Cape buffalo vs the rest?

[Russ16]

I’m doing my first Africa trip in August. That’s partly because I never wanted to hunt a ranch I waited until I could afford a wild area. It will be Cape buffalo to start.

Even in thinking about future safaris it is about where I want to go more than what I want to hunt. I’m really interested in Mozambique and Niassa in particular. Trying to figure out what hunt will he met there in my budget. I was thinking leopard bit the price tag outpaces my interest in hunting leopard. It’s the areas that call to me more than the species.

 

[Green Chile]

It’s the areas that call to me more than the species.

You should visit with @375Fox. That's how he is wired.

 

[Russ16]

You should visit with @375Fox. That's how he is wired.

We’ve corresponded a bit.

 

[Scott CWO]

I’m doing my first Africa trip in August. That’s partly because I never wanted to hunt a ranch I waited until I could afford a wild area. It will be Cape buffalo to start.

Even in thinking about future safaris it is about where I want to go more than what I want to hunt. I’m really interested in Mozambique and Niassa in particular. Trying to figure out what hunt will he met there in my budget. I was thinking leopard bit the price tag outpaces my interest in hunting leopard. It’s the areas that call to me more than the species.

Seems you have figured it out. The Niassa can be cheaper than Tanzania and some parts of Zambia. I would highly recommend hunting inside the Niassa Reserve. It is truly wild. As for leopards there, it is highly successful so I bet you would have ample time to hunt lots of other species as well.

 

[Andrew62]

Hunting Africa is a privilege and wonderful experience regardless of where you hunt. I have enjoyed both plains game hunts and dangerous games hunts. Having said that, there is a huge difference in hunting plains game in South Africa than hunting in Zimbabwe. There’s something extra special about being in a truly wild area. You just never know when you will turn a corner and run into elephants!

 

[Killingtime]

What are your interest? No one can tell you what you’re going to like more than yourself. I’m going to Africa next summer and my only real intentions for myself for the rest of my life is to hunt DG animals. I have no personal interest in pg. My wife only want to hunt pg.
When I’m hunting big deer I won’t shoot hogs, when I’m hunting bear I refuse to shot a deer and if I’m after a old boar I’ve passed on a several big bucks.. that I never saw again but I got the boar I wanted. I’m goal oriented and I hunt and fish what I want regardless of anyone else’s opinion.

So what do you want a big sable or a buffalo?

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Folks I’m planning trip 2,(yes I said once and once only to the other half..). Now this may be 4-5 years away with how things go but what I’m trying to work out is:

Is a Cape buffalo hunt worth the same / more than a weeks PG hunt? In experience or adventure.

What I feel I’ve missed a bit is remoteness with my last trip. There’s videos of Zimbabwe in particular tracking buffalo, stumbling into elephants. Seeing hippos. Looks like a real adventure.

But at the same time, I could do Namibia for gemsbok, lechwe , brown hyena ect. Have lots of different hunts experiences for the same money.

I’m probably euro mounts only from now on as there’s a limit to how many space you can take up anyway.

My feeling is the Cape buffalo hunt is so highly regarded for a reason and it seems like more of an adventure and worth saving up for longer for.

Thoughts?

I have been to Zimbabwe twice (yeah I said it would be just once too). Both times I took a cape buffalo.bull and plains game. I want to go again, maybe, and if I do it will have to.include another buffalo. Nothing else compares.

 

[deewayne2003]

Tuskless cow elephant hunt is at the same price point and in my opinion is even more of a challenge of a hunt.

I did tuskless for my first hunt and it was an amazing experience, got mine on evening of day two and I had turn down two before taking mine and had been within 30yds of dozens of elephants by then.

This was in Zimbabwe on Campfire land, still had time to take an impala, bushbuck and caught a giant catfish. All in a 10day hunt.

Tuskless was by far my favorite hunt to date and I’m booked for buffalo in 2027; looking forward to comparing the two.

 

[Green Chile]

There is no comparison of the average tuskless hunt experience on a bang for the buck basis. Most of them are very exciting and you almost always have to sort one out from the other cows. Often they get really pissy afterwards, even to the point of having to recover the ele the next day. Hunting good ivory is fun but the tuskless leads the experience for me. I also like that there is no trophy to bring home, no big process to run the paperwork on with expensive fees, etc. I will do more of them.

