Hi from Canada

Hello all hope your evening is going well! I have to be honest I've hunted Mexico, U.S and Canada but I never thought Africa would tweek my interest but over the course of the last 6 months it has and the some! I was curious when planning a first trip to Africa what are the do's and dont's? What country would be the forum suggest would be the first book to on ones first hunting safari? And any other helpful tips. This that would be important to me for my first trip would be safety, quality of game, amount of game (but not interested in a "hunt farm"), food and nice accomondations (possibly bring a spouse). Thanks a bunch.

Hi Bosskoss,
Welcome to the forum. South Africa is popular destination for the first timer. Quality animals with a wide variety and abundance of game. Post your questions to the members here. They always offer excellent advice.

Best Regards,
Marius Goosen
KMG Hunting Safaris

Hello and welcome to the greatest hunting forum on the web.
I would say South Africa for the first timer.

Hi Bosskoss

Welcome to the forum!

I would recommend South Africa also make a list of species that you are interested in and try and find an area that most of these species are native too.

Best Regards
Louis van Bergen

Welcome to the forum.

Enjoy the hunt!

Like Louis and Marius, there are excellent outfits in South Africa, but you must have a look at us 'distant cousins' in Namibia as well..!

Welcom to the forum. Enjoy the whole process.

Welcome to AH, all you need to know about Africa on here, Southern Africa have multiple options to your disposal, feel free to fire away with any questions.

My best always.

Welcome to AH Bosskoss! South Africa and Namibia are great places for a first time hunter and don't rule out game farms with fences some of these farms are 100,000s acres and you can't tell your behind a fence, the one I hunt on the East Cape is 55,000 acres with over 30 different animals to hunt and if you don't see several hundred animals a day you had your eyes closed. good luck with your planning and enjoy the site.

Welcome aboard. Just be ready to plan a second trip before your finish your first in Africa. One question, you plan on hunting with a bow or rifle? this can go a long way in determining who you may want to book with.

Welcome to AH bosskoss! As others have said Sour Africa, and Namibia are prob the best first choice. Others work as well but there is more involved in getting there. Little tuffer than SA or Namibia. Having just taken my first trip almost a year ago(wow how time flies!) My concern with hunting high fence areas was the thought of the animals being "tied up". It could not be any further from the truth. They are just as hard to get close to as a whitetail or any other wild animal. To make it worse they team up. Impala running with Wildebeest and gemsbok. They tag team you to find out where you are. It is tuff. Pick the right land and you will never see the fence. I hunted a place that was arround 100,000 acers. Every day it was like I was hunting a different area. Almost every outfitter/ph will treat you like a king. If you want something ruffer their are people who can do that as well. Do your homework, ask questions on here. This is a great group of guys who will always help. The fire has been lit. You will not regret going to Africa and you will go again!

Thanks for all the great feedback. It'll be with a rifle. Looks like I need to make a list of game!!

Hi Bosskoss
Did you attend the Africa show in Calgary last month? There were lots of outfitters there and it was a great chance to meet outfitters face to face. I have to agree with bobpuckett on the high fence thing. These places can be so big that you never see a fence from the time you pass the gate until the time you leave. Definitely check on this before you book anywhere.
There are many parts of "wild" Africa that would provide you with a wonderful first safari. You WILL be going again so I suggest that you start out on a plains game hunt in S Africa or Namibia. Both have a large variety of game with S Africa having the slight advantage. There are lots of non hunting things for you and your spouse to do before or after in both locations.
If the touring and before/after activities are important to you then I would suggest that you look at the Eastern Cape. You could tour the Garden Route up from Cape Town or down to Cape Town and enjoy all the scenery and interesting activities you can handle.
If you like, you can PM me and I could tell you about the activities in these areas as well as the outfitter I used while hunting there. I can also give some input into a couple of locations in Zimbabwe that I was lucky enough to hunt. Less than six weeks until I return to Zim.
It really seems that some of the regular outfitters that give comments here are more than reputable. I have never hunted with Jaco but have gotten to know him through his comments and opinions on many subjects. He is never negative and always helpful.
A fellow Canadian, Mike

Bosskoss, the Canadians are going to take over soon.

Welcome.

Welcome to AH bosskoss!

Like I tell everyone- If you go once you will go again, so deal with it!
Hello and welcome Ask all you want because there are some great members on this forum.
South Africa and Namibia will in all probability be your first choices. In SA you can land at Jo'burg and be in camp in 2 to 6 hrs. Many good outfitters/PHs in that range. Namibia is more open terrain for the most part (just as good as SA but different) it just takes a little bit more effort time wise to get there. Land Jo'burg, overnight at the Afton House or a couple other good B&Bs and then your flight to Windhoek and the drive to the camp. Many good outfits here also for a first timer including Jerome's (he operates this web site but never toots his own horn).
Learn all you can through this site by searching past posts and ask questions. Take a look for a couple of my past posts for newbies. You will find many others with just as valuable info for your planning. Planning is half the hunt and half the fun.
Just remember-if you plan on 5 animals you will shoot more and you will be back! So deal with it :-)

Welcome to the forum, Bosskoss !

Welcome to AH bosskoss!

Originally Posted by bosskoss

Hello all hope your evening is going well! I have to be honest I've hunted Mexico, U.S and Canada but I never thought Africa would tweek my interest but over the course of the last 6 months it has and the some! I was curious when planning a first trip to Africa what are the do's and dont's? What country would be the forum suggest would be the first book to on ones first hunting safari? And any other helpful tips. This that would be important to me for my first trip would be safety, quality of game, amount of game (but not interested in a "hunt farm"), food and nice accomondations (possibly bring a spouse). Thanks a bunch.

ENJOY checking out all the hunting possibilities...various options to choose from - which could be overwhelming. It looks like if you look for
- wildlife only area;
- abundance of wildlife;
- good quality trophies;
- PH's with experience;
- good infrastructure;
- quest for detail;
- no hidden cost;
- comfortable accommodation;
- non-hunting activities;
- excellent cuisine...
ASK for REFERENCES...! Enjoy the planning process - it forms part of the safari.

Welcome to the Forum. I too am in Canada.