Africa Trip - general pointers from folk in the know?

[wildfowler.250]

On our last adventure, my mate's .275 never made it through customs - he was lucky it was still there on the way back out.

Wee bit annoying as we were 'half-gunning' with it.

We used the camp's .416 and 7mm - we survived.

Fortunately, the other two lad's rifles made it through, (both beautiful doubles) but yes, it is a bloody mare.

Yeah I don’t need that aggro!

The Icelandic Reindeer hunting seems to be aligned with not using your own rifle.

Lost me on that one! But maybe an alternative trip option..

I agree with most of the comments that our forum members have stated above. My take on your proposals are as follows :- I am on my third wife, forget the wedding, its a lot of money on one day of your life that you will try to forget in the future. Go to Africa. It is everything and much much more. It will cost £250 to take your rifle. Take it whatever you do. If you were to miss an opportunity because of an unfamiliar rifle you will never forget it. Trophies are expensive and take a year to turn up. Take photo's instead, have them blown up to picture size and decorate the man cave with them. I have hunted in a reserve of 35,000 acres, and although fenced round the perimeter it always felt a fair chase. You may go a couple of days without a shot, which is why it is called "hunting".

The quoted prices for Nyala and Kudu seem very high. I read that you have a "shopping list" of animals to shoot. It does not work like that, unless you do an American (drive to a two acre paddock with an old beast standing under a tree by a tub of food). Wildebeest are wonderful, but Zebra are far more wary than them and much harder to shoot. Do not get hung up on "I must shoot one of these". Hunt what is there in front of you and enjoy the entire experience. Make sure of the temperature when you intend to go, it gets really really hot. Lastly, go to Africa.

Thanks! Totally agree that it’s a hunt and not a list of species. That’s just a couple of things I’d like to try for. I did think the Kudu proce was high but then it got into eastern cape vs souther greater and the prices and sizes seem different?
£250 to take a rifle is reasonable as long as it doesn’t get stuck in the airport..
Interesting to know zebra are difficult

Also worth looking at Africa Hunting forums !

Thanks, on them!

Your second paragraph is interesting. I only went once and I am now going again for the sixth time. I only know 2 people who only went once and that was because they didnt have a positive experience. Africa will get in your blood and you will never stop thinking about it untill you return .
Tusker

Possibly Tusker, It’ll be a mix of funds and other places to see.. Mind you, I said I’d only go for a day on the stags once and that’s been 3 years straight now.

I know we are all different. I know that.

However.

That is the maddest thing I have ever read (and there are some regulars on this site {you know who they are} who would run you a close second).

If I had the option of another trip to Africa, or paying for the Grandchildren's University fees, I would fall back on that excellent advice from Lord Kitchener...


View attachment 338515

They get sent to Catterick,


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and I get sent to Safari.


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Hah. Well I’m hoping to do it once properly and if I get back, that’s a bonus.

I 100% agree with this.

My wife and I went on a one off last year. We went back (to another part of Africa) this year. Due to the cost, we will not go again for several years but it gets under your skin and you will end up going back. The only people I know who have not gone back have been banned by their wives, one wife went and hated it, the other refuses to go or let her husband go.

I am sure there are some wives in the same position as well, whose husbands will not let them go. I met a lady last month who’s husband stayed in camp reading whilst she hunted.

Well it’s good to know you enjoyed it!

I was not sure about a Zebra either until I tried to stalk one. It is really challenging, unless you are shooting at a water hole. They are so alert, although probably only as much as red deer here

Good to know!

There is NO stigma, you would be doing it for YOU and not for any other ****.

err they be `orns eh wot!

nor would she ever dream of trying to stop me.... she is def a keeper!

Geez I find it very hard to swallow how blokes are beaten into submission by their wives on these matters. Let her have the new dresses whilst we are winging to the hunt!

