What's the most damage I could do in South Africa for $20,000 Canadian?

[Northern Shooter]

Say I was looking to book my first African hunt in South Africa with a budget of $20,000 CAD or $14,208 USD for our American friends.

What's the best value hunt I could get with that? Keep in mind this is the total budget that will have to also include airfare, tips, the hunt and maybe taxidermy for a choice animal or two.

I'm guessing I'd be looking around a 7 day plains game hunt, how many species would this cover? Would it be possible to hunt a bull cape buffalo with this budget or even a buffalo with a couple plains game combo?

Looking to get the best hunt for the money.

 

[dogcat1]

You can easily go to a variety of places. I suggest Tollies African Safaris. For that money, you can likely take 6 big animals and have a ball. Kudu, wildebeast, gemsbok, zebra, impala and springbok. Could possibly add a few more.
Go, have fun!

 

[dogcat1]

I did not respond on buff. In RSA, I really do not know about the cost of buff. You could do one, but will have to cut somewhere else.
I suggest you go and shoot plainsgame until you run out of money, then save up and go to Zim for a wild buff hunt.

Also, Namibia is a super option for plains game - ranchs are bigger and you will see a lot of wide open country.

I went to RSA for my first hunt and have since been on 16 more with two to Namibia. Try Kowas Safaris in Namibia. There are many quality outfits in both places.

 

[Hunt anything]

at Game 4 Africa in the eastern cape yo can do a bull buffalo with 7 days for around 10,000 US. Their plains game are affordable and you could add kudu, impala, warthog, duiker and a couple of more with the other 4,000
They are a sponsor here.

 

[DieJager]

That are a lot of variables in this. What is the price of plane tickets from where you want to go and what animals are you planning to mount for taxidermy?

What animals do you want to hunt and where? Also for taxidermy shoulder mounts, full mounts, euros? Taxidermy cost can sometimes even exceed the cost of the hunt. Example my taxidermy cost of my last hunt are almost double of what trophy fees I paid.

In your case I would not exceed 7000 dollars in day fees and trophy fees. You still have to buy plane tickets, taxidermy costs including shipping and tips etc.

 

[Shaw]

I would do Spiral Horn Slam. Kudu, Eland, Nyala, Bushbuck and still have money for some add ons.

 

[Northern Shooter]

That are a lot of variables in this. What is the price of plane tickets from where you want to go and what animals are you planning to mount for taxidermy?

What animals do you want to hunt and where? Also for taxidermy shoulder mounts, full mounts, euros? Taxidermy cost can sometimes even exceed the cost of the hunt. Example my taxidermy cost of my last hunt are almost double of what trophy fees I paid.

In your case I would not exceed 7000 dollars in day fees and trophy fees. You still have to buy plane tickets, taxidermy costs including shipping and tips etc.

All good questions.

I just checked flights from Toronto to Johannesburg and they are around $2000 or 10% of the budget gone. Taxidermy may have to be limited to euro mounts to stay within budget.

What I’ve been finding is that with a lot of the cheaper plains game hunts they have 3-5 preselected animals, most of which I’m not very interested in.

Id prefer to hunt large game ie Kudu, Eland, Oyrx vs duiker, impala, warthog etc. I assume they are pricier.

 

[Aaron N]

Is this all in flights and taxidermy? Or 20k for day rates and trophy fees?

Either way you could have a pretty fun ten day trip.

But that 14kUSD would likely get you a buff outside of RSA and you can put one of your boomers to work.

 

[PAUL_MAUSER]

The hidden or not often thought of taxidermy fees and shipping will take a good bite out of what you have to purchase animals from what I have read on here. It’s the small stuff that adds up it seems.

I see airfare brought up a lot. My plan is to have Amex help us in that regard when we make our first trip over and put all those Member Rewards points to good use we have been banking the last 2 years.

 

[Northern Shooter]

Is this all in flights and taxidermy? Or 20k for day rates and trophy fees?

Either way you could have a pretty fun ten day trip.

But that 14kUSD would likely get you a buff outside of RSA and you can put one of your boomers to work.

All in, I like to budget in round numbers.

$20,000 is still big money for me, but it appears to go much further in Africa than it does in hunts at home.

 

[Stormy Kromer]

You could put together a nice plains game hunt, including a gemsbok and probably a kudu. I'm assuming US currency in these estimates. Getting there with your rifle would be about $2k. Hotel/restaurant costs can be avoided if you arrange to meet your PH at the airport. Tips, another $1k or so. You probably have all the equipment you need, don't feel you need to go out and buy anything. Plan on $500 or so for ammunition. (includes practice rounds). $500 for emergency evacuation insurance and travel incidentals. I think I only spent $300 in cash the whole time I was there, most of that was tipping at the airport.

