First South African Safari....A bit overwhelmed

[Mike D Texas]

Hello All. In my introduction post I mentioned my wife and I are planning our first SA Safari for spring (US) 2028. We have attended DSC and SCI Nashville and quite frankly our head is spinning from information overload. This is going to be a very special trip for us since it will be the year of my 60th birthday as well as our 40th wedding anniversary, so we want it to be a very special and memorable trip.

Desired animals:

• Gembok
• Nyala
• Kudu
• Red Lechwe or Waterbuck (undecided at this point)
• Bushbuck
• Impala
• Warthog
• Springbuck

We spoke to no less than 12 outfitters between the shows. After going through all of the proposals, reviewing fees, etc. we *think* we have it narrowed down to 3 that we felt the most comfortable with.

• Limcroma Safaris
• Crusader Safaris
• African Hope Safaris (this one was recommended by good friends based on their hunt with them).

I would appreciate any feedback anyone has on these outfitters, especially if you have personal experience hunting with them.

Limcroma is in the Limpopo province and fenced. We have no aversion to fences.

Crusader is in the East Cape and is low fence

African Hope is also in the East Cape but I am unsure if it is fenced or not.

I am open to other suggestions but please make sure if you recommend someone that you have personally hunted with them.

 

[Firebird]

Look through the hunt reports section of this site and read reviews on these outfitters-there is a plethora of information available there

 

[Andrew62]

I have not personally hunted with those 3 outfitters, hopefully, others will respond and give you the feedback you’re looking for. I’m anxious to hear about them as well.

I have hunted 2 times with @TSALA HUNTING SAFARIS, Limpopo Area, and once with @GAME 4 AFRICA SAFARIS, eastern cape. I can highly recommend these 2.

Seems you have a nice list of animals on your wish list!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Waterbuck are cheaper than lechwe and less hassle getting through customs inspection. I found waterbuck more challenging to hunt.

 

[375Fox]

You might consider talking with references about the camp environment such as how many groups in camp at once and the atmosphere that creates. I’d also tell you to modify your list based on the region you hunt. I wouldn’t go for such a specific list. Some give a better hunting experience than others depending where you hunt them and where they are originally native.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Congrats on making the decision to go.
My suggestion is to ask our vetted outfitters here on AH for information and pricing also. There are many great sponsors here that can give you what you are looking for. Like what @375Fox said, may need to adjust list as all animals may not be in that region or you will have to travel to hunt them

 

[Mike D Texas]

Waterbuck are cheaper than lechwe and less hassle getting through customs inspection. I found waterbuck more challenging to hunt.

Truthfully I would be pleased with either. Lechwe was my original pick, but after looking at Waterbuck a little closer, I like those as well and they seem to be more universal across regions.

 

[Mike D Texas]

Look through the hunt reports section of this site and read reviews on these outfitters-there is a plethora of information available there

Been looking through there as well, thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Mike D Texas]

I have not personally hunted with those 3 outfitters, hopefully, others will respond and give you the feedback you’re looking for. I’m anxious to hear about them as well.

I have hunted 2 times with @TSALA HUNTING SAFARIS, Limpopo Area, and once with @GAME 4 AFRICA SAFARIS, eastern cape. I can highly recommend these 2.

Seems you have a nice list of animals on your wish list!

Game 4 Africa seems to be highly regarded.. I'll have to give them a look. Thank you for the suggestions.

 

[3chunter]

I would lean east cape for sure for these animals. Many good outfitters there. Some places cater to woman better than others and have more non-hunting options. I am not into any of those though, just give me a snake free place to sleep and let me hunt all day.

 

[dchum]

I think Hunting hard for old trophy class Kudu, Nyala, and Bushbuck in the Eastern cape would be a good fun and rewarding hunt. Challenging in all the best ways.

Warthog to if you see a good one. Crusader looks like a good outfit, they have lots of property so they do share camp. I think they attract a good type of client. So could be fine to share a camp.

Some of your species I would leave off if hunting in EC. I say focus on the special native game and if you finish up go for some extras you mentioned. But bush buck and EC kudu can have you hunting hard! Be picky!

