1st timers animal choice!

My first trip to Africa, specifically Namibia.

I have 2 hunters plus myself coming to the country. I found the animal choice between the 3 very interesting.

Trophy choices (in order):

Myself: Mountain zebra, Gemsbuck, Hartebeest.

My cousin: Kudu, Impala, Baboon

My father in law: Kudu, Blue Wildebeest, Ostrich.

I am interested what most people choose as trophies on their first trip to Africa. Out of interest, what were your trophy choices on your first trip?

First trip the Selous in Tanzania
10 day license

(2) Cape Buffalo
(1) Hartebeeste
(1) Wildebeeste
(1) Impala
(1) Warthog
(1) Zebra

Mountain zebra is likely to be a demanding hunt - they really do like high ground which can make for a daunting hike _ and a well earned trophy. Can't imagine going to Namibia without bringing home a kudu and Gemsbock. Depending on time, you should expect to take quite a bit longer list than you indicate. Provide your PH your priority, but be willing to take what the country offers.

I agree with Red Leg - it's a long way to go and only hunt 3 animals. You would regret not taking more.

My first trip was this May and I shot zebra, kudu, gemsbok, eland, blesbok, impala and blue wildebeest. My wife shot a warthog and a springbok. She also tried for an ostrich.

On the way home, we were wishing that we'd stayed and hunted longer. Our list for our next trip is already 11 animals long...

...My first trip - Blesbuck, Warthog, 2 - Impalas, Kudu, Gemsbuck & Blue Wildebeest. Take as many animals as you can afford as you never know if you will get back there again!!!

Kudu!

35 days until I leave! The animals on my list: Gemsbok, impalla, blesbok, baboons, jackals, and though I'll probablly get flamed for the "canned hunt", lion. I also have enough $$$ to pay for a kudu if a nice one steps out.

I head out in 24 more days. My list includes buffalo, kudu, impala, wildebeest, springbuck, blesbuck and warthog.

I'm depressed! Don't head back until 18 July 2010. Will be in the Caprivi with Jamy Traut for Buf, Roan, Eland and Sable. Probably too early to pack, but I am ringing out a new rifle.

My first trip was Namibia and I took kudu, gemsbuck, hartebeeste, springbuck, warthog and mountain zebra. Still kicking myself in the posterior because I had an opportunity at a big male cheetah and turned it down because I didn't think I had enough extra cash with me for the trophy fee at the time........... then I found out after the fact that they would have held the trophy shipment for me until I had time to get home and send them the trophy fee. (We can import cheetah trophies in Canada.)

Lesson learned ....................... always plan to have a few extra thousand tucked away, just incase. On any trip overseas it is wise to plan for the unexpected and have extra cash and a lot of room on your credit card. With hunting involved you should always try and have extra money tucked away for an additional trophy or two because opportunity knocks sometimes and you want to be able to take advantage of it.

First trip was a Cabelas trip, 10 day 8 trophy trip, stayed 14 days shot 14 trophies. Second trip year later, 8 days South Africa, shot 5 trophies then went to Zim for 10 day hunt, got my Buff and passed up other trophies looking for a 55 plus Kudu. Friend on second trip planned on 6 trophies in South Africa ended up with 11.
This trip in August will be 8 days hunting, no idea what I will shoot, just love Africa!
Bottom line, take as much time and money as you can, the experience will be beyond your wildest imagination.

My first trip was in 1983 to Zimbabwe for buffalo, kudu, sable and South Africa for gemsbok and springbok. After that, I returned to Africa a lot and shot from one to five animals per trip, rarely taking any type of animal (except warthogs and impalas) twice. If you are like me, one trip or two dozen trips will not be enough.

Bill Quimby

I went to Namibia and shot until no money existed! I shot one kudu, mountain zebra, warthog, blue and black wildebeest, 2-red hartebeest, 2-springbok, 2-blesbok, and 2 gemsbok. Africa is a paradise for the amount of game available.

I would suggest to shoot as many animals indigenous to the area as possible, or for what good trophies the area is known for. For example Namibia is known for Gemsbok, Springbok, Eland, Mountain Zebra exc. You can hunt warthog, Impala, Blue Wildebeest, Ostrich exc. anywhere else in Africa.

Hope this helps to make your choice.

Enjoy your hunt and shoot straight.

The list for my upcoming trip is kudu, gemsbok, sprinbok, impala. After that it's up in the air; bushbuck, reedbuck, or even a second gemsbok.

Don't plan on more than 6-7 animals total.

My 1st trip was 10 days, Gemsbok, Blue Wildebeest, Impala, Blesbok, Springbok. spent the last 4 days looking for Kudo, Eland. Rule of thumb, you are always hunting BIG Kudu and everything else is an opportunity animal. If you trust the PH and he says "That is a nice whatever" SHOOT !!! Worry about the money later. I passed a Duiker and a Zebra that I am kicking myself for not harvesting.
Next trip, all Spiral horns.

My first trip was to RSA, Natal and took Blesbok, Nyala, Impala (2), Warthog, Common Duiker, Limpopo Bushbuck and Blue Wildebeest. On my first trip to Namibia which was my 3rd to Africa I took Springbok, Mt Zebra (2), Kudu, Gemsbok and Damaraland Dik Dik. I would suggest you try for the Dik Dik as it is available only in Namibia, it was high on my list when I went there as I had become hooked on the pygmy antelope by that time.

I leave in 47 days to RSA to complete my tiny ten, with the successful hunt for my Suni (4th attempt), it seems to be my nemisis. Like Karamojo I will be hunting for a lioness in RSA which means a "canned hunt" which I understand. This will be my 7th hunt with this PH so I understand what he has told me " you will get the lioness, but that does not mean you will not work for her". We will be hunting in the northwestern area along the Botswana border in the Kalahari.

Take in all of you first Safari as it is the only one you will have, that is not to say the others will not be great fun but the first is very memorable and you go with fresh eyes. It doesn't matter if it is at a lodge on a ranch or a tented camp in a conservancy. The experience is new and unlike any other hunt you have done.

Again good hunting and enjoy!

Originally Posted by Die Ou Jagter

Take in all of you first Safari as it is the only one you will have, that is not to say the others will not be great fun but the first is very memorable and you go with fresh eyes

Well said.

I would have a big wish list for Namibia. Take as many as I can a day. Zebra is a must-nothing says African more that a zebra, one rug, one pedestal, Kudu, Oryx, Warty, Bluey, Eland, Red Hartebeest, Baboon, Giraffe, all big critters-no small ones on this trip and what ever shows up like a Leopard or ? . Its a long way on a crowded plane to go for just a couple critters--enjoy life, its dam short or I guess you can always let the family spent your hard earned money for you.....

My first trip to Africa was to Zimbabwe in 1983, where I shot a buffalo, a kudu and a sable on a 7-day "budget" safari.

I then flew down to South Africa and toured the country on a press junket and shot a gemsbok and a springbok on a one-afternoon hunt near Kimberley.

It was like my first potato chip. I had to keep going back for more.

Bill Quimby