First South African Safari....A bit overwhelmed

JimP said:
How many days do you plan on hunting? Remember that some outfitters consider your pick up and drop off days as hunting days.

On my first hunt I found that finding a good kudu very hard and shot mine on my 8th day of a 8 day hunt. I also had a warthog on my list and never pulled the trigger on one. Most of the areas that we hunted trying to find a kudu were not the kind of areas that you find good warthogs in.

Don't discount high fence areas, they are nothing like what you might see here in the US, and if you get onto one in the Eastern Cape you may never realize that you are hunting in one except for the gate that you drive through.

On my last hunt I was with Frontier Safaris north of Port Elizabeth. Not only do they have a vast area around the lodge but they also have access to very large tracts of land to hunt where you will find better animals than what you will find around the lodge.
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Great question and one I've been asking each outfitter. I have been specifically asking how many hunting days would be included. As mentioned, fences are no issue with us.
 
I may have hunted a fenced area in SA, but couldn't say for sure...
 
Hedge774 said:
Congratulations on all three occasions! There are many, very informative threads on here for first time safari goers. I'd really study on the advice given by this fine group. I think you have a very solid list of outfitters and a very tough decision to make between them. In all honesty, I'd ask specifically about activities for your wife while you are out. If you think about it, that could make or break a once in a lifetime event. Happy wife....
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Thank you! It is a lot of information to take in and digest and I greatly appreciate the feedback I've received so far.

As for my wife, she will definitely be more interested in hunting and she can be a bit on the adventurous side. If we hunt Limpopo, she wants to visit the big cat preserve (Ukutula?). If we hunt the Cape she wants/wanted to dive with the great whites; unfortunately we are hearing they are not as plentiful as they once were.
 
I hunted with Crusader Safaris for my first safari in 2016. I had a hell of a good time. My wife did too. And Andrew is top notch. I recommend them 100%

To make it more confusing, I also hunted in Botswana with a company aligned with Mike Murray from African field sports. Mike is “neighbors” with Andrew and Crusader in the east cape. Mike too is a class act.

If I were to go back to South Africa it would be with either Andrew or Mike
 
Just a little story. I went to the SCI show in Nashville in 2024. I had not corresponded with either Andrew or Mike since our safaris in 2016 and 2023. (I never even met Mike in person)

After 8 years and 1 year, with no correspondence, both Andrew and Mike recognized me and remembered my name.

That’s a people skill I don’t have. So it leaves a favorable impression
 
Congrats on the decision to go! I don’t have any specific information on the three you have narrowed down but I also haven’t heard negatives about them either. Logistics will be simpler going to Limpopo because the Eastern Cape will have an additional flight. My preference is the ec because I like the varied terrain and the animals that occupy those biomes. It’s also nice to take a day trip to the ocean etc. I would prioritize your list to about the top 4 and pick an outfitter that does those well. You may get options on the other animals while there if you are lucky/interested. I could list about three or four additional companies but if you are comfortable with your choice that’s great. I’m taking my grandsons and dads back to Game4Africa in July.
 
Mike D Texas said:
I have no issue with fences at all. I've hunted on several here in Texas ranging from as small as 1,000 acres to 122,000 acres.
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You hunted a 122,000 acre high fence ranch in Texas? Its existence would be news to me!

There is a difference between 3 wire cattle fence and 6’ foot game proof fencing.

When most say “fenced” in terms of Africa. It is the 6foot game proof fence.
 
dchum said:
You hunted a 122,000 acre high fence ranch in Texas? Its existence would be news to me!

There is a difference between 3 wire cattle fence and 6’ foot game proof fencing.

When most say “fenced” in terms of Africa. It is the 6foot game proof fence.
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8 ft
 
'68boy said:
I wouldn’t worry about high fence in SA— you’ll never see them one way or another.
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Hedge774 said:
I may have hunted a fenced area in SA, but couldn't say for sure...
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I get really tired of people lying about fencing. I’m more than willing to accept the hunting experience inside a fence can be the same as outside the fence. I’ve hunted small properties and properties up to 80,000 acres. The high fence was a daily sight on every property. It’s a fact of hunting in South Africa. I see no reason to try and downplay it. It’s disingenuous to others.
 
