Map of different outfitters in hunting areas

[Tania Johnson]

Hi, my name is Tania,

I have just joined Africa Hunting.com.

Just wondering if anyone could suggest somewhere where I can find a map of where outfitters are located in South Africa. The task of going through each and every outfitter only to find out they are a fair distance from the airport or the hunting area is very small, has been very time consuming.

Reason for this is because we are specifically looking for an outfitter located no more then a 4 hour drive from Johannesberg.

We are looking to go on a large family hunting holiday, but would like the commute to be minimal for everyone.

A map on the Africa Hunting website - similar to the way google maps functions, where you can zoom in and scroll around certain areas to see which outfitters reside and operate there, would be a massive help and a very useful tool. My partner and I have spent countless hours on google researching specific areas and conservancies looking at maps, to try and find outfitters that operate in places we would like to hunt in.

In the mean time, if anyone can help me out with suggestions of outfitters that meet the following criteria, this would be very helpful.

We are looking for a Lodge that is 4 - 5 star. Within 4 hours drive from Johannesberg. Maleria free area. Large hunting area - ie. minimum 20,000 acres + preferably not fenced, but ok if it is a 5 star resort.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Tania

 

[LivingTheDream]

Just focus your search on Limpopo. Most will have some type of fence but you will rarely see it. You should not have to worry about Malaria. Good luck in your search, and welcome to AH.

 

[mrpoindexter]

I agree that you won't see unfenced property within 4 hours of JNB airport. Even if a person took down their fences, their neighbors would have a fence and also you would have to contend with hunting seasons. Once a high fence is in place, year round hunting is open.

20,000 acres and a 4-5 star hunting lodge are probably going to go hand in hand - I doubt you would see such a lodge on a small concession and I am guessing most very large concessions have a nice lodge. I have a friend who went to Moshate and they are 20,000 acres and their main lodge looks pretty awesome.

Depending on how many days you are in Africa, would an extra couple hours be a killer if you get a better lodge and hunting area? Best of luck on the safari and let us know who you went with and how it was.

 

[peras]

Good day and welcome. We are less than 2 hours from the airport between the towns of Magaliesberg and Rustenburg in the Northwest province. You are welcome to contact me with any questions.

 

[rinehart0050]

When you're considering the drive out to an outfitter, you will also want to think about paved vs. dirt roads. On our safari, we drove to one outfit in the Kalahari in NWP- total drive was about 6 hours, last 1.5 on dirt road. We drove to another outfitter in Limpopo, about 4.5 hours, last 1.5 on dirt road (rougher than the dirt road in NWP).

If the drive/road quality is a concern, you may want to consider chartering a plane or helicopter. Most of the bigger outfits will have a landing strip (or have access to one nearby).

Regarding the size of hunting properties, it will depend on the species you're looking for. Many outfits will have a certain sized property on which their lodge is built. However, there will only be so many species on that land. Most of the outfitters will have other properties that they either own or have negotiated hunting rights to to cover a broader range of species. Rather than asking "do you have 20k acres with these 7x species available to hunt on it," you may have better success saying that you want to hunt these 7 species and you don't want to drive more than 45 min to get to the properties where they'll be hunted. Also, 20k acres of hunting land doesn't always mean 20k uninterupted acres of hunting land with no internal fencing.

That said, there are outfitters out there with large properties that have no internal fencing and many species, but I suspect they are a bit further away from Joburg.

There was a great article here a while back that helped me ask the right questions before my safari-
http://www.africahunting.com/threads/better-questions-to-ask-when-looking-for-a-hunt….23825/

I'd be interested to see a map of hunting lands too, but I suspect it would require constant updating as outfitters make new arrangements and agreements with landowners for hunting rights.

 

[Patrick R]

Hi, my name is Tania,

I have just joined Africa Hunting.com.

Just wondering if anyone could suggest somewhere where I can find a map of where outfitters are located in South Africa. The task of going through each and every outfitter only to find out they are a fair distance from the airport or the hunting area is very small, has been very time consuming.

Reason for this is because we are specifically looking for an outfitter located no more then a 4 hour drive from Johannesberg.

We are looking to go on a large family hunting holiday, but would like the commute to be minimal for everyone.

A map on the Africa Hunting website - similar to the way google maps functions, where you can zoom in and scroll around certain areas to see which outfitters reside and operate there, would be a massive help and a very useful tool. My partner and I have spent countless hours on google researching specific areas and conservancies looking at maps, to try and find outfitters that operate in places we would like to hunt in.

In the mean time, if anyone can help me out with suggestions of outfitters that meet the following criteria, this would be very helpful.

