Is 5-6 days hunting enough time?

[EPIC SAFARIS]

If you are just trying to shoot as many species as possible in as few of days as possible, sure, 5 days at the right game ranch would accomplish that objective. But if you want to immerse yourself in spot and stalks for average to above average trophies, some sundowner opportunities to take in the views and soak in the African sunsets, and take a little stress off getting your wish list, it's much better to pick 3 to 7 species and do 7 days of actual hunting. And to me, it's even better (subject to budgets of course) to end up on a vast open wilderness area where you can drive for a full day all 7 days of a hunt and only end up covering a fraction of the hunting area. You can learn a lot from all the excellent posted opinions on all the options one has across the African continent.

 

[Throwback]

Hi, obviously I've never been to Africa. Im interested in a PG hunt. Everyone I've talked to tells me I need to plan 10-15 days to get the whole experience. I'm really not interested in being gone that long. I'd like to leave my home on Thursday or Friday, travel 2 days, hunt 5-6 days, travel 2 days home and be home on Sunday or Monday. Is this asking too much? Thanks for any help.

As you have heard, short answer is yes, it is possible. You are not asking too much. That said, what I envision when you say that would be:
- An outfitters place no more than about 2 hours from Capetown, Joburg or Windhoek (all relatively easy to get to and have plenty of options for outfitters),
- just go on a dayrate and shoot available PG (no time for DG),
- dont be picky with the quality of animals, meaning if PH says its a shooter, take it. Dont hold out for some certain measurement.
- If you rent a rifle that can speed things up a little but you can take yours.
- Pray you get all good weather days, but certain times of year, in certain places can be kind of predictable, talk with your outfitter.
Have fun!

 

[Surgeon1]

NO

 

[62flint]

yes its possible, but to me its not worth the trouble of traveling that far for 7 days of hunting, I prefer 10-14 just to not feel rushed, see the sights and actually hunt. It also depends on where and who you are hunting with.

 

[Tusker]

If all that you are looking for is 2 or 3 animals it should be alright.

Quite often a 5 day hunt is actually only 3 days. If you get to the lodge in the morning of your first day you should be able to hunt half a day. Your last day will just be your travel day to the airport.

I've been on a 7 day and a 10 day hunt and I'd recommend the 10 day hunt.

South Africa and Namibia yes, the rest, with the free roaming animals, no

 

[Paul K]

On my earlier post I said a minimum of 10 days, ,that was meant to be 10 full hunting days, and I prefer hunting in the dark of the moon.
Paul

 

[uplander01]

I always do 8-10 full days of hunting, 12 is even better (did that once)I’ve never had the transport days count as hunt days as previously mentioned…make sure you have a day to travel in from the airport, and a day to travel back to the airport.

 

[mark-hunter]

Hi, obviously I've never been to Africa. Im interested in a PG hunt. Everyone I've talked to tells me I need to plan 10-15 days to get the whole experience. I'm really not interested in being gone that long. I'd like to leave my home on Thursday or Friday, travel 2 days, hunt 5-6 days, travel 2 days home and be home on Sunday or Monday. Is this asking too much? Thanks for any help.

If target is to complete the hunt, measuring stick that I use is 1.5 days per animal.
That is 7 days hunting for 5 animals.
When you get (if) an extra days because you collected all animals on the list, use that day wisely.
Spend it on a tree blind over waterhole with camera. Or go to town buy souvenirs.
This is basic experience, and you will be happy.

Upgraded experience: plan for 7 days hunt + 3 days sightseeing. 1o days total. Check with outfitter what type of extra activities he can provide.

This is higher level experience.
You have the math. 1.5 days per animal, 5 animals week, 10 animals 2 weeks, extra days for sightseeing as per your wish.

That all being said, is guidance only.
Outfitters in general will offer you a doable package. This means they know how many days they need to get you X number of animals. You can add extra days if you wish, for extra activities. Speak with your outfitter about this. As extra activities in my past hunts, I went to Etosha national park, visited victoria falls, went for extra hunt in Kalahari desert, etc...

 

[Nyati]

Of course, it can be done, but to me, going to Africa is a two weeks affair.

 

[SETH RINGER]

Hi, obviously I've never been to Africa. Im interested in a PG hunt. Everyone I've talked to tells me I need to plan 10-15 days to get the whole experience. I'm really not interested in being gone that long. I'd like to leave my home on Thursday or Friday, travel 2 days, hunt 5-6 days, travel 2 days home and be home on Sunday or Monday. Is this asking too much? Thanks for any help.

