I'm Back

[WildRose]

Nice! This is definitely on my bucket list.
Could you please post the details of your trip as to travel, outfitter, and the various costs?

I could but they would be unrealistic for most people as much of the hunting I did I got a very special reduced rate on. I had a good friend/dog customer organize the whole thing
and he literally got me the local bood ole boy rate on everything. If you stick with the more common animals such as Impala, Springbok, Red Hartebeest, Blue Wildebeest, Warthog, Bush Pig, Blessbok etc the kill fees can be extremely reasonable and vary on basically a per inch above a minimum basis.

When you move into things like the Sable, Nyala, and Kudo or any of the "big five" species it can get very expensive in a hurry. A Sable in the class of the one I killed can easily exceed 5k, Nyala in that class 3k or more.

A Cape Buff hunt for a decent trophy animal will run you between 4,000-7,000 dollars. Sometimes you can catch a really good deal on a Buff that has gone bad and is causing a hazard to people and other animals but those have to be done "right now" and your PH or Outfitter has to be in the loop so to speak because when one of these situations pops up you usually have as little as 12-24 hours to get there and get it done.

If you just want to have a great experience however and still take 5-6 different species it can easily be done for under 10k so even on a budget you can go and have a truly great time with a lifetime of memories and a few nice trophies.

I flew with American from DFW to DC and then South African Air to and from the RSA. The long flights are physically hard on you and I didn't have the best of luck with SAA with respect to delays. We had a 3 hour "woopse" due to a hot brake in Dakar on the way to, and then on the way back the plane was 2hrs late even getting to Johannesburg and then had an additional 4 hour delay departing due to yet another maintenance issue. The seating in economy class was cramped and uncomfortable. I'm not a small man and I'm fixing to have a spinal fusion or disc replacement which made the discomfort close to unbearable at times.

In the future I'll fly with British Airways most likely or perhaps with Qtar Air.

If you are serious about putting a trip together let me know via PM and I can put you in contact with the right people to put a hunt together for you.

 

[MudRunner2005]

You just have to put it at the top of the list and make it happen Mud.

I was incredibly fortunate to have friends there that had imported dogs from me in the past who made it possible and got me the "local rate" as opposed to what Americans generally get charged.

I got to hunt behind and work with about quite a few dogs out of my kennel and those bred from them there in Africa during the trip. It was great! We had a pretty large event one Saturday with GSP folks from all other the country showing up. Most of the dogs here are out my breeding.

Yeah, the cost of a trip like that has always been my hindrance...But I could always start saving now.

I have been wanting to get another dog for a while now, since I had to put my last buddy down about 7 years ago...He was a chocolate lab...Smartest dog I've ever had. GSP's are awesome dogs. For several years I have been thinking about getting one.

 

[TXAoudadKlr]

Interesting, price on a Cape buffalo wasn't as bad as I though it would be! Figured it would be considerably higher.

 

[fmajor]

Thanks for the reply WR -

What a great hunt and glad you managed a safe return!

 

[WildRose]

Yeah, the cost of a trip like that has always been my hindrance...But I could always start saving now.

I have been wanting to get another dog for a while now, since I had to put my last buddy down about 7 years ago...He was a chocolate lab...Smartest dog I've ever had. GSP's are awesome dogs. For several years I have been thinking about getting one.

You know for me it wasn't the cost so much as the gamble of dealing with people I don't know. That's a long damned way from home and my experiences in Africa from my military days left a really bad taste in my mouth.

The guys who have my dogs over there eliminated the worry of dealing with people I don't know and the cost really isn't that big of an impediment depending on what one wants to do and the budget.

Look at what you can spend on a hunt right here at home for a serious trophy quality Elk, Deer, or trip to Alaska/Canada with only one species or maybe two on the menu and the cost gets pretty reasonable in a hurry.

For those who've never seen any or much of the rest of the world I can also promise the experience will instill a true appreciation for this country and how we live here.

 

[marioq]

Glad u made it back safe buddy.

Can't wait to drink withy and hear the stories!!!

 

[WildRose]

Glad u made it back safe buddy.

