Trying to start my planning for my first safari in 2006, and qutie an ordeal it seems to be. Can't decide to focus on Namibia or South Africa. Side attractions like a game park are a nessicity since my better half will be going. Up to all suggestions, Thanks

I would highly recommend Nambia...I think you will enjoy it more. I find South Africa to commercialized for my tastes.

RSA offers the Cape Town wine area which might appeal to your wife as well as game viewing areas, then you could proceed with your hunt. Namibia has a great reputation for first time hunters. I would suggest you thoroughly research both areas.

CFA

If your wife is going and she is (not wanting to rough it) toooooooo much, take in parks side ventures shopping and general others things that ladies do then possibly SA might be a better consideration for you !!

BUT first you need to (look in the mirror) and ask yourself some quick questions

1) What month do you want to go on the safari, and how many days do you want hunting, how many days sightseeing

2) Do you want a ranch hunt with all the mod cons and features they offer, do you want a vast remote area to hunt with miles and miles and miles of open space, or if neither, what do you have in your mind for a location that would meet your overall expectations. Do you prefer thick bush area hunting or more open space hunting with very long shots.

3) Do you have any idea on the species wish-list that you might want to hunt

4) Is your wife an avid outdoors person through and through or other ! it is important to be able to answer this aspect carefully as you say she is the better half.

Overall what do you & your wife want to do and achieve on this hunting safari adventure as if you provide some general answers the ESTEEMED guests will be able to better inform you

good luck, Peter

I second Namibia!

I agree with mike, South Africa seems to "fenced" for me.

I'm going to Namibia next year, so I'll get a better handle on it then....

After many weeks of looking, asking and talking to people here and at the Dallas SCI my wife and I choose Namibia. 6 days of sight seeing and 10 days of hunting.

Both RSA and Namibia are good first choices for an African experience because the cultural shock are not as great as going to Zim or some of the more exotic destinations in Africa.

You must decide how long you can go because it take time getting to and from Africa. It generally takes longer getting to Namibia that to a hunting destination in RSA. If you want to go to a game park, and I have seen more than one in RSA, Kruger is the one to go to. It is larger than Rhode Island and to see it from north to south and a quick pace takes three days. They are wonderfully spend days, and the nightly accommodcations in the park are very nice.

It is generally easier to set up a park visit with a hunt in RSA than in Namibia. If you take you wife you should see Kruger. It will help you judge trophy quality if your hunting safari operator sends a ph along with you. You should also plan to spend a day or more in Cape Town for you wife to shop Long Street. You can do this on your way out because Cape Town is one of the two points of departure.

Hunting in both Namibia and RSA is principally farm hunting. At its best, this is hunting indigenous species on private property. At its worst, it is a canned hunt. It depends mostly on who you are dealing with and you expressing your desires to your agent and your outfitter. RSA has the advantage of offering more species and Namibia has the advantage of being a bit "wilder." Regardless of choice, you should take the animals that are the signature animals of the region.

In RSA, the Mt. Reedbuck, Vaal Rhebok, Blesbok, Springbok, and Bonte Buck are some of the species you cannot get other places. (You will find Blesbok in Namibia, but I do not believe it was native there.) In Namibia, Kalihari springbok, Blue Wildebeest, Kudu, and Gemsbok are the specimens to take.

What you spend is primarily dependent (should be dependent) upon the quality of the animals who want to take. If you are searching for very representative, mature animals then you can arrange a hunt that is relatively inexpensive. If you want absolutely top notch trophies, in the top ten, you will pay out the nose and may not get better than representative animals. What you pay for is the opportunity!

There are some outstanding opportunities in both countries, and if you take you time and get proposals from several vendors you will do well. Although it is hard to resist, don't go with the first person who you talk with. I'd put together your "dream vacation/hunt", and have various vendors present you with proposals. Before you commit, talk with their references and with developed leads about how good they are. Weidmannsheil! Good hunting. I envy you a first hunt in Africa. I've been seven times, but there is only one first time. Kudude

Kudude,
well said.

kudude:
Would you define "farm hunting" for me please?

