for lion than in the Selous.

I understand the elephant situation but would have thought lion might be better in Selous. Was it a lack of lions or just finding one 6 yrs + the issue?

Thanks

22 January 2014, 04:26

bwana cecil

quote:
Damn I wish I had a rich Uncle.....

Had one, didn't leave me a nickel.
In all honesty, I never expected or wanted him to.

22 January 2014, 04:36

Adamsdjr

quote:
Originally posted by Safari2:
quote:
Originally posted by Adamsdjr:
If Elephant is important your chances of getting one are very slim in the Selous. Also, Lion is going to be difficult as well. My son and I hunted the Selous this past summer for 21 days and had a wonderful safari, leopard, buff, croc, hippo and a bunch of plains game. It was a great experience with the buff and leopard hunting simply great and I will do it again. This year we both want to get a bull ele so we will be hunting Zim with CMS for 24 days. Lion is also on our list and I think our chances with CMS are much better for lion than in the Selous.

I understand the elephant situation but would have thought lion might be better in Selous. Was it a lack of lions or just finding one 6 yrs + the issue?

Thanks

I think it is a combination of both. We did see lions a couple of times and saw a few additional tracks. We did not concentrate on Lion as the PH thought it would be a long shot and since this was our first time in the Selous we were fine with that given everything else it has to offer. I had read that certain Selous blocks are better than others for lion so if Lion is a high priority I would make sure that you hunt a "good lion block". I think Saeed has come to the same conclusion regarding Lion a Ele in the Selous.

22 January 2014, 05:42

Markschu

quote:
Originally posted by BrettAKSCI:
Who's the outfitter?

Brett

Pierre Von Tonder

22 January 2014, 05:43

Markschu

quote:
Originally posted by JTEX:
quote:
If you have the time, take a look at a 28 day split hunt which involves both the Selous and a Masailand concession.

Me too.

Damn I wish I had a rich Uncle.....or a rich anything for that matter....

.

22 January 2014, 07:22

fujotupu

quote:
I understand the elephant situation but would have thought lion might be better in Selous. Was it a lack of lions or just finding one 6 yrs + the issue?

The split hunt South/North (in that order) offers a second chance on both Elephant and Lion in the event these lucked out in the Selous.
I wouldn't hold out much for Elephant in the SGR as they have and still are taking a hammering.

There are quite a few northern concessions that produce some very respectable Elephant and convincing Lion that meet the required criteria.

Don't quote me but I heard murmurings on the sidewalk that someone banged a 90 pounder this last season, though I have yet to verify the story.

22 January 2014, 08:07

Saeed

For a no expenses spared safari, what fujotupu has suggested is the only way to go.

28 split between the Selous and Masailand cannot be equaled.

I have hunted both areas, and both are great.

22 January 2014, 08:27

lavaca

Agree with what Fujo and Saeed have said. If expense was no object, I'd do a split safari in Tanzania, but I might try masailand and substitute western Tanzania for the Selous. The Selous is great, but for cats, I think western Tanzania is incredible.

I hunted last October with Michel Mantheakis in Lukwati, western Tanzania, and the cat potential is uncompared. I'm going back in 2015. He has a concession in Natron that I want to hunt with my wife in 2016.

Unfortunately, I can't be away from the office for over a month or I'd split those two areas.

22 January 2014, 08:52

crbutler

Well, if its unlimited money-

I would do 28 days in Tanzania, split between Selous and Masailand and then jaunt north to Ethiopia and do the Mt Nyala and the desert species there. If you really want a Lion, the western Tanz blocks are good for that also.

That would probably more or less replicate the old time big Kenya hunts with substituting Mountain Nyala for Mountain Bongo.

Of course you'd need about 60 days and about a half million bucks...

More seriously, I would suggest that you pick someone who has both Masailand and Selous concessions, pick the one that interests you the most, start there and then when you have gotten all that you want there, move to the other concession.

You probably won't get everything you want but you will get most of it...

Its my understanding that Elephant in Masailand are pretty good, but they are tough tags to get. Selous, there are some problems due to poaching.

22 January 2014, 09:05

Canuck32

If you can go for the 28 day split between Selous and Massailand that is the way to go. I did a 21 day in Selous first safari and then did the 28 day safari and those extra 7 days really allow you more options. The pics of the Elephant and Lesser Kudu in my sig line are from the 28 Day trip with Pierre.

And if you get done what your after early you could always take a trip to the Serengeti or head on over to Zanzibar.

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22 January 2014, 17:09

Safari2

Between the elephant carcasses to feed on and the protection of the 6 year rule..one would think the lion popualtion would be booming in the SGR??

22 January 2014, 17:21

Rockdoc

For a Tanz hunt, what would be the cost without the charters? Not far from Dar to Selous and also the Masai.

Having flown around a bit there the plane costs do add up!

Cheers, Chris

22 January 2014, 17:34

retreever

The Selous has been magical for me.

