Many cheap hunts vs only one very expensive premium hunt in a lifetime

[EarlsSon]

I chose to do the more relatively safer RSA trips multiple times. Could have saved what I spent on those trips for a more expensive/wilder hunt in other countries but being an old fart, I really don't want to deal with heat, tse tse flies, malaria and other cooties endemic to the tropics. If I was forty years younger, my thought process might be different. Having said that, in 2014 a bud was looking to go with myself and two other hunters for his first trip to Africa. Hurt his back and had to cancel. He then had other health problems and never made it. To someone's post about tomorrow not being guaranteed to anyone, just remember Mike Tyson's quote.

I agree with your evaluation 100%

 

[EarlsSon]

I would rather go on a real hunt in a wild area where the game can get away, and chances of going home empty handed are real, every few years than go to a farm to shoot stuff for the wall as much as possible. If that means I need to space the hunts out, then so be it. My first African hunt was in Zimbabwe in 2023, next is Namibia for plains game in 2026, and after that will be Zimbabwe again for leopard and buffalo in 2028.

Wild, free range hunting is not 3x or 4x the cost of SA. It may be a small percentage more, or possibly the same price. If the argument is you can just go more frequently because the price is lower, then I’d say those individuals are looking for a completely different experience than myself.

Agreed, but to each his own.

 

[Rare Breed]

During the discussion on another thread about game farming and Put and Take, it was pointed out that some hunter books repeated cheaper hunts in heavy managed areas or game farms, but complain that hunts in open wild areas of Africa are too expensive.

Should one prefer to hunt more often in Africa under not so dreamy conditions, or should one make for the same money only one expensive safari in a wild area of Africa once in lifetime?

I have done 8 safaris 3 in SA the rest in wild Africa. Here are my thoughts. 1. people all the time say they will be taking a once in a lifetime Africa hunt…once Africa “bites you” that will never happen…you will crave to come back!!! 2. Enjoy both given they are very different hunts…SA gives a lot of animals good experience at a fairly low price…open areas like my preferred Zim offers a different much more challenging hunt which is also enjoyable. 3. Being in shape matters…if you are out of shape and “can’t walk” as they say in Zim stick with SA much easier less taxing hunt with a few exceptions…if you are in good shape then enjoy the more challenging hunts in Zim and other countries as I do. Being in shape is not about age…I am 66 and weigh what I did when I played college football…it is about choice. Hope this helps!

 

[Hunt anything]

My hope is to “bookend” wild expensive hunts. I started out in Mozambique and now have done several affordable RSA hunts with one to come in around a month, I’m then going to concentrate on going back to Mozambique or Zambia to do a grand finale.

 

[revturbo9967]

To each his own !! unfortunately I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth !! My father died when I weas 16 years old, but I'll be damned if that was going to prevent me from being "so called" successful in life financially or emotionally. I often read questions/ responses on this site that have "ABSOLUTELY NOTHING" to do with hunting. In example "what watch do you wear while hunting" or "what cigar do you smoke" while hunting ?? In my opinion these topics have "ABSOLUTELY" nothing to do with hunting in Africa or anywhere else on this planet but are mere "personal" opinions of what one does in their own personal lives !! Sorry if I went off on a tangent, but as a low to middle class individual "financially" I say hunt "hunt where you can and hunt what you can afford to hunt", most importantly enjoy the experience completely. I do not drive a Bentley or a Maserati nor do I feel inferior / less of a person than those that do. I have been to Africa several times and I've had the fortune of having taken 26 different species of which "EACH" and every one is an absolute trophy in my mind regardless of the fact that they were harvested on a "high fenced" concessions. Its of my opinion that as "hunters" we all can't get together and be happy for each others success as opposed to "looking down" on a brother hunter because they've chosen to hunt in another country or area then they have. Sadly the "Anti's" are more than happy to eviscerate us as a community regardless of "where or what we hunt".

I think you will find many on this forum were also not born with the silver spoon in their mouth. Many are entrepreneurs and business owners as well as just straight up hard working individuals. Nobody really cares where you decide to hunt. The topic and question is do you rather go to SA many times over or spread the visits out and focus the funds on a hunt that may cost a bit more in a wild area.