​

Appreciate that. I just need to be a bit more like that

My other thoughts from my limited experience- hunting in Namibia and Mozambique and visiting a hunting camp owned by a friend in South Africa is that:

1. Properly wild hunting in somewhere like Mozambique is amazing but comes with a significant cost - higher running costs equals higher rates and much greater difficulty in getting there

2. There is nothing wrong with big, well-run fenced areas. I have hunted in one in Namibia, approx 30,000 acres behind a fence.

3. I would not hunt in a lot of fenced areas, particularly smaller ones that are reliant on introduced game and not natural replacement.

4. I would 100% choose Namibia over South Africa. Namibia is safe, friendly, clean, very easy to get to and to drive when you are there - better than UK roads in my experience and there is no more racial tension or corruption than in the UK. Also a varied country with mountains, desert and savannah. If it wasn’t for our work in the UK, my wife and I would move there.

That’s interesting about Namibia. I agree particularly with the latter of point 3 and its something I’ve been asking a lot about.

Zebra are a good hunt, they taste nice and make a good rug for the living room

Good to know! Particularly the meat. Don’t want to shoot something just for a hide. Would be good to try some.

Agree with first and last point. Have to differ on the middle point. That yellow fat is vile and taints the meat. Are you sure you aren't confusing it with Eland

S

Might have to try and find out then!

 

[wildfowler.250]

Plenty of impala and springbok in Namibia.
If you don't eat what you shoot I can assure you it will all be eaten by the camp staff and locals !
I have spent a fortune on taxidermy and freight in the past and over the years I have sold nearly all my trophies.
Photographs now.
If you bring any meat, biltong , game products back to the UK it will be taken off you at immigration and result in a fine or worse.
However Africa is addictive. I went this year on my third last safari !

Must be Nyala they didn’t have then which was one of the main ones I was considering going for. But I could be tempted to scrap it for eg gemsbok if namibia was night and day.
I’m sure the meat wouldn’t go to waste. Would just be nice to at least try a bit of everything hunted I suppose.
Thanks!

 

[Stalker62]

I’ve got dip and pack prices but where or who do you find out costs for import/export/taxes/handling?

Your PH/Outfitter will have their 'preferred' contacts for all aspects of these transactions. They will (as with PH/Outfitters - vary in quality).

Here is a fun fact about "Dip & Pack".

Any Vet/official in the process, who finds anything less than a 100% quality job, will reject the item and back it goes to the originator - you will be charged for its postage, handling, taxes etc and then you are back to square one.





I am going to stick my neck out. If you get to Africa, if you shoot your animal, you will never bring it back to the UK - it simply is not worth the agg. or the eye-watering expense.

Trust me on this. I know...

 

[wildfowler.250]

Cheers folks. I’ve tried to reply to everything but apologies if I’ve missed something out.

If anyone can shed light on numbers or who I need to ask for quotes between hides leaving Dip and Pack and arriving to the UK taxidermist that would be amazing.

I can get a shipping quote from Dip and pack that I’ve been put in touch with but where do I find out about these inspections and taxes?


Thanks!

 

[finnbear270]

The Icelandic Reindeer hunting seems to be aligned with not using your own rifle.

Lost me on that one! But maybe an alternative trip option..
Expense.

 

[artschool]

Cheers folks. I’ve tried to reply to everything but apologies if I’ve missed something out.

If anyone can shed light on numbers or who I need to ask for quotes between hides leaving Dip and Pack and arriving to the UK taxidermist that would be amazing.

I can get a shipping quote from Dip and pack that I’ve been put in touch with but where do I find out about these inspections and taxes?


Thanks!

I have previous quote for taxidermy in SA and shipping quotes to the UK.

 

[Tazz]

Thanks! I’ve been on there a few times. Just keen to find some prices from UK guys. Seems to be things hidden that crop up such as airport inspections.



Thanks Tazz. This is the problem as I have no real way of finding out these numbers? I was going to Dip and pack over there because 1 ) it keeps shipping cheaper? 2) any issues, at least the taxidermist here can sort it 3) I can mount things gradually.
Any idea how I can get rough costings from between dip and pack to home?



