My wife, myself and my hunting buddy are headed to Zambia in Sept to hunt with Johnny DuPlooy for 10 days. Laura DuPlooy emailed me and would like to know what species I would like to concentrate on ( a very good and reasonable question). As the price of this adventure seems to be growing everyday over what I originally estimated (hadn't really thought of the cost of shipping and clearing to get trophies back, taxidermy, as well as what I consider to be pretty substantial trophy fee increases since I booked in 2006) I am rethinking what I may shoot. I have a decent income but with a wife who stays at home with three little ones this is definitely on a budget and I am looking for ways to hold the cost down, leaving the wife at home isn't an option We originally booked this as a 10 day buff/hippo/croc/ hunt but I am now thinking about maybe scaling it back to 7 days or reducing the number of animals that I hunt. Buffalo is the reason for the hunt and I still would like to take a hippo, not sure now about the croc. I believe, IIRC, that we can take buffalo plus six species.

Suggestions?

Cheers,
Andy

My advice, assuming it does not cause undo hardship, is don’t change anything. The cost of hunting is going up every year, and in a few years what you spent on this hunt will seem like a bargain.

It is a long way to go to a country that you may never visit again. That area along the Luangwa is a great experience, probably the best glimpse of “rural Africa†that I have yet to encounter. I wouldn’t cut the days short. Especially if you are hunting 2x1.

I could have shot a croc when in Zambia but didn’t, and now doing it as a specialized hunt would/will be quite expensive. I did shoot hippo for lion bait, and while it was the “classic experienceâ€, whacking it in the water was not much of a “huntâ€. If you could catch one on dry land, that would be great, but if not factor this in when considering the croc vs hippo. Again, if you can swing both, do it.

If I cut back, I’d do so on the taxidermy (perhaps just a skull mount of the croc and unique display for the hippo teeth).

Although not much challenge to hunt, I’d take a puku as they are unique to that area. And bushbuck is always on the menu if available. Otherwise, what are you looking at…warthog, impala, duiker, baboon, common waterbuck…maybe a kudu? While these would be fun, they could be taken on any number of future hunts, and this area may not produce the biggest ones. Or, shoot and take picts. Added - The zebra there are shadowless and make great rugs, and worthy of taking if so inclined.

Having hunted them twice and shooting three, I think hyena are one of the most underrated animals to hunt. Trophy fees are usually pretty cheap, and as long as it does not interfere with the other hunting, it offers an experience very similar to that of leopard.

Regards, Bill

10 days is the way to go... Buf hunting will get under your skin... Should be no problem getting a hippo, but the croc take baiting and sitting and waiting to get him and maybe you will be lucky and this is what they look like mounted flat skin mount...

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1411043/m/615103387

Have a great safari...

Mike

If at all possible, stay the course. If I had to drop any animals it would be the croc. That area has a ton of crocs, but in 2006 I didn't see any over 13'. There are a lot of buffalo around, but tell them you'd prefer to hunt a dagga boy as opposed to the herds. That will make your hunt more challenging and probably last longer. If bushbuck is available on a 10 day license, I'd add that. Kudu and Lichenstein's Hartebeast are present in limited number. In 2006 Johnny didn't want anyone to take a waterbuck as the numbers were low.

You'll have a great trip. Lots of lion, leopard and elephants. We even had hippo and elephant in camp at night. Pretty cool.

Andy,

I'm only going to say two things. One you will kick your butt if you shorten your safari. Two you will kick your butt if you go with the idea that you will not take a trophy that presents itself because of money. Go, relax, let the chips fall as they may and just enjoy the trip.

Seems you have a very expensive 450?? Hunt or guns, hunt or guns, hunt or guns. H-m-m-m-m!!!

