Advice needed for group of three first time safari

[JimP]

Flying into the Eastern Cape would lin Port Elizabeth a hour and a half from Johannesburg. Last trip we used Airlink, if you are using your own firearms there are a couple of hoops to jump through.

For your flights I'll suggest that you at least call Jennifer at Travel Express

 

[Rolly]

Flying into the Eastern Cape would lin Port Elizabeth a hour and a half from Johannesburg. Last trip we used Airlink, if you are using your own firearms there are a couple of hoops to jump through.

For your flights I'll suggest that you at least call Jennifer at Travel Express

I can recommend Nicole Shelton at Gracy Travel International. They have wonderful people for meet and greet. Good gun pass information and assistance and accommodation access if you need it at JBerg. Call 220-698-2611 ext 234. I have no monetary or management interest in Gracy Travel. Just a very satisfied customer from a month ago.

 

[BryceM]

If you are looking for a great hunt in Namibia on a family ranch that will include low fence and no fence area, send me a PM.

I would recommend 3 hunters and 2 PHs. Hunt all together sometimes, split up sometimes. Take what comes. In Namibia this would be eland, kudu, gemsbok, springbok, red hartebeest, Hartman’s zebra, warthog - maybe wildebeest, waterbuck, baboon, and others.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Does Free Range vs High Fence matter to you or your hunting companions? If you're OK hunting HF, how small of a property is too small? Do you care about supplementation of animals? What about put & take? I'm not knocking HF hunting, there are some great HF Operations. You just need to know and understand your limits as well as the parameters that you want, then communicate those to the outfitter/ask them.

As for your questions;
3 Hunters - there are outfitters who could accommodate 3:1 hunting, depending on each persons hunting objectives and the length of the hunt this will determine how feasible it is. Personally I'd suggest a 2:1 and 1:1. You can all switch who's alone and together different days and I'm sure there will be a day or two you could all go 3:1 or 3:2 if you want.

$30k budget is feasible it depends on what your expectations are, how much you plan to taxidermy/ship, class of airfare, and game targeted.

Namibia vs South Africa; that really depends on the outfitter selected, you wants/desires, and the species you wish to target. I too suggest central Namibia, or the eastern cape of South Africa. I also had a great hunt in Limpopo area with @MATTANJA HUNTING SAFARIS

Renting vs Own Guns; I suggest taking your own firearms. The process isn't hard and it gives you some great memories with them.

Target Species; Personally I like to hunt animals where they're endemic and naturally occurring but don't knock anyone for hunting something that's introduced. It's your hunt so enjoy it and hunt what you want/how you want. My suggestion would be targeting 1 or 2 bigger/costlier animal (Kudu, Eland, Nyala, Waterbuck, Bushbuck), 1 or 2 mid-priced animals (Zebra, Wildebeest, Gemsbok, Hartebeest), and 2 to 3 smaller/lower priced animals (Impala, Warthog, Blesbok, Springbok, Duiker, Steenbok, etc). Location will somewhat dictate price on them and sometimes a mid-priced animal might be in the lower pricing category, or vice versa. Example Hartebeest and Gemsbok are often much cheaper in Namibia where they're endemic vs South Africa. Springbok in Limpopo will be a lot more then in the Karoo or Kalahari. Pick an animal or two that are your "Must Haves" then enjoy the hunt and see what you see.

I noticed you want a Waterbuck, in my opinion they're one of the most underrated Plains Game animals to hunt. Good luck

 

[375Fox]

Thank you for the advice. Do you know what airport/city we would be landing in if we go to the Eastern Cape instead of Limpopo? Also is there any particular airline you would recommend?

That generally means flying into Port Elizabeth. Lately delta from at Atlanta to Johannesburg and airlink to port Elizabeth is good route for firearms but can change by the year. I use @TRAVEL EXPRESS for travel agent.

 

[JimP]

I know that you mentioned that the budget is $30k but is that for all three of you or per person?

