I am starting to look for locations/outfitter's for a future hunt.

The hunt will be for myself and my wife. Both of us hunt which is part of the problem.

I would like to do a buffalo hunt and she is mainly interested in plains game. With Gemsbok and Kudu being the top of her list.

What areas should I be looking at for a hunt with the species mentioned?

I would also only like to go to 1 area for the duration of the hunt, if possible.

I know that S.A. has these species available but am leary of hunting buff. on some of the smaller ranches.

I have heard that the ranches in the NE part of SA(Limpopo) are larger and have buff on them. Is that true?

Is it better to try and chase buff. in the Limpopo area?

All of the above can be had in the Zambezi Valley

I wouldn't hunt buffalo anywhere in RSA. Too expensive and unless you hunt on some of the concessions that border Kruger, not much on the fair chase standards.

Botswana should be able to offer you buffalo and plains game but it can be relatively expensive.

Zimbabwe is the most cost effective. Many of the Zambezi Valley concessions are a little thin on the plains game populations. So if you want to hunt buffalo and plains game in one area and not charter between camps, you should look at some place like HHK's Lemco ranch or the Save Valley with someone like Roger Whittall or Zambezi Hunters.

Not many Gemsbok in Zimbabwe though. So your wife will have to choose some other plains game.

Regards,

Terry

Graylake,

Namibia has the species that you list however you would have to hunt seperate areas. Buffalo are in the Caprivi Strip and Gemsbok range from the northern Central part (except Caprivi) down through much of the rest of Namibia

Graylake,

Moving from one area to another can be a drag
though, Air Namibia has scheduled internal flights from Windhoek to Katima Mulilo in the Caprivi Strip. A round trip is currently running at N$ 3 578.00 per person, roughly thats U.S. $600.00. This is a considerable saving on the private charters.

Graylake
I don't claim to be an expert, but I believe that you will be hard pressed to find an area with both Gemsbuck and Buffalo. I believe that they prefer different environments. I know that in Botswana the Buffalo are in the north - Okavango Delta and maybe Chobe - while the Gemsbuck is in the Kalahari. Kudu can be found in both areas.
Good Luck
Terry

quote:

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Terry Carr posted 08 February 2005 04:04
I wouldn't hunt buffalo anywhere in RSA. Too expensive and unless you hunt on some of the concessions that border Kruger, not much on the fair chase standards.

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While I crtainly do not want to pick a fight with Terry, as a South African I am simply forced to take issue with this statement.

Now I know that "fair chase" is difficult to describe, but Terry's statement implies that hunting buffalo anywhere that is not bordering KNP will be "not fair chase". [Can one also read in the statement that evrywhere that is bordering KNP will be fair chase? I know of many "canned buffalo hunts presented on small - less than 200 acres - concessions alonmgside the KNP]

FWIW Buffalo used to naturally occur in much of South Africa, and have been re-introduced to areas like western Limpopo. There are a number if very large (fenced) concession areas in western Limpopo where the buffalo will elude and lead the walk-and-stalk buffalo hunter on a very merry chase for days and days on end, until eventually by skill or luck he gets close up. Then these buffalo are as wild and wary as any elsewhere, and can and will kill a hunter just as well as one in Tanzania or Zimbabwe will.

The statement that in South Africa buffalo are too expensive may also be questioned? The trophy fee may be higher, but what about the associated cost in time, money and risk of getting to Zimbabwe, road blocks and the like?

In good hunting,

Andrew McLaren

Andrew,

For the price of one fenced RSA buffalo, I can shoot 3 free ranging unfenced buffalo in Zim on enormous government concessions. And the roadblocks, if there happen to be any, take no more than 1 or 2 minutes to pass. Also, there is less danger in Zim from carjacking or street crime than in RSA.

It is true that RSA had large numbers of buffalo and other dangerous game. But by the year 1700, most of it was shot out. RSA should be commended for bringing back many species in excellent numbers. Yet it is important to recognize the nature of the hunting environment. Not everyone wants to hunt behind a fence, and pay a premium to do so.

Andrew,

I welcome your opinion, that's what makes this board unique. Everyone gets their say without any editing. When I was talking about concessions bordering Kruger, I was talking about Klaserie and Timbavati. Concessions that have unfenced boundaries with Kruger.

I will stand by my statement, RSA is too expensive for buffalo.

I have hunted buffalo in RSA (when I was younger and less informed), in Tanzania and in the Zambezi Valley of Zimbabwe. Personally, I will take the Zambezi Valley over the other two.

But, hell I know people who have taken the Big 5 and never been anywhere but RSA. I feel sorry for them, they don't know what they have missed by not experiencing other parts of Africa. Each to his own.


Regards,

Terry

P.S.
What's the cheapest buffalo hunt in RSA? $20,000? I think that is about the going rate.

quote:

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I would also only like to go to 1 area for the duration of the hunt, if possible.

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Graylake

If you start to put too many specific restrictions on the hunt you then limit your options obviously, so you should be a bit more flexable IMHO ... BUT you are the one making the final decisions, so you are in control of the situation ...

Personally I believe SA ( broadly speaking ) is toooooo expensive for buff .. although there might be exceptions to the rule ...

If you are also (very price concious) then it is another restriction, maybe your question is too open ...

Gemsbok are numerous in Namibia and also to a lesser degree in South Africa ...

Zim's is proberbly you cheapest bet for cape buff ...

My thoughts are be a bit more open minded on the one location aspect, broaden the hunt, and you might find some very good opportunities

At the end of the day you want to have a good happy hunt at a reasonable price expectation and if that means more than one area so be it ... DONT GET HUNG UP too much on the one location is my personal thought ..

If you want some (more realistic offers) and ideas to consider, rather say within reason what you total max budget expection might be for BOTH yourself & wife (excluding) commercial airtravel dip pack ship etc .... then I believe you will get some MUCH more informative answers from us guests.

Thank you to everybody that has replied.

It has given me some good information to think about and answered a few questions that I had.

Sid