Mark

I agree with Mark. I took my son over a few years ago. We shot 13 animals in 18 days. It was a great hunt,Zim. and Mozambique. My problem was that we had chances at a couple of good animals. We both could have shot zebras and a large sable, but I thought of the cost of the sable. What a mistake! The price has skyrocketed, and no trophy. Also, once you get your hides and horns back does not mean that they have to be mounted right away.Shoot what you can, save the memories and mount them when you get the money! Good Luck and show us your pics. when you get back.

Be sure to add a lichtenstein hartebeest, chobe bushbuck and a puku to your list. I'd also take a sable before their prices go even higher before you can get back to Africa. Tell your wife you'll pay for all this by driving your car or truck another three or four years before trading it in.

As others have said you get ordinary game such as kudu, impala, etc. in Namibia and South Africa at more reasonable prices.

Bill Quimby

There are a couple of animals there in the Valley that don't exist anyother place. I would not go to Zambia without takeing a good COOKSON'S WILDEBEAST, and a PUKU Buffalo are pleantiful in the Valley, and the sugestion to hunt the DAGABOYs is a good one. The Hippo are large in the Luangwa, but if you want one on dry land you will have to watch a pod of them at dark, and watch which side of the river they go out on, and try to ambush them coming back to water at sunrise. That takes time, so does Dagaboy hunting, so I wouldn't do less than ten days. The zebra there are the pure black & white Brechel's and are worth taking. There are good lion in the vally, but the best is the Leopard. They are so numerous that you see them in braod daylight.
If you can hunt a few days in the Bangwelu there are Sittitunga, and black lechwe, also rare.

For me I would not reduce the days but I would not hunt the Croc.

Hunting is all about relationships and the most important relationship is with the bank manager

mine knows me so well that he can see on my account if ive been hunting because i have overdrawn my account. the telephone conversation goes like this:

Hi Rudi i see you have been hunting this week.

how do you know

Your account is overdrawn

No problem I will send you some biltong

100% i will let it go this time

I absolutely agree with Mark Young’s valuable advise. It is hard to get a 13 Footer Croc in Luangwa, if you find one nail him. In addition Cookson wildebeest, Puku and lichtenstein Hartebeest should all be on your list.

I also double that there are lots of other better places where you can shoot Kudu, Impala and waterbuck and you can easily drop them without loosing much.

Hunt whatever you can get and don't add the money, another way to save a lot of money on such a trip is to ship the hides but only do the taxidermy work when your budget allows it again.

It will work out much more expensive to skip an animal and tell yourself that you will bag it next time.

Another trip another time another airfare another shipment and higher fees.

just a budget note: remember that the payments are spread out over a period of time. Your airfare, deposit etc, comes in months before the main costs, then the shipping taxidermist etc. come in much latter. it does make it easier to budget. I don't know if this is your first hunt or not, but the camps on the river are one of the most beautiful in africa. i doubt if you'll ever see more hippo or crocs than on the there. if this isn't your first hunt or if you have more planned, like the guys are telling you, there are crooksons wildbeast thee, and it's he only place you can obtain one. puku are all over the place and are cheap. you have to decide, after all its your hunt and money not ours. One more note: the taxidermy can always be put off for another year or two.

adrook,

Day rates are cheaper than trophy fees, at least for the glamour game. If it were me, I'd regret reducing the number of hunting days. Instead I'd up my trophy standards a fair bit. The tighter the budget, the higher the standard. This would likely mean shooting fewer animals but still be hunting at sunset on the last day.

As mentioned above, euro mounts are cheaper. You might offset the cost a bit more by finding a taxidermist to do them that is interested in trading for or buying your capes.

Cheers,
Dean

Andy- I hunted there last year for 21 days and you will love the place and experience. I skipped the hippo. SBT got one and that is all we needed for cat bait. If you are not going to hunt any cats, you can forgo the hippo, it is not very exciting. As SBT said, we did not see any big crocs so we both went without shooting one.

I agree that Cookson's Wildebeest is a must and there is only a few places where you can get a Yellow Baboon, the Luangwa is one of them. Concentrate on a Dugga boy, that is a superior hunt!!

