Short Term safaris

[Happy Myles]

An African Safari used to be a long planned trip, requiring a time consuming, expensive adventure into East African wilds. Then a few decades ago, South African ranchers realized they could stop struggling making a living raising domestic livestock and make a better living reintroducing plains game for hunting behind controlled high fences. Nice hunting lodges added to the pleasant atmosphere. These hunts could be readily marketed for shorter time periods to a much wider number of potential African hunters. It has been great for those of us who could otherwise only dream of an African safari.

 

[mark-hunter]

An African Safari used to be a long planned trip

Exactly.
Not to mention travelling by passenger ship across Atlantic, Med, Suez, down to Mombassa, at least a month of cruising at deep sea. Then travel by railroad from Mombasa to Nairobi to meet your white hunter, and then proceed to interior when caravan is ready.

Safari: First by foot, and bearers, next by by cars.
In old days they were travelling east Africa from Uganda, Kenya down to Tanganyika in one expedition.

It was time consuming, and safari was never less then 3 months.

Today, on one ranch in south Africa and Namibia, you can find every game species, and with full logistics. Roads, water, food, lodging. wi fi, tv, phone. So can easily be accomplished in a week safari.

However, modern day hunting of some very specific species in remote areas is still very similar as it once was, and very expensive.

But if hunting survives in future to come, I think at best, it will be south African or Namibian model.

But, I could easily be wrong, it also has to be noted, that in last 100 years many people were predicting extinction of hunting, but it still actually thrives, and faces modern challenges. Some species have been saved because of hunting.

 

[Foxi]

My wife and I did a seven day buffalo hunt in the Save. We followed that with a driving tour of South Africa’s wine country, staying at the Coopmanhuijs in Stellenbosch. Three separate stays at Africa Sky (arriving, transiting & leaving) made for perfect transitions in our travel. We love to hunt but Africa has much more than hunting that needs to be explored.

what have you done with your gun in that time ?

 

[Mountaineer]

With kids in college and using reward points to fly, you take what you can afford. A few days are better than no days.

 

[DieJager]

From Brussels, Air Belgium is now flying direct to Johannesburg. 11hrs of flight. Lift-off on Wednesday evening, by noon Thursday I could be hunting already. This option just opened a few months ago, I think I will try to make use of it in the future. Not too expensive either, in economy its a 700€ round trip.

@Frederik : not this year, but next year this "fast travel" might make it easier to come over for me.

I also saw this option. For my the distance to Amsterdam is the same but Brussel will save me a couple of hundred bucks. Interesting option maybe in the future.

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

I totally agree with Rookhawk. A true African bush experience requires a longer period of hunting and relaxing time.

A few weeks ago my wife did a 10day leopard hunt for a visiting hunter, with baiting starting 4 days before arrival. No mature mail leopard hit the bait while the visiting hunter was present 5 days later he hit the bait.

At the moment we are 6 days into a 10day combo hippo/croc hunt. Day 7 or possibly 8 should produce a 14 ft. croc. With the extra few days the hunter should go home rested after taking his hippo/croc. Who knows there is even a chance he may catch a nice Tiger Fish or two.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

What do you prefer, blonds, brunettes, or redheads? How about thin, Barbie doll figure, or athletic females? The answers depend on our personal preferences.

Would we hunt Africa for a short or long time is subjective based on not only personnel preferences but on family, financial, and schedule limitations. Would I prefer to hunt the Big 5 every year on a 6-week safari? You bet and I will just as soon as I take a second mortgage on my home or win the lottery. The first is out of the question and for the second, I’d have to buy lottery tickets for a chance on that.

For now, I will hunt what I can, when I can. For those who can hunt Africa for 30 days every year, please post your chronical with plenty of photos so that I and many others can live vicariously and dream of the day…

 

[Tra3]

For a family trip, at least 14 days on soil is my opinion of ideal. Were I to be traveling and hunting alone, I think I could shorten that trip. As my kids get off into their own lives, I would consider a shorter trip for the adventure of it. But, the point of a safari is to unwind and be outside, too short a trip doesn’t reach that goal. I’m not one to go there just to shoot something and leave.

 

[WAB]

what have you done with your gun in that time ?

Just left it in the safe at Africa Sky in Johannesburg. We done that on a number of side trips. They are more than happy to keep your rifle while you tour.

 

[WAB]

I totally agree with Rookhawk. A true African bush experience requires a longer period of hunting and relaxing time.

