Africa - Where to start ??

[M.T. Pockets]

Hunting season is all but done where I live now and I got to thinking of a good reason why I shouldn't hunt in Africa once before I die.

Can anyone point me towards a good place to start planning a hunt in the future (10 years or so). Any good books at all for someone as to what to expect, bring with, and "How to" pick an outfitter, area etc... Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

[mark65x55]

Good books? Try "Horn of the Hunter" "Death in the Long Grass" " Where lions Roar".

I was like you too and thought Africa was out of my reach for a long time. I was a member of SCI for years and still thought I couldn't afford Africa. Then I started talking to PHs and booking agents on the net. After 2 years on planning, research and saving my wife and I went to Namibia this Sept. We're going back in '05!! We'll keep her car a few more years, I bring my lunch every day, we only go out to eat 1 or 2 saturday nights a month, I sold all my rifles I didn't need........... If you want to go there IS a way. E-mail me and I can give you our phs contact info, you want beat his prices and hes a great down to earth guy to hunt with.

Mark

Africa '05!!!!!!

[quigleysharps4570]

Sure wish you could post some pictures.

[mark65x55]

I'm not sure how to post photos but try this link. Take a look a pages 3 - 5.

http://groups.msn.com/20012002Huntin...ox.msnw?Page=3

Mark

Africa '05!!!!

[bigbrother]

Looks like you had a great trip. Congrats on the wonderful trophies. How difficult was that trip to plan and what kind of problems if any did you run into?

[mark65x55]

Really not any problems at all, I booked the hunt direct with our ph and the airfare through gracy travel. The ph and some guys I meet on the net helped me a lot with the planning.

[Steve Franks]

Lordy, I was you, just a short time ago.

To start with I set a budget of $10,000 and it sounded like a bunch of money, till I figured out what the payments would be on that new truck, I thought I needed. Well the old one would last another year! I made payments to myself, along with the down payment and in one year, I had my money.

I met an outfitter/professional hunter at a SHOT show and emailed him for a couple of years, hosted his kids when the came to the States, and he stayed with me when he came to another SHOT show. I KNEW him, so I knew I wasn't going to get ripped off.

I got on line and went to the US State Department website and downloaded the application for a passport. I went to a local travel agency, paid $10 for the passport photos, and took the whole thing to the post office. With the fee, I gave it to the clerk and 3 weeks later had my first ever passport.

For airfares, I again went on line, but finally went straight to SouthAfrican Airlines. It cost $2002 and after I bought the ticket, the best price I found was less then $100 difference.

My biggest expense was rifle powder. My brother, his son, and I needed to get into shooting trim and I was the designated reloader. Whew, never again, but it paid off.

To end this long thread, it was $9200 door step to door step. I spent 15 days in South Africa. I shot six animals, all will make SCI, three will make Rowland Ward (I wasn't after record book animals, just an experience), shot birds, went bass fishing in Zimbabwe, spent 3 days in Kruger seeing elephants, lions, buffalo, saw the Boer and Zulu battle fields, and lived a dream I had since I was five years old and that was a long time ago.

Will I ever go again? Well that old truck, ain't so old or bad after all. It seems it'll hold together another year, so next year, we're going to Zimbabwe for a buffalo and sable hunt. Don't put it off. African politics is changing everyday and regrets is a hellova thing to die with.

[Andrew McLaren]

M T Pockets,

Here is as good a point as any to start picking your hunting outfitter, go to :

http://www.mclarensafaris.com/new_page_3.htm

Then you can read about the Common Steps and proceed to Plains Game.

Some things on this self-made web site are still being worked on, but the Planning section should assist you. Please giev feedback.

Enjoy the planning!

Andrew.

[pomoxis]

I had started with what animal I really want to hunt, for me it was cape buffalo. Then it came down to what country offered the best prices and reasonable daily rates. The next step was picking out a good booking agent to answer all the questions that I had. Sportsman shows is a good place to look, but check out the booking agent as well as you do the safari company. That process took me 3 years.

Next is to set a budget for your plains game or other trophies of opportunity. Since Zimbabwe had the best buffalo deal going I looked for what does that country have that I would not be able to hunt anywhere else. I also wanted a Gemsbok but that was not possible. One animal was available but had limited availability was sable. That way if I hunt Africa in the future I can pick South Africa or Namibia for other plains game that will include gemsbok.

Hunting Africa was everything I expected going there with the expectation of hunting for a few high quality trophies kept the price down to a reasonable level.

[Leadbutt]

I'm surprised that Mark didn't point you over to the accuratereloading site,, pop in there and go to the African forum,, those guys and gals can help out. way beyond your beliefs

[PhilLozano]

Dear Sir,

Basically for plains game, Namibia is the lowest cost.
Then South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, then on to the high end of Tanzania , Zambia and Botswana.

This is in general, and not cast in concrete. You can pick up some good deals sometimes.

Also, it depends on what you want to hunt. For instance, I have seen S.A. Outfitters charge $10,000.00 as the trophy fee on a Buffalo.
On the other hand, I offer a complete hunt at a lower cost.

Also, you should know, Mozambique there are 12 million land mines there not accounted for.

Watch out for 'Bootleg' (unlicensed in the country) P.H.'s in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia and Tanzania, so you avoid problems with Lacey Act violations.

Would be happy to speak with you. Have a look at my web page if you have a chance.

Thanks.

Best,
Phil
Professional Hunter
Web site: www.go-on-safari.com

[Ms. Hunter]

Very interesting links here.

Kinda bumping on old thread but if you are still looking for books, whatever they have some here:

http://www.africanhuntermagazines.com/

Apparently they have changed distribution from Zimbabwe to the US and the shipping is better (only time will really tell).

Good luck. Hunting in Africa is really a thing to have on the list of things to do before you die (doubt I will ever get to).

[vh2q]

For a three page summary of need-to-know stuff, go to this page http://bigfivehq.com/firsttime.html