The larger picture is the South African model supports farming far more than true wild conservation and many don’t want to admit it.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

To each his own !! unfortunately I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth !! My father died when I weas 16 years old, but I'll be damned if that was going to prevent me from being "so called" successful in life financially or emotionally. I often read questions/ responses on this site that have "ABSOLUTELY NOTHING" to do with hunting. In example "what watch do you wear while hunting" or "what cigar do you smoke" while hunting ?? In my opinion these topics have "ABSOLUTELY" nothing to do with hunting in Africa or anywhere else on this planet but are mere "personal" opinions of what one does in their own personal lives !! Sorry if I went off on a tangent, but as a low to middle class individual "financially" I say hunt "hunt where you can and hunt what you can afford to hunt", most importantly enjoy the experience completely. I do not drive a Bentley or a Maserati nor do I feel inferior / less of a person than those that do. I have been to Africa several times and I've had the fortune of having taken 26 different species of which "EACH" and every one is an absolute trophy in my mind regardless of the fact that they were harvested on a "high fenced" concessions. Its of my opinion that as "hunters" we all can't get together and be happy for each others success as opposed to "looking down" on a brother hunter because they've chosen to hunt in another country or area then they have. Sadly the "Anti's" are more than happy to eviscerate us as a community regardless of "where or what we hunt".

Variety is the spice of life. If you don't like the threads about other topics, simply don't visit them.

 

[MacJenkins]

I’m on my 11 trip over right now. I’ve hunted northern Tanzania once, Zim quite a bit with different outfitters all in wild areas. Bots a few times including one hunt we finished about 2 weeks ago.

Finishing our first hunt ever in SA right now. Was a decent hunt, but hitting the blacktop almost everyday to get to a hunting property was terrible. Really took me “out of the bush” so to speak. Was a first for me that I never even thought about. Won’t ever do an another hunt like it where that happens again.

Headed to Zim in 2 days for Leopard and Buff hunt. Really getting excited for that one.

 

[Green Chile]

I’m on my 11 trip over right now. I’ve hunted northern Tanzania once, Zim quite a bit with different outfitters all in wild areas. Bots a few times including one hunt we finished about 2 weeks ago.

Finishing our first hunt ever in SA right now. Was a decent hunt, but hitting the blacktop almost everyday to get to a hunting property was terrible. Really took me “out of the bush” so to speak. Was a first for me that I never even thought about. Won’t ever do an another hunt like it where that happens again.

Headed to Zim in 2 days for Leopard and Buff hunt. Really getting excited for that one.

3 trips in 1 month is fun. Someone will need to cut your grass!

 

[Hunter-Habib]

During the discussion on another thread about game farming and Put and Take, it was pointed out that some hunter books repeated cheaper hunts in heavy managed areas or game farms, but complain that hunts in open wild areas of Africa are too expensive.

Should one prefer to hunt more often in Africa under not so dreamy conditions, or should one make for the same money only one expensive safari in a wild area of Africa once in lifetime?

I went on my life’s first Safari to Kenya in 1974… thinking that Africa would be a once-in-a -lifetime thing for me. Boy, was I wrong…

I bagged a Cape buffalo bull on that first Safari (alongside a host of plains game) and unsuccessfully tried to bag a lion (which my white hunter was forced to spoor & finish off). But when I came back home, I decided that I needed to bag a lion on my own and also a hippopotamus. So I made another Safari into Rhodesia and bagged them. Then, I decided that I wanted an elephant bull & a leopard. So I made another Safari into Botswana and bagged them both. During the Safaris in Rhodesia & Botswana, I also bagged a Cape buffalo on each trip. By this point, the only member of the African Big Five which remained behind for me to bag… was the rhinoceros (a game animal which unfortunately continues to elude me right up to the present time of writing). But I had also begun to realize that I simply didn’t care about the trophies anymore. Hunting in Africa became a lifelong passion for me. And I resolved to always keep going on African Safaris at least once every couple of years. It didn’t matter that I’ve been bagging many members of the same species ever since (in rotation). I genuinely never tire of it. So for me, personally… I’ll take affordable hunts which I can keep enjoying on a fairly routine basis.

