Just got back from South Africa

[JRS]

Since the Big Recession, South Africa has experienced a drastic drop in foreign hunters, competition is stiff and prices have dropped every year. One can go to there and hunt for ten days for less than a western U.S. hunt. Where it gets pricey is if you want to hunt the high end trophy size animals and then get shoulder or full mounts shipped back to the U.S. For a shoestring operation, a cull/management seven day hunt package would be around $5k including airfare from the east coast to Johannesburg.

What's Dave Ramsey-ing?

That's quite a deal

 

[Sniper338]

Since the Big Recession, South Africa has experienced a drastic drop in foreign hunters, competition is stiff and prices have dropped every year. One can go to there and hunt for ten days for less than a western U.S. hunt. Where it gets pricey is if you want to hunt the high end trophy size animals and then get shoulder or full mounts shipped back to the U.S. For a shoestring operation, a cull/management seven day hunt package would be around $5k including airfare from the east coast to Johannesburg.

What's Dave Ramsey-ing?

Look up Dave Ramsey online. Lol you will understand then why I havent gone to Africa yet.

 

[Ironworker]

Did you eat any of these? How do these compare to beef, pork and lamb.

 

[Fern]

That’s awesome trip. I was fortunate enough to go with a friend and his dad in 2017. His dad had purchased the safari for him and both sons. One of them could not make it so I was asked if I wanted to go just had to get a flight the hunt had been paid for.
I was able to hunt an impala, warthog ,daiker, and some pests around the property like squirrels , monkeys and rabbits.
Now the fun begins getting your trophies back. We had lots if bs of people wanting pay outs to process or ship the items.
My impala I wanted to do shoulder mount and the place did a pedestal mount.

 

[WV Hitman]

Great write up. South Africa is the best. I've gotten all your animals, plus more plaines game, 3 elephants, 3 Cape buffs, rhino, hippo, leopard, croc, 2 lions, all 100% HANDGUNS. Rhino took 2 shots. Everything else 1. Dreams do come true.
Most of my bullets were Nos. Accubonds with a few solids & Xs where appropriate.

 

[nakneker]

Did you eat any of these? How do these compare to beef, pork and lamb.

Every night, delicious. Too expensive to bring home though, it went to the locals.

 

[Ironworker]

Every night, delicious. Too expensive to bring home though, it went to the locals.

Was there a favorite? What did the Kudu taste like, was similar to Lamb or Beef.

 

[mike mccormick]

Sounds like a great experience. Thanks for the write up.

 

[GotRDid]

8.5 year old thread, but still interesting.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

Was there a favorite? What did the Kudu taste like, was similar to Lamb or Beef.

Except for the Eland the rest doesn't taste like Beef or lamb, delicious but a distinct flavour.

The Black Wildebeest, Red Hartebeest and the Impala would probably be the "wildest" tasting (imo) with the Gemsbuck, Springbuck and Reedbuck the least and the the Koedoe, Blesbuck and Njala in the middle, allot depends where they are located, even lamb farmed in different corners of SA will have different/unique tastes, I cant stand Karoo lamb and its just due to their diet. Eland prepared correctly you wont know that its not beef, Zebra done right is amazing

 

[60723]

Last night of my hunt we had backstrap from every animal killed so as to compare. We had no eland. My favorite by far was zebra!

 

[Gary in MD]

We had some of what we killed every day. All was delicious, absolutely nothing is wasted including a lot of the entrails. I was told that the natives actually prefer the entrails to a fine cut of the steak portion.
One of the best meals of the trip started with a soup made from the cape buffalo tail, it was exquisite

 

[hogpatrol]

Except for the Eland the rest doesn't taste like Beef or lamb, delicious but a distinct flavour.

The Black Wildebeest, Red Hartebeest and the Impala would probably be the "wildest" tasting (imo) with the Gemsbuck, Springbuck and Reedbuck the least and the the Koedoe, Blesbuck and Njala in the middle, allot depends where they are located, even lamb farmed in different corners of SA will have different/unique tastes, I cant stand Karoo lamb and its just due to their diet. Eland prepared correctly you wont know that its not beef, Zebra done right is amazing

Capt. Interesting about the lamb. I can't stomach domestic U.S. version but loved the Karoo meat. RSA Fallow deer and eland were the best for me.

 

[nakneker]

Was there a favorite? What did the Kudu taste like, was similar to Lamb or Beef.

Definitely didn’t have a lamb taste, I’m not a fan of lamb and I wouldn’t compare it to beef either although Eland was close like Capt mentioned. The first area we hunted was more humid, almost tropical, lots of Kudu, bush buck and Nyala, the food was great. Second area we hunted was 8.5 hours away and reminded of Arizona's upper desert area but the food was also top notch. It’s been so long now that I’m thinking I need to get back over there so I can answer your question accurately, lol.

In North America moose is my favorite, then Coues deer. I like it all really as long as it’s properly field dressed and aged if possible.

I should add the outfitter I went with has picked up more free range properties, we still chat once or twice year. I believe his total huntable properties are a little over a million acres now, all free range if that matters to you. I know Zack with ODCR went with him last year and had a solid trip, he hunted a place we didn’t go when I was there. He gave it high marks. I want to go back just been a little hesitant with all the racial tensions I read about concerning SA farmers, there’s some bad things taking place there. I’m not sure it affects the hunting though, I really don’t know enough about it to say either way.

 

[swd]

We had the back straps from an Impala I shot for lunch one day. Very gamey. That night we had the liver from it, and I'm not normally a liver fan, and it was delicious!!

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

Impala and Black Wildebeest meat I can smell form a mile away, its not off-putting it just has a distinct smell to it that you will taste (that very gamey taste), they don't eat the same food but they both have the same smell for me.

Our annual "meat hunt" well come back with between a 1000 and 1200kg of meat ranging form Eland, Koedoe, Black/Blue Wildebeest, Impala, Red hartebeest, blesbok, springbok, Warthog and what have you with al the game being processed into Biltong, Sausage, Dry Sausage, and Salami's, spices/prepared and sealed in vacuum packed bags that we freeze and then dry/hang and prepare during the year as we want it and as soon as I open that bag of meat I know if there is Impala and Black Wildebeest in that bag.

Man I cant wait for winter!!!