Well Nuts.

I just spent the better part of an hour crafting this amazing post about me wanting to hunt Africa and damned if I didn't delete it.

I'm such a noob.

Nutz.

So because I'm lazy and I don't want to go into the details yet again:

I want to do an African Safari. Plains Game. I could be talked into Cape Buffalo if it made sense financially.

I'm thinking either 2009 or 2010.

Budget: $20k (?). (Just an arbitrary number that I pulled from the air. It's tight but a doable number for '09. Definitely doable for '10)

What I don't know:

1. Where to go? Zim vs. Namibia vs. Zam vs. ??? I'll be the first to say that I truly don't know the hunting differences between any of the countries.

2. My wife will be joining me - not as a hunter but strictly as an observer. How does this affect anything?

3. Preferred game animals, in Order: Sable, Scimitar Horned Oryx, Kudu, Eland, Warthog. Second "tier" animals I'd take if the opportunity presented: Zebra. (I could be talked into Cape Buff if it made sense...but then I'd need a new rifle which would change the overall costs of the hunt...)

4. How much to estimate for the following cost items:

Airfare
In-country Travel
General Safari Costs
Food/Lodging
License Fees
Taxidermy
Trophy shipping fees
Trophy import fees
Tips (required?)
Any other fees?


Any other thoughts? I haven't seen a comprehensive thread on general safari costs so this post is really a shot in the dark.

Your help is much appreciated.


(PS: as to rifles, etc. I'd take my .350 Rem Mag as my first choice for non-DG...)

You will have to take the Scimitar out, and you might want to remove the Sable too. It will make this much less painful. It can be done though ...

Buffalo is typically not a second tier item, it is usually the prime focus, or not on the list at all. (Unless you are hutning Lion or Elephant, then it can be a second tier animal.)

Your hunt can be done for $20k without the Buffalo but with the Sable.

Sable is very expensive, almost as much as Buffalo, when you factor in the day rates etc.

First step, determine if you are on a Sable hunt or a Buffalo hunt, then choose a path from there.

Sable and plainsgame can be done in Zim or in SA. Who knows what the situation will be like in Zim in '09. I am a bit optomistic, but also, realistic. There are also some Zambian game ranches that do hunts for these animals.

Your budget is not unrealistic, you just need to determine your goal.

To learn about your hunt, plan on attending the most accessible Safari Club International show near to you. In your case, I'd suggest attending the Reno Show in January. There you will have the greatest wealth of information available anywhere, and you can sit down and talk with scores of Professionals and their managers. Look into what you can and cannot hunt, what you can and cannot afford too. I'd suggest the following menu:

Kudu
Gemsbok (Oryx)
Waterbuck
Wildebeest
Zebra
Nyala
Bushbuck
Eland
Red Hartbeest
Springbok
Impala
Blesbok

All are affordable and available in South Africa and Namibia, which will probably be the most practical locations for your plains game hunt. Dangerous game is expensive, as are the more rare species like the Sable, and the huge Giraffe. A Rhino or Lion will cost your entire budget.

Be sure you get to Africa, it is worth it.

LLS

You're in the same position as I was 10 months ago, maybe 8 months ago. The first thing I can tell you is that this site is a wealth of information, 99% good IMHO. Budget wise, from my research, you're well covered for a PG hunt in most places up to maybe 14 days. To talk buff and some PG, you might want to budget another $5k. That's what I'm planning for '09. Buff is my primary target, with PG secondary or targets of opportunity. I think I can realistically get my hunt done for $20k, but I also fully understand that this may very well be my only trip to Africa, and not because that's the way I want it. That's the reason I changed from a PG hunt to buff/pg. I've always wanted to hunt buff, so I better get it done while I can. I'm also budgeting the extra $5k for the same reasons. I'm gonna be more capable at this point than I may ever be again, or at least for several years. So I'm do all I can right now. The extra 5k is for those targets of opportunity, whatever they may be. If we wonder upon a true trophy class animal that I want with a 2k trophy fee, I'm not gonna have to sweat it, so I'm that little extra into my budget. I may actually bumped that number up another 5k if business is good in '08 like it has been in '07.