We are looking for a Lodge that is 4 - 5 star. Within 4 hours drive from Johannesberg. Maleria free area. Large hunting area - ie. minimum 20,000 acres + preferably not fenced, but ok if it is a 5 star resort.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Tania

Tania,

welcome to AH...

I know you will find a 4-5 star lodge within 4 hours from OR Tambo, but would be scares on 20 000acre areas, perhaps up to 10 000 - 12 000acres will be more common and majority/all are fenced...

 

[cpr0312]

Welcome aboard, best of luck!

 

[BRICKBURN]

Tania, You can always ask a good Agent to do the work for you.

Google Earth. has that function for advertisers. search "hunting south africa"
10 Outfits come up. Two operating within in your constraints.
One of the ten advertisers has actually been convicted of wildlife offences. You guess which one.
That is the advantage of researching on AH.


Just for giggles I thought I might help you out a bit from info readily available here on AH and on Google Earth.

First the provinces in RSA. FYI : OR Tambo is in Gauteng Province on this map.

This is the endemic malaria map for RSA.
Joburg is clearly marked

Here are FIVE road trips about 4+/- hours in length from OR Tambo (as set out by Google Earth)

Westerly: Vryburg

Southerly Dewetsdorp

Easterly: Pongola

Northerly. Thabazimbi

North Easterly Louis Trichardt

4 +/- Hour drive and malaria map. Overlay onto Google earth.

Note the yellow pins.

Here is your problem Tania. Within 4 +/- hours drive of OR Tambo in every direction there are so many choices your head will spin. That area covers 25% to 30% of RSA.


Fences. You are going to have a fence, learn to live with it.
Concentrate on large CONTIGUOUS area.
There are areas to hunt bordering Kruger that will meet everything but Malaria.


There are a list of qualified capable Outfitters here on AH that will be more than willing to help you find your family hunt.

Read this thread to help you with your search.
http://www.africahunting.com/threads/better-questions-to-ask-when-looking-for-a-hunt….23825/



good luck.


ps. I doubt AH is about to compete with Google on the mapping front.

 

[Nyati]

Welcome to AH, Tania !

 

[BWH]

Welcome! Also, consider the animals you would like to hunt. You may consider @AAA Africa Serapa Safaris. They have a really BIG place & it is 5 Star!

 

[CAustin]

Welcome to AH!

 

[cpr0312]

Very nice putting the maps up with the times to certain areas @BRICKBURN

 

[cpr0312]

You may consider @AAA Africa Serapa Safaris. They have a really BIG place & it is 5 Star!

+1

 

[spike.t]

hi welcome aboard you could always get a plane from joburg for only 2 hours and head north.....

 

[BRICKBURN]

hi welcome aboard you could always get a plane from joburg for only 2 hours and head north.....

Exactly. Since you are already on a plane, what is another couple hours.

 

[BWH]

I believe the drive to @AAA Africa Serapa Safaris is about 5 hours W of JNB in the NW Province. There is an AH member hunting there now if I recall.... I bet he can provide some awesome intel upon return.

 

[ActionBob]

When you're considering the drive out to an outfitter, you will also want to think about paved vs. dirt roads. On our safari, we drove to one outfit in the Kalahari in NWP- total drive was about 6 hours, last 1.5 on dirt road. We drove to another outfitter in Limpopo, about 4.5 hours, last 1.5 on dirt road (rougher than the dirt road in NWP).

If the drive/road quality is a concern, you may want to consider chartering a plane or helicopter. Most of the bigger outfits will have a landing strip (or have access to one nearby).

To me the dirt roads are all part of the experience! What better way to see the real country side. But South Africa has nothing to compare to the horrendous roads in Zimbabwe. And I've seen pictures from other counties where a full semi truck goes down into the pot hole and then drives back out (Angola). I never saw anything quite that bad even in Zimbabwe.

But to be fair, I've been way out there in the USA and Canada where the roads are pretty rough and you need 4 wheel drive. And I would not have it any other way. That is how it is when you get out there away from Wal Mart and KFC.

Some road pics from Zimbabwe...

Of course the real fun is when you get off road... Also sets apart the Landcruiser from the Ram truck

And then sometimes you need to just trust to follow the tracks into the ditch....

 

[thi9elsp]

@BRICKBURN Thanks for doing the map with routes and overlay. It's help for all of us.

 

[BRICKBURN]

From Namibia to Mozambique there are interesting roads to be travelled.

 

[BRICKBURN]

@BRICKBURN Thanks for doing the map with routes and overlay. It's help for all of us.

Google Earth is your friend, some days.