Cape buffalo vs the rest?

[Rare Breed]

Thanks for the reply! What I’m trying to gauge is would you weigh the experience well above plains game? You could probably take anything from 5-10 PG animals ,(assuming $2k - $4K per animal) for one Cape buffalo.

I feel the hunt and remoteness swings it for the buffalo. But I just wanted to gauge people’s feelings

There must be a reason they’re so sought after. In all honesty, if I was ‘unlucky’ to tag a buff on day one then I’m sure there’s bushbuck and warthogs still to chase which would still be great.

You will find many people myself included whose first hunt was for certain PG animals on our dream list. For me that was a kudu, zebra, Impala and a couple more. It was on my second hunt I took my first and best Buff. I have two thoughts for you. 1. Save for a buff and ask to take some PG cull animals some can be had for $300 and the same great experience. 2. Game4Africa told me they consider the Black Widebeest the “poor man’s” buffalo their words and one hangs proudly in my office. You could do a 6-8 PG hunt with one of those for still less than a good buff in say Zim.

 

[Doug3006]

In my opinion, buffalo hunting offers a far more exciting experience than any plains game hunt. If you can swing it, save up and go hunt a dugga boy in a free range area in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, the Caprivi, or if money is less of an object, Tanzania. You’ll be glad you did.

 

[shootist~]

Yes. Even a less than perfect Buff hunt is a much more vivid memory.

 

[Tanks]

A huge part of the reason they are so sought after is that they are the most achievable of the big 5 of Africa. They are huge, impressive, incredible animals. But if you made any of the big 5 as accessible as buffalo are to the average Africa client, they would be equally as sought after.

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

 

[Flipper Dude]

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

Pretty much the same price, sometimes cheaper. I always feel as if the situation is not under my control when hunting elephant, especially cows. Seems the plan is usually to take out the tuskless then hope the other 5 or 6 or 10 cows with calves don’t decide to take you out. You’d have to scream and shout and maybe shoot your way out of it, along with your PH. Could go pear shaped in a hurry.

You’re right. Can’t wait to do it again.

 

[Jhsmith]

Nope; nothing worth it about Cape buffalo hunting. I don’t enjoy it at all.

Oh, wait. I do…
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Hunter Habib is a bad influence.

I dipped my toe in the water last year with a cow cape, buffalo and a cow giraffe.
I wanted experience shooting big animals with a big hard kicking rifle.
I’m going over again in April on a 10 day Buffalo hunt.
Already thinking about more hunts.

 

[C.W. Richter]

You can see the Big 5 while on PG safari in Namibia. As Gemsbok are desert animals farther S. and lechwe up N. in the more lush Caprivi, you'll see a LOT of country and all of its wildlife in doing so. It'll either be a long drive or additional flights when in-country. We once got lucky and had a tag-on problem/meat buff (for my Son) for $2K while hunting other stuff. You can also get tribal "own-use" hunts (where you take NOTHING home but memories and photos) involving multiple DG/D7 animals for much less. We were watching elephant, buffalo, a leopard hunting lechwe across the river in Botswana, and hippo and crocs (all in the same area) while culling zebra for tribal members in a village in the Caprivi. Rhino and lion we saw at Etosha NP. IF you take a ride from the Caprivi over to Vic Falls, you will see EVERYTHING in the national parks in-between (in Namib/Bots/Zim and even Zambia across the river!) We got our elephant, buffalo and hippo elsewhere, so they weren't on the plate at that moment. In Zim, lion encounters are fairly common (esp. after there's meat in camp!) Much to love in all of those countries! A Botswana hunt via makoro along the Okavango is amazing, but you can do the same in several river systems in the Caprivi! Go for the lechwe/sitatunga, maybe croc/hippo, and then gemsbok/springbok nearer to the airport (even on horseback!) and you will learn much about Namibia and its DG.

 

[375Fox]

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.

 

[375Fox]

You might also consider an own-use non-exportable buffalo in Caprivi. You get to hunt an old non-trophy buffalo in top areas at a fraction of price of a trophy hunt. Probably one of best values to see wild Africa today.

Price List - Kou Kuas Website

koukuasadventures.com

 

[Africa1]

Really, all hype excluded.... It's a wild, untamable member of the bovine family that has an excellent memory and a penchant for revenge when you only wound him! And, in my hunt last year, I DID kill him. But his best friend, called an Askari, who was immediately behind my Bull when I fired waited for me in the long grass near his fallen buddy. He wanted to get revenge for me killing HIS best friend! If adrenaline is your favorite word, and adventure in your blood, you MUST hunt Cape Buffalo! If your only concern is pulling the trigger as many times as you can on a hunt in Africa and coming home with the most trophies....do another plains game hunt. A plains game hunt in numbers of animals for the money is the best bang for the buck...pun intended. It is a VERY personal choice, We who have hunted Cape Buffalo rarely rue the choice!

 

[lawrence_court]

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.

 

[NDWoods]

It is absolutely what will get me back to Africa. I cant go back just for plains game. It will be either cape buffalo or elephant for me in Africa,
I have a list now with a couple scratched before I think about going back.
Cape Buffalo(2022)
Hawaii Vancouver Bull (2025)
Australian Water Buffalo (2027)
Argentinian Water Buffalo (TBD)

 

[Flipper Dude]

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.

Yep

 

[Scott CWO]

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.

@wildfowler.250 there’s much wisdom from Zach in this post. He and I have talked about this subject several times. We have both been to Africa quite a few times, as have many others on this site. Everyone is different.

