TROPHY HUNTING

About the hunt

The game is usually spotted from the hunting vehicle during the early morning or late afternoon and stalked on foot from there on. However, on clients request, the entire hunt can be done on foot. A packed lunch is normally taken in the veld. It is advisable that the hunter is in reasonable physical condition and a reasonable shot as these factors always influence the outcome of the hunt.

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Hunting Season

The season starts on 1 May and continues through to 31 August for most small game. Year round hunting for most plains, and dangerous game is possible.

Daily Rates for plains game in South Africa for 2006: (USD)

One on one: $ 400 per day/client. Two on one: $ 350 per day/client. [p] Client(s) can hunt on the day of arrival or departure at ½ of the daily rate. Observer: $ 200 per day/night per person. Non-hunting days are charged at observer rate. Hunts vary in duration from 7 to 21 days.

Daily Rates for dangerous game in South Africa for 2006: $ (USD)

One on one: $ 700 per day/client. Two on one: $ 650 per day/client. Client(s) can hunt on the day of arrival or departure at ½ of the daily rate. Observer: $ 250 per day/night per person. Non-hunting days are charged at observer rate. Hunts vary in duration from 7 to 21 days.

 Daily Rates for Bow Hunting in South Africa for 2006: $ (USD)

One on one: $ 400 per day/client. Two on one: $ 350 per day/client.

Client(s) can hunt on the day of arrival or depature at ½ of the daily rate. Observers: $ 200 per day/night per person. Non-hunting days are charged at observer rate. Hunts vary in duration from 7 to 21 days.

Included in the price

Services of a licensed professional hunter, hunting vehicle and field staff. Transportation during the contracted safari period including, road transfer from Johannesburg International Airport to the hunting area and back. Field preparation of trophies and drop off at a taxidermist. All hunting licenses & permits, except CITIES permits. All accommodation, meals and soft drinks. Alcoholic beverages in moderation. Daily laundry service. Medical kit.Value Added Tax (VAT) at 14 %, payable on daily rates only.

Excluded from the price

International and domestic air travel before, and after the contracted period of the safari. Hotel accommodation before and after the safari. Preparation, packing, documentation and export of trophies from South Africa. Gratuities to the professional hunter and other staff. Hire of arms ($ 25 per gun per day) and ammunition. Medical and personal insurance.

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2006 TROPHY FEES

TROPHY FEES IN SOUTH AFRICA: $ (USD)

Please note that the following trophy fees are based on a Dollar/Rand exchange rate of  1USD = 6.5 Rand.

Currency fluctuations in either direction of more than 10 % will be adjusted accordingly.

This will be based on the average buying rate, at the time of the safari, as per the Johannesburg International Airport exchanges.

Species	Pricing
Baboon	$ 100
Blesbuck, Common	$ 400
Blesbuck, White	$ 650
Bontebok	$ 1 650
Bushbuck (Cape)	$ 800
Bushbuck (Limpopo)	$ 800
Bushpig	$ 450
Caracal	$ 900
Duiker, Blue	$ 950
Duiker, Grey	$ 300
Duiker, Red	$ 1 100
Eland, Cape	$ 1 750
Gemsbuck	$ 1000
Grysbuck, Cape	$ 700
Grysbuck, Sharpe's	$ 850
Giraffe	$ 2 700
Impala	$ 350
Klipspringer	$ 750
Kudu, Southern Greater	$ 1 200
Nyala	$ 2 200
Oribi	$ 850
Ostrich	$  400
Red Hartebeest	$ 850
Reedbuck, Mountain	$ 500
Reedbuck, Common	$ 750
Roan	POR
Sable	POR
Serval	$ 800
Springbuck, Black	$ 750
Springbuck, Common	$ 350
Springbuck, Golden	$ 1000
Springbuck, White	$ 850
Steenbuck	$ 300
Tsessebe	$ 2 500
Vaal Rhebuck	$ 800
Warthog	$ 300
Waterbuck	$ 1 800
Wildebeest, Black	$ 850
Wildebeest, Blue	$ 850
Zebra, Burchell's	$ 950

 

BIG 6 - PRICE ON REQUEST

 

Special Hunting Packages

 Package 1:

• 7 day rifle / muzzle loader / handgun /  bow package
• 2 days transfer
• 5 trophies
• Pick Two:  Kudu, Gemsbuck,  Zebra,  Hartebeest,  Black/Blue Wildebeest.
• Pick Two: Impala, Common Blesbuck,  Warthog.
• Pick One: Grey Duiker, Steenbuck,  Common Springbuck.
• Price:  1 x 1 $ 5000 per person  -  2 x 2 $  4650 per person 

Package 2:

• 7 day rifle / muzzle loader / handgun /  bow package
• 2 days transfer
• 5 trophies
• Gemsbuck, Impala, Common Blesbuck, Grey Duiker, Steenbuck.
• Price:  1 x 1 $ 4350 per person  -  2 x 2 $  4050 per person 

Package 3:

