How to plan an African Safari - for someone who has never done it before!
There are a number of questions that you need to first ask yourself. Once having done this exercise, you will be in a much better position of knowing how to proceed with finding the best hunt for you.
Q: What species of animals do I wish to hunt? Will it be only plains game or will it also include dangerous game?
Note: Plains game is a general term and typically indicates different antelope species. You have several species of antelope that are commonly found in many African countries such as Impala, Kudu, Springbok, Zebra and so on – this is typically your cheapest African hunt.
Dangerous game typically means the Big 5 – Elephant, White Rhino, Lion, Leopard and Buffalo. Hippo and Crocodile are also dangerous but are generally hunted along with other Dangerous game species or where possible on a plains game hunt. If you wish to shoot a really big crocodile, you will have to plan a special safari for these aquatic species.
Q: Do you want to do a trophy hunt?
Note: A trophy hunt implies that you will be bringing back trophies.
Q: Do you wish to do a non trophy hunt?
Note: As the term implies on a non trophy hunt, typically you will be hunting females, males with broken horns etc. for the most part there are no trophies to bring home at the end of the day. Non trophy hunts are less expensive and a better option for the hunter who just wants to have the experience of hunting in Africa. You can even hunt tuskless elephant cows and buffalo cows on a non trophy hunt, which by the way is just as if not more thrilling than hunting bulls of both species! Keep in mind that there are some big game animal species can never be hunted on a non trophy hunt as there are just too few of them.
Q: Once you have decided on the species you wish to hunt the next most important decision is which country do you wish to hunt?
Note: Unless you have made up your mind that you wish to hunt in a particular country, the list of species will often dictate where to go.
Q: Special Species.
Note: These include species such as Mountain Nyala, Bongo, Lord Derby’s Eland and so on. To hunt these animals will require specialized safaris. These hunts are for the more advanced hunter and not recommended for a beginner hunter to Africa.
Q: True trophy hunting.
Note: If you are a serious trophy hunter then there are four very important factors to consider - Location, Timing, Length of Safari and Focus.
Location, some animals grow bigger in certain areas and it’s as simple as that, so you need to research the areas that produce big trophies of the species you want and find an outfitter who hunts these areas. Timing, the second most important point is the timing of your hunt. Even in a good area, some areas are better hunted in the dry season; others are better hunted when there is grass and feed which attracts the game. Speak to your PH and discuss with him the best time to come for your particular species.
Length of safari, the more number of days you can afford to hunt, the better the chance of finding that big one! Focus, in most hunting situations while you are looking for that main animal of your choice, you will often run into some other species of game which can be hunted. Let your PH decide if it’s a good idea to take that animal now or not. If it is possible and does not distract you from your main focus or disturb the area then go-ahead and make the best of a bonus trophy, but keep your focus on your main trophy.
Q: Collecting certain species?
Note: Some hunters focus on collecting certain species of game. Whether it is pygmy antelope or spiral horned antelope or animals required to complete a group to enter into a hunting award. Hunting these animals will require dedication and focus. The area you wish to hunt will also be vital to find some of these species, as they may all not be commonly found in one place. Serious collectors plan safaris just based on collecting certain animals to fill an award category.
Q: Dedicated Safaris?
Note: As the name implies a dedicated safari is required for certain species of game such as Lion, Leopard, Crocodile, Elephant and the special species of Plains game. When hunting animals that require baiting such as the big cats and even crocodile, you have to first procure the bait and then start setting up and checking the baits on a daily basis. Until these species are in the bag, you will have to focus exclusively on this task.
If you are hunting trophy elephant, then you have to dedicate your safari to it and only when your elephant is down, should you look at other species.
Q: High fenced v/s farm hunts?
Note: Even in Africa it is becoming more and more common to hunt game that is enclosed and is within a high fence operation. The size of the enclosed area of course differs with each operation and obviously the larger the area the more natural the hunt. Many safaris in South Africa are conducted on such operations. In a private farm type situation such as commonly found in Namibia, there are fences to mark land boundaries or keep cattle in or cattle out, but in no way do they restrict the movement of game animals. This is pretty much a wild animal hunt.
Ask your operator pointed questions so you know what conditions you will be hunting in and whether they suit you before your hunt.
Q: Canned Lion hunts?
Note: Canned lion hunts have attracted a lot of attention in recent times and it is a very passionate, hotly debated subject. Essentially a canned lion is a lion that has been bred in captivity from birth and is hunted within a high fenced enclosure. Whether this is for you or not is a personal choice. Virtually all lions hunted in South Africa are canned lion hunts. The question to ask is the size of the enclosed area. I believe there is also some rule in place which dictates the time from when the lion is released into this enclosed hunting area to the time it can be hunted.
Q: Green hunts?
Note: Green hunts are hunts where the animal is darted, a photo or two is taken, and the animal is administered a drug to wake it up and it goes on its way. Most White Rhino hunts are darted or green hunts. The question to ask here is the size of the enclosed area in which the green hunt will be conducted.
Q: Quotas and Packages?
Note: This is a tricky area and need some explaining! To hunt for certain species of animals a minimum number of hunting days are required to be booked. This is sometimes stipulated by the operator and or by the country’s government that sells hunting licenses. So if you wish to hunt a lion, typically a 21 day license is required in some countries whereas it is not required in other countries.
