Which species draws you back to Africa?

[Hunter-Habib]

Oh, dear God. I love it all. Except waterbuck. I only shot one of those and found the taste to be quite revolting.

But as for top 3 picks,
Dangerous game- Wild lion
Hippopotamus on land
Elephant bull
Plains Game- Kudu
Zebra
Impala

 

[Green Chile]

I would love to do a hippo on land but haven't found the right setup yet. If I did that, I would just be missing the cats from the big 7.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I would love to do a hippo on land but haven't found the right setup yet. If I did that, I would just be missing the cats from the big 7.

Give Game Trackers Africa a call.

Hunting hippopotamus bulls on land in the sugarcane fields is a different kind of thrill.

 

[Neil Molendyk]

I would love another spot and stalk buffalo, and a leopard. In Tanzania, but unfortunately that's probably just a dream, all things considered.

 

[Tanks]

Elephant, everything else is an afterthought.

 

[Rare Breed]

great question. i have hunted both a fenced area of 10,000 acres in SA and 2 million+ acres no fences in Zim. both candidly great experiences. in the latter i walked more but the quality of the hunt was the same. worked hard for both nice buff

 

[Siennacoyote]

I´ve hunted 47 animals in RSA, of 29 different species. My last hunt (report still to be written), was such a disappointment, that I think this has been my last.

I’d like to read that for sure

 

[Siennacoyote]

I’ve never been but planning . Looks like 2025. Or 2026 . I’d like to get a buddy or two together because I think that would up my experience but it will likely be solo. I have a list of plains game that’s pretty standard kudu wildebeest impala zebra warthog. I’m obsessing over warthog . Such a cool animal. But this thread among others has me really considering dangerous game . I’ve asked some questions in cbl threads to get ideas but not sure if I’ll go that route. Figure if I want to do it I need to do it soon . Buffalo keeps coming in my brain . Reading the hunt reports and feeling the excitement is insane. I also really like reptiles so crocodile is something in the future . Right now I’m pondering an alligator and hog hunt in Florida or Louisiana . Reading death in the long grass now To quench a little of my thirst

 

[1peggy]

For me, it's hard to imagine a trip without some kind of DG on the menu. I find myself taking incidental PG that is above average but ONLY if I'm not on tracks for DG. I just keep coming back for mostly buff and elephant and my 2 trips booked for next year will continue that trend. I love the tracking of DG and the multiple stalks where the wind changes and you start over again...or you get close and there's no shot...and you keep thinking about the next opportunity to get close. I was also surprised how much I enjoyed stalking big crocs around the weeds and water's edge this year. I find that more enjoyable than baiting. I will do that again next year as well. I could find myself addicted to the long walks after big eland but I'm trying to resist that siren's call after taking what might have been a top 10 Livingstone's this year. I'm also trying to avoid the collector's itch for other spiral horns...that's a long expensive road and I have some nice ones but don't need that itch!

It's nice to hear though what draws regulars back to Africa. Sometimes it's the kudu...sometime the eland...sometimes the warthog...what draws you back and you want to get one every time? What is it about that species that speaks to you? Also curious to hear what is calling to you but you are resisting like my comments above? What's pulling on you?

A buffalo bigger than the last!

 

[Doug3006]

My current siren’s song is Leopard. It’s pulling at me hard! After that, it will probably be buffalo. Even after taking 2, and one of them large enough that I’ll likely never see his equal. I enjoy hunting buffalo more than anything.

 

[Red Leg]

Buffalo

 

[WAB]

A buffalo bigger than the last!

Funny thing, my best buffalo hunt did not produce my biggest buffalo.

 

[Vintageguy]

Buffalo! Nothing else comes close as far as I’m concerned. I have no desire for an elephant and haven’t hunted lion. Love hunting other things but buffalo has it all, a tuned in prey, tracking, stalking, and that tuned in prey demands respect for what he is capable of if he decides to fight rather than flee.

 

[DLSJR]

I´ve hunted 47 animals in RSA, of 29 different species. My last hunt (report still to be written), was such a disappointment, that I think this has been my last.

Perhaps hunting somewhere other than South Africa would reignite the fire. I’ve been on 8 hunts across 5 different countries, only 1 was in South Africa and I’m not likely to hunt there in the future except a hunt or two for specific species like Limpopo Bushbuck. I simply find hunting wilder, unfenced country to be much more appealing. My last 3 African hunts were all in Tanzania; next 3 that are booked will be in Cameroon, Mozambique & Congo.

Nothing against South Africa at all, but I’m guessing a change of scenery would do wonders for you.

 

[DLSJR]

It’s more of the sounds. Especially the birds. I can envision eventually going and not even hunting.

One of my finest African trips was last February, to Kenya. As most know, Kenya does not allow any hunting, even for birds. Just game viewing, offshore fishing (Kenya has excellent saltwater fishing) and the kids climbing Kilimanjaro made for an exceptional trip.

 

[channelkat]

Was the bird hunting closed more recently? I thought Kenya used to allow some bird hunting.

 

[Shooter375]

Kudu

 

[Green Chile]

Nothing against South Africa at all, but I’m guessing a change of scenery would do wonders for you.

What’s interesting is how many SA PHs love to hunt other countries like Zim. Just ask where they like to hunt and you will hear about other countries a lot.

 

[Green Chile]

Buffalo! Nothing else comes close as far as I’m concerned. I have no desire for an elephant…

There are no wrong answers of course and buffalo are fantastic but…elephant are another level. You can feel it in the trackers and the PHs…it’s a heavier feeling…more intense. I love it.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

There are no wrong answers of course and buffalo are fantastic but…elephant are another level. You can feel it in the trackers and the PHs…it’s a heavier feeling…more intense. I love it.

Hope to experience that feeling in 2026.
Planning my first Elephant hunt for then.