Recommend a safari outfitter?

[wildfowler.250]

So I was wanting to pick the brains of folk on here of who is best to book a safari with? I've been looking into this for years and am almost at the stage of saying "stuff it" and just getting it booked.

Do most folk go for package deals? I've got a rough idea of what I want:kudu, Impala, zebra,(is that weird?) and possibly something else . Generally these deals never seem to tick all the boxes.

I would probably get the taxidermy done here. Am I correct in saying your about the same again to get the animal to the uk as you are to shoot it even if it's just caped,(or packed).

Also I've seen videos of folk using a .270 to good effect but am I realistically going to need something bigger? I'm good to about 250 yards but I feel like practicing beyond this would be essential too?


so many variables but I'd like to try and get the ball rolling. Realistically I'd like to have whatever I shot shoulder mounted or on a pedestal because a bleached skull doesn't quite do it for me. Costs will be the biggest issue. The trophy prices on paper seem okay but I imagine everything doubles of not triples by the time it gets to your wall.


cheers!

 

[shotguntom]

Bos En Dal safaris and Wild Horizon both Advertise on here and Ive only heard good reviews about them both. I would contact them. Knowing from experience however, packages are never fixed and you can always create your own to suit your taste and budget. A couple of trophies and a few culls is what I did and will be doing next May.

I took my .270 and had no issues at all. Its all about placement and using something your comfortable with.

If you just have capes and skulls dip and packed back to this country then no, it won't be as expensive as the hunt but worth researching who to use and costs before hand. If you get then shipped back to this country you can have them mounted as and when the funds are available.

You should expect shooting distances between 50-200 yards, much like the UK, if you can get closer then do.

Feel free to drop a PM for more info. I would also advise doing research into where you might want to go, terrain varies all over SA.

 

[PeteL1]

Take a look at:
shakariconnection.com
Lots of info you might find useful.
Peter

 

[goathunter1]

Wildfowler, there are a squillion outfitters in Africa, but Bos en dal, on here (along with others) do a damn good job.
Plenty guys on here been plenty places so no doubt by the end you'll have a good list to look through.
Bos en dal do a good job.

 

[Wrens Mews]

If you want to go with an English PH (he is very good) then I can put you in touch with a good guy

 

[A Guy Out West]

What ever you do, keep in mind that safari prices are negotiable. Look for a real cancellation hunt, one that someone booked but backed out of. At the very least, tell the guy you will book with him if he throws in a partial day of baboon shooting. Package hunts can be a very good deal, you just have to shop it. I have not hunted with him but Jewels of the Karoo looks like a pretty good outfit. I like the family run outfits. A .270 with good bullets is fine for everything up to Kudu. Get something bigger for the eland. Shoot where your PH tells you and all will be fine. Good hunting.

Another thing, build a relationship with the PH, bring him stuff he can't get there, send him a Christmas card. You may make a friend and you just might be surprised one day.

 

[levigsp]

I would recommend umlilio safaris, they are very good at what they do in every way.

 

[BruinO]

What ever you do, keep in mind that safari prices are negotiable. Look for a real cancellation hunt, one that someone booked but backed out of. At the very least, tell the guy you will book with him if he throws in a partial day of baboon shooting. Package hunts can be a very good deal, you just have to shop it. I have not hunted with him but Jewels of the Karoo looks like a pretty good outfit. I like the family run outfits. A .270 with good bullets is fine for everything up to Kudu. Get something bigger for the eland. Shoot where your PH tells you and all will be fine. Good hunting.

Another thing, build a relationship with the PH, bring him stuff he can't get there, send him a Christmas card. You may make a friend and you just might be surprised one day.

Agreed with A guy out west,(lots of sweets for the back of the truck goes down well too) .270 is fine for Kudu bit you will need something bigger for Zebra IMO, I have shot hartmans and burchells and they are tough animals as are wildebeest.For good bang for your buck and a true Africa experience I recommend Tholo safaris in Botswana as cheap as some of the operations in SA but you hunt with Tswana bushman, some of the best trackers in Africa, hit the kudu rut for a chance of a monster.
Freight is getting really expensive too but I would certainly get the tanning done out there and taxidermy done here especially if you want a pedestal kudu ...they are huge lol

 

[Bushwack]

PM sent.

 

[Bushwack]

So I was wanting to pick the brains of folk on here of who is best to book a safari with? I've been looking into this for years and am almost at the stage of saying "stuff it" and just getting it booked.

Do most folk go for package deals? I've got a rough idea of what I want:kudu, Impala, zebra,(is that weird?) and possibly something else . Generally these deals never seem to tick all the boxes.