 

[AZDAVE]

You will find a good bit of information in the safari planning guide of the forum.
A budget of 30K will allow for a nice safari. If it is 30K each well you can expand the trip exponentially.
I have hunted with 4 outfitter that are sponsors here on AH .
@BLAAUWKRANTZ safaris @Bos en Dal SAFARIS @KMG Hunting Safaris @KWALATA SAFARIS and can highly. Recommend them! have hunted with a couple other outfitters in South Africa and in Namibia that aren't sponsors here.

Reccomend using a travel agent that is well versed in safari travel @TRAVEL EXPRESS or Gracy travel.

Take your own rifles.

Enjoy the planning process and you will have a great first safari.

 

[huntbour]

I know that you mentioned that the budget is $30k but is that for all three of you or per person

30k would be the the total budget, so roughly 10k per person.

 

[huntbour]

You will find a good bit of information in the safari planning guide of the forum.
A budget of 30K will allow for a nice safari. If it is 30K each well you can expand the trip exponentially.
I have hunted with 4 outfitter that are sponsors here on AH .
@BLAAUWKRANTZ safaris @Bos en Dal SAFARIS @KMG Hunting Safaris @KWALATA SAFARIS and can highly. Recommend them! have hunted with a couple other outfitters in South Africa and in Namibia that aren't sponsors here.

Reccomend using a travel agent that is well versed in safari travel @TRAVEL EXPRESS or Gracy travel.

Take your own rifles.

Enjoy the planning process and you will have a great first safari.

I can only dream of a 30k per person budget for now, hopefully it'll become a reality one day. I'll definitely look into Travel express and Gracy travel, I've seen both of them recommended on here numerous times.

Thanks for the informative response.

 

[Justhunt]

I would recommend KMG Safaris in the East Cape. Fly into Joberg, then Airlink to East London. Very easy. Great outfit, and they have some great free range areas. Have hunted with them twice. As said, have a list of animals you really want, and then be flexible. Bring your own guns. Its easy. The East Cape has up close hunting and very open country too.

 

[JimP]

With a total budget of $30k I would find a outfitter who will pick you up in Joberg, that extra that you save by not having to purchase tickets to another area can be spent on another animal or extras.

On my last trip I budgeted $13k for a 12 animal 10 day hunt and by the end I was just over $20k for everything. Taxidermy alone for 3 shoulder mounts and 5 euros was just under $5k and then there was shipping home.

 

[SETH RINGER]

CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT. IF YOU WANT TO DO 3 - 1 JUST LET YOUR OUTFITTER KNOW. LIMPOPO WOULD BE A GREAT CHOICE FOR FIRST TIMERS. EASY TO GET TO, BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY, GREAT HOSPITALITY. HELL, I MIGHT NOT PUT UP TO MUCH FUSS IF YOU TOLD ME LIMPOPO WOULD BE MY LAST SAFARI.

 

[Sika98k]

Thank you for the advice. Do you know what airport/city we would be landing in if we go to the Eastern Cape instead of Limpopo? Also is there any particular airline you would recommend?

All intercontinental flights into South Africa are either into Johannesburg or Cape Town. You will then have to take a connecting flight to Port Elizabeth.
Windhoek, Namibia , Hosea Katuko international airport has flights from Europe, Frankfurt with Discover Airlines, a subsidiary of Lufthansa. Otherwise it’s with Ethiopian Airlines from your point of departure via Addis Ababa.
Namibia is a great place, sparsely populated. Friendly people and more “rustic” than South Africa. Not knocking South Africa, I’ve had two great hunting trips in South Africa. Namibia I have visited 7 or 8 times and have enjoyed every trip there. It’s also very easy to import sporting firearms in Namibia.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Thank you for the advice. Do you know what airport/city we would be landing in if we go to the Eastern Cape instead of Limpopo? Also is there any particular airline you would recommend?

