Please suggest a destination for a fairly unusual hunt...

I am contemplating a trip to celebrate the sale of my farming business, which is "in the works" right now and when competed will hopefully allow me to afford to return to Africa and do the trip of a lifetime. My brother and I had a very nice plains game hunt a couple years ago in South Africa, and I did a very interesting photography tour of several of the parks in Kenya and Tanzania a couple years before that.

When I return this time, I'd like to do something that I suspect is a little unusual.

Learning about the animals habits, habitat, and the skills required to pursue them in wild country is my primary interest. Experiencing a fair chase hunt with an interesting and compatible team of professionals is paramount. Eating a bit of each animal that I kill, learning about the local culture, and doing some good honest physical work during the trip is far more important to me than fine dining and luxury accommodations. I'm a farm boy and very experienced in the Canadian wilderness, I appreciate people who are culturally close to the land and its animals. I admire outfitters who who keep up their equipment and have well trained staff, who work hard and love to share their wisdom and experience.

I'd like to hunt buffalo and perhaps eland and a couple of smaller game species like warthog and an antelope or two, but not primarily as a "trophy" hunt, as an experience. I'd describe myself as a 'hunter - naturalist" and world traveller, not really a trophy hunter.

Size of trophy means very little to me. I might not even bring any trophies home.

I'd also like to try some fishing, hunt upland birds and perhaps even shoot a crocodile - activities that would be just as rewarding to me as tracking an eland.

Is there any one destination or outfitter that you can recommend that could accommodate this wish list? Am I being realistic about such a trip if it is with one outfitter over two or three weeks? I'd appreciate your comments!

@Longwalker Admirable goals! I'm sure you can find what your ;looking for in any country and I'll catch hell for this, but I would go beyond RSA. Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Mozambique come to mind... But there are so many more!

I really enjoyed my trip to the Eastern Cape, and it was a perfect introduction to African hunting, but this time I'm interested in a destination with a bit more wilderness!

You might try Martin Pieters. He's along Lake Kariba - fishing, crocs. And should have the other species you want. All of the hunt reports on Martin are good ones.

You might try the Save or Bubye conservancy in Zim. No fences, lots of different animals and every P.H. will give you a complete nature walk with the Latin names of each plant you see. I don't know if you can check off every item on your list in just one area, but most P.H. 's would transfer you to another area for other hunting if you plan on it and have enough time. Good luck with the goals, and I hope you see them all through.

thi9elsp said:

You might try Martin Pieters. He's along Lake Kariba - fishing, crocs. And should have the other species you want. All of the hunt reports on Martin are good ones.

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Exactly what he said.....

I really enjoyed Namibia. I hunted the northern part near etosha national park, beautiful country

The other thing about Martin is you can fly into Vic Falls and see that too.

If you are looking for different cultures in stable countries, then perhaps Namibia or Burkina Faso would intriguing. But, if it is about the pure adventure with a Global Rescue membership, I read an article about hunting Ethiopia that made it sound very unique. Also, I also read that the WWF are piloting a trophy hunt with the pygmies of Cameroon How cool would that be?

I'm thinking Bongo in the Congo with @christophe morio

http://www.africahunting.com/threads/incredible-bongo-hunting-deal-congo-brazzaville.30245/

Hunting with the San or Baka in the wilds would be a fantastic experience. Namibia has some great conservancies that the San are the "owners"

If you would Like to burn a couple weeks you can take a PH course in RSA and do some learning. It was a great experience for me. Formal learning and a great challenge.

Jaco Strauss at Kwalata would be up to the challenge.

@Longwalker , how many days would you have in mind for a trip?

TMS, Because of the diversity of my interests, I figure a minimum of two weeks, more likely three. This is the early stages of my planning, I really have to sell the farm first!

Good for you Longwalker! What a fine reward to indulge in after your farm sale. What part of Saskatchewan are you in?

South central, near Saskatoon

Longwalker said:

TMS, Because of the diversity of my interests, I figure a minimum of two weeks, more likely three. This is the early stages of my planning, I really have to sell the farm first!

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Three weeks in Africa would be good, because that first week you'll be thawing out and just getting warmed up!

The Zambezi river valley is hard to beat! Anywhere from Zimbabwe to Mozambique.

Zambia would offer you a bunch of options for a 3 week trip.
You could do the Kafue, Luangwa Valley, and Bangweulu. Different areas, different scenery, great selection of game in each area, all three magnificent and unforgettable in their own way.
Royal Kafue, Mushingashi, Lunga Luswishi in Kafue
Munyamadzi Reserve, Luawata and more than i can list in Luangwa
Bangweulu for Lechwe, Sitatunga, birds...
You certainly wouldnt be disappointed.

Sakatoon = Big whitetails . Good luck planning you adventure.

Although I have never been, from all I have read and seen, Zambia, Many places in Zim, some places in Moz all would fit the bill. Or like others have suggested, something even more "exotic" could be Ethiopia, Congo, Benin, maybe Uganda also. Best of luck planning!