Ranch hunts, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia or South Africa

[Muskox]

This is kind of a what to have for dinner question so forgive me.

I have not been to Africa to hunt in a long time. Over 20 years at least. Last time I went I was single in my 20's and I thought I would go every year. Now I am in my 50's and a grandfather, and married and have more kids at home.

Some considerations:

1. I have hunted a ton all over the USA and in Europe.

2. My budget door to door is about $12-15,000. Not including the trophy shipment and clearance and taxidermy.

3. I don't really know what I want.

4. I have killed 24 African animals. Springbok, oryx, kudu, Mt Zebra, baboon, blesbok, steenbok, red hartebeest including multiples of each.

5. This will be the first trip back in a long time. I will most likely go in 2027 and then every year or every other year after that for the next 15 years.

6. I must have 24 hour electricity unless I can figure out a new battery CPAP.

7. I am more of a shooter than a collector.

8. We are moving back to the USA this year, and I won't be hunting outside of the west this year. I have a ton of points I am going to cash in for American hunts after living abroad. Wyoming, Arizona, Utah among others.

9. I have noticed air fare from Salt Lake City is kind of a wash on Kayak between the 5 options. $2000-2800.

10. I have noticed that trophy fees and daily rates vary wildly more from property to property than anything else.

For Namibia I hunted in the Khomas and Kalahari last time. I'd be happy with that again.

I'd also be happy hunting things that I have not taken before.

I am on the fence about a cat hunt, or hyena or buffalo. I think that will blow a lot of budget that I'd be happier shooting more animals with.

I am sure there will be some culling where available.

My trophy export would look like 10-15 skulls and 1-3 zebra skins felted.

What do you think?

I understand that hogs and monkeys require more money thrown at them during the export for diseases.

My last safari shipment disappeared. I paid for it, and it never came in. I think the cool kids call in ghosting.

Huntershill in South Africa is interesting as they have the sambar and rusa deer that I never got in Australia, plus lechwe.

Namibia is interesting as I'd be happy with some kind of version of my hunt in the Khomas in the mountains.

I think Zambia will be expensive enough that I don't get in a lot of shooting.

Botswana I am looking at the Kalahari and SE.

Zimbabwe I am looking at ranch hunts.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Your stated budget is $12-15k door to door, minus taxidermy and transport. To me this means your budget is $8-12k for day rates + trophy fees and gives you $3-4k for Airfare + Tip.

You’ll need to triple your door to door budget to even consider a cat hunt. You can likely find a buffalo hunt in this price range but that’s not leaving a lot of money for additional shooting. Both Zim and Zambia will be costlier on day rates.

Unless you’re doing a cull hunt, you’re not getting 10-15 skulls and 3 Zebra Flat Skins on an $8-12k budget including your day rates. If you do, it’s a highly commercialized put & take operation that’s selling the meat to offset costs or you’re shooting a bunch of Impala/blesbok type game.

Knowing you’re a shooter not a collector, I’d suggest something like Botswana, maybe the Eastern Cape with someone like Crusader, or another trip to Namibia with zero goal or agenda and take what the bush gives you. Ask about culls but realize you’re capped on how many of the same species you can import on a single shipment.

 

[ADSstecky]

This is kind of a what to have for dinner question so forgive me.

I have not been to Africa to hunt in a long time. Over 20 years at least. Last time I went I was single in my 20's and I thought I would go every year. Now I am in my 50's and a grandfather, and married and have more kids at home.

Some considerations:

1. I have hunted a ton all over the USA and in Europe.

2. My budget door to door is about $12-15,000. Not including the trophy shipment and clearance and taxidermy.

3. I don't really know what I want.

4. I have killed 24 African animals. Springbok, oryx, kudu, Mt Zebra, baboon, blesbok, steenbok, red hartebeest including multiples of each.

5. This will be the first trip back in a long time. I will most likely go in 2027 and then every year or every other year after that for the next 15 years.

6. I must have 24 hour electricity unless I can figure out a new battery CPAP.

7. I am more of a shooter than a collector.

8. We are moving back to the USA this year, and I won't be hunting outside of the west this year. I have a ton of points I am going to cash in for American hunts after living abroad. Wyoming, Arizona, Utah among others.

9. I have noticed air fare from Salt Lake City is kind of a wash on Kayak between the 5 options. $2000-2800.

10. I have noticed that trophy fees and daily rates vary wildly more from property to property than anything else.

For Namibia I hunted in the Khomas and Kalahari last time. I'd be happy with that again.

I'd also be happy hunting things that I have not taken before.

I am on the fence about a cat hunt, or hyena or buffalo. I think that will blow a lot of budget that I'd be happier shooting more animals with.

I am sure there will be some culling where available.

My trophy export would look like 10-15 skulls and 1-3 zebra skins felted.

What do you think?

I understand that hogs and monkeys require more money thrown at them during the export for diseases.

My last safari shipment disappeared. I paid for it, and it never came in. I think the cool kids call in ghosting.

Huntershill in South Africa is interesting as they have the sambar and rusa deer that I never got in Australia, plus lechwe.

Namibia is interesting as I'd be happy with some kind of version of my hunt in the Khomas in the mountains.

I think Zambia will be expensive enough that I don't get in a lot of shooting.

Botswana I am looking at the Kalahari and SE.

Zimbabwe I am looking at ranch hunts.

Suggest you employ the KISS strategy....Keep It Simple Stupid. If you check out Blaauwkrantz in South Africa you will see they check all your boxes. Forty+ huntible species, 110,000 privately owned acres, affordable packages, wonderful lodges, experienced PH's and trackers.
After perusing the website if you are interested give Zani a call. She can put a package together that will make you happy.

 

[SETH RINGER]

YOU MUST HAVE A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL TO KNOW YOU GOT 15 MORE YEARS TO HUNT.
1ST. SOUTH AFRICA, CAPE BUFF AND CULL HUNT, FIGURE OUT THE NEXT HUNT RIGHT AFTER THAT ONE.

 

[Firebird]

I did a pkg hunt with buffalo and kudu as the main course then added a dozen animals and one day to the hunt and was within your price range. I also flew delta out of slc but upgraded seating to nearly $5k. Power and internet in my own chalet and lots of diversity among habitat and species. The pacific island species you seek were not there. I have a report and a video on here if you want more information you could check them out-

 

[375Fox]

With that budget and trophy quantity expectation the only country you’ll be looking at is South Africa.