Angola???

[grand veneur]

Forget all about that. Focus instead on preserving the hunting areas that currently exist in Africa. Over the last 50 years, I have seen one area after another in Africa close down, hardly seen one that was reopen or a new one. The few that did open offered hunts that were more than questionable, and also raising serious doubts about their legality.

 

[grand veneur]

I understand the motivation of some, somewhat younger hunters I suppose, to look out for new hunting grounds. I was once occupied with that myself, primarily in Southeast Asia. But it was all unsuccessful, and it will be the same in Africa, especially more than 30 years later.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I worked in northern Angola, Cabinda, from 2003 to 2008. Always flew through Luanda and it was a terrible airport. I made another trip in 2018 and the airport was greatly improved. Weird thing though, there were plans to build a new international airport, several miles inland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._António_Agostinho_Neto_International_Airport

My biggest concern with hunting in Angola is the land mines situation.

Angola Reports Significant Progress in Clearing Civil War-Era Mines - Africa Defense Forum

Angola has made significant progress in clearing land mines and other unexploded ordnance left over from the country’s 27-year civil war. These efforts have made previously hazardous areas safe for agriculture, housing and community development projects, but work remains. Angola’s Benguela and...

adf-magazine.com

Angola is exceptionally rich in freshwater resources, boasting an estimated 148 billion cubic meters of renewable water annually. The Angolan Highlands act as a crucial regional "Water Tower", feeding major river basins like the Okavango, Congo, and Zambezi, and supplying over 95% of the water to Botswana's Okavango Delta.

Where there's water, you usually will find game.

 

[375Fox]

Forget all about that. Focus instead on preserving the hunting areas that currently exist in Africa. Over the last 50 years, I have seen one area after another in Africa close down, hardly seen one that was reopen or a new one. The few that did open offered hunts that were more than questionable, and also raising serious doubts about their legality.

I don’t understand why you want to be so pessimistic about everything all the time. If Angola ever reopens it doesn’t take anything away from existing areas in other countries. If you’ve seen that many close down I’d think you’d be happy to see one open.

 

[Huntforever]

We should always try to re-establish wildlife and the habit even if we never reap the benefits, but for future generations.

 

[Throwback]

I worked in northern Angola, Cabinda, from 2003 to 2008. Always flew through Luanda and it was a terrible airport. I made another trip in 2018 and the airport was greatly improved. Weird thing though, there were plans to build a new international airport, several miles inland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._António_Agostinho_Neto_International_Airport

My biggest concern with hunting in Angola is the land mines situation.

Angola Reports Significant Progress in Clearing Civil War-Era Mines - Africa Defense Forum

Angola has made significant progress in clearing land mines and other unexploded ordnance left over from the country’s 27-year civil war. These efforts have made previously hazardous areas safe for agriculture, housing and community development projects, but work remains. Angola’s Benguela and...

adf-magazine.com

Angola is exceptionally rich in freshwater resources, boasting an estimated 148 billion cubic meters of renewable water annually. The Angolan Highlands act as a crucial regional "Water Tower", feeding major river basins like the Okavango, Congo, and Zambezi, and supplying over 95% of the water to Botswana's Okavango Delta.

Where there's water, you usually will find game.

I was in the new airport in May this year. Yeah, its newer construction than the old one was but it is way farther out from Luanda. The recommendation from locals is to leave for the airport 4 hours before your flight. That is painful for morning flights. Also, some of the TAAG flights had one departure time posted on the website, a different time posted on the board when you walked in the airport, and yet a different time when you asked the woman working the TAAG desk in the airport. I am talking like hours of difference. That makes for quite an unpredictable departure time so most people just go with the earliest, compounding the issue of having to arrive early. Fun stuff! On the upside they do sell cold beer at all hours in the airport and you better believe many were partaking even in the early morning hours. Cheers

 

[JPbowhunter]

Pacaca and sitatunga seem like a steal.

 

[Uncharted_NT]

I understand the motivation of some, somewhat younger hunters I suppose, to look out for new hunting grounds. I was once occupied with that myself, primarily in Southeast Asia. But it was all unsuccessful, and it will be the same in Africa, especially more than 30 years later.

I bet you are a barrel of laughs to have a beer with! Some of us are excited about the prospect of hunting a new country and all the experiences that comes with it. No doubt that pessimistic attitude was why you were unsuccessful with your hunting in SEA.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Sitatunga for $2800? I'm interested.

