Does anyone here have an Eastern Cape Outfitter they can recommend? I'd like to do a 2 X 1 with my nephew. This would be his first trip to Africa. I'd like to take a veryl good Cape Kudu, Springbok, White Springbok, and Grey Duiker. For my nephew, we'd like a Springbok, Impala, Warthog and Hartebeest. Thanks

African Field Sports has a Eastern Cape/ Karoo outfit. Never been hunting down there but I hunted with them in Botswana and they are a very professional and honest operator. Mike Murray is the owner/PH. He used to work for Johan Calitz but started his own thing a while back. I would definitely give them a call or email. I believe it is a ranch but IIRC it is a huge ranch. Mike is very honest and a great PH. He will give it to you straight on what can be expected on the property. PM me if you want his email but there is a contact form on the website as well.

http://www.africansports.co.za/

Mike,

My outfitter/PH friend, Owen Smith, has recently relocated his safari hunting operation to Karoo Safaris near Cradock in the Eastern Cape. I've hunted wth Owen twice and am sure that you and your nephew would be very happy with the experience.

While I've not hunted on this new location, as I understand it is an even larger ranch than his previous location [Bethaven Safaris]. But that they will be concentrating on fewer hunters during the season.

All the hunts are booked through Jeff Martinell who is located up in your neighborhood somewhere!

If you want more details please contact me [PM or email], I'd be happy to help you!

Les

Riaan Niemand (who posts here under the handle Riaan ) has several areas, at least one of which is in the Eastern Cape. You should contact him and see what you think. I hunted with him in 2004. Had a GREAT time.

If you'd like you can PM me and I'll give you my phone number if you'd like to talk.

-Steve

Mike,

I went on a plains game safari in May of 04 through Kikuyu Lodge. They are located about an hour out of Port Elizabeth. Had a great time and will hunt with them again in the future. My brother-in-law went with Blaakrantz Safaris, they too are located just out of Port Elizabeth. He and his friend had an excellent time and highly recommend them. Lots of great choices. Make sure you allow a few days in Cape Town....beautiful!!!

mike,in eastern cape i think u consider kerneel scholtz,in port elizabeth,if u like ur self treated like king along with best trophies standard and the best money packages,i hunted twice and shall b going again to him he is the best,his site add is. http://www.bushveldsafari.com
i know u wont regret,regards

Mike,

In 96 I hunted the Eastern Cape at three government reserves which were run by Ian Wilmot, very good outfitter and PH, and a straight shooter. I know he will be at Reno.

Worthwhile to check him out.

Dak

Dak,

I also hunted with Ian Wilmot in 1999.Ian Wilmot The three reserves where great. Which was your favorite? I think Mpufu was my favorite. I heard the Ian has lost the exclusive right to hunt on two if not all three of the preserves.


I am hunting this June with my wife and 11 year old son at Lalapa Safaris, Lalapa Safaris I have hunted with Ray Kemp 3 times in the past and he also will take good care of you.

Mike

http://www.swartkeisafaris.com/
the price brothers are in the eastern cape and i highly recomend them. they run a top knotch outfit and had a great time in 2004

I've got two great outfitters in the EC.

http://www.tjsafari.com

Todd

Check out http://www.blaauwkrantz.com
They have extensive properties plus all sorts of "extra" species available.

Arthur Rudman and sons are top grade.

BNagel

Just wanted to thanks you all for the information you've been kind enough to post here, and also on PMs to me. I'll be sure to check each one out. thanks again.

My brother and I hunted with Swartkei Safaris on our last safari. We can recommend them without reservation. Both of us collected twelve or so animals that made it into the book. We are not "book" hunters. It just worked out that way. They control some huge areas. We saw a property boundry fence once in ten days of hunting. Their accomodations are first class in every way!

When you do decide on who to go with I would be interested to hear your reasoning. Good Luck.

I can pretty much tell you now what I look for. In conversations and emails, I want someone whose personality meshes well with mine. I look for a good area, clean, comfortable accomadations, references who say although they didn't get all they were looking to shoot, but would still go back and hunt with them again. I look for someone who promises that he'll work his tail off to see that I get a shooting opportunity at the animals I'm looking for, but with hunting being hunting, no guarantee. If someone tells me "Oh, no problem, you'll shoot such, and such that will score xxx", I cross that person off my list. If someone guarantees me a certain size animal, it either isn't fair chase, or he blowing smoke up my butt. IMO, I don't see how someone who doesn't know me, can guarantee a certain size animal under fair chase conditions. They don't know if I even know how to load a rifle, let alone if I can shoot well. Price is also a consideration. I'll throw out the highest priced ones (pure economics), and also throw out those who seem rediculously low (something must be wrong here), and go with someone who's in the middle, price wise.

A buddy and I hunted with Blaauwkrantz safaris on the Eastern Cape in 2004. For a first African Rifle safari I'm really not sure how you could find a better outfit. There is plenty of game (more Kudu than you could shake a stick at), huge properties (game was fairly wild and gun hunting was pretty much fair chase), and good brush country to add just the right bit of challenge to a rifle hunt. Both you and your nephew will have a blast.

The animals which you mentioned should not present a problem. However, there are not that many Warthog in this area. But, while I was there one of the hunters in camp shot the biggest warthog that I'd ever seen -- a real monster.

Also, I've been on multiple safaris and have never seen a game processing operation that can equal that of Blaauwkrantz. Got my trophies ready for shipping in record time, and did a superb job in preparation.

Have known quite a few folks who have rifle hunted with the Rudmans and all had very positive things to say about the quality of the hunt.

I wouldn't recommend them for bowhunting, as they are not really set up for it, nor is it something that really interests them. But, for gun hunting you can't go wrong.

BTW -- I am not a booking agent, nor do I receive any type of remuneration for recommending outfitters.

Hope this helps!