What game to take 1st time to the dark continent

Bwana Man

AH member
Joined
Jul 20, 2022
Messages
24
Reaction score
29
Location
North San Diego County
Website
www.africahunting.com
Member of
NRA
I'd really like to think about planning a first African hunting trip. Won't be able to afford the big prizes, so I would want to concentrate on the mean and ugly to hunt Probable rifle would be a Winchester Model 70, CZ or Ruger M77 in .375 H & H. I think the animals I would like to get are a baboon (ugly and mean, would only want teeth back), zebra (ornery bastards, might be nice to have the skin for a rug or blanket), warthog (ugly as sin, and just for the tusks), hyena (just to kill one of the loudmouth bastards) and a croc (because I wouldn't mind having a belt and wallet out of it). What do you think? Any thoughts on total costs? Likelihood of getting all 5 in the same trip? Let me know.
 
Hi @Bwana Man,

Planning your first trip to Africa is always exciting!

Please feel free to get in touch with me by DM or at info@mattanjasafaris.co.za for a custom quote. Getting all 5 on the same trip is possible!

Sincerely
Dieter
 
My 2c, with a bunch of assumptions....

It's your first trip so you want it to be memorable (and it will be) so try to get some of the iconic animals. This can mean different species to different people, and you've indicated a few species that you'd like (more thoughts on that below). The location may play a role too - do you want traditional savanna (TZ, most of Zim & Zam, much of SA), mountains (SA - E.Cape & Nam), thick bush (SA - Limpopo, Moz), semi desert (Nam, SA - Kalahari)? I am generalizing big time but you get the drift. Your physical abilities may dictate too. You're traveling a long way just to get here, so spending precious time traveling between different terrains to take a somewhat arbitrary selection of animals would not be a great use of resources - sticking to on location and maximising your time there would be my vote. You could then choose a different region (with a different set of target species) for your subsequent Africa hunts!

If you select a single location, then that starts to filter your species list. My suggestion would be to choose maybe 3 primary species in that location and then add some 'species of opportunity'. This would also keep your budget in some kind of control and you wouldn't be spending money on unnecessary travel. For example - Limpopo, SA: primary targets kudu, Blue Wildebeest, zebra, croc. Secondary species - impala, warthog, baboon. Or Namibia in the semi-desert: primary game gemsbok, mountain zebra, eland. Secondary: springbok, hartebeest, maybe warthog etc.

Yes there is lots of species overlap across regions and you'll get many opinions about being able to shoot just about everything in one location (obviously many introduced species in that case). Your pick.

That would also help you narrow down your rifle of choice for the hunt - bushveld hunt will be better with a handy rifle and a bigger, slower bullet. Open plains would predicate a flatter shooting calibre and so on.

Hyena and croc will be expensive and both are fairly specialised hunts, depending on where you go. I think you'd get a lot more bang for your buck taking more antelope (which I note you don't list at all) than hyena and croc for your first visit. Hyena and croc will also limit the potential locations because they are not so commonly available on licence around Southern Africa.
Baboon and to a lesser extent warthog are considered vermin in some parts and generally not the primary focus of a hunting package, i.e. they are usually more by-catch or targets of opportunity. They are also not costly so if you choose a location with decent population density you may get to shoot multiple of each. But if you wanted a trophy hog then you'd want to steer clear of locations with harder ground because tusk size will be limited and it would be a harder hunt for sure.
Zebra are pretty ubiquitous so you will likely find them in most locations, so they won't be a problem.

Your rifle choice is 'fine' - personally I'd tailor it once you'd narrowed down your hunting venue and species list. A 300 mag or 338 (or even 7mm) would be a better choice for the species you mention, for example. If a 375 is all you had and you can shoot it well, then all good. This forum is bloated with calibre discussions already :giggle:
 
My 2c, with a bunch of assumptions....

It's your first trip so you want it to be memorable (and it will be) so try to get some of the iconic animals. This can mean different species to different people, and you've indicated a few species that you'd like (more thoughts on that below). The location may play a role too - do you want traditional savanna (TZ, most of Zim & Zam, much of SA), mountains (SA - E.Cape & Nam), thick bush (SA - Limpopo, Moz), semi desert (Nam, SA - Kalahari)? I am generalizing big time but you get the drift. Your physical abilities may dictate too. You're traveling a long way just to get here, so spending precious time traveling between different terrains to take a somewhat arbitrary selection of animals would not be a great use of resources - sticking to on location and maximising your time there would be my vote. You could then choose a different region (with a different set of target species) for your subsequent Africa hunts!

