Posted: 6/4/2010 9:11:26 AM EDT
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I'm looking to do a first hunting safari in Africa and would like some advice. I've read through all of the threads here, and some of you have had some amazing experiences.
I would like to go for a 7-8 day trip. Probably alone. I'd love to take a Kudu and a Zebra, but am not committed to any other animals. No dangerous game or Big 5; probably a total of 4 animals. Location - Right now I'm leaning towards South Africa. Is there someplace better? Any recommendations for companies there? Timing - My work schedule is such that I can't really go until October or November. Is that going to create a problem, or is it still early enough into the summer that it's okay? Pricing - I'm budgeting $10k including airfare but not including taxidermy charges. This seems doable looking at the prices I'm seeing online. I'd like to get a business class ticket, but that may push it to $12k. Gun - I've got a Remington 700 in 30-06 with a Leupold VXII 3-9x50, which I suppose would work. I'd prefer a .375 H&H and may buy one ahead of time, but have seen that some of the safari companies will rent/loan guns. Anybody done that? Walking - I've got a permanently messed up left ankle and leg. I'm fine with getting around, but if I'm on my feet more than 3-4 hours I will be in serious pain the next day. How much actual stalking and walking is typically involved with plains game? On your feet all day? Riding some and stalking some? Any other general advice? Thanks in advance! |
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Quoted:
I'm looking to do a first hunting safari in Africa and would like some advice. I've read through all of the threads here, and some of you have had some amazing experiences. I would like to go for a 7-8 day trip. Probably alone. I'd love to take a Kudu and a Zebra, but am not committed to any other animals. No dangerous game or Big 5; probably a total of 4 animals. Location - Right now I'm leaning towards South Africa. Is there someplace better? Any recommendations for companies there? South Africa is a great place for a first plainsgame safari. Pieter Kriel http://www.huntinginafrica.co.za/package_deals.htm Timing - My work schedule is such that I can't really go until October or November. Is that going to create a problem, or is it still early enough into the summer that it's okay? It will be hot by then. Pricing - I'm budgeting $10k including airfare but not including taxidermy charges. This seems doable looking at the prices I'm seeing online. I'd like to get a business class ticket, but that may push it to $12k. Very doable for $10K Gun - I've got a Remington 700 in 30-06 with a Leupold VXII 3-9x50, which I suppose would work. I'd prefer a .375 H&H and may buy one ahead of time, but have seen that some of the safari companies will rent/loan guns. Anybody done that? 30-06 is a very good plainsgame caliber as long as you use the right bullet. 180 grain bullets work very well for the larger animals. Kriel has a .375 that he will loan to you for the hunt if you want to use a .375. Walking - I've got a permanently messed up left ankle and leg. I'm fine with getting around, but if I'm on my feet more than 3-4 hours I will be in serious pain the next day. How much actual stalking and walking is typically involved with plains game? On your feet all day? Riding some and stalking some? The actual walking part of a stalk is rarely longer than an hour for plainsgame. You do a lot of glassing from the high seat in the back of the truck and then get off and stalk when you spot something interesting. Any other general advice? Go to Accuratereloading.com in the African Hunting Forum and ask for references. Pieter Kriel is well known there. Thanks in advance! Best regards and have a great hunt. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I'm looking to do a first hunting safari in Africa and would like some advice. I've read through all of the threads here, and some of you have had some amazing experiences. I would like to go for a 7-8 day trip. Probably alone. I'd love to take a Kudu and a Zebra, but am not committed to any other animals. No dangerous game or Big 5; probably a total of 4 animals. Location - Right now I'm leaning towards South Africa. Is there someplace better? Any recommendations for companies there? South Africa is a great place for a first plainsgame safari. Pieter Kriel http://www.huntinginafrica.co.za/package_deals.htm Timing - My work schedule is such that I can't really go until October or November. Is that going to create a problem, or is it still early enough into the summer that it's okay? It will be hot by then. Pricing - I'm budgeting $10k including airfare but not including taxidermy charges. This seems doable looking at the prices I'm seeing online. I'd like to get a business class ticket, but that may push it to $12k. Very doable for $10K Gun - I've got a Remington 700 in 30-06 with a Leupold VXII 3-9x50, which I suppose would work. I'd prefer a .375 H&H and may buy one ahead of time, but have seen that some of the safari companies will rent/loan guns. Anybody done that? 30-06 is a very good plainsgame caliber as long as you use the right bullet. 180 grain bullets work very well for the larger animals. Kriel has a .375 that he will loan to you for the hunt if you want to use a .375. Walking - I've got a permanently messed up left ankle and leg. I'm fine with getting around, but if I'm on my feet more than 3-4 hours I will be in serious pain the next day. How much actual stalking and walking is typically involved with plains game? On your feet all day? Riding some and stalking some? The actual walking part of a stalk is rarely longer than an hour for plainsgame. You do a lot of glassing from the high seat in the back of the truck and then get off and stalk when you spot something interesting. Any other general advice? Go to Accuratereloading.com in the African Hunting Forum and ask for references. Pieter Kriel is well known there. Thanks in advance! Best regards and have a great hunt. HTG is dead on - these were exactly my experiences for the PG hunt I just finished (my first hunt in Africa) - save rifle. I took my light 700 in .308, Shepard 3x10 - its familiar and worked perfectly. 