If you tag out early what is the normal for the rest of the time left on your safari?

[JimP]

Check with the outfitter and see what cull animals they might have that need thinning out. These animals can usually be had at a good discount over a trophy animal

 

[Uncharted_NT]

Usually 354615 beers or jump on a plane to somewhere new.

 

[ActionBob]

Tell us where you are going. East Cape, Limpopo?

What do you like doing? Some idio.... um guys will be within minutes of the ocean or an hour from Vic Falls and not even bother to go see them! Just because they are so focused on shooting, um Hunting! That they are closed minded to the Wonders of the World outside or beside Hunting

A side trip to Ado in the EC. Kruger if close enough, cheap flight to Vic Falls.... all great experience. Night hunting for jackal ( call them) spotlighting (even a really good big flashlight) for genet, porcupine, spring hare, all cheap and fun! Bushpig can be challenging but worth pursuing if your outfitter is up to it. Many other species but may need permits.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Definitely check out the trophy list ahead of your trip. TIA! Always expect the unexpected.

Most likely this is a 2-1 hunt: 2 clients, 1 PH.

Example: you maybe the first hunter/shooter and your group are out for blue wildebeest and you and/or your buddy have impala on your list. Your blue wildebeest hunt suddenly changes to an impala hunt.

As mentioned check on cull hunts they are usually less expensive than trophy hunts and you can still have the hides, horns or have them mounted.

There's more to the Africa experience than just hunting. For your first trip, while out hunting do a bit of a photo safari, still photos and videos of animals. After your hunts take a side trip, or 2, to experience the culture. Most of all have fun and enjoy your trip.....you're on your vacation

 

[Andrew62]

In looking up this outfitter, I see they list 2 areas in SA, so as others have suggested, ask the outfitter for a price list for the area you will be hunting in. At a quick glance, I see the following prices, which I feel are high.

Baboon 500.00, Bushpig 1500.00, Cape Eland 3500.00, Impala 750.00, Gemsbuck 1850.00.

Also, don't hesitate to ask if they would have any cull or management animals, I've done this many times, it makes for some great trigger time!

 

[deewayne2003]

Tell us where you are going. East Cape, Limpopo?

What do you like doing? Some idio.... um guys will be within minutes of the ocean or an hour from Vic Falls and not even bother to go see them! Just because they are so focused on shooting, um Hunting! That they are closed minded to the Wonders of the World outside or beside Hunting

A side trip to Ado in the EC. Kruger if close enough, cheap flight to Vic Falls.... all great experience. Night hunting for jackal ( call them) spotlighting (even a really good big flashlight) for genet, porcupine, spring hare, all cheap and fun! Bushpig can be challenging but worth pursuing if your outfitter is up to it. Many other species but may need permits.

Good point about the wonders of the world, in Zimbabwe camp was beside lake Kariba which is one of the largest man made lakes on earth by volume.

Even with the lake down 50’ it’s still huge and worth seeing and catching a giant catfish was a great bonus.

 

[Firebird]

Photography parks are everywhere-not just the famous ones. Take a camera and have a good time.
If it were me, I would pick a couple additional trophies from their list to pursue-kudu or zebra for example. It was stated correctly that your auction list will be filled in two days. So take the next day or two to hunt something really special to YOU. The outfitter makes more money, you enjoy more hunting and adventures along the way. They will try to upsale you constantly, so be firm about what you want to pull the trigger on-and what you do not.

 

[Sabre]

As others have said, the most common thing to do is keep hunting for extra animals you are interested in. But, it is your hunt, and you should do what you want within reason.

I have seen some people change their flight and leave very early, some people keep hunting, some people go to a game park for photography, some people stay at camp and drink or smoke cigars all day, some people go fishing, some people go to restaurants or site seeing locally.

Whatever you think might interest you, you should contact the outfitter and let them know what you would like to do after you are done with your animal list and see if they can accommodate that.

 

[steve white]

Stalk close and take award winning quality wildlife photos. Shoot sand grouse, repeat as often as possible. Drive to an elevated place and picnic.
Help shoot bait animals for another leopard or lion hunter. Help go around and check/hang baits.
Help fix up the place if you have any expertise to apply.
Do something for the local village--take ceramic water filters and buy five gal. buckets locally and set up clean water filtration for local clinics. There will be a lot of mothers there with crying babies who have intestinal problems from the local water. (justwater4U used to be a cheap place to obtain filters.)
Contact a missionary and help out.
Spend extra and take the blue train to Vic Falls.
Take a long foot stalk to see what you see, the real way.

If you thought to bring a predator call, you can have some real fun.

 

[318AE]

If you think this may not be your only trip, I suggest focusing on animals native or endemic to the specific area, and not just the country or continent. With a little research, it easy to figure out and learn more about the animals you are pursuing, which can make the experience more rewarding. For example, it’s unlikely there is an area that has a native gemsbok population and bush pigs. Often, the animals native to the area are priced better too.

 

[Ridge Runner]

In looking up this outfitter, I see they list 2 areas in SA, so as others have suggested, ask the outfitter for a price list for the area you will be hunting in. At a quick glance, I see the following prices, which I feel are high.