Know what the trophy fees are so you don't shoot something like a Sable and adding $5k to your tab. You can have a great time with the more abundant animals such as Impala and Blesbok. Gemsbok and Zebra are reasonable, and Kudu are not outrageous.

This would leave you about $10,000. You could put together a nice plains game safari for that.

Taxidermy is the huge expense that can catch you by surprise. Even European mounts. Even if you use a broker it can be a headache getting the crate to your door. Somebody has their hand out during the whole process. I'd suggest taking a ton of pictures and having professional photos printed when you get home. I am going back next month for safari #2. I bought the "Show Special" which was $4,000 for 5 of the lesser plains game. I plan on trading in a couple of them and putting to towards an Eland. I'm budgeting $6,000 plus tips for the PH & staff. This is for a fully inclusive 7 day hunt with a top notch PH in the Limpopo.

 

[Northern Shooter]

The hidden or not often thought of taxidermy fees and shipping will take a good bite out of what you have to purchase animals from what I have read on here. It’s the small stuff that adds up it seems.

I see airfare brought up a lot. My plan is to have Amex help us in that regard when we make our first trip over and put all those Member Rewards points to good use we have been banking the last 2 years.

Is shipping generally the weight that drives up the price or is it uncontrollable set fees on either end?

If I shipped euro mounts I’m guessing it may be cheaper than shoulder mounts, hides etc.

 

[Northern Shooter]

I would do Spiral Horn Slam. Kudu, Eland, Nyala, Bushbuck and still have money for some add ons.

I’ll look into options for this, thanks.

 

[Dinsdale]

I'd buy me a package management hunt for 7 days and add 2 trophy animals of something I really wanted. That'd be something to get a bunch of hunting in and have budget left over for trophy fees and euro mounts of something unique. Could even flat skin/rug 2 management animals.

Talk to KMG, Marius here. I did a hunt like that with him, and he has a regular Canadian client might give good ideas on flights/guns.

 

[MarkB]

If you get or already had an Avion visa, use it for every purchase BUT pay off every 21 days, collect 100000 points and your air fare is nothing. Avion paid for my last 4 trip airfares.

There are lots of hunts you could do for your stated budget. Takes a little restraint when on safari, easy to rack em up and pay a larger bill. Be careful/prudent.

I think to be realistic you need to narrow down what you really want, expect and really have to have. Species, type of hunt and even year going. Then you can shop for best deal.

MB

 

[jomw10]

here is a rough example using Game4africa.
Airline $1,500 (dollars)
Spiral Slam $6,950 (EC Kudu, bushbuck, Nyala, Eland)
Tips $700
Taxidermy (in- SA) $3,000 (shoulder mounts/ euro will be a lot cheaper)
Shipping $1,500 (guess!)
Clearing agent $1000 (typical cost in US)
Total $14,650

$442 above budget. You can save money by doing euros (or just pictures).
Taking just pictures will save you $5,500. Enough to shoot several extra animals.
Doing euros will probably save you $3,000 or so.

 

[DieJager]

Id prefer to hunt large game ie Kudu, Eland, Oyrx vs duiker, impala, warthog etc. I assume they are pricier

Do not overlook Namibia as a destination especially with the species you mention. Maybe there is a small difference in plane tickets but I would definitely not rule out Namibia. Oryx prices are way more affordable and the other species you mention are quite competitive in regard to prices.

 

[BJH65]

We recently did a hunt with Derian Koekemoer Safaris, Limpopo adjacent to the Greater Kruger area for cow Cape buffalo, kudu, warthog and impala for about that not including taxidermy. This was everything including tips, Delta Comfort Plus airfare was $4500 with trip insurance and VIP weapon permit. Could have knocked off $2000 for flying coach.

Just having euro mounts and a couple of flat skins that Derian is going to store for me since we’re going back in 2026 for trophy buffalo and either lion, hippo or another buffalo and it can be shipped with those. At least with taxidermy you can defer some of the cost a bit over time.

We could have done a management buffalo bull only for what we paid instead but since we’re going back for trophy buffalo, opted not to. Impala, warthog and duiker are pretty reasonably priced.

 

[mark-hunter]

I would suggest: buffalo cow, and all plains game species you can squeeze in that budget. Add to this something from small night predators.
In that case you will experience dangerous game hunt, and plains game hunt. This is as close as possible to old fashion quintessential "full bag safari" as it once was.

Find reputable outfitter, with not the highest prices in the world. Ask for price list, and make your tailored safari
My suggestion is to ask for offer from member sponsors of this forum.

 

[3chunter]

East cape or Namibia plains game. You could find a buff hunt for that as well but wouldn’t be much room for anything else.