All of a sudden Safari Planning

I just joined the forum a few weeks ago to start doing research for an up coming trip. I have always wanted to do a hunt in Africa and at a banquet for my alma mater I bid on a hunt with Theron African Safaris and won. I have been doing some research but have some more specific questions for anyone that has hunted with Theron African Safaris or hunted the Northern Region of the Limpopo Province.

My main question is which month would you go out of these three May, July or September. I have to select my hunting dates in the next few weeks. I will be hunting with a rifle if this makes a difference in the time of year you would go.

Also, if you have input on the rifle it will either be a 30/06 or a 300 wby. I am leaning towards the 30/06 unless I can expect shots past 300 yards.

Finally, any other advise for a first time Safari planner.


Thanks

Derek

Derek,

Welcome to AH! Congrats on winning the bid for the hunt!

I have not hunted with them, but out of your choices I'd pick May. It's not hot and not cold yet in May. Also chance to catch some of Kudu rut as well as impala. Take the 30-06, its good for PG, shoot a premium bullet like Swift, Barnes, Fed Premium, etc

First of all, welcome aboard pedrettid. What will you be hunting? If you are still in the bush veldt shots will normally be well under 300 yds. Your 30 -06 should be fine. Heavier bullets are suggested by most PHs. Premium bullets are also recommended. Of the three months you mentioned I'd pick July (fewer bugs and crawling critters.) I'd also recommend you use http://riflepermits.com/to clear your firearm(s) into South Africa. Take a look at some of the packing lists others have used. Heed their advice about not packing too much.

reedy0312 said:

Derek,

Welcome to AH! Congrats on winning the bid for the hunt!

I have not hunted with them, but out of your choices I'd pick May. It's not hot and not cold yet in May. Also chance to catch some of Kudu rut as well as impala. Take the 30-06, its good for PG, shoot a premium bullet like Swift, Barnes, Fed Premium, etc

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From this chair, ^^^^^ THIS^^^^^ nails it. May, '06, premium bullets/ammo.

Standard advice, take the gun you are most proficient with and confident.

Congrats on the hunt and good luck. Africa will love you back.

July and 30-06 with 200 grain bullets(Swift A frame) definitely not the 300 Weatherby.

We have had late rains and the bush will be very thick and the grass long in May. September would be second choice.

May--- early May if given a choice for plains game. There might be fewer leaves and lower grass to obscure game later in the year but it will likely be brown, dry, dusty and maybe smoky with some animals showing ribs. I'd rather hunt when the animals are prime and it is not so dry and dusty or smoky- green, lots of water around and even moist is nice. I've never had a problem finding and seeing animals early in the year- just at the end of or just after the rains. I also don't particularly like to sit on water holes- ugh! Sometimes outfitters like to "steer" clients later in the year to fill in open dates in their bookings or for clients who insist on easier hunting/shooting around water holes in the dry season. 30-06 with 180 gr premium bullet that shoots well.

Take your pick. I prefer green.

May: Can still be wet, but cooling off, can catch rut.
July: Coldest month, dry, easier to see animals.
Sept: Warming up, has been really dry, brush very thin on leaves.

I prefer July personally.

In Limpopo where the brush is thick and shots tend to be on short side.....the .30-06 would be my first choice. I hunted there with a .300WM, more than what was needed for sure.

I hunted the Northern Cape my first year in late June. It was cold. The morning I departed it was 2o F. Don't know about other areas but in the NC karoo, September/October the weather is nice but it sucks for hunting. BTDT and wouldn't do it again. Like the U.S. rut time, I feel is the best. YMMV.

Welcome to AH !

Your 30.06 will be fine, I prefer to hunt in September.

Welcome to AH. Either rifle will be fine. June is great hunting!

Thanks for all of the replies. I am working on a load with 180 gr Accubonds for the 30/06. My current idea on animals I would like to shoot are Kudu, Gemsbok, Impala, Blue and Black wildebeest.

fourfive8 said:

May--- early May if given a choice for plains game. There might be fewer leaves and lower grass to obscure game later in the year but it will likely be brown, dry, dusty and maybe smoky with some animals showing ribs. I'd rather hunt when the animals are prime and it is not so dry and dusty or smoky- green, lots of water around and even moist is nice. I've never had a problem finding and seeing animals early in the year- just at the end of or just after the rains. I also don't particularly like to sit on water holes- ugh! Sometimes outfitters like to "steer" clients later in the year to fill in open dates in their bookings or for clients who insist on easier hunting/shooting around water holes in the dry season. 30-06 with 180 gr premium bullet that shoots well.

Take your pick. I prefer green.View attachment 223660

View attachment 223662

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That is crazy to me the difference between the two photos. I take that they're both from the same location.

pedrettid said:

That is crazy to me the difference between the two photos. I take that they're both from the same location.

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Average temps in Limpopo province by month. I take a set of warm clothes. Depending on the month, early mornings and sunsets can be cool. I hunt quite a bit at night and get cold easily so I wear clothes I normally wear here in December.

http://www.holiday-weather.com/limpopo/averages/

Been near Alldays in north east Limpopo in June. Cold nights as in 40F while days varied between 50s and 70s. Most shots were under 100 yards, but one was in a big open area 270+- yards. No problem for a 30-06 with 180-200 gr quality bullets.
Been in western Limpopo in September. Hunted nights, so knit cap, gloves, fleece hoodie and rain jacket to break the wind while in the bakkie. Days started and ended chilly, but we’re beautiful midday.