That said, there are many hunters who seek to go on an African Safari with the intention of simply bagging another trophy in order to tick off another desire on their hunting bucket list. My son, for example… he’s a passionate hunter, just like me. But he’s bagged a Cape buffalo, an elephant, a hippopotamus and a leopard on his African Safaris so far (one of each species). And he has no interest in hunting them anymore. He feels the same way about the plains game he has hunted so far (one of each species, barring quite a few impalas & guinea fowl for the camp larder over the years). He dreams of hunting a wild lion in Tanzania someday, but pretty honestly admits that after he bags the lion… he’ll probably never go to Africa again (except to just accompany me on my Safaris). So he just aims to go on one more Safari himself, which will be a really expensive lion hunt in Tanzania. I totally get that, and I’m cool with it. Different things make different kinds of hunters happy.

As for me… give me affordable hunts in Africa. And give them to me as frequently as is humanly possible.

Life’s First Safari (Kenya, 1974)

Life’s Most Recent Safari (Tanzania, 2023)

 

[trperk1]

I did my first hunt is S Africa but choose the top 3 animals on my bucket list; Buff, Sable and Kudu. The thought was one and done.......went back the next year for plains game and am booked in Tanzania in 2027!

 

[Nevada Wapati]

I've hunted Namibia & South Africa seven times. At this time, I no longer have a desire to hunt the game farms any longer. I hunted wild Mozambique once for plains game. A great hunt with animals as numerous as the game farms.

I'm now starting to plan for a non-trophy elephant and buffalo hunt in a truly wild area like the Nyakasanga area in Zimbabwe. I want to experience all the sights, sounds and smells of wild Africa.

 

[Scott CWO]

I just returned from SA. I darted a rhino and also shot four antelope species that are indigenous to SA. My friends and I had a fun trip. The ranch was very large and the kudu, black wildebeest, blesbuck and springbok were very spooky. Some other non-indigenous species were not as spooky as I have witnessed in wild areas. Perhaps I will write a report when I get caught up. The outfitter was great and the rhino conservation he is doing is to be commended.

Never say never, but I doubt I will ever hunt again in SA because I would rather save up and hunt truly wild areas. I don’t care what anyone else says but it is different, at least for me. I have two final trips planned to wild areas for myself (Ethiopia and Cameroon). I have some others planned with my son and friends, on which I will be observing. I have advised a few friends/clients, who can afford it, to save up and go to wild areas before they disappear. I helped them get booked in good areas. I helped one such fellow book a 21-day full bag in Tanzania to complete his Big 5. He already has a leopard and has graciously agreed to let my son take the leopard, one buffalo and some of the plains game species on a companion license. I really want my son to see wild Africa at least once. I am looking forward to this trip with my son and my friend even more so than my trips without him/them. My son loves to hunt and if he decides to go back sometime, that will be on him. It was important for me to get him there to see a wild area before it disappears and experience it with him. He works incredibly hard and saved me a lot of college money with athletic and academic scholarships. I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth.

I was born into a middle class family and I have worked incredibly hard. I have told my grown children not to expect much inheritance when my wife and I pass. We will be spending it down. I would encourage anyone to save up to hunt a wild area at least once. If it’s not possible, then by all means, hunt SA if you can. It’s all good!

 

[everett]

As for me… give me affordable hunts in Africa. And give them to me as frequently as is humanly possible

 

[steve white]

In my line of work, I have buried a lot of people who were well off, COULD have gone on trips, but for some reason put it off until they were going to "do it all in retirement." The takeaway--they never got to do it. They had strokes, or something else got them. The happiest man I know decided to go somewhere every single year. He bought a travel trailer and stayed long enough to get a taste of where he went.
Some of those who hunted stateside regularly spent the equivalent of what an African hunt could have been budgeted for. Some bought toys/jewelry, etc that could easily have totaled a premium African safari, but that's not what they CHOSE to budget for. Capstick himself told me, when he visited the DSC show one year, that IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GO, YOU WILL FIND A WAY. I took his advice.

