Cape Buffalo in SA or Tanzania? The better hunt.

[Slyfox72114]

I’m Looking to add a Dugger Boy or two to my trophy room and I’d like to hear from Hunters and PH alike on where would make for the best hunt. South Africa or Tanzania?
Also the a filming crew for each that want break the bank!
Booking for 2027
Many Thanks.

 

[wesheltonj]

The Selous in Tanzania.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

I would have to say even as an outfitter in south africa
Tanzanie would be my choice but its in a completely different price bracket
But
If you hunt on a big area in SA with self sustaining herds of breeding buffalo, like on Tallyho, u will have a good hunt too
Just set the parameters with you OUTFITTER before the hunt

Happy to arrange a filming crew for you too


Regards

 

[Hunting Hitman]

Tanzania…it’s a no brainer but more expensive.

HH

 

[sgt_zim]

Mozambique is also a good choice. More expensive than RSA, but generally nowhere near as expensive as Tanzania.

Some hunters are very put off by the high-fenced hunting properties of RSA. But a great many of those properties are enormous, often 20 square miles (at 640 acres/square mile, so 12800 acres) and larger, some of them much larger.

Hunting them is largely the same. You'll ride around in a bakkie until you spot a herd or fresh spoor, then get out and walk-and-stalk.

 

[DLSJR]

Tanzania, hands down, for the best wild safari experience. 3 of my last 4 safaris have been to Tanzania, hunting 3 different regions of the country and all included buffalo.

I don’t think you’ll find a better buffalo hunt than in the Selous Game Reserve. You can take 2 buffalo on a 10-day hunt, or 3 on a 16-day hunt that’ll also allow a leopard, hippo, crocodile and broad amount of plains game. It’s ‘Dugga Boy Central’; lots of old bachelor bulls to be hunted.

I’m planning another Selous hunt right now, probably for 2028, though maybe ‘27. Gonna do another 16-day hunt with my son and PH Alan Vincent, whom I typically hunt with. Probably going to have 5 or 6 buffalo on license between the two of us.

 

[Hunt anything]

Tanzania is expensive with some giant bulls and wild, I’m with @sgt_zim Mozambique is an excellent choice, wild but less expensive and then RSA, big bulls but most likely behind a fence unless you go up around Kruger and then they are more expensive.

You really can’t go wrong with any of them. IMO

 

[Slyfox72114]

Tanzania, hands down, for the best wild safari experience. 3 of my last 4 safaris have been to Tanzania, hunting 3 different regions of the country and all included buffalo.

I don’t think you’ll find a better buffalo hunt than in the Selous Game Reserve. You can take 2 buffalo on a 10-day hunt, or 3 on a 16-day hunt that’ll also allow a leopard, hippo, crocodile and broad amount of plains game. It’s ‘Dugga Boy Central’; lots of old bachelor bulls to be hunted.

I’m planning another Selous hunt right now, probably for 2028, though maybe ‘27. Gonna do another 16-day hunt with my son and PH Alan Vincent, whom I typically hunt with. Probably going to have 5 or 6 buffalo on license between the two of us.

How’s Tanzania for the nonhunter? My spouse really didn’t like South Africa. She felt like she was cooped up.

 

[sgt_zim]

How’s Tanzania for the nonhunter? My spouse really didn’t like South Africa. She felt like she was cooped up.

Have your wife read Cries of the Savannah:

Cries of the Savannah
South Africa is "civilized," Tanzania is not. The Selous is a great destination for being in the wild, hunting animals that may have not ever seen a human before. But it's hot, it's in the tsetse belt, and you're away from civilization for quite a long time, and often requires both a charter plane and a long-ish bakkie ride from a dirt airstrip to finally get to camp.

South Africa and Namibia, at least June through August, has very pleasant weather, no humidity, few mosquitoes, few biting flies. And much of them are above the elevation where tsetses can even survive.

If hunting the Selous were in my budget, I'd go tomorrow. It's an adventure.

 

[DLSJR]

How’s Tanzania for the nonhunter? My spouse really didn’t like South Africa. She felt like she was cooped up.

