| crl |
| (.224 member) |
| 28/10/04 12:37 PM |
African Hunting Virgin needs help
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I am wanting to take my first trip to Africa in 06. I have never been there and would love to hear from any of you veterans on what I should be looking for when booking with a PH. I have only two requirements, buffalo and kudu. How many days am I looking at? What can I expect to spend for the whole deal, travel, trophy fees, dipping and packing and shipping etc. Damn there is a ton of things to think about.
thanks for any input
crl
| shakari |
| (.400 member) |
| 29/10/04 03:15 AM |
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Re: African Hunting Virgin needs help
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CRL,
I'm on the other side of the fence, but my advice, whatever species you want to hunt and whatever African country you want to hunt it in is to research the subject thoroughly, ask for and check references, insist on having a comprehensive safari contract (which you should agree before parting with any money), and bear in mind that any deal that looks too good to be true, probably will be just that.........any quality product can't ever be found at a bargain basement price.
Also bear in mind that a good safari doesn't end when you board the plane to fly home.... it ends when you're hanging your trophies on the wall with a smile on your face.
You should plan around 7 days for a Buff hunt, (most outfitters offer that time on a Buff package) and depending on which country you hunt will dictate how long you spend on Kudu and other plains game.
........ I should also warn you that African hunting is highly addictive.
| Dark_Helmet |
| (.333 member) |
| 29/10/04 12:37 PM |
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Re: African Hunting Virgin needs help
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perfect answer steve...
NitroX
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| (.700 member) |
| 29/10/04 01:05 PM |
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Re: African Hunting Virgin needs help
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I would start off with which country I wanted to hunt in.
Buffalo:
Zimbabwe
Zambia
Mozambique
Tanzania
South Africa (but its expensive for buffalo)
You can pick from a sort buffalo hunt - 5 to 7 days, or a longer hunt - 10 to 14 days. The longer hunts are recommended if you want to hunt for a bigger trophy. Generally on shorter ones you may take the first representative head found.
Zimbabwe will have the lowest prices but you take the countries political climate as it comes. Tanzania would be a great hunt but a little more expensive.
| Will |
| (.333 member) |
| 29/10/04 07:18 PM |
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Re: African Hunting Virgin needs help
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Yours is a loaded question, as who knows how much you have to spend. The cheapest route is Zimbabwe to hunt only kudu and buff. I don't know if you can hunt kudu on the cheap "buff-only" hunts in Tanz.
I would budget in US dollars, for Zim:
Passport: $?
Visa: $30 for Zim and no need to get it early, but this varies in cost and should allow lots of time for sending the passport to the embassy of some countries to get the Visa before your departure.
Plane from US departure city: $2300
If you charter into camp: $1500 (depends, but the sky is the limit on charters! Depending where you hunt, you might also be able to drive in. You can also split the cost if someone goes with you).
7-day Buff hunt & trophy fee: $7000
Kudu trophy fee: $800
Tips: $800
Dipping and packing: $400 (This is pretty much an arbitrary number and negotiable in many cases).
Shipping and expediting of trophies: $1800
That's most of it. Gets expensive, eh? Better to budget on the high side. You can always bring home leftover travellers checks!
You need to talk to several references (names and phone numbers) of ANY outfitter/PH. Things rarely stay the same even from year to year...guys go out of business, loose concessions, get killed by buffalo, fly off to Hawaii with a clients wife, etc.
You can reasonably expect a 36" or better buff and a 50 something inch kudu. Only the big ones wind up in the ad photos!
You need to get yourself to an SCI meeting! But don't get caught up in the excitement without talking to someone that has been there and done that.
| Will |
| (.333 member) |
| 29/10/04 07:23 PM |
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Re: African Hunting Virgin needs help
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I am also insulted that I am ".300 member."
I wouldn't hunt squirrels with a .300 much less buff and elephant.
| crl |
| (.224 member) |
| 29/10/04 11:22 PM |
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Re: African Hunting Virgin needs help
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Will thanks for the great info. That is exactly what I am looking for. I have just joined the SCI so I plan on getting in touch with some local folks who have made the trip. I was figuring about 12k for a 7 day hunt but it appears I may be on the light side. I really want to focus on Buffalo and if I can swing a kudu as well fine if not fine as well.
Thanks
crl
| Marrakai |
| (.416 member) |
| 30/10/04 11:39 AM |
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Re: African Hunting Virgin needs help
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crl:
If you haven't already seen it, there is a great article on hunting these animals in the 1989 Petersen's Hunting Annual: many of your questions will be answered there.
"Buffalo and Kudu: Africa's Finest Bulls" by Craig Boddington. pp 122 - 127.
Maybe you can borrow a copy off one of your new SCI buddies!