Bottom line is do all you can, while you can. Don't skimp on anything, if you can afford it. Having the little woman along is going to cut into your actual hunting budget a little, but not terribly and I think it'll definitely be worth it for the both of you.

Good luck,

David Walker

Well said David, and I have to agree with Wendell as well.

You need to figure out what you want to first. Then look at what countries offer those type of hunts. Then to pick an Outfitter that will do the job for you.

Good news is this......

On this forum, you have at least 10 Outfitters and PH's , and as many booking agents, that covers all of Sub-Saharan Africa. They are part of a hunting community on the net, and most of them, if not all, has had AR members hunting with them. They also risked being burned on an international stage if they do not deliver what they promise.

Contact these people, get prices from all of them, follow up on the references, and PHONE the people on your shortlist(I would suggest 5) You will be surprised of how much you can make your mind up, by just talking to another person over the phone. It should "clinch" it for you.....

All of this can be done for FREE, without buying a magazine, going to a hunting/outdoor show, or anything like that.........

You must take your wife with....they end up being very satisfied with a great holiday.....IMHO it would be best to stick to Namibia or South Africa if you take your wife along......the other places is a bit rough, and can be dangerous.......South Africa for one are mostly malaria free, and politicaly stable, so are Namibia.

Feel free to contact me for any info or advise...

In good hunting,

Charl van Rooyen
Professional Hunter
www.infinito-safaris.com

Sent you a PM.

like wendell said, sable is very expensive. 2009 rates in zambia for instance is a 5000 fee. buff are 2000, so buffalo is actually much cheaper than is a sable. airfare is going to be in the 2200 range, incountry costs are quite low depending on souvenirs you buy (there will be lots) except mozm. there are no license fees, just trophy fees, and with them you can regulate the cost of your hunt. taxidermy isn't cheap, but comes a couple years latter. in general the tip is up to you but as a guidline I generally use one days rate. talk to wendell or mark young or ray or some of the outfitters/agents here and you will learn much. taking a wife along in my case is a necessity. she loves it as much as i do and i wouldn't think of leaving her behind.

I would suggest that you cross Buffalo off your list. Wait until you really want to hunt Buffalo and then book a hunt which will have it as your prime focus. Buffalo is too expensive and too intense to be talked into. Instead book a plainsgame hunt with a good variety of game and add a few days for you and your Wife to sightsee. Vic Falls, Livingstone Island and the Chobe , Capetown and the Wine country of SA, Sun City, the Okavango Delta, the list is endless. Unless you really want a Buffalo, all it will give you is some bragging rights, instead go for a great hunt an an exotic second honeymoon. Neither of you will regret it.

TerryR

Once you get a South African or Namibian trip under your belt, keep in mind that you may become hooked for life. Funny how your priorties can change after a week or two in the thorn up in Limpopo or out the bush in the East Cape.

If you get the bug, and you likely will, buffalo is the logical second step. Good luck.

If your total budget for EVERYTHING is $20,000. I would find a ten to 14 day plains game hunt in the 8-12,000 range and then you will have enough to cover airfare, unplanned trophy fees, taxidermy, shipping, sight seeing, tips, photo and hunting equipment, extras etc... If you book a $20,000 hunt you may be surprised at what you have actually spent by the time you are enjoying your trophies on the wall.

Hello All,

Much thanks to everyone who have responded to this thread and especially the PM's. I will get back to each PM individually over the next week or so - vacation is limiting internet access a bit...

I know for sure I will have plenty of additonal questions. I didn't know that Sable fell into the same "top Hunt" category as Cape Buff. For some reason I'd always thought they were a secondary animal...

It's only very recently that Cape have really hit my radar - I've wanted a Sable from the first time I saw one. Recently though the idea of a Buff Hunt is more and more attractive.