Practice practice practice on a BogPod or homemade sticks.
All the dates should be just fine IMO. I’m going in May this year.
When ever you go, you’re going to have a great time!

pedrettid said:

I just joined the forum a few weeks ago to start doing research for an up coming trip. I have always wanted to do a hunt in Africa and at a banquet for my alma mater I bid on a hunt with Theron African Safaris and won. I have been doing some research but have some more specific questions for anyone that has hunted with Theron African Safaris or hunted the Northern Region of the Limpopo Province.

My main question is which month would you go out of these three May, July or September. I have to select my hunting dates in the next few weeks. I will be hunting with a rifle if this makes a difference in the time of year you would go.

Also, if you have input on the rifle it will either be a 30/06 or a 300 wby. I am leaning towards the 30/06 unless I can expect shots past 300 yards.

Finally, any other advise for a first time Safari planner.


Thanks

Derek

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Derik;
I'm sure you will enjoy your first trip to Africa no matter when you go!

No experience with that outfitter and unfortunately no price list that I could find on their web site.... But I'm sure you must have that figured out.

I have hunted around the Louis Trichard area. Lots of game farms in the flats, but try to get up into the highveld or mountainous areas as well. Even if just a couple days. And ask to see some of the bigger Baobab trees close up. Although they really are more impressive in Zimbabwe.

If it was me and choosing between those times, I would go in May and try to catch some of the kudu rut And I like the greenery. You may give up a lot of visibility, but it adds to the challenge. and you will be on the front end of the season, so unless it is a put and take operation, you will be there before the critters are picked over and hunted real hard.

For sure the 30-06. If your ammo doesn't make it, no problems finding some. And it is such a reliable performer on the type of animals you are hunting and the area you will be in.

Practice shooting from sticks and reloading immediately after the first shot. If the animal is not down, take a second shot.

Don't overpack. Do take strong insect repellent with high levels of deet. And do spray your clothing with long lasting permetherin. If you get bit by a tick and have any suspicion of tick bite fever, try to get treated over there and get the anti biotics there so you get a strong enough dose for at least 10 days... The doctors in the US are way to wimpy and paranoid about drugs to give you and effective dose for something they don't understand.

Budget at least an extra $1000 for the unexpected trophy. don't be afraid to negotiate a bit. But do it before you are ready to pull the trigger

Have fun! If you like fish and especially prawns and are hungry in the airport in Joburg, go to the food court Ocean Basket. Or the one at the big Mall of the North in Polokwane, if you're going that way... I love the prawns, get the big ones...

Don't pass on the odd critters you may not normally consider. Go on a night hunt with a spotlight and 12 gauge. shoot a porcupine, genet, wild cat, jackel, etc. Should be cheap..... Shoot baboons any chance you get. Take a vervet monkey if you get a chance, but think about using a shotgun, I've blown a few up with rifles.

Beware of taxidermists recommended by your outfitter. If getting stuff mounted over there, go to the shop and spend enough time to let them know what you expect and that they need to stay in communication and send pics of work in progress. Get everything on a spreadsheet or organized yourself... Consider dip and pack or tan and ship to your home taxidermist.

I’ve been there in May, June and July. I prefer May down side is more bugs and less visibility. July can be cold, I’ve seen snow in Johannesburg both time I went in July

pedrettid said:

I just joined the forum a few weeks ago to start doing research for an up coming trip. I have always wanted to do a hunt in Africa and at a banquet for my alma mater I bid on a hunt with Theron African Safaris and won. I have been doing some research but have some more specific questions for anyone that has hunted with Theron African Safaris or hunted the Northern Region of the Limpopo Province.

My main question is which month would you go out of these three May, July or September. I have to select my hunting dates in the next few weeks. I will be hunting with a rifle if this makes a difference in the time of year you would go.

Also, if you have input on the rifle it will either be a 30/06 or a 300 wby. I am leaning towards the 30/06 unless I can expect shots past 300 yards.

Finally, any other advise for a first time Safari planner.


Thanks

Derek

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The time may depend on exactly where you are hunting. Is it a game farm or open concession? September will have more visibility as leaves will likely be off the trees. I’d take the .300 Weatherby because you don’t know how long the shots are going to be or what you may run into.
I always recommend on donation hunts to get in touch with the outfitter and tell him the other game you’d like to hunt that is off of the package. Good outfitters will take good care of you on a donated hunt but let’s be clear IT IS a donated hunt! Also make sure to tip according to the actual price the hunt is worth.
Happy planning.
Philip

Hello there!

Fellow "new" hunter here, my first safari was last year but it won't be the last. I don't know much about times and months, I went in August last year (had a great time) and will be going in April next year (hope to have a great time!) but I will say that I took several animals with 1 shot from the PH's 270 so the 30-06 should be perfect. A piece of advise that was given to me was "go with your favorite rifle" and I just want to reiterate that. If one of those rifles is your favorite, is the one you take out for deer, is the one you can nail a fly on the backside of a camel half a mile away then take that one. Africa doesn't have a mystical magnetism (well, it does, but that's for the hunters, not the bullets! ) that will make your favorite deer rifle in the states suddenly go catywampas there. Above all don't be afraid to take the "side" animals. The jackal that runs across your track, the civet shooting through the high grass, the baboon that's staring at you from 300 yards away, these unexpected "bonus" animals are usually very cheap and really make the experience that much better!

Welcome aboard. You picked the best site there is. I'm headed for my first this September and everyone on here has helped and answered so many questions that I can't start to thank them enough. Good luck and enjoy.