Hey guys,

Many of you know my family had to cancel our safari to Namibia that we had been planning for 2+ years, due to some "technical difficulties" with my dad's work and his ignorant boss (now ex-boss thank God). Instead of re-booking again, I am just re-evaluating the safari industry and doing some more research to see what else is available.

Can you guys recommend some good outfitters in the KwaZulu Natal region of South Africa? I've always wanted to go there.......mainly because of the beauty and the Nyala. Any information you could post would be greatly appreciated.

The animal "wish list" includes the following:

Nyala
S.G. Kudu
Eland
Gemsbok
Blue Wildebeest
Black Wildebeest
Red Hartebeest
Bushbuck
Waterbuck
Warthog
Impala
Blesbok

I look forward to hearing some of your suggestions. Thanks.

Madubula Safaris. John & Lauri Abraham. Several great PH's.

Madabula

I will be hunting with Mark Dewet for the 5th time starting Oct 1, 2008. We will be hunting in Natal for 5 days and then on to Zim for 10 days. Mark has access to many properties and will place you on the best properties for the species you want. Your wish list (I think) would take a good two weeks with Mark. He will only get you on true trophy animials. The 5 days scheduled are for Red Duiker and Suni only. I don't think you can take all of your wish list in Natal. Gemsbok, Black Wildebeest and Waterbuck would (I think) be a put and take deal. Marks email is marksafex@icon.co.za. I think Mark is comming in from the bush today and I don't know how long he will be in. The reason I know this is I am needing to talk with him about my up comming hunt.

http://www.southernafricansafaris.co.za/

Try this place if you want a wonderful hunt. I do not receive any compensation for the referral. However, John has promised not to make too much fun of me when I am not present to defend myself.

The PH posts here as 500nitro. John is one of the most professional and organized PHs I have ever hunted with. His qualificaions and connections to the hunting industry in that part of Africa are without question. He has a beautiful low fence huge concession in Natal bordered by traditional Zulu villages. The game populations are incredible and the place is swarming with great nyala. I and my two teenage daughters hunted this concession in 2007. I killed a very nice nyala the first day out and my daughters each took zebra, impala, and blesbok in 3 days of hunting. We saw very good kudu, waterbuck, warthog, bushbuck, duiker, bushpig and blue wildebeest. The accomodations are a 100 year old farm house sitting on a hill overlooking the range of 1000 hills. It is the nicest and best concession I have hunted in 7 trips to Africa.

PM for my phone number if you want a to discuss this option further.

Perry

Although they weren't my outfitters, I did the Natal portion of my hunt with Zululand Hunters. Their Mavela area is just thick with nyala and warthog. Three different outfitters combined their safari companies to make Zululand Hunters.

Looking at your wish list you could probably expect to change areas to get everything on that list, or plan on taking animals introduced into an area.

Eland/gemsbok/hartebeest/black WB are dry area species, eg kalahari

Nyala, bushbuck, warthog are riverine species, eg KZN.

The others are versatile.

There aren't too many places you can find all these on one property, certainly not in Natal which tends to be too wet and tropical for the arid area species.

We do have a 65000 acre property in northern RSA that has them all, except the Black WB. The Nyala and Waterbuck are not plentiful there but they are shootable.

Otherwise, we can line you up with a two-venue hunt. RSA or Zim/KZN. Depends on your priorities. Or perhaps you may decide to make two trips.

Russ is right. A one stop hunt for this wish list is a bit tricky.
We can organise most of the animals here at one venue in KZN, and the Gemsbuck, eland, hartebeest at another ranch up north.

Hey guys........thanks for the suggestions so far. I didn't mean that all the animals had to be hunted on the same property.

I'm not claiming to be an expert on KwaZulu Natal, not by any means. However, I've been told by several PH's that all the species I have on the "wish list" can be hunted there (in self sustaining herds).......not necessarily all on the same property, but all within a reasonable drive, and all in Natal. I could be wrong.

I was also thinking of maybe doing a KZN/Limpopo hunt or a KZN/East Cape hunt. I know many people don't like the eastern cape, due to the presence of many non-native species, but that doesn't bother me. I don't mind non-native species on a property as long as they are self-sustaining and not put-and-take. I have no interest whatsoever in a put-and-take operation.

I am going on my second safari with NB Safaris in the Limpopo region.
I had a perfect hunt. Good people.
www.nbsafaris.co.za

Neil and Karen Barnard are the consummate professionals.