IMO, I could simply roll the dice be happy either way. The Buff hunt is likely a story I'd tell forever while the Sable is something I'd just plain love to stare at for hours. I can't lose either way.

As to the general cost savings of a Sable vs. a Buff - well, that's a wash as I'd need to buy a true DG rifle...

Some fresh questions:

(Assumption: Let's assume Namibia is the land of the hunt. Assumption #2: this will be a Plains Game hunt.)

1. I don't know animal habitats. So I don't know if a Buff hunt excludes other species hunts. Same goes for Sable as well. The question is: if one hunts Sable (or Buff) what other critters are there to fill in?

(Please don't think this is too silly a question. I'm from SoCal - if one chooses to hunt Chukar birds, then that's ALL one gets to hunt. Quail & Chukar don't tend to congregate together. Also note, game animals out here are very thin and far between out here...)

2. What would be a typical "package hunt"? I'd imagine this would vary a little by PH or Outfitter and by Country. Still, if one were hunting Plains Game (as I intend to for my first African Hunt) there would likely be a standard combo of 5 - 8 animals that might be huntable in a given area.

3. My wife for a second Honeymoon - Great way to present it! I love it! I wish I'd thought of it sooner before I suggested a "vacation-Safari"...

4. Jet, I'm not too concerned about "getting the Africa Bug". I'm more concerned that I've already got it and that there is no vaccine! That's the main reason why I could put off a Buff Hunt for a year or two longer - I already intend to come back...

Honestly, while I haven't done much big game hunting here in the States, the game out here just seems, well, domestic. I sat in a deer blind this year in Texas, watching all sorts of 8-10 pointers walk by thinking "which trophy would I rather have mounted: a 10-point + deer head or a Sable?"

There was absolutely no question to the answer. The African game holds a place in my heart I just didn't know existed.

TH, love the pix!

If it's your first trip plan on a plains game hunt in either RSA or Namibia. You'll save money for your taxidermy fee and you'll get a feel for the next trip which might include a buffalo and sable. Besides you can use your deer/elk rifle for plains game animals, saving you money for that NEXT hunt!

If you go once, you'll go again even if you have to eat macaroni and cheese for a year or two. IMHO

My advice would be to purchase a “package†hunt in South Africa. And then start checking off the animals in the “also available listâ€.

If you decide you would really like to hunt buff you might contact some of the outfitters on here for an end of season hunt.There may be several animals left on quota that you could get a deal on.If it would be possible for you to leave on short notice this may be an option.

Good luck

Fred

Remember South Africa is all strictly high fence hunting . Although the concessions are usually quite large and you may or may not notice them. That being said SA is a great starter country for your safari and there are some fantastic deals out there just look in your Safari Times newspaper. Don't plan on shooting a Buff in SA because in that country they are way too expensive and you can get a much better deal and a much better Bull in Zimbabwe. I took my entire family there last year (2 hunters # nonhunters) and everyone had a fantastic 2 weeks, it was also very succesful with two Buffs and 1 Leopard taken on the lastnight. Whatever you do just go and bring your wife and any kids you have it is a true experience, that they will talk about forever. You can pick out a special country later after you get the bug out and go for the good stuff like Buffalo.

quote:

Some fresh questions:

(Assumption: Let's assume Namibia is the land of the hunt. Assumption #2: this will be a Plains Game hunt.)

1. I don't know animal habitats. So I don't know if a Buff hunt excludes other species hunts. Same goes for Sable as well. The question is: if one hunts Sable (or Buff) what other critters are there to fill in?

Get a copy of a book showing the distribution of animals by species. This will save you a lot of dead ends. For example, forget oryx in Zimbabwe; and forget Buffalo in Namibia...yes there are some in the Caprivi but they are all sold out for this year and probably will be for next. If you don't know where to start, we have an excellent book called "Hunting Africa" by Swan, Botes et al (South African Authors) that is a must read, it's available for purchase on our website.