• 7 day rifle / muzzle loader / handgun package
• 2 days transfer
• 5 trophies
• Pick Two: Impala, Common Blesbuck,  Warthog.
• Pick Two: Grey Duiker, Steenbuck,  Common Springbuck.
• Mountain Reedbuck
• Price:  1 x 1 $ 3950 per person  -  2 x 2 $  3650 per person 

Package 4:

• 10 day rifle/ muzzle loader/ handgun / bow package
• 2 days transfer
• 8 trophies
• Pick One: Eland, Waterbuck
• Pick One: Gemsbuck, Burchell's Zebra.
• Pick Two: Blue Wildebeest, Black Wildebeest, Red Hartebeest.
• Pick Two: Impala,  Common Blesbuck,  Warthog.
• Pick Two: Grey Duiker, Steenbuck,  Common Springbuck.
• Price:  1 x 1 $ 8000 per person  -  2 x 2 $  7700 per person 

TAILOR MADE HUNTS

If you are not interested in a package hunt, put your own hunt together by multiplying the number of days with the daily fee, add the trophy fees of the animal you want to hunt to get to the preliminary cost of the hunt.  Deduct 10 % from this total, and you have the total cost of the hunt.

GENERAL SAFARI INFORMATION

RIFLE HUNTING

Before the commencement of any hunt, your rifle is sighted in from a static shooting table with rests or alternatively from shooting sticks. Targets are placed at intervals of 50 metres, 100m and 150m, as most shots taken during the hunt normally range between 50m – 250m. Only when we are satisfied with your grouping and your level of confidence, will we proceed with the hunt.

The Hunt

Game is usually spotted from the hunting vehicle during the early morning or late afternoon and stalked on foot from there on. However, on client's request, the entire hunt can be done on foot. When hunting on foot, shooting is normally done from the standing position using shooting sticks as this improves shot placement and because brush and grasses can make shooting from a sitting positions impossible. It is advisable that the hunter is in reasonable physical condition and a reasonable shot as these factors always influence the outcome of the hunt.

Calibre and Bullets

The toughness of African game is renowned. For small and medium sized plains game a bolt action or single shot rifle of .270 or 30-06 caliber is recommended if a proper bullet is used. For big game like eland a larger caliber rifle like a .338 will be sufficient. For thick-skinned game the minimum caliber allowed is a .375 magnum. Many hunters find that a .375 mag. is a very good all-round rifle for both plains and dangerous game hunting. When selecting a bullet it is important to remember to only use heavily constructed bullets like Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, Swift A-Frame, Winchester Fail-Safe and Barnes X. We do not recommend polymer tipped bullets in a high-powered rifle. Remember like with all hunting, bullet placement is everything and please bring the gun or guns you are most confident with. Many hunters go out and buy a heavy recoiling gun a month before coming to Africa because they think they are going to need a super powerful gun. Very often this is a mistake and they find they have more gun than they can handle.

Scopes

Fit your rifle with a good quality scope; a 4x is a good all around power but a quality variable of 3x-9 also works. When you travel with only one rifle it' is advisable to pack a spare scope and to transport these in a good quality gun case.

BOW HUNTING

Bow hunting has become very popular in Africa and bowhunters are easily accommodated at our concessions. Numerous blinds are placed strategically to ensure maximum success and the average shooting distance range from 15 to 23 metres. These blinds range from static to mobile blinds, and even tree stands are used. Archers will have a professional hunter in the blind with them to help with trophy judgement.

Preparation

Before coming to Africa, archers must know their capabilities and should at least be able to shoot from either the sitting or standing positions. It is essential that archers should also practice shooting through a relatively small hole from inside a blind as shooting through such as small hole in an enclosure can be distracting. Furthermore, archers should know the anatomy of African game as shot placement is everything. Often the hart-lung area is situated much lower and farther forward than in game animals of other parts of the world.

Equipment and Restrictions

Generally a  bow and arrow combination that can produce a minimum of 65lbs. of kinetic energy with broadhead-tipped arrows is recommended. As it is often very dark inside blinds you may have difficulty in seeing your sight pins. Lighted sight pins are therefore a must when hunting from inside a blind. A laser rangefinder like Nikon or Bushnell is also recommended.

 

Game	Bow  (KE)	Arrow  (Grain)
Blesbuck, Bushbuck, Duiker, Impala, Klipspringer, Springbuck.	25	350
Bushpig, Kudu, Nyala, Warthog.	40	400
Eland, Gemsbuck, Hartebeest, Roan, Sable, Tsessebe, Waterbuck, Wildebeest, Zebra. Crocodile, Lion, Leopard.	65	450
Giraffe, Buffalo.	80	700
Hippo, Rhino, Elephant.	105	850

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HANDGUN HUNTING

Africa is truly a handgun hunter's paradise. Because Africa's game is renowned for their toughness larger calibers with heavy bullets is recommended.