 

[deewayne2003]

$20K isn't a lot of money to some and a fortune to others, hence why ..... everything is relative.

So instead of thinking in terms of "cheap vs expensive" I would urge everyone regardless of disposable income to enjoy the experiences they can afford while they (and those around them) are physically able to do so.

I've only been to Africa once so far, but in my maiden voyage I took a tuskless elephant with a double rifle, shot a stud of a bushbuck and a more than respectable Impala; plus had the added bonus of catching a massive Vundu catfish and seeing Lake Kariba while getting to meet the people of Zimbabwe.

Yes I could have gone on 2-3x cheaper hunts, but the dollar to experience ratio that I had was amazing and I couldn't have asked for a better first African experience.

My next African hunting decision is not a matter of if or when, but ..... Cape Buffalo or Leopard?

 

[revturbo9967]

Finishing our first hunt ever in SA right now. Was a decent hunt, but hitting the blacktop almost everyday to get to a hunting property was terrible. Really took me “out of the bush” so to speak. Was a first for me that I never even thought about. Won’t ever do an another hunt like it where that happens again.

This really makes sense to me as I feel the same way about Elk hunting. I know many hunt Elk by cruising properties and glassing from the road, then making a stalk. I don't have a problem with this as its still wild hunting, its just not for me. I would rather be deep in the back country leaving my tent at 3:30 in the morning to get to the glassing point at first light, than drive around looking for game.

Part of the enjoyment of a wild adventure is pushing yourself through being uncomfortable. I would take this view during my hunt over that of a windshield 1000 times over.

 

[wesheltonj]

I’ve taken both kinds of hunts. The once in a lifetime was in Masailand, just me hunting shared by thousands of Maasai, cattle, goats and sheep, but it was “Wild Africa” but not really. My South Africa Ranch hunt was me on 26k acres, no other people or livestock. Take your pick.

 

[Green Chile]

I’ve taken both kinds of hunts. The once in a lifetime was in Masailand, just me hunting shared by thousands of Maasai, cattle, goats and sheep, but it was “Wild Africa” but not really. My South Africa Ranch hunt was me on 26k acres, no other people or livestock. Take your pick.

You bring up a good point. Wild Africa has its odd moments also. We had the Zim army come through camp on my first trip over 20 years ago with CMS. CMS was pissed of course as they had made arrangements to avoid such situations with their contracts and govt connections. I’ve certainly seen more negative things in wild Africa than I have on big game farms in SA. Just part of it. TIA.

 

[Sideshow]

You bring up a good point. Wild Africa has its odd moments also. We had the Zim army come through camp on my first trip over 20 years ago with CMS. CMS was pissed of course as they had made arrangements to avoid such situations with their contracts and govt connections. I’ve certainly seen more negative things in wild Africa than I have on big game farms in SA. Just part of it. TIA.

Offf bet that was an interesting experience. There army would have been deployed in the Congo at that time if I recall rightly. Had a few encounters with them when uncle Bob came to vic falls for the election campaign. Not in the positive sense either.

The comment above about hitting the tar seal also rings very true for me. When overlanding after coming down through Namibia it always felt like the trip was over when we hit the tar coming out of fish river canyon. Always felt like we were back in real Africa when we crossed the Zambezi heading back north.

Hearing lions outside of a game reserve to me is wild Africa. Not to many areas now where you would hear this.

 

[MarkB]

I know no one who has done that "once in a lifetime safari" does it exist?

My safaris have always been based on funds, when I worked and circumstances dictated that I could go on safari, I choose wild, free range "cheap" areas in Zim and Namibia. After retirement funds reduced, but my desire for safari and special species increased, I could not afford these species in native wild free range areas of the world so I changed plan and had my first SA safari.

This is a very difficult decision for all safari hunters. More hunts and time in Africa, less glamorous animals is my way of thinking now. Many I know waited and are now gone long before they went.

Live life to its fullest, safari when you can. I guess my answer is more SA shorter fenced safari's over a wild, free range costlier one. Like others I did both so now retired with more time behind me than ahead my choice is easier.

MB