Hello, I am preparing for an African Safari in 2012. I plan to go to the SCI show in Reno and do some research so that my buddies and I put a deposit down sometime in the spring. I am trying to walk in the door at SCI with a short list of countries to look at so I can target the outfitters to visit with.

Our requirements are (in no particular order):
1. The party will have split interests. One set wants to target DG (Probably Buffalo, but open Leopard). The other half of the party will want to look at a plains game hunt. We are OK with different durations of hunt length, but want them to overlap. (i.e. a 10 day Buff hunt and a 7 day plains game hunt is fine as long as the 7 days of plains game hunting happens within the DG hunt window and all the hunters are based out of the same camp.)
2. One of the hunters is bringing his wife and she is not interested in staying in tents. She will need nice accommodations/food along with some day time activities she can do should she not go out with the hunters
3. No high fence areas. Or if that is not possible, high fence areas that are at least 75,000 acres or more in size.
4. Plains Game Animals:

• First Choice Plains game animals include the usual suspects Kudu. Gemsbok, Warthog, Cape Eland, Burchell Zebra
  
• Second Choice/nice to have plains game animals would include: Bushbuck, Nyala, and waterbuck
  
• A total bonus (but not a requirement) would be a Lord Derby Eland as I think these are extremely neat animals!

5. DG Animals

• First choice would be Buff
  
• Second would be Leopard
  
• Interesting alternatives would be Crocodile and Hippo

6. Price. I don’t want to bind the trip with a price, but none of us are independently wealthy so we want a good value for a nice hunt. Not bargain basement but not platinum level either.

I know I should look at Namibia and Zimbabwe. South Africa does not really excite me too much but I am open. Would love some advice to help narrow my target down.

So what countries do my fellow and more seasoned AR members suggest??

I suggest the various groups split up and go to different destinations/countries because if you don't, then someone will end up disappointed.

If you all want to spend time together, do it afterwards at a location suitable to all.

Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe!!

LDE though???

How big is your "party"? Sounds like you may be trying to please too many people with too many different wishes in a single trip. Traveling with wives can be great. Traveling with only one wife can be awkward.

The best DG areas are not typically the best plains game areas, and vice-versa. Hunting PG on a primarily DG trip can make for some costly PG hunting.

Assuming that your party is all "first timers", I would suggest looking at a "farm" hunt in Namibia for plains game. The cost is the lowest in Africa, the country is one of the hunter-friendliest, and the volume of game will bowl you over. You'll find that it isn't necessary to fear having your testicles chewed from your body to enjoy hunting African game. Hunting Africa will become an obsession, and you and your buddies can go back for buff and leopard on a subsequent hunt.

Be aware that PG hunting and DG hunting are very different in nature. You'll see and have the opportunity to shoot A LOT of PG during a relatively short period of time (several opportunities per day), whereas you typically spend many days waiting, largely in boredom, for a leopard to come to a bait, or for trackers to cut the spoor of a shootable bull buffalo.

The action in DG is scarce, but can be intense when it comes. It can also be anticlimactic when the cat, a good one but somewhat smaller than you envisioned, just falls out of the tree, dead on the ground.

The action in PG hunting is almost continuous, and typically hunting in pairs, you get to enjoy the stalks and kills of your hunting companion about as much as those of your own, thus doubling the experience.

So, which is it you really want: The chance for one or two intense moments spread over a couple of weeks; or almost continuous viewing, stalking, and shooting of a dozen or more species of captivating antelopes and other herbivores?

I'm not knocking DG hunting and hope to get around to it myself, but the real bang for the buck is in PG hunting -- don't sell it short. And whatever you do, don't compromise your trip by trying to do too many things with too many people, all with different expectations, in one place at one time.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
I suggest the various groups split up and go to different destinations/countries because if you don't, then someone will end up disappointed.

If you all want to spend time together, do it afterwards at a location suitable to all.

+1. While it is nice to share the immediate joys of any success that night in camp, your request asks a lot of the outfitter/PH. The only place that may come close to your requirements that I can think of is the SAVE in Zim. (If you go there say G'day in Graham CONNEAR who was there when it was being set up). No matter what you do there will be compromises. You need to ALL recognise that even if you split up.

Meet up at Vic Falls or Cape Town later for 2-3 days R&R before return.

Steve: +2!

The requirement of the wife having other activities available and having Oryx on the list and no fences are your most limiting qualities. For the best compromise, sounds to me like your headed to Matetsi in Zimbabwe.

sounds like a recipe to ruins some friendships by trying to please everyone at one time. And thats near to impossible for any Safari company or PH to do. Just my 2 cents worth

Rob, your best hunting will be scattered all over the place. LD Eland are found in central Africa, and quite pricey. That leaves Cape Eland (RSA) and Livingstone Eland (Zim). Several choices there. Gemsbok; Namibia, RSA or Botswana. Zebra: most anywhere. Bushbuck: Cape, Chobe or Limpopo? (RSA, Zim, Moz). Nyala: Natal #1, then Zim or Moz. Waterbuck: Zim or RSA. Warthog: Zim, RSA, Moz. It will be difficult to sort this out to where each person has a reasonable chance to take quality animals. I would suggest you sort out your preferences first, then narrow down to where you want to go. Leopard tags are scarce in Namibia and RSA, so advance planning is best. Not a problem however in Zim, and Zim has big cats. Buffalo: Zim would offer the best deal if you will, but again, decide what is most important on your hunt. Finding you good food and accommodations isn't difficult today, but putting your group in the right place at the right time is very important. Give me a buzz if I can answer any questions for you.
Cheers,
David

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe!!

