Africa Big Five

[2rocky]

Good topic. Cape buffalo tracking an old Dugga boy would be my #1.

Elephant and Lion only if it was a rogue.

Leopard with hounds

While I was there,

Kudu (might be ahead of Last 3 above)

impala, gazelle, wildebeest as available and convenient provided I didn't need to sit in a blind.

This list is a product of Edison Marshall and Robert Ruarks words and contain none of my own original thoughts....

 

[buffybr]

I think any hunt that you could hear a lion roar would be at the top of any list.

The camps that I hunted in Zimbabwe and Mozambique were totally free range.

The Zim camp overlooked a wide valley and many nights we heard lions roaring. On one of my buffalo stalks, we could hear the buffalo walking through the thick brush in front of us, and at one point there were lion tracks on top of the buffalo tracks. That was the first time on any of my African hunts that my PH chambered a round in his rifle during a stalk.

The camp that I hunted in Moz was a 690,000 acre concession. We stayed in the traditional East African tents. I hunted that camp twice, 10 days the first year and 17 days the second year. There were no lions in that area, but many nights both years we would hear one and sometimes two leopards growling close to camp.

 

[Ben Lamb]

I'd do the big 5, but only if it's true Dangerous Game hunting. No sniping, no pokes over 100 yards. Up close & personal with a NE cartridge, backup PH or two, and a extra suitcase full of clean drawers.

Honestly, my desire to harvest is only great for 1 of them: Cape Buffalo, but with a single shot falling block.

I'd happily go on a plains safari however.

 

[RidgeRoamingRichard]

None of the above. I'm perfectly happy shooting dinky mules the rest of my days. I do love to hear other's stories about hunting other species though.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

I used an 1874 Sharps (Shiloh) in .450-100-535. Let's see, here it is http://www.bpcr.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=753

Were I to take on a buffalo, I would love to have a .450 BPE or a .450 No. 2 double rifle. But I would have to do some homework to be sure. I would consider the Sharps, but a multishooter has some advantage that might be appreciated with a buffalo.

the Marco Polo's would be interesting for sure. I don't know if I would want to hunt them so much as I would want to see the Himalayas or any of the eastern mountain ranges.

Oryx in Namibia is really the only African hunt on my radar.

Love this shot.

 

[VAspeedgoat]

As hot and dry as it is in VA right now, I can almost pretend I'm in Africa.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

As hot and dry as it is in VA right now, I can almost pretend I'm in Africa.

I was pretty sure I was going to get jungle rot hiking this weekend... cannot imagine what it's like a few hundred miles south

 

[VAspeedgoat]

I was pretty sure I was going to get jungle rot hiking this weekend... cannot imagine what it's like a few hundred miles south

There's a line in "good morning Vietnam" where Robin Williams is mimicking Walter Cronkite and says the weather is hot and $hitty. That pretty well sums it up.

 

[VikingsGuy]

There's a line in "good morning Vietnam" where Robin Williams is mimicking Walter Cronkite and says the weather is hot and $hitty. That pretty well sums it up.

Even better was the uptight lieutenant’s rebuttal in defense of Saigon weather

 

[BrentD]

This is probably a dumb question, but does anyone bring back elephant molars?

Oryx in Namibia is really the only African hunt on my radar.

Love this shot.
View attachment 147486

Thanks for the compliment. One of the benefits of being a biologist is that I sometimes get to go places I would not otherwise. This is a Biological field station where Mark was making arrangements to return with a bevy of undergraduates on a field trip. The orange dunes are stunning. They are not orange just because of the light. They are orange in full sun. It was quite a bit more intense than my poor Olympus pocket camera could convey.

You should do that oryx hunt. And maybe a few more things as well. It is so very different than American hunting. I did not hunt kudu, but I watched them. They move like elk. I would rather hunt them than oryx, but I did not know when I went there. Eland was my main goal.

Namibia is a wonderful country. Landing in Windhoek was like landing in Albuquerque. The land there is so similar. Traveling about the country by car is as simple as traveling around the USA. The signs are all in English (the official language) the country side and cities as neat a pins. It was almost too easy, and maybe not as foreign as it could/should have been.

It is a great experience that I am glad to have. I think even mtmuley would like it for a little change of pace.

The only downside to Africa is that the beer sucks...

 

[Aussie_hunter_JD]

I used an 1874 Sharps (Shiloh) in .450-100-535. Let's see, here it is http://www.bpcr.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=753

Were I to take on a buffalo, I would love to have a .450 BPE or a .450 No. 2 double rifle. But I would have to do some homework to be sure. I would consider the Sharps, but a multishooter has some advantage that might be appreciated with a buffalo.

the Marco Polo's would be interesting for sure. I don't know if I would want to hunt them so much as I would want to see the Himalayas or any of the eastern mountain ranges.

I'll let you know how I go after hunting buffalo with a muzzleloader. If you don't hear back then assume I don't recommend single shot rifles.

 

[BrentD]

I'll let you know how I go after hunting buffalo with a muzzleloader. If you don't hear back then assume I don't recommend single shot rifles.

Best of luck. I know someone that has hunted them (cape buff) a couple times with a bpcr singleshot. He gave it up. Said it wasn't really a smart thing to do. I've shot enough animals of large size to know that blackpowder bullets are not the "hammer of Thor" than many you have you believe. They will get the job done, without question, but will you still be standing to enjoy it? I really don't like having back up or relying on back up, so I would want at least another shot and the ability (with practice) to load two more very quickly.

good luck on your buffalo hunt, be it water or cape buffs. They are impressive.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

This is probably a dumb question, but does anyone bring back elephant molars?

