BOTSWANA: Bokamoso Safari in The Kalahari

Just got back on Memorial Day from an eight day hunt with Bokamoso Safaris with five hunting buddies. We booked this hunt through WTA about 18 months ago to try and be there during the kudu rut. As it turns out, Southern Africa is experiencing a very wet La Niña pattern and the bush is thick and green so the kudu were finishing up about the time we got there! So, the best laid plans...

My hunting buddy from Houston and I flew United through Newark. Much more reasonable fares in business class than Delta. The flight over went off without a hitch. We arrived in Jo'burg,gathered luggage and met up with Gilbert from Africa Sky who whisked us through SAPS and on to AS where we got comfortable and waited for the rest of our crew from Grand Rapids, Michigan who flew Delta and arrived an hour later. It was great to see everyone again and Africa Sky didn't disappoint.



The next morning we took an Airlink flight into Maun and after the usual cluster of registering firearms and paying taxes on ammo we were off to Bokamoso, about a 2 and a half hour drive.

Accommodations and food were excellent! We hunted 2x1 so we had 3 PHs in camp. Mike and I were paired with Richard Peake, along with trackers KT, Malachi and driver in training, Joe.

I was hunting with my James Anderson built .300 H&H shooting factory HSM ammo loaded with 180 grain Sierra Game Kings which performed admirably. I took a nice kudu bull on day two, a zebra on day four, wildebeest on day five and a phenomenal gemsbok bull on day seven. The other days saw Mike take zebra, kudu, wildebeest and gemsbok as well.








It was my second trip to Bokamoso and I can't recommend it enough. Plains game hunting but we saw lions, leopard and elephant on the 150,000 acre property while hunting so it is an adventure to be sure. I have taken some very nice trophies in the last two safaris, a 58" and 55" kudu, two 40"+ gemsbok bulls and a super old worn down eland to name a few.

We celebrated the last hunting day with a lunch banquet in the bush. A special thanks to camp manager, Bronwyn for putting it together. It was a treat for us all...








Coming home we encountered a couple of issues worth pointing out to international travelers with firearms. Airlink will no longer check your luggage through from Maun to final destination, even though your on a codeshare partner airline. So we called Gilbert to meet us in Jo'berg and walk us through gathering and rechecking luggage home. (Yes this does mean going back through SAPS to gather your gun!)

And Newark was a PITA, not because of Customs, they had their act together. United didn't and our baggage came out late, coupled with our United attendant that insisted all the hunters deplaning stay together with him to recheck luggage in transit even though some were missing their connections doing so. He just kept smiling and saying we will rebook you on the next flight... grrrr! I had plenty of time so no issue for me but a word to the wise.

Again kudos to the staff at Bokamoso and WTA. A fun trip with a good group of guys.

Excellent report and well done on the hunt.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere at Africa Sky; while eating dinner I looked around and Ivan Carter was at the next table over, finish dinner and sit around the fire talking to other hunters listening to where everyone is headed to and what for.

I talked to a beautiful woman who traveled alone from New Mexico with her own rifle for a 14day leopard hunt; if successful it would be her 3rd leopard.

@bwanamrm Good to know about the Airlink issue. I wonder if that is for all flights returning back to the US via Joberg from other African destinations or just the location you were at.

Beautiful rifle and trip. thanks for sharing

Rakman said:

@bwanamrm Good to know about the Airlink issue. I wonder if that is for all flights returning back to the US via Joberg from other African destinations or just the location you were at.

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Good question, I can only speak to Maun at this point but one of my buddies called Patrick at PWP to ask the question and his answer was if you're flying without firearms you can, with you can't. Would be worth asking your travel agent before you book...

Congratulations, Russell! It was enjoyable following along on other media during the safari, you guys enjoyed a great hunt despite conditions. The lion Tom saw was spectacular.

Thanks for the Heads Up about Airlink. Flying them from Beira to Jo’burg in a few months, so glad to know this in advance.

DLSJR said:

Congratulations, Russell! It was enjoyable following along on other media during the safari, you guys enjoyed a great hunt despite conditions. The lion Tom saw was spectacular.

Thanks for the Heads Up about Airlink. Flying them from Beira to Jo’burg in a few months, so glad to know this in advance.

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Thanks buddy... the number of lion in Bokamoso was nothing short of amazing. They had a survey before season started and estimated 22 on 150,000 acres most coming from the park next door! A big Red Hartebeest bull everyone was chasing ended up as a lion's dinner the sixth day we were there, and the quality was jaw dropping. There will be some spectacular lions killed this year in Bots. At $250k a hunt, they should be!

