Top 10 Beginner African Plains Game

Hunting Sailor said:

@seattlesettlers the price etc has been covered above by others, but you also asked about the top 10.

You’ve been around here on AH way longer than I have, so I guess the below is nothing extraordinary.

Top 10 Beginners Plains Game for Southern Africa in no particular order.

1 Kudu
2 Impala
3 Zebra
4 Warthog
5 Springbok
6 Duiker
7 Steenbok
8 Blue Wildebeest
9 Gemsbok (Oryx)
10 Blesbok

5-6 of those above in a mixed bag with 7-10 days of hunting all inclusive shouldn’t be too hard to find either here in AH or elsewhere for $5K.

What you do before and after, ways and means of travel, taxidermy etc, would of course add to the “total”.

Good luck with the planning and hope you get what you want.

//Gus

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Thanks. Precisely what I am after.

seattlesetters said:

Just wondering what your top 10 trophy list would be for a first-timer to Namibia or RSA.

Trophy fees in Africa have gone up immensely in the last few years and I can go on several guided USA elk hunts for the price of an even modest safari, so please keep fees at the top of mind. Perhaps mostly inexpensive animals and a few of the more desired “expensive” trophies.

I’ll probably pick five or six based on area, outfitter and price but want a good idea of what might make the experience top-notch for a first-timer on a limited budget.

I’ll take a 6.5 Creedmoor shooting 127 grain Barnes LRX and a .338 Federal shooting 185 grain TTSX. Thanks!

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Good day seattlesetters,

I agree with others here who've noticed a recent drop in Africa prices.
If you get a spare minute, have a look at the web site attached to the bottom of my post.
Coincidentally, we actually offer something called "Namibia's Top 10".
The price is more than competitive.
Plus, we are located in the Khomas Hochland Highlands of west / central Namibia.

It's not game fenced and technically not a desert either (too much water availability to qualify as "desert" up there.)
Neither would you have to listen to anyone chattering at you for having hunted inside a small property, with a high fence and semi-tame animals.

I've hunted elk twice in my life, once in Idaho and once in Alaska.
I never even got a shot at one so, I'm finished with elk hunting.
Conversely, I've hunted Africa 5 times and bagged 40 or 50 diverse animals there.
So evidently, one man's bread really is another man's poison.

At any rate, your .338 Federal would be excellent for a one gun plains game safari, anywhere in Africa.

PM me if interested and I'll be happy to discuss further.

Either way, stay on that front sight,
Velo Dog.

Personally, I think that dollar for dollar, African hunts are some of the best bargains around......5-6 species for the cost of 1 elk or moose hunt in North America is very appealing, and the number of animals is far greater, to boot!!! The "fly in the ointment" are the "extras", such as air fair, taxidermy, and shipping of trophies. Having said that, here is my "top ten" list....in no particular order:
1.) Kudu
2.) Wildebeest (blue or black....doesn't matter)
3.) Impala
4.) Blesbok
5.) Warthog
6.) zebra
7.) red hartebeest
8.) Gemsbok
9.) springbok
10.) reedbuck or steenbok

I think that most of these trophies are 'middle of the road" in terms of cost; moreso when you start looking at fees for animals like Eland, Waterbuck, giraffe, Sable, etc. All can be taken with a .30-06 and a well constructed 180 grain bullet.

Just a note
Remember an elk hunt is one animal. One shot and all is done
In SA for $5000 You can get 7 days all inclusive with around 5-6 animals or more depending on the animals you choose

My advice would be based on what clients choose so most populate are following

Impala
Warthog
Zebra
Blue wildebeest
Kudu
Eland
Blesbuck
Oryx
Steenbok
Duiker

Regards

I am headed over in June for my first hunt. I decided on
Kudu
Gemsbuck
Impala
Warthog
Blesbuck
Springbuck
Zebra
And Eland if time permits
Only doing a 7 day hunt

Where the website Velo Dog?

Let me see,
Buffalo
Leopard
Lion
Elephant
Rhino
Crocodile
Hippo

Yep, that’s my wishlist. Then I’d better die because I’m broke and can’t afford a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but I’d have wonderful memories!
A list is nice, but go prepared for what ever extra Africa offers. If kudu isn’t on your list and a 60” shows, you’d better be ready to pull the trigger! Chances are you’ll never see another.
And just remember, you’ll be going back! It’s an addiction!
Best of luck in what ever you decide. You’ll have a grand time!