 

[Russ16]

There is no comparison of the average tuskless hunt experience on a bang for the buck basis. Most of them are very exciting and you almost always have to sort one out from the other cows. Often they get really pissy afterwards, even to the point of having to recover the ele the next day. Hunting good ivory is fun but the tuskless leads the experience for me. I also like that there is no trophy to bring home, no big process to run the paperwork on with expensive fees, etc. I will do more of them.

I’ve often wondered is any part of a tuskless is importable. Could one bring back a hide panel to have things made from?

 

[Green Chile]

The permits do not allow any portion to be exported. The experience is the full trophy and you won't feel short-changed if you get in close to finish it.

 

[Russ16]

The permits do not allow any portion to be exported. The experience is the full trophy and you won't feel short-changed if you get in close to finish it.

View attachment 751420

I’m sure I wouldn’t feel short changed on the experience. I’ve just always wanted a gun case made from an elephant I shot. Stuff like that is not meaningful to me than horns on a wall.

I’ve booked a bulk for my first elephant in 2028 but could see doing tuskless in the future.

 

[wildfowler.250]

I don’t think buffalo is necessary worth more than other trophies. I personally put a higher value on free range eland. However, it gets you into wild areas where you can run into other dangerous game and see real trackers work. That experience is worth a lot more to me than the standard plains game hunt on farms.
If you are looking to hunt Cape buffalo in wild areas make sure you do your research especially when on a budget. The areas generally matter more than the outfitter. Talk to recent references from that particular area. Poaching is a major problem and not all areas are equal. Some concessions you’ll get a full experience from. Some you’ll drive the boundary hoping something crosses in during your hunt. The cheapest hunts are often putting the least back into their areas.

A tracking hunt is totally different to a standard plains game hunt.

For me, that's the separation. Tracking buffalo or eland in a wild area is worth much much more than driving/walking for plains game. I'd say it's at least twice as valuable. Maybe three times.

Both are great, but following a track all day is just a different deal.

Hunting Africa is a privilege and wonderful experience regardless of where you hunt. I have enjoyed both plains game hunts and dangerous games hunts. Having said that, there is a huge difference in hunting plains game in South Africa than hunting in Zimbabwe. There’s something extra special about being in a truly wild area. You just never know when you will turn a corner and run into elephants!

Thanks folks. I think it is the tracking and wilderness I’m after. I’m sure a buffalo would get the heart rate up. I’ve never really desired one prior to coming on here to be honest. I think probably because they seemed out of reach. But it is doable saving a few K a year and going in 5–10 years,(longer I put it back, the easier it is to add on other things whilst I’m there).
Really it’s the combination of 1) tracking that I want to see,(It looks amazing) and 2) having all those close up big game experiences. Folk travel all over the world to go on safari but very few get one on one experiences on foot in the wilderness.

I’ve had a good look into Charlton McCallum already. Dalton seem to also get good reviews. I say on a budget but I’d rather save/push back and do it properly than chance it.

Out of interest, what’s export like from Zim? Does it go directly all all through RSA? Same for Namibia?

The Caprivi comes up a lot and I really do need to look into it more. I like what I’ve see of Zim in videos as far as landscape and wildlife. I’ve heard some areas of Caprivi are a lot better than others?


Thanks again for all the comments. All very interesting and appreciated.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I know for me, after I hunted my first DG Buffalo plains game took a back seat. They are add ons now. I have gone to not exporting any animals now and doing non export DG or cull hunts. Buff Cows are a challange and you can do 2 or 3 of those for cost of a Bull Buff. This years trip is my first for Elephant, 2027 will be multiple buff cow hunt and some culling, maybe another lioness also, it in early planning stages. DG gets in your blood after the first one.

 

[Adam Stevens]

Thanks folks. I think it is the tracking and wilderness I’m after. I’m sure a buffalo would get the heart rate up. I’ve never really desired one prior to coming on here to be honest. I think probably because they seemed out of reach. But it is doable saving a few K a year and going in 5–10 years,(longer I put it back, the easier it is to add on other things whilst I’m there).
Really it’s the combination of 1) tracking that I want to see,(It looks amazing) and 2) having all those close up big game experiences. Folk travel all over the world to go on safari but very few get one on one experiences on foot in the wilderness.

I’ve had a good look into Charlton McCallum already. Dalton seem to also get good reviews. I say on a budget but I’d rather save/push back and do it properly than chance it.

Out of interest, what’s export like from Zim? Does it go directly all all through RSA? Same for Namibia?

The Caprivi comes up a lot and I really do need to look into it more. I like what I’ve see of Zim in videos as far as landscape and wildlife. I’ve heard some areas of Caprivi are a lot better than others?