Even if you shoot the lion on day 1 and wish to come home, you still have to pay for a 21 day safari. Similarly the numbers of each species that can also be hunted differ on the number of days that you book. For example a tuskless non trophy cow elephant hunt, typically is a 7 to 10 day hunt, if you wish to hunt two of them, then you will have to book two 7 to 10 day hunts. Sometimes it may be possible to negotiate down the number of days or get an operator to add more species to your hunt.
Q: Hunt Costs?
Note: Below is the typical breakdown of costs of an African hunt.
Daily Rate: This is the cost of your board, lodging, professional hunter, hunting vehicle, trackers, skinners, camp staff, etc. This cost is known as your “Daily rate” and is charged by the number of days of your hunt. Daily rates vary if you are hunting 1x1 or 2x1. 1x1 implies that you will be hunting alone with your dedicated PH, 2x1 implies that you will be sharing the professional hunter with a friend. An observer or non hunting companion will also be charged a daily rate at a lower level. Travel days from one camp to another also incur a daily rate albeit at a lower level. Everything being 100% the same, you will be charged a higher daily rate if you are hunting dangerous game on your hunt or if you will be hunting trophy dangerous game on your hunt v/s say only plains game.
Trophy Fees: This is the cost that you are charged for each and every animal that you shoot or wound and do not recover.
Government fees and taxes: This varies upon the country that you will be hunting and range from a flat 2% on your daily rate to a much more complex calculation method.
Travel costs in country: If the distances are great the PH will charge an extra fee to collect the hunter from the airport to get to the hunting area and back as well as other travel during the course of your safari or stay in the country.
Air charter: Chartering a small plane to get to remote hunting areas in Africa is very common. Sometimes there is no other way to get to a hunting area but to charter into camp. This cost can sometimes be reduced by sharing the plane ride with another hunting party. Cost of air charter can be significant so discuss this with your PH beforehand.
Hotels: Generally hotel stay before and after a hunt are payable by the hunter.
Licenses: Some countries levy a cost on gun permits etc.
Tips: It is customary to tip your PH and all staff after your hunt.
Dip & Pack: This is the cost of dipping (in a chemical) and packing your trophies, to get them ready for export back to your home country.
Q: Operator v/s Professional Hunter
Note: There is a difference between these two individuals, although in some cases the Operator is also your Professional hunter. The operator is an individual or owner of the company that owns the hunting operation or game farm. The PH or Professional hunter might be the owner, partner or even an employee of the operator.
A big hunting operation might have several PHs working for them. When booking your hunt it is important to find out who your PH will be? This is the person who will be responsible for your hunt and possibly your life, so it is important that you get along with him. You also need to find out who the operator is and that person or company owner will ultimately be responsible if something should go wrong.
Q: CITES Permits?
Note: Certain animal species require a CITES permit to be obtained by the hunter before the animal can be imported into the USA. Other countries may have other requirements. Speak to your PH about this.
Q: Game Quotas?
Note: On government owned concessions the concession owner or operator is allocated a fixed quota of animals for the season. If the previous hunter does not take a certain animal, then that animal becomes available to the next hunter if the concession owner decides so.
Q: Budgeting?
Note: Be sure to allow a little extra so as to take that opportunity that may come up if a certain animal may become available that was not originally included in your hunt. This happens fairly frequently.
Q: Taxidermy?
Note: Essentially you have two choices. Have the animals completely mounted in Africa or shipped back to a taxidermist in the States. While the work is a bit cheaper in Africa, the cost of shipping large crates back will eat into that saving. I think a mix of having rugs (zebra skins, etc) done in Africa and shipping shoulder mounts back for mounting by a local taxidermist is a good way to go. This way you get the best of both worlds. The advantage of having work done in the states is also the ability to spread the work out a bit over time, which eases cashflow.
Q: Scoped or open sights?
Note: Unless you are a crack shot or hunting elephant or rhino specifically. A scoped rifle will always be the better way to go. A fairly easy shot with a scoped rifle is always a difficult shot with open sights.
Q: Double barrel rifles?
Note: Double rifles have their place, but they are for the more experienced rifleman. However they are specialized firearms which really come into their own in certain applications where a quick second shot is required. A big open sighted double rifle is perfect for hunting elephant or following up wounded dangerous game that can kill you. However in the hands of an inexperienced rifleman, more often than not game will be wounded when the first shot is taken with a big open sighted double rifle.
Q: BIG guns?
Note: Big guns have their own charm and most hunters’ who plan to hunt in Africa, want to run out and buy a BIG gun. African game is no hardier than North American game and your typical heart/lung shot will work just as effectively. So unless you are willing to practice and become really proficient in handling a large caliber rifle stick to a smaller caliber that you can shoot better. What is far more important is bullet placement. Keep in mind that in some countries a minimum caliber of rifle is required for certain species, especially dangerous game animals.
Q: Taking your guns?
Note: Contrary to what most people think, it is fairly easy to take your gun to Africa. Find out the local laws in the countries that you will be visiting, your PH will be able to advise and may need to apply for your permits before hand. Also work with a good travel agent who specializes in African travel. US residents will also have to complete a customs form 4457 as proof of ownership when they return to the country.
Q: Cost of an African Safari?
Note: Contrary to what most people think, African safaris are relatively affordable and for the most part can be cheaper than many North American hunts. For example for the cost of a Grizzly bear or Alaskan Moose hunt, you can take several species of African plains game and have money left over. However keep in mind there are other miscellaneous costs to factor in such as travel, costs in country before and after your safari, dipping and packing, shipping trophies back etc.