Calibre and Bullets

When you prefer to use a revolver, there are several that are sufficient. For plains game up a 100m out a 44 Magnum with the right bullet is a good choice. Other good choices are the 480 Ruger, and 454 Casull. If you are able to hit a 10" target at 100 yards from a static rest you will do fine. If you prefer single shot pistols like the Encore and Contender, the 375 and 338 calibers will be sufficient for any plains game out to two hundred yards, that is, with decent shot placement and heavily constructed bullets like the Nosler Partition. Just as important as having the right calibre, is having the right bullet. Since some of the shots are normally quartering shots, deep penetration is of critical importance. In the 44 Magnum a hard cast bullet is needed such as the 300-grain Federal Cast Core and the 310-grain Garrett. For smaller caliber bullets, where penetration and expansion is of crucial importance, the Hornady and Speer 270 grain are good choices for the 375. Remember like with all hunting, bullet placement is everything and please bring the handgun or handguns you are most confident with. Many hunters go out and buy a heavy recoiling handgun a month before coming to Africa because they think they are going to need a super powerful handgun. Very often this is a mistake and they find they have more handgun than they can handle.

Scopes

A scope of about 4x is a good all around power but a quality variable of 2x6 will be sufficient. It's always a good idea to pack a spare scope that will fit on your handgun.

MUZZLE LOADER HUNTING

Using a muzzleloader makes a special statement about a hunter. He wants a greater challenge than that offered by conventional rifle hunting and he accepts the rigorous challenges of one-shot encounters with Africa's game animals. Before any hunt, your muzzleloading rifle is sighted in from a static shooting table with rests or from shooting sticks. Targets are placed at intervals of 50metres, 100m and 150metres, as most shots taken during the hunt normally range between 50m - 150m. Only when we are satisfied with your grouping and your level of confidence, will we proceed with the hunt.

The Hunt

Game is usually spotted from the hunting vehicle during the early morning or late afternoon and stalked on foot from there on. However, on clients request, the entire hunt can be done on foot. When hunting on foot, shooting is normally done from the standing position using shooting sticks as this improves shot placement and because brush and grasses can make shooting from a sitting positions impossible. When hunting a hunter should get closer than 130m as most black powder shooters are not proficient beyond 130 m and most heavy loads lose a significant proportion of energy at that range. It is advisable that the hunter is in reasonable physical condition and a reasonable shot as these factors always influence the outcome of the hunt.

Calibre and Projectiles

The toughness of African game is renowned. Modern muzzleloaders with sabots or power belts should be .45 calibre or larger. Traditional muzzleloaders using round-ball ammo should be .50 calibre or larger. Remember like with all hunting, bullet placement is everything and please bring the muzzleloader you are most confident with.

Hunting Scopes

The number one factor in the clean, human hunting of game is precise shot placement and like in rifle and handgun hunting a good scope makes that choice so much easier. The Bushnell Elite 3200 3 x 9 x 40, Sightron SII 3 x 9 x 42 and the Bushnell Elite 4200 2.5 x 10 x 40 is recommended. For inline muzzleloaders the Bushnell Elite 3200 30 x 9 x 40, Sightron SII 3 x 9 x 42 and Zeiss Conquest. 3 x 9 x 40 are good choices.

What To Bring

Shooting jacket with large pockets for cartridges. Raincoat. Odorless sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 20. A wide brimmed hat. Three sets of hunting clothes, khaki or cammo. Two sets of casual clothes. A thick jacket as it gets cold during the winter mornings and evenings. Gloves. Well-worn and comfortable walking boots and thick socks. Personal medication. A good camera and enough film/memory sticks. Binoculars. If hunting during our summer months (September-April), insect repellent is advised. We make use of 220 V electrical power supply so pleas remember your converter and battery recharge equipment.

Travel Arrangements

Clients hunting with UNDER THE AFRICAN SKY SAFARIS have two options:

1.They can book their international flights into Johannesburg (Johannesburg International Airport). From there they will be transferred by road to the hunting areas ( ± 4 hours) at an additional cost of US$ 250 per person or

2. book their international flights into Johannesburg (Johannesburg International Airport) and take a short link flight Bloemfontein Airport. After the hunt they take a short link flight from Bloemfontein back to Johannesburg International Airport.

Terms and Conditions

A deposit of 50 % of the daily rate of the safari is required to confirm a booking. The balance of the daily rate is due 30 days before the commencement of the safari in cash, traveller's cheque or bank guaranteed cheque. No personal cheques will be accepted. The deposit is not refundable if the safari is cancelled within 90 days of the stated commencing date. No refund for late arrivals or early departures. Trophy fees are only applicable to animals killed or wounded and lost, and are due on the last day of the safari. Under the African Sky Safaris reserves the right to change prices, terms and/or conditions herein without prior notice.

Liability

Although Under the African Sky Safaris will take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of clients, no liability will be accepted for injury, illness, loss or accident during or after the safari. All participants will be expected to sign indemnity forms before the commencement of the safari. It is recommended that clients take out all the necessary insurance before they travel.

Trophies

Trophies will be delivered to a top class taxidermist who will after completing his work, arrange for all the necessary documentation and export details. The client will be informed about allarrangements. However, should the client decide to use his/her own taxidermist and/or shipping agent no responsibility whatsoever will be accepted by Under the African Sky Safaris for any loss or damage occurring to trophies prior to, during or after packing, shipping, tanning and/or mounting.

Client Profile Form

After booking a safari, you will receive a Client Profile Form to complete, in order to assist us in the formalities regarding your hunt.