Greetings/First time Cape buffalo hunt

[Reza7700]

Hello there!

I am a new member on the forum. I should have joined years ago but better late than never.

I live in Georgia and after many years of deer/elk etc North America hunting, have finally decided to do an Africa trip for Cape buffalo.

I know absolutely nothing about this so any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am attending the Dallas Safari Club convention this weekend in Atlanta. There are going to be dozens of different outfitters as many of you all already know, and I would like some advice on how to pick the right outfitter before writing a check.

Some basic info that might be helpful in your recommendations are:

I can do the trip alone or with family. I am guessing if I take the wife, I would be limited to South Africa and I'm guessing she and the kids would be hanging in the main city while I do the hunt for a few days.

I would like to experience the real deal but am I correct in saying that that would require me to go outside of SA which would probably be a solo trip?

Are the buffalo hunts in SA all fenced in? I know that the properties could thousands of acres so does that really make it significantly different experience than a buffalo hunt in another open range area?

Any way, thanks in advance for your input!

Best,
Reza

 

[375Fox]

There’s no reason you can’t take your wife and kids to most any safari camp. All camps have daily laundry, maids, professional cook or chef. The expected level of service you’ll find even in very remote areas usually far exceeds anything you’ll find in North America. If you’d like to hunt buffalo in a wild area with your family I’d look into the Caprivi in Namibia. If you go on your own I’d look into Zimbabwe. There are free range options in South Africa adjacent Kruger park that produce great buffalo but you typically can’t hunt any plains game in those areas while you hunt buffalo, but you’ll also have opportunity to see more buffalo than many other areas you can hunt. Hunting buffalo on a fenced area is a divisive issue here. There are properties that are managed as self sustaining buffalo and hunted on a quota. There are properties that are regularly supplemented with bulls from breeding operations. There are properties that are only bulls. I find it difficult to distinguish who’s being fully honest and who isn’t on the ways the properties are managed. The final stalk on a buffalo on a fenced property maybe be the same, but even on a 10,000 acre property it’s physically impossible to be greater than 2 miles from a fence. It will create some differences in the hunt. There are a lot of outfitters at show but I’d try and narrow down more what you want from a buffalo hunt.

 

[mark-hunter]

Welcome to the forum!

Are the buffalo hunts in SA all fenced in? I know that the properties could thousands of acres so does that really make it significantly different experience than a buffalo hunt in another open range area?

hahaha, you really know how to stir the pot!

Dont ask such questions, on a first day!

 

[Beck]

check out Cabassa Safaris - they'll have a range of options in both South Africa and Mozambique

 

[Rare Breed]

Welcome!!! I live in Alpharetta. You will find GA and Alabama have many members here. We all are so happy to help other members!!!! I am providing the following for perspective which is mine from my years of hunting Africa...you will find many agree with me and some differ which is what makes AH so great.
1. I have hunted both no-fence 2M acres in Zimbabwe and fence 20,000 acres and both were great awesome hunts.
2. If the fence will be SA, ask the following questions: Is the population self-sustaining? How many acres are hunted? What type hard hard-bossed mature bulls have been taken over the last 2 years? What is the method of hunting...tracking or over-feed (Highly recommend do not do any hunts for buffalo over-feed or non-self-sustaining herds just me.)
3. If you take your wife, SA is your best choice if she wants to do anything other than hunting with you. Ask your potential outfitters in advance what there might be for her to do...for example, Wintershoek has an onsite spa which is very nice.
4. I would never take my wife to Zimbabwe unless we stayed a few days at Victoria Falls then send her home while you go hunting...she will not be happy in tent camps with basic facilities with her sitting in camp full time, again, unless she hunts with you.

There are so many great outfitters on AH to do your hunt. Given it is your first buffalo hunt, I recommend staying between $8,500 for a mature hard boss smaller bull up to $10,000 for the same but with some width to it. You can certainly go much higher than this but this is what I did when I took my first bull.

I highly recommend @TSALA HUNTING SAFARIS for your first bull. They will fall into the above price range, you only take one flight from US to JNB with no other flights needed and they are simply an outstanding family and awesome hunting experience!!!!! Again, you will find many others that will also have great references.

Very excited for you. Please do not hesitate reaching out to me if I can help in any way!!!

 

[MATTANJA HUNTING SAFARIS]

Welcome to AH!

