Eastern cape vs limpopo?

wildfowler.250 · Jul 14, 2019

Has anyone got any pictures of either area to get an idea of the landscape please? I’ve pretty much narrowed my choice down to SA but know these two areas vary quiet a lot in appearance / terrain?

Also is one much easier to get to than the other? Animals and hunting will be similar?

Thanks!

IvW · Jul 14, 2019

Which animals would you prefer to hunt?

postoak · Jul 14, 2019

The Limpopo area, driving up from Johannesburg, is much more homogenous than East Cape, which can vary so much it isn't even possible to categorize. As for getting there, the drive up to Limpopo is 2-5 hours, but, really, it goes fast since you aren't driving, and have your PH to talk to. East Cape, you fly to, and then there is a much shorter drive. Personally, I don't like the secondary flight. It complicates things, and cost a bit more too.

postoak · Jul 14, 2019

I went to google images for some photos of Limpopo bushvelt. This one is good at showing what it looks like:

http://sheldrake.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/African-Bushveld-Limpopo-South-Africa.jpg

BRICKBURN · Jul 14, 2019

If you really want to have a look around:
https://www.google.com/earth/versions/

Google Earth
Drop into "Street View" and look around on any road.

wildfowler.250 · Jul 14, 2019

Cheers guys! Is one ‘nicer’ or a better experience?

IvW said:
Which animals would you prefer to hunt?

Just standard plains game, kudu, nyala, springbok ect. Thanks!

cls · Jul 14, 2019

Have hunted both areas, I preferred the Eastern Cape only because of the diverse bioms you can hunt, from the mountains to the Karoo then the thick coastal area. If you are looking for a greater kudu with 55+ horns you will want to go to Limpopo as the Eastern Cape kudu are typically smaller but still a tough hunt. The Springbok are endemic to the Karoo. All that being said both areas are great to hunt, you can't go wrong with either. Good luck and have fun with the research.

jeff · Jul 14, 2019

Both areas have many different eco systems available, plains and mountains. Having only hunted the EC from two different lodges and on 8 different concessions I have not seen it all, but my preference is the a mixture of some mountain hunting with a few days of hunting the flatter bushveld in the Limpopo. Much of EC seems to be very brushy and hard to negotiate for close stalks in many areas, also it has a lot more moisture than the Limpopo and in my opinion is not as good for bowhunting. In the areas I hunted in the EC the horn size seemed smaller on the blue wildebeest and impala, not just the kudu. I also like to be picked up right at Tambo and not have to take another domestic flight, I'm already tired and don't want the extra hassle and the expense.

Ridgewalker · Jul 14, 2019

JMO, but which ever one you choose, sooner or later you are going to go to the other as well. Just a matter of money and time.
That said, I’ll spend your money and suggest you spend a week in each!

Then write us a grand report on your adventure! (Sure is easy to spend other people’s money!

)

jeff · Jul 14, 2019

Other provinces like kwazu natal, Northwest province and the Northern cape also have some very good hunting !

gillettehunter · Jul 14, 2019

Ridgewalker makes a good point. I like to hunt 2 different areas. Perhaps 5 days in each. My 1st trip I went to Africa I hunted 7 days. Now I want at least 10 days. Last time I hunted with 3 different outfitters. Next trip this next September I’ll hunt 2 areas. 13 total days. The travel time and expense is so high it makes a lot of sense to get as much value out of it that you can.
In answer to your question. Go to either depending on what 2 animals are most important to you. Or the habitat you want to hunt in. Good luck.
Bruce

fourfive8 · Jul 14, 2019

wildfowler.250 said:
Has anyone got any pictures of either area to get an idea of the landscape please? I’ve pretty much narrowed my choice down to SA but know these two areas vary quiet a lot in appearance / terrain?

Also is one much easier to get to than the other? Animals and hunting will be similar?

Thanks!

Yes, good idea to use google earth and poke around. GO to street view in different areas where blue lines indicate a google photo car has passed along the route. Stop image and rotate scan for various views of landscape.

Here's a couple pics from Limpopo and one from KwaZulu-Natal. Some areas of Limpopo will be fairly open rolling country, some rocky outcrop ridges, some with scattered woodland and some extremely thick woodland/thorn bush mix. Many parts of Limpopo look very much like parts of Zimbabwe or Mozambique- sans the large number of kopjes seen in many parts of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The Midlands of KZN shown in this last pic with open grasslands mixed with rough steep mountain ranges. The Karoo is a somewhat generalized habitat type of dry somewhat rocky uplands dominated by low growing shrubs and forbs in the exposed areas with some sparse riverine woodlands in the drainage bottoms. Reminds of parts of high desert areas of western US.

