Even though the third trip isn't here, it's never too early to think about the fourth. Come August I will have been to Botswana three times. All three in the Okavango plus one visit to the Kalahari. Where, than do I go for the fourth trip? Do I continue with my Botswana odyssey, perhaps finding new areas to explore in the same country, or do I shift to Tanzenia, Zim or Namibia. Perhaps something really exotic like Ethiopia? Ignore for the moment the question of trophy. I'm sure that there are desirable trophies in each place that you would care to hunt. The question is; Do you prefer to explore one country as fully as possible or would you rather bounce around to see what the next country has? If you would rather stay put, in which country would you like to stay? If you would rather roam around, wher would you go next?
What's your preference?
I'm bored. I rather think about where to go than which type of underware you are wearing.

TerryR

Terry Try Tanzania! It has it all!. CHEERS

Terry,

How about trying something differant such as Benin or Burkina Faso in west africa? Or Cameroon or CAR?

There would be some differant animals for you, and very differant culture compaired to east/southern africa.

Terry, if you are thinking of Burkina Faso do some homework. I hunted there and would never go back, plus only French is spoken there. I only met one person that spoke English, it was over 105% every day and not much game. CHEERS

Tanzania, Zambia or Ethiopia.

I haven't been to the latter two countries but I really want to visit one day.

I haven't even been on my first, and I'm already thinking ahead to future trips.

My general plan is to go to different countries over time for different animals.

I think I will bounce around and explore all the countries completely.. No, sorry, that was J. Mellon, not me..
I would like to se as many different places and countries, and hunt as many different species as possible. Have been to RSA once. If I go back, I will try to visit another part.
No offense, but for me it sound a bit boring (not the right word actually) to visit one country time after time...
Try a new country TerryR! Good luck!

Terry,

I think the animals you want and your budget would be the determining factors when it comes to a country to hunt. Botswana has great elephant and the red lechwe. Other than that they don't have much that cannot be hunted somewhere else cheaper and with perhaps better trophy quality unless you can afford a $130,000.00 lion. Zim and Mozambique probably deliver the most bang for the buck. Zambia and more so Tanzania have a bunch of animals not found to south.

For me Ethiopia looms on the horizon at least in my dreams. I hope I can put that one together before I'm broke or too old.

If you'd like to talk about some of these places contact me anytime.

Regards,

Mark

What you didn't tell us is whether money is any object. Tanzania and Ethiopia are dear. Namibia is not. South Africa is generally dear and often boring with too small, enclosed hunting spaces and you expected to shoot from a vehicle (yes, yes no doubt exceptions abound and you get the same nonsense in Namibia with some PHs...).

So, ease over to Namibia, see if you can find a congenial PH/Landowner and try Mrs. Hartmann's Mountain Zebra, Eland, black-faced impala (can't bring the trophy back to the USA yet), duiker, damara dik dik (assumption is that you have a gemsbok from the Kalahari) and enjoy the best dry and desert scenery outside of Botswana with Windhoek far more charming than Gaborone and the South African wine as good as in Botswana.
Regards

Move on, you'll never regret it. CAR, Ethophia, who knows maybe the Sudan(it was great once upon a time!), Tanzania, Zim to save a buck. Zambia, but lions are high there also.

In my opinion it becomes a real quandry.. you develop relationships with good people that you would like to visit/hunt with again, but (at least for me) there is always the tug of what is over the next hill.. for me it isn't really a matter of "the grass is greener" but a matter of "what color is the grass over there that I haven't seen yet?"

Mike

Too bad you have been going to the most beautiful part of Africa for the last three trips, makes topping it a bit hard!

TerryR;

I too had the quandary you are having about going somewhere other than Botswana. My first 2 safaris ('96 & '97) were to the Okavango, I thought I'd never have to go anywhere else, since I had found heaven! I didn't think anywhere could measure up to my dreams as much as the Delta did.

When I made the decision to hunt lion, Botswana wasn't an option, so I went to Tanzania in 2001. Once I was there, I was niavely suprised at the wonderful differences between that and Botswana. I learned that a 21-day safari in Tanzania allows for a wider selection of species to hunt and an opportunity to enjoy the cultural differences as well.

I returned to the Okavango for my 2004 safari to hunt elephant. I still really love the beauty of Botswana, and nothing will ever replace the thrill of hunting a buffalo from a mocuro. I reserve the idea that I will continue to return periodically, in between adventures elsewhere... I guess, like coming home to my first love and the place I first attained an African Addiction!

This summber I'm booked for Mozambique. The promise of a camp on the Indian Ocean, sable and buffalo. I hope to add new hunting lessons to my education process and new experiences for my memory bank.

Now my quandary is finding the time (I don't think a life time will do)and money to experience all the places in Africa (and maybe the rest of the world) that people mention on this Forum.

In the end, I don't think I will ever be regret or be disappointed where ever I go in Africa (whether it is the same or a different country). It's all better than working and growing old in a rocking chair!

Best regards, D. Nelson

I haven't been to Botswana but if I could afford it my first choice would be Ethopia.

If you are a spiral horned antelope fanatic then you should explore Central Africa, namely the countries of Chad, CAR and Cameroun. In Chad they have a sub-species of Greater Kudu (maybe Craig Boddington would like to chime in on this one. Last time I was in Chad I stopped by a PH's house in Ndjamena and watched a video of Craig on a hunt there). Chad also has a species of sheep whose name I can't remember. In CAR you have Derby Eland, also in Cameroon. And then there is Bongo in Cameroon and maybe in CAR. Also the buffalo in CAR, while not as big a trophy as the Eastern Africa variety, have a reputation for being downright ornery. You won't see nearly as much game in these countries as in Eastern or Southern Africa but it ain't ranch hunting, that's for sure. Lastly there is Burkina Faso which has Roan Antelope (the poor man's Sable) and those ornery buffalo again. There are no bargain hunts in these countries but there aren't all high end either. Most of the PH's speak English.

Why not book a hunt in Ethiopia now as you'll almost certainly find a waiting list of at least 2 years and probably more and in the meantime go to Tanzania.