IF YOU PLAN ON HUNTING 5-6 DAYS AND THE TRAVEL ON EACH SIDE YOU WILL BE FINE, THOUGH ON MY FIRST SEVEN DAY SAFARI I HAD EM WORRIED AS THEY SAID I SET THE CAMP RECORD BY NOT TAKING ANY GAME TILL THE FOURTH DAY, 2 THEN AND 3 ON DAY 5 AND WE WERE BACK ON TRACK.

 

[.300RUM]

Lots of variables, but it's absolutely doable. Mostly depends on the lodge rules, what you are hunting and your budget. Was part of a 5 day hunt in 2023, first trip, enjoyed every minute, no regrets. First trip is and will be your learner and hopefully with a great experience. The follow-up trips, well you will most likely be planning that on about day two or three.

 

[3chunter]

I did full 10 days hunting and then a full 12 days hunting. I would not go for less than 10 days but 12 or more is perfect for me. It usually takes a few days to get over the jet lag for me. I want to be over there so long that as trogon said, I want to lose track of the days.

 

[wesheltonj]

Lucky - two animals a day, one in the morning, and one in the afternoon. More likey, some days none, some days one, some days two. 7 days is adequate for a PG hunt depending on your animal count.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Weather is the gotcha on a five day hunt. Let it rain for a day in some areas and on some game farms and due to mucky road conditions, one may be sitting in camp reading a book. @Trogon and I hunted the Northern Cape for eight days in March and there were thundershowers half those days and that cut the days' hunt in half. One day, it poured and the farm lanes were ponds, we didn't hunt. As other have posted, with three days of travel, jet lag acclimation and their animal list, eight days or more is my minimum. Having said that, if you're a young buck and can't swing the time off, by all means go to Africa. That'll be enough to get you hooked for a return trip.

 

[Green Chile]

I will voice something a little contrary to most of the responses but you are asking about standard PG hunts not specialty hunts. Most will say that 5-7 days is not enough time...not enough time to do what? Is it ideal? Probably not. If that's all you can do, then do it! My first hunt in Africa was 7 days for elephant...and we took one and had a blast doing it. I've done more short hunts than long hunts in Africa and have gotten a lot of experience with that approach. Some years I have been able to go multiple times for shorter trips (and hit multiple areas) instead of only 1 long trip to 1 area...or even worse, one long trip every 2-3 years or whatever your frequency becomes. I see a lot of people here doing longer trips with years in between...and I get that but I would much rather do a shorter trip more often than a longer trip less often. So I challenge the traditional viewpoint in favor of getting over more often for shorter trips. You can do a lot in 5-7 days and my BEST trophies have been taken on short trips.

 

[Rumrunner]

Is it possible, absolutely. As you said you are planning 5-6 hunting days outside of travel days. You may not get record book trophy’s but you will harvest very nice animals. Longer would be better but 5-6 days hunting in Africa is better than not going…by far. If that is the amount of time you can allocate then book it. Your second trip will be 10+ days. By my experience.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Hi, obviously I've never been to Africa. Im interested in a PG hunt. Everyone I've talked to tells me I need to plan 10-15 days to get the whole experience. I'm really not interested in being gone that long. I'd like to leave my home on Thursday or Friday, travel 2 days, hunt 5-6 days, travel 2 days home and be home on Sunday or Monday. Is this asking too much? Thanks for any help.

Mine was 7. I think 10 is a better minimum

 

[Markopolo50]

I agree with most here, 10 would be my minimum as it was on my one trip there. A long time to get there and a longer time to get back!!!

 

[MacJenkins]

I would not even consider it. The travel sucks. Instead of doing a trip every year or two I’m doing 3 safari’s back to back this year for just shy of 6 weeks. I think for a total of 33 hunting days as I have some transition days as each hunt is in a different county. As I get older I hate the travel more and more.

 

[Bandera]

Yes it can be enough for a first hunt.
Plan on flying in early, spend a day knocking around J’burg.
Transfer to camp.
Hunt
Transfer back to J’burg
Take several days and tour.
Go down to the cape,
Tour Pretoria.
Tour Krueger, I do not recommend walking with the elephants at night.
Tour the wine country in the south.
All kinds on things to do.