ILCAPO
AH enthusiast
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2011
- Messages
- 292
- Reaction score
- 155
- Location
- Northern Virginia
- Member of
- Private club on friend's land in Augusta County, Virginia
- Hunted
- USA (Colorado, Alabama, Virginia)
Hello all. I've not been much of a forum user prior to now, but thought I'd look for one relating to hunting in Africa. With a Google search, here I am. 
Just a few months ago I started wondering about hunting in Africa. While I'm fortunate enough to have a place to hunt white tails and black bear here in Virginia, the cost of Elk, Moose, and other such hunts out west (there's none here) are so expensive I could likely only afford one in my lifetime. (My wife would kill me otherwise.) That said, she's interested in a going to Africa and doing a photo safari. So, I've been looking into a combined package and found some outfitters which appear to offer pretty good deals.
I found one site -- Africanskyhunting, South Africa -- and been in contact with them. I love their website, which is very professionally done and easy to use. And the PH has been very helpful. Also, I just learned an old girlfriend's brother hunted with them several years ago and has nothing but praise for their operations. That said, as I've conducted further research, I'm noting that in most cases, their overall prices tend to run higher than most other outfitters. Some of the other outfitters have good write ups as well. This said, I'm wondering if this is a case of "you get what you pay for" (is this outfit actually that superior to the rest) or if it's a case of they simply charge a lot. This is what brings me to this forum.
Does anyone here have experience with Africanskyhunting? If so, would you mind providing me your impressions?
From what I can see, African hunting, overall, appears to provide a pretty darn good value as compared to what our outfitters are doing in the USA. I've read some real horror stories on the latter, and many people are saying Africa is by far the better deal.
I hunted Elk three times out in Colorado, twice while stationed there (with the military) and once I went back to join my new friend, my hunter safety instructor whom I met while stationed there. NEVER ONCE did I even see an Elk. They were all up too high in the mountains for me to reach on foot and without a guide to find them and help get them back. Now that Colorado has jacked the friggin rates on the out-of-state hunting licenses up so far (Elks are now TRIPLE the last fee I paid -- $750 versus $250), I couldn't afford to hunt without a really good probability of actually having a shot. Any outfitter I've seen in any state out west wants at least $5,000, usually more, which is far more than the African hunts for multiple animals. And from what I can see this is for a kill or not!
The only disadvantage in African hunting is you can't bring the meat home. I would think there would be some way to pay to have at least some of the meat -- choice parts -- inspected and cleared for importation into the USA, but apparently there is not. Does anyone know otherwise?
Oh, by the way, I'm talking plains game here, not dangerous game. I could never afford the trophy fees on the latter. (That is, unless I win the lottery!)
Anyway, thanks for any help you might be able to provide. As I noted, I am currently in my "research" phase. I've not decided solidly on a country, but I'm leaning strongly towards South Africa and packaging this with a safari through Kruger NP and taking a trip down to the Cape. As for guns/calibers, I think I've made my choice, but it all depends on the package I eventually put together.
Thanks!
Just a few months ago I started wondering about hunting in Africa. While I'm fortunate enough to have a place to hunt white tails and black bear here in Virginia, the cost of Elk, Moose, and other such hunts out west (there's none here) are so expensive I could likely only afford one in my lifetime. (My wife would kill me otherwise.) That said, she's interested in a going to Africa and doing a photo safari. So, I've been looking into a combined package and found some outfitters which appear to offer pretty good deals.
I found one site -- Africanskyhunting, South Africa -- and been in contact with them. I love their website, which is very professionally done and easy to use. And the PH has been very helpful. Also, I just learned an old girlfriend's brother hunted with them several years ago and has nothing but praise for their operations. That said, as I've conducted further research, I'm noting that in most cases, their overall prices tend to run higher than most other outfitters. Some of the other outfitters have good write ups as well. This said, I'm wondering if this is a case of "you get what you pay for" (is this outfit actually that superior to the rest) or if it's a case of they simply charge a lot. This is what brings me to this forum.
Does anyone here have experience with Africanskyhunting? If so, would you mind providing me your impressions?
From what I can see, African hunting, overall, appears to provide a pretty darn good value as compared to what our outfitters are doing in the USA. I've read some real horror stories on the latter, and many people are saying Africa is by far the better deal.
I hunted Elk three times out in Colorado, twice while stationed there (with the military) and once I went back to join my new friend, my hunter safety instructor whom I met while stationed there. NEVER ONCE did I even see an Elk. They were all up too high in the mountains for me to reach on foot and without a guide to find them and help get them back. Now that Colorado has jacked the friggin rates on the out-of-state hunting licenses up so far (Elks are now TRIPLE the last fee I paid -- $750 versus $250), I couldn't afford to hunt without a really good probability of actually having a shot. Any outfitter I've seen in any state out west wants at least $5,000, usually more, which is far more than the African hunts for multiple animals. And from what I can see this is for a kill or not!
The only disadvantage in African hunting is you can't bring the meat home. I would think there would be some way to pay to have at least some of the meat -- choice parts -- inspected and cleared for importation into the USA, but apparently there is not. Does anyone know otherwise?
Oh, by the way, I'm talking plains game here, not dangerous game. I could never afford the trophy fees on the latter. (That is, unless I win the lottery!)
Anyway, thanks for any help you might be able to provide. As I noted, I am currently in my "research" phase. I've not decided solidly on a country, but I'm leaning strongly towards South Africa and packaging this with a safari through Kruger NP and taking a trip down to the Cape. As for guns/calibers, I think I've made my choice, but it all depends on the package I eventually put together.
Thanks!
