I am starting to think seriously about a first hunt in Africa in 2005 or so, having been on guided hunts in the American West and in Alaska.

I envision one of those initial plains game hunts in RSA or Namibia (which one?) where you shoot several species in 10 days or two weeks. I have talked to people about their packages but might rather spend a little more time and money getting a representative sample of the bigger animals, for instance: Zebra, Wildebeeste (probably the blue one), Kudu (a must), Gemsbok (probably a must), Eland (maybe), Impala, warthog. All the smaller animals are so much so-so to me. I understand there will be high fences but am not bothered by this so long as the ranches are large.

I will probably be alone. My friends either don't like hunting or don't have enough money to go. One of my friends is teamed up with someone selling short 5-animal hunts for about $4500 including airfare, which makes me suspicious of this deal. I would rather pay a little extra and get a quality experience.

My question is how do you even start to consider which outfitters you should consider? There seem to be a million outfitters. One could pick big outfitters like Cabela's or Atcheson's, or surf the net including AR, or select from the nice people who have booths at outdoor shows here in the US. It's hard to know where to start.

Personal recommendations is the way I start. From people I know or know of.

You should hunt warthog too. Got to hunt the African pig.

Indy,

I suspect that you will have many offers and suggestions before this weekend is over. Mine follows. But, before that, spend some time talking to your friends' booking agent. Most sell a variety of hunt packages and many will customize one to your needs as well. If your friend has experience with his agent, and would use him again it might be worth futher conversation. It would be nice [better?] to go with someone, just for the company and for the shared experiences.

HOWEVER, hunt 1x1, 1 hunter and 1 PH, then compare notes at the end of the day. Hunting 1x1 with just your PH and tracker is a MUCH better experience and you can get a lot more hunting done in the time allowed.

I hunted last spring with Bethaven African Safaris In the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It's a fairly easy place to reach in R.S.A. and, though a ranch hunt, a wonderful experience and a great hunt.

If possible I also recomend spending a day or more in Cape Town after the hunt, and then catching one of the flights that leaves from there. It's a great city and its a shame to go that far and not see some of the rest of the country!

If you want to chat about Bethaven or the rip feel free to email me.

Les

You're right on the cost issue.....buy a good hunt!!

I had booked a caribou hunt with a booking agent and it was exactly as he said it would be...no surprises and I used that confidence to book with him again for RSA.....Again I was told the truth and had a trip of a life time.

Did you like your trip to Alaska?...maybe the guy that set you up for that trip also books Africa trips.

Having read a jillion of Ray's posts, I'd not be afraid to book with him as well.....except that I now am able to book hunts. I'd trust Ray having never met him!!

If you are really interested in a bargin, you might consider going to an SCI Convention next winter and buying one on the auction. Last year at ours (Atlanta), plains game hunts were selling from $.25 to $.50 on the dollar. And these were "real" hunts; not leaders that roped you into spending a fortune once you got there.

Also, if you appreciate open spaces and true winderness, narrow your search to Namibia. Huge properties and great trophies.

Indy,

you might like to take a look at my website where you will find a range of African hunting destinations, the one thing they all have in common is that they're all the best quality areas and camps.

You should think about what type of terrain you would like to hunt. ALL the animals you list will only be available in RSA, most likely (Impala and Wilde's will be hard to find in Namibia). If you like the more arid, open mopane forest hunts, look at western RSA. Along the eastern cape, you'll find much more lush "bush" and some rather formidible mountains. The Transvaal (northern province) will be a bit of a mixture of the two. Hope this helps...

I would suggest you look at and talk to at least 10 outfits, then narrow your search to 2 or 3 based on price, area, animals available, and your overall impression. Then, pick between those based on what referrences say, and how responsive they are to your questions, etc. Remember, if they don't care enough to answer your questions promptly and accurately, don't waste your time!

RSA and Namibia are both wonderful safari locations and I have been to both several times. Bethaven Safaris has been mentioned and I have been there twice and know the owner and operators very well. It is a very well run ranch operation with good animals. The Eastern Cape of RSA is a wonderful place which is popular for new hunters because of the prices and for collectors because it has several species that only can be taken there.

I am also a close friend of Vaughan Fulton who owns a operation in Namibia, Classic Safaris. Vaughan operates on communal land bordering Etosha Park. It is completely unfenced and is truly wild. Hunting there is a fantastic experience.

Both locations need to be hunted by anyone serious about Africa.

Mike

First do a "google" search using .... hunting in Namibia.... and just look at all the websites and get an idea of what they are charging for both daily rates and trophy fees. The internet is wonderful as you can e-mail the ones that look promising but remember this is their hunting season and it may take awhile for them to answer.

Having said that, the Hunt Report Forum is an excellent place to look and there are several places/PHs in Namibia that jump out at you.

Indy, You have a PM

I would recommend RSA as they have more species of game than Namibia IMO....however I can send you to either country..

I can hunt you in RSA for $150 per day plus trophy fees, large holdings of land and trophy quality is excellent..I have a ton of references for these folks and have been hunting them for about 8 to 10 years, and todate not one complaint of any kind...Check out Bushveld Safaris on my web sight and I can send you references and brochures if you will email a phyical address...

