New member researching their first safari

[Dylancadby23]

Hey guys, I’m from Louisiana and met a couple safaris at the Louisiana outdoor expo! One was Limcroma and the other Mount Carmel. I have been super overwhelmed doing research. There’s tons of great reviews for Limcroma, but they are more expensive and with one less animal then the quote I received from Mount Carmel. The kicker is this will be a trip for me and my wive’s one year anniversary. So I want it to be nice and comfortable and enjoyable for her. She probably won’t hunt any, but would like to tag along with me some, but I would want there to be stuff for her to do when she didn’t come. I know Limcroma has a lot to offer. I’d like to even take a day to go see some lions or to the facilities that have some baby animals. Any advice, recommendations, and anyone with and reviews won these places would be greatly appreciated! I’m just a Louisiana boy who has only ever hunted the US, but always dreamed of killing a big kudu, sable, gensbok, and zebra! We are newly weds, who just bought a house so we do have to keep budget in mind!

 

[Sabre]

Hey guys, I’m from Louisiana and met a couple safaris at the Louisiana outdoor expo! One was Limcroma and the other Mount Carmel. I have been super overwhelmed doing research. There’s tons of great reviews for Limcroma, but they are more expensive and with one less animal then the quote I received from Mount Carmel. The kicker is this will be a trip for me and my wive’s one year anniversary. So I want it to be nice and comfortable and enjoyable for her. She probably won’t hunt any, but would like to tag along with me some, but I would want there to be stuff for her to do when she didn’t come. I know Limcroma has a lot to offer. I’d like to even take a day to go see some lions or to the facilities that have some baby animals. Any advice, recommendations, and anyone with and reviews won these places would be greatly appreciated! I’m just a Louisiana boy who has only ever hunted the US, but always dreamed of killing a big kudu, sable, gensbok, and zebra! We are newly weds, who just bought a house so we do have to keep budget in mind!

Welcome to the site!

When looking at prices it is important to consider all the things that are important to you and weigh your options. Some locations may have very small hunting areas and might not be a very sporting hunt, which can put you off and not make you feel very good during the hunt. Or, their facilities and amenities may be lacking compared to a more expensive option.

I would look at how large the hunt areas are, the type of terrain offered on the property, and the accommodations since you are bringing your wife and want her to be comfortable.

I have seen hunt reports on here from Limcroma before. Go to the search, type in
"Limcroma", click the small box that says "title only" and then hit search. That should pull up some hunt reports I would think.

 

[MontanaPat]

Welcome to AH, I second what @Sabre is saying above. The sweet taste of a cheap price will quickly fade if followed by the bitter taste of a less than stellar experience. I have no personal experience with either outfitter but have heard many good things about Limcroma and no they have some good properties of larger size. My first safari I was taking my wife with me and wanted the same things you have mentioned for her experience. They cost 20-30% more than other quotes I got but I have no regrets with spending a little more or taking one less animal when I know the experience is going to be better overall

 

[BGGMKLR]

Hey guys, I’m from Louisiana and met a couple safaris at the Louisiana outdoor expo! One was Limcroma and the other Mount Carmel. I have been super overwhelmed doing research. There’s tons of great reviews for Limcroma, but they are more expensive and with one less animal then the quote I received from Mount Carmel. The kicker is this will be a trip for me and my wive’s one year anniversary. So I want it to be nice and comfortable and enjoyable for her. She probably won’t hunt any, but would like to tag along with me some, but I would want there to be stuff for her to do when she didn’t come. I know Limcroma has a lot to offer. I’d like to even take a day to go see some lions or to the facilities that have some baby animals. Any advice, recommendations, and anyone with and reviews won these places would be greatly appreciated! I’m just a Louisiana boy who has only ever hunted the US, but always dreamed of killing a big kudu, sable, gensbok, and zebra! We are newly weds, who just bought a house so we do have to keep budget in mind!

In my view, you have taken a best first step, by becoming a member here.
Very experienced members are extremely generous in their willingness to share their expertise, past experiences, and lessons learned. I will be monitoring your thread with great enthusiasm...and fond memories of myself being in your position...thirsty for all I can gather before attempting to turn a dream into reality.
My very best
Spike

 

[Elkeater]

Welcome to AH! I’m not an expert on African hunting with only one safari under my belt but I’m willing to help whatever way I can.

To your two listed companies, limcroma seems to have a good reputation. I can’t say I know anything of the other.

For cost I look at this like a three year system. Year one you book your hunt, pay your deposit and buy airline tickets. Year two you actually hunt (pay for your package and extra animals), pay your taxidermy deposit or dip and pack. Year three you pay for taxidermy and shipping of animals back to the U.S,

That’s just the way I did things though and it helps spread the cost out instead of paying one big chunk all at once.

I would recommend looking at some of the hunt offers from the site sponsors here on AH as they have some great offers here.

 

[Philip Glass]

I can not recommend going on your first safari with an unknown outfitter. You must realize there are maybe thousands of outfitter's in RSA all scrambling for the US dollar. Do your research and ask for references who have hunted Africa multiple times with multiple outfitters. Anything else has no value.
Have fun planning and watch my safari planning videos here and on my YouTube.