As noted by others, price comparisons already made.

As for top 10, not necessarily all "budget animals"

Kudu
Gemsbok
Warthog
Springbok
Blesbok
Blue wildebeest
Impala
Zebra
Red hartebeest
Waterbuck

To me, duiker, and steenbok are advanced animals that can come on later hunts.

I would take:

Nyala
Blue Wildebeest
Black Wildebeest
Red Hartebeest
Greater Kudu
Gemsbok
Waterbuck
Burchell (plains) Zebra
Eland
Warthog
Impala
Blesbok
Springbuck

That's 13 animals and I would make a 14 day hunt (12 actual hunting days) -- and completely forego the taxidermy. That way the total price is: hunt + gratuity + airfare + one night stay in JNB.

Just have a photo of each animal blown up to an 8 x 10 print and framed and placed on your walls.

One thing I should of added to my first post is. Maybe to enjoy the hunt more you would mix your animals to enjoy different kinds of hunt. Be it kudu in the thicker bush and maybe mountains to climb.

Then to maybe a blue wildebeest and impala which tend to be in the thick bush to right on the edge of the thick cover but the flatter areas.

Then to either to a oryx , springbuck , blesbuck or black wildebeest which enjoy the much more opened areas.

You would enjoy many different ways of hunting and seeing more of Africa that way.

A combo of any of those animals would equal a great hunt for the first time. Plus hunting any of those above you will see all the other animals from zebra who could pop up in any of the zones as well as nyala.

Sometimes picking a way you like to hunt helps also. Not everyone likes open plains type of hunt were cover is very little and longer shots maybe needed. Others may hate climbing mtn. all day and like flat ground thick bush close range hunting.

Many things too look at to pick which hunt maybe best for you.

postoak said:

To me, duiker, and steenbok are advanced animals that can come on later hunts.

I would take:

Nyala
Blue Wildebeest
Black Wildebeest
Red Hartebeest
Greater Kudu
Gemsbok
Waterbuck
Burchell (plains) Zebra
Eland
Warthog
Impala
Blesbok
Springbuck

That's 13 animals and I would make a 14 day hunt (12 actual hunting days) -- and completely forego the taxidermy. That way the total price is: hunt + gratuity + airfare + one night stay in JNB.

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I want to hunt a similar list to that. Will go European mounts on some to get the price down on taxidermy.

A 10 day guided Elk Hunt and a 10 day African PG Safari including the plane fare are about equal in price. You are correct about not getting to use the meat. The taxidermy fees providing you want it done in my opinion is a totally different thing. One Elk maybe vs at least six African species. That is like comparing apples and oranges. If the taxidermy costs are what is scaring you off, just get one African Species mounted and show pictures of the rest. Or get Euro-mounts as previously suggested.

Shootist43 said:

A 10 day guided Elk Hunt and a 10 day African PG Safari including the plane fare are about equal in price. You are correct about not getting to use the meat. The taxidermy fees providing you want it done in my opinion is a totally different thing. One Elk maybe vs at least six African species. That is like comparing apples and oranges. If the taxidermy costs are what is scaring you off, just get one African Species mounted and show pictures of the rest. Or get Euro-mounts as previously suggested.

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If you go the picture route you can even do a cull or non trophy hunt and save a ton of money and have a blast doing so

justin wiles said:

Where the website Velo Dog?

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Hello justin wiles,

It is attached down at the end of / lower edge of all my posts.
If your using an I-Phone, turn it onto its side and my outfit's web site information will appear there.
If for any reason you still can't see it, google search it at:

Khomas-Highland-Hunting-Safaris

or

www.khomas-highland-hunting.com

Thanks for looking,
Velo Dog

It will my first time next august.
7 days hunt 1x1

My list:

Kudu
Gemsbok
Blue W
Impala
Warthog
Springbuck

Maybe a Blesbok, and if is possible a Bushbuck.

Gotcha. Philip I think is in the Namibia desert today. They are on my short list.

seattlesetters said:

Also difficult to factor in an extra freezer full of a couple hundred pounds of elk meat.

It’s really just that all the folks I’ve talked to who have done “$5,000.00 package hunts” in RSA or Namibia have told me they ended up spending between $15-20k when they add up everything spent on the trip from the planning stages to the last trophy finding its final display position in the trophy room.

