First trip hunting Africa

[Michigan_Outdoorsman]

I found an outfitter offering 2 female Cape buffalo under 7k usd. What caliber would you recommend and advice for a first time hunter out there? Other hunts you feel would be more of an experience I’m open to as well. Young and limber at 30 years old.

 

[dchum]

Bang for your buck is never really worth it.

Who’s outfitter?

 

[Michigan_Outdoorsman]

Bang for your buck is never really worth it.

Who’s outfitter?

https://www.**NOT**PERMITTED**.com/hunts/double-cape-buffalo-cow-hunting-safari.html

 

[Flipper Dude]

You’ll need to specify an outfitter name rather than a link. Not permitted.

Kinda my thoughts on that hunt……….If all goes well, you’ll have a great time and say to yourself……

“Wow! Great time and hunt! Next time I’m coming back for a bull!

Which is more expensive than just hunting a bull the first trip.

Good luck!

 

[dchum]

Don’t rush into booking anything.

I think you will find this website very helpful and do some more digging on what kind of hunt you really want.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

@Michigan_Outdoorsman "Other hunts you feel would be more of an experience I’m open to as well."
Sorry, my "Insert quotes" isn't working...

There is so much that one needs to learn. Lucky for you there are many on AH who will share their hard earned wisdom of what to do and most importantly, what not to do.

If you live in Southeast Michigan, please come to my open house on Sunday, 15 February for Tally Ho Safaris. The owner Stuart Williams and his lead Professional Hunter (PH) Rudi Nels will be here to discuss their and other safaris. We have a good crowd of AH members planning on attending so you will be in good ompany.

If interested, send me a DIrect Message for the address.

Thread 'Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS open house in Southeast Michigan 15 February 2026'

Dec 13, 2025

To all my African Hunting friends,

On 15 February 2026 my charming wife and I will hold an Open House with special guests Stuart Williams and his PH Rudi Nel of Talley-Ho Safaris, Limpopo South Africa. All are welcome even if you have no plans on ever hunting Limpopo. Come over and meet an exceptional gentleman Stuart and rock hard Rudi along with me and hopefully a couple dozen or more Africa hunters! We can tell stories of our hunts and adventures, and discuss rifles, loading ammunition, and shooting.

Location is 30 miles north of Detroit just outside a farming...

• Mark A Ouellette
• Replies: 32
• Forum: AH get togethers

• 

 

[UpNorthMI]

I recommend you take Mark up on his offer, I plan to be there too, I would say your current price is nothing special. But it's not really a price driven decision in mast cases.

You will learn a lot here on this site but even more in person, my first Africa trip was for 2 buffalo cows, very similar to what you are looking at.

 

[375Fox]

I found an outfitter offering 2 female Cape buffalo under 7k usd. What caliber would you recommend and advice for a first time hunter out there? Other hunts you feel would be more of an experience I’m open to as well. Young and limber at 30 years old.

I can’t see the link you posted but make sure you have a good understanding of game management and high fencing in South Africa. Cheap isn’t always a good value especially if someone wants a real hunt.

 

[DERIAN KOEKEMOER SAFARIS]

I found an outfitter offering 2 female Cape buffalo under 7k usd. What caliber would you recommend and advice for a first time hunter out there? Other hunts you feel would be more of an experience I’m open to as well. Young and limber at 30 years old.

Good day sir @Michigan_Outdoorsman
We are still running our Buffalo cow deal and have available dates, please feel free to get in contact with us @DERIAN KOEKEMOER SAFARIS

BUFFALO COW SPECIAL: (DEAL IS FOR 2 HUNTERS)
* Fees: Day fee will be $350 per person per day. .
* $3000 for each ones first cow, there after $2200 for second and/or third cow
* Included: All meals, drinks, beer and wine, laundry, wifi, transport during hunt, guide and hunting vehicle, airport transfer from and to camp for Eastgate Airport

 

[mark-hunter]

What caliber would you recommend and advice for a first time hunter out there?

Minimum caliber for buffalo 375 H&H or various modern versions of 375.
There are a lot of advises here, but generally with below points you can not go wrong:

Learn to shoot standing from stick.
Get in touch (whatsapp) with your outfitter or PH, and ask EVERYTHING!
Once there: Follow PH advise.

 

[BryceM]

.375 H&H is minimum, but certainly sufficient. There are plenty of other cartridges in this general class (junior medium-bores) that will work, including the 9.3x62 and the .375 Weatherby to name two.

The next step up (senior medium-bores) would include the .404 Jeffery, the .416 Rigby/Remington/Weatherby, and the .458 Win (and a bunch of others). Bigger than that, I probably wouldn't recommend for a first-time Africa hunter who isn't sure what he should be using.

More important than the exact cartridge, by about 100 times, is where the bullet actually goes when you pull the trigger. Only you can do this part correctly. Do it wrong, and you could put yourself or others in danger. A wounded buffalo could trample some poor villager on her way to get water. You need to shoot well, from sticks, in field conditions, and you need to understand the anatomy of the animal. It's amazing to me how many videos I've seen of hunters who invented a reason to try a neck shot, or some other stupid thing at the last minute. Listen to the PH. Also, you need to use a premium bullet and understand its particular strengths and weaknesses. Use a rifle you understand (master). Reliability trumps fancy gizmos and pretty stocks. Also, practice shooting inside of 10 yards. It's amazing how many people screw up a finishing shot from a few feet away.

Did I mention you need to shoot well? I'm talking..... run uphill 100 yards, throw up some sticks, and put every shot in a small paper plate at 50 or 100 yards, every time. Be able to reload on the run, without looking, and figure out how to shoot a long-action rifle without short-stroking the bolt. When the adrenaline is pumping, you're only as good as what you've committed to muscle memory. Some of what typical US hunters have learned transfers to dangerous game, but less than you might imagine.

And then hunt what you want. Only you can figure out that part. Lots of guys go bonkers about warthogs. For others, it's super important to get the various designer color-phases of springbok. For me, I'd rather shoot one truly wild bull than a dozen high-fence cows, but some people are the exact opposite. Also, I'd rather hunt average animals with a great PH than large trophies with a PH who is boring, insufferable, dangerous, or unethical. For others, it doesn't matter as much.