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

[adgunner]

I’m thinking we all know the answer to that.

Worse than heroin I hear.

Is there something more addictive than heroin? I've hunted with Marius at KMG seven times on what was supposed to be a one and done. Cant get enough, I'm booked back in 2026.
I've done the travel multiple times out of Montreal and Toronto and brought back finished taxidermy from skull mounts to shoulder Buff and full mount lioness. If you have any questions on the logistics of it all please let me know, happy to help.

Lots of good advice above.

 

[Frederik]

Just thinking out of the box.

Lioness and cape buffalo cow and there will be enough for some plainsgame two of the big five in one go and go easy on taxidermy euro mounts only.

You bring two rifles one for DG and one for PG otherwise 375 H&H and do them all.

 

[Sabre]

Just thinking out of the box.

Lioness and cape buffalo cow and there will be enough for some plainsgame two of the big five in one go and go easy on taxidermy euro mounts only.

You bring two rifles one for DG and one for PG otherwise 375 H&H and do them all.

I feel like there might be a misunderstanding, but he had said his budget was $20,000 canadian, all in, including travel, taxidermy, shipping, etc. I think that is roughly $14,000 USD, Are you saying you or someone you know offer a hunt where you can do Lioness, buffalo, and some plains game, with taxidermy euros and shipping and leftover budget for travel for $14,000?

 

[Frederik]

I feel like there might be a misunderstanding, but he had said his budget was $20,000 canadian, all in, including travel, taxidermy, shipping, etc. I think that is roughly $14,000 USD, Are you saying you or someone you know offer a hunt where you can do Lioness, buffalo, and some plains game, with taxidermy euros and shipping and leftover budget for travel for $14,000?

Yes but bear in mind its Buffalo Cow, Lioness and I would say no shipping.

 

[grand veneur]

Some of the end prices stated here are not realistic. A hunt that is offered for a base price of 15,000 USD will quickly rise about 25,000 USD after everything else is added up. You also have the costs for shipping and taxidermy of the trophies added months later. For this reason, anyone who wants to hunt in Africa, but also worldwide, with a limited budget, has to set the basic price of the hunt far below his budget. Anyone who calculates short will suffer unpleasant surprises. Besides, it is not pleasant to be on a hunt and have to watch what you are doing all the time so that the money lasts until the end.

 

[Tusker]

With for your budget I would do a 10 animal 7 day safari. Safe the rest for a true safari, you’ll need it and you’ll enjoy it more. SA is good as a soft landing into the safari world, but is not a true safari.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Some of the end prices stated here are not realistic. A hunt that is offered for a base price of 15,000 USD will quickly rise about 25,000 USD after everything else is added up. You also have the costs for shipping and taxidermy of the trophies added months later. For this reason, anyone who wants to hunt in Africa, but also worldwide, with a limited budget, has to set the basic price of the hunt far below his budget. Anyone who calculates short will suffer unpleasant surprises. Besides, it is not pleasant to be on a hunt and have to watch what you are doing all the time so that the money lasts until the end.

Some of us have spent a lifetime "watching what we are doing" so it only comes natural when hunting. I appreciate that this fella has a budget set in mind before taking the trip. But it does get hard to say no when looking at so much game and so much variety. Keep a tight grip on that credit card! I'm glad I hunted with an outfitter and PHs who respected that I had limits. Consequently, when I went over the second time at the height of the pandemic, I forgot the budget and loaded up. They had almost no clients that year and were hurting so I did what I could to help out. Needless to say I was the only client at the lodge then. I shot a buffalo, sable, hartbeest, black wildebeest, warthog, waterbuck, kudu, impala, and culled three other animals. As I recall at settle up time the bill was $20K US. And some of those animals were bargain rates. But I was happy to help my friends. Last time I only shot three animals and would have been happy if I'd shot nothing: gemsbuck (3rd), impala (6th), and springbuck (5th). The lodge was happy too.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

OP do I remember correctly that you’re retired and in your late thirties?