International to JNB then PLZ or ELS.

 

[jomw10]

With those parameters I’ll go to South Africa. It is safe, just use common sense.
I personally prefer flights through Europe. If there is a delay or cancellation at least you are entitled to compensation, not so much with flight from us to South Africa.
Airlines will cost you around $1,500.
A package hunt around $5k (this is the most cost effective way to hunt in South Africa if you don’t have a specific list). That leave you around $3.5k for taxidermy or additional animals. Taxidermy is expensive, you have to pay for taxidermy, shipping and agents. Easily $5k for 5 shoulder mounts with shipping. Dip and pack will be a little lower but you will have to pay your taxidermist here in the us

Here is a sample package from games 4 Africa

Kudu & Plains Game Hunting Package 1 - Game 4 Africa Hunting Safaris

Kudu & Plains Game Hunting Package 1 Includes 5 animals - 7 full days, 8 nights’ accommodation.

game4africa.co.za

You can contact them, I’m sure wik will be happy to trade the impala or blesbuck for a warthog.

 

[Jhsmith]

30k would be the the total budget, so roughly 10k per person.

How many days are you planning on being in countr

 

[spotnspook]

This seems to be an unpopular opinion by what I’ve read in the thread but I would just rent rifles. You’ll spend the cost of renting one just getting yours there between a high quality case, baggage fees, and a travel agent. Depending on where you live you’ll likely have 3 flights to get to your destination. No worries about the airlines losing them and not having to drag them around or wait at a baggage claim and no extra paperwork and customs delays.

I’ve only been once so far but I took only a carry on and a backpack and didn’t use a travel agent and used a camp gun and scored hits at 370 and 390 yards. The camp rifles will likely be suppressed too something you may or may not have.

If you are sentimental or can only shoot certain guns well by all means take your own rifle.

Oh yeah, and pack light. Your laundry will be done daily by the camp staff so no need for more than a couple changes of clothes, maybe some extra socks, and good shoes maybe two pairs.

 

[wesheltonj]

I can recommend Nicole Shelton at Gracy Travel International. They have wonderful people for meet and greet. Good gun pass information and assistance and accommodation access if you need it at JBerg. Call 220-698-2611 ext 234. I have no monetary or management interest in Gracy Travel. Just a very satisfied customer from a month ago.

I believe the area code is actually 210.

 

[huntbour]

With those parameters I’ll go to South Africa. It is safe, just use common sense.
I personally prefer flights through Europe. If there is a delay or cancellation at least you are entitled to compensation, not so much with flight from us to South Africa.
Airlines will cost you around $1,500.
A package hunt around $5k (this is the most cost effective way to hunt in South Africa if you don’t have a specific list). That leave you around $3.5k for taxidermy or additional animals. Taxidermy is expensive, you have to pay for taxidermy, shipping and agents. Easily $5k for 5 shoulder mounts with shipping. Dip and pack will be a little lower but you will have to pay your taxidermist here in the us

Here is a sample package from games 4 Africa

Kudu & Plains Game Hunting Package 1 - Game 4 Africa Hunting Safaris

Kudu & Plains Game Hunting Package 1 Includes 5 animals - 7 full days, 8 nights’ accommodation.

game4africa.co.za

You can contact them, I’m sure wik will be happy to trade the impala or blesbuck for a warthog.

Thank you for the advice. Taxidermy is definitely something that we've been discussing. It seems it can get as, or even more expensive than the animals, depending on what you're looking to do.

 

[huntbour]

How many days are you planning on being in countr

We're not set on a specific amount of days. However we have enough time to commit 14 days to the entire trip, so roughly 4 total travel days and 10 days there would be the max. If we can't fit 10 days in the budget, we'd look at dropping it down to 6-8 hunting days. My brother and I both have an interest in bowhunting while in Africa, specifically if its spot and stalk. However, we're aware this may require some additional time and money, so that may impact how many days we choose to go for.