First time hunt advice

[Kkon]

First, thank you to all who post here for some fantastic information, however there is so much that my head is swimming in options.
In the last 8 years, I've pretty much burned out Alaska in terms of hunting and I am now turning my attention to a 2017 African hunt. This will be my first time to Africa and this trip will be with my wife. I'd like to hunt Buffalo and plains game with an emphasis on a very nice Kudu, Sable, Eland and Zebra and other PG. I do realize that I may not get all of my animal wishes all in one trip. One important aspect of this trip is that my wife would like to experience the African culture, and we would gladly trade swank accommodations for some interaction with local people, though we are definitely not interested in hunting on a small ranch and would prefer either a very large concession or wild land.

I have probably left out some crucial information but I'm hoping your responses will help me further define an area to hunt and the other options that are available.
Best Regards,
Kevin

 

[kathy]

First of all don't cut yourself short on time in Africa, time flies, at least 14 days to hunt if not 21.
my last hunt was in Namibia with Agagia 78 square miles of free range and game ranch.
not sure about the Buffalo but think they can accommodate you. plenty for your wife to do if you ask before hand . Also a lot of good outfitters on this site.
It may be your first hunt to Africa but not your last. Forrest

 

[brandondd24]

I agree with Kathy as time flies in Africa, my first trip was in Namibia, we hunted 12 days, did another 4 days exploring etosha national park, then had a 2 days excursion in Windhoek, went to the casino and had a lot of fun. From when we left til we got home we were gone for 22 days. And it did fly by! Have fun on your trip! You will enjoy it!

 

[BRICKBURN]

Kevin, there are plenty of places to hunt the various species.
There are quite a few people that are able to add a lot of information and make it swim more with a few more details from you. It will help you them narrow the answers a bit:

Which one do you want to hunt for sure?
That will change everything.
Buffalo and Sable occur together in certain locations.
There are plenty in small camps and plenty in large concessions or free range areas.

Narrow it down a little.....

 

[enysse]

Best of luck, it's definitely something you should be able to do with research.

 

[Kkon]

Kevin, there are plenty of places to hunt the various species.
There are quite a few people that are able to add a lot of information and make it swim more with a few more details from you. It will help you them narrow the answers a bit:

Which one do you want to hunt for sure?
That will change everything.
Buffalo and Sable occur together in certain locations.
There are plenty in small camps and plenty in large concessions or free range areas.

Narrow it down a little.....

Thank You for the advice. I'd like to hunt buffalo for sure with either sable or kudu. Everything else is discretionary. The itinerary mentioned above by Brandondd24 sounds exactly like something we'd like to do, a lot of hunting days mixed with a tour of a national park and some village time. If I can't find all of that with a buffalo hunt as a headliner than we will opt to a total plains game hunt.

 

[Kkon]

Kevin, there are plenty of places to hunt the various species.
There are quite a few people that are able to add a lot of information and make it swim more with a few more details from you. It will help you them narrow the answers a bit:

Which one do you want to hunt for sure?
That will change everything.
Buffalo and Sable occur together in certain locations.
There are plenty in small camps and plenty in large concessions or free range areas.

Narrow it down a little.....

Thank You for the advice. I'd like to hunt buffalo for sure with either sable or kudu. Everything else is discretionary. The itinerary mentioned above by Brandondd24 sounds exactly like something we'd like to do, a lot of hunting days mixed with a tour of a national park and some village time. If I can't find all of that with a buffalo hunt as a headliner than we will opt to a total plains game hunt.

I agree with Kathy as time flies in Africa, my first trip was in Namibia, we hunted 12 days, did another 4 days exploring etosha national park, then had a 2 days excursion in Windhoek, went to the casino and had a lot of fun. From when we left til we got home we were gone for 22 days. And it did fly by! Have fun on your trip! You will enjoy it!

Kathy can you give me some more details on your trip such as who you're PH was and which outfit you hunted with.
Thank You

 

[Bhfs300]

Klon
With 8 years of hunting Alaska you should post some photos of your past trophies!
Tell us if you are a archery hunter or short range or long range rifle hunter.
These kind of thing are kind of important to set you up in those trophies you want.

 

[ActionBob]

@Kkon with your desire to visit a village, I'm assuming you are referring to a classic village like you might imagine or see on TV. Rather than a South African Township or small town/city. My wife and I have been over 3 times and about 3 weeks each time... The time does fly by!

Having spent a lot of time in several provinces of RSA, I would honestly suggest you will not find that type of village in RSA. So if that is important, look to places like Zimbabwe or Zambia... Possibly Tanzania although the big reserves are supposed to be free of resident homo sapiens, so you might go to someplace like Masailand (bucket list for me, maybe not for my wife). Also look into Mozambique. Of course this will all depend upon your budget and real zest for adventure.

