Greenlight for Dark Continent

[wapiti792]

Well after much begging and promises in the dark my lovely wife has greenlit my plan to hunt in S. Africa in 2010. I plan on going with Dries Vissar but have not booked yet...so you fellas that have gone expect a few PMs and my constant bird-dogging of this forum. I received a price-list for a packaged flight and daily fees and they are pretty darn doable. Questions: 1.How bad was the plane-ride REALLY? 2.Is an 8 day hunt enough for most plainsgame? 3.What can I expect in terms of taxidermy if I happen to shoot a few animals...my ultimate dream is a Gemsbuk and a Kudo. Anything else is gravy on the taters. I am already more than a little excited. Thanks!

Vongrats and good luck on your hunt. I gort my grrn lught for my first trip to SA by telling my wife she was going with me. I'm going over on June 18th (this year) and can't wait. I'm not booked with dries so I con't help you with that one but good lick anyway.

Bisch

[J-dog]

never been to Dries - heard nothing but great things about the lace though. Plane ride stinks REALLY - I would and did have my trophies packaged and shipped back to a taxidermist here in the states. They do good work over there nothing against them. Just the guys herei n the states have access to alot more tools and equip than most of theirs.

J

[J-dog]

Yeah 8 days should be plenty

[tradtusker]

congrats you will have a blast
8 days is plenty if you hunting with dries or other operations out of a hide.

the plane ride there is nothing you'l be pummped reading African hunting story's and trying to imagine what to expect. the plane ride back SUCKS!

i did not used to but i would prob now sudjest that you dip and ship your trophy back here to the states. might cost you a little more but at least when they get here to the states you will be able to keep an eye on the progress. lost of trophy getting messed up or lost in SA and turn around time is usually bad, my last few took almost 3 years to get.

take care in the airport when you get there, look like you know what your doing and get to the baggage claim quickly. dont want your hunting bag to grow legs. make sure your guide is there before you land to pick you up!

let me know if there is anything else
there's a few book you might want to get etc  

Andy

[wapiti792]

Thanks fellas! Andy thanks for the heads up on the baggage, etc. The dip and pack...do they do that while I am there? Do I ship it to myself or to the taxidermist? My uncle is my taxidermist, so I never really thought much about having them done over there.

Will be asking more questions as they pop up. Thanks so much for all the help guys. New world to me, this.

[Brent Hill]

Drink tons of water and whiskey on the flight, spend one whole day in Joberg after your initial flight to get your bearings back but the flight isn't that bad when you think about what you are going to do.  Consider spending 10 to 12 days there with side trips for the family to alleviate the pain of flying.   Pack an extra bow/ arrows and hunting stuff in separate cheap bag  Expensive looking bow cases find their way into the gun room or someone elses stuff.  I had two cheap ratty looking duffles packed with enough in each duffle so if one was missing, I could still hunt.  8 days is more than enough time.  You really could take alot of animals in that time but more importantly, you will see alot regardless of animals taken.   Take a good camera and video camera with tripod to the blinds !!!   Practise shooting through blind windows 8in X 8 in   I went to Matlabas Game Hunters near dries and I'm booked again for matlabas for 2010.  The area on the limpopo is amazing and Wilham from matlabas said that Dries was a top notch operation so you will do very well if you book with them.  If you are interested in discussing Matlabas, send me a PM.   You do need to remember that the world cup is set for june/july 2010 in Joberg and that accomodations there may be short.  I have not talked with the afton house about this yet but its something we will have to contend with.   You are going to love it.  Congrats

[J-dog]

They will dip and pack and ship, you need to give them info on where to ship to. They will not ship to you, you have to get it shipped to someone licensed to receive them?? cannot remember what that is called?? anyway check it out talk to your taxidermist they will know. You taxidermists may have you ship them straight to a tannery they use.

take lotsa pics!

J

[tradtusker]

Joburg during the World cup in Not going to be a good time to be there. its in the top 10 most dangerous cities in the world  for good reason.

get your guide to pick you up from the airport and get to the hunting operation. you'd be better served tuning in and getting your bearings out in the bush where you'l be hunting.

[wapiti792]

Again gents thanks for the info. I will check the dates and perhaps my trip and the Cup will not cross paths...I've got some time to get my act straight!

[hunt it]

Like Andy says, regardless of cup get the hell out of Joburg as fast you can.

[TheFatboy]

Prepare for the hunt of your life. I've been in South Africa myself, and it was probably one of my greatest experiences ever. I was only 12 at the time, and even though it was not traditional hunting, I'll never forget it. I managed to shoot a warthog and an impala  

[Brent Hill]

I think tradtusker may know a little about more about SFA, so it may be a better idea to get out of town.  Joberg in 2008 was a little dicey and I was relieved to get out of town.  And having the outfitter pick you up solves the dilema of where to stay when Joberg is filled to the gills with tourists. I may do the same and save a little money as versuses trying to make arrangements at the Afton.

[Brent Hill]

I did talk to my outfitter and the Afton house about what to do when I get into Joburg on day 1 and my outfitter recommended that I stay at the afton house the first night where they will pick me at the airport and he would pick me up the verynext morning.  Thats what I did the last time except I stayed 2 days in joberg at the afton house and took side trips to swto and the markets.  I won't make that mistake again in 2010.   I emailed the Afton House about availability during june and july 2010 and they said that they would not be opening their doors to the soccer fans and would only book rooms to hunters.  Someone likes us !! But I agree with Tradtusker about avoiding Joberg as much as possible.

[Gerardo]

Could you post the links for those operations:

matlabas and dries

thank you

[wapiti792]

http://www.matlabas.co.za/hunting/

 http://www.dvisser-safaris.co.za/Modules_FE/Layout1/displayfull.asp?id=1

Here you go!