If you select a single location, then that starts to filter your species list. My suggestion would be to choose maybe 3 primary species in that location and then add some 'species of opportunity'. This would also keep your budget in some kind of control and you wouldn't be spending money on unnecessary travel. For example - Limpopo, SA: primary targets kudu, Blue Wildebeest, zebra, croc. Secondary species - impala, warthog, baboon. Or Namibia in the semi-desert: primary game gemsbok, mountain zebra, eland. Secondary: springbok, hartebeest, maybe warthog etc.

Yes there is lots of species overlap across regions and you'll get many opinions about being able to shoot just about everything in one location (obviously many introduced species in that case). Your pick.

That would also help you narrow down your rifle of choice for the hunt - bushveld hunt will be better with a handy rifle and a bigger, slower bullet. Open plains would predicate a flatter shooting calibre and so on.

Hyena and croc will be expensive and both are fairly specialised hunts, depending on where you go. I think you'd get a lot more bang for your buck taking more antelope (which I note you don't list at all) than hyena and croc for your first visit. Hyena and croc will also limit the potential locations because they are not so commonly available on licence around Southern Africa.
Baboon and to a lesser extent warthog are considered vermin in some parts and generally not the primary focus of a hunting package, i.e. they are usually more by-catch or targets of opportunity. They are also not costly so if you choose a location with decent population density you may get to shoot multiple of each. But if you wanted a trophy hog then you'd want to steer clear of locations with harder ground because tusk size will be limited and it would be a harder hunt for sure.
Zebra are pretty ubiquitous so you will likely find them in most locations, so they won't be a problem.

Your rifle choice is 'fine' - personally I'd tailor it once you'd narrowed down your hunting venue and species list. A 300 mag or 338 (or even 7mm) would be a better choice for the species you mention, for example. If a 375 is all you had and you can shoot it well, then all good. This forum is bloated with calibre discussions already :giggle:
Very good summary @Desperatezulu , would be useful to keep as a reference.
@Bwana Man whatever you choose make the zebra part of it, they are iconic Africa and that skin always shows well as a rug.
 
If you want to stay on the less expensive end, you will need to modify your list and most likely hunt in South Africa. Prices for Hyena are around $5-6K depending on if it's Brown or Spotted. Croc usually start around $6K and go up to over $17K depending on length.

Baboon ($200), Zebra ($1400 to $3K depending on Burchells or Hartman), Warthog ($400) are very reasonable. Others you can consider for very reasonable prices are Impala ($450), Springbok ( $400) and Jakal ($150). Outfitters will usually offer a package deal for additional savings, so it would be X amount of animals for Y price...and that can vary as well.

It's your hunt and you should get the one you want, but understand you will need to leave some wiggle room in the event that you see an animal that you want to have but didn't plan on. It happens...a lot, and you should be prepared. You will not want to be concerning yourself with the money aspect of the safari while on the hunt. Save up, find a good outfitter (lots of them on AH), talk with them about what you expect and what they expect from you...and go.

Other things you will need to budget for are tips and after the hunt for taxidermy that is not included. Do some research here on AH about what to expect before and after the hunt.

https://www.africahunting.com/community/safari-planning-guide/

Also, it's not just about the animals and money. Africa is so much more. There are a lot of things to do and you should take the time to stop and smell the roses. Plan at least a 10 day safari and hunt around 5 animals so you are not pressed or rushed. Your 375 with premium expanding bullets (Barnes TSX or Swift A-Frames) will get the job done with aplomb.

*All prices were taken from Somerby Safaris who operate in South Africa and Zimbabwe. I would highly recommend them to any first time hunter.
 
My list of iconic species is different then yours.
Catch 22, on your list is different habitats.
So, if your list is fixed, make inquiry to outiftters who can offer hunt as per your wish.
Define well number of days required. Maybe it will take some time to drive from one hunting area to another (savannah or bush species, to river or swamp for croc.)
So,far one outfitter respnded as this hunt is possible to organise.

Trophy fees aside, most expensive commodity on african safari is time.

And time is not commodity you have in abundance.
You will book, 5, 10, or 15 days safari. And on last day, maybe you will not take, one of the animals that was the plan. And next day you will travel home. And maybe you will wish you have more days available. And to buy more time for that animal, you will have to travel to Africa again, pay the tickets, expenses additional costs etc. So time planning is crucial.

