The best country for hunting in Africa

[Ayaan Jakhura]

Hi guys I was wondering what you opinions of the best country to hunt in Africa would be. I would like for the area that you’re hunting in to be fair chase (no fences and you have to work for your animal).

Thanks, Ayaan

 

[Red Leg]

Depends - It's a big continent with a huge variety of game.

Your Avatar notes that you have already hunted Zambia and South Africa. I would assume you already have informed opinions about both those places. Assuming you are focused on plains game, then I would recommend Namibia. You haven't been there yet, the prices are very competitive, and several outfitters here have very large no and low-fence concessions.

If you are including dangerous game, then it is a totally different conversation.

 

[Lee M]

Depends on what experience you want, what game you are after and what your budget is. Lots of people with extensive experience on this thread.

 

[rafaellinne]

I’ve hunted 3 times in Tanzania and 4 times in Zimbabwe. Of course I was after dangerous game. Talking about cost benefit, I think Zimbabwe is better.

 

[Ayaan Jakhura]

I guess i would really want it to be an adventure. So it would have to be rugged and untamed.

 

[Pheroze]

I guess i would really want it to be an adventure. So it would have to be rugged and untamed.

Your Avatar notes that you have already hunted Zambia and South Africa. I would assume you already have informed opinions about both those places.

@Ayaan Jakhura of the two that you have been to which is your favourite?

 

[BRICKBURN]

Apples, oranges, grapefruit and mango!

 

[PeteG]

This is more a matter of personal favorites than anything else.

 

[Adrian]

You'll get plenty of recommendations but which is the best is a purely personal opinion.

 

[Ayaan Jakhura]

@Ayaan Jakhura of the two that you have been to which is your favourite?

I guess the favorite of the two would be the more interesting, rugged, wild and untamed so it would probably be Zambia.

 

[Red Leg]

For a mix-bag dangerous/PG hunt in truly open concessions/blocks my choices would be Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Namibia’s Caprivi Bushmanland regions. The most cost effective are Zimbabwe and Mozambique. I have had two great old school experiences in the Zambezi Delta of Mozambique.

 

[Ayaan Jakhura]

For a mix-bag dangerous/PG hunt in truly open concessions/blocks my choices would be Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Namibia’s Caprivi Bushmanland regions. The most cost effective are Zimbabwe and Mozambique. I have had two great old school experiences in the Zambezi Delta of Mozambique.

These experiences sound very interesting. would you care ton share a few?

 

[Waterbuck2008]

The Zambezi Delta is a vast wild area, with coastal forests breaking into open grassland, then papyrus swamp and delta rivulets and sloughs. I loved the terrain on my buffalo hunts, but I'm a duck hunter at heart. Great place for an excellent opportunity at waterbuck, hippo and croc, too.

 

[firehuntfish]

I would like for the area that you’re hunting in to be fair chase (no fences and you have to work for your animal).

Thanks, Ayaan

Plenty of opportunity to hunt fair chase and "work" for your animals on high fence properties in Africa. You simply have to do your research and find the right outfitter who owns the right properties.

 

[Hank2211]

Hi guys I was wondering what you opinions of the best country to hunt in Africa would be. I would like for the area that you’re hunting in to be fair chase (no fences and you have to work for your animal).

Thanks, Ayaan

You don't mention what you want to hunt, or how you define "best", so it's difficult to give you a useful answer. However, given that you said you want to work for your animal, I can suggest, based on experience, Ethiopia or West Africa. Neither the Cameroon forest nor the Ethiopian Highlands have fences, both are very rugged (although for different reasons - one is a rain forest; the other is highish mountains), and both will generally have you working very hard under difficult physical and mental conditions for your animals. The same can be said of places such as Benin if you are there during the hot season (temps well over 100 degrees every day). In the Cameroon forests, shots will be close (30 yards would be a long shot) but you won't be able to see farther than 5 yards most of the time (and usually much less), and in Ethiopia, shots will tend to be over 300 yards, often with intervening valleys. No cakewalks.

There is nothing to compare in Southern Africa in my view, in terms of "working for your animal". That's not to say you can't have a whole lot of fun in Southern Africa.

 

[WAB]

If it ever re-opens, my vote would go to Botswana for ele and buff. You can’t go wrong with the Upper Luangwa River Valley in Zambia. I have had truly wild hunts in Zim and Moz as well. Try them all and find your favorite!