Hello from Northern BC Canada

[Shootist43]

Slickshooter, with that background you are amongst friends for sure. I have a number of 6.5(s), however mine are all Swedish Mausers. I handload for them, currently I'm getting 2775 FPS pushing a 140 Gr. Nosler Partition.
What caliber did you use on that bear in your avatar? I have a prediction for you, keep reading AH and you'll be headed for Africa sooner than you thought probable.

 

[cpr0312]

Welcome aboard!

 

[CAustin]

Welcome to AH sir! Nice bear.

 

[Nyati]

Welcome to AH !

 

[Slickshooter]

Slickshooter, with that background you are amongst friends for sure. I have a number of 6.5(s), however mine are all Swedish Mausers. I handload for them, currently I'm getting 2775 FPS pushing a 140 Gr. Nosler Partition.
What caliber did you use on that bear in your avatar? I have a prediction for you, keep reading AH and you'll be headed for Africa sooner than you thought probable.

The grizzly in my avatar was taken with a 28 Nosler. Your right on your prediction...I am in the very beginning stages of planning a trip
Have you hunted Africa?

 

[tarbe]

Welcome aboard @Slickshooter.

Yes, Southern Africa is chock full of really cool animals!

The trouble with the place usually centers on staying within the budget!

You are going to find that some countries/regions are vastly better than others for particular species.

Once you have the species list figured out, and your priorities wrt size of properties, fence or no fence, farm or wild sorted, then you can start zeroing in on outfits that can provide you with what you want.

And of course, all your new buddies here at AH are ready to help!


Tim

 

[Slickshooter]

Welcome aboard @Slickshooter.

Yes, Southern Africa is chock full of really cool animals!

The trouble with the place usually centers on staying within the budget!

You are going to find that some countries/regions are vastly better than others for particular species.

Once you have the species list figured out, and your priorities wrt size of properties, fence or no fence, farm or wild sorted, then you can start zeroing in on outfits that can provide you with what you want.

And of course, all your new buddies here at AH are ready to help!


Tim

Hey Tim,

I’ve begun my research but man there is so much info out there. AH has been a great read and source for information. I have narrowed my species list to Cape Buffalo, Nyala, warthog and a Gemsbok or Waterbuck over 7-10 days. I would like to stay in South Africa within driving distance of my international flight arrival. The reason for this is that I will be traveling with my wife and 6 year old son (both non hunting). I need a nice lodge that has a swimming pool and access to daily activities for them. It’s very important to me that they have a good time. Every guided hunt that I have been on previously has been very rough (sleeping in tents and going to the bathroom involves a shovel and a carrying a rifle) which is cool for me but wouldn’t be for them. It will be our first trip to Africa and I am not looking to go super remote and wild. I would like to be able to go hunting with good people and be back at the lodge for dinner with my family. I don’t need to kill record book trophy’s, just want a fun fair chase hunt experience for respectable sized animals. I have contacted a couple outfitters for prices and availability but am sure that I don’t know all the pertinent questions to ask quite yet. AH will be a good resource for that I’m sure. If you have any outfitter suggestions just fire away!

Thanks, GL

 

[MarkB]

Hello Slickshooter (Fellow Canuck)

Have you narrowed the date/year down? You seam to have many questions answered. I normally write down a list of "must haves" then a list of "like to haves" and another of "bonuses to have" must have are requirements, the more like to haves the better the outfitter ranks and bonuses are just that. With todays communication applications I would only speak with Outfitter/ Hunting Area, Block, Concession/Farm/Ranch Owner or best of all one of the previous who is also the PH. Mostly I want honesty from whom I speak with. Out of my safaris so far the first 2 were booked thru agents who fed me BS and NEVER delivered on what was said or what I had in writing when I sat in Vic Falls while a temp PH was in Bulawayo waiting. Last hunts were booked with Owners who was also my PH, these were awesome in every sense of the hunt, camp, food, staff, animal numbers and size. Just want all questions/plan/hunt details honest. As your first safari the more questions the better. Especially when taking a non hunter and little one. Helps ease the funding portion if they are onside fully aware and involved. I then email questions to all prospective outfits, I really like those who answer my questions under the question, tells me they read all. From this I narrow down the outfitters then send a second, third and maybe forth set of questions. Most details/info/answers can be verified/double checked by internet sources today and that is a huge part of the safari fun. Your welcome to PM me if you want to talk.