There may be agriculture land with farms and ranches scattered within many areas of Southern Africa no matter where you go.

enysse · Jul 14, 2019

Both are nice areas! The kudu are generally bigger in horn length in the Limpopo but the price is higher too to hunt them. I have seen big nyala is both areas it’s a matter of finding the right outfitter. Springbok are generally more plentiful in the East Cape but I have seen plenty in the Limpopo too. Bushbuck are plentiful in both areas! Lots of options and great outfitters to choose from on AH that hunt in both of those areas. I have hunted with good outfitters in each area.

Bushpig4Ever · Jul 15, 2019

I have been living in Limpopo for years, now I’m stuck in the Western Cape. Often visiting Eastern Cape, which I prefer to the WC. However the nicest provinces to me are Limpopo and Mpumalanga. That’s Africa to me, real Africa. Baobab, mopane... - I just love it.

wildfowler.250 · Jul 15, 2019

Thanks for the replies guys. I definitely won’t have the funds to go twice in any short time. I’m hoping for 7 days. Kudu and nyala are my main two. Then springbok and impala - guessing most places will have these.

Are most of the kudu ‘greater kudu’ in both areas? Or is eastern cape the lesser kudu? I don’t mind hugely if it’s an inch or so bigger in one place or another. As long as it’s a good old bull from either area I’d be happy. Just want to pick the best possible place for scenery and experience.

Ps I’m rifle hunting, coming from the U.K. I forget about bow hunting!

Thanks again for all the replies and photos /links

johnnyblues · Jul 15, 2019

I hunted Cape buffalo in Limpopo and then flew down to the Cape for plains game. I personally would pick the Cape if buffalo were not on the hit list. The cape is beautiful with such diversity and beauty. Plains game can also be had at better prices too. For example bush buck. They generally cost over 1k in Limpopo and depending who you hunt with run $600 to 750 on the cape. IMO if you want a chance at a really big kudu I’d personally suggest Namibia for that. Again just my opinion. Have you picked an outfit yet?

postoak · Jul 15, 2019

That photo of KZN looks nothing like where I went there. Where I was it was flat and a mix of acacia savanna and riverine trees and brush. So be aware of that.
The kudu in EC are not lesser kudu which I believe don’t occur in S.A. There’s been much discussion of whether the kudu in EC are a different subspecies of the Greater Kudu or if they are smaller because of what they eat. I don’t know.

Witold KrzyÅ¼anowski · Jul 15, 2019

Ridgewalker said:
JMO, but which ever one you choose, sooner or later you are going to go to the other as well. Just a matter of money and time.
That said, I’ll spend your money and suggest you spend a week in each! Then write us a grand report on your adventure! (Sure is easy to spend other people’s money!)

I agree with you Ridgewalker.

huntinlabs · Jul 15, 2019

wildfowler.250 said:
Thanks for the replies guys. I definitely won’t have the funds to go twice in any short time. I’m hoping for 7 days. Kudu and nyala are my main two. Then springbok and impala - guessing most places will have these.

Are most of the kudu ‘greater kudu’ in both areas? Or is eastern cape the lesser kudu? I don’t mind hugely if it’s an inch or so bigger in one place or another. As long as it’s a good old bull from either area I’d be happy. Just want to pick the best possible place for scenery and experience.

Ps I’m rifle hunting, coming from the U.K. I forget about bow hunting!

Thanks again for all the replies and photos /links

Have you thought about KZN? For nyala that place cant be beat! That is their natural habitat from my understanding and they get huge there!

southern_fowler · Jul 15, 2019

only been to Limpopo, here are a few pics from our last safari.

Eastern cape vs limpopo?

wildfowler.250

IvW

postoak

postoak

Attachments

BRICKBURN

wildfowler.250

cls

jeff

Ridgewalker

jeff

gillettehunter

fourfive8

enysse

Bushpig4Ever

wildfowler.250

johnnyblues

postoak

Witold KrzyÅ¼anowski

huntinlabs

southern_fowler

Members online

Forum statistics

Proudly sponsored by

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

Share this page