 

[ThinusS]

There are very large areas in South Africa, we hunt on almost 80 000 acres with no internal fences, however, it is still fenced. You will drive through stock farms to reach the reserve. With the exception of a few reserves, bordering the Kruger Park, with no fence between them and the park, all South African hunts will be on fenced properties. The size of those properties will vary from a few 100 acres to over 100 000 acres. There are other factors as well, as mentioned by Rare Breed, that you need to consider. Advantages of hunting South Africa is that you are closer to civilisation and creature comforts for the wife and the fact that there are a lot of other species available.

The advantage of hunting in Mozambique, Botswana, Tanzania, the Caprivi and Zimbabwe is that you can hunt in truly wild areas, with no fences and where the buffalo have been running wild forever. In some of these countries you might be hunting in heavily poached areas, which can also be a factor. The success rate might also be lower in some of these areas.

In the end, you need to determine what the most important factors are, for you. Then choose a hunt with which you are comfortable.

 

[Reza7700]

There’s no reason you can’t take your wife and kids to most any safari camp. All camps have daily laundry, maids, professional cook or chef. The expected level of service you’ll find even in very remote areas usually far exceeds anything you’ll find in North America. If you’d like to hunt buffalo in a wild area with your family I’d look into the Caprivi in Namibia. If you go on your own I’d look into Zimbabwe. There are free range options in South Africa adjacent Kruger park that produce great buffalo but you typically can’t hunt any plains game in those areas while you hunt buffalo, but you’ll also have opportunity to see more buffalo than many other areas you can hunt. Hunting buffalo on a fenced area is a divisive issue here. There are properties that are managed as self sustaining buffalo and hunted on a quota. There are properties that are regularly supplemented with bulls from breeding operations. There are properties that are only bulls. I find it difficult to distinguish who’s being fully honest and who isn’t on the ways the properties are managed. The final stalk on a buffalo on a fenced property maybe be the same, but even on a 10,000 acre property it’s physically impossible to be greater than 2 miles from a fence. It will create some differences in the hunt. There are a lot of outfitters at show but I’d try and narrow down more what you want from a buffalo hunt.

Great advice! Thank you!

 

[Reza7700]

Welcome to the forum!



hahaha, you really know how to stir the pot!

Dont ask such questions, on a first day!

LOL. sorry!

 

[mark-hunter]

LOL. sorry!

I was joking, dont worry!

There is a lot discussion about fences, you will easily find.
Those type of discussions raise most heated debates on forum.

 

[Reza7700]

Welcome!!! I live in Alpharetta. You will find GA and Alabama have many members here. We all are so happy to help other members!!!! I am providing the following for perspective which is mine from my years of hunting Africa...you will find many agree with me and some differ which is what makes AH so great.
1. I have hunted both no-fence 2M acres in Zimbabwe and fence 20,000 acres and both were great awesome hunts.
2. If the fence will be SA, ask the following questions: Is the population self-sustaining? How many acres are hunted? What type hard hard-bossed mature bulls have been taken over the last 2 years? What is the method of hunting...tracking or over-feed (Highly recommend do not do any hunts for buffalo over-feed or non-self-sustaining herds just me.)
3. If you take your wife, SA is your best choice if she wants to do anything other than hunting with you. Ask your potential outfitters in advance what there might be for her to do...for example, Wintershoek has an onsite spa which is very nice.
4. I would never take my wife to Zimbabwe unless we stayed a few days at Victoria Falls then send her home while you go hunting...she will not be happy in tent camps with basic facilities with her sitting in camp full time, again, unless she hunts with you.

There are so many great outfitters on AH to do your hunt. Given it is your first buffalo hunt, I recommend staying between $8,500 for a mature hard boss smaller bull up to $10,000 for the same but with some width to it. You can certainly go much higher than this but this is what I did when I took my first bull.

I highly recommend @TSALA HUNTING SAFARIS for your first bull. They will fall into the above price range, you only take one flight from US to JNB with no other flights needed and they are simply an outstanding family and awesome hunting experience!!!!! Again, you will find many others that will also have great references.

Very excited for you. Please do not hesitate reaching out to me if I can help in any way!!!

Thanks for the info! My wife will definitely not be hunting so that's yes, that is something I need to factor in for sure. Is there a time of year that you recommend for SA? I guess Delta flies direct to JNB.

 

[Reza7700]

There are very large areas in South Africa, we hunt on almost 80 000 acres with no internal fences, however, it is still fenced. You will drive through stock farms to reach the reserve. With the exception of a few reserves, bordering the Kruger Park, with no fence between them and the park, all South African hunts will be on fenced properties. The size of those properties will vary from a few 100 acres to over 100 000 acres. There are other factors as well, as mentioned by Rare Breed, that you need to consider. Advantages of hunting South Africa is that you are closer to civilisation and creature comforts for the wife and the fact that there are a lot of other species available.

