Botswana - plains game?

[wildfowler.250]

I’m sure a few people have hunted in Botswana on here but it seems to be lower in prevalence than South Africa, Namibia and Tanzania?

What have people’s experiences been like? Is plains game good there? I’m tempted to go see chobe or okavango, and for some plains game,(possibly a buffalo if I can swing it).

My first thoughts was lechwe but they don’t seem to get hunted much there?

Eland seem a popular species and would be high up for tracking hunt. Maybe a good second if I can’t afford buffalo?

Kudu get good feedback but probably not my first choice as I’ve got one,(albeit hard to turn down but more allocating funds elsewhere).

Mosquitos bad? Safe country?

Tholo, NKWE and bakamoso seem to get good reviews?

I’m going to do some digging in the archives but any extra experiences are greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[mark-hunter]

Following

 

[375Fox]

The Caprivi in Namibia would give you same options as Botswana. Lechwe are on quota there. Non-exportable own use animals shot on community quota are very inexpensive compared to an exportable trophy hunt. There are very few mosquitoes in dry season.

 

[kpoynter]

I’ve hunted there twice (Tholo) yes few simple responses then more detail
1) safe… Very
2) mosquitos - None (Kalahari)
3) Lechwe…not any more (Okavango)
4) See the Okavango…sure…side trip
5) Plains game hunting- nearly all in Kalahari area

Less than Namibia or South Africa etc… sure.. true…
Now… quality and value… maybe the best in Africa but species are more limited
Finest Kudu hunting in the World and much true Free Range on huge areas. I’ve taken I thin 13 there (so the concept of I have a Kudu and maybe don't want another lol… I guess that’s not me )
Tracking Eland with Bushmen…fantastic and super high quality
Excellent Gemsbuck, Impala, Wildebeest… Zebra and some other stuff
Personally, for example, seen many warthog but didn’t take a big Boar… stuff like Steenbock around
Tons of Giraffe….

Summary: great value and quality maybe the best…. Only downside might be variety of species but that’s very relative based on what someone wants

 

[UKHunter]

Rather than trying to pick a country, I would focus on what experience and animals you want to hunt. Then you can narrow down countries or regions which offer you the animals you want in their native environment, plus determine costs.

 

[kpoynter]

The Caprivi in Namibia would give you same options as Botswana. Lechwe are on quota there. Non-exportable own use animals shot on community quota are very inexpensive compared to an exportable trophy hunt. There are very few mosquitoes in dry season.

Got my Lechwe (Red anyway) there…
Did Own Use Elephant and Buff
However plains game is very limited except in the Parks (which a couple of guys certainly have quota in)
I would say it’s quite expensive relatively speaking UNLESS he wants Buffalo (non trophy) and if he wants Lechwe bad… this is where to go…it certainly was a factor for me (it’s also an area with a lot of humans and modern highways and trucking etc)

 

[mark-hunter]

3) Lechwe…not any more (Okavango)

Why not? Closed for hunting?

 

[375Fox]

Got my Lechwe (Red anyway) there…
Did Own Use Elephant and Buff
However plains game is very limited except in the Parks (which a couple of guys certainly have quota in)
I would say it’s quite expensive relatively speaking UNLESS he wants Buffalo (non trophy) and if he wants Lechwe bad… this is where to go…it certainly was a factor for me (it’s also an area with a lot of humans and modern highways and trucking etc)

I believe I hunted same outfitter as you. I had good luck on PG. For trophies, I took 2 lechwe, 2 reedbuck, 2 kudu, 1 eland, 1 bushpig, 1 impala. On own-use quota I took 1 lechwe, 1 warthog, several impala, and several duiker. On two hunts on mayuni and kwando conservancies. I took own use hippo on park next door. There have been a few Caprivi PG packages offered by a different outfitter here.

 

[kpoynter]

Why not? Closed for hunting?

The Okavango areas where they reside have been mostly closed for years
I do think there may be a couple of outfitters that can… but that would be part of an extraordinarily expensive hunt I believe
I could be proven wrong…things change like a few Lion will become available for the first time in over ten years

 

[skydiver386]

I've checked with nearly every outfitter I can find in Botswana, but none seem to have Lechwe on license. Jeff Rann's website lists them, but when I asked about them at SCI last year, I got two thumbs down. Nobody at any of the outfits I talked to seemed to have an answer why. Maybe just none on quota in their concession.

Everything @375Fox said is spot on. Although the okavango delta region is the top of my list to hunt in all of Africa, the Caprivi might be the better deal.

 

[sgt_zim]

I actually talked to my ZA PH about this very thing just a couple days ago. His contention is that Moz (he didn't say which coutada) is the best choice for the largest variety of PG, plus plenty of DG on quota.

 

[hoytcanon]

If plains game specifically are your focus, there are better places to go, IMO, depending of course on what your focus is. Botswana is likely going to be significantly more costly than a similar experience and game in Namibia. If you are focusing on buffalo or elephant, Botswana is a great option, if somewhat pricey... but the extra cost is worth it for the type of experience you will have there with the better outfitters, and for the quality of the game.

 

[fourfive8]

If you are a bucket list hunter looking to check species off a list, maybe not Botswana. If you are into hunting, Botswana is hard to beat.

 

[Scott CWO]

I've checked with nearly every outfitter I can find in Botswana, but none seem to have Lechwe on license. Jeff Rann's website lists them, but when I asked about them at SCI last year, I got two thumbs down. Nobody at any of the outfits I talked to seemed to have an answer why. Maybe just none on quota in their concession.

