Thanks TJ, though I was kinda brief on the report. There are a lot of places to hunt -- and I'm really glad I went. Unless you have contacts or know somebody, a hunt out West would have cost me more for one 'possible' Elk or Muley than my entire Africa hunt. I can't believe what they're getting. Price per animal is the conservation (or trophy) fee, and the charge is not determined by size, weight, etc. Namibia has a well run program where mature animals are taken to keep the population in check and under control.
When you hunt Africa, you'll have a daily guide fee, most places in this fee will be lodging and food. Then the conservation fee for each animal. I checked dozens of outfitters out, I did all the work myself and didn't go through a 'middle man' when I booked. I had references, I talked with people who hunted with the PH, prices were really good. Just whittled down to a 'top 3' that I thought any of them were in my range and what I wanted to hunt for.
My PH was T. Goldbeck, of Astra Jagdfarm, his website is:
ASTRA
Prices vary from place to place dependent on how many certain animals are there, and since the US $ is so weak overseas, prices will increase. Trophy fees: Zebra $900, Impala $800, Hartebeest $400, Kudu, Oryx were $600, Warthog $250, etc. There is a price list at the web site. All told, my bill was $5400 plus airfare (12 days). OK, so it's chunk a change for the average working man, but I would go back in a heartbeat.
It is hard to say if another caliber would have affected the outcome of my hunt. Africa is Africa -- ranges are sometimes on the long side, animals moving, brush in the way etc. I went with the .375 so I'd have more leeway on end to end shots or those not broadside, and I'm glad I did. Yes, a .270 or '06 works, but I wouldn't have taken any iffy shots with those calibers, especially for Zebra, they are tenacious. You could take two rifles, but the weight limit was so strict on the airline, especially since we all took shotguns to hunt birds with, that it wouldn't have worked for me. I was at 20kg weight limit just with the rifle/SG packed, my clothes I took as carryon. Two sets of clothes plus what I wore was it, and good binoculars, sunscreen, don't forget chapstick either, and small portions of soap, shampoo etc.
Waidmannsheil is a tradition from Germany/Europe, meaning good hunting or good luck in your hunt. There are a lot of customs and traditions here that I feel are sometimes lacking in the states, but that's another story, including respect to the animals taken and hunted.
Glad to hear your interested. I just read the forward in North American Hunter a few days ago, if you get that magazine that puts a little perspective into hunting Africa also! Dom.