Generally, where you find Buff you also find Sable. They both need grass and plenty of water. You find them together in much of Mozambique, and also in Zim. Forget Sable in RSA or Namibia, unless you want to shell out $8000 for the trophy. They are less than half that in Zim (and that's another important point, trophy fees vary wildly by country for most locations, so pick the location first and then hunt the species that are affordable there ie the common ones.)

(Please don't think this is too silly a question. I'm from SoCal - if one chooses to hunt Chukar birds, then that's ALL one gets to hunt. Quail & Chukar don't tend to congregate together. Also note, game animals out here are very thin and far between out here...)

2. What would be a typical "package hunt"? I'd imagine this would vary a little by PH or Outfitter and by Country. Still, if one were hunting Plains Game (as I intend to for my first African Hunt) there would likely be a standard combo of 5 - 8 animals that might be huntable in a given area.

Packages are fine, remember that these are mostly offered by "game farms" ie fenced ranches and they include the species that the landowner has plenty or too many of. Beware, sometimes the trophy quality is not great. Sometimes the outfitter will push "extras" onto you at high prices. And if you don't shoot something in the package, you don't normally get a refund. I recommend paying by the drink, that way you can be more selective about what you shoot and you won't be pressured. If the trophy quality isn't there, then you don't shoot. There is no such thing as a typical package, they vary by location.

3. My wife for a second Honeymoon - Great way to present it! I love it! I wish I'd thought of it sooner before I suggested a "vacation-Safari"...


This is not a question but by all means take your wife. If taking your wife, steer clear of the real raw Africa unless she's a good sport. Most women don't like dust, tsetse flies, mosquitoes, and camp toilets.

4. Jet, I'm not too concerned about "getting the Africa Bug". I'm more concerned that I've already got it and that there is no vaccine! That's the main reason why I could put off a Buff Hunt for a year or two longer - I already intend to come back...

For $20K, I can do a Sable/Buff/PG hunt for you in Zimbabwe. Heck, I can do a PAC Ele/Buff/Sable for that money.

You can find some general answers here Tips and Travel Advice. You may also want to read the article "Seven Ways to Ruin an Otherwise Perfectly Good Safari" to be found on the same website.

Now you are getting the hang of it..!!!

I cannot agree more. Do a PG hunt with your wife that will cost you about $12k, and come back the next year for a Buff. Let me give you some examples of what we can do for a person in your situation......bringing your wife along for a second honeymoon.....

The holiday.....

Luxury camp so your wife feels treated.....Still rustic enough so that both of you know you are in wild Africa. A camp where the staff speaks english, and someone always at hand to look after her.
This will cost about $150.00 per day for her as an "observer" in 2008, and probably $175.00 in 2009.

Your hunting.....

Day rate 1x1 $350.00p.d. for 2008 and $375.00p.d. for 2009
Included all the ussual "stuff" and services, plus a Big Game viewing boat cruise on a huge lake and river system.......

The animals:

Eland
Kudu
Blue Wildebeest
Gemsbok(Oryx)/Waterbuck
Red Hartbeest
Zebra
Impala
Blesbuck
Mountain Reedbuck
Warthog and/or bushpig
Duiker and/or Steenbok

Total amount Trophy fees for 11 animals about $8000.00

Booking for 10 days min for this package......

Plus you have a Pricelist to pick and choose from.....and you can hunt your sable for $7k extra, in the same hunt.......

Plus you get a profesional DVD as a memento from us to you for the hunt!!!!

Your wife will love you to bits, and you will be the luckiest hunting guy in the world!

Sounds to good to be true? Ask the guys that's done it with us!

All prices given above are an estimate only to give you an idea of what you can get for your money, and terms and conditions will apply at the time of booking a hunt......

