First trip to Africa

I am beginning my research and planning for a hunt to Africa for my fathers 65th birthday.

I have been reading this site for awhile now and have learned a lot so far but had a few questions still.

More than likely there will be three hunters plus one tag a long as a non hunter. I have seen most guides do 1x1 or 2x1, do any do 3x1 or 4x1? how does that work?


Also from the looks of the guide services it seems very nice and very expensive. I don't really want to travel all the way to Africa to stay in a nice air conditioned resort. I want to feel like I went to Africa. Short of sleeping on the ground among a pack of lions. Are there any outfitters that cater to a little more roughing it?

Also I am not interested in taking a trophy of any kind, I will be looking for the experience and time spent with my father and family. I know there is such a thing as a cull hunt, what exactly do these entail and how much less expensive are they?

Thanks in advance, Ked

Generally two hunters is the max. Sounds like you are asking about observers instead. You can have a whole herd of them but it needs to be kept back when a sneak is going on. Have had 7 people in the cruiser while walking one hunter.

Ask the outfitters about bush camps. These are usually very comfortable but are not going to be 4 star. Showers and beds are nice. I like them for groups, the biggest was 20 once. A common area for eating and and social around a fire is the best experience.

There are really not cull hunts, just ones where you do not expect a trophy. This is usually a package hunt and is a reasonable way to go.

Do enjoy, you will have a blast. I was never able to get my Dad over but have family all of the time.

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Originally Posted by kedman

I am beginning my research and planning for a hunt to Africa for my fathers 65th birthday.

I have been reading this site for awhile now and have learned a lot so far but had a few questions still.

More than likely there will be three hunters plus one tag a long as a non hunter. I have seen most guides do 1x1 or 2x1, do any do 3x1 or 4x1? how does that work?


Also from the looks of the guide services it seems very nice and very expensive. I don't really want to travel all the way to Africa to stay in a nice air conditioned resort. I want to feel like I went to Africa. Short of sleeping on the ground among a pack of lions. Are there any outfitters that cater to a little more roughing it?

Also I am not interested in taking a trophy of any kind, I will be looking for the experience and time spent with my father and family. I know there is such a thing as a cull hunt, what exactly do these entail and how much less expensive are they?

Thanks in advance, Ked

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Cull hunts sound exactly perfect for you, animals are far cheaper. The deal is bull, cow, calf you shoot whatever your PH tells you to, there is no passing up animals looking for a bigger one bet there is far more shooting than on a trophy hunt.

As far as sleeping on the ground among lions, that is far more difficlut, the countries with wild lion populations in the hunting areas are less likely to offer cull hunts and are far more expensive. African tended camps are by reputation far more luxurious than what you seem to be after as well.

Have a look in the hunts wanted or offered section, there are plenty of great deals there to peruse. Im sure you will find something to your liking.

GREAT DEALS on Hunts Worldwide

I did see an ad for a backpack hunt in Namibia the other day in this thread:
Namibia backpack rifle hunts - 2012

I laughed when I saw this one being offered by a regular AH poster.
Check this link out;
This is KMG's "Ruff it" Lodge.
"Ruff it" Lodge - KMG Hunting Safaris

As Saeng101 says get set up in a "bush camp".
That is where most SA hunters would be staying for their annual foray into the veld after Biltong.

Cull hunting may just work for you price wise for sure.
Specific critters, a set price and the calculator tally's the take at the end of the day.
As Diamond says you will be told which critter to take.


You can also trophy hunt and choose not shoot anything (Zero Trophy Fees) unless it is a world record or just finally want to harvest something. Walk around and sneak up on whatever you want very day.
Go home with pleasant memories of walking and stalking the bush veld with plenty of pictures.
I hunted every day with the "big white gun", as it was christened. (CANON)
When I dragged a Bakkie full of observers along my PH knew it was not trophy hunting trip. It was, "get the folks close to the wildlife" outing.

?x1 is all about guns in the field.
I have seen a few places that have done 3x1 hunters. Rare.

If it is all about the experience there are lots of possibilities.
Just start asking outfitters. Unless you are unreasonable, most will be very accommodating.

