Lion hunting SA

[Derek049]

Hello Everyone,

I've been looking at the difference between lion hunts advertised in SA vs places like Tanzania. The hunts in Tanzania make sense to me and are similar to bear hunting up here in AK. However the lion hunts in SA seem off to me. The lions are always solo, and they dont have alot of damage with beautiful color and manes. Im not judging anything or anyone I just want to know if these are farm raised lions released or if theyre actually wild.

Thanks Guys,

Derek

 

[375Fox]

They are nearly all farm raised and released a relatively short time prior to the hunt. Thankfully South Africa is the only country this practice occurs.

 

[BRICKBURN]

……… I just want to know if these are farm raised lions released or if theyre actually wild.

Depends. There are plenty of “ranch” lions. There are some wild lion hunts in RSA.
Make sure you are buying what you want.

 

[Derek049]

Thanks guys. I just needed to know. Any recommendations on lion hunts youve enjoyed or outfitters?

 

[BourbonTrail]

Thanks guys. I just needed to know. Any recommendations on lion hunts youve enjoyed or outfitters?

wild or captive bred?

 

[Derek049]

wild preferably.

 

[375Fox]

wild preferably.

I don’t know your experience level. Do you understand the costs you are looking at? A wild male lion all in would start at around $50k and the top hunts might push $100k all in. I thought this offer for a lioness was a great offer. Lioness (outside South Africa) aren’t widely available.

Zimbabwe Free Range Lioness Hunt Special 2022

Hi all I have a great deal on a free range lioness to be hunted in November of this year 2022. The area has loads of lion so I predict this to be a successful hunt. We would be hunting the save valley conservancy. Area- Save valley conservancy Outfitter-Mbalabala Safaris Ph- Lin stanton...

www.africahunting.com

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Quite a scandal erupted a few years ago with a hidden camera documentary on PBS. It really hurt the legitimate hunting business in South Africa.

 

[saswart]

Hello Everyone,

I've been looking at the difference between lion hunts advertised in SA vs places like Tanzania. The hunts in Tanzania make sense to me and are similar to bear hunting up here in AK. However the lion hunts in SA seem off to me. The lions are always solo, and they dont have alot of damage with beautiful color and manes. Im not judging anything or anyone I just want to know if these are farm raised lions released or if theyre actually wild.

Thanks Guys,

Derek

Hi Derek,

I am in no way affiliated to any lion hunting or organisations directly in SA/Kenya. However I am well aware of differing opinions and organisations within the industry.

In SA you have captive bred hunting. There is vast difference in a proper captive bred lion hunt and what unfortunately has tainted the industry which is known as canned hunting. Almost all organisations are against canned hunting, whereas some are for captive and others against. THis is where you need to do your research and get a proper operator. Then there is the illusion that this (canned and captive breeding species only happens to lion hunting in SA, which is wrong, you have captive bred hunting of all species, specifically Buffalo, Kudu, Sable, crocodile etc.

Kenya, I do not know that well, but a quick search for hunts myself while typing this, seems to be wild unfenced hunts.

Now, I had the pleasure of meeting some pro captive bred farmers and industry leading people (note, all were against canned hunting - whether they do it not, I do not know). The argument for this type of hunt, which I 100% understand, is that on captive bred lion hunts, saves the wild lion population. Why is this? Because the hunt of a wild lion could damage the lion population. How, well if you hunt the pride male, another male would be become the pride male, killing all the previous pride male's cubs. Also, wild lion numbers are not that much, imagine every hunter hunting a wild lion, how numbers would plummet. For this exact reason, countries such as Zim etc. have introduced stringent measures for PH's to determine whether the male being hunted is not the pride male such as age etc.

This is where captive bred lions have the edge, they are bred to be hunted and the hunt will not impact the wild lion population. Also, these hunts are not as expensive.

For me, I would probably prefer a wild lion hunt on a proper 14/21 day safari. But only if I had the money and if the wild lion specifically can be confirmed to be a old lion that was kicked out of the tribe, (not baited from a reserve, nor hunted with dogs - yes all these stuff happen with the supposedly clean wild hunts as well). If not and I still just wanted to hunt a lion for the experience, then I would consider a proper captive bred hunt rather and leave the wild lions.

Currently, a lion hunt is not that high on my list because of all of the above and bad press on it. I would rather do 5X buffalo hunts.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Hi Derek,

I am in no way affiliated to any lion hunting or organisations directly in SA/Kenya. However I am well aware of differing opinions and organisations within the industry.

In SA you have captive bred hunting. There is vast difference in a proper captive bred lion hunt and what unfortunately has tainted the industry which is known as canned hunting. Almost all organisations are against canned hunting, whereas some are for captive and others against. THis is where you need to do your research and get a proper operator. Then there is the illusion that this (canned and captive breeding species only happens to lion hunting in SA, which is wrong, you have captive bred hunting of all species, specifically Buffalo, Kudu, Sable, crocodile etc.

Kenya, I do not know that well, but a quick search for hunts myself while typing this, seems to be wild unfenced hunts.

Now, I had the pleasure of meeting some pro captive bred farmers and industry leading people (note, all were against canned hunting - whether they do it not, I do not know). The argument for this type of hunt, which I 100% understand, is that on captive bred lion hunts, saves the wild lion population. Why is this? Because the hunt of a wild lion could damage the lion population. How, well if you hunt the pride male, another male would be become the pride male, killing all the previous pride male's cubs. Also, wild lion numbers are not that much, imagine every hunter hunting a wild lion, how numbers would plummet. For this exact reason, countries such as Zim etc. have introduced stringent measures for PH's to determine whether the male being hunted is not the pride male such as age etc.

