Planning my first hunt in Africa

[ActionBob]

Click on the name or avatar of the person you want to PM. Then a window pops up with their info and click "start a conversation"... Works really well! This is THE best hunting web site in existence and really has great functions!

 

[enysse]

Welcome to AH, Michael!

 

[ActionBob]

BTW Mike;
Check into taxidermy options before you go. If you plan to have it done in Africa, go visit the taxidermist while there. Or better yet visit a couple... And know the costs. In Zimbabwe it was a minimum fee to dip and pack "up to" three animals and I had two to do... I had passed on a couple and should have taken at least one more, would have been very cheap.

 

[siml]

@ActionBob , do you prefer dip and pack or taxidermy done in Africa?

 

[ActionBob]

@ActionBob , do you prefer dip and pack or taxidermy done in Africa?

It depends! At the one I'm having dip and packed, the quality looked really good but prices were almost the same as in the USA, so with shipping I was better from a total cost perspective to dip and pack.. And I was needing to ship out replica tusks to have a replica shoulder mount done back in the States anyway.

I have all my taxidermy in Africa yet today (about 40 critters)... Some is done but I went to check on it and now having some fixes done... Some honest preference differences but I'm a bit pissed off that many of the horns are black after I specifically asked they be kept natural colored. So glad I checked! And now they are trying to find my wife's zebra skin, not the one with her name on it, but the actual one that matches the detailed photos we took So we will see how it all turns out then I will review that in more detail.

I do plan to have most of what I shot this year done in Africa but not at the taxidermist I started with. Rather one I have checked out more thoroughly and seems to have a good balance of quality and price. And communication. I could go on but it might get less than polite to some.

I will absolutely never again just go with an outfitters advice without visiting myself AND getting references. And I am optimistic that hiring my own exporter will pay off. There is too much of a "good old boys" club going on in the outfitting/ taxidermy/ shipping business to just leave it up to whomever is getting a commission on their recommendations.

Yes there are some great opportunities in having things done in Africa! There can be significant cost savings. Some really great creativity going on and some resources in the form of local Artisans who can do the extra things you don't first think of, like leather work, carvings, paintings, crafts, etc.

 

[James.Grage]

Greetings, members. I was referred to this site because I am in the early stages of planning my first hunt in Africa in June-August 2017. I am not yet certain what country to go to or species to shoot. My dreams include a lion, buffalo, kudu, sable, gemsbok and wildebeest. I don't think I will have the funds for a lion or sable on the first trip, but a buffalo would be a dream. I very much want a traditional "old style" african experience and want to see as much game as possible. Hearing a lion at night would be another dream. I want to hunt free range, if possible and not run into other groups of hunters. Any suggestions on location and outfitters to fit these requirements would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards, Mike

Mike
Having leopards in camp nightly, lion in camp some times, elephant and cape buffalo at the water hole by camp were some of the big five, that i have observed at one camp i hunted. Plus the hyena, sable, monkeys, baboons, impala, wild dogs, warthogs, zebra, hartebeest and wildebeest not counting the the various birds and lizards that were present at the water hole is a great camp. Plus just to think you have the entire 800,000 +/- acres to your self, it is doable. The stand off between the sable and the wild dogs was another event i was able to watch one day.

Having a lion sleep under your tent is a once in a life time event, leopards by the skinning shed at first light every day is another. Monkeys throwing pods at your tent roof is another friendly gesture, you may have to get used to. Getting up before sunrise to see the white rhino by camp is another sight that most will never see.

Seeing great amounts of game in a open concession can be good some days and other days it is off, game animals do not have any limits on where they have to stay.

 

[siml]

@James.Grage , sometimes its hard to explain not seeing animals some days and other days plenty. But you nailed it.

 

[MikeNC]

Hi Mike,

I am also planning my first trip and I cant say enough good things about this site.. I just joined and already getting some great information. This is the best hunting forum I have ever been a member of!

 

[billc]

actionbob I thing you found out even when someone tells you a place is good and you should use them is always best to check them out on your own also. Though after all the talking of getting things mounted in Africa I am shocked how many people can't tell great work for ok work. Also is always surprising how people think because someone is in business for a long time that makes them better then someone who has been in business for only a few years. Or the they are way bigger so they must be better.