In my opinion, Tanzania is excellent for a non-hunter. Nobody could feel cooped up in the Selous, or anywhere else in Tanzania for that matter. Lots of game right around camps, typically. And, if you add a few days before your hunt, it has spectacular options such as the northern parks or Zanzibar. I sent you a private message.

 

[Hunt anything]

@sgt_zim ,I was going to suggest Sues book, she is a member here but I haven’t seen a post from her for a while.

For those that don’t know, Sue went with her husband as an observer to his hunt and she wrote it up pretty well, it’s a good read definitely.

 

[DLSJR]

Have your wife read Cries of the Savannah:

https://www.amazon.com/Cries-Savanna-adventure-understanding-conservation-ebook/dp/B09M4BRYJ9?crid=1OESWO10GB7HJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.k-osWSEmAvnyZum5_qeo6g.vsWhWmsyNg8R31KkAFRHfj-4sb2krAxkA8Y3h1PgX2Y&dib_tag=se&keywords=tears+of+the+savannah+sue+tidwell&qid=1730302835&s=books&sprefix=tears+of+the+savannah+sue+tidwell,stripbooks,120&sr=1-1

South Africa is "civilized," Tanzania is not. The Selous is a great destination for being in the wild, hunting animals that may have not ever seen a human before. But it's hot, it's in the tsetse belt, and you're away from civilization for quite a long time, and often requires both a charter plane and a long-ish bakkie ride from a dirt airstrip to finally get to camp.

South Africa and Namibia, at least June through August, has very pleasant weather, no humidity, few mosquitoes, few biting flies. And much of them are above the elevation where tsetses can even survive.

If hunting the Selous were in my budget, I'd go tomorrow. It's an adventure.

@sgt_zim , Sue Tidwell’s book is excellent! And she’s a really engaging lady with whom to discuss Africa.

I am a director of the Mzuri Wildlife Foundation and we are bringing Sue to be the featured speaker at our annual ‘Big Event’ fundraising dinner in Monterey. Every guest at the dinner will also be given a copy of her excellent book.

 

[sgt_zim]

Zim, Sue Tidwell’s book is excellent! And she’s a really engaging lady with whom to discuss Africa.

I am a director of the Mzuri Wildlife Foundation and we are bringing Sue to be the featured speaker at our annual ‘Big Event’ fundraising dinner in Monterey. Every guest at the dinner will also be given a copy of her excellent book.

Yes, she is an engaging lady. I corresponded with her privately quite a number of times when she was still active here.

I sorta "made" my wife read that book before we went on our first safari this past August. The missus thoroughly enjoyed it, as I knew she would.

 

[Skshyk]

Tanzania or SA ? If you have the means Tanzania! You are asking if you should hunt in true wild Africa or in someone's backyard.

 

[reinwood]

What are you criteria for a better hunt? Wilderness, costs, experience, hunting time, adventure, sight-seeing, plain game potential, trophy size, food, tracking experience, limit risk, etc. ?

If this is the safari of a lifetime --> Tansania,
if not write down your criteria put a weight to each of them (here experience from others might help), compare and decide.

You can do 2 safaris in SA for the price of one in TZ but they are different.
in. SA no malaria, no TseTse, no charter, low daily rate (~500), high buffalo trophy fee (~10000), high fences, overall good infrastructure in the country, an adventure in controlled environment.
in TZ you got complete wilderness, no high fences, free range, option for 1-4 buff on license, buff that have never seen a human, high daily rate (~1500) but moderate trophy fee (~5000), expensive charter ~2000), least developed infrastructure, a greater adventure

There is saying: when we have a choice, we most likely know which choice we want, the hardest part is to accept it.

 

[dchum]

@sgt_zim , Sue Tidwell’s book is excellent! And she’s a really engaging lady with whom to discuss Africa.

I am a director of the Mzuri Wildlife Foundation and we are bringing Sue to be the featured speaker at our annual ‘Big Event’ fundraising dinner in Monterey. Every guest at the dinner will also be given a copy of her excellent book.

Wow that is awesome - smart idea.