This is where captive bred lions have the edge, they are bred to be hunted and the hunt will not impact the wild lion population. Also, these hunts are not as expensive.

For me, I would probably prefer a wild lion hunt on a proper 14/21 day safari. But only if I had the money and if the wild lion specifically can be confirmed to be a old lion that was kicked out of the tribe, (not baited from a reserve, nor hunted with dogs - yes all these stuff happen with the supposedly clean wild hunts as well). If not and I still just wanted to hunt a lion for the experience, then I would consider a proper captive bred hunt rather and leave the wild lions.

Currently, a lion hunt is not that high on my list because of all of the above and bad press on it. I would rather do 5X buffalo hunts.

You explained that well (except I think you meant Tanzania not Kenya?). I also have no interest in hunting lions. Or other cats or bears. Some kind of innate honor among apex predators thing I guess. I'm a cloven hoof hunter.

 

[Derek049]

Thank you all for the info. Its actually not that high on my list either to be perfectly honest. It was just something I noticed and wanted to clear up. Thats what I love about this forum. If I just ask I'll get somebody with 10x the experience answering. My first trip over there will be with my oldest boy. He'll be thrilled with a buffalo lol.

Thanks Guys

 

[poco]

Thank you all for the info. Its actually not that high on my list either to be perfectly honest. It was just something I noticed and wanted to clear up. Thats what I love about this forum. If I just ask I'll get somebody with 10x the experience answering. My first trip over there will be with my oldest boy. He'll be thrilled with a buffalo lol.

Thanks Guys

I would study how your buffalo hunting will take place , not knocking it but some are pretty corny in comparison to others ( my hunting buddy and his wife had a PH try to get the wife to kill a bull eating on a pile of oranges)

 

[Hunt anything]

Not sure if this is still the case but at one time the only wild lion hunting in RSA was on the border of Kruger National Park, not sure if you had to hope one came out of the park or not.
I have only seen 1 wild lion and it was if he was looking straight through me. Those amber/gold eyes were the most intense things I have ever seen! This was at about 25yds and something I will never forget.

 

[Derek049]

I would study how your buffalo hunting will take place , not knocking it but some are pretty corny in comparison to others ( my hunting buddy and his wife had a PH try to get the wife to kill a bull eating on a pile of oranges)

Yeah im going to get recommendations. Im not throwing out some hay and killing a farm animal lol.

 

[IvW]

Not sure if this is still the case but at one time the only wild lion hunting in RSA was on the border of Kruger National Park, not sure if you had to hope one came out of the park or not.
I have only seen 1 wild lion and it was if he was looking straight through me. Those amber/gold eyes were the most intense things I have ever seen! This was at about 25yds and something I will never forget.

Not so....

 

[Rare Breed]

Thanks guys. I just needed to know. Any recommendations on lion hunts youve enjoyed or outfitters?

i absolutely loved my Lion hunt this past August with @Africa Sun Safari in the Kalahari!!! First rate all the way. Justin is an awesome PH! While I am sure you can’t compare a truly wild lion hunt versus the kind of hunt you are both asking about and my experience to be clear…i would much rather track my lion as i did versus shoot one out of a blind as you do primarily but not always with a wild lion hunt. A wild lion easily will run you $50,000+ versus a SA type hunt tracking for $7,000. I am extremely happy with my decision as you can see from my picture that now hangs in my office

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Yeah im going to get recommendations. Im not throwing out some hay and killing a farm animal lol.

Don't be too hasty. My first buffalo seemed at first to be kind of a fish in the barrel deal. I would be culling a cow on about 3700 acres. It was a breeding operation and due to the drought they were having to supplement with feed. I was not inclined to accept but my lodge owner was insistent. This was supposed to be a fantastic specimen and the price dropped so low it really was hard to say no so I gave in. She was indeed quite an animal and the hunt wasn't easy. They were spooky buggers in the brush making it very difficult to pick out the designated cow. Fortunately, we were able to catch the herd in the open moving between thickets at the base of the mountains and I took her with a frontal shot through the heart at 110 yards. Then the herd bull came for us three times! Then he went after the lodge owner's truck when the tracker drove out to pick up the carcass. Mean bugger! That hunt was a lot more than expected and a fraction of the cost of typical big buffalo.

 

[Hunt anything]

Not so....

Where can you hunt a wild lion in RSA? I’ve never really researched lion hunts but have seen adds for them and most say not exportable to the US, I assume they are captive bred but the ones I’ve seen that were exportable to the US were in the Kruger area. Curiosity is getting to me. Thanks

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

i absolutely loved my Lion hunt this past August i would much rather track my lion as i did versus shoot one out of a blind as you do primarily but not always with a wild lion hunt.

@Rare Breed I agree with you!
Last October I hunted two lionesses by tracking. It was quite an experience!

If tracking a CBL lion isn't for others, then fine. I however like stalking game, especially that which can quickly start stalking the hunter!

Here's my hunt report;

SOUTH AFRICA: Kalahari Lionesses Hunt With Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS

Expectations, we all have them. How often are ALL of one’s expectations fulfilled? For me, this was the case in my second hunt with Stuart Williams’ Tally Ho Safaris. Granted, my expectations were realistic based on much research and having hunted with Tally Ho a year prior. My wife tells me...

www.africahunting.com

 

[Red Leg]

I too am unaware of any wild lion hunting in South Africa. It wasn't so long ago, a not uncommon "opportunity" for the visiting hunter in South Africa was the "problem lion" that had suddenly crossed over from Botswana. These invariably seemed to be males. A quick deal would be struck and the hunter was taken on a drive about to find tracks and the rogue was soon dispatched.