Good luck on whatever you decide but as the others have said, don't short yourself, sooner or later you will look back and say to yourself, "If only I had......"

John

I hunted in Zambia during late July and early August of this year in the Mukungula area of Zambia with Boetie Bothma. Be absolutely sure what animals are allowed on the hunt. I was furnished information saying certain animals were allowed on a 7, 10, 14 and 21 day hunt. When we arrived in camp we were given a different list. The latter was a bit more lax.

I killed a buffalo, puku, waterbuck and warthog in 9 days of hunting. My partner killed a impala and puku in 9 days of hunting.

Remember you can borrow money, you can not borrow time. No one every went to there grave saying "gee I really wish I had not shot that animal or taken that trip"

Lot's of luck.

H Kittle

I hunted the Chanjuzi and Nyaminga concessions with Muchinga Adventures last year on the exact same hunt you booked. I filed a hunt report on it and I am sure you can track it down if you want details of the area and game. SBT and 30-06 followed us in and it was great to meet them there. We all thought the area had lots of game and was a gas to hunt!

I agree with Mark and Bill, I know the pressure of finances, believe me, but if you have paid for the hunt and the airfare... don't skimp and not shoot an animal that is available on license or shorten your trip because of the cash... the expensive part of the hunt is already paid for! You will regret not taking a croc or other trophy if you see a good one and pass because of the cost... remember the banker's creed "it's not how much it costs, it's how much it costs a month"!

Seriously, cut your taxidermy costs but not what you shoot. European mounts and pictures are just as impressive as shoulder mounts! And they last longer! I have a friend who hunts Africa every year and brings back nothing but memories and pictures... saves himself thousands of dollars... its not MY deal, I like bringing horns and capes back but it works for him and might for you.

Go and have the time of your life... as Bill said you will see Africa and all of her wonders in the Luangwa Valley. It truly is one of the last great, wild places in Africa. Enjoy!

One other animal you should consider taking while in Zambia is a Crawshay defassa waterbuck.

Bill Quimby

quote:

As the price of this adventure seems to be growing everyday over what I originally estimated (hadn't really thought of the cost of shipping and clearing to get trophies back, taxidermy, as well as what I consider to be pretty substantial trophy fee increases since I booked in 2006)

Do I understand correctly, you cut a deal and paid a deposit in 2006 and now the prices are higher? In that case, I would hunt zero days with this outfitter.

Yes, prices go up over the years but once the deposit is paid, the hunt is locked in (except perhaps for some gov't fees and taxes and shipping of trophies which is normally outside the deal.)

Buff/hippo/croc - Zambia is not the only country that offers those species. The only compelling reason to pay Zambian prices is to hunt lion. You can hunt buff/hippo/croc in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and even RSA and Namibia if you know where to go.

Zambia has become a very expensive country due to the incredible rebound of their currency. No reason to go there unless you have to have one of the unique species or for Lion.

quote:

Do I understand correctly, you cut a deal and paid a deposit in 2006 and now the prices are higher? In that case, I would hunt zero days with this outfitter. Yes, prices go up over the years but once the deposit is paid, the hunt is locked in (except perhaps for some gov't fees and taxes and shipping of trophies which is normally outside the deal.)

Russ - Just so I am clear, if the gov't raises the trophy fees, and your booked hunters are "contracted" at a lower trophy fee, you and/or your outfitters eat the increase? I thought all contracts these days, at least for countries which have such a program in place, stipulated that trophy fees may increase if the gov't raises the costs. Or perhaps you do not book for Zambia and Tanzania, and as such this has not impacted you?

Also, you are stating that it is possible to do a buff/hippo/croc hunt in Botswana for less then in the Luangwa (Zambia)?

Regards, Bill

You should never go to africa for less than ten days. It takes that long to get adjusted. I agree that Zambia is not the cheapest place to hunt buffalo but you will be hunting in a wild and classic hunting area. If this your only trip shoot a puku and leave the hippo and the crock in the river.