As for the hunt part of this thread don't think you cant see or hear the sounds of Africa in a fenced in areas either. No it is not the same but the hunt is still one you will remember for the rest of your life if you pick the right place. Picking a hunt for a lot of us comes down to a budget and get the best you can for that money.

 

[jeff]

ActionBob, I too have black horns come into my shop from Africa and all they did was dip and pack, they weren't painted. I think possible over cooking and over drying in direct sun may be the result. I have had customers that thought I painted their horns but all I did was wipe a clear oil finish to liven them up. If you wipe the the horns with water they will darken some and you should see the color of the end product. I have also had shipments that that retained a lot of their color.

 

[ActionBob]

ActionBob, I too have black horns come into my shop from Africa and all they did was dip and pack, they weren't painted. I think possible over cooking and over drying in direct sun may be the result. I have had customers that thought I painted their horns but all I did was wipe a clear oil finish to liven them up. If you wipe the the horns with water they will darken some and you should see the color of the end product. I have also had shipments that that retained a lot of their color.

They sprayed them with WD-40 like we would use on a rusty bolt!

But the thing is, I specifically asked them NOT to do anything to turn the horns black. And not once but several times! And then when I finally got pictures, and saw they looked painted black, I pointed it out and got a response back that they have never painted any horns... Well I believe not with "paint" but certainly with something to turn them black... And in person the husband told be he sprays them all with WD-40. But the wife does all the email and I asked her not to!? WTF!

The "BIG" place actually seems to have better controls in place and they use a clear sealer, if requested. Why can't the little shop do this? Either lazy or un-organized?

 

[ActionBob]

And @billc , The big place I was impressed with is Life Form... I don't have any work there but I was impressed with the operation. Well worth visiting.

The stuff I am disgruntled about is at a small shop, and the place I am going to is a small shop.... Relive, where your's is at. The difference is the approach taken to how they approach the business/art and follow up.

I am still hopeful that things will work out, the biggest issue is to find Ann's zebra skin.. Everything else is minor and can be fixed. That zebra is way more important for many personal reasons than my elephant, lion, or buffalos. Some people don't understand that, but real hunters do!

I think this is enough hijacking this thread! I only meant to point out to first timers how important it is to check out taxidermists.

 

[All-American Taxidermy]

Michael,
- you'll have to get a broker lined up to clear your trophies whether mounted in Africa or brought to US for taxidermy. You can do this on your own, but I'd rather pay $300-350 for a professional broker to make sure everything goes smoothly...

 

[JamesJ]

Michael,

For a real African experience, Tanzania is the destination, most safaris are conducted in the same manner or very close to it that they have done for many years. I also recommend Mozambique and many of the area in Zim are still very good as well. Unfortunately it does all come down to money. feel free to give me a call and i would be happy to help you.

 

[buchnerl]

Welcome to the forum @Michael J. Harrison You have found the site that will be well worth all your planning and questions to be answered.

Feel free to PM me about exclusive hunting on the animals you listed, we do them all and can surely help you.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Hi Michael,
We have free range buff available in total wild areas. Please do not hesitate to drop us an email, should you need more info.

Take Care,
Marius Goosen
KMG Hunting Safaris

 

[Bos en Dal SAFARIS]

Hi Mike

You will certainly find something on here to suite your needs!!
Kind regards

 

[Kudurifle]

Hi Michael,
We have free range buff available in total wild areas. Please do not hesitate to drop us an email, should you need more info.

Take Care,
Marius Goosen
KMG Hunting Safaris

Dear Marius,

I took a look at your website. It looks like a nice operation. Can you give me an idea of your 2015 prices and availability on hard boss buff as well as lioness? How long of a hunt do you think would be necessary to hunt both and a few plains game (3-4)? Will you be at Feb 2016 SCI show in the States? Thanks, Mike

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Hi Mike,
Thanks for the message. I'm just checking on quota, and will send you a PM as soon as I have info. There won't be lioness available in the area, but Buff should not be a problem.
Not sure about SCI, but will more than likely be in NY in March.

You should have something in the mailbox soon.

Take Care,
Marius

 

[Kudurifle]

Marius, I can't go this year. I was just trying to get a general idea on prices with your outfit. My original plan was 2017 but the bug has hit me pretty hard and I might have to move it up to 2016.