Africa anyone????

just came from the Africa hunting show in toronto. it was ok! i have been planing to go for the pass 5 yrs... but after getting stung by a another outfitter yrs back.. here in north America it been hard to shell out money again... I ve done my reseurch and have it narrowed done to a couple outfitters. i'm thinking of booking for next april. anyone been there and how was ur trip....let me here ur thoughts


Home of # 5 ontario white record 2004

164 4/8 13point with a impressive 28" inside

LOOK OUT KUDU

 

Jigger,

Took Dad down there in April 2008 to SA in the East Cape Port Elizabeth Vicinity. Hunted with Iliwa Safaris on their private land. Great large place and Cois and Francois are great people. 5th generation on the property I believe. Stayed for a week with dad shot (3) Kudu, (1) Blesbuck, (1) Huge Impala, (1) Wildabeast (1) Waterbuck (1) Spring Buck. Price out the door was $8k before taxidermy, shipping or transport which added another $5k. We then went up to Vic Fall for a few days and that was nice as well. Stayed at the Royal Livingston. Wanted to go back and take mom, but the economy went bad and we didn't think it would look right with so many out of work. Then took a Marlin fishing trip and now hooked on that, but I will still take someone to SA again before too many years go by.

If your interested in Marlin fishing in either Cape Verde or Mozambique I can make some reccomendations. Also taking a trip to the Andaman Islands fishing in March so if you are interested in that I will be back in April.

 

I have a limited budget for this trip. i really only want to shoot a good kudu and maybe a gemsbuck.. Why so much for shiping? was ur outfitter a flat rate or was there trophy fees.

 

Flat rate for the outfitter on a "package" and then if you wanted to hunt anything else you could from the "trophy list" which has set fees for each animal. The package was a reduced price from the trophy list based on set animal combinations. http://www.iliwasafaris.co.za/

The taxidermy was $2400 for 4 shoulder mounts and the rest bleached with every inch of hide tanned. The shipping crate was 4'x4'x4' (300lb) air freight from SA to Idaho for $2200 plus $300 for the agent. The taxidermy from my guy in Idaho would be $5000 alone just for the shoulder mounts and you would still need to have the animals shipped from SA.

I'm sure there may be some cheaper outfits out there, but not many. Be careful also, because lots of other opperations in the same area had overhunted their concessions/land and had very poor hunting. This was definately not the case with Iliwa and they actually had to perform culling on hundreds of animals every year do to over population. When I was there they did not personally have Gemsbuck, but they could set it up for you nearby on a friends land.

Last benefit to the East Cape was malaria free zone. Be aware East Cape Kudu are the lesser variety and are maybe 6" smaller on average. Greater Kudu are found elsewhere, but do to overhunting many Greater Kudu trophies shot nowadays are smaller than the East Cape variety. Oryx is an Oryx is an Oryx and I'm sure you will find as I did that they are very beautiful, but reallly stupid and not much sport. Also the females have the longer horns with the mails being shorter and a little fatter. Kudu hunting was much more sport and they are very smart. I could hunt Kudu for the rest of my life and njever get sick of it, like a combination Bull Elk and Buck Mule Deer.

 

thx for the info. i also would like to hunt elk but the outfitters are to expensive in the usa.. i can go to africa and hunt 5 animals for that prize... but still is a DREAM of mine some day.maybe next week after i win the lottomax tonight..... i also have buddys that just moved here from south africa a few yrs back im trying to get the to go. but there still inlove with shooting whitetail here.not ready to go back yet

 

i don't believe in shooting animals, but i think that it could be an awesome place to travel and maybe just observe some wildlife instead of blowing it away with a high powered rifle

 

Yes the elk outfitters have a monopoly for those not born in the Rocky Mountains, but who want to hunt elk. I lucked out and was born in Idaho where I shot my first elk at age 14, since then 6 more and nothing has been smaller than a 6-point. Instead of hiring an outfitter I reccomend applying for out of state hunts, but the draw odds suck and it could be many years before you draw. Idaho for example only alot's 10% of tags to non-resident, not sure about nevada, but similar. Just to put in in Idaho you need a license ($160+) and Nevada is similar. If you draw Idaho will charge you another $360 or so for the tag while Nevada is $1100. Once you have drawn though, you can pay for drop camps and scouting or just go do it yourself like we do. If you want some tips on areas to apply for, send me a private message.

I have hunted and fished all over for alot of things and every time dad and I say this is the best trip ever we always add the caveate of "except for elk hunting". I work overseas and the one time of year you are guaranteed to find me home in Idaho is elk season, no matter what.

Tell your SA friends to hook you up with a Cape Buf hunt on the cheap (40"+ trophy size). No comment on the whitetail, except to say I apply for Mule Deer every time.

If you shoot Cois an email, tell him hello from Mike Wright.

 

Your call; take all the pictures you want and then send me the photos of where to find the big ones if you don't mind.

The hunt I have reffered jigger to has to cull the animals every year if they don't hunt enough them and if you go for pictures know that they do the same on their place; unless its in a park where hunting is allowed.

If you believe that the photos Safaris are in areas that are not "managed", then you are being naive not matter what they try to tell you; especially in SA. That "management" is almost always with a high-power except when driven with a helicopter where they are then taking to slaughter yards.

 

Don,t do it with an outfitter. I am from South Africa and have watched how you foreigners get ripped off.

 

I can hook you up with an outfitter in SA. They are good honest people. I went on safari a few years ago then my brother spent an entire summer there.

http://www.shiawela.com/

 

Do you eat meat?

 

i have climbed mount kilimanjaro, it was a graduation present from my dad... beautiful country and would love to go back!

 

if you call deer,moose,bear,beaver, geese,ducks,fish, and anything else you can shot legally then yes i do eat meat..

 

I was reffering to the guy talking smack about shooting animals.

Im guessing he does in fact eat meat...but doenst believe in people shooting animals....

 

maybe this thread isnt really for you. post up in the "photography" forum please.

i thought about africa. but i only bowhunt. i dont want to sit over a waterhole waiting. so i will chase american elk. public land, DIY, no guide. drawing a tag is a long-shot,,but wtf?!! i keep trying.

big big picture. africa hunting is saving the animals. especially the elephants. it puts a dollar value to the animal for the locals. now, knowing they will get some american to pay stupid $$ for shooting one, they protect the animals as a commodity. ironic.

if they didnt get mega money for an elephant, the poachers would make them extinct.

 

Im going in May! I already have a few hunts set up, nothing to crazy like the big 5. Waterbuck, kudu, warthogs, things like that. One of my co-workers lives there and is taking me around. Ill let you know how my trip goes.

Btw Ill be in South Africa, around Durban.

 

thx for stuffing that in my face GOOD LUCK!!!

 

Hey that's my home town... you gonna luv it....nice girls lovely beaches ...watch your personal belongings and your life though...crime's killing a beautiful country

 

That seemed uncalled for, you said you were planning a trip, i didnt think it would offend you to tell you ill let you know how it goes