I think I posted these pics almost 2 years ago, but I head back to Namibia in less than 2 months, and hope to shoot similar critters.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/WEh0Iy7l.jpg[/img

Here's another pic

Nice Eland and Waterbuck Bud. Waterbuck was the only animal I didn't get in Zimbabwe that I wanted. Congrats, and have a good trip.

👍

On my wish list...congrats and good luck I'd like to kill an eland myself

What does a trip like this run ballpark

Jake, prices are all over the board depending on country, species hunted, how much you bring home, any extra flights. South Africa is prolly the cheapest. Hunt only there can be had for under $10,000, add $2000 to get there, $1-2000 to ship yer stuff home, add taxidermy here it begins to add up. I spent $15000 in Zimbabwe in 05', taxidermy was free (by me). It is not cheap anywhere over there. Dangerous game in Tanzania can hit over $100,000 total!!!!

Thanks bhamfred

Fred (Troy) is a little high on his cost figures. My actual airfare, round trip, is $982 all in. The Professional Hunter I hunt with charges $260 a day, so an 8 day hunt is $2080. Trophy Fees are ala carte- a gemsbok is $850, a Springbok is $650 and an Eland is $2750. Baboons and Jackals are free. The PH I hunt with lets me shoot “Ration Animals” to feed his workers for free. Taxidermy in Namibia is dirt cheap if you do European Mounts. My Eland and Waterbuck mounts were less than $500 total .Shipping was cheap too.

Here are some more critters from a previous trip:



A trophy Kudu

A REALLY big Gemsbok:

A pretty nice Warthog:

The guy I hunt with has a leopard hunter coming right after me, so I'll get to shoot bait animals for FREE- mostly Baboons and Gemsbok. On his ranch, he has free roaming Elephants, Leopards, Cheetahs and Lions. You never know what you're going to run into out in the bush.

those are good prices. I paid right at $4000 for two air tickets in 2005, the earlier you can buy the cheaper you can get them. $260 a day is very cheap these days for daily rates, I paid more for that in 2005 in Zimbabwe.

hope you have a great hunt Bud.

I know several people that have had all their animals skinned and tanned and shipped back here in a crate. Then had one or two mounts done every year. It took them about 4-5 years to get all their heads mounted. But, they didn’t have to pony it all up at once.

unless you are doing European skull mounts you are way better off shipping hides and horns and having taxidermy done here. Not all, but a lot, of the African taxidermy is second rate compared to here.

Thanks for the well wishes, Troy. Being an old fart, I have a lifetime of trophies, but limited wallspace. Euro Mounts take up a lot less room than full shoulder l. When we moved to our condo in Chicago in 2011, I had 7 Whitetail mounts and 4 Mulies. My wife said we could hang four total. So I hung a 160 P&Y whitetail, a 167 3/8 P&Y whitetail, a 29” 4 X 4 Mulie and a 25” 4 X 4 Mulie. All the rest I sold on Craigslist. I used the proceeds to partially fund my first African trip in 2012. My Dad died in 2011, leaving me a few bucks. I took half of my inheritance and set up 529 College Trusts for my 4 grandchildren. . The other half of the funds have paid for 4 African hunting trips. That’s just the way my Dad would want it- education and hunting. I

Enjoy your trip.

Have you ever considered going to another country besides Namibia? I have hunted that country on two separate safaris. I've hunted the Red Dunes in the south, the Mountains to the West and the desert up north. I enjoyed Namibia but I prefer areas of South Africa personally for plains game. I've hunted most of the general areas in South Africa and that country offers lots more diverse terrain and critters.

Also, how are you flying so cheap? I've been to Africa 7 times and the cheapest I've ever flown was about $1500 each.

BGH- I book my flights directly with British Airways. They guarantee the lowest rates when booking direct with them. Plus, I hunt in April or May before airfare rates go up starting in June. I’ve considered hunting in other African countries, but at my age (72) I’m not sure how many more African trips are in the cards for me. The PH I hunt with, Jan du Plessis of Sebra Hunting Safaris, is the same age as my youngest son (45) and has always treated me extremely well. He’s almost like a third son to me, and his two kids call me “Uncle Bud”.

Sounds like you've found that right place/guy for you.

Enjoy your next trip.

Great pics Uncle Bud

They have any turkeys over there?

we saw one walking down the side of a road in Zimbabwe, wife made the PH turn around so she could take a pic.

Their Guinea Fowl look a lot like turkeys- similar color, a little smaller

Thanks to all for the well wishes. I’ll be sure to post pictures here on Aldeer when I return in late May

Be sure to Bud, always enjoy yer pics.

Wow congrats!!

Just curious which one tasted the best??

Eland, Kudu or Impala..all good.

My personal preference is: 1) Gemsbok; 2) Eland; 3) Kudu

Giraffe.

BGH: You EAT giraffe? They make good lion bait, but I’ve never heard of white people eating them

Errbody loves Gemsbok,,,,, kind of bland to me. Not bad,
just not as tasty as a whitetail.

Lions have good taste then.

I’ve eaten 25+ varieties of game meat from Africa and giraffe is on the top
of the list. We’ve shot 3 different bulls in my groups and we’ve eaten some of all of them and they have all been very good.

Leopard is a close second and also the most expensive game meat I have eaten.

BGH: Since I can’t afford the trophy fee for a Leopard I’ve never tasted it. I did like Klipspringer, but you don’t get much meat off one, especially if you hit it with a .300 WSM.

I shot my Klipspringer with a .257 Roy through the paunch. I have shot all of the little critters through the paunch and they generally drop, it doesn't mess the meat up and the hides are in good shape. I've shot 8 of the tiny 10 so far. Going back in 20' to get them and a few other odd balls that I have left.