One hunt we did was in a CAMPFIRE unit in Zimbabwe for 11 days. That I would classify as a real African village... Dirty, shitty place with lots of joy and happiness, and lots of misery, mangy dogs, skinny cattle, donkey carts as the secondary heavy transport (see pics below for primary)..... Be careful you really want to experience this, but if you do, soak it all in and make it an adventure of your life.... I would not trade the experience for anything... My wife is glad to have expierinaced it but would have preferred to do it in about 2 days

South Africa is pretty well civilized, at least as far as infrastructure.... Get North of that border and it most definitely a different place!

If you watch for deals, there are some reasonable buffalo hunts that come up from time to time, even in Tanzania. And you will be offered PG with that.

Neatest hut in the village (Zimbabwe)

Village women carrying water in the morning... The men are still recovering from hangovers...

Zimbabwe Wal-Mart

If you buy toothpaste, get the box without a mouse in it And on the day they have TP in stock, buy it all if your in danger of running low!

 

[Kkon]

Klon
With 8 years of hunting Alaska you should post some photos of your past trophies!
Tell us if you are a archery hunter or short range or long range rifle hunter.
These kind of thing are kind of important to set you up in those trophies you want.

 

[Bhfs300]

Great Moose that had to be a great shot with a____?
Looks like you have been hunting.

BHFS300

 

[Kkon]

Klon
With 8 years of hunting Alaska you should post some photos of your past trophies!
Tell us if you are a archery hunter or short range or long range rifle hunter.
These kind of thing are kind of important to set you up in those trophies you want.

 

[Kkon]

First moose was taken with a .338 win. mag, the second moose was shot with a .300 win. mag. First was 63", the second was 60" both were drop hunts in the area of Huslia in North Central Alaska.

 

[Bhfs300]

Looks like you like bow hunting that means a 80-100 pound pull and a 700-1000 grain arrow.
You shouldn't have any problem with a Cape buffalo with those numbers.
That will get you to Africa
http://www.africahunting.com/members/kkon.11754/

 

[Kkon]

@Kkon with your desire to visit a village, I'm assuming you are referring to a classic village like you might imagine or see on TV. Rather than a South African Township or small town/city. My wife and I have been over 3 times and about 3 weeks each time... The time does fly by!

Having spent a lot of time in several provinces of RSA, I would honestly suggest you will not find that type of village in RSA. So if that is important, look to places like Zimbabwe or Zambia... Possibly Tanzania although the big reserves are supposed to be free of resident homo sapiens, so you might go to someplace like Masailand (bucket list for me, maybe not for my wife). Also look into Mozambique. Of course this will all depend upon your budget and real zest for adventure.

One hunt we did was in a CAMPFIRE unit in Zimbabwe for 11 days. That I would classify as a real African village... Dirty, shitty place with lots of joy and happiness, and lots of misery, mangy dogs, skinny cattle, donkey carts as the secondary heavy transport (see pics below for primary)..... Be careful you really want to experience this, but if you do, soak it all in and make it an adventure of your life.... I would not trade the experience for anything... My wife is glad to have expierinaced it but would have preferred to do it in about 2 days

South Africa is pretty well civilized, at least as far as infrastructure.... Get North of that border and it most definitely a different place!

If you watch for deals, there are some reasonable buffalo hunts that come up from time to time, even in Tanzania. And you will be offered PG with that.

Neatest hut in the village (Zimbabwe)
View attachment 50786

Village women carrying water in the morning... The men are still recovering from hangovers...
View attachment 50787

Zimbabwe Wal-Mart
View attachment 50788
If you buy toothpaste, get the box without a mouse in it And on the day they have TP in stock, buy it all if your in danger of running low!

Okay................ I get the idea, a picture is worth a thousand words. Everyone I have spoken to about Africa has said the same thing(s), go once and you will surely go back and the African people are joy to be around. So we are trying to get a full experience sans the dysentery or poverty.

 

[ActionBob]

So we are trying to get a full experience sans the dysentery or poverty.

The dysentery can be avoided with a bit of care, the cooking is mostly great to fantastic. The poverty is inevitable as you get addicted to hunting Africa, buying guns in the coolest African calibers, and then the taxidermy... and somewhere to display the mounts!

 

[JustinC]

Hello Kevin,

We have a range of options for the species you would like to target and I would be happy to provide you with additional information on cultural villages/Photographic safaris close to Kruger Park.

Feel free to contact me for more info

Regards

 

[James.Grage]

Hi Kevin

Welcome to AH,

Your list is a good one and like you indicate you may not be able to obtain them all in one trip... so break it down into a few very nice settings.

 

[spike.t]

hi @Kkon pm sent

 

[petrusg]

Hi @Kkon

Will send you a pm with a host of different options available in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.


Regards,
Adriaan