Folks,

Another current thread has gotten me thinking. With a bit of sniffing around, you can find wild, self-sustaining dg hunting in SA that is as good as anything found elsewhere. That brings up a question for me. If real SA dg hunting can be as good as anywhere, why is it so bloody expensive? I understand the supply part of the equation in this case, but not the demand side. I mean if it is only as good as anywhere else, why does anyone bother to hunt dg in SA? Aside from rhino, which is a whole different conversation, all the other dg is available elsewhere for significantly less.

Dean

Dean...I thought th esame thing reading the SA lion post. My first question was simply, why? You have to look long and hard to find those hunts, hope they are the real deal, and then pay 2-3 times more. I just don't understand why you would go through that when you can book a hunt in Zim, MOZ, etc. much cheaper, know it is wild, etc.

I am not knocking it as I support all hunters, I just don't totally understand it...

Quality gentlemen, quality! And yes, they are wild.

I hunted Mthimkulu in 2009, saw roughly 30 buffalo bulls over 40", and killed a 45" bull, on a 10-day hunt. I've never seen that in Zim.

The lions in Timbavati for example, rarely see lions like that in Zim either.

Lastly, a select guy or two are still allowed to kill some of the BIG elephants. 60-80 pounders are shot!

Makes sense Aaron...but isn't the quality as good in Tanz or Zambia? on lions anyway? Maybe it isn't any cheaper in those higher priced locales either...quality does demand the price!

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
saw roughly 30 buffalo bulls over 40", and killed a 45" bull, on a 10-day hunt.

Lastly, a select guy or two are still allowed to kill some of the BIG elephants. 60-80 pounders are shot!

Those buff are a good reason to go to SA. You'd be hard pressed to see that anywhere. I suppose that hunt would be about the same price as a Masiland buff hunt.

You do see ele that size come from a few places, all out of my price bracket unfortunately.

Dean

quote:

Originally posted by Tim Herald:
Makes sense Aaron...but isn't the quality as good in Tanz or Zambia? on lions anyway? Maybe it isn't any cheaper in those higher priced locales either...quality does demand the price!

Certainly can be! Last I saw on a Timbavati Lion, it was over $150,000. Which is more than most any hunts in TZ or ZA.

I still would prefer hunting TZ or ZA, but certainly some places along the park do produce some great trophies.

Are not all the Buffalo in RSA free of all dieseas free. They have been raised in relative capativity much like the "canned lion". I think this is true of all DG in RSA with the exception of Leopard.

I will be hunting Cape Buffalo in SA near Kruger this September. I have two main reasons for selecting this location. I have some health issues. If the only places to hunt in Africa were the "wilds" like Zim or Moz, I probably could never hunt Africa. I hunted plains game in SA in 2009 and am going with the same PH this year. I know him well enough that I am willing to trust him with my life.

Hugh

quote:

Originally posted by Die Ou Jagter:
Are not all the Buffalo in RSA free of all dieseas free. They have been raised in relative capativity much like the "canned lion". I think this is true of all DG in RSA with the exception of Leopard.

DOJ - No, not the case at all. ALL of the buffalo/elephant in and around the KNP/GREATER Kruger are as wild as wild gets. Same with the LION!

It's less stressful for many folks to hunt SA and in some cases it's either hunt SA or nowhere due to physical limitations of one kind or another.

I enjoy hunting elsewhere, but it's hard to beat SA for a relaxing trip now and again - no matter the prices. As I age, I expect that the "now and again" will occur more frequently.

In 2005, I had a SA PH quote me forty grand for a buffalo after I did my first hunt on his ranch. Out of the question. I was quite green and thought all buff hunts cost that much until I asked around. Did my first buff hunt in the Selous the next year for a quarter of that. No, it wasn't a 45 incher, but it was one of the best weeks I have ever spent, anywhere. Ever.

Spent some time with Louis Stoffberg of Zingeli Safaris while he was in Salt Lake for the Western Hunting Expo. Real gentleman and has a nice family run business. Had some very good hunts and prices in both RSA and Moz. The trophy fee for buff in SA is quite high, but his daily rates are lower than Zim or Tanzania and averages are quite close overall.

Here is a little trailer for one of his Moz buffalo.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?...DmLfDCG2Ldoo&h=84d98

Gentleman and the few ladies on here....

DG in South Africa are plenty full and a good, fair chase hunting experience can be had in many areas.

All the provincial nature reserves put out tenders for Buffalo, elephant and the occasional rhino every year.

These parks are ussualy bigger than 50,000 acres.

We do buffalo hunts in some of these parks from about $15,000.00 ALL IN (in S.A.) So if you count ALL the extra cost of your $8,000.00 buff hunt in a cheaper destintation (oh, and remember the small cost of the flight from Jo-burg to wherever) you will be surprised to find out that you do not stop tooo far from $15,000k.

We do problem Elephants since last year in these parks as well. Last year 1 this year 3. Yes they are not big tuskers, and young problem animals, but for $10,000.00 it is a real elephant hunt for some one that cannot afford more.....AND you get to keep the trophy...!!!!

Trophy quality dictates price, and as rightly pointed out, a 44" Timbavati Buff in boss size AND body size is hard to beat ANY where in Africa....even if it comes at $23k

Free ranging Lions I cannot speak about, they are few and far in between.

The Manyeleti hunt that we tendered for last year had 1 Elephant (70lbs class), 1 WRhino, 2 Buffalo (unrestricted), 1 Lion (male) and 1 LEopard on it. The bird whistled that this 30 day hunt was sold for $225,000.00 ALL in.....Now thats not bad all things considering..