I think id leave my rifle. Just one thing too many!



I can look at Namib and see what they offer.
Any ideas how to crack break down these shipping costs into quotes?


Thanks Tusker. I’ve come to terms with fenced as long as the area is big! But obviously would prefer free range completely.


I can’t say I know much about Zim. I would have thought SA was the best bet as far as ease of getting to / better hospitals? More options?
But admittedly limited on free range


Can totally get that. I like familiarity

I don’t have any experience of Dip and Pack I have only ever used full Taxidermy service which as I put in earlier post will be 2+ times whatever the initial Taxidermy bill will be by the time you actually get then to your door at home, one of my bills was just over £5K for a number of European skull mounts plus a number of pelts. Google the area you are going in SA and it will bring up Taxidermy outfits most post a “Menu” of prices, they may also give you a “ballpark” figure on Dip and Pack if they offer that service

 

[Namman]

Must be Nyala they didn’t have then which was one of the main ones I was considering going for. But I could be tempted to scrap it for eg gemsbok if namibia was night and day.
I’m sure the meat wouldn’t go to waste. Would just be nice to at least try a bit of everything hunted I suppose.
Thanks!

If you go to Namibia you sre sure to be able to try a taste of oryx .
It's the best.
You are making me think about going again !!!

 

[wildfowler.250]

Lost me on that one! But maybe an alternative trip option..
Expense.

Yep. I’d looked at Norway and it’s £££. Similar for Alaska. Feel at least Alaska you’ve got completely different scenery and can add in some extra tags

I have previous quote for taxidermy in SA and shipping quotes to the UK.

Thanks!

I don’t have any experience of Dip and Pack I have only ever used full Taxidermy service which as I put in earlier post will be 2+ times whatever the initial Taxidermy bill will be by the time you actually get then to your door at home, one of my bills was just over £5K for a number of European skull mounts plus a number of pelts. Google the area you are going in SA and it will bring up Taxidermy outfits most post a “Menu” of prices, they may also give you a “ballpark” figure on Dip and Pack if they offer that service

Thanks! £5k seems steep for skulls and hides but at least it’s a figure to work with.

If you go to Namibia you sre sure to be able to try a taste of oryx .
It's the best.
You are making me think about going again !!!

That would be a plus. I certainly don’t know much about Namibia but it’s an option.



Folks is there any option as far as shipping back via boat vs air freight? Does 1 keep the costs significantly lower? I imagine cargo boat is slower but we’re talking a year plus anyway. Or is it more likely capes will get wet / damaged?

 

[sh1kar]

Cheers folks. I’ve tried to reply to everything but apologies if I’ve missed something out.

If anyone can shed light on numbers or who I need to ask for quotes between hides leaving Dip and Pack and arriving to the UK taxidermist that would be amazing.

I can get a shipping quote from Dip and pack that I’ve been put in touch with but where do I find out about these inspections and taxes?


Thanks!

I would check you can still get trophies in despite the legality. I think Martin at Quest freight stopped taking them in a couple of years ago and not sure who alternatives are - might be worth callimh him first before you go mad shooting stuff thinking you can get it back

S

 

[sh1kar]

Yep. I’d looked at Norway and it’s £££. Similar for Alaska. Feel at least Alaska you’ve got completely different scenery and can add in some extra tags

Thanks!

Thanks! £5k seems steep for skulls and hides but at least it’s a figure to work with.


That would be a plus. I certainly don’t know much about Namibia but it’s an option.



Folks is there any option as far as shipping back via boat vs air freight? Does 1 keep the costs significantly lower? I imagine cargo boat is slower but we’re talking a year plus anyway. Or is it more likely capes will get wet / damaged?

it will be a year before ether even get shipped!

 

[doric_prince]

Not sure about South Africa region- but I recently imported a shoulder mount ibex from Madrid. Taxidermy out there was c£750, shipping airfreight plus export papers tax and import fees and handling came to c£1250- all in over £2k. This was for a smallish create maybe 12x 20x 18” (horn’s detached ) and 35kgs gross.

