Which Country

jcnelsn1

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Looking at a first Africa safari. We would be interested in targeting a wide range of plains game with the opportunity to take a couple of the “marquee” plains game species (e.g., Kudu, Eland, Gemsbok, Sable, etc). My research is generally indicating Namibia or South Africa for a first safari. Seems like a lot of the rationale for that is cost and ease of getting there.

If cost and logistics were not an object which country would you pick for the best plains game hunting experience (e.g. lots of animals and species, good trophy quality, excellent lodging and African experience)? I understand the size of many fenced concessions etc but free range would be an added bonus. Not a deal killer.
 
Yep your research is spot on if you are looking for these animals. In SA most likely it will be high fence to find all those together and same for Namibia if you are throwing the sable in there. There are plenty of high fence places that still require hunting. Don't let that deter you. The fancier, high volume places you are going to run across usually means they are artificially stocking the farms which normally, not always, results in "easier" hunts. Good luck in your quest. AH is a great place to start.
 
I recently returned from a hunt of which pretty much everything was there and were able to cross at will from Botswana in the limpopo province of South africa. Hunted mountains of a low fenced cattle operation as well in same province. Very rewarding
 
Welcome to AH. You are spot on with RSA and Namibia. Look for larger properties and preferably where you don’t have to much or any traveling to hunt a variety of species.
There is already a lot of info on hunts on this site. Read a lot of the hunt reports on here and then contact the outfitters that sound conducive to what you’re trying to do. Do your homework. Contact references and go have fun.
 
Good luck planning your hunt
I say RSA would offer biggest variety and lots of outfitters on here will offer great packages
Look for ones with big property so u should not have too much driving to other areas

Regards
 
For those, RSA and Namibia would be the easiest and most inexpensive choices. Depending on when you are leaving RSA might be easier to enter depending on Covid restrictions with flights. The Northern Cape has some huge farms but it's not the easy drive from JNB like Limpopo.
 
Welcome to AH. You will find a bunch of information here. If you have any questions on Namibia feel free to ask.
 
Appreciate all the responses so far. Let me rephrase my question slightly. Is it worth it for a first time plains game hunt to go somewhere like Tanzania or Mozambique over the more typical Namibia or South Africa trip? Putting aside cost and logistics does anyone think the hunting or hunting experience is “better” somewhere other than Namibia or South Africa?
 
Excellent question, @jcnelsn1
I look forward to hearing from those with a lot more experience than myself.
 
Appreciate all the responses so far. Let me rephrase my question slightly. Is it worth it for a first time plains game hunt to go somewhere like Tanzania or Mozambique over the more typical Namibia or South Africa trip? Putting aside cost and logistics does anyone think the hunting or hunting experience is “better” somewhere other than Namibia or South Africa?
You are comparing apple to oranges ( [High & low] fenced /no fence). Tanzania is expensive (both license fee and daily rates), even for Plains Game. Mozambique is less expensive. But with what going on Mozambique, you will want to charter flights to anywhere you go in Mozambique and that's not cheap.
 
Thanks. I understand Tanzania is much more expensive and my understanding it typically is dangerous game or more advanced safari. I am trying to get the sense of whether you get what you pay for and would get better hunting or hunting experience in Tanzania. If you won the powerball and could go anywhere for plains game hunting (cost be damned) where would people go.
 
Welcome to AH! I booked My first safari to Namibia (2022). Lots of reasons behind that decision.
 
Looking at a first Africa safari. We would be interested in targeting a wide range of plains game with the opportunity to take a couple of the “marquee” plains game species (e.g., Kudu, Eland, Gemsbok, Sable, etc). My research is generally indicating Namibia or South Africa for a first safari. Seems like a lot of the rationale for that is cost and ease of getting there.

If cost and logistics were not an object which country would you pick for the best plains game hunting experience (e.g. lots of animals and species, good trophy quality, excellent lodging and African experience)? I understand the size of many fenced concessions etc but free range would be an added bonus. Not a deal killer.

As you say..eg...lots of animals and species....yeah SA ..Botswana or Namibia should do it for you..can be guaranteed ........for lots of plains game other countries wil probably not give you the same selection...enjoy...try here or zim....or come here for your second hunt...and realise what you missed first time...cheers
 
What @spike.t said.