Perhaps you should also consider Tuli block Botswana. It's wilder than SA as it tends to have transient DG. You could fly to Pietersburg Airport (via JIA) RSA cross over to Tuli for your hunt then afterwards go back to Pietersburg, collect a hire car and drive down the length of the Kruger Park staying in your choice of luxury/more expensive or more basic/cheaper accommodation and exit the KNP at the bottom and hand your car back at KMIA (Nelspruit) Airport before flying back to JIA for your journey home. Or alternatively do it the other way around and fly to KMIA, drive up through the KNP and come out at the top before crossing into Botswana for your hunt.

Alternatively if you don't want to cross into Botswana Peter (Balla Balla) has a nice place close to Pietersburg that has some good hunting.......and you could still do the KNP thing.

As it's your first trip to Africa I'd also suggest that if you can afford it, you don't necessarily go for the cheapest hunt. It would be advisable to choose a safari company that will offer you as good a customer service and as comfortable a camp as your budget allows.

Kudude,

Very well said.

Bayou,

Read what Kudude said, it is one objective comparison between two quite different areas.

As a Souith African hunting outfitter who would be eager to offer to take you and your wife on a safari of a lifetime, my advice would not count much. But the facts remain: Limpopo and Mpumulanga provinces of South Africa borders on the Kruger National Park. Both are within easy driving distance from the airport of entry, and there is no need for internal air transfers (If you have just crossed the Atlantic I assure you that neither you nor your wife will ant to get on a plane for at least quite a few days!).

To assist you even more than Bala Pala (Peter) I invite you to go through the Safari Planning Process that is outlined on my web page at www.mclarensafaris.com If you find my adviuce useful, please post it here (If you find the advice worthless or annoying, please keep quiet )

Enjoyu your planning.

Namibia, Namibia and Namibia
Last year I hunt near Kamanjab and then I went for a couple of days to Etosha National Park.

Much less "farm hunt" than in RSA, I think RSA is a great destination also but I prefer northern Namibia.

In RSA I hunted the Limpopo province and also I hunted the Tuli Block in Botswana.

You will enjoy both, people are great and many things to do in both countries.

L

Lorenzo,

Where did you hunt in Namibia? And who did you hunt with? how did you fare? I'm looking to go over next year, I have one Safari company in mind but haven't put a deposit on anything yet, let me know............

Bayou,

Good points above. I too am going on my first African hunt in 2006. It came down to a choice between RSA and Namibia for me too. I went with Namibia just because I'm a bit fence shy. The conservancy system common in Namibia means its simple to find ranch type hunt with no fences at all. Tents or packpack hunts are available with a little looking and that's what I went for. Lots of places specifically advertise the options available for the non-hunter.

When I first started looking for a hunt I was completely overwhelmed. I got around this by creating a list of things that were important to me or suggested in African Hunter II(e.g. only one hunting group at a time, area hunted, style of hunting, etc.). This narrowed it down a lot. Once I was down to a dozen or so contenders, I contacted them all for more info. and built a spread sheet and a ranking scheme based on my priorities (including cost). In my case 3 jumped to the top of the list. I contacted the references of my top ranked operation and after a bit of discussion via e-mail booked the hunt and sent off the deposit. I quite enjoyed the process. I hadn't discovered AR at the time and one thing I would have done was asked the board for comments on the operation.

From what I've seen, travel time to Namibia doesn't have to be any worse than going to RSA. I'll likely be flying first to Frankfurt, then directly to Windhoek. Unfortunately, this is looking like a bloody expensive flight. If you would prefer to spend more time than money, going through RSA may be a lot cheaper.

Good luck,
Dean

Lorenzo, did you hunt with Christie?? I am going there in june. can't wait...how did you make out??

Yes, I hunted with Christie, great place!!
Plenty of game and he is a great chap.

We stay in tents and we have a great time...
Anyone wanting more info just send me an email...wife is yealling I don't know why...something about I have to take a bath NOW or something similar

See you later!!!!