 

[Joker12]

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.

That's very good advice! First timers tend to under estimate, I know that I v certainly did.

 

[Pirkan]

One thing I did to minimize the cost of taxidermy was to boil the skulls and bring them home with me in my luggage to have "euro" mounts made locally by a guy I know. In total I think I spent roughly 800 usd on taxidermy for a blue wildebeest, Impala, duiker and warthog as well as some money for a bigger suitcase since my wildebeest was too big

Make sure to do thorough research before doing this to make sure it's legal obviously. In Sweden it was ok to bring them like that as long as they were boiled, not cites listed and had an implement to hang them for some reason but I have no idea about Canada.

 

[Philip Glass]

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.

I would look at one of the very attractive packages from a reputable outfitter. You should be able to find many affordable options. Buffalo will bust this budget unless you are content to hunt few others.
I suggest making a spreadsheet to compare all the costs and different outfitters.

 

[Northern Shooter]

OP do I remember correctly that you’re retired and in your late thirties?

Yup, "retired" at 37 from my full time job. I still do some contract work here and there. Living on a reduced income of roughly $80,000 CAD.

House is paid off but still have the typical family bills, truck payments etc which eat up a good chunk of that.

Hence why I'm not going too crazy on the budget here.

 

[Northern Shooter]

I would look at one of the very attractive packages from a reputable outfitter. You should be able to find many affordable options. Buffalo will bust this budget unless you are content to hunt few others.
I suggest making a spreadsheet to compare all the costs and different outfitters.

Good advice. Going to start a spreadsheet now with my desired species and compare the pricing from a handful of outfits.

Already thinking about Safari #2.

 

[Bandera]

Well you could go on a Warthog killing spree. With $14000 USD that would be a bunch of the little buggers.

 

[LIMPOPO NORTH SAFARIS]

Dear Northern shooter

We can definitely assist you in this regard and would be thrilled to host you and friends sending you a direct message.

Regards
Sampie

 

[Ontario Hunter]

One thing I did to minimize the cost of taxidermy was to boil the skulls and bring them home with me in my luggage to have "euro" mounts made locally by a guy I know. In total I think I spent roughly 800 usd on taxidermy for a blue wildebeest, Impala, duiker and warthog as well as some money for a bigger suitcase since my wildebeest was too big

Make sure to do thorough research before doing this to make sure it's legal obviously. In Sweden it was ok to bring them like that as long as they were boiled, not cites listed and had an implement to hang them for some reason but I have no idea about Canada.

Skulls have to be inspected here at point of entry by Ag Canada. Getting them on the ball in a timely manner is not easy. Ask me how I know! The setup at Pearson in Toronto is a mess. Also, boiling and cleaning the skulls to meet inspection is laborious. I wouldn't want to take time off from hunting in Africa to fiddle with boiling skulls there.

 

[KCSafari]

Become friends with a South African farmer and hunt at local prices. You would be able to hunt every animal on the farm… twice.

 

[Tanks]

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.

...

Exactly, for DG I'd recommend a free-range hunt, not farm animals.

 

[UMLILO SAFARIS]

I just now realized that the budget is around 20,000 Canadian Dollars and not USD. With this budget I would forget the buffalo. Even if the offers in South Africa seem cheap, you also have to take the additional costs into account and so you will quickly be over the mentioned amount,.. and the trophy is not yet at home. This would have been possible in Burkina Faso and Benin for hunting buffalo, but unfortunately these hunting areas are no longer accessible. If you don't want to significantly exceed your budget, I would choose a PG hunt.

Here are my Buff Bulls Packages and also my Buff Cow Packages. Taxidermy & Shipping + Agents I will certainly be able to assist with pricing too.....

 

[UMLILO SAFARIS]

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.

Here are my Plains Game Deals for 2025..... I can certainly swap the medium and small bodied species with only large bodied species....with subsequent price adjustment as needed.... Again, Taxidermy costs cover all I can include in my offer to you.... aiming for a $18 000 Canadian Budget....