Largest Hunting Concession South Africa?

[Hunting Hitman]

An outfit called Kalahari Oryx, which is booked by Chapungu-Kambako Safaris, advertises that their hunting area is 212k acres. It’s in the Northern Cape. I know nothing about it, other than what I see on the internet. Has anyone hunted there?

I’ve hunted it and it’s massive. Excellent outfitter as well

HH

 

[revturbo9967]

Get a life please....

If I wanted a 200+ deer or a 400+ elk I could book 1 in USA and shoot it in a pen......

Your consistant bashing of hunting in RSA is a pain in the arse.....most members here hunt in SA.....

Except most if not all high fence operators in the US aren’t trying to dupe their clients into believing it’s wild and self sustaining. Not that they all do that in SA but I’ve heard enough “it broke through the fence” stories from operators and booking agents to understand it’s not the same as over here.

 

[WAB]

Klaseri with about 150 000 acres there Duke Safaris hunt is a non fenced part of Kruger NP at 7523 Square MILES, can one ask for more?

The buffalo in my avatar was shot in Klaserie. Amazing genetics!

 

[Philip Glass]

Except most if not all high fence operators in the US aren’t trying to dupe their clients into believing it’s wild and self sustaining. Not that they all do that in SA but I’ve heard enough “it broke through the fence” stories from operators and booking agents to understand it’s not the same as over here.

Actually put and take in Texas is rare whereas well managed high fenced operations are very common. There is a massive difference.

 

[revturbo9967]

Actually put and take in Texas is rare whereas well managed high fenced operations are very common. There is a massive difference.

I figure as much. There are some small places that run odd fenced outfits in PA I have seen, but that’s not the norm

 

[Philip Glass]

I figure as much. There are some small places that run odd fenced outfits in PA I have seen, but that’s not the norm

Most everyone thinks I bought this deer. Nope. He was born and raised on my ranch. Jealousy is an ugly thing. It has contributed to this urban legend of all big bucks being pen raised.

 

[Fatback]

That’s a heck of a deer Phillip. Congrats on such a wonderful animal. Also, you must be doing something right in managing your property/ranch to have deer like that calling it home. Hard work does pay off.

 

[Roller]

Unfortunately, other than a few exceptions (like CV) , the bullshit is so thick in RSA that it’s often impossible to know what you are getting into without doing a huge amount of individual research . And even then there seems to be a certain layer of unremovable bullshit . That’s unfortunate for the honest operators there and for the hunting industry in general . I think it is largely sustained by people that choose to believe the bullshit . Once was enough for me . I’ll stick to the truly wild places

 

[mikecatt13]

Unfortunately, other than a few exceptions (like CV) , the bullshit is so thick in RSA that it’s often impossible to know what you are getting into without doing a huge amount of individual research . And even then there seems to be a certain layer of unremovable bullshit . That’s unfortunate for the honest operators there and for the hunting industry in general . I think it is largely sustained by people that choose to believe the bullshit . Once was enough for me . I’ll stick to the truly wild places

I've hunted RSA once and the experience was exactly as expected. Actually, it was harder hunting. Any fences, high or low, never had an impact on the hunt or the animals across 3 areas of the country, but especially in the eastern cape. And the research and selection process really wasnt that hard. @KMG Hunting Safaris reputation precedes them and they exceeded it. Patience, glassing, and an expert PH were absolutely required for success.

Really not that hard to find a good operation that provides the legitimate hunting experience desired by most. At least if you have access to this forum!

 

[Roller]

I've hunted RSA once and the experience was exactly as expected. Actually, it was harder hunting. Any fences, high or low, never had an impact on the hunt or the animals across 3 areas of the country, but especially in the eastern cape. And the research and selection process really wasnt that hard. @KMG Hunting Safaris reputation precedes them and they exceeded it. Patience, glassing, and an expert PH were absolutely required for success.

Really not that hard to find a good operation that provides the legitimate hunting experience desired by most. At least if you have access to this forum!

Not talking about how hard the hunting is . Nor am I talking about any specific outfitters . Hunting on high fence , even smallish high fence properties can actually be quite difficult at times depending on a multitude of factors: terrain , vegetation , species , etc. Talking about full disclosure, truth in advertising on property size, fencing , game management, etc . I’m glad you had a great hunt and it met your expectations.

 

[Firebird]

One thing to consider is in order to obtain a selection of species, multiple areas must be hunted. Vaal rhebok for example. So an outfitter/ph with multiple properties is not concerning, so long as the hunter is comfortable with the size of those properties. Most guys don’t want to hunt in the breeding pen, regardless of how big the bull inside the fence is.
One other consideration is that size changes constantly, properties added or lost, new leases, new lodges etc.

 

[375Fox]

Not talking about how hard the hunting is . Nor am I talking about any specific outfitters . Hunting on high fence , even smallish high fence properties can actually be quite difficult at times depending on a multitude of factors: terrain , vegetation , species , etc. Talking about full disclosure, truth in advertising on property size, fencing , game management, etc . I’m glad you had a great hunt and it met your expectations.