Bokamoso applied for one of the ten permits granted but didn't get one...

Congrats on your hunt, nice trophies !

Yes congratulations on an excellent hunt. Doesn’t that Bots sky just go on forever!

Looks like a splendid trip and beautiful trophies. Love the wide flaring kudu.

I ran into the same baggage situation flying from Maun to JNB first week of May. Used Mr. X for the transition and SAPS didn’t even ask to open my rifle case. They glanced at my permit and sent us on to the ticket counter. Figured it was likely because the other office would check the rifle once tagged.

Airlink will transfer rifle and ammo through for their own flights I found. I flew out of Harare to JNB then on to Maun the week before and my roller, ammo box, and rifle checked strait through.

Nice trip. I'll have to hear about it one day over BBQ at Tuttle's

Thanks for posting the review!

I'm booked for Bokomoso June of 27 and June of 28. Will be my first Africa trip, I'm super excited for it.

Botswana is a special place. I’ve hunted with Bronwyn’s husband Werner twice, but not since they took over management of Bokamosa. I assume that he was guiding some of the other guys in your group?

bwanamrm said:

Thanks buddy... the number of lion in Bokamoso was nothing short of amazing. They had a survey before season started and estimated 22 on 150,000 acres most coming from the park next door! A big Red Hartebeest bull everyone was chasing ended up as a lion's dinner the sixth day we were there, and the quality was jaw dropping. There will be some spectacular lions killed this year in Bots. At $250k a hunt, they should be!

Bokamoso applied for one of the ten permits granted but didn't get one...

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Thank you for sharing the hunting report on Bokamoso Safaris and congratulations on another successful safari with them.

I have hunted with Bokamoso Safaris, and like you, found their property and lodge amazing. A true african wilderness experience. For those that don't know, Bokamoso Safaris is located immediately beside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR). People hunting with Bokamoso should consider doing a day trip to the CKGR, they will see trememdous amounts of game. Truely a wilderness experience.

Again, thank you for posting the report.

Rakman said:

@bwanamrm Good to know about the Airlink issue. I wonder if that is for all flights returning back to the US via Joberg from other African destinations or just the location you were at.

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Last September, when I flew back from Harare to JNB to Newark, Airlink would only send my gun and luggage to JNB, where I had to collect them and check back in for my flight on home. Not so much of a biggie, just a different process than it had been before. And thankfully I was using a TA so one quick call to then and the problem was well handled.

@bwanamrm, thank you very much for this hunt report, these reports are so helpful to the rest of us!

Rakman said:

@bwanamrm Good to know about the Airlink issue. I wonder if that is for all flights returning back to the US via Joberg from other African destinations or just the location you were at.

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I flew out of Bulawayo on Airlink through Johannesburg returning on Delta in mid April and had to reclaim my firearms and recheck them. Last year, Zambia (Livingstone to Joburg on Lufthansa I didn’t). I’ll let you know Beira to Joburg with Delta in a little over 3 weeks.

Congratulations @bwanamrm on another great safari for you and your friend.

Wyfox said:

Thanks for posting the review!

I'm booked for Bokomoso June of 27 and June of 28. Will be my first Africa trip, I'm super excited for it.

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You will have a great safari!

WAB said:

Botswana is a special place. I’ve hunted with Bronwyn’s husband Werner twice, but not since they took over management of Bokamosa. I assume that he was guiding some of the other guys in your group?

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Yes, Werner hunted with Tom and his son-in-law and Adrian hunted with Don and Jamie...

And of course, Bronwyn was there to handle all the small details!

On my 2021 safari when Clive still had Bokamoso, I hunted with Eben Van Heerden who was a very talented young PH. Richard said he is free lancing today since the changes in management at Bokamoso.

Kevin Billings said:

Thank you for sharing the hunting report on Bokamoso Safaris and congratulations on another successful safari with them.

I have hunted with Bokamoso Safaris, and like you, found their property and lodge amazing. A true african wilderness experience. For those that don't know, Bokamoso Safaris is located immediately beside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR). People hunting with Bokamoso should consider doing a day trip to the CKGR, they will see trememdous amounts of game. Truely a wilderness experience.

Again, thank you for posting the report.

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Yes and I think that is one of the reasons for the opportunities at some exceptional plains game trophies!