I would probably get the taxidermy done here. Am I correct in saying your about the same again to get the animal to the uk as you are to shoot it even if it's just caped,(or packed).

Also I've seen videos of folk using a .270 to good effect but am I realistically going to need something bigger? I'm good to about 250 yards but I feel like practicing beyond this would be essential too?


so many variables but I'd like to try and get the ball rolling. Realistically I'd like to have whatever I shot shoulder mounted or on a pedestal because a bleached skull doesn't quite do it for me. Costs will be the biggest issue. The trophy prices on paper seem okay but I imagine everything doubles of not triples by the time it gets to your wall.


cheers!

Package deals works out much cheaper as from the trophy list because you can negotiate better deals with the concession holders / farmers. It just makes it much more attractive for them...

On your .270 question...I have shot mostly all my animals wit a .270 and it will work on all the species that you have indicated above successfully. Hunting in dense bush like the Limpopo or NW and Mpumalanga Provinces shot taken will be far less than 250 yards and roughly under 100 yards...

Taxidermy can be done in the country where the safari took place with great success and references, but hunters have the choice to dip and pack their stuff to their country of origin to be done there.

 

[Highlandsjohn]

With the advantage of internet search, I certainly would do my due diligence with any company, recommended or not, to make sure all is well.
Before laying out thousands of pounds, no excuse now to get surprises when the information is there for your consideration,contracts etc.....jmho

 

[deerwarden]

What ever you do, keep in mind that safari prices are negotiable. Look for a real cancellation hunt, one that someone booked but backed out of. At the very least, tell the guy you will book with him if he throws in a partial day of baboon shooting. Package hunts can be a very good deal, you just have to shop it. I have not hunted with him but Jewels of the Karoo looks like a pretty good outfit. I like the family run outfits. A .270 with good bullets is fine for everything up to Kudu. Get something bigger for the eland. Shoot where your PH tells you and all will be fine. Good hunting.

Another thing, build a relationship with the PH, bring him stuff he can't get there, send him a Christmas card. You may make a friend and you just might be surprised one day.

That's exactly what has happened with myself and Guy at Wild Horizon, had two trips in Natal that appeared to be good, then three of us lost 8 grand to taxidermist called Supreme Taxidermy, with my trophies Guy Swartz viewed them himself before I paid a penny. Now when I go, which I shall do for the 5th time with Guy next year, I'm treated as a friend, and know there will be no issues at all upon arrival and departure. I too use a 270, but with Barnes 130 TTX's, these really perform well on African game, drill through bone and flesh, and are advertised to give similar penetration to the next weight up of a similar bullet, they are a very accurate bullet in my Sauer 202. To date all my animals have been taken with one bullet, other than a cull wildebeest, he took the bullet, stood for a time, so I sent another insurance shot that was not really needed at all. I do a cull hunt as its much more demanding at times, Africa gets a hold of you and you have to go back. deerwarden

 

[sikamalc]

I am approaching the ripe old age of 60 now. I have hunted Africa 7 times taking Elephant, Buffalo and most of the plains game species.
I worked as a taxidermist in a famous big game museum, holding more trophies than you will ever see from Africa and Asia. Over the years the price has risen for safaris, and many are now behind wire fences. However the price for package safaris has been quite competitive and affordable, especially plains game and there are some great offers on huge fenced areas in SA.

Seek references and ask about before committing. Make sure the area you are hunting is a good size, otherwise you will see the fence in the first hour!

As for taxidermy work I would bring it back home as flat skins and dried skulls. The taxidermy work in SA can be good, depending who you deal with. But don't forget the PH will be on a commission to send your trophies to them. You will need to pay up front for all of the trophies and pay more in freight as the size of the box in the aircraft can be considerable if you are having shoulder mounts done.



Work I have recently completed for a client sent over as dried capes and skulls.

Taxidermy work will always be more expensive over here, but you can have one trophy done at a time and you have someone to refer back too if you are unhappy. Bit difficult if you are thousands of miles away and no hope of seeing an compensation if anything goes wrong?