The only uk importer I could find was quest, who deal only in air freight- hence the costs. Just be aware of shipping options before getting you trophy shopping list out, would be my advice.

there appears to be limited importers willing to handle trophies now, in the wake of public views changing on this activity post Cecil lion debacle, and a few uk ports set up to deal with the paper work required which will include vet certificates for tb etc.

 

[Hanechdene]

cost to fly back various skull mounts including buff, kudu and so on was around £1k for packing, vet fees, customs, transport, handling and so on in early 2020. This excludes taxidermy costs….

I still have a Nyala to bring back at some point……

As mentioned, there is extremely toxic and addictive drug in the dark continent and once in your blood draws back year on year!

SAP can be a challenge in Jo’burg but if you prepare and organise your paperwork it’s not too bad especially if you avoid the main hunting times. If you need a hand with the paperwork, please drop me a PM.

Enjoy trip!

 

[Tazz]

I would check you can still get trophies in despite the legality. I think Martin at Quest freight stopped taking them in a couple of years ago and not sure who alternatives are - might be worth callimh him first before you go mad shooting stuff thinking you can get it back

S

Very very unlikely that the average hunter going plains game hunting would hunt a “Trophy” that would be listed by the CITES regs and therefore fall in to the ban list of endangered animals

 

[shotguntom]

I think the reason you are struggling to get a figure on getting stuff back is that it has shot up massively in cost the last few years and there are a lot of variables. However, the general consensus you see is to budget the cost of the safari again to get heads back. Also be prepared it will have been poorly treated / handled or damaged long the way. I would take the advice and shoot a few more animals while you are there rather than bring anything back.

 

[Sol]

If the price is sensible for dipping and shipping take all your skins from every animal you shoot they'll resell in the UK to taxidermists for a nice amount.

I feel like many here may have a skewed perception of the shipping regarding taxidermy, given your looking at wanting to only ship skulls and capes back (too then be mounted) create, weight etc Is going to be drastically smaller and lighter.

If you contact your outfitter I'm positive they would give you a rough ball park.

 

[Stalker62]

If the price is sensible for dipping and shipping take all your skins from every animal you shoot they'll resell in the UK to taxidermists for a nice amount.

I feel like many here may have a skewed perception of the shipping regarding taxidermy…

May I ask; on what experience do you base your observations?

 

[Jon P]

If the price is sensible for dipping and shipping take all your skins from every animal you shoot they'll resell in the UK to taxidermists for a nice amount.

I feel like many here may have a skewed perception of the shipping regarding taxidermy, given your looking at wanting to only ship skulls and capes back (too then be mounted) create, weight etc Is going to be drastically smaller and lighter.

If you contact your outfitter I'm positive they would give you a rough ball park.

The weight of a skull mount is the same as a shoulder mounted piece as a rule. The weight is in the horn of African animals. Have never dipped and shipped , but have brought in completed taxidermy from SA.

 

[sh1kar]

Very very unlikely that the average hunter going plains game hunting would hunt a “Trophy” that would be listed by the CITES regs and therefore fall in to the ban list of endangered animals

My point is Rainbow, latterly Quest were probably the biggest single importer of trophies in the uk. As far as I know they packed in that part of their business about 4-5 years ago

 

[Tim.243]

Personally I would just go and enjoy the experience as what you are trying to plan in a 1st world country will not fit in Africa and their way pace and life. As a few have said you might get the bug then what you have learnt on your first trip put to good use. The seasoned African hunting SD members get spanners in the works and they have been many times as things are out of your control.
Yes I have been twice to SA then driven to Mozambique for diving but did get out with a rifle in SA.
I have been picked up at JB Airport told by the chap he is not going to Moz then had to fly to Maputo and catch a bus for 7 hrs with dive bags 2k of camera kit
Had to take the G wagon from the Nth down to Pretoria as the others were dropped off at their church mission and so I had to get them.

Dots and I's are a different language in Africa..............................................................