Afrika Plains Game in 2025

[Chuck R.]

My 2nd retirement gift (from me to me) is going to be a plains game hunt in SA for the summer of 25.

A friend that's going with me has a couple specifics he's after. He's been before and would like to get better samples of; Gemsbuck, Wildebeest and a Zebra (his wife's request/demand, wants a rug).

I honestly don't care about trophies, I'd just like to see Afrika and hunt some. I've got a longer list of things I don't want to shoot; monkeys, giraffes, zebras and top 5 stuff. So I'm just going to pick somethings off that menu that look cool and will work in 6-7 days of hunting. I'm way more interested in Land Rovers wall tents etc.

We're currently working with 2 PHs:

https://jkosafaris.com/ Came recommended by a friend that went last year for buff & plains game with his wife and is going back next year. They came back with a pretty reasonable package of my friends choices, 6 days for just under $5K. (including the trophy fees for his 3 choices, all the usual exclusions apply)

https://volmersafaris.com/ Comes recommended by another retired army guy that lived in SA and works periodically for a contractor company supporting the SA .gov. He's hunted with these guys for 15 safaris so far and was born/raised in SA. The PH was just here for a SCI event and stayed at his house, so they've got a history.

Total budget I've set aside is about $20K (including bringing back some euro mounts).

Thoughts on what else to look for/worry about?

 

[Armored farmer]

I just heard on a podcast today that some younger PHs have mounted RDS on their double rifles.
Older dudes calling blasphemy, younger guides say they work great.
Probably not what you were looking for in this thread, but twas my submission anyway.
You have a year to read my favorite book (or listen on Audible like I did) THE WHITE HUNTERS. by Brian Hern.
Listen to White Hunters by Brian Herne on Audible. https://www.audible.com/pd/B002V5D0KO?source_code=ASSORAP0511160007
If you listen on audio book you get the great British East Africa accent. Bloody good.

 

[codytrucker]

I went to northern Limpopo for a couple of weeks in early 2020 . It is an amazing , beautiful country . I actually went for a friends wedding , but did some hunting , too . Make sure to take a good camera ! We took a bunch of clothes to give to some of the workers and their family's , and I took a cheaper pair of vortex bino's that I gave to a tracker when we left , he seemed very glad to have them . I went into the hunting with the attitude that I wanted to see some of these animals on the ground in their environment before I decided what I wanted to shoot . You might check with your outfitter , or friend that lived their some things like zebra rugs or impala skins can be bought there and brought back in your luggage cheaper than the freight and taxidermy bill would be .

 

[H&Hhunter]

I’ve hunted Africa quite a bit. I’ve hunted Tanzania, Zimbabwe and South Africa. By far and away South Africa is the most developed and modern of the sub Saharan countries.

South Africa reminds of the Texas model of hunting. The vast majority of South African hunting is done on private ranches. Much of the hunting but not all is conducted on high fence properties. Some are expansive and vast, some are smaller. I’ve hunted on places in South Africa that you’ll never see or realize that there is a perimeter fence, I’ve also been on some places that are hardly big enough to properly graze a cow and calf.

It is important to understand where and what kind of property you’ll be hunting on. Some of South Africa feels and sounds like wild African bush. Some of South Africa is nothing more than small pens with 100% canned, put and take critter shooting. That’s why I say know what you’re getting into so that you’re not disappointed.

Much like Texas there is almost nowhere in South Africa that is truly wild and not under the direct control and direction of the human hand and influence.

That being said I’d hunt South Africa again in a heartbeat on the right places. Just like I’d hunt Texas again on the right places. In fact I’m planning another hunt in SA as I write this.

I am telling you this from the perspective of a hunter who’s hunted the real deal wild back country of Africa. No fences wild elephant and lions roaming free, it’s a different experience than a ranch hunt in South Africa. That’s not to say that South Africa is not a great experience in its own right. It just different.

Go have fun, and take lots of pictures. There really isn’t anything to worry about I South Africa.

As far as bringing items to gift to the workers. The first time I went to Tanzania I brought note books and pencils for the school children. They were accepted and I was thanked. As I got more experienced and got to know some locals I quit doing that. Especially in South Africa the workers on a farm/ranch are making a decent wage and they really don’t need your charity. They’ll accept it but it isn’t needed. Out in the bush bringing a few charity items only causes strife and jealousy as people will fight for the few items you brought.

Either send over a shipping container full of stuff or don’t bring anything at all. I leave the charitable giving to the charities.

I made the mistake of leaving a GPS with an apprentice PH in Zimbabwe once, it was almost immediately stolen and later I heard someone got killed over it.

Never again.