If I can give a word of advice. There are a lot of guys on this forum, and I'm not talking about PH's and Outfitters...that has hunted Africa for 10-15 times, from PG to DG. They do not even post on a regular basis....but "troll" the site often enough to look for information, and just to read intersting hunting stories. Listen to what they have to say, and who they recommend. This goes for the guys that has been in Africa once or twice as well, their input is important as well, as they have the good and the bad fresh in their memories....They just struggle to sometimes be objective about the outfitter they used, as this is the only person they know, or have hunted with.......IMHO in any case.....

Good luck with the planning of this....it is just as much fun as going on Safari......

Charl

www.infinito-safaris.com

Never start with desert (buffalo) start with a nice plains game hunt from small to big starting with impala. this will give you a nice experience and you will shoot a lot of animals. it will give you a good basic idea of african hunting.
Like Infinito said 11 trophies versus say a buff plus 2

I recommend that you read through a lot of threads on this and the Africa - Reference and Information forum; you can skip the CRF vs. PF and .45-70 vs. DG threads if you want to keep your sanity.

George

I think the bigger question is- are you comfortable with a ranch hunt or do you want to do a "real safari" in a concession. The former can be nicely accomplished on a hunt in South Africa and Namibia, say 7 days each, the latter in Zimbabwe and probably a bit more difficult and more expensive...but I think worth it. I have done both and my wife joined me on three different trips...and most fully enjoyed our 16 day Botswana concession hunt...a real classic tented safari with an old British PH. I don't think Zambia is the place for the first hunt, that said, I do have a ranch hunt contact I can give you that includes Sable for $9000, 7 day package I recall with 5-6 animals...please PM me for more details.
Bottom line, I would do two hunts with some sightseeing or fishing on the change over and at the end...your wife will love it, you see more...she can do some shopping!!...win, win

Hmmm, a few more thoughts - I think I'm getting a pretty good handle on things here and it's HUGELY appreciated!

1. Trophy Fees:

- It appears that there are two general ways to go about trophy fees: in a "Packaged Hunt" one pays a set fee for "X" animals. For instance: $3500 for 6 animals / 7 days or something to that effect.

The second method appears to be something of a "menu" style whereby an animal or several are selected off a "menu". IE: Kudu + Eland + XBok, etc.

It also appears that a packaged hunt can be augmented with an individual additional animal (maybe...).

In either case, these appear to be Trophy Fees ONLY and may not include PH fees or lodging fees.

2. It appears that fees are made up of: Trophy Fees + Daily PH Fees + Lodging Fees. Or, parts of these may be combined depending on the hunt. Are there any other specific license fees? Or is this included in the Trophy fees in general?

3. My Wife: is not a "girlie-girl". Her travel kit does not include lipstick, mascara, or rouge. It consists of chapstick - and that's pretty much it! She's quite game for foul weather and other natural challenges. On the other hand she's not in the best of shape and really isn't much into lengthy hiking. Obviously I know this and any stressful hiking she'd be quite content to leave me off on my own while she sits back contentedly knitting away (yes, seriously. that and crossword puzzles.)

4. Me: I'm in pretty good shape so I'm not opposed to any long days in the field. 38 years old and hit the gym with a trainer 3 days a week. I'm much more of the spot & stalk mentality than a "blind" mentality.

However I do have one physical issue that really makes a difference: sleep apnea. And a pretty significant case of it. Anyone who knows apnea knows that I can't go 48 hours without hooking up my CPAP to sleep. Failure to do so means I turn into a grouch asap. So I am very interested in knowing:

Do the hunting lodges have electical plugs? Can I get 110 or 220 ac?

Believe me, if I didn't need it I wouldn't want it. It puts a pretty severe crimp in my camping activities (my rechargeable CPAP is only good for about 8 hours of use.)

Anyway, 110/220 is a huge deal for me and I sure want to make this a positive experience.

5. Ranch Hunt vs. Concession: Ok here's the deal. My wife having a good time ranks VERY high on the priority list. It's far, far easier for me to tell her "Hon, you really don't want to go on THIS hunt...it's going to be really tough..." AFTER I've taken her on a nicer hunt first that she would enjoy as a spectator.