Thanks again for all the comments. All very interesting and appreciated.

Most Zim outfits, just recommend having the dip/pack done in country, and then shipment of trophies back to home country for taxidermy. I believe this was due to previous issues with quality and unfortunately money taken and trophies not shipped out.

I know since covid prices have gone up getting trophys home. is what it is.

 

[Sika98k]

I do not recommend hunting Cape buffalo or your bank account be dammed.

In all seriousness, it's addictive. After doing it once, you will be hooked. Every safari after that will be buffalo and...(enter whatever game animal you choose). You will never feel so alive as when you are chasing Black Death. Cheers.

Sadly @BeeMaa speaks the truth. Having purchased a 375 some years ago and having gotten used to it on plainsgame the itch to hunt a Cape buffalo got stronger and stronger. Just one, that’ll do.
2024 I hunted a great package with @GAME 4 AFRICA SAFARIS, Cape buffalo, kudu and impala.
I remember my words to Wick. “ This is my first buffalo hunt” . It seems my brain was already decided on another hunt.
Last year I had to feed the addiction. I hunted 3 buffalo cows with @BAYLY SIPPEL SAFARIS on a government reserve. 5 days of tracking doubled over in thick bush. I must say when we got onto the first cow and we had been busted a couple of times I was gobsmacked at how the tracker and PH were able to see the buffalo. Eventually, a minute maybe, I was able to discern the front legs and work up to the triangle behind the shoulder. It transpired to be a perfect heart shot.
Yes, it’s addictive but nicely so

 

[375Fox]

Out of interest, what’s export like from Zim? Does it go directly all all through RSA? Same for Namibia?

The Caprivi comes up a lot and I really do need to look into it more. I like what I’ve see of Zim in videos as far as landscape and wildlife. I’ve heard some areas of Caprivi are a lot better than others?


Thanks again for all the comments. All very interesting and appreciated.

Trophies are exported directly from Namibia and Zimbabwe. Mozambique is only country they must go through South Africa adding additional costs.
There are national park areas and community areas in Caprivi. The park areas are larger and have higher game numbers but also come at a large premium. The community areas still have good hunting but are smaller and have more people living in them. There’s a lot more variation in Zimbabwe areas than Caprivi. Most areas very large, but poaching is very significant on some areas. Stick to well known areas in Zimbabwe not the outlying areas unless you’ve done a lot of research.

 

[Luminous Ham]

Thanks folks. I think it is the tracking and wilderness I’m after. I’m sure a buffalo would get the heart rate up. I’ve never really desired one prior to coming on here to be honest. I think probably because they seemed out of reach. But it is doable saving a few K a year and going in 5–10 years,(longer I put it back, the easier it is to add on other things whilst I’m there).
Really it’s the combination of 1) tracking that I want to see,(It looks amazing) and 2) having all those close up big game experiences. Folk travel all over the world to go on safari but very few get one on one experiences on foot in the wilderness.

I’ve had a good look into Charlton McCallum already. Dalton seem to also get good reviews. I say on a budget but I’d rather save/push back and do it properly than chance it.

Out of interest, what’s export like from Zim? Does it go directly all all through RSA? Same for Namibia?

The Caprivi comes up a lot and I really do need to look into it more. I like what I’ve see of Zim in videos as far as landscape and wildlife. I’ve heard some areas of Caprivi are a lot better than others?


Thanks again for all the comments. All very interesting and appreciated.

I feel like there are different concepts at play here, and in the first post. Wilderness/remoteness vs stumbling onto the big five/elephants. There can be elephants but it not being that wild or remote, eg campfire in Zimbabwe or the Caprivi strip, where you wont be many miles from a major road or people. And then there are really remote areas with no other people around, and in many, perhaps all, instances also elephants but perhaps not always lions. To me the real experience is with elephants and lions around. In such areas you can also hunt PG only, which will be cheaper than a buff hunt.

 

[mark-hunter]

Thoughts?

I hunted about 25 species up to buffalo and ele.

I can say this.

- You must decide. 1 shot on DG against multiple shots on PG. Add the danger element for buffalo

- Of all my hunts, buffalo stands out

- Africa is so diverse, and I want to try other things, so my next buffalo will have to wait. For me different experiences have priority over next buffalo hunt.

- If I hunted everything I could afford or I could imagine, and if I could come back to Africa again and again, I would keep hunting only buffalo.

So far, I have experienced 5 safaris, in 2 countries, in past 8 years. Still counting....