Mike

22 January 2014, 17:57

fujotupu

quote:
Originally posted by Safari2:
Between the elephant carcasses to feed on and the protection of the 6 year rule..one would think the lion popualtion would be booming in the SGR??

With all the choice game available old Leo has a far more delicate palate than to dine on elephant meat - you would do quite well on Hyena though.

22 January 2014, 18:52

jkhunter

Great Elephant , I see that was 2006,

I spent some time in the Selous in last 3 years never saw a Bull I would pull the Trigger on,

But did shoot 2 in Masaai land first 68lb second 80lb

I agree with every one that Masaai land must be part of the Safari especially if you have the days, but I would rather hunt western Tanzania than the Selous

reg

JK

22 January 2014, 22:18

MARK H. YOUNG

To me a combo of the Kilombero area, Rungwa and Natron would make a Hell of a 24-28 day safari as they would cover basically all the species available in Tanzania. With careful selection of specific areas trophy quality should be excellent also. My understand from on the ground folks is that elephant are in big trouble throughout Tanzania. I also think a guy has to be prepared to go home without a lion also but if he kills one it could be a dandy.

If a guy can live without the unique Masailand species he can do an awful lot in Zim on a 21-28 day safari. Elephant should not be a problem and the right areas can produce a monster lion, big leopard, good buffalo, croc, hippo and all the Zim PG at a far lower price than Tanzania.

Personally I think even a long safari should target either elephant or lion as the main species and be split into two good safaris.

Mark

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22 January 2014, 22:30

Frostbit

quote:
Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Personally I think even a long safari should target either elephant or lion as the main species and be split into two good safaris .

Mark

Good advice to think about. 21 or 28 days in the same location will feel far different in "perceived length of time" than two hunts of the same total duration split between two areas.

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22 January 2014, 22:41

safari-lawyer

The greatest diversity and perhaps the greatest overall safari experience likely lies in Tanzania. It will also carry the greatest cost.

That said, if you really want a lion and an elephant (which are going to be two of your tough animals in TZ), you could spend a bit less and do a hunt in Zimbabwe.

As a caveat, I've not been to TZ yet. I have had great success hunting the Big Four in Zim. My ele came on day 2 of 21 and my lion on day 7 of 21. 4-4 on leopards spread over ten sits in blinds and a brace of buffalo as well.

If money was not an object, however, I likely would have been hunting in TZ for the reasons stated in the prior responses.

My $.02.

22 January 2014, 23:09

ledvm

Ele in the Selous with the RAMPANT poaching going on there may be iffy. Not a great lion destination anymore either.

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22 January 2014, 23:11

ledvm

quote:
Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
My understand from on the ground folks is that elephant are in big trouble throughout Tanzania.

Unfortunately...correct.

22 January 2014, 23:24

Bwanamich

If you head to TZ , Replace the selous with a rungwa or western area - moyowosi, Ugalla , lukwati and select a good maasailand area - there are only few good ones left!

23 January 2014, 01:35

MARK H. YOUNG

The Selous at its best is a great general bag safari area and the fact that it is a huge wilderness area is it's main draw in my opinion. Having said that the only unique species available there is the Nyasa wildebeest. Everything else can be found elsewhere.

Mark

23 January 2014, 08:55

505ED

I will put a wrinkle in it...how about 24 days in Cameroon. Split between the forest and savanna. Forest elephant,forest hog,bongo,duikers...lord derby,roan,waterbuck, buffalo,and heartebeest. It would be cheaper than Tanzania,and one hell of an adventure.

Ed

23 January 2014, 09:28

lavaca

505:
It would be an adventure and I've always wanted to hunt West Africa.

That said, I suspect I'll spend the rest of my life going back to Tanzania.

23 January 2014, 10:20

ozhunter

quote:
Originally posted by fujotupu:
quote:
Originally posted by Markschu:
I was leaning toward Zim, but I've always heard such wonderful things about Selous, I am willing to pay the Tanzania premium if you experts feel its worth it.

If you have the time, take a look at a 28 day split hunt which involves both the Selous and a Masailand concession.

By taking this option you will have the possibility of taking both southern and northern species in one outing; unique to TZ and nowhere else in Africa would you experience a similar situation.
Run a check on the listed species available and if you will be at the convention, pay the TZ outfitters (the reputable ones) a visit.

Be forewarned that charter costs are not a joke.

+1 on Tanz multiple area Safari.

23 January 2014, 10:23

M 98

OH
sent you a PM a few days ago , but have had no reply
Daniel

23 January 2014, 10:37

Manyathelo

Matetsi block 1 and 3 in NW Zimbabwe another very good option, not quite TZ but 28 days there you have an outstanding chance at a great Lion and Elephant, and good buffalo and Leopard, with almost the entire spectrum of Southern African plains game, plus a visit to Vic Falls and no charters are a plus

HHK and Hunters & Guides have the concessions, both well known and long standing outfitters