That’s really how I feel too. I will say I think there is a huge difference though between Limpopo and Eastern Cape. I find it much easier to find and identify those being honest in eastern cape. I’d really like to try hunting in kwazulu Natal also. Limpopo however just has too many fences combined with intensive game farming and and a lot of competition creates a less than honest environment. Property size is one of those I see frequently exaggerated.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Your question is interestingly phrased since you have the word contiguous in there...

An educated guess would make it Limpopo province but exact location I cannot say.

At NWU (university of the North West) in Potchefstroom, Prof Theuns Eloff headed up a department dealing with game farming and more. In the process they did an audit of game farms across the country and perhaps he might be more specific.

"In 1993 South Africa had approximately 3 357 exempted wildlife ranches or 7 039 992 ha fenced areas (average 2 097 ha per ranch) which represented about 5.7% of available land. By 2005, exempted wildlife ranches had increased to approximately 6 330 ranches covering approximately 14 789 000 ha (average 2 336 ha per ranch) or 12.0% of available land. This represents a growth rate of approximately 6.4% per year in exempted areas. The 14 789 000 ha do not include unfenced wildlife farms. Because the total area of land remains static (the same over time), the land available for other agricultural purposes (e.g. for cattle, field crops, etc) decreased markedly over the same period"

https://www.namc.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Report-on-Wildlife-ranching.pdf

 

[Roller]

That’s really how I feel too. I will say I think there is a huge difference though between Limpopo and Eastern Cape. I find it much easier to find and identify those being honest in eastern cape. I’d really like to try hunting in kwazulu Natal also. Limpopo however just has too many fences combined with intensive game farming and and a lot of competition creates a less than honest environment. Property size is one of those I see frequently exaggerated.

Agree that Limpopo is likely the worst “offender” in that arena . I honestly do appreciate what RSA has done in regards to making hunting a sustainable business model, preserving game, and providing an affordable place to hunt Africa for many . I just think that making their operations more transparent will improve their business , public image, and bottom line over the long term.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

I just think that making their operations more transparent will improve their business , public image, and bottom line over the long term.

If you have something that others don't, it creates value which in turns comes at a higher cost. Someone who has access to free range/ 100,000 contiguous acres with self sustaining herds, are never going to charge the same as someone who only hunts on 5000 high fenced acres.
The smaller parcel has no choice but to lure hunters to a lesser experience with cheaper prices. That is unfortunately the reality.

 

[Roller]

If you have something that others don't, it creates value which in turns comes at a higher cost. Someone who has access to free range/ 100,000 contiguous acres with self sustaining herds, are never going to charge the same as someone who only hunts on 5000 high fenced acres.
The smaller parcel has no choice but to lure hunters to a lesser experience with cheaper prices. That is unfortunately the reality.

The problem is that “luring” is closely akin to “hustling”. In the end, many hunters could have paid the same for a much better experience with a more honest operator (like you perhaps) . IMHO, the RSA hunting industry needs more self-policing of deceptive business practices . I think it is hurting your industry overall . Namibia is much better alternative for a game ranch hunt in most instances (and without having to wade through as many layers of BS).

 

[Rare Breed]

Most everyone thinks I bought this deer. Nope. He was born and raised on my ranch. Jealousy is an ugly thing. It has contributed to this urban legend of all big bucks being pen raised.

View attachment 568690

deer of a lifetime.

 

[Philip Glass]

Agree that Limpopo is likely the worst “offender” in that arena . I honestly do appreciate what RSA has done in regards to making hunting a sustainable business model, preserving game, and providing an affordable place to hunt Africa for many . I just think that making their operations more transparent will improve their business , public image, and bottom line over the long term.

I am glad to hear some of you agreeing with me. Usually I get jumped all over for saying anything negative about the small farms in Limpopo. Guys I've heard the stories!

 

[Roller]

I am glad to hear some of you agreeing with me. Usually I get jumped all over for saying anything negative about the small farms in Limpopo. Guys I've heard the stories!

Yes, the shenanigans need to be called out more often. The bad operators aren't doing anyone any favors. PHASA isn't doing anything about it to my knowledge. My response (and many others I've talked to around the fire) is just avoid RSA altogether. Better places to spend discretionary income.

 

[revturbo9967]

Yes, the shenanigans need to be called out more often. The bad operators aren't doing anyone any favors. PHASA isn't doing anything about it to my knowledge. My response (and many others I've talked to around the fire) is just avoid RSA altogether. Better places to spend discretionary income.

That’s pretty much what I did. I did not know how to find guaranteed quality in RSA, so I went to another country. Granted, I could have had a terrible hunt in any country, but at least I knew the animals were not put and take and game farming was not existent.

The more deception operators try and create, the bigger the black eye gets for RSA.