I can also hunt you with Pierre van Tonder Safaris in March, April and May in RSA for $210 per day plus trophy fees, several on this board are familiar with Pierre....

t

Hi Indy,

I hunted Gras Hunting Ranch in Namibia last April/May. I booked through Wendell Reich, I found him here. There have been probably 10 members of Accurate Reloading who have hunted Gras, ask around the boards. It's a great place.



Info here:

Gras Hunting Ranch



More:

Gras Info

You have a lot of sound advice on these threads! Trademark Texan`s way of doing it sounds good: Contact a few and pic the one that seems right AFTER contacting references! I more or less stumbled over TG Safaris while planning my first hunt three years ago, liked the operation, good feedback from previuous hunters (one who is now a good friend) etc. Hunting the Northern Province is nice, I�ve done that twice now, next year I�ll go to Zim or Moz.

Warnig: African hunting can cause dependency and be highly detrimental to your general economy!

You should also insist of a comprehensive safari contract that details ALL costs and what is included and what is not, and also check exactly where you will be hunting. Not all areas are as good as each other.

If you use an agent you need to ascertain if they're a competant and professional setup.....many are, including most who post here, sadly there are a few 'instant experts' in the business who have had a couple of hunts in Africa and think they know enough to become an agent. (wry chuckle) If you do go this route, I suggest you ask the agent to put you in touch with the outfitter or PH at a fairly early stage. If the agent is confident in the business ethics of the people he's representing and ethical in own right he will be happy to do so...... if he is not happy to do so then you should look elsewhere.

Ask for references from people who have booked with the agent and also with people who have booked with the hunting outfitter and hunted the proposed area and check both sets thoroughly......and then check them again.

Also remember that there is no such thing as a free lunch and you get what you pay for.....or at least you don't get what you don't pay for. so if you want cheap you can buy cheap, but you can only get quality at a quality price.

Don't forget to ask about arrangements for getting your trophies home. They may not be able to give you a dollar figure but should be able to give you what last years method of shipment was and about what they spent. Discuss whether you want taxidermy done there or shipped home for taxidermy, or whether you just want to take pictures and leave it in Africa. I agree with the above warning. African hunting is addictive and can be very detrimental to your financial health. Remember you only get one "First trip to Africa". Have a good time. Good hunting. "D"

I had a lot of the same questions, and ended up hunting in Namibia with Die Keiller last year. I've been on a number of guided and unguided hunts in the western US, the African trip is completely different. I went for ten days, daily rate of $200 per day, the highest trophy fee was a kudu at $680. You can shoot a gemsbuck, kudu, mountain zebra, and a hartebeest for a total trophy fee of approximately $2010, plane tickets cost $1600, and of course you'll tag some smaller antelope, warthog, etc. if you want. I shot 10 animals, and shipping costs on trophies to my taxidermist in Ks. was $1254. This should give a pretty good estimate of total cost, which is pretty hard to come up with otherwise. I had a couple of friends who had gone before, I said I want to go to Africa once, which they said is impossible, if you go once, you'll go back. I waited till I was 46 to go the first time, I'm going to Tanzania for cape buffalo in 2005. As a side trophy quality was great, 54 1/2 kudu, and a 42 1/8 gemsbuck on my trip, all alone on 15000 acres, no fences (standard cattle fence just like here in Mo., only our fences are better)

You might also take a look at different types of hunts in the different countries. With the way the exchange rates are at the moment you can pay almost as much for a 10 day plains game hunt as you would pay for a 7 day Buff hunt in Tanzania.

why don't you try Namibia for all the animals you listed except warthog........I went with
Classic Safaris and Vaughan Fulton and had a great time. He has package deals and is willing to alter them which some companies won't do, also he has concession land to hunt on which is over 200,000 acres. He has a tent camp which is very nice and the food and service are excellent

I am going on my first Safari to South Africa in 3 weeks.

I have booked 3 hunts, so far, with Ray Atkinson. He has yet to steer me wrong. Every hunt I have booked with him has exceeded my expectations. I have no reason to doubt that the Safari I booked with him will be any different.

There are 2 of us going to South Africa. We are after plains game and will be in Africa a total of 12 days. I got in on the $150 a day deal that Ray is offering.

I exchanged a couple of e-mails with the PH in South Africa. He is aware of my handicap and has gone out of his way to build me a portable bench to use while I am there. Hows that for first class service? I didn't ask him to build me the bench, he volunteered.

I am looking forward to a great adventure in South Africa.

I hope you find "your" Safari of a lifetime.

Don

Hey dude, if you're in SA, who's going to finish making those bullets you mentioned way back when? Any word on the progress? BTW, have a really nice trip. If I hold my mouth open just right, I'll be there sometime next year.

I was in your position 2 years ago. I relied on references and recs from friends. I went to RSA and had the best trip of my life. I took my family as well.

I would suggest an outfitter if you are not an experienced world traveler. If you have been out of the US before and are comfortable with it, go it alone. I did but would not hesitate to use a broker/outfitter.

My best advice to you is to be flexible on what you hunt. If you get there and for some reason the PH or ranch says that Mountain Reedbok are especially good - go for it. If they say Nyala is going to be tough - check out something else. Impala are a lot of fun, Kudu are great, but we had the best hunt for Steinbok.

Have fun.