We hunt the Buffalo just like we have hunted them in Zim and in Mozambique. Not as hard as mozambique maybe, but you can spend days in the thick stuff looking, tracking, waiting, and then finaly getting a shot in. Then of course the follow up and finishing off.....all on foot, with no truck nearby.

And of course S.A. is a safe destination. It will never be Tanzania or even Zim, but it surely can be a great DG destination with top trophy quality for the right person.

quote:

Originally posted by Die Ou Jagter:
Are not all the Buffalo in RSA free of all dieseas free. They have been raised in relative capativity much like the "canned lion". I think this is true of all DG in RSA with the exception of Leopard.

Not true by a long shot. All buffalo, in parks or private land inside the redline area are disease carrying Buffalo just like anywhere else in Africa.

There are of course a lot of disease free Buffalo projects outside of this area, but these bulls are rarely hunted and they are VERY expensive when hunted. Nearly all of them will cost over $25,000.00 to hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by Die Ou Jagter:
Are not all the Buffalo in RSA free of all dieseas free. They have been raised in relative capativity much like the "canned lion". I think this is true of all DG in RSA with the exception of Leopard.

Also , please dont use the phrase "raised"
We dont feed our animals anything over here. We dont have food plots or anything like that. Our animals are self sustaining. You make it sound like they get fed in a pen in released into the wild to be shot.

Charl

Thank you sir for explaining to the guys that south africa are not that bad for hunting.Im siting on a ranch near hoedspruit thats goin to cost me over 2 mil us if i wanna buy it we as south african guys do alot for hunting and it pi.,/;. me of to see on this forums how bad we south african ph and outfitters are yes there are guys thats crooks and i will name them buy names and companies one of the old ooa owners is in my town trying to canive everyone but guys there are really good ph and outfitters here Charl andrew steve(maybe a pommie) aubrey 375 and a really few others i dont know yet and yes guys i have 12 kudu bulls over 57 inches on my ranch only 1500 acres open invitation come and hunt them on foot without ph and if you shoot one on the first day its free now guys going about high fence thats a challenge take me on on that please.

Luan

P.s i will keep my mouth shut now.

quote:

i have 12 kudu bulls over 57 inches on my ranch only 1500 acres open invitation come and hunt them on foot without ph and if you shoot one on the first day its free

A great offer

I recently booked an RSA hunt which will include buffalo. The primary reason for booking with an RSA outfitter was that my wife and 12 year old son would be accompanying me. I feel that they will enjoy this location more than other countries as it has more non-hunting activities in and around camp. I also feel that it is likely more safe than some other countries.
As far as the price, it was higher than most Zimbabwe and Mozambigue hunts at first glance. After the addition airfare for three people, higher daily rates for hunter and observers, transfers and additional license fees the price was quite similiar.
If I go back again without my family I will more likely than not look at another country to hunt but I believe I made the best decision for my family.

quote:

I also feel that it is likely more safe than some other countries

Ummmmm.I have my Ele booked for next year in Bots when I will be 69.... a friend in RSA will arrange a "cheap" dart hunt for Rhino when I am 70 and I will have my seven.....so when I am 75 and in a wheel chair I can still hunt a better Buff and Lion just by winning the lotery?

Great Charl,

It is great to see that us South Africans are proud and are not ashamed of what we have achieved.

South Africa is a wonderful destination and has a vast pallet to offer.

Proudly South African

Personally, I just love Africa...period! But RSA has a special place in my mind and heart. It's people I've grown to call friend are outstanding souls. I enjoy every journey there, well, maybe not the flight over and the diverse terrain makes it special. I've taken many game animals and birds in RSA and loved every moment. Although I have many great trophies, I've never entered any in the record books, but maybe I'll get around to that someday, more for my PH's than myself. Seeing those mounts on the wall and the memories is my trophy. And it's not all the slam dunk some think RSA is. I've hunted Vaalies in two mountain ranges and have yet to take one. It took me 9 days, twice to collect two Cape Kudu, and this includes trips where I didn't get one. I have hunted with Charl van Rooyen and Chris Troskie in northern Provinces and neither time did I shoot a Southern Greater Kudu. It was true hard core hunting in every sense of the word. I've hunted with numerous other PH's and failed to connect on all game on my wish list. Each country has it's own mystique, it's own particular terrain and game...I love it all and RSA will always be a consideration when I'm returning to Africa.
Cheers,
David

I love Africa somewhat. I also truly despise Africa somewhat. It ain't all hunting concessions and gift shops and I've seen entirely too much of some of the truly nasty parts of Africa to say I love it. It is intriguing. That's as far as I'll go.

But when that SA PH quoted me forty thousand dollars for a buffalo hunt, that turned me off to hunting SA. There are a lot of good operators in RSA and I know a few, but that guy thought he had a sucker on his hands. Left a permanently bad taste in my mouth and I went elsewhere for my buff hunts. No regrets.

It is always YOUR choice where to hunt and who to hunt with. Do a little price/package shopping and go with what best suits you. It's what I have done twice now.

Happy as can be...

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by maki:
Folks,

Another current thread has gotten me thinking. With a bit of sniffing around, you can find wild, self-sustaining dg hunting in SA that is as good as anything found elsewhere. That brings up a question for me. If real SA dg hunting can be as good as anywhere, why is it so bloody expensive? I understand the supply part of the equation in this case, but not the demand side. I mean if it is only as good as anywhere else, why does anyone bother to hunt dg in SA? Aside from rhino, which is a whole different conversation, all the other dg is available elsewhere for significantly less.

Dean

All African hunting is not created equal I'm afraid.