Suggestions for a Bowhunting Safari ...

I have nothing Nothing against Firearms, I own a few, OK a lot. But, When it comes to Big Game, I'm pretty much a Bow Hunter.

My Girlfriend and I have been to Limpopo SA each of the last 3 years (Bowhunting) and we really enjoyed it.

While an Eland and Zebra are still on my wish list, (along with a few other possibilities); I think if I were to go back, I'd really like to go someplace else.

I know spot and stalk is a much lower success rate and yet I'd be willing to spend some serious time doing that, although I'm not a 60-70 yard shot guy, so if getting with 40 yards is not going to be possible, then I'll sit waterholes gladly.

Not interested in DG, so an interesting selection of Plains Game is what I'd look for, accommodations do not have to be anything fancy, running water, good food and indoor bathrooms at the least I'd say.

Where have you been that has experienced Bow Hunting PHs and proper set up and what did you like about them?

Without a doubt Dries Visser is my recommendation based on what you described you are looking for. You won't be disappointed! The place is set up for bowhunting and all the PH's are experienced in bowhunting.

I had a good bow hunt in Namibia with @DIVAN SAFARIS. He’s definitely worth talking to. Stalking dik dik and warthog. If this had been a planned bowhunting safari I would have done better.

I am personally looking into Mozambique or EC for my next trip on my Tiny 10 quest.

Been looking alot at bow hunts, and I've read great things about Namibia. Both spot and stalk and blind approaches. @WMU05 has a really good recent report from earlier this season that's worth a read.

Bushmen Safaris does bow hunting only. Only host one group of hunters per month during the dark of the moon. Worth checking out

Game 4 Africa in the eastern cape offers bow hunting. They are also a sponsor on here.

Marius Goosen and his PHs @KMG Hunting Safaris are avid bowhunters and will work hard for you in the Eastern Cape. Also a sponsor here. I took my first nyala and a bushpig with a bow with Marius.

ACE (in CT) said:

I have nothing Nothing against Firearms, I own a few, OK a lot. But, When it comes to Big Game, I'm pretty much a Bow Hunter.

My Girlfriend and I have been to Limpopo SA each of the last 3 years (Bowhunting) and we really enjoyed it.

While an Eland and Zebra are still on my wish list, (along with a few other possibilities); I think if I were to go back, I'd really like to go someplace else.

I know spot and stalk is a much lower success rate and yet I'd be willing to spend some serious time doing that, although I'm not a 60-70 yard shot guy, so if getting with 40 yards is not going to be possible, then I'll sit waterholes gladly.

Not interested in DG, so an interesting selection of Plains Game is what I'd look for, accommodations do not have to be anything fancy, running water, good food and indoor bathrooms at the least I'd say.

Where have you been that has experienced Bow Hunting PHs and proper set up and what did you like about them?

Click to expand...

Hi Ace,
We also try to keep up on who may be a great choice to Bowhunt with. There are numerous outstanding safari companies in South Africa, but I think most are great at rifle hunting, and some are good at both, but so very few are great at bowhunting. I am still a bowhunter and my wife prefers a crossbow over a rifle and I will continue to bowhunt as long as I can.
To me it makes a differance the size of the property and also if there is bow and gun hunting on the same property and really at the same time. I have been with outfitters that claimed 200K acres etc, only to find they took you thru multiple gates to a smaller piece of property that they had rights to for a specific animal. Those areas could be as small as 100 acres. I seen others with maybe six thousand acres, but both gun hunters and bow hunters shared the same property at the same time and a few thousand acres get real small with 9 hunters on it, a few cruisers running around and your sitting in a blind waiting for a relaxed animal to walk by.
Its also nice seeing different places and having a chance at different species. I think it is always changing who is really a bowhunter. Most Ph's in South Africa are independant contractors and many who guide and sit with bowhunters have never owned a bow and although extremely knowledgeable about african wildlife, they do not know much about bowhunting. I think it all does make a difference.
Feel free to PM me with some questions and if you find a company please let me know as we are also looking for new places. Have you been to the same place for the past 3 years? Where did you go? Nice to see another African Bowhunter from New England.

Look into Strang Middleton in Zambia. As a diehard bowhunter himself he’ll help you achieve your goals and then some.

Mtn_Infantry said:

Look into Strang Middleton in Zambia. As a diehard bowhunter himself he’ll help you achieve your goals and then some.

Click to expand...

I sent him a request for info. Mainly proerty size, if it is hunted by both gun and bow hunters, photos of blinds and treestands etc, and pricing. Thank you for the lead.

Adipose said:

I sent him a request for info. Mainly proerty size, if it is hunted by both gun and bow hunters, photos of blinds and treestands etc, and pricing. Thank you for the lead.

Click to expand...