Good Luck.

You are the type of guy I would like to hunt with. I love the experience more than inches of horn. There are lots of people that could accommodate your requests. Please feel free to contact me if you would like some help.

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Originally Posted by BRICKBURN

I laughed when I saw this one being offered by a regular AH poster.
Check this link out;
This is KMG's "Ruff it" Lodge.
"Ruff it" Lodge - KMG Hunting Safaris

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:D

Let's just say, what happens in Africa, stays in Africa.

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Originally Posted by kedman

I am beginning my research and planning for a hunt to Africa for my fathers 65th birthday.

I have been reading this site for awhile now and have learned a lot so far but had a few questions still.

More than likely there will be three hunters plus one tag a long as a non hunter. I have seen most guides do 1x1 or 2x1, do any do 3x1 or 4x1? how does that work?


Also from the looks of the guide services it seems very nice and very expensive. I don't really want to travel all the way to Africa to stay in a nice air conditioned resort. I want to feel like I went to Africa. Short of sleeping on the ground among a pack of lions. Are there any outfitters that cater to a little more roughing it?

Also I am not interested in taking a trophy of any kind, I will be looking for the experience and time spent with my father and family. I know there is such a thing as a cull hunt, what exactly do these entail and how much less expensive are they?

Thanks in advance, Ked

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Kedman, First-off welcome to AH.

Something that is important to take note of is that from an Operator's perspective (for the most part), the type of accommodation offered i.e. bush camp or luxury lodge actually has little influence on the pricing of a trophy hunt. Costs associated to transportation, food, beverages, PH fees, trackers, skinners, camp staff etc. often outweighs that of the accommodation itself...

If you wanted to sleep amongst the lions, countries like Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania would be the way to go... BUT this experience comes at a price - usually higher than what you'd get in a SA luxury lodge... And this is quite understandable because many of these camps are miles away from civilisation which increases the Operator's cost in terms of supplying camps, getting clients to camp etc...

Cull hunts usually entail hunting female and non-trophy animals which (usually) are not exportable as trophies. Operators offer these hunts to give clients the opportunity of hunting in Africa, without having to pay high trophy fees but still affording them the opportunity of "hunting Africa". In the process - the client is basically doing something that the Operator would have had to do himself - the major difference being that he now has a paying client doing the work for him and getting an income from the hunt over and above the meat value...

If you wanted to sleep in tented accommodations with a "real" African feel and hunt non-trophy animals I suggest you contact me privately as this is something I could set up for you in Botswana.

Best regards,

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I am beginning my research and planning for a hunt to Africa for my fathers 65th birthday.
Also I am not interested in taking a trophy of any kind, I will be looking for the experience and time spent with my father and family.

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Very nice.
I shall always cherish time spend with my father and my hunting friends...way more-so than any animal harvested. Like most serious hunters I hunt hard to kill the biggest most mature animal, but I will never gauger success by the inches and scores. Have fun and make some memories. I wish you the best of luck.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BRICKBURN

I laughed when I saw this one being offered by a regular AH poster.
Check this link out;
This is KMG's "Ruff it" Lodge.
"Ruff it" Lodge - KMG Hunting Safaris


Good Luck.

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I have been in Contact with Marius at KMG and I thank you guys for your replies. I believe he will set us up with everything we need for a memorable week.

The hunt I am looking at would be warthog, wildabeest, impala and possible blesbok. I believe this would give a good representation of African game animals.

Is there any one animal you guys would suggest instead of those?

Thanks
Ked

Hunt what your hunt desires :). I would add a cape kudu....but I'm a kudu addict!

Kudu definitely speaks of Africa, If I had to swap one it would be the Blesbok simply because the other 3 as well as Kudu are icons of Africa. Either way I am sure you will be happy. They are all beautiful animals.

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Originally Posted by enysse

Hunt what your hunt desires :). I would add a cape kudu....but I'm a kudu addict!

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+1 and I would add a Bushbuck as well as I just love the spiral horns:)

I am going to Marius myself for 12 days of hunting this year and I am very much looking forward to it:)