Everything @375Fox said is spot on. Although the okavango delta region is the top of my list to hunt in all of Africa, the Caprivi might be the better deal.

Can get red lechwe in Zambia with @spike.t or bordering Kafue NP in Kansonso Busanga. Easy to get a Kafue lechwe as well - Kafue Flats are a three hour drive from Lusaka.

 

[skydiver386]

Can get red lechwe in Zambia with @spike.t or bordering Kafue NP in Kansonso Busanga. Easy to get a Kafue lechwe as well - Kafue Flats are a three hour drive from Lusaka.

Yep, that's exactly what others have advised. Kafue Lechwe as far as the eye can see on the flats.

Although no one has told me this outright, my best guess is the Lechwe in Botswana are mostly in the Parks. If it's not legal to hunt in such areas it's not that Lechwe are illegal to hunt, you just can't hunt where the Lechwe are.

Take 2 steps across the border into Namibia, or drive to Zambia, you're good to go.

 

[autofire]

I've checked with nearly every outfitter I can find in Botswana, but none seem to have Lechwe on license. Jeff Rann's website lists them, but when I asked about them at SCI last year, I got two thumbs down. Nobody at any of the outfits I talked to seemed to have an answer why. Maybe just none on quota in their concession.

Everything @375Fox said is spot on. Although the okavango delta region is the top of my list to hunt in all of Africa, the Caprivi might be the better deal.

I hunted CH1 & CH2 July 2025 for cape buffalo. Okavango flood plain is adjoining CH1.
PH had 10 red lechwe on quota but said he has never seen one-just a government gimmick. He also says that there are no more bushbuck along the flood plain-as cover gone from elephant traffic.
I have hunted several Botswana private game farms near Maun and Gabarone. Those places have a variety of PG, including bushbuck along the Limpopo River.
Good luck with your hunt, wherever you choose to go.

 

[spike.t]

Can get red lechwe in Zambia with @spike.t or bordering Kafue NP in Kansonso Busanga. Easy to get a Kafue lechwe as well - Kafue Flats are a three hour drive from Lusaka.

Nope Scott we have kafue lechwe

 

[wildfowler.250]

Thanks gents. Brilliant and honest replies! I’ll reply properly / in full when I can give them the time they deserve but essentially:

I’m planning a safari holiday with the wife mainly. This will probably come down to TZN or Bots but I don’t think I can do Tanzania hunting cost wise,(certainly not in the timeframe we’re planning).

So this is where Botswana comes in really.

Appreciate there’s good options in South Africa for safari and hunting. I’ve taken kudu, nyala, reedbuck, springbok, wildebeest and impala so covered my bucket list items really.

I’d fancied lechwe in RSA but got put off with feedback on here as far as more likely to be put and take and outwith natural environments. It’s not essential to the trip. Just appealed if it was an option on original territory - which it doesn’t sound like it is.

I’d like to do an eland tracking hunt - but would this likely take a week in itself? Gemsbok and a warthog. It’s not a long list.

Is there a reason these outfitters in Botswana don’t list/offer bushbuck? Obviously they mustn’t have them but I thought they’d be most places? That’s one other thing that appeals.

Cheers!

 

[autofire]

Thanks gents. Brilliant and honest replies! I’ll reply properly / in full when I can give them the time they deserve but essentially:

I’m planning a safari holiday with the wife mainly. This will probably come down to TZN or Bots but I don’t think I can do Tanzania hunting cost wise,(certainly not in the timeframe we’re planning).

So this is where Botswana comes in really.

Appreciate there’s good options in South Africa for safari and hunting. I’ve taken kudu, nyala, reedbuck, springbok, wildebeest and impala so covered my bucket list items really.

I’d fancied lechwe in RSA but got put off with feedback on here as far as more likely to be put and take and outwith natural environments. It’s not essential to the trip. Just appealed if it was an option on original territory - which it doesn’t sound like it is.

I’d like to do an eland tracking hunt - but would this likely take a week in itself? Gemsbok and a warthog. It’s not a long list.

Is there a reason these outfitters in Botswana don’t list/offer bushbuck? Obviously they mustn’t have them but I thought they’d be most places? That’s one other thing that appeals.

Cheers!

Bushbuck live in the riverine bushy terrain adjoining waterways. That's why the can be found on both Botswana side and RSA of land that is contiguous to the Limpopo river or perhaps up in actual Okavango delta.

 

[hoytcanon]

Thanks gents. Brilliant and honest replies! I’ll reply properly / in full when I can give them the time they deserve but essentially:

I’m planning a safari holiday with the wife mainly. This will probably come down to TZN or Bots but I don’t think I can do Tanzania hunting cost wise,(certainly not in the timeframe we’re planning).

So this is where Botswana comes in really.

Appreciate there’s good options in South Africa for safari and hunting. I’ve taken kudu, nyala, reedbuck, springbok, wildebeest and impala so covered my bucket list items really.

I’d fancied lechwe in RSA but got put off with feedback on here as far as more likely to be put and take and outwith natural environments. It’s not essential to the trip. Just appealed if it was an option on original territory - which it doesn’t sound like it is.

I’d like to do an eland tracking hunt - but would this likely take a week in itself? Gemsbok and a warthog. It’s not a long list.

Is there a reason these outfitters in Botswana don’t list/offer bushbuck? Obviously they mustn’t have them but I thought they’d be most places? That’s one other thing that appeals.

Cheers!

Sounds like you want to complete the Spiral Slam.... if that is the case, I would be inclined to go to a free range outfit that specializes in the Spiral Species. That is probably not Botswana, at least not Okavango.... more over East toward Zim and South toward Limpopo.