L

Namibia gets my vote. But I hunted Zimbabwe first.
Doug

I'd got to Namibia. My son and I hunted Namibia and RSA last year. We liked Namibia best. We saw one small high fence enclosure for Eland to be released later. We shot 14 animals in ten days. 4 of which will make Rowland Ward. We tented it and stayed in the farmers B&B. Day rate 2x1 was $200. Kudu for $750, Oryx $420. We had a great time.

Namibia.

And, in particular, a communal conservancy, in the wild, open spaces of untamed African wilderness. No fences. I can go further and recommend Classic Safaris with Vaughan Fulton. His concessions cover something just shy of a million acres west of Etosha National Park in the northwest.

Classic Safaris

Don't rule out SA. There are concessions in some of the parks for plains game complete with tented camps, no fences and lions walking past your tent at night. I hunted with CVS Safaris in Pilansburg [not sure of spelling]. Rates are about an extra $200 per day but worth it!

TJ,
A farm hunt is one conducted on one or more farms which may or may not be "high fenced." In some instances, they are working cattle or sheep ranches. In other instances, they are game ranches or game ranches/cattle-sheep ranches. The property owner lets you hunt the animals on his property or property he has leased for hunting. One generally stays at the ranch HQ or sometimes at a tented camp to provide "ambience."

This is as opposed to a concession hunt which is conducted on property owned by the government and leased to the outfitter. Depending upon the country, the outfitter can build a temporary or semipermanent camp in the concession from which you can hunt.

The important thing to remember is to hunt those animals that are indigenous to an area when you are there. As mentioned, mt reed buck and vaal rhebok are native to RSA, and there are no better game animals to be hunted anywhere than these.

The fact that you hunt them on private land behind a fence is immaterial. I promise you, they will be all the challenge you ever wanted, fence or no fence. The same is true with hunting kudu, gemsbok or springbok in Namibia.

I would be willing to bet you, even money, that some 50% of those people who hunt either RSA or Namibia will be back for another hunt. Therefore, the key is to take principal animals in a country or region the first time you are there. If you don't, I will also bet you money, you will be back for the ones you missed. Been there, done that! Kudude

kudude:
Thanks, excellent explanation. We hunted Namibia and RSA. We won't be going back to RSA. Not our cup a tea, thank you.

Iwouldn'r rulew out either one. The RSA has a lot to offer and if you choose carefully you won't get that fenced in feeling. A lot has to do with how much you want to spend and what are your main objectives. Check with several outfitters and check references. Do your homework and you'll come away happy.

As an outfitter operating in Freestate and Limpopo (RSA) I should be advising that you hunt here. Objective advice would be as follows though:
· Re-read both Kukude’s posts
· Book your first hunt in Namibia, doing the basic common game of the area
· Visit Etosha and try to go back via Brandberg down the Skeleton Coast, via Swakop back to Windoek
· Then knowing much more about the set-up in Southern Africa, plan your second safari (there will be one!) on a blank sheet of paper, either in Namibia or RSA.

Enjoy!
Lochi.

Bayou,

Some very good advice here for the first timer. Specifically about doing your homework and getting several proposals and checking references.

I have liked both RSA and Namibia, though in different ways. Namibia is a very large country (size of Texas) with only 2 million people and 80% of the population lives in the tribal areas in the northern portion of the country. So it is very wide open. And even "small ranches" are very large. All of Namibia contains basically the same ecosystem and native game animals kudu, gemsbok, zebra, springbok, eland, blesbok duiker, steenbok and a few places hold good impala. There can be good leopard also. If I go back, I will hunt the large kudu, gemsbok, springbok, leopard and cape eland. The mt zebra is very specific to Namibia and is a very intersting hunt. The trip will include a couple days in Etosha also.

In RSA the ecosystems are very differnt and you can be from high desert like terrain to lush rain forests within the same country and within a days drive. Its pretty amazing, and the variety of game to be hunted is more extensive. I like hunting the Limpopo province because of the thicker forests and close in type hunting, but each person has their own likes and dislikes. Down side to the lush mopane savannah is the insects!

Anyway, good luck with your hunt, the first time will be very special.

BigBullet