30-06 is ubiquitous for plains game tho. I did have one long stalk. I wasn't giving up on this Springbok. Also had a couple of long mornings hunting Duiker on foot through thick brush. Either could have been avoided - but I enjoyed the time on foot. I find traveling on well regarded foreign carriers to be much more enjoyable than US carriers. Flew Business Class on SAA - recommend highly. You may be able to find a deal if you look far enough ahead. Even in Mid Sept to Oct - there's plenty of warm days, and some rain. |
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Quoted: Fly on one of the big national carriers. I've had good experience on Lufthansa and British Airways. The former would probably be better for traveling with firearms. AFAIK all BritAir to SA requires a stop in Heathrow. Besides being well out of the way, no way in hell my guns go through the UK. Lufthansa is the same - Munich if going to Cape Town or a couple of German cities if Jo'burg. Almost all the Euro Carriers fly to a Euro-Hub then South. Can add a good deal of time - but the accommodations are decent. The only direct flights are Delta outta Atlanta and SAA - tho the "direct flight" from Dulles requires a non-disembarking stopover in Dakar. 17 hour flight time - but they feed you well, and I can sleep in a drum factory. I used a Travel Agency that specializes in African travel - they found a better deal than I could. But I've had a good deal of intra-country travel. IM me and I can give you the info if you'd like. I had some last minute changes that they took care of without difficulty. |
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Quoted:
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Fly on one of the big national carriers. I've had good experience on Lufthansa and British Airways. The former would probably be better for traveling with firearms. AFAIK all BritAir to SA requires a stop in Heathrow. Besides being well out of the way, no way in hell my guns go through the UK. Lufthansa is the same - Munich if going to Cape Town or a couple of German cities if Jo'burg. Almost all the Euro Carriers fly to a Euro-Hub then South. Can add a good deal of time - but the accommodations are decent. The only direct flights are Delta outta Atlanta and SAA - tho the "direct flight" from Dulles requires a non-disembarking stopover in Dakar. 17 hour flight time - but they feed you well, and I can sleep in a drum factory. I used a Travel Agency that specializes in African travel - they found a better deal than I could. But I've had a good deal of intra-country travel. IM me and I can give you the info if you'd like. I had some last minute changes that they took care of without difficulty. My only advice is make sure you have $1k-$2k in bribe/emergency money. Not joking. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Fly on one of the big national carriers. I've had good experience on Lufthansa and British Airways. The former would probably be better for traveling with firearms. AFAIK all BritAir to SA requires a stop in Heathrow. Besides being well out of the way, no way in hell my guns go through the UK. Lufthansa is the same - Munich if going to Cape Town or a couple of German cities if Jo'burg. Almost all the Euro Carriers fly to a Euro-Hub then South. Can add a good deal of time - but the accommodations are decent. The only direct flights are Delta outta Atlanta and SAA - tho the "direct flight" from Dulles requires a non-disembarking stopover in Dakar. 17 hour flight time - but they feed you well, and I can sleep in a drum factory. I used a Travel Agency that specializes in African travel - they found a better deal than I could. But I've had a good deal of intra-country travel. IM me and I can give you the info if you'd like. I had some last minute changes that they took care of without difficulty. My only advice is make sure you have $1k-$2k in bribe/emergency money. Not joking. LOL - Ive traveled extensively, in interesting places, and I'll admit to paying the odd 'expediting fee'. A sawbuck maybe, but nothing like $1k - for multiple crossings. Must have better luck. Not a bad idea to have some cash for emergencies. If you (or someone you trust) know what you're doing there can be use otherwise. If you don't, better not to fool with recalcitrant border guards or corrupt police. In SA this isnt normally an issue and from the gents I spoke to - becoming less so. The new airline security company that handles firearm transit is the result of some previous minor, isolated graft. The new firm seems to be entirely free of this kind of thing. One thing not mentioned, I would look into MedJetAssist or some other medevac firm. Cheap and invaluable if you need it. its just evac and not insurance tho - you may want to have some sort of travelers plan in place as well. |
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Quoted: Namibia is an incredible value as well. Accurate Reloading is a great resource too for information, deals, etc. Good luck, have fun, and prepare to go back again and again (at least in your mind). This Gras Hunting Ranch. http://huntersquest.com/namibiaranch.html I had a GOOD time... http://www.zingelasafaris.com/album/hunters/GeorgeCottell/index.html   I need to go back! |