Eastern Cape vs Limpopo

[Baydog]

Ive only hunted Limpopo in RSA but my wife would like to check out the Eastern Cape at some point. I notice a difference in the trophy fees and some of the packages are cheaper in the eastern cape. What's the main differences as far as the hunting goes? ie terrain, remoteness, size of properties etc.? Thanks.
Baydog.

 

[Thunder head]

I have never been to the eastern cape but from all the hunting reports i have looked at most of it is mountian type terrain. Just like everywhere else in RSA there are some small propetys and some very large ones.
If i ever go back to RSA thats were ill be heading.

 

[enysse]

Baydog, there is a lot more competition for business in the East Cape. The terrain is more diverse, therefore they can hold a more variety of game...this helps to keep pricing down. The terrain really varies too. It can be wide open and then you get into the soft brush were the kudu and bushbuck hide out and it's thick as south Texas....except it's usually mountainous too.

The Limpopo Province is great for kudu, waterbuck, zebra, impala, blue wildebeest, giraffe, and warthog...being the main species. The springbok subspecies, blesbok, bontebok, even nyala, black wildebeest don't do well in that thick brush up there. Those are general observations. It's best to hunt the game in their native habitat.

I think it's best for everyone as much as possible to try different areas to hunt. East Cape is a must visit place.

 

[Nyati]

I ve done four hunts in RSA all in different areas. To me, hunting is more than gathering animals, it s also about knowing different places, different people.

I haven t been to the Eastern Cape, but I would go there, provided they have the species you are after.

 

[gillettehunter]

Hunted the Easy Cape last year. We had a great time. We primarily hunted what was called Valley bushveld. Open areas and then lots of areas with thick brush. My 2nd shot at my Impala was at less than 15 yards. My Kudu was 190 yards. Springbuck was 290 yards. So you will get to see some different types of terrain and shooting distances. Some areas were like plains with little cover. Lots of variations in the East Cape. Good variety of animals. Bruce

 

[BRICKBURN]

Baydog, Here are some illustrations of how difficult a question you are asking.

There is one thing for certain that East Cape province has that Limpopo, does not and that is Ocean front property.

Cape St Francis

Near Grahamstown

Grahamstown

Middelburg

As then guys have said, some properties are larger, some are small.

Provinces in South Africa have so much diversity in terrain it is very hard to compare. You are going to have to look at the specific farms/concessions closely to make sure you are hunting what you want where you want.

Comparing a hunt half a mile from the Indian Ocean to something up near Middelburg?

One of my PH's has a picture of a Oribi trophy picture with a nice blue Ocean as a back drop.

Picture Taken from Photo Gallery:
Leeukop Safaris

Good luck with your choice.

 

[Kallie404]

Hi Brickburn , the trophy on the photo is actually a oribi,not a Vaal Rhebuck.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Getting old and still sleepy. Thanks. Edited.

 

[saprof]

While living in RSA, I hunted in Limpopo, Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, and North West.

I have a serious Limpopo bias. I hunted in the Waterburg region near Bela Bela several times and loved the lay of the land and had tremendous luck when hunting. Limpopo is also great because you can leave Pretoria, hit the highway headed north, and be in the field in about 2 hours. You can shoot kudu, eland, impala, pigs, zebra and wildebeest in the morning and then do a walk up shoot on a wide variety of game birds in the afternoon. Plus, the weather there is nice as well. I never felt the urge or need to hit the road and drive way down to the to the EC when Limpopo was literally in my back yard. It is a great, great place to hunt.

Cheers,

B.Robinson

 

[Baydog]

Thanks everyone for the replies so far.

 

[ChrisT]

The Eastern Cape offers some wonderful hunting experiences and certain species occur here that does not occur up North e.g. Cape Bushbuck, Blue Duiker, Springbok etc.

Hunting on the open flats of the Karoo (semi desert) can be challenging - especially when the wind starts blowing (and it can!) But it's fun and can be a whole new experience.

Added benefits is that it is generally cheaper to hunt than Limpopo and there's a lot for your wife to do (tsightseeing and touring-wise).