 

[ADSstecky]

Please check out Blaauwkrantz Safaris. 110,000 privately owned acres. The Rudman/Dixie families are warm and welcoming. Plenty of activities for your wife: shopping in Port Elizabeth, Addo Elephant preserve, Scotia, etc.
Several affordable hunting packages for you to choose from. The PH’s and trackers are all wonderful with years of experience. It will be a trip of a lifetime.

 

[CAustin]

Hey guys, I’m from Louisiana and met a couple safaris at the Louisiana outdoor expo! One was Limcroma and the other Mount Carmel. I have been super overwhelmed doing research. There’s tons of great reviews for Limcroma, but they are more expensive and with one less animal then the quote I received from Mount Carmel. The kicker is this will be a trip for me and my wive’s one year anniversary. So I want it to be nice and comfortable and enjoyable for her. She probably won’t hunt any, but would like to tag along with me some, but I would want there to be stuff for her to do when she didn’t come. I know Limcroma has a lot to offer. I’d like to even take a day to go see some lions or to the facilities that have some baby animals. Any advice, recommendations, and anyone with and reviews won these places would be greatly appreciated! I’m just a Louisiana boy who has only ever hunted the US, but always dreamed of killing a big kudu, sable, gensbok, and zebra! We are newly weds, who just bought a house so we do have to keep budget in mind!

Welcome to AH. If I can answer any questions for you just send me a private message here on the site. Glad to help anyone when I can.

 

[JG26Irish_2]

Good luck with your Safari planning. Be sure to enjoy the process of learning, planning, practicing with your selected weapons, etc. I am not familiar with Limcroma but I know Limpopo and it is a little slice of Paradise. It is a great place for a first Safari. I did my 1st safari there and loved it and am returning to go again with the same outfitter (RDB Safaris). There are many excellent outfitters in that region but the daunting task is sifting thru all of them to find a good one. My advice is to not choose based on price along. Prices are competitive and I would choose a location that owns some or most of its concessions and where the PH is also the outfitter. I hunted Northeast of Limcroma and one additional suggestion is the plan a day to visit one of the five resorts in the Big Five Entabeni Grame Preserve for a photo safari to see the big five that you may not be hunting. They offer also golf, spas, fine dining, etc at some of the five locations. It is a great break from bouncing around in a Land Cruiser all day hunting.

If you desire a more rustic experience, then Botswana might be the answer but that would not be as much fun for a non-hunting spouse.

 

[Tanner Lee]

Welcome to AH

 

[Mekaniks]

 

[Andrew62]

One of the great advantages of being a member of this site is all of the free information you get from others who post 'hunt reports'. I've taken a lot of African hunts, and for me personally, I agree with @Philip Glass, I would not take a hunt with an outfit someone on here cannot verify is a quality place to hunt. No one likes a bargain more than me, but when spending the amount of money you'll spend to take 2 people to Africa, saving 10% by going with an unknown outfitter is not worth the gamble.

 

[Hunt anything]

Since you mentioned a budget I would research going to the Eastern Cape, for the most part outfitters in Limpopo charge a little more than the ones in the Eastern Cape . That being said I’ve heard a lot of good things about Limcroma.
If you do look into the EC take a look at @GAME 4 AFRICA SAFARIS they are super people and will make your wife feel right at home as they did mine. I’ve also talked to the people at Blaauwkrantz as @ADSstecky pointed out they seem like genuine good people as well.

 

[Muskox]

Go to Namibia, Zambia or Botswana.

 

[Trentmullikin]

I've only been on two safaris my advice on the two I've been on is like anything else you get what you pay for.

 

[Muskox]

You will go to Africa a lot, just go have a good time and don't worry about the nickel and dime.

 

[375er]

Welcome! There is a wealth of information here. Talk to A LOT of people and ask A LOT of questions. As others have said price alone means nothing. Decide what you want from the experience and start from there. Trying to save a few bucks here or there can end up costing you in the end. Enjoy! You are about to embark on one of the few great adventures remaining.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Welcome to AH Dylancadby23!

 

[Velo Dog]

Greetings Dylancadby23,

Khomas Highland Hunting and Fishing Safaris of Namibia, welcomes you to the greatest forum on earth.

Limcroma Safari Coompany has a very good reputation however, I am not familiar with Mount Carmel Safari Company.

Whichever one you settle with, I am looking forward to your hunt report and especially any photos you might want to post.

You mentioned Kudu, gemsbok, zebra and sable.
Those species are semi-common, to sometimes actually plentiful in many African countries where hunting is part of the culture.

Regarding your wife accompanying you to Africa, if she likes to travel and has a curious mindset, I predict that she will enjoy it very much.
My wife surely does love Africa, particularly coastal Namibia and the Caprivi area, (more specifically, the Okavango River, there within the Caprivi Strip).
She does not shoot critters herself but, she enjoys stalking game animals right along with me.

As I prepare to fire a shot into whatever species each time, she just looks away until the animal has been taken.
And then she likes to join in the photo portion of that happy event.

That said, she indeed loves fishing, actually more than I do, if that’s even possible.
Last but not least, she enjoys shopping for souvenirs, especially wood carvings.
I enjoy that as well and so, it is one more activity that you and your wife might do together, while in whichever country/s you end up visiting.

Best Regards,
Mr. & Mrs. Velo Dog.

 

[Nyati]