Thanks for the compliment. One of the benefits of being a biologist is that I sometimes get to go places I would not otherwise. This is a Biological field station where Mark was making arrangements to return with a bevy of undergraduates on a field trip. The orange dunes are stunning. They are not orange just because of the light. They are orange in full sun. It was quite a bit more intense than my poor Olympus pocket camera could convey.

You should do that oryx hunt. And maybe a few more things as well. It is so very different than American hunting. I did not hunt kudu, but I watched them. They move like elk. I would rather hunt them than oryx, but I did not know when I went there. Eland was my main goal.

Namibia is a wonderful country. Landing in Windhoek was like landing in Albuquerque. The land there is so similar. Traveling about the country by car is as simple as traveling around the USA. The signs are all in English (the official language) the country side and cities as neat a pins. It was almost too easy, and maybe not as foreign as it could/should have been.

It is a great experience that I am glad to have. I think even mtmuley would like it for a little change of pace.

The only downside to Africa is that the beer sucks...

I’m going to say it, America has the best beer scene in the world.

It’s like;
1. Oregon
2. Colorado
3. Vermont
4. California
5. Montana
6. Germany
...
...
50. Mississippi
51. Some other country

 

[BrentD]

I’m going to say it, America has the best beer scene in the world.

It’s like;
1. Oregon
2. Colorado
3. Vermont
4. California
5. Montana
6. Germany
...
...
50. Mississippi
51. Some other country

Tell me, have you been to Scotland? I would hunt roe deer there for an excuse to drink their beer. BTW, MT at #5? Not a chance. Boot Vermont and Germany as well. #50 is about right though.

 

[Bowhuntrben]

I have no real desire to hunt Africa but would love to just go there and observe the wildlife. My heart is drawn to Alaska...some day hopefully.

If I were to do a big 5 hunt in Africa, it would be Cape buffalo. Neat looking animals.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

Tell me, have you been to Scotland? I would hunt roe deer there for an excuse to drink their beer. BTW, MT at #5? Not a chance. Boot Vermont and Germany as well. #50 is about right though.

I have.. lived there for a summer... went back twice more not impressed.

Now scotch...totally different ball of wax.

I’m standing by my list.
Vermont is excellent, little IPA heavy for my taste but very good. Montana also really does punch above its weight, and it’s not just Bozeman, whitefish/Kalispell, Missoula, Helena... great breweries all over.

 

[MTLabrador]

BTW, MT at #5? Not a chance

 

[Hawk Tuah]

I have been fortunate to have taken three. I was always an Africa nut and started two side businesses to fund trips. I am not rich. I cut grass as a kid to fund my first trip. Now I train and breed hunting dogs and sell hunting articles to fund trips. That is sort of 'fun money.' I don't use my regular salary to fund hunting.

My first was elephant, and it was unreal. I hunted a tuskless cow in the Zambezi Valley. They are very volatile and you spend a decent amount of the hunt running away from cantankerous cows. It was an all tracking type safari and I shot her at 12 yards in the thick jess. That was and remains #1 for me. 100 villagers showed up a few hours after I got it. There was a blood puddle when they left..

I took a hard bossed cape buff on that same trip. I'd rate it #5, but I really enjoyed it. (It is like picking the best looking lady in a SI swimsuit edition....they're all cute, so #5 is still good.)

I was able to hunt a male lion a couple days before the export ban took effect, and it was only financially possible due to a very rare set of circumstances. The landowners in the area were going to wipe them out once their biggest market (USA) shut down imports in Jan 2016, and an outfitter rushed a permit for me and I was successful in time. They did not want them around eating plains game since they became worthless to them. That's how conservation in Africa works. Animals can stay if they are the land's highest use...otherwise it dies. I'd rate it #3. That trip was like 85% off what had been market price. Cheaper than half the plains game hunts I have done. It was literally a discussion with my wife like this: "I'd like to do this hunt. I'll regret it forever if I don't." Her:"Go for it. When do you leave." Me: "Ummm Wednesday."

I think a rhino would be amazing...just a neat animal and done by tracking it would be a taste of old Africa. I'd rate it #2 just because the animals are so incredible and also them and elephants have the most crucial hunting imperative for their conservation. Hunters/landowners literally saved southern white rhinos from extinction.

Leopard would be #4 for me.

I had a hunt to continue my five that I would have returned from last Thursday. My wife was going to come as well, which although we have backpacked in Africa together, and met there, she has not been on a hunt with me. It has been rebooked.

Africa remains an amazing adventure whether you go for impala and warthog, or a 50 year old elephant. Plains game hunts are far and away the best value for any guided hunts in the world in my opinion. Just go do it.

 

[VikingsGuy]

That's how conservation in Africa works. Animals can stay if they are the land's highest use...otherwise it dies.

Sounds like the US until the early 1900’s.

 

[Hawk Tuah]

Sounds like the US until the early 1900’s.

Yeah, they are a bit behind, but making do. Conservation in Africa is so nuanced with circumstances that we do not have in the states at the same level: mass hunger of tens of millions of people, animals that eat people regularly, mass poverty (and not sitting home eating doritos getting a welfare check poverty), animals running around with $250,000 worth of horn growing on their noses where people are getting by on a dollar or two a day. Poaching is a bit more tempting with hunger and poverty.

It is fascinating compared to the North American model. Both are complex and both can work in their respective land masses, but jeez it is hard for me to wrap my head around it sometimes.