For average plains game safari, and animals available on outfitters property in Namibia or South Africa, you can plan 1.5 days per animal.
Croc, can be challenging, and possibly if in different area, additional extra days to plan. This all to be planned in accordance to suggestion of your outfiitter.

Post an inquiry in deals and offers section of the forum get replies from outfitters, discuss details with them, and decide.

Consider packages like this (very similar to my own top ten iconic species):

 
Great advice provided in the preceding posts.
Time is a commodity that one can never get back. Spend it wisely!
Some species are much more expensive than others. If an African hunt means a croc in your pot then spend away. As Tanks stated, Tuskless and Buffalo can be hunted on a common man's budget.

I am also budget minded and am not concerned with bring home trophies, only memories of great adventures! I also ask for "cull" species, if available. Most cull animals will give you a great hunt.

The above stated, I shot a warthog last year with an 11" tusk. I asked to have the skull shipped to me. Unfortunately he was quartering toward me with his nose sniffing a female. The demise of many good men... A snap shot at twenty yards with my ever-trusty Heym double put a .458 Cutting Edge Raptor through his face and lungs. When skinning, the skull fell apart!

The point of my last paragraph is that in Africa, as in war, all plans are off once the first shot is fired. You may plan on bagging an elephant and return with only the adventure of facing a wall of teenage 25 pounders, all too young to shoot. Or you may set out for nothing but cull animals and see the largest X, Y , or Z species that the PH ever saw. Its all part of the adventure!

As for rifles, make sure your PH knows how far you can hit a fist size circle when shooting off the sticks. If that's 200 yards with your .375 that's okay as long the PH knows. It's his job to get a stealthy hunter close enough. The PH should have you check your sights on arrival, all the while he is judging your shooting ability.

Don't forget about conditioning and footwear. How far will you walk in what conditions? Dry, crunchy ground or muddy trails? 70 degrees Fahrenheit in May or 105 degrees in October? Better to get in hunting shape before you arrive in Africa.

Then there is your shoes. Break them in over miles walked at home prior to the hunt! I took Keen hikers and Courtneys. The Keens were comfortable and provided great ankle support but both my South African and Zimbabwe PHs scolded me for making noise when I wore them. The Courtneys were much quieter on dry crunchy trails.

There are many options, most of which are good. Figure out what you most want out of your African hunt and make a prioritized list. Work your way down until time or money runs out.
 
I would pick the animal most important to you, pick an outfitter that has good specimens of that animal and pick other animals from the game list. Every concession I’ve been to all had warthogs,baboons and zebra although the concession I hunted in Mozambique didn’t have many of the Selous zebras at the time of year I hunted it. Crocodile and hyena will be very specialized hunts so I would pick one of them and go from there.
 
I'd really like to think about planning a first African hunting trip. Won't be able to afford the big prizes, so I would want to concentrate on the mean and ugly to hunt Probable rifle would be a Winchester Model 70, CZ or Ruger M77 in .375 H & H. I think the animals I would like to get are a baboon (ugly and mean, would only want teeth back), zebra (ornery bastards, might be nice to have the skin for a rug or blanket), warthog (ugly as sin, and just for the tusks), hyena (just to kill one of the loudmouth bastards) and a croc (because I wouldn't mind having a belt and wallet out of it). What do you think? Any thoughts on total costs? Likelihood of getting all 5 in the same trip? Let me know.

Interesting list.

You can certainly get Baboon, Zebra, Warthog, Hyena and Crocodile.
Where and how you want to hunt and what that experience will be like is another thing.

You can shoot a Croc in a small pond or hunt one on the Zambezi. Experience and price will differ dramatically.
Hyena, are one of those species that are not fenced. It will require some money skill and luck.

Find an Outfitter that has the game and experience you are looking for. Good luck.
 
If you want to stay on the less expensive end, you will need to modify your list and most likely hunt in South Africa. Prices for Hyena are around $5-6K depending on if it's Brown or Spotted. Croc usually start around $6K and go up to over $17K depending on length.

Baboon ($200), Zebra ($1400 to $3K depending on Burchells or Hartman), Warthog ($400) are very reasonable. Others you can consider for very reasonable prices are Impala ($450), Springbok ( $400) and Jakal ($150). Outfitters will usually offer a package deal for additional savings, so it would be X amount of animals for Y price...and that can vary as well.