The advantage of hunting in Mozambique, Botswana, Tanzania, the Caprivi and Zimbabwe is that you can hunt in truly wild areas, with no fences and where the buffalo have been running wild forever. In some of these countries you might be hunting in heavily poached areas, which can also be a factor. The success rate might also be lower in some of these areas.

In the end, you need to determine what the most important factors are, for you. Then choose a hunt with which you are comfortable.

Great. Thanks!

 

[WAB]

Welcome to AH!

My first piece of advice, DO NOT leave your family in a city while you go on safari!!! If they don’t want to go on safari, make this a solo trip. I would never consider leaving my family unaccompanied in a city in Southern Africa.

Other thoughts:

1) your most expensive buffalo hunts are in Tanzania, Namibia and Botswana. Your least expensive are in RSA. Zim, Zambia and Mozambique fall in between.
2) I have hunted all of the countries listed with the exception of Tanzania. My wife accompanied me on all but Zambia.
3) My biggest buffalo was shot in RSA, in Klaserie, a Kruger reserve. My best buffalo hunt was with Len Taylor and CMS in Dande (Zimbabwe).
4) If I were booking a buffalo hunt this year it would be in Nyakasanga with CMS, Len Taylor would be my PH. My wife would definitely accompany me.

Best of luck with your adventure!

 

[Andrew62]

While I have hunted buffalo many times, if I were looking at hunting in South Africa, I would seriously consider @TSALA HUNTING SAFARIS and @GAME 4 AFRICA SAFARIS. These 2 outfits are first class. Tsala is a short 2 hour drive from the airport in JNB, Game 4 Africa is an additional flight from JNB over to Port Elizabeth.

If I were hunting in Zimbabwe I would consider @TSALA HUNTING SAFARIS or Dalton and York.

For both Tsala and Game 4 Africa, they both have self-sustaining herds, Tsala has some truly huge buffalo. They are close to Bela Bela so the wife and kids could do into town for shopping/spa, day trips, etc.

Having said all of this, there are many other truly find outfitters that others here have hunted with. Sorting out who to hunt with is half the fun of taking a trip!!

Good luck to you, Sir!!

 

[375Fox]

Great advice! Thank you!

For Caprivi outfitters at the show look at
Jamy Traut Safaris
Kou Kuas adventures (Rigby booth)
Ndumo safaris
Daggaboy safaris
They all hold Caprivi concessions. There might be a few more there I’m unaware of. All in Caprivi buffalo are around $20-$22k depending on concession. Park areas are significantly more expensive but you can be much more selective and see a lot more wildlife. If you book a concession area always ask when their current lease expires before booking.

 

[Reza7700]

Welcome to AH!

My first piece of advice, DO NOT leave your family in a city while you go on safari!!! If they don’t want to go on safari, make this a solo trip. I would never consider leaving my family unaccompanied in a city in Southern Africa.

Other thoughts:

1) your most expensive buffalo hunts are in Tanzania, Namibia and Botswana. Your least expensive are in RSA. Zim, Zambia and Mozambique fall in between.
2) I have hunted all of the countries listed with the exception of Tanzania. My wife accompanied me on all but Zambia.
3) My biggest buffalo was shot in RSA, in Klaserie, a Kruger reserve. My best buffalo hunt was with Len Taylor and CMS in Dande (Zimbabwe).
4) If I were booking a buffalo hunt this year it would be in Nyakasanga with CMS, Len Taylor would be my PH. My wife would definitely accompany me.

Best of luck with your adventure!

Thank you!

 

[Rare Breed]

Thanks for the info! My wife will definitely not be hunting so that's yes, that is something I need to factor in for sure. Is there a time of year that you recommend for SA? I guess Delta flies direct to JNB.

My favorite time to hunt Africa is July early August given that is the heart of their winter. Yes Delta flies direct with Main cabin round trip ranging from $1500-$1800 per person. I have used Qatar which is a great airline by Delta direct 14.5 hours, Qatar 33.5 hours with one stop…no thanks given I am losing hunting time with Qatar for roughly similar cost to Delta direct

 

[Rare Breed]

Actually April through early August is great

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

Welcome welcome welcome

Have sent you a dm with info amd advice

Kind regards

 

[Rare Breed]

April will be chilly in morning and evening needing light jacket days hot.