Baboon 500.00, Bushpig 1500.00, Cape Eland 3500.00, Impala 750.00, Gemsbuck 1850.00.

Also, don't hesitate to ask if they would have any cull or management animals, I've done this many times, it makes for some great trigger time!

Holy Sh't!!!

Remind me not to book with this outfitter. The eland and gemsbuck prices are a bit high, but for an auction hunt not too bad. However, baboon usually goes from Free to $150.00USD. I have to look at this year's (2025) trophy fees from my 4 outfitters, but IIRC bushpig ranged from $400.00 or $500.00USD in the East Cape and North West Province to $600.00USD in Limpopo. Common Impala was $400.00 to $500.00USD. Common Impala culls were around $300.00 or $350.00USD.

It pays to shop around and vet outfitters not only for the best prices but also to find an outfitter that can meet or exceed their clients' (and prospective clients') expectations.

 

[Cucuy]

Day drink and take a nap, you’ll be back to real life waaay too soon.

 

[Trogon]

Strong vote for asking your outfitter/PH on hunting additional cull animals. The thought of going fishing if not far from the coast is definitely appealing.

 

[CBH Australia]

That's what I've been told by someone. That's why I was curious about what to do with the extra time. If there were expectations by the Outfitter? Or if there are some things I should expect?

Build rapport with the outfitter and don’t feel rushed.
Sure, they would like to sell you something else as it is a business but they have probably calculated costs and ensured it is viable.
My out fitter offered a cull package I accepted (all inclusive) and we didn’t rush to get 1-2 animals a day. Some required a little effort on their part but trackers and skimmers are employed to do retrieval etc.
while I was there I booked another tourist park safari and asked the PH to drop us off and collect us. He didn’t seem to mind as he would have been using his time and vehicle to entertain us either way.

 

[mark-hunter]

Hello, I have a friend who purchased a safari at fundraiser. It sounds like the location we are going to should be relatively easy to take the animals on the package. If we get done early and there are days left on the Safari, what is the normal procedure? Do you then leave or will there be something to fill the time. What is expected? We are new to this so we trying to plan appropriately. Should we take insurance so we can change flights if needed?

Is there something to do, after I collect the package, in the middle of Africa, surrounded by national parks, exotic animals, and and myriad of possibilities, while in the same time, I have no idea when I will come back next time?!
Extra days after the hunt, are best days for me! Time spent without hunting pressure!

1. Shoot other animals, and be aware of price list. Package list is not carved in stone. Check with PH and outfitter optional animals.
2. Hunt and chase jackals and baboons.
3. Take camera. (You do have a HD camera for this trip, do you?) Go on a blind over waterhole, enjoy the show, and take pictures of animals. I suggest to have tripod for camera, so you will have steady rest to take pictures with large zoom at long distance.
4. Make research before the trip. Check what is there within reachable distance by car. National parks, historic places. Ask outfitter what is there around. Take PH, and go there.
5. Souvenirs. Check is there authentic local village nearby where you can buy souvenirs. For souvenirs in the touristic centers one of my PHs says they are all "made in China". In local villages you may buy handcrafted wood work.
6. Visit local taxidermy workshop, if around.
7. I love fishing. I devoted one day of the hunt, to spend fishing on my last hunt.
8. If you still have time to plan the trip: take return tickets few days later after the hunt, and make a country tour - to visit most famous places around.

PS:
About souvenirs in touristic places: I have seen them in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe. (And bought some) But they are all the same. Cannot make difference to specific ethnic group. This leads me to beleive, my PH is right. "Made in China", or elswhere on industrial level. But authentic woodwork in local village will be very different, more rustic. You will see.

About camera - below is photo of wild Zimbabwean sable, I took at 100 meters, 2 months ago . Just saying... :

 

[LivingTheDream]

I'll be that guy, if I have taken everything I can afford, and if it is more than a few days, I change my flights and go home.

But where I am probably different is I pay my day fees for the entire hunt. No need to penalize the outfitter for success.

 

[uplander01]

Run out of money or ammo, whichever comes first. Ask about any cull opportunities, easy and cheaper way to keep shooting,,,until you're out of ammo.

 

[Hogpatrol]

My 2¢, Many of these auction hunts are just bait and switch schemes designed to lure people who otherwise wouldn't do an exotic hunt.

 

[steve white]

My 2¢, Many of these auction hunts are just bait and switch schemes designed to lure people who otherwise wouldn't do an exotic hunt.

We should thank them...at least they got us over there!

 

[JimP]

My 2¢, Many of these auction hunts are just bait and switch schemes designed to lure people who otherwise wouldn't do an exotic hunt.

What I see is that most of the people who have never been over to Africa think that you have to sell your first born to head over there for a hunt and when a auction hunt pops up and they get if for a couple thousand dollars they think that they have won the lottery, especially when it is for two hunters.
Then they start doing their research and find this forum only to find out that for what they paid they could of purchased a package deal for a lot more animals from a outfitter on the forum here or elsewhere.

I can't blame them, I thought the same thing before I started doing some research myself and found just how cheap some of these package deals are from good outfitters.