It's your hunt and you should get the one you want, but understand you will need to leave some wiggle room in the event that you see an animal that you want to have but didn't plan on. It happens...a lot, and you should be prepared. You will not want to be concerning yourself with the money aspect of the safari while on the hunt. Save up, find a good outfitter (lots of them on AH), talk with them about what you expect and what they expect from you...and go.

Other things you will need to budget for are tips and after the hunt for taxidermy that is not included. Do some research here on AH about what to expect before and after the hunt.

https://www.africahunting.com/community/safari-planning-guide/

Also, it's not just about the animals and money. Africa is so much more. There are a lot of things to do and you should take the time to stop and smell the roses. Plan at least a 10 day safari and hunt around 5 animals so you are not pressed or rushed. Your 375 with premium expanding bullets (Barnes TSX or Swift A-Frames) will get the job done with aplomb.

*All prices were taken from Somerby Safaris who operate in South Africa and Zimbabwe. I would highly recommend them to any first time hunter.
Thanks so much for the input! Sounds like I would do better off with something like a couple of Baboons ($400), a Zebra ($1400), a Warthog ($400), an Impala ($450) and 2 Jackals ($300), for 7 animals for a total of less than 3 grand and maybe even less with a package deal. That would be plenty of hunting and a lot of memories! It also sounds like I could save even further costs by staying in the same region and lessening the travel times and distances. Great advice that makes me happy I joined the forum!
 
Thanks so much for the input! Sounds like I would do better off with something like a couple of Baboons ($400), a Zebra ($1400), a Warthog ($400), an Impala ($450) and 2 Jackals ($300), for 7 animals for a total of less than 3 grand and maybe even less with a package deal. That would be plenty of hunting and a lot of memories! It also sounds like I could save even further costs by staying in the same region and lessening the travel times and distances. Great advice that makes me happy I joined the forum!
Most PH’s I’ve spoken with won’t even bother charging you for baboons. They’re nuisances…
 
I have a friend whom I helped arrange his first safari. They landed in Harare yesterday and got to camp about 9 hours ago. They’re hunting the Mokore block in Zimbabwe’s Save Valley Conservancy. His first hunt will be 10-days and primary target animals will be Kudu, Zebra, Eland, Wildebeest, impala and warthog. That’s a nice bag for a first hunt. One of the main reasons I sent him to the SVC is he will have a chance to see all of the Big Five while hunting plains game. I think this gives a better overall experience for a first timer.

He will be waking up about 3 hours from now. There’s nothing like a first day on safari…
 
Kudu first! Then Kudu , followed by a Kudu. The grey ghost is my valentine for sure. I will be hunting them in the rut next June.
Don’t want to hijack the thread here, but where are you hunting? I was in Namibia in early May (when my PH and everyone else I asked said the rut was) and it hadn’t started yet. Would have been better off in June… still got a great kudu though!
 
BTW, Bwana Man, for the game you’re considering shooting, a .270 or .30-06 is plenty of rifle. No need for a .375 for plains game. A .270 with good bullets will kill anything you’ll shoot on a plains game hunt.
 
according to my PH if you are hunting Hyena you cannot import a spotted Hyena from SA to the US but you can bring in a brown Fish and Wildlife say no spotted
 
Well the list includes some of the odd ones I will grant that. But as been posted a few times that doesn't necessarily translate into cheap nor easy. Some of those can be considered incidentals and specialty "items". The best strategy may be to go to an area that has a large variety of game then take them at your discretion and opportunity. I would maybe start with an area that has eland, wildebeest and zebra then during the process of sorting one of them out, take what the area gives and suits your budget and eye. You may be surprised at what game you may like when you see them and hunt them in person. :)
 

Forum statistics

Threads
63,944
Messages
1,407,537
Members
127,694
Latest member
Johanna03O
 

 

 

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

USMA84DAB wrote on JBryant's profile.
Second message to insure you are notified that someone is using my ID on this board to scam you.
ChooChoo404 wrote on MontanaGrant's profile.
Hi. Giving it serious consideration . Ive bought from azdave gonna ask him bout you

Any wisdom or opinions on that reticle? There a manual?
Hedge774 wrote on Odinsraven's profile.
Hey Odinsraven. Is that post from Jefferry 404 legitimate? I don't know him. Thanks!
Hedge
Manny R wrote on SETH RINGER's profile.
I have no idea the shipping cost from here to Costa Rica. I can do my research on shipping and get back with you later today.
 
Top