Walking Safaris

I am looking at doing "walking safaris" on a ranch in South Africa. We start out each morning from a camp in the center at sunrise and spend the day out on foot with no vehicle assistance until something is hunted. You get to spend 6-10 days out in our tented camp and really get to know the bush and get in touch with nature. Anyone with thoughts on what they would like to see in such a safari should please feel free to make comment. Also if there are those amoung you that have experienced a "foot safari" I would be interested to know how your experience compared to other you may have been on.
Looking forward to your comments
Ian

Just to let you all know, the Walking Safari price lists are now up with some images of the camp etc. These are extremely well priced African Adventures and will give you an opportunity to experience something quite unique in South Africa.
Just make sure you pack your boots and some good socks.

Check out the link here Walking Safaris South Africa

Hello Ian, this sounds like a very interesting safari. I am already booked for this year but I will keep it in mind for next year. Jim

Ian,

This is exactly the kind of safari I have in mind when I think about an African Safari. However, only being a seinor in college it will probably be a few years before I could afford any African Safari. I will definetly keep you in mind when I am ready to start the application process!

Hi Joe

Glad that it appeals to you as these are my favorite kind of hunts to guide.

Send me an e-mail to mail@africanbushsafari.com and we can chat. I am pretty sure that you could easily have a great hunt without breaking the bank. Just a suggestion, start watching all the airlines and snap up a bargain bin ticket. Most of them can be stretched out for a few years on the open end so you could just get your dream safari at half price.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Ian

Hi Ian

Walking is the best way to hunt and applaud you promoting real hunting in this manner. Having hunted near Mkuze I know your terrain and vegetation makes the hunt all the more challenging. By the way I am still at a loss how the spelling Hluhluwe sounds like (chess louie)

Hello, I am seeing that ye are talking about price Safari. I live in Spain and the truth, I not I spend now nothing in a hunting of this kind, but I know: all inclusive (travel, safaris, any rates etc.) do how leaves a safarí of the more cheap?. I cannot do a safari now, but I have pure curiosity. Thank you and forgive the inconvenience,

Oscar.

Hi Oscar, A safari usually involves paying daily rates for each day you are hunting in Africa. Then there is the trophy fees for the animals you shoot or wound and never find. The taxidermy and preparation of the animals back to Spain is a seperate cost. Usually you have to pay travel expenses before and after a hunt.

There are a lot of package deals for safaris out there that are all inclusive...except for a few things...and they are minor problems for the most part.

I bought read a lot about Africa and ask a lot of questions. I think this step helps a lot...do a lot of research.

Good Luck.

ABS, went to your site and since you are located in Northeast Natal, do you have Suni and Red Duiker? They were not on your list of game available. Where are you in relation to Hluhluwe?

Ian,
Is it the "walking" style that you think will be attractive or is there some other significant savings to be had? I seems the outfitter's costs would be effected very little by the cost of vehicle operations. The reduction of cost from additional smaller camps and staff would be a significant savings as would the need for a smaller concession.

I don't know, I've always thought I walked a lot on a traditional safari. Good luck I'll be interested in hearing how this comes out.

Wow Ian, this is right up my line of hunting. After toughing Alaska every other year for America's dangerous game, i would love to do the same in Africa. Although I'm not as spry as I was in my twenties and "Office Ass" has begun to set in, I have always enjoyed my trophies that came with the hard day and good stalk, not to mention the food tastes better, you sleep harder and truly get the feel of the land.

Good luck on your endeavor and I look forward to following your successes!

I would be interested in more detail, how large is the property, fenced? some of the details.

Hi Guys
Really sorry for not getting back to you sooner.
Between hunting and the fact that we have had terrible service from our ISP I have been a tad bit out of reach. Thanks to a new tower though I now have phone signal and a cell modem so things are back on line.

Getting back to the replies.
I am glad to see there are so many of you interested in my Walking Safaris. I will try and answer all the questions posted but if there are any not covered please e-mail me directly on mail@africanbushsafari.com and I will reply directly ( and quickly this time )

1. The property I use is in the Northwest Province near Vryburg
2. It is 6000ha ( 12 000 acres ) in size
3. It has external game fencing only (60km of it), no internal fences
4. Accomodation is from a central tented camp, each day we set out on foot from camp hunt in a direction, I radio ahead and get lunch dropped at a good spot for a bite and a seista. We then continue after the rest for the afternoon hunt and make our way back to camp for sun downers and a well earned rest
5. Hunting days are planned around the clients comfort and fitness. Even the physically challenged can enjoy my style of hunting. There is a hell of a lot of game on the farm
6. Estimated game populations
Eland 500
Blesbuck 1800
Gemsbuck 650
Springbuck 250
Tsessebe 300
Warthog (Lots)
Kudu 300
Giraffe 18
Zebra (Hartmanns)
Red Hartebeest 300
7. Prices are really reasonable - African Bush Safaris is dedicated to bringing more, ethical hunters, to Africa. With this in mind we keep our prices to the lowest we can and hunt properties that allow us to do this where the land owners share our vision for the future of African hunting and its role in conservation.

All prices now in Rands.

Blesbuck – R 2 000
Red Haartebees – R 6 500
Tssesebe – R 9 500
Gemsbuck – R 6 500
Kudu – R 7 000
Eland – R 11 000
Zebra (Hartmanns) – R 20 000
Warthog – R 1 000

There are a lot of other species in the area and we can accomodate most any requests, its a great all round hunting destination so the sky is the limit.

Day rate including all meals/ph/skinning etc is R 2000/hunter/day
Minimum duration is 5 days
Transfer days to and from Joburg are charged at standard day rate.

I hope this helps to answer your questions and I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Ian
0027 83 414 2446

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Die Ou Jagter

ABS, went to your site and since you are located in Northeast Natal, do you have Suni and Red Duiker? They were not on your list of game available. Where are you in relation to Hluhluwe?

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DOJ
Yes I do have them available, prices generally will be upward of R 10 000 each on these tiny antelope.
If you are interested in them I will get you a fixed quote. The properties I use fix their prices according to demand so with a season like this we may be able to get you a better deal. When had you looked at coming out to hunt?
Best regards
Ian

Ian, thanks for the invite. I am booked to hunt on Mhlosinga Bush Lodge for 5 days for Suni with my friend Mark DeWet. I enjoy huning in Natal and particularly in the Hluhluwe area as this will be my fourth trip to the area. I hunted Mhlosinga last year for Red Duiker and Suni so I am looking forward to visiting with Tinky and Jack and their wives again. The property is next to the Panga Reserve.

DOJ
Good luck with the hunt, I think you are going to have a great time up there. We love the area and all it has to offer.

I read you post on the PH forum and have to say that it would be great to have more clients like you who speak their mind and call a spade a spade, it keeps the air clean and makes for the best safari atmosphere. Great advice to any clients on safari or planning for the future.

Make sure we get an update n the trip when you back, kind regards
Ian