LDE though???

The Save or Buyabe in Zimbabwe???? Maybe????

Brett

I'd come up with another plan. Add the emotions of a safari to the compromises needed here and the cost involved and you end up with subpar hunts and ex-friends. The idea to meet up with your friends after the hunts might be the best compromise.

Dean

Thanks for all the info everyone. It is good feedback. I plan to go to Reno with my laundry list of requirements, and then see how close we can get to fulfill them all. If we can't, then we will want to know what the compromises are and go in with our eyes wide open as to what we are leaving on the table. If the what is left off the table is too important for one of the party members, then it might be best to spilt our group. But Africa is a pretty big place and it seems like there must be something available that meets 90% of our total requirements.

It sounds like the Save in Zim is our best option to get as close as possible to a good Buff hunt with opportunities for good PG as well. I am sure that we can leave gemsbok off the list with no hurt feelings from anyone in the group as it sounds like that may be the biggest compromise needed for the Save. I have tossed out the LD Eland as I now understand more about those hunts!

Would welcome more input on other countries as well.

Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me too.
If you want to go hunting, then go hunting.
It's not a "club" thing.
Rich Elliott

Save Conservancy is one on an extremely short list of places that can satisfy the hunters.

There are few places in Africa that offer Dangerous Game and Good Plains game hunting in the same location.

quote:

Originally posted by Rob H:
2. One of the hunters is bringing his wife and she is not interested in staying in tents. She will need nice accommodations/food along with some day time activities she can do should she not go out with the hunters

Do everything that you can not be in that camp.

Wifezilla hates tents, camping, etc. Guess what? She doesn't go to Africa with me!

I recieved clarity on the wife's view of the tent situation late yesterday.

REI Dome tent sleeping on the ground for a week: Negative.

Wall tent with beds, bathrooms etc: Roger!

Calling her wifezilla is a bit over the top. She is great, she just does not want to be on the ground for a week picking bugs out of her shoes... But thanks for the perspective!

HOLY SMOKE this is a Safari Adenture of a lifetime ..

It is almost certain you wont get an all you can eat for the group in ONE LOCATION !!

What you need to do FIRST is be very specific and (fully list the entire group individually) and their (best guess wishlist) for each hunter.

Also list whom want to hunt 1x1 or 2x1 or other combinations as it can be difficult to tailor the best option with a free for all

You are also too vague or broad guess on the budget expectation. You need to detail each hunter and guests maximum budget expectation then the guests can offer you a best scenario option

Cheers, Peter

Talk to Mark and Glen Haldane of Zambeze Delta Safaris in Mozambique. Not necessarily your complete list of plains game, but they have a pretty good selection. And very good buffalo; good leopard with dogs. Nice permanent tented camps with indoor plumbing. But, not much for the wife to do.

Rob,

You should consider the Bubye Valley Conservancy in the lowveld of Zimbabwe. 1.2 million acres, beautiful camps, plentiful buffalo, plainsgame and leopard. There is not a better destination in Zimbabwe for the type of safari you are planning.

Take a look at www.brentheinsafaris.com

Brent Hein hunts Bubye Valley. He is an excellent, hard-working PH. Look him up in Reno at booth 70.

Feel free to PM me with any questions. And, I am not a booking agent, just a long-time client. Good luck to you.

quote:

Originally posted by Rob H:
I recieved clarity on the wife's view of the tent situation late yesterday.

REI Dome tent sleeping on the ground for a week: Negative.

Wall tent with beds, bathrooms etc: Roger!

Calling her wifezilla is a bit over the top. She is great, she just does not want to be on the ground for a week picking bugs out of her shoes... But thanks for the perspective!

Sorry for the confusion, I was not calling your friend's wife "Wifezilla. That is my wife's name. (Her idea of "roughing it" is no room service after midnight!)

Zambia mate.

I and one other PH hunted a family of four from Denmark over ten days in the Luangwa. The oldman took a Roan. One son took Lion, Hippo, Kudu, Waterbuck, Croc, Bushbuck, Impala and Baboon. The other as above except for Lion. The madam even had a crack at some smaller stuff.

I enjoy group hunts especially those who are friends and it makes for a very social affair.

You will need 14 days for Leopard and most operators will cut in one of the hunters for free to help reduce the costs.

The reason I recommend Zambia is for the variety of plains game. Note the group above also hunted Leopard, Puku, Hartebeest, Grysbok, Warthog, Klipspringer, Duiker and Civet but we just run out of time and besides the main trophy was the Lion.

If your after Big Game hunts along with well priced PG hunts in wild Africa with very comfortable accommodations suitable for non hunters also, then www.kambakosafaris.com is a great option.
Check out the camp photos.
http://www.kambakosafaris.com/2010/CAMP/L1000254.jpg

A picture of the Mozambique cost from their beach Lodge which is a great venue before or after the Safari.

Rob H, as others have said, the SAVE is probably your best compromise out there. Get with Mark Young or one of the other agents that rep the outfitters in the SAVE, everybody will have a good time.


Mad Dog

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
If your after Big Game hunts along with well priced PG hunts in wild Africa with very comfortable accommodations suitable for non hunters also, then www.kambakosafaris.com is a great option.
Check out the camp photos.
http://www.kambakosafaris.com/2010/CAMP/L1000254.jpg

A picture of the Mozambique cost from their beach Lodge which is a great venue before or after the Safari.

Tell me mate are you considering a small shareholding?

Would love to if I only had the funds, plus options in Angola, Uganda, Tanz or Zam.
But right now I need to work out the best option and destination to test an "in the making" new 470 and perhaps another try for leopard