 

[Upton O. Good]

I hunted Northern Cape and Eastern Cape in May 2011 and really got a feel for the differience in habitat. The Eastern Cape was very hilly with thick brush and trees with areas that were irrigated agricultural lands in the valleys much like eastern Washington state. The coastline was beautiful, very dramatic (didn't take photos like an idiot) and I would love to spend more time there and just look around. I would also love to see one of those great white sharks that make that area home. I'm posting photos of the inland part of Eastern Cape near Grahamstown (first two photos) where we hunted bushbuck for two days and then two photos closer to Port Elizabeth where I shot my nyala and Egyptian geese. Hope these help. By the way, Northern Cape is also fascinating; very sparse, wide open areas, boulder kopjes, neat history (diamonds, etc). I haven't been to Limpopo area but plan to in future hunting.

 

[graybird]

Here are a few more pictures of the Eastern Cape near Komga north of East London.

Hunting for mountain reedbuck with the Kei River below.

Pictures never tell how steep things really are!

Our last morning we were greated to this!

 

[Blueduiker]

I hunt the Eastern Cape 1-2 a year and I can only agree with all the above info and praise. It's incredibly diverse, holds the largest number of species out of all provinces, has the highest concentration of Kudu in Africa ( I might get some uphill for that statement, but it's true , though not the biggest and you can collect some exceptionally unique specimens like: Cape Grysbok, Grey Rhebok, Blue Duiker, Southern Mountain Reedbuck, Bushpig, Bontebok ( though not indigenous to the region), Oribi and bushpig, plus you can combine it with fantastic walk-up shooting for Grey-wing as well as fishing off the coast! The only thing it does not have, which I miss the most, are baobabs

 

[Bobpuckett]

I hunted the East Cape in 2010 and the wife and I loved it we will be going back there again in May/June of this year you can check out my hunting report to see a few pics and animals taken there http://www.africahunting.com/south-...st-cape-south-africa-huntershill-safaris.html I've never hunted the Limpopo area but I'm putting a plan together to hunt with Louis of Spiral Horn Safaris in the very near future.

 

[Bobpuckett]

Ive only hunted Limpopo in RSA but my wife would like to check out the Eastern Cape at some point. I notice a difference in the trophy fees and some of the packages are cheaper in the eastern cape. What's the main differences as far as the hunting goes? ie terrain, remoteness, size of properties etc.? Thanks.
Baydog.

Thought I would post a couple of pics from the East Cape to give you and Idea of what you have to look forward to.

 

[Code4]

I have hunted the Limpopo, near Gauteng and traveled through the Garden Route, East Cape and Karoo a couple of times going to and from Cape Town. To me they are chalk and cheese.

One day I will hunt the East Cape as I believe it offers unique hunting opportunitys, especially the smaller antelope species. Be prepared for very close bush, cross gully shots and long range shooting. I have a .264WM for the day I go there.

IMO the 'real look' of Africa is the lowveldt around Kruger and up the SE of Zimbabwe.

 

[Calhoun]

If I was to return to South Africa - the eastern Cape is where I would like to go. Some different terrain & animals would do this man well!

 

[Buff-Buster]

I love this site. Just reading everyones opinion on where someone should go, and reading the excitemnt in their words, make me long to return. What new comers to Africa should get out of this discussion is that there is no "best" place in Africa. That's is one of the things that make it so "addicting". It is the diversity and the quality of the adventure! I have been fortunate enought to experience the East Cape mountains, The lush hills in the Kwa-Zulu Natal, the remoteness of Charisa in Zim and the game rich Lowveld in Zim....I love them all!.......I think I'll book a hunt this weekend!!!!

 

[BRICKBURN]

....What new comers to Africa should get out of this discussion is that there is no "best" place in Africa. That's is one of the things that make it so "addicting". It is the diversity and the quality of the adventure! ....

My conclusion exactly. Two countries, four provinces in one trip. You can't get it all at once so make your choice and have some fun. You will be back!