I'd prefer a concession - but the only way that works as a first hunt is if I take "her having a good time" into the equation. Whoever suggested a few days for sightseeing is right on the money.

So if I bring her on a nicer, easier experience she won't be offended if I go on a tough hunt alone down the road. At least she'll understand what the hunt is all about...

(PS: Buying guns got a whole lot easier after I bought a couple for her! She loves to share hobbies...to a degree. She loves my AR but wants nothing to do with my Garand. The AR came first and she never questioned the Garand.)

6. 10-days sounds about right to me. Figure 2 days of travel on either end and that makes 2 weeks... That could be either a 10 day hunt (in a very picturesque land) or a 7 day hunt + 3 days of sightseeing.

Again, I really, really can't thank you folks enough for this!

quote:

Originally posted by infinito:
Now you are getting the hang of it..!!!

This will cost about $150.00 per day for her as an "observer" in 2008, and probably $175.00 in 2009.

Your hunting.....

Day rate 1x1 $350.00p.d. for 2008 and $375.00p.d. for 2009 Included all the ussual "stuff" and services, plus a Big Game viewing boat cruise on a huge lake and river system.......

The animals:

Eland
Kudu
Blue Wildebeest
Gemsbok(Oryx)/Waterbuck
Red Hartbeest
Zebra
Impala
Blesbuck
Mountain Reedbuck
Warthog and/or bushpig
Duiker and/or Steenbok

Total amount Trophy fees for 11 animals about $8000.00

Booking for 10 days min for this package......


...Charl

www.infinito-safaris.com

Charl,

Can you explain this in greater detail? The 11 animal hunt is roughtly $8,000...does this include the $350/day hunter & $150/observer fee? If that's 10 days @ $500/day then that's $5,000 + the original $8,000 = $13,000, right?

And, just to be sure I've got this right: Airfare, Taxidermy basics (dip & pack?), Trophy shipping & import Fees are separate, right?

Thanks!

Again, if you meant what you said about Sable you need to go to Zimbabwe. Otherwise just the trophy fee on that one animal will eat up a third of your money. And you need to go later in the season, July or later, when your odds on Sable are better.

You also seem to like the idea of a concession, which again points to Zim not SA or Namibia (except perhaps Caprivi).

If you go to Zim, figure $9K for ten days hunting and your Sable included. With the remaining money, you can cover the trophy fees on several species of PG and the daily is already in the Sable number. Or, you could do one of the following with your Sable: PAC Bull or Tuskless Cow Elephant, Leopard, or Buff Bull (this last one jacks up the daily rate on the hunt some but you could still stay within your $20K quite easily).

I would recommend the Sable/PG option, from a camp with a generator so you will be sure to have power. Some of the camps in Zim are on the grid but the grid isn't operational a lot of the time, these days. If you like the PH, then you can go back for your buff with the same guy. You can't really do that if your first hunt is in SA or Namibia, as the PHs in that country are not licenced in Zim or any of the good buff countries. Then on hunt 2, when you are laying out real money, you are rolling the dice with a PH you have never hunted with before.

We can do the Sable etc. hunt for you in Doma or a combo of Doma and another concession depending on what else you want to hunt. For leopard Doma is good. For ele or Buff it's marginal esp later in the season when the Sable are down low. But Mukwichi or Chewore are less than a half day's drive from Doma so as soon as you get your Sable down you can relo. This would be much closer to the real raw Africa than any ranch hunt.

You could also do a PG hunt this time without Sable, and then do a Sable/Buff hunt next time. In that case I would recommend a private conservancy for the PG hunting so you will see lots of good trophies. PG can be a little thin in the concessions. We would put you with a PH who will do your PG hunt with you this time, and then you can hunt your Buff/Sable in a real concession without the wife and with the same PH next time. This would be a much more luxurious affair on private land. Probably a better choice if the wife is along and esp. if you mention the word "honeymoon".