Strang hunts both Free Range Concessions like the Luangwa Valley as well as a couple different ranches. If you send me a PM i can give you his WhatsApp.

@MAdcox just got back from a Buffalo hunt with him in Luangwa but spent some time on the ranch and is planning a return soon.

Strang is a bow hunting expert on all types of game and a great PH to spend a couple of weeks in Africa with. Zambia is also a special place. I was able to see a lot of it this May and it is a beautiful country. You could not go wrong with a trip there.

This is a link to my hunt report from May. https://www.africahunting.com/threa...rom-livingstone-to-the-luangwa-valley.103616/

ACE (in CT) said:

I have nothing Nothing against Firearms, I own a few, OK a lot. But, When it comes to Big Game, I'm pretty much a Bow Hunter.

My Girlfriend and I have been to Limpopo SA each of the last 3 years (Bowhunting) and we really enjoyed it.

While an Eland and Zebra are still on my wish list, (along with a few other possibilities); I think if I were to go back, I'd really like to go someplace else.

I know spot and stalk is a much lower success rate and yet I'd be willing to spend some serious time doing that, although I'm not a 60-70 yard shot guy, so if getting with 40 yards is not going to be possible, then I'll sit waterholes gladly.

Not interested in DG, so an interesting selection of Plains Game is what I'd look for, accommodations do not have to be anything fancy, running water, good food and indoor bathrooms at the least I'd say.

Where have you been that has experienced Bow Hunting PHs and proper set up and what did you like about them?

Click to expand...

@ACE (in CT) I know your thread is over two weeks old, but I admire your interest. Bowhunting is special and I've enjoyed watching my son as a pre-teen doing spot-and-stalk bowhunting in Africa.

We have hunted most of the endemic species of southern Africa with firearms and we wanted to plan a future hunt that batted cleanup on some of the species we've missed over many wilderness hunts.

For bow hunting, our research indicates that Driess Vissers is where we will go when we do our bowhunt. South Africa doesn't particularly inspire me for firearm hunting (personal value judgement, not insulting others), but it does appeal to us for bow hunting. The videos Driess Vissers has created for ethical shot placement for African bowhunting are laudable. The idea of going someplace to create additional challenge while getting the niche species off the list is quite appealing to us.

Sharp broadheads and a smooth follow through!

ACE (in CT) said:

I have nothing Nothing against Firearms, I own a few, OK a lot. But, When it comes to Big Game, I'm pretty much a Bow Hunter.

My Girlfriend and I have been to Limpopo SA each of the last 3 years (Bowhunting) and we really enjoyed it.

While an Eland and Zebra are still on my wish list, (along with a few other possibilities); I think if I were to go back, I'd really like to go someplace else.

I know spot and stalk is a much lower success rate and yet I'd be willing to spend some serious time doing that, although I'm not a 60-70 yard shot guy, so if getting with 40 yards is not going to be possible, then I'll sit waterholes gladly.

Not interested in DG, so an interesting selection of Plains Game is what I'd look for, accommodations do not have to be anything fancy, running water, good food and indoor bathrooms at the least I'd say.

Where have you been that has experienced Bow Hunting PHs and proper set up and what did you like about them?

Click to expand...

I've been to South Africa, bowhunting five times. All have been excellent experiences. My last trip was to the Kalahari with DeKlerk Outfitters, where I stalked a male lion. I've hunted American Bison and Alaskan Brown Bear with my bow, but this lion hunt was the one that had my heart racing most. Here's a synopsis of the hunt- after a mile of tracking, we stalked to within 50 yards without the cat seeing, hearing, or smelling us (a strong breeze was in our favor), But he was lying down, facing away from us, and mostly hidden in the tawny grass. We angled around a bit and got to within 40 yards. He was still unaware of us, but I could not make out the front shoulder crease through the grass. We moved to within 30 yards, he stood up 3/4 angling away and I placed an arrow far back (and a bit low). He ran off not knowing what bit him, and laid down rather quickly. He was breathing heavily. As we approached for a second shot, I found my first arrow in the grass- it was a complete pass through. My second arrow hit his shoulder bone as wind drift caused it to fly off target a bit. He whirled around looking for what bit into his shoulder and ran off again. I'd like to say "third times the charm", but as I drew, my peep sight elastic came off. I attempted the shot without the sight and shot just high. Fourth arrow hit the dirt. I fixed my elastic and 5th arrow was the finisher. Hans DeKlerk was always ready with his 460 Heym double as was my PH, but they let me finish what I started. As an archer, you'll know that guides or PH's are not always so accomodating. So, my highest regards for DeKlerk Outfitters. Of course, your hunting a captive bred lion, but DeKlerk's property is huge and the experience is wild. I also took a beautiful Gemsbok during that trip. Their operation is first rate.