Areas that have relatively easy walking...

[Arac]

Hi All - I'm in the early stages of planning a trip in 2027 for my wife and me. This site is an amazing resource and I have already learned quite a bit.

I am in a wheelchair so I am asking for your suggestions about areas that are relatively flat and easy going. So not excessively rocky, muddy or with deep sand.

By way of example, I watched some videos of hunts in the Luangwa valley in Zambia, and that terrain looked ok. The scenery was also quite nice. I'd like to be able to get around a bit, even if it is mostly along the dirt tracks, trails and whatnot.

The type of game we are after is really secondary to the whole experience - it's not like we need to find an X or Y. I suspect plains game in general will most likely fit our budget best. We are not keen on hunting in fenced areas.

Thanks in advance for your time!

Here is a video of the type of terrain that seems doable for me:

 

[CBH Australia]

Im sure some outfitters will be in touch with offers where they know their own terrain.

 

[375Fox]

Can you stand and walk very short distances or are you fully limited to wheelchair? I think you’ll find outfitters in South Africa and Namibia to be much more accommodating to disabilities than elsewhere and gives option of shooting from vehicle. There are fenced areas that are well managed to give the real Africa experience. A trip to a national park after you hunt may be a better option than hunting a concession area like you attached.

 

[steve white]

Is your wheelchair motorized, with rubber tracks? Will you have a designated person to help you? An electric 4 wheeler can be quiet, and doable over a bit rougher terrain--we can't tell animals where to go! Perhaps ask the outfitters what options they have for such conveyances.
You haven't told us if you will be shooting rifle or going the archery route. Blinds at waterholes would be easy to accomplish.

 

[Arac]

Thanks for the input so far.

I only use a manual wheelchair and can't stand up or walk around. I'm able to sort most things out myself though - I can get in and out of my truck can go up and down a step and have even done most of the gutting and quartering of deer when I was teaching my boy.

I'd like to hunt with a rifle, but I do have a bow and a crossbow. Most of the time I hunt from a ground blind or just tuck into the edge of the brush line along natural meadows, logged areas, seismic lines or agricultural land. For remote areas I use my Polaris Ranger SxS.

When I lived in Manitoba the terrain was much easier for me to move around and there I got out of my truck and wheeled along trails and paths. My version of still hunting I guess. For Manitoba members think Sandilands and around Lundar in the Interlakes region.

As I mentioned in my previous post, the terrain in that video looks like it would work for me. I'd be ok with setting up along a river or something - kind of like what I've seen for crocodile and just wait to see what shows up.

For my wife it would be nice to have the more typical style of hunt with tracking or spot and stalk.

 

[jomw10]

I will think a flat area in South Africa, maybe Limpopo region. With a reputable outfitter. Sitting in a blind overlooking a salt lick or water hole. They use this setup for bow hunters sometimes.
But it will be high fence. Just need to luck fit a good outfitter with a large concession

 

[Ontario Hunter]

You understand that it is legal to shoot from vehicle? Seems that would be the best approach for you. Better than sitting in a blind I guess. That way you get to see what's around every corner. Many outfitters don't like hunting from vehicles because it makes the animals too spooky but most are happy to help hunters with handicaps stay in the game.

 

[375Fox]

Thanks for the input so far.

I only use a manual wheelchair and can't stand up or walk around. I'm able to sort most things out myself though - I can get in and out of my truck can go up and down a step and have even done most of the gutting and quartering of deer when I was teaching my boy.

I'd like to hunt with a rifle, but I do have a bow and a crossbow. Most of the time I hunt from a ground blind or just tuck into the edge of the brush line along natural meadows, logged areas, seismic lines or agricultural land. For remote areas I use my Polaris Ranger SxS.

When I lived in Manitoba the terrain was much easier for me to move around and there I got out of my truck and wheeled along trails and paths. My version of still hunting I guess. For Manitoba members think Sandilands and around Lundar in the Interlakes region.

As I mentioned in my previous post, the terrain in that video looks like it would work for me. I'd be ok with setting up along a river or something - kind of like what I've seen for crocodile and just wait to see what shows up.

For my wife it would be nice to have the more typical style of hunt with tracking or spot and stalk.

What is the price range you are looking at? Unfortunately even just a plains game hunt in places like Zambia is not inexpensive. Cattle ranches in Namibia could give you a good experience for reasonable pricing without the high fence. Kudu, duiker, warthog can be hunted effectively at the waterholes. You could hunt some other species like gemsbok from the vehicle. Hunting from vehicle does allow you to see a lot of country. I think a large high fenced property would give you a better experience though. One of first outfitters I hunted with was Jan Oelofse safaris. They have hosted a lot of handicapped hunters and cater to it. Hunting a 80k acre high fence property with elephant, lion, rhino, leopard will give a better first African experience than many cattle ranches that only have a few species of game.