A few weeks ago my wife did a 10day leopard hunt for a visiting hunter, with baiting starting 4 days before arrival. No mature mail leopard hit the bait while the visiting hunter was present 5 days later he hit the bait.

At the moment we are 6 days into a 10day combo hippo/croc hunt. Day 7 or possibly 8 should produce a 14 ft. croc. With the extra few days the hunter should go home rested after taking his hippo/croc. Who knows there is even a chance he may catch a nice Tiger Fish or two.

I agree Lon. I have done anywhere from 7 to 28 days. I personally would set 10 days in camp and 14 days in Africa as a minimum going forward. I feel like I’ve just settled in after 3 days.

 

[VonJager]

9 days hunting first trip.

7 days hunting second trip(all the time my dad could take off from work in his opinion) and I thought it was too short.

3rd trip 10 days hunting. I was solo and by the end it was getting a little long.

4th trip, 7 days hunting and 2 days on the Zambezi river. Felt about right.

 

[mark-hunter]

@VonJager
What were activities at Zambezi river?

 

[VonJager]

@VonJager
What were activities at Zambezi river?

fishing, game viewing

 

[Happy Myles]

A long time ago, my African adventures began with three weeks in Zimbabwe and the following year 35 days in Zambia, not satisfied, I returned the next year to Zambia for 40 days more. My addiction was complete. I relentlessly began hunting all over the continents jungles, savannahs, and mountains, with the exception of South Africa which I had only visited sight seeing. To complete my Tiny Ten I finally planned a hunt. It was a dandy. During 30 days of hunting I took 42 animals made possible by using a small charter plane to visit the country north, south, east, and west. I was amazed how the country's hunting environment had changed. South Africa today allows hunters not as fortunate as I to experience an African safari. I have been a very lucky hunter able to indulge myself.

 

[LivingTheDream]

Honestly it is work, 7 days is about all I can be away for. People lose their minds when I am gone and decision paralysis takes place. When I was gone on one trip another VP made a decision and it easily cost the company 1 million and maybe closer to 2 million is revenue over the next 4 years.

I have done 5 safaris, I think 2 were for 7 days, 2 were for 8 and 1 was 10...I should clarify those were hunting days so a day for arrival and departure.

I also feel like 7 days is a bit of an inflection point. Usually by day 6, seems like you got the priority animal or 2 and it is a good time to leave. The 10 days safari I would have been fine with leaving on day 7, but by day 10, I found new things to see, to hunt and kind of gotten a new routine, I was ready to stay.

I also would rather do many short safaris and see different places and hunt different game. Part of the fun for me is the reading and learning before a hunt.

 

[WAB]

Just left it in the safe at Africa Sky in Johannesburg. We done that on a number of side trips. They are more than happy to keep your rifle while you tour.

Thinking about this reply, I believe I have given some bad information. My guns are in the safe while I’m at Africa Sky, but we have had someone store them for us while we were on non-hunting excursions. There is some permitting required. They picked them up and returned them to Africa Sky at a minimal cost. I can’t remember the name of the outfit, but it was quite easy.

 

[BourbonTrail]

I think in RSA, 5-7 hunting days is about perfect if you aren’t showing up with a 10+ animal list or looking to hunt multiple venues. I did 5 hunting days and took 4 animals (DG & PG) and I shot sand grouse. I never felt rushed or strapped for time, and our stalks were multi-mile, multi day events. I think attitude has a lot to do with the outcome.

If I were after game in Zim or similar 10-14 days could be more appropriate depending on the circumstances.

 

[Bonk]

Easy answer. Money.

In addition to the extra cost of a longer trip I don't have the luxury of being gone that long. Time is money. The longer I'm gone the more money I lose from not being present to generate it. The longer I'm gone the more of my vacation/PTO I burn up. I have other interests besides hunting and I don't want to burn all my vacation/PTO on one event. I'm not in a position where I could forego a months income without feeling the pinch even if my company would allow me to take the time off unpaid (they won't BTW).

In my case the only way a longer trip is going to happen is after I retire. Until then I'm going to have to be satisfied with 7 days of actual hunting plus travel time. If I'm reasonable about my game list I don't see where a 7 day hunt is unreasonably short. I'm planning on 5 head of game over 7 days. I'll be quite satisfied if I only get 3 or 4. Another factor is I'm the only one going. The trip will be about hunting. Period. Any sightseeing will be incidental and only after the tags are filled.