Advice needed on first African Safari

Originally Posted by veeyoder

Thanks everyone for the wonderful responses. One more question. I think just from my own research that I would want to go to Namibia. But for all you who have been over there if it were up to you, would you choose Namibia or SA for the plains game I have chosen?

From what I can tell from pricelists online, SA is higher, but then airfare for me would be less.
To me the experience is more important tho, I want to feel like I am far from civilization and hunting in the wild

I have been to both Namibia and RSA. I liked them both.
Namibia was my first destination and that will never be erased from the memory banks. First African sunset with the Otavi Mountains in the background.

Namibia tended to be somewhat lower trophy fees but add a day and another plane flight depending on how you fly there.
Go through Frankfurt and you drop right into Windhoek, skipping Joburg. Flight costs about the same.
Gun import is much simpler.

My target species determined where I hunted. I wanted to hunt them on natural/hostorical habitat/terrain if I could.
1. Gemsbok/Oryx, Kudu, Eland, Warthog in Namibia. Low fence.
2. Nyala, Kudu, Bushbuck, Reedbuck, Impala in KwaZulu Natal. Large property high fence.
3. Springbok, Blesbok in the Karoo, low fence.
4. Impala in Limpopo, low fence.

They all had very special features about each property and each type of hunting.
Stands, stalking, driven hunts.

Like Ses said, if you can do 10 days do it. I can not imagine being on that dam* plane and not staying long enough to forget it between arrival and return flights.

Good luck in your planning. You are getting great advice from the members.

Originally Posted by veeyoder

I have always used bipods for shooting and love them. Harris Bipods HB25CS Adapter You have to go down on one knee. Does this work or should I buy shooting sticks? If so what type?

Two things to remember. 1. You won't always have time to set up and go down on one knee for your shot. 2. Your vision may be obscured by grass and bush that is taller than you are when down on one knee. Standing shots off sticks are the most common in Namibia. Get yourself a set of these and practice.

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Very true Docman, Veeyoder there is absolutly no need to buy a $100 - $150 pair of shooting sticks to bring to Africa any selfrespecting guide/ph has a pair issued or made at birth... :-), by a wise medicine man later to be known as his tracker... :-)

To practice off 3 x dowel rods bound together at the top end with inner tubing works extremly well and in my experience the rifle rests better in these than in the wide v or U shaped adaptor on the top of a bog pod, the 3 rods open up like a TP, and the top 3 - 4 inches of dowel above the inner tubing holds the rifle firmly in position, it is also very easy to adjust if set up to low, by simply slipping one hand off the rifle and by pulling up on the sticks....

Simple very much so yes and comfortable.

My very best always

Three bamboo poles and some surgical tubing and you have a cheap set of sticks to practice with.
You can use the difference in costs on trophy fees.

I think you will be fine with Namibia, it's really nice for the animals you mentioned. Oryx and red hartebeest are usually around $500 in Namibia....I wouldn't pay more. Namibia is very rural!!! Really nice country to hunt.

I hunted Namibia this year and loved it. I think it is the second least populated country in the world after Mongolia. The people from the airport police to my ph were some of the nicest people I have ever met. I would love to go there someday and spend some time riding around the country on a motorcycle and live out of a tent or stay at guest houses. But alas I will probably never do that. I will go back there for another hunt though. The place I hunted had 55000 acreas I seen one high fence by the road and there were some low fences. The high fence next to Botswana would not stop to much and the Namibian side was low fenced. You could look over into Botswana and see large herds of oryx and hartebeest. I think that was called the Kalahari game reserve. I think they did have a neighbor next to him that he had to high fence because most of the game was hunted off the property and if any game got over there they tracked it down and killed it. Sounds like some of my neighbors here in Kansas. One day on the hunt we stopped by and my ph talked to a bushman who he had work for him that watched the Botswana border for lions and leopards because some of the old lions would cross and kill the goat and sheep. Well anyway another bushman from Botswana crossed and killed a goat and called the Namibian bushman mother a bad name. He told my ph that he would kill him the next time he caught him there. I do not know if my ph was pulling my leg or what but it sounded good. I can not say much about South Africa or any other country because Namibia is the only place I have hunted

I've sent you a PM and hope to be of additional assistance.

Namibia has some fantastic options for what you're seeking. However, South Africa does as well and a sleeper for what you're seeking may be a couple operators who have large private holdings in Botswana. No matter where you go, the accomdations and food will likely exceed what you expect. There are some places with fantastic kudu in each country. Like others have suggested, I'd recommend 10 days if you can pull that off. 7 days works, but 10 days is so much better, especially if you're doing this only once (but just like a Lay's potato chip, NOBODY can stop a one). You WILL go back after you've been once.

Originally Posted by Jaco Strauss

...any selfrespecting guide/ph has a pair issued or made at birth...

Classic! True that, Jaco! Those sticks become like an extra limb. For some reason, had to hunt with one of my PH's sticks the other day. Felt like I had two left feet.

+1 Marius there is no better pair than your own!!

My best always.

10 days is so much better, especially if you're doing this only once (but just like a Lay's potato chip, NOBODY can stop a one). You WILL go back after you've been once.

Professional advice for sure! lol

Lots of good advice here and already start preparing for your second trip
Almost the only thing I could think about on the plane back home from my hunt in SA last year, was when could I manage to go again

One of the first things I told my wife(now ex ) when I came home, was that I wanted to go back as soon as I got the money for it

I am going in 2013 to Marius and I count every day I still have to wait before I can board the plane that will take me to SA again.

Now I understand Norwegianwoods why your trip was delayed this year, sorry to hear, hope things work out for you. Have a great trip with Marius!!!

Don't forget a hard case for your rifle and another one for your ammo. That can be $150-$250.

Originally Posted by enysse

Now I understand Norwegianwoods why your trip was delayed this year, sorry to hear, hope things work out for you. Have a great trip with Marius!!!

Thanks enysse
The 2 kids live with me, but I sending them on a vacation to Crete with my mother, sister and my sisters 2 girls while I am with Marius hunting with my bow.
That way I know they will have a great time there while their dad has a great time in SA

When my kids gets older, I want to take them with me to Africa for some hunting for all of us.