I came here to make this comment as well. Minefields also typically aren’t in swamps

 

[grand veneur]

I bet you are a barrel of laughs to have a beer with! Some of us are excited about the prospect of hunting a new country and all the experiences that comes with it. No doubt that pessimistic attitude was why you were unsuccessful with your hunting in SEA.

I was not unsuccessful everywhere, in Malaysia I could hunt.

 

[Piet-Vis]

If he’s still with us, Pete Fisher from Nchila Wildlife Reserve in Zambia would know what the story is with regard to Royal sable populations in Angola.

Pete is still around, when I spoke to him a year ago he didn't have much extra info on the Giant Sable.
Hunting on Nchila is probably the safest alternative to going to Angola

 

[Sarg]

Pete is still around, when I spoke to him a year ago he didn't have much extra info on the Giant Sable.
Hunting on Nchila is probably the safest alternative to going to Angola

Is Pete still at Nchila, I heard it was in some sort of dispute ?

Not saying anything about anybody just asking as you may know him & Nchila well !

You know African Whispers.

 

[FlyGuy]

Nchila is one of the most magical places I’ve ever been.
The Fishers have been the guardians of the NW Zambia panhandle for close on a hundred years. Pete and Lynn are amazing people that truly love the area, the people and the animals in their care.

 

[Doug3006]

I just got an email from Craig Boddington Endorsed Outfitters hyping a new Angola option with JSB Safaris. They are a Namibian outfit and the Angola options are on private ranches.

 

[wesheltonj]

I just read CB listing on JDB. Trophies cannot be exported. Photos only. Hard pass on Angola.

 

[Bill Thom]

I just read CB listing on JDB. Trophies cannot be exported. Photos only. Hard pass on Angola.

Greetings All- I was based in Angola for several years and had the chance to drive to and thru every province but Cabinda (separated by DRC). Some beautiful country but did not see a single animal of any kind in the thousands of kms logged most on bush roads and dirt tracks. The only exceptions were the few sad monkeys which hung around the Barra do Kwanza (Kwanza river bridge) about 120kms south of capital. I also saw two baboons scamper across a ridgeline in the far south east near border with Namibia. 4years 58,000 kms and 0 sightings. No road kill, and very very rarely primate, and snake were available in markets up country. Most bush meat was rodent -cane rates and mice. There is a 2 hour direct flight from Luanda to Windhoek 4 days/week and I did my shooting there. I traveled down 3-4 times this year and saw /heard nothing to make me believe the situation has improved. most spieces are functionally extinct and land mines along with relentless multigenerational poaching make me pessimistic about the short to medium term outlook. Sorry to be a wet blanket on this but this is was my experience. Happy to discuss further off line . With Namibia so much easier to get to and so full of hunting styles and opportunities (fenced, unfenced, total free range) why bother. Also for sable its very hard to beat Zambia cheers

 

[375Fox]

Greetings All- I was based in Angola for several years and had the chance to drive to and thru every province but Cabinda (separated by DRC). Some beautiful country but did not see a single animal of any kind in the thousands of kms logged most on bush roads and dirt tracks. The only exceptions were the few sad monkeys which hung around the Barra do Kwanza (Kwanza river bridge) about 120kms south of capital. I also saw two baboons scamper across a ridgeline in the far south east near border with Namibia. 4years 58,000 kms and 0 sightings. No road kill, and very very rarely primate, and snake were available in markets up country. Most bush meat was rodent -cane rates and mice. There is a 2 hour direct flight from Luanda to Windhoek 4 days/week and I did my shooting there. I traveled down 3-4 times this year and saw /heard nothing to make me believe the situation has improved. most spieces are functionally extinct and land mines along with relentless multigenerational poaching make me pessimistic about the short to medium term outlook. Sorry to be a wet blanket on this but this is was my experience. Happy to discuss further off line . With Namibia so much easier to get to and so full of hunting styles and opportunities (fenced, unfenced, total free range) why bother. Also for sable its very hard to beat Zambia cheers

I don’t doubt game is very fragmented and spread thin, but it’s the same story in most of Africa unless you drive through a protected hunting area or national park or private land in South Africa or Namibia you aren’t going to see game. It would take some dedicated effort to find those pockets of game and establish hunting areas. Hopefully some unique species or landscapes could justify the effort. The safety of areas would be a whole other issue though definitely.

 

[John Telford]

Hunting in Angola is on a few private game ranches for now. The Government is working hard to lift its tourism image and hunting will be on the cards soon. There are so few Giant Sable that I doubt that they will be hunted anytime soon. I believe the number is about 200. We are working on getting something in the Kwando area but it falls within the KAZA conservation area so lots of hoops to jump through.