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So much has been written about Africa and hunting in Africa. Africa is the dark continent no longer, all its secrets have been revealed, all its valleys and plains laid bare. Its trophies adorn households in the US and the world over.
Yet Africa, smells different. The scent of it is like none other and can’t be reproduced. The hunter’s first sight of a kudu’s horns glinting in the last light of the Karoo, can’t be conveyed in another man’s words. It simply has to be experienced by you…you need to create your own African hunting story.
I’m Victor Watson, owner and professional hunter at Karoo Wild Safaris. In this article I’ll provide you with all the information you need to book an African hunt with confidence. I’ll give my unfiltered opinion based on my experience in the South African hunting and hospitality industry.
The size of Africa is under represented on maps and it is far bigger than most people realize, 3 times the size of the US. So no, you can’t take a day off hunting to visit the pyramids of Giza!
The diversity of species that can be hunted in Africa is staggering. South Africa ranks as the 3rd most biodiverse country in the world.
Do research on Google . Don’t only focus on the first page, some of the smaller and more personable African hunting outfitters can often be found lower down. Hunting in Africa is what peaked your interest but narrow your search to more specific areas, search for Hunting in South Africa or even more detailed to Hunting Eland South Africa. How important is personal attention to you? Do you mind sharing a hunting camp with other hunters? Ask the outfitters these questions. Check his references and reviews and browse his site. Who will guide you on your hunt? Where the owner is involved in the daily running of his business you’re likely to get the best experience.
Tips for choosing an outfitter in Africa:
Your two most important questions should be
-does the area offer good trophy quality of the species I intend to hunt
-will I have a good time while hunting them
With over 40 hunt-able species available in South Africa for example, no outfitter can realistically offer good trophies in all the species on the same property. Choose an outfitter that operates his own lodge and property, but is also willing and able to hunt several other properties and concessions. You don’t want to spend your days driving from area to area either. How does the outfitter balance the logistics of hunting several areas? Does he operate several lodges?
Do you want to bring your wife with? Does the area have any notable non-hunting attractions? Does the outfitter have a wife or guide able to show her around on the days she doesn’t want to accompany you on your hunt?
The cost of an African hunting trip can be as little as $2500 to $20,000 and more. It depends on your goals. Do you only fly first class, what animals would you like to hunt, do you want to take your trophies home?
Outfitters market their African hunting packages in 2 simple ways; package hunts or custom hunts.
Package hunts include the trophy fees for a number of animal species. For example – Spiral Slam Hunting Package 8 day hunt will include a trophy kudu, nyala, eland and bushbuck and typically cost from $7300. All meals and drinks, accommodation, transfers, permit fees, rifle hire and every conceivable sundry should be included. Taxidermy and related shipping costs is typically excluded. You can’t take the meat of the animals hunted home with you so that stays with the outfitter.
A management hunting package is a terrific way to hunt Africa on a budget. Management animals are female animals or animals with no trophy value. Although not trophy quality animals, the hides and horns can normally be kept and exported by the hunter. More importantly the experience of walking and stalking is the same as on a trophy hunt. Lots of stalking and more trigger time. Typical management hunting packages include 10 or more animals of a different species in an 8-day timeframe and can cost as little as $2700, everything included.
What do you need to look out for when booking a hunting package:
The less reputable African outfitter views package hunts as an opportunity to shoot lesser quality trophy animals. This shouldn’t be so – clear up any trophy expectations with your outfitter before booking the hunting package.
The species refund rate – should you not be successful in hunting a species in the package or want to swop it out for another species, what refund will the outfitter give you? Typically package hunt species are refunded at 80-90% of the price listed for that species on the custom price list.
Custom Hunts give the hunter an opportunity to design his or her own dream African hunt. Day fees and trophy fees are charged as per the custom price list. Day fees include everything; meals and drinks, accommodation, transfers etc. Unless in exceptional circumstances, there should be no additional charges. Day fees typically run $300 - $450 per day for a plains game hunt. Day fees in more remote areas in Africa will be higher, $700 per day for plains game hunts and $1000 for dangerous game hunts. Trophy fees are charged for every animal shot or wounded.
Be cheeky and ask your outfitter to create you a custom package hunt for the animals you wish to hunt.
What to look out for when booking a custom hunt:
How high are the day fees in proportion to the trophy fees? If you’re paying $1000 a day for a plains game hunt, how much financial motivation is there for the hunter to put you onto good animals? Conversely, beware of no or low day fee hunts. If you’re not paying to be there, how much does this diminish the outfitter’s responsibility to you in terms of hospitality and accommodation standards. If he only gets paid when you shoot an animal, how much pressure will he put you under to shoot the first animal you see? And how much will that animal cost you? There’s a fine balance between day fees and trophy fees. Work out what it will cost to feed, transfer, accommodate, outfit and guide you in your own country under similar circumstances.
Airline tickets from the US to Europe cost between $1300 to $2000, all connections included. If you’re hunting in a remote African area, you’ll probably need to book an air charter which can be prove costly. Timing your hunt dates with other hunters in the same area, can reduce the cost significantly.
Qatar, Delta, United, Emirates, Ethiopian, Virgin are airlines that allow firearms on their international flights. There are certain restrictions and rules when checking in your firearms. Travel with Guns specializes in US / African travel with firearms and are helpful in this regard
To bring your firearm into a foreign country, you’ll need a temporary import permit. This is a relatively simple process if you follow the requirements but for first time hunters using an agent such as Rifle Permits in South Africa is recommended. They’ll obtain a pre-approved import permit on your behalf, meet your flight and guide you through the process. No long queues at the Johannesburg firearms desk!
Here is a checklist of the documents required to import your Firearm into South Africa
Check with your outfitter or travel agent which airlines transport firearms on their domestic flights within Africa. Within South Africa, SA Airlink and Fly Safair are the only airlines transporting firearms currently.
Taxidermy can significantly increase the cost of your African hunt. To remember your African hunt you have 3 choices; export your trophies to your home country, hire a videographer to accompany and record all aspects of your hunt or take your own photos and save your cash to hunt more African animals. Videography is a terrific way to share not just the trophies but all aspects of your African hunting experience with your friends and family. Videographers charge $200 - $300 per day to video your hunting safari and edit the videos.
If you simply have to take your trophies home; the cost of taxidermy has 3 related costs – dip and pack / taxidermy work, shipping costs and customs clearing costs in your home country. Dip and pack to your taxidermist back home will cost $120 per animal. African taxidermy is well priced, a kudu shoulder mount costs $850. Shipping costs will run you $2000 - $4000 for 8 animals. The shipping costs on dip and pack will be cheaper but you need to factor in the extra cost of dip and pack and transporting your trophies to and from your local taxidermist and your home. Customs clearing costs are typically $300-$450.
Tips for choosing a taxidermist:
Look for reviews online or take the time to visit the taxidermy studio when you’re in Africa. Taxidermists work with a natural product that has been handled in the field and slip ups do happen occasionally. Choose a reputable taxidermist with skin in the game and with motivation to deliver good work. Either you or your friends send multiple trophies to your taxidermist or your outfitter recommends a taxidermist who he regularly sends trophies too.
Read our next article in this series on which rifle to take on your African hunt, how to zero in your rifle and how to use shooting sticks