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To a degree you are correct. I actually spent about $30,000. But that was at a time of higher costs than now. And I had waited too long to do this. In fact had not really spent a lot on any vacation in 30 years.... So I basically had as much budget as I wanted to spend.... I'm not condoning this, just that yea, you "can" spend a lot if you're not careful. I actually really did need new rifles for the hunt, and ended up spending $12,000 on gear including rifles good optics, clothing, etc. as I really had taken a 25 year hiatus from much hunting (all I had that fit was orange).

Travel expense was about $5000 (two of us). But included a stopover in Paris, in country flight one way From Joberg to Port Elizabeth, departure from Cape Town... So that can be cheaper. Took 16 critters, including an Eland, on a 9 day hunt. Guided tours to Shamwari and Ado, and of PE. I would not do that again, well maybe the city one day tour, but it was expensive for what you get... Rent a car and do it yourself. We also rented a car and took the Garden Route to Cape town and spend 4 days in CT.

The hunt was all free range, which is generally more expensive than high fenced. And we hunted 3 distinct velds for differnt types of animals in their natural environments. Taxidermy included a full mount Duiker and half mount bushbuck, and several wall pedestals.

So yea, you can spend a lot... But you don't have to.

As for my advice on critters; Take a good Kudu for sure, just because it is so iconic and such a great conversation piece. And spend the money on taxidermy on that.
Take a zebra and do a rug, pedestal and save the back skin for inserts into cutouts on bases, etc, or a damask type wall mount.
Then depending upon where you go; Black and/or blue wildebeest and red hartebeest. Do at least a shoulder on a black wildebeest and save the back skin with that flowing tail.
Impala, blesbuck, bushbuck (Love all the bushbuck and I will hunt them whenever I get a chance!) ,and the reedbucks especially mountain reedbuck can be a deal in the right places. If you get to the Karroo or Namibia, take at least one springbuck, a gemsbok and a steenbok and if Namibia seriously consider a dik dik if you get the oppertunity.
Others with lower costs are grey duiker, wart hog (depending upon where and when). Potential very cheap or free animals might include baboon, vervet monkey (very cool, the males are all married and jackal.

I would go with a total budget in mind on animals and perhaps 5 to 7 high on the list, then a list of potential animals you would take if opportunity presents itself... And at least $1000 extra for the just in case.

I would also suggest you block out some to not take including more expensive critters like sable, I would also not take animals like Letchwe or even Nyala unless you are in places where they are truly endemic and more of a challenge.

On the other hand, animals to take if you happen upon one and it is standing still, include all the duikers, blue and red especially can be a challenge. And the little greysbucks... Talk openly with your PH, I would not necessarily let him push me into them, and especially if he wants to take you on a dog hunt... But if the really odd chance of one presenting itself occurs, it is good to be prepared.

Ridgewalker said:

Let me see,
Buffalo
Leopard
Lion
Elephant
Rhino
Crocodile
Hippo

Yep, that’s my wishlist. Then I’d better die because I’m broke and can’t afford a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but I’d have wonderful memories!
A list is nice, but go prepared for what ever extra Africa offers. If kudu isn’t on your list and a 60” shows, you’d better be ready to pull the trigger! Chances are you’ll never see another.
And just remember, you’ll be going back! It’s an addiction!
Best of luck in what ever you decide. You’ll have a grand time!

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Hey you only have seven on that list I would add Bongo, Nile Buffalo, and Lord Derby Eland

The problem I have had with 4 elk hunts for the same money as Africa is that you will get one, maybe two Elk. In Africa there is a very good chance you will collect all of your animals. There are way too many US outfitters that walk you around in the mountains for a week and send you home empty handed, been there done that.
For a 20k budget Africa will put 8-10 animals on your wall compared to 1-2 elk hunting in the US.

I would consider going less with a set list and more with an opportunist mindset. I had no intention of shooting a fallow deer in SA, but one came along and ended up being one of my most memorable animals.

In regards to guided hunting in North America vs Africa, I posted a rant on Jan-7-2015 that might enlighten anyone who is not sure yet which to spend their hard earned money on.

It is on Page 2 of a Thread started by AH member, Tom, entitled:

Does Africa ruin you for North American game?

I meant my reply to be humorous but, it is grounded firmly in the truth, at least pertaining to hunting in Alaska, compared to hunting in Africa.

If any find it dull, perhaps you can bid on BRICKBURN's proposed auction for access to a "Ban Button" lol.