South Africa in March??

[Loren Langille]

Hello everyone. I am planning a trip to South Africa in 2016, I have never been before and I am looking to gather as much information as possible before my hunt. My wife and I were thinking of going in March. Is this a good time of year to be hunting? I know there is never a bad time of year to be hunting but I would like to see as much game as possible.
I will be hunting the Eastern Cape area.
Thanks

 

[Royal27]

Welcome!!!!

March is what I'd call the beginning of the hunting season. The bush will be thicker, but that makes the hunt that much more challenging, so how bad can that be?

I will be there next week. Hoping the kudu are in rut.

Read a lot here and ask questions!!!!

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Hi Loren,
Although the vegetation is still a bit green, you can still have a very successful hunt and I still expect that you would find what you are after. The strategy employed just needs to adjusted a little bit. Our first safari of the year for 2015, started on January 11th. March is still warm, but hunting is good.
Please let me know if you have any further questions and if we can help you in any way further.

Take Care,
Marius Goosen
KMG Hunting Safaris

 

[brushmore]

I will be there next week. Hoping the kudu are in rut.

I think you will be in luck. The rut was just beginning the week I was there.

One thing that was suggested to me was to time your trip to the new moon. I did that for my trip last month and it seemed to work well for me. It was still green when I was there and let me tell you that the beauty of the place was breath taking.

 

[bluey]

gday loren, welcome to AH
march would be great time to hunt , in 2010 we were in Limpopo in the first week of may , it was the best bow stalking on the planet ,
my son was rifle hunting and he says it was the best hunting he has ever had the privillage to see.
we were in the east cape in july last year and it reasonable pick for the animals , but would love to see it march april , next time im there

 

[CAustin]

Hi Loren,
I don't think there is a bad time for plains game hunting in South Africa. March will be warm still and that's why I have waited on both trips to go towards the end of April. Whenever you go be prepared to have the time of your life.
Charlie

 

[JTT]

Hi Loren, Welcome aboard.
My wife and I were in Limpopo in March this year. It was rather hot for me. When we left Idaho the high temperatures were in the mid 30s. It was mid 80s while we were there. Quite a change but we drank lots of water and did not let it slow us down any.
Animals were plentiful. We saw a few snakes, but the bugs weren't bad. It was unusually dry where we were and we were all praying for rain.
We really like hunting spot and stock and with the time of year the animals were spread out and we got to do a lot of good hikes looking for animals. Never had problems finding what we were looking for except the bush pig. They were at another concession in the mountains that had more rain. Even though they were baiting for them several weeks before we got there, there was enough feed available that they never came into the bait. We will try again for them on our next trip.
We had 6 animals on our original list, but like most here by the time the trip was over, we had harvested 11 great trophies. Just can't turn down those good "targets of opportunity".
Our first trip, a couple of years ago, we went in June. The temperatures were better for me with some days having a light frost on the ground in the mornings and 60s and 70s in the afternoon. No snakes, and no bugs to worry about. It is really up to how you like to hunt and what works best in your personal schedule at home. Just make sure you go. You will never forgive yourself if you don't.
Trevor

 

[Nyati]

Welcome to AH, Loren !

 

[Loren Langille]

Thanks for all the great advice everyone and I look forward to planning my hunt. I am sure I will have plenty more questions as the process goes on. Thanks again

 

[Waterguy631]

Hi my girlfriend and I are going the last week of March next year through the first week of April Hunting first then sight seeing after wanted to get out of here when it is still cold also didn't want to go in the summer as ours are to short as it is.

 

[johnnyblues]

Welcome. You've come to the right place for anything you need to know about African hunting. Good luck.

 

[Divernhunter]

We had a great hunt the last of March and 1st part of April. We did get some rain one day but it did not stop us from hunting. We were very successful

 

[Warbird782]

I just hunted in the Cape at the end of March with Tootabi Hunting Safaris. We had some rain but not much and the temps were in the 70's and low 80's. Overall it was a great hunt and we collected some very nice trophies. You came to the right place to ask questions!