First Safari Animal List

I recently got some very good advice from some experienced African hunters who said "plan a long safari with a short list of animals because once your on the ground the price for additional animals is always negotiable".
 
I have had this same discussion with other members as well as in my head a bunch(some days a lot more than others). I am leaving on first safari in late June. I have come to a conclusion that I want to hunt mature Kudu and black wildebeest. Everything after will be best available til my money or time runs out what ever comes first. I will have my wife along and she only has one specific animal, a gemsbok. That leaves us a fairly open slate and plenty of room in our budget to take what wows us or the PH. As far as trophies are concerned I would much rather come home with 4 Rowland Ward caliber trophies then just a bunch of kills. I understand that might not be other's view, just mine. If Africa affects me like it has everyone else I have talked to it will not be my last trip!
 
I'm heading on my first safari next week, to Namibia.

For me, like many others, Kudu is the animal I've dreamt of hunting for a long time, so that's my #1 priority.

Following that, I have oryx, springbok, impala, and steenbok on the list.

I'll remain flexible after the main priorities though, as others have advised....if they cross my path, a hartmann zebra, red hartebeest, duiker, and warthog may well come home with me too.
 
So much good advice. I think you have a fine plan together for your hunt. I'd say adding zebra would be essential to a plains game safari.

I hope you can eat all of these in country, your bag looks delicious.
 
Some very interesting points here for sure. The idea of having to reserve all my animals prior to a hunt would make me question my outfitter. I think it's great to have a wish list but priorities have a way of changing when seeing all the animals. This is especially true on a first time hunt. As stated before I can't imagine a PH saying you can't shoot an animal because you didn't "reserve" it.
 
Some very interesting points here for sure. The idea of having to reserve all my animals prior to a hunt would make me question my outfitter. I think it's great to have a wish list but priorities have a way of changing when seeing all the animals. This is especially true on a first time hunt. As stated before I can't imagine a PH saying you can't shoot an animal because you didn't "reserve" it.
From personal experience I can say for sure that animals you never thought you would be interested in can suddenly become something you can't resist on a first safari.

I was literally like a kid in the candy store who'd never seen candy before. I was lucky to have Francois along to help me with my self control and negotiate on the fly for me.
 
A lot of great advice given. Red lechwe are stunningly beautiful. If you can get a good nyala go for it. Always put bushbuck on the list if they are on the property. You can do a Euro mount on the bushbuck and it will still look nice!
 

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