I thought he was saying the trophy fees were changing but not the daily rates?

Back to the question...are you going to Zambia and NOT trying for a sable? Sure, they are more expensive there but that's because they're BIGGER! That's the main reason why I would go to Zambia over Zim...if I were to do so.

I probably should have been more clear. The trophy fees are what has increased since 2006, these are outside of my contract and beyond Johnny's control. The other costs I was referring to are things like shipping trophies, etc (also outside of my contract) that I hadn't really thought about what the magnitude of the cost would be, but it's all good. As far as the cost of the safari itself the cost is comparable to the other buff hunts I looked at and I will be hunting with a very well-respected outfit (Johnny DuPlooy Muchinga Adventures). I have decided to keep it at 10 days, shoot the animals I want and if I go over my budget so what, I'll eat peanut butter sandwiches for a while.

Yukon,

I thought about sable but Johnny has no quota for them in the Luangwa this year and they are restricted to 14 and 21 day safaris.

Cheers,
Andy

Andy,

I promise you will thank yourself many times over.

Mark

quote:

Russ - Just so I am clear, if the gov't raises the trophy fees, and your booked hunters are "contracted" at a lower trophy fee, you and/or your outfitters eat the increase?

Yes, I sold a Zim PAC ele hunt last year for $5K including success fee and even though we have increased the price on this hunt to $7500 for this year, due to the fact that the deal we have with the local District Council has changed, our hunter is paying $5K. I have another guy who didn't book til this same hunt until this year but we charged him $6500 because that's what the PH told him verbally last year when he was out. I also just booked an Nyala/PG hunt for 2010 at this year's price list, and we will honor those prices, and have quoted a Buff/Ele/Croc/Hippo hunt for 2008 at this year's prices. Yes, some of these hunts are on private land so the gov't is not involved, but that's not the point. If the price changes for any reason, be it the market price or a renego of the concession agreement or government fiat, we don't feel it's right to pass that on. We put the day rates and the trophy fees in the booking confirmation that we issue when the deposit is received. And that's the basis for the bill at the end of the hunt.

We don't book in Zambia, but we do book in Tanzania. As well as Botswana, Moz, Zim, Namibia, RSA, Benin and Cameroon.

I don't know what a buff/croc/hippo hunt costs in Zambia but based on the couple of quotes I have received from that country, it's up there with Tanzania. And the guy we book for in Bots only does PG and PAC or Trophy Elephant, so I can't answer your second question. Perhaps you know the answer Bill? We do offer buff, hippo and croc in Zimbabwe at $750 per day plus trophy fees that are in the $2500-2750 range for these species. If you booked today and paid your deposit, that's what you would pay for next year. And the year after. The outfitter is getting the use of the money during this time, so there should be some consideration for that. Now if there was some cataclysmic event, for example if the dollar went completely tits-up, or if civil war erupted and the concession turned into a war zone, that's a force majeure situation and we would refund the deposit if we couldn't agree on a new deal. But normal cost of business increases aren't a reason to retroactively revise a deal, esp. when you are sitting on the client's deposit.

Anyone who books a hunt and pays the deposit with the trophy fees left wide open to "adjustment" either doesn't care about the cost, or is naive. Ask all those guys who were horrified last year when the Tanz. outfitters tried to pass on the govt increases after they had booked (and were about to board a plane in some cases).

quote:

If the price changes for any reason, be it the market price or a renego of the concession agreement or government fiat, we don't feel it's right to pass that on. We put the day rates and the trophy fees in the booking confirmation that we issue when the deposit is received. And that's the basis for the bill at the end of the hunt.

That is an admirable policy, and being able to lock-in should be comforting to prospective clients, especially those booking gov't controlled concessions. I do not know what a buff/croc/hippo hunt currently costs in Botswana, hence my question. Thanks for the reply/clarification. Regards, Bill

Andy....sent you a PM. I'm also booked with John in Sept.

Gary
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