I just booked/sent deposit for 20 days in 2020 with an AH sponsor, this will be my first SA hunt so no recommendations yet. I do have if you decide on Zim?? I will post a report.

MB

 

[ActionBob]

Welcome aboard @Slickshooter Fantastic bear and I'm sure many of us are excited to read the story behind that bruin

A couple suggestions, do the exact hunt you are talking about but switch out a couple critters. Leave the Nyala and gemsbok for a return trip. With the possible exception of taking the gemsbok if you get onto a great one in the Karoo or Kalahari. Otherwise skip it until you get to Namibia. Farmed Nyala are available all over. But hold out for a free range or very large property one in their native areas, such as Natal or Zimbabwe, and man if you could get somewhere close to Crook's Corner but in a hunting area, wow there are big ones up there. But a farmed one is more a shoot than a hunt. (I know I'm stepping on toes, but that is my strong opinion). Substitute Wildebeest, black or blue, depending where you are. Or better yet some smaller critters the fences don't matter to

 

[ActionBob]

I need a nice lodge that has a swimming pool and access to daily activities for them. It’s very important to me that they have a good time. Every guided hunt that I have been on previously has been very rough (sleeping in tents and going to the bathroom involves a shovel and a carrying a rifle) which is cool for me but wouldn’t be for them. It will be our first trip to Africa and I am not looking to go super remote and wild. I would like to be able to go hunting with good people and be back at the lodge for dinner with my family.

Oh Man! You and your family are in for a pleasant surprise

 

[tarbe]

Hey Tim,

I’ve begun my research but man there is so much info out there. AH has been a great read and source for information. I have narrowed my species list to Cape Buffalo, Nyala, warthog and a Gemsbok or Waterbuck over 7-10 days. I would like to stay in South Africa within driving distance of my international flight arrival. The reason for this is that I will be traveling with my wife and 6 year old son (both non hunting). I need a nice lodge that has a swimming pool and access to daily activities for them. It’s very important to me that they have a good time. Every guided hunt that I have been on previously has been very rough (sleeping in tents and going to the bathroom involves a shovel and a carrying a rifle) which is cool for me but wouldn’t be for them. It will be our first trip to Africa and I am not looking to go super remote and wild. I would like to be able to go hunting with good people and be back at the lodge for dinner with my family. I don’t need to kill record book trophy’s, just want a fun fair chase hunt experience for respectable sized animals. I have contacted a couple outfitters for prices and availability but am sure that I don’t know all the pertinent questions to ask quite yet. AH will be a good resource for that I’m sure. If you have any outfitter suggestions just fire away!

Thanks, GL

Limcroma immediately comes to mind.

KMG may also have some properties in the Limpopo area...although they are based in Eastern Cape I think.

Both are great outfits.


Tim

 

[ActionBob]

Bossie @Limpopo Big Game Safaris will pick you up at the airport. And he has a 5 star lodge with a nice pool and other extras available.

He hunts a wide area and does have experience with some exciting buffalo hunts

 

[Slickshooter]

Bossie @Limpopo Big Game Safaris will pick you up at the airport. And he has a 5 star lodge with a nice pool and other extras available.

He hunts a wide area and does have experience with some exciting buffalo hunts

What’s the story man?

 

[BRICKBURN]

Bossie has just survived being gored by a Buffalo a few months ago.

 

[Slickshooter]

My list includes KMG, Limcroma and Somerby so far...any more suggestions?

 

[sestoppelman]

Welcome to the forum for Africa loons! My Son in Law is from Alberta, he and my daughter live in Nanaimo now on the island. We are going up in a couple of days on the Tsawwassen ferry for a visit. About this time next month if all goes well, I will be a grandpa!

 

[ronp]

Welcome to AH Slickshooter! Glad you found us and joined our community.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Looking forward to learning more about the dark continent and it’s game animals. Sooner at later I’ll get there! Happy to be part of the forum.

Welcome to AH!

 

[Rick Cox]

Hi again. Just a couple of thoughts: make sure it is going to be warm enough when you go, for your family to hang by the pool. Last year in June there was frost many mornings. Kind of like the end of September/October in Southern Alberta.
Everything in SA is fenced, but the properties differ greatly in size. Coming from Canada you don't want to be constantly bouncing off a fence. Make sure the property is big enough for you.

 

[fin003]

Welcome to AH @Slickshooter!