Trophyman

Try www.ntshonalangasafaris.co.za/
These guys are great.

quote:

Originally posted by Trophyman:
I am going on my second safari with NB Safaris in the Limpopo region.
I had a perfect hunt. Good people.
www.nbsafaris.co.za

Neil and Karen Barnard are the consummate professionals.

Trophyman

I'm afraid they are way out of our price range......WOW!!

Eland Slayer
Natal and the Eastern Cape are both very diverse places encompasing diverse habitats. Natal ranges from sub tropical coastal bush through to moutain ranges and where I come from rolling hills interspersed with pockets of bush in the sheltered valleys. A good PH will be able to set you up for all of those species within easy driving distance of Zululand where I suggest you start your hunt. You can then go nothwest towards the Tugela region to finish it off or head South. You will find bigger ranches as you go furthere north, although there are some huge properties in the foothills of the Drakensberg that offer great hunting.
Good luck, and enjoy your hunt. Word from the wise. Spend your days and money hunting, not drivingt the whole country flat. If you want to get around then add days, and a lot of them as you dont want to end up struggling due to being tired.
Best of luck.
Ian

Tugela Game ranch is really excellent

check out these photos.http://huntnetwork.net/modules/myalbum/viewcat.php?cid=&uid=102&orderby=dateA


Also lowlands is really exceptional www.lolands.co.za

Eland Slayer,

I'm stating with some confidence that between myself and 500nitro you can get a very good Eastern Cape and KZN hunt, and at good prices! I endorse what PWN375 said about John.

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

Here is another bump for John Harris and Southern African Safaris. My experience in Africa is limited to one double rugged PAC elephant hunt in Zimbabwe. But I am planning on a trip to see John and hunt plainsgame with him in KZN in August/September 2009. I have looked at so many companies and websites, etc, etc, and just can't imagine they can deliver a safari experience better than Mr. Harris.
Best of luck to you in whatever decision you make.
Brian

I'll double down on the recommendation of Madubula Safaris -- KwaZulu Natal is one of John Abraham's specialty areas. I've hunted with John and each of his PH's on various hunts and have never been disappointed in either the quantity or the quality of the beasts they have found for me to satisfy my wish list. My problem is usually just one of deciding which new animals to add to the list to fill the days remaining on the hunt after everything I originally wanted is in the salt.

I'll be hunting with Madubula in Moz for all of October -- and I know going in that life will be good on that trip.

I've just come back from Natal and a hunt combining Limpopo (possibly North-West Province) and Kwa Zulu Natal might be just what you're looking for...

Here are pictures of some of the species on your wish list taken this season with my outfit...


Blue Wildebeest taken during July this year at my Natal concession


28.5" Nyala - also taken in July at my Natal concession (Nyala is really doing good there this year)


Gemsbok taken during May in Limpopo


Eland taken (also in May) in Limpopo


18" Blesbok taken in May in North-West Province


And a 26" Black Wildebeest taken in May in North-West

quote:

Originally posted by cable68:
Although they weren't my outfitters, I did the Natal portion of my hunt with Zululand Hunters. Their Mavela area is just thick with nyala and warthog. Three different outfitters combined their safari companies to make Zululand Hunters.

Looking at your wish list you could probably expect to change areas to get everything on that list, or plan on taking animals introduced into an area.

this is a good outfit with a lot of concessions.

Eland Slayer,

I had a great time hunting with Chris Troskie this July (My wife's and my 1st trip to Africa) hunting in Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal. We saw a wide variety of game including burchells zebra, blue wildebeest, nyala, kudu, red hartebeest, baboon, reedbuck, impala, and warthog in KZN. We saw gemsbok, eland, kudu, duiker, waterbuck, bushbuck, blue wildebeest, blesbok, springbok, caracal, jackal, ostrich, klipspringer, duiker, zebra, and warthog in Limpopo. I found Chris to be a good hunter and a pleasant companion. All details of the hunt were well organized. Lodges were comfortable in scenic locations and the food excellent. The people we met were to a person courteous and hospitable. Chris and his wife Sabina were excellent hosts and my wife and I will hunt with them again. No other hunting parties were in our camps which we enjoyed.

The Troskie's also arranged touristing in Cape Town for us and we all had a blast in that beautiful city and the surrounding countryside and coast.

I shot a nice nyala and wildebeest (Chris pictured them above), 2 zebras, blesbok, waterbuck, impala, and baboon. I enjoyed my hunt, saw beautiful country (and Emaweni game ranch in KZN is beautiful), and was able to share it all with my wife which was important to me. She enjoyed the trip so much I doubt that I'll be able to return to Africa if I don't bring her! If I can just get her to hunt also...

Best to you on an equally satisfying African hunt for you and your family!

Paul Jones