Regarding rifles, you don't need to buy a DG rifle, the PH will lend you one. Or sell/trade what you have and get a 9.3 or a 375 and shoot everything with that. I can arrange all this for you as well, I will even do the trade for you.

Whatever you decide, I am sure you will not be disappointed. The only thing disappointing will be stateside hunting...after you have done Africa, hunting the lower 48 is pretty dull.

I think you are looking at a 5-6 animal plains game hunt if $20K is the total budget. My 7-day plains game safari to Namibia ended up running $16,552. You need to budget for dipping/crating and shipping costs. I took six animals. The dipping/crating was $650 and the shipping was $1792. My airfare was $2000. The safari itself totalled $5360 for the daily fees, trophy fees, value added taxes, and the extra hotel day coming. I paid out $900 in tips and spent $350 on gifts to bring home. My taxidermy ran $5500. All of this was without a wife. Add her airfare, probably $150+ per day as an observer, and her extra shopping/side trips.

It is easy to just look at the cost of the hunt and end up short.

Read this forum a lot. Continue to do your homework. The pros are here and will help you get it done. I look forward to reading your hunt report down the road.

Then you can start planning your sable/buffalo hunt!!

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by rnovi:

Charl,

Can you explain this in greater detail? The 11 animal hunt is roughtly $8,000...does this include the $350/day hunter & $150/observer fee? If that's 10 days @ $500/day then that's $5,000 + the original $8,000 = $13,000, right?

And, just to be sure I've got this right: Airfare, Taxidermy basics (dip & pack?), Trophy shipping & import Fees are separate, right?

Thanks!

Yes, you are right....the $8k is for the animals....and about $5k for the day rates. It was just rough figures to give you an idea of what such a trip will cost you. 11 to 12 animals is a lot for a first Safari though....

The trophy fees also depend on where you hunt, and THAT will determine the quality of your trophies.....

Just as a matter of interest.....I had a guy hunting with me in 2006, that suffered from severe sleep apnia....and it is NOT as straight forward as a generator in camp for power to hook it up. I had to send someone to Johannesburg to buy a special adaptor for his "machine"....after the initial adaptor got fried in the wall socket on the first night...His details as a reference will be gladly forwarded to you when required.

Why prefer a concession hunt over a ranch hunt? I know you will hunt both, if you can, in your life in future....and you will look back and honestly say that you enjoyed both, and both their differences have a place in you heart.

For your Cape Buff, you can do a concession hunt.

So by the way....I classify Sable as PG, and do not have a "special" treatment for them....their TF in SA is just very high....

We have a lot of PG packages (this year 13 different ones)each year to chose from......

Your Wife.....
I can not stress enough how important it is for her to make sure she have a good time....and although I can say a lot of women like the concession hunts in places like Zim and Zambia....it must be said that the majority of women will like a ranch hunt in South Africa more......She can even be taken shopping one day while we hunt......I had an AR member and his wife hunting with me in May 2007....they booked with me again in 2008.....their details will also be forwarded as references when required....I can add that I am NOT his muse in the hunting world. He hunts Africa for 5 weeks every year for the last 18 years, and uses 5 different outfitters.....he will be very objective in his advise.

It is a matter of horses for courses.....You need to decide what you want to do for your first Safari.....and then take it from there.

I like it the most when a person books the hunt as follow:
Book the hunt for 10 days.
PAy your day rate, and as you put it....hunt from the price list (your "menu") Then you (and the PH) are not pressured into hunting specific animals that is on a pakcage. You can walk into the bush, and hunt what you encounter.......This way each day holds in a BIG surprise, as not you or the PH knows what is going to happen. But that is my opinion....I do a lot of package hunts, and I enjoy those as much. The selling point for the hunter is just that he get's a hunt for a little bit cheaper if he goes down the packaged route......Not a lot lot I might add...you can safe $100-$200.00's.....