If your budget allows it, a croc and hippo hunt on rivers in a place like Zambia is feasible, especially baited croc. However, I don’t think many outfitters will book or recommend a hunt for just PG in a concession area. It’s not likely to produce a respectable bag especially if you don’t want to hunt from vehicle. I realize that’s not a priority to you, but the outfitter still needs to make money to justify booking a hunt. It’s much less expensive for an outfitter to organize hunts on private land in Namibia or South Africa so gives a lot more flexibility.

 

[Arac]

That makes sense 375Fox. I am just trying to sort things out, but was thinking up to the $20,000 range for the two of us, not including travel. We would not do any taxidermy except maybe a couple of European mounts and rugs. I've seen a couple of offers in the "deals" forum, but all of those were for 2026.

I'm not opposed to hunting from a vehicle - but it would be nice to drive to some place and then be able to get out and move around a bit. As you know the energy is different when you are in a vehicle.

I will look into Jan's operation. Thanks for your input!

 

[375Fox]

That makes sense 375Fox. I am just trying to sort things out, but was thinking up to the $20,000 range for the two of us, not including travel. We would not do any taxidermy except maybe a couple of European mounts and rugs. I've seen a couple of offers in the "deals" forum, but all of those were for 2026.

I'm not opposed to hunting from a vehicle - but it would be nice to drive to some place and then be able to get out and move around a bit. As you know the energy is different when you are in a vehicle.

I will look into Jan's operation. Thanks for your input!

That budget has you choosing between Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana for plains game on private farms. I think you’ll like Namibia. If you contact outfitters most will carry the 2026 offers into 2027 if you put the deposit down.

 

[joker2400]

Maybe touch base with @TSALA HUNTING SAFARIS . IIRC you could hunt their Mozambique property within your budget. And I presume the terrain isn’t that different from the Limpopo

 

[Throwback]

Besides terrain I would be thinking about how to negotiate the airports, sidewalks and other logistical issues before you ever get to the terrain you are hunting in. As you probably know, a lot of the rest of the world outside the US is not necessarily wheelchair accessible. One of my best friends has been in a wheelchair since he was 21 and I have traveled with him quite a bit so I notice this kind of thing.

I would focus on Namibia mostly, and SA. I can envision landing in Windhoek airport (walking down the stairs from the plane onto the runway btw, rain or shine) and getting into a PH's vehicle and then getting to their property relatively smoothly. No more stairs once you hit the tarmac.

I have also hunted with Jan Oelofse safaris and they do put on wounded vet hunts every year. They even have a chair lift to the central bar area that everyone gathers in at the end of the day. I would look at outfitters who host these kinds of hunts because they have apparently already figured out a bunch of the related issues.

I would also just plan on hunting from the vehicle. Hell, a lot of people do it for various reasons but it sounds like it makes a ton of sense in your situation. It can still be quite challenging.

Your budget sounds adequate if you are only hunting PG, not any DG. I suggest just going on day rate and see what the bush gives you, with a wish list of course but just take it as it comes. Best of luck my friend!

 

[Arac]

Thanks Throwback - I have been fortunate to travel quite a bit so I understand the potential difficulties you note. Having said that, most of my travelling has been in Europe. I have hunted in Hungary and Yugoslavia, and then Serbia after the war, but I am sure that was very different than Africa.

I don't have any moral qualms about hunting from a vehicle, and have done so in the past. However this will probably be a once in a lifetime trip for me so I'd like to really soak in as much of the feeling, smells and sounds as possible.

When I was a kid I'd read about hunting and guns - and in those days there were books about hunting available in my elementary school library. I REALLY wanted to hunt Cape Buffalo. But that was a lifetime ago and now I am happy with whatever the bush gives me - it doesn't have to be something every day either. I'd like to eat some of the game, maybe even prepare some my own way for the camp staff - just enjoy all aspects of the opportunity.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Buffalo from a wheelchair I think would be pretty much out of the question unless you want to sit in a bunker at a waterhole. Sounds like you don't think that's really hunting (agreed). I think hunting them from the vehicle is definitely doable. Be ready to shoot fast and on the run. Practice shooting skeet ... a lot! It's sure paid off for me.

 

[wesheltonj]

I think South Africa would be your best bet, Airport, internal transportation and hunting from a truck or blind. That said I would not recommend the Kalahari, too sandy for a wheel chair unless you rent one with tracks.

 

[Mountaineer]

Phillip owner of Khomas Highlands Safari has this truck that might be of interest. That seat swivels 360 degrees. He has both very rugged and easy flat river bottom.