 

[A Guy Out West]

Since cost is your biggest factor, here is some more advice. Things you have some control over are: airfare, daily rate, and trophy fees. I better add this first, a guide has a right to make a living and provide for his family. However, a hunter has the right to not pay too much. Look for the best airfare price and plan your hunt around the most reasonable flights. Daily rate- are you staying in a posh cottage or are you staying with the family in a back bed room? Are you a boozer? Are you a demanding pain in the neck? Do you have special requirements? All of the above plays into the daily rate. If you can stay in the farm house with the family and hold off on the booze until you get home and are easy to please, then you may be able to have the daily rate discounted. Tell the PH you don't need alcohol or that you will buy your own. Tell him how easy you are to work with (only if you really are). Trophy fees, and this might get a contract put out on me. Search the web for farm property for sale in the area you want to hunt. Many of the listings will tell you how many head of game are on the ranch and how much they are worth!!!!! I have seen some that say something like, 25 springbok at $150 each etc. Another thing you can do is bring some extra cash and make an offer during your hunt. Say something like "I really didn't want to shoot a zebra, but it would be worth it for me to bag one for $650 or $700, or whatever. If you determine the cost of game via the ranch for sale ads, you will be able to make a realistic and intelligent offer. If you think the initial price is a good offer, then take it and be happy. Don't get me wrong, I am not advising you to get into a used car like transaction, I only make the above suggestions so that you get the most for your money. Always remember the PH has a right to make a decent living, just like you do. Let him make a living but get the best value for you money.

 

[Bos en Dal Safaris]

Thank you everyone that recommended us, wildflower i will send you a pm as well. Package deals one can normally negotiate the price and we make them to fit your needs. As the season is almost on its head if you can manage to fit specific dates we will be able to do a deal. Regarding the taxidermy, i think doing just a raw dip and pack is much easier and more cost effective, depending on the cost of your taxidermist back home. I had a few clients saying it is easier and cheaper mounting them this side (people have more experience with african animals) and shipping it back than what it would cost them to get it mounted in England.

Please check your inbox for a message

All the best

 

[john.d.m]

I would like to point something out on here no one else has, when you book your first trip to Africa you MUST remember one most important fact, take the price you are quoted and then throw it out of the window, because over the years you will spend much much more on trips to Africa, as it is addictive . I thought I'd try it once back in 1994 (ish) ended up going at least once a year, usually 2 or three times, up to 2005 when I overcome this addiction, I got married and emigrated to NZ

 

[Asifloveshunting]

So I was wanting to pick the brains of folk on here of who is best to book a safari with? I've been looking into this for years and am almost at the stage of saying "stuff it" and just getting it booked.

Do most folk go for package deals? I've got a rough idea of what I want:kudu, Impala, zebra,(is that weird?) and possibly something else . Generally these deals never seem to tick all the boxes.

I would probably get the taxidermy done here. Am I correct in saying your about the same again to get the animal to the uk as you are to shoot it even if it's just caped,(or packed).

Also I've seen videos of folk using a .270 to good effect but am I realistically going to need something bigger? I'm good to about 250 yards but I feel like practicing beyond this would be essential too?


so many variables but I'd like to try and get the ball rolling. Realistically I'd like to have whatever I shot shoulder mounted or on a pedestal because a bleached skull doesn't quite do it for me. Costs will be the biggest issue. The trophy prices on paper seem okay but I imagine everything doubles of not triples by the time it gets to your wall.


cheers!

I'm going to Umlilo Safaris in 4weeks,

After speaking to people and the owner Francois Dorfling who has been great so far, it seems pretty good..

will let you know how it goes...

 

[levigsp]

I'm going to Umlilo Safaris in 4weeks,

After speaking to people and the owner Francois Dorfling who has been great so far, it seems pretty good..

will let you know how it goes...

I Don't think you will be disappointed, the whole family are nice people. If you like to see good dog work, ask to hunt bush pigs or Serval, a real adrenalin rush.

 

[XYZ]

Don't discount Namibia as a hunting destination. I went last year with my family, I'm going again this year alone and with the family again next year.
Truly stunning and wild. Prices are a little more favourable than SA for hunting and trophies although the flights are a little more expensive.
I took a Kudu, Hartmann's Zebra, Gemsbock, Red Hartebeest and Jackal during my week there as trophies and a Blue Wildebeest for meat.
For a first timer I really couldn't have asked for a better trip.

 

[tusker]

Don't discount Namibia as a hunting destination. I went last year with my family, I'm going again this year alone and with the family again next year.
Truly stunning and wild. Prices are a little more favourable than SA for hunting and trophies although the flights are a little more expensive.
I took a Kudu, Hartmann's Zebra, Gemsbock, Red Hartebeest and Jackal during my week there as trophies and a Blue Wildebeest for meat.
For a first timer I really couldn't have asked for a better trip.

Namibia hands down for me. Flights from Heathrow £630 return. more animals you could possibly imagine. Most trophy prices are one third the cost of S.A. My Hartebeest cost 240 euro.
Tusker