For me, I have zero desire to kill a Cape buffalo on a ranch. I’m also not especially enamored with hunting wild Cape buffalo but I do enjoy it. I’m also not a collector of every species. I have taken a lot of species in Africa but I just like what I like. I don’t really have the desire for the Tiny 10 but I love the larger plains game as much as any buffalo. I’m weird that way. I really enjoy tracking buffalo and eland but I do enjoy spot/stalk hunting for plains game as well. I like the mixture of hunting methods. Who doesn’t love seeing and going after a big kudu, roan or sable?? Sign me up!

After reading your comments, I would suggest a wild buffalo hunt with some plains game. I agree with Zach that it is very important to find the right concession. That, to me, is more important than the outfitter or PH.

Another idea is a plains game hunt in a wild area like Coutada 9 in Mozambique. Lots of nice kudu there, as well as nyala and several other species. Prices are reasonable for wild Africa. To my way of thinking, you haven’t really experienced Africa unless you have hunted a wild area. There are a few good outfits there, such as Mokore Safaris, and you can also add a buffalo if you wish.

 

[Flipper Dude]

^^^^^^^^
This

 

[Green Chile]

We are all wired uniquely on our interests and how we get started in Africa. I didn't do anything normally and started with tuskless ele...then buff...then more buff...before I was even remotely interested in PG. I started seeing some very old PG and took some nice to exceptional examples when our paths would cross on DG hunts. Then I got a good look at some T10 and now I'm over half way to finishing that journey.

DG drew me to Africa first and will always be the loudest call to me. You need to track them into the thorns and smell the barnyard smell of dugga boys before you see them...feel the wind shift and then the ground pounding sound as they exit stage left. That's when you find out if you're a buff hunter. Not everyone is but you can't really know until you try it. That's one stage of DG...but there are more advanced stages of DG addiction; the cats and elephants. That's a whole different subject.

 

[rosecitymike]

I’ll echo what a lot here are saying.

My first trip was to Namibia for plains game and it was awesome. Large, open cattle farmland and a lot like hunting in parts of the American west. Took home 5 great trophies and wonderful memories

This year I went to Zimbabwe for buffalo and it’s something I’ll never forget. Elephant everywhere, including feeding in camp at night. Hippo and croc in the river. Lion roaring nearby. And the miles and miles of tracking to get the buff was simething I’ll never forget. Took 7 of the 10 days to get the buff we wanted and every one of those 7 was an adventure. Others have mentioned eland, and my last couple days were trying to catch up to one, though we never did. In my experience the track itself is as rewarding as the trophy, and if you want a wilderness hunt you won’t be disappointed.

I treasure both experiences, but I would say the buffalo hunt holds the top spot for me.

 

[Nyati]

On my third Safari, it was buff, a totally different experience, took me four dys to get the one I wanted.

I also went along with two of my friends on their buff hunts, never mis an opportunity to be on a DG hunt !

 

[cwpayton]

You can see the Big 5 while on PG safari in Namibia. As Gemsbok are desert animals farther S. and lechwe up N. in the more lush Caprivi, you'll see a LOT of country and all of its wildlife in doing so. It'll either be a long drive or additional flights when in-country. We once got lucky and had a tag-on problem/meat buff (for my Son) for $2K while hunting other stuff. You can also get tribal "own-use" hunts (where you take NOTHING home but memories and photos) involving multiple DG/D7 animals for much less. We were watching elephant, buffalo, a leopard hunting lechwe across the river in Botswana, and hippo and crocs (all in the same area) while culling zebra for tribal members in a village in the Caprivi. Rhino and lion we saw at Etosha NP. IF you take a ride from the Caprivi over to Vic Falls, you will see EVERYTHING in the national parks in-between (in Namib/Bots/Zim and even Zambia across the river!) We got our elephant, buffalo and hippo elsewhere, so they weren't on the plate at that moment. In Zim, lion encounters are fairly common (esp. after there's meat in camp!) Much to love in all of those countries! A Botswana hunt via makoro along the Okavango is amazing, but you can do the same in several river systems in the Caprivi! Go for the lechwe/sitatunga, maybe croc/hippo, and then gemsbok/springbok nearer to the airport (even on horseback!) and you will learn much about Namibia and its DG.

You mention all these places youve hunted and how great the adventure, and then.......no outfitter names, help us out.
I havent hunted Buff, .yet..., but I thought I wanted a sable until I saw them 75 yds off the road staring back, lost my appetite for them not enough challenge.

 

[Adam Stevens]

I'm basically echoing what I said in the other thread about Buffalo width. But will expand alittle. This is not a knock on AH, but when I first joined ten years ago, I was alittle overwhelmed by just how many SA outfitters were on here or majority of hunt reports all seemed in SA. And the other forum was mostly the wild countries.

I dreamt of the wild places. And as a Canadian, we have such massive crown land and can hunt for days and never see a fence. I couldn't wrap my head around flying to Africa, and hunt of a lifetime, and seeing fences. But that's me and my preference. I had a cousin go recently, and after the hunt and 10 animals later. He basically admitted it meant nothing to him, and I tried hard not to show it, as I knew he was a true wild hunter but I feel he realized something that day.

I am very pleased to see that a vast majority of guys on here now and reports. Are really putting the effort in and hunting the wild places. This conservation will forever help keep these places wild.

Both systems should be available. I will never knock SA and how well it's doing for animals. I do thoroughly enjoy seeing more wild country hunts though. It's personal. And only yourself can answer it. I decided even if I only could do 1 true safari for a cape buff in Zim, that was my choice over possibly a few some SA hunts.

I had dreamt for too long of thick jess, tracking in hot heat, heavy rifle on my shoulder after all day walking. I dreamt of that, and didn't book until I found an outfitter that matched in every aspect.