K-man said:
Congrats on the decision to go! I don’t have any specific information on the three you have narrowed down but I also haven’t heard negatives about them either. Logistics will be simpler going to Limpopo because the Eastern Cape will have an additional flight. My preference is the ec because I like the varied terrain and the animals that occupy those biomes. It’s also nice to take a day trip to the ocean etc. I would prioritize your list to about the top 4 and pick an outfitter that does those well. You may get options on the other animals while there if you are lucky/interested. I could list about three or four additional companies but if you are comfortable with your choice that’s great. I’m taking my grandsons and dads back to Game4Africa in July.
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By all means, I'm open to personal experiences. Please feel free to share.
 
dchum said:
You hunted a 122,000 acre high fence ranch in Texas? Its existence would be news to me!

There is a difference between 3 wire cattle fence and 6’ foot game proof fencing.

When most say “fenced” in terms of Africa. It is the 6foot game proof fence.
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Yes. I hunted D.R. Horton's ranch outside Fort Stockton on a cull/management hunt about 15 years ago. Perimeter fence was 8' high, all interior fences were typical 5 strand wire seen all over Texas.
 
Most of us, reading your post, are inwardly jealous as we know how magical is that first safari. We wish we were doing it all over again for the first time! All those posting are giving you their best advice with the purpose of making sure your first hunt is magical. Choose, plan, make expectations known, but then relax enough to enjoy the whole experience.
For the addiction, there is no known anti-dote.
 
375Fox said:
I get really tired of people lying about fencing. I’m more than willing to accept the hunting experience inside a fence can be the same as outside the fence. I’ve hunted small properties and properties up to 80,000 acres. The high fence was a daily sight on every property. It’s a fact of hunting in South Africa. I see no reason to try and downplay it. It’s disingenuous to others.
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I do not lie, Sir. (I'm sure you didn't mean it that way) I just know that I never saw a fence. Quite possibly there just wasn't one to see.
 
Mike D Texas said:
Yes. I hunted D.R. Horton's ranch outside Fort Stockton on a cull/management hunt about 15 years ago. Perimeter fence was 8' high, all interior fences were typical 5 strand wire seen all over Texas.
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Wow and the entire perimeter is game fenced!

That is wild. $$$
 
In 2016 I hunted in Limpopo, in 2018 I hunted the Northwest Provence and in 2024 I hunted the Eastern Cape, based on the size of the animals I took on those 3 safaris I have elected to return to Limpopo for our 2027 Family safari with Epic Hunting Safaris. Lincroma used to be a sponsor here on AH and has a very good reputation.
 
Read your post about the sharks. That's generally a day trip from Cape Town in the Western Cape Provence. And the great white are/were few in numbers. The Killer Whales have eaten most of them.

It's not so much the fence but how big is the contiguous property size. Some outfitter say they have 50k, but don't tell you it's broken up 5k here, 10k there, etc and drives between properties. The bigger the continuous size property the better, IMO.
 
Mike....Marc here. I have hunted ( many lodges) and worked on game reserves in SA for many years, (with my wife). I can highly recommend Limcroma. In fact, I'll be with them again in April. You've got a lot of animals on your list...some living in different habitat types. Personally, I think it's more important to enjoy the ambiance, the hunt, and the whole experience than to worry about shooting lots of animals. Limcroma has top notch PH's that work for Limcroma (Franco is my favorite). Facilities are awesome. My wife loves it there, too. Top Notch! Let me know if any questions. For first time Africa hunters that I meet/know/go with, I head for Limcroma.
 
Hedge774 said:
I do not lie, Sir. (I'm sure you didn't mean it that way) I just know that I never saw a fence. Quite possibly there just wasn't one to see.
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I’ll believe you, but I find that an extremely difficult task in Limpopo especially. It seems repeated more as an attempt to downplay fencing than the truth in most cases.
 
Mike D Texas said:
Thank you for the feedback. One thing I did enjoy when talking with Crusader is that I was talking with the PH that I would be hunting with. I really enjoyed talking with him and feel like we would have a great time in camp.

Which species would you leave off for an EC hunt, and which would you recommend as substitutes?
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For EC I'd recommend springbok. They will run you around all day until one makes a mistake and gives you a shot. Tricky little beasts and lots of fun. You have quite a varied list there. Great if you can fill it but leave some space for targets of opportunity like zebra, hartebeest or what looks like a good representation of a species.
 
I’ve hunted with Andrew twice 2013 and last year in late August. He just acquired a new property next to his existing ranches. I would definitely go there in June and get in on some great trophies! PM me if you’re so inclined. Baviaans Conservancy is free range hunting!
 
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