All your qoutes from outfitters will exclude dip&pack, Taxidermy fees, shipping and import fees....although I am in the process of getting a dip and pack fascility on our property in order for 2009....we plan on doing the dip and pack at cost price for our guests.....

Visit our web-site at www.infinito-safaris.com, and have a look at "Terms & Conditions"....

Everyone is definitely right about the hidden fees, taxidermy, dipping, shipping, and so on add up in a hurry, but they are after the fact and can be accommodated in most budgets. Remember the tips for the crew and the PH too!!! I really screwed up there on my first safari. Take the wife, by all means. It's a wonderful experience for everyone, and most camps are such that she can spend a day at the main lodge while you are out bumping into Acacia and Thornbush too. Wish I had had a wife to enjoy the experience with me.

Really believe what the guys are saying about splitting the buff away from the plains game hunt. If you are not dead set to do it all in one trip, go ahead, expect to go more than once, and have a fine time in a first go plains game safari. You'll only need a .30-06 for Plains game, unless you want an Eland, and save the caliber battle over what to use for that Buff for your next trip, after you have your feet wet. Follow on trips allow you to fine tune what trophies you really want and balance them with targets of opportunity.

Anyway you slice it, I think you will want to go back to Africa.

LLS

rnovi,

Since I don't have a stake in trying to sell you something, and since I was in the same position in 2003 as you are now, here's some input from a very experienced but rookie-in-Africa hunter.

I booked a 10-day package hunt for the East Cape of SA with John X Safaris who supposedly has access to about 3,000,000 acres of private land. We hunted in at least five different locations, some of which were based at other lodges from one to 4 hours from the main lodge.

None of the ranches were the put-&-take variety either. Yes, they were all fenced properties, but the only time I actually saw the fences was going through the gates to enter or leave the ranches. Most of them were huge. The game species were populuous and included males (both trophy and non-trophy), females and young ones, i.e. naturally reproducing herds.

The cost was $4,995 ALL INCUSIVE for the daily rate, licenses, 1x1 PH and tracker, ground transportation, lodging, alcohol, food, laundry, trophy preparation (not dip/pack!). The food and accomodations were all first rate.

The package included up to 5 or 6 critters, depending on the ones chosen from the basic list. My choices were kudu, gemsbok, impala, blesbok and springbok. I could have chose two of the smaller deer in place of either the sprinbok, impala or blesbok.

I then added blue and black wildebeests, zebra, bushbuck, warthog and nyala. Total for the additional trophy fees: $5,000! The PH threw in a second springbok at no charge because I wanted a full hide for a rug. I don't concern myself with record books like some do, but each animal I killed was a good representative trophy for the species.

So, right there you've got $10,000 at 2003 prices! Adding on airfare of about $2,200 for ONE person from AZ (probably higher now), tips for guide & staff, dip & pack, shipping of trophies to the US and you're easily up to $15,000 BEFORE any taxidermist gets his hands on you.

The taxidermy for those 12 animals cost me WELL over $5,000, though I stretched it out over 4 years.

Obviously, the fewer animals you take above the package price will reduce your total, but then adding the airfare and daily fees for your wife will increase it again. And...that doesn't include any shopping for trinkets.

The point: LOOK at ALL the costs involved, not just the daily rate and trophy fees you get quoted here. The devil is in the details, and the "incidentals" add up quickly. -TONY

Interesting to see how some things moved on and others not, in four years....Refering to prices of course.

If you go to the SCI Show in Reno plan to attend the Free Seminar "Your First African Safari" which will be held on Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. in Room A1. See the SCI Show website for more details.

If you are attending The Dallas Safari Club Show there will be Free "Safari Planning" seminars held Friday January 11, 2008 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Topaz Room at the Hilton Anatole Hotel and Saturday, January 12, 2008 from 11:00 to 12:00 noon in the Lone Star Room #2 at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel.

They should cover other areas not covered in these posts.