 

[Rimbaud]

Congratulations on 40 years of marriage. I understand the added pressure of traveling with the Mrs on a hunting trip. In addition to the advice you've already received, I would consider speaking with the Hunting Consortium, or another well-known outfitter. These companies have been in business for a long time, and can offer you a turn-key experience. I'm using the Hunting Consortium for a Spain hunt, and have thus far been pleased with the ease of everything. I met the outfitter, Cazatur, at DSC and am enjoying having someone else do the work on this trip. I want a good hunt, naturally, but it is very important to me that my wife also enjoys herself. Again, congratulations on your milestones. Wishing you many more.

 

['68boy]

I wouldn’t worry about high fence in SA— you’ll never see them one way or another.

 

[JimP]

How many days do you plan on hunting? Remember that some outfitters consider your pick up and drop off days as hunting days.

On my first hunt I found that finding a good kudu very hard and shot mine on my 8th day of a 8 day hunt. I also had a warthog on my list and never pulled the trigger on one. Most of the areas that we hunted trying to find a kudu were not the kind of areas that you find good warthogs in.

Don't discount high fence areas, they are nothing like what you might see here in the US, and if you get onto one in the Eastern Cape you may never realize that you are hunting in one except for the gate that you drive through.

On my last hunt I was with Frontier Safaris north of Port Elizabeth. Not only do they have a vast area around the lodge but they also have access to very large tracts of land to hunt where you will find better animals than what you will find around the lodge.

 

[Hedge774]

Congratulations on all three occasions! There are many, very informative threads on here for first time safari goers. I'd really study on the advice given by this fine group. I think you have a very solid list of outfitters and a very tough decision to make between them. In all honesty, I'd ask specifically about activities for your wife while you are out. If you think about it, that could make or break a once in a lifetime event. Happy wife....

 

[Mike D Texas]

I would lean east cape for sure for these animals. Many good outfitters there. Some places cater to woman better than others and have more non-hunting options. I am not into any of those though, just give me a snake free place to sleep and let me hunt all day.

Rest assured, my wife will be in the truck/on the ground with me. She will probably shoot a thing or two as well.

 

[Mike D Texas]

I think Hunting hard for old trophy class Kudu, Nyala, and Bushbuck in the Eastern cape would be a good fun and rewarding hunt. Challenging in all the best ways.

Warthog to if you see a good one. Crusader looks like a good outfit, they have lots of property so they do share camp. I think they attract a good type of client. So could be fine to share a camp.

Some of your species I would leave off if hunting in EC. I say focus on the special native game and if you finish up go for some extras you mentioned. But bush buck and EC kudu can have you hunting hard! Be picky!

Thank you for the feedback. One thing I did enjoy when talking with Crusader is that I was talking with the PH that I would be hunting with. I really enjoyed talking with him and feel like we would have a great time in camp.

Which species would you leave off for an EC hunt, and which would you recommend as substitutes?

 

[Mike D Texas]

Congratulations on 40 years of marriage. I understand the added pressure of traveling with the Mrs on a hunting trip. In addition to the advice you've already received, I would consider speaking with the Hunting Consortium, or another well-known outfitter. These companies have been in business for a long time, and can offer you a turn-key experience. I'm using the Hunting Consortium for a Spain hunt, and have thus far been pleased with the ease of everything. I met the outfitter, Cazatur, at DSC and am enjoying having someone else do the work on this trip. I want a good hunt, naturally, but it is very important to me that my wife also enjoys herself. Again, congratulations on your milestones. Wishing you many more.

I spoke with Bob at HC, I was a bit frustrated that he kept only recommending one outfitter instead of offering options.

 

[dchum]

I wouldn’t worry about high fence in SA— you’ll never see them one way or another.

Not trying to start a debate on this gentleman’s thread, and I’ve never been to SA to hunt….

But plenty of YouTube videos where the fence is plain as day. Hunts like that get posted weekly. I think due diligence about fences and operations and property size is very much important for SA. Certainly something to inquire about. To say “don’t worry about it” is bad safari planning advice.

You are correct in that there are lots of SA places where the fence is more just a boundary and the hunting is great! We both agree on that!

 

[Mike D Texas]

I wouldn’t worry about high fence in SA— you’ll never see them one way or another.

I have no issue with fences at all. I've hunted on several here in Texas ranging from as small as 1,000 acres to 122,000 acres.