"Wide range of species" - RSA. It is the most developed game farm industry in Southern Africa.

Specific species - figure out your list and start comparing the facts that matter to you.

Experience - This will be where you need to read hunting reports and look at what your fellow hunters have done.
 
Thanks. I understand Tanzania is much more expensive and my understanding it typically is dangerous game or more advanced safari. I am trying to get the sense of whether you get what you pay for and would get better hunting or hunting experience in Tanzania. If you won the powerball and could go anywhere for plains game hunting (cost be damned) where would people go.
If cost were not an option, my hunt would not be behind a fence in South Africa. That is not meant to be critical of the game farm experience or the South African model. They are great places for one stop shopping for everything on a list. On the larger game ranches, the hunt can indeed be challenging. I had a very satisfying hunt in the Limpopo a couple of years ago.

However, they can also be about through-put of clients, and many are adopting the European model of charging extra by the inch for glamour species. You need to do your research and ask direct questions.

What has proven important to me, is hunting indigenous species in the environment where they have traditionally existed for thousands of years. Such destinations do not have to be in a wilderness area. For instance, you can book a hunt in Namibia or the Eastern Cape where you may see low cattle fences, but these do not generally hinder game movement any more than they do on a ranch in the US. Those ranches, tribal areas, and conservancies in those countries offer opportunities for an array of species that would be high on anyone's list (i.e. oryx, kudu, eland, etc.) Moreover, you will also have a PH trying to get you the best representative species he can find in the time allotted.

I have been to the Zambezi Delta of coastal Mozambique twice (still an absolutely safe destination) where buffalo was the primary target, but also a location where I could hunt sable and nyala in their free-range natural environment. When buffalo is included in such a hunt, total costs are not so very different than a game ranch. My two sable from there didn't reach forty-inches, but they lived unhindered in their natural environment.

I just returned from Zambia, which has been a destination for sable for a century and took the most magnificent animal I may have ever hunted (thank you @spike.t Mike Taylor and Takeri!) That said, I could have gone to a game ranch in South Africa, and perhaps shot a larger one that was the product of selective breeding and supplemental feeding. That too is fine for the many hunters who have taken great sable or red lechwe or nyala from those farms. But not something I have been interested in doing.

You can compare it a bit to a free range deer hunt in the Big Bend of Texas where you work hard and bring home a 170 class whitetail that is biggest thing you have ever seen. Or you can go to a game ranch in the Hill country, look over dozens of bucks, and decorate the trophy room with the biggest animal you can afford. To be fair most game on a South African game farms are not managed that way for the more common plains game. But ever more of the glamour species are.

If important to you, like it was me, then I would book a free range hunt in either Namibia or the Eastern Cape - there are several other areas of South Africa that can offer the same. Hunt those indigenous species (which will include kudu), and then decide how you want to send your time hunting Africa in the future.
 
Last edited:
What @spike.t said.

"Wide range of species" - RSA. It is the most developed game farm industry in Southern Africa.

Specific species - figure out your list and start comparing the facts that matter to you.

Experience - This will be where you need to read hunting reports and look at what your fellow hunters have done.
Beat me to it, +1
 
Your first African experience is intensely exciting and a special adventure subsequent African hunts never quite repeat. If you can dig up the cash go to Tanzania for a real tented safari like Hemingway. and Ruark, Wild game prowling camp outside your canvas at night. A true safari. Please understand I am not putting down other African adventures they are all wonderful. I have hunted all over Africa for decades and love all my experiences. If you like the hunting experience as well as killing game you will not regret it. It is frightfully expensive compared to South Africa which is also a great hunt you will not regret.
 
It's all good! Dip your toe in first to test the waters and then go for it. I've hunted Nam, Zim and RSA and had great hunts and what I like to refer to as "good value" in all three countries. Finding a good outfitter and hunting large properties are key. Lots here on AH, read some hunt reports and ask questions.
 
Here is my hunt report on Tanzania. Had a great hunt with LOTS of animals and no fences. I also would love to hunt Uganda. Some great hunting there too. I had a great hunt in Zambia a couple years ago. Lots of great places. Money no object do Tanzania or Uganda.
Bruce
 

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