Can't wait to drink withy and hear the stories!!!

One way or another little brother we'll do it before long. Can't wait to get down there and meet the wife and little Quesadilla's.

 

[WildRose]

Yeah, the cost of a trip like that has always been my hindrance...But I could always start saving now.

I have been wanting to get another dog for a while now, since I had to put my last buddy down about 7 years ago...He was a chocolate lab...Smartest dog I've ever had. GSP's are awesome dogs. For several years I have been thinking about getting one.

Mud just to give you and everyone else an idea.

With one phone call I could arrange a ten day hunt for you that would include night hunting for predators with no limit on Jackals and such, 1 each, of up to five "plains game" animals, some great fishing and sight seeing hunting in three different provinces and if you wanted to take the ladies along keep them entertained with "girly stuff" and do the entire thing well under 8k a piece including airfare.

You could do the same thing in a packaged hunt for three to six hunters. You won't get five star pampering at that price but you won't be cold and wet freezing your but off in a cold tent wondering if it's ever going to stop snowing either. You also won't be riding a borrowed horse eight hours a day two days at a time going in and out wondering if the ride is ever going to end.

One thing you will need is to be in decent enough shape to walk a few miles each day. Even on a "game farm" you are going to do a whole lot of walking and stalking trying to find "the right animal".

There are also some opportunities for "long range hunting" in places like the Karoo and North Cape but most outfitters over there are not going to let you shoot beyond 200-300yds without you first proving your proficiency beyond those ranges.

In all honesty, in most places the cover is simply too thick and heavy and terrain too flat for most of your shots to exceed 300yds.

What you will find for sure is game animals that are often very hard to kill stone dead with a single shot even when hit very well.

 

[geo4061]

Mud when you get ready for that best friend get that German Shorthair. I have been blessed and have owned them all. The GSP is absolutely the best.

 

[KillerBee]

Nice Trophy's Wildrose, looks like something I will have to do for sure!

What is that black cylinder at the end of your rifle, is it a silencer?

 

[gillettehunter]

Congrats on a great hunt. That East Cape Kudu is a real stud! Anything over 50 is rare. Nice Black Wilderbeast too. Mine made it over 200 yds with a good double lung shot. Those animals can be tough. Sounds like you had a great time. Congrats. Bruce.

 

[WildRose]

Nice Trophy's Wildrose, looks like something I will have to do for sure!

What is that black cylinder at the end of your rifle, is it a silencer?

Indeed it was a blast. For me it was the most amazing and addicting experience of my life so far. If there's any way at all possible I plan to go back at least every third year, if not every other year for as long as I can still walk.

That big can is a suppressor/silencer. It's a proprietary model produced under license for my friends's business there.

Unfortunately it's illegal to import them so I just left it with him for me to use on future hunts. What kind of made me sick about it is the price. The can was just 300.00 and that included adapters to fit both rifles.

It isn't the best one I've ever shot for recoil reduction but it's very effective at noise reduction and reducing muzzle flip.

 

[WildRose]

Congrats on a great hunt. That East Cape Kudu is a real stud! Anything over 50 is rare. Nice Black Wilderbeast too. Mine made it over 200 yds with a good double lung shot. Those animals can be tough. Sounds like you had a great time. Congrats. Bruce.

GH, believe it or not those were not the biggest of the two species I saw on that place but they were by far the oldest. Both of them were on the downhill slide of life and with all the predators there, their days were numbered for sure.

The guy that owns that place is actually a Dentist in Pretoria and that's his family retreat. It's a little over 5000 hectares and they have completely removed all of the cattle and dedicated it solely to wildlife.

He's a great guy and I would tell anyone that wants a once in a lifetime hunting experience his place should be high on the list. The accommodations were also wonderful, a slightly updated and remodeled traditional ranch foreman's house set up now as a lodge.

I'll be heading back there as soon as I can to try and find one more each BWG and Kudu to compliment those I took last time as well as to try and find a couple of nice trophy Bushbuck as well.

He also has connections with neighbors for anything you can think of that he might not have available on his place.

 

[toliver]

What a good time you had!
Thanks for sharing!