Planning your Safari
Planning your Next Safari can be a daunting task. The idea of this section is to provide you with information which will help shape your decisions.
Here we will go over:
When to Come
What to Expect:
The Hunting Day
The Physical Side
Unpredictability of Hunting
The Team
Camp Life
After the hunt
Getting Here
Firearms & Ammunition
Clothing & Equipment
Trophy & Taxidermy
What to Expect
The Hunting Day
Days generally start early, with coffee and a light breakfast before heading into the field. The safari vehicle is often used to cover ground, reach areas where game has been seen, or search for fresh tracks and other signs. Once an animal or suitable spoor is found, the vehicle is left behind and the hunt continues on foot. Some days may produce an opportunity relatively quickly, while others can involve many hours of walking, tracking, waiting or glassing before an opportunity presents itself.
The Physical Side
Hunting can be physically demanding. Some days may involve long hours on foot and considerable distances, while others may test your patience with extended periods of waiting and careful observation. Conditions can also vary considerably depending on the season, from intense Lowveld heat to cold mornings in the Highveld. Being reasonably fit and prepared to spend long periods outdoors will make the experience considerably more enjoyable.
Unpredictability of Hunting
The game is wild and free-ranging, and there is no set formula for how a hunting day will unfold. Wind, weather, terrain and animal behaviour can change the plan quickly. An animal may be found but the conditions may not be right, a track may disappear, or a promising stalk may develop into several hours of work. The aim is to make the most of each opportunity and allow the hunt to develop naturally.
The Hunting Team
The client, PH and trackers work together as a team throughout the hunt. Good communication is important, and the approach and expectations for the hunt will be discussed along the way. Clients are encouraged to ask questions, communicate openly and speak up if they have any concerns, particularly when it comes to physical exertion, fatigue or difficult conditions.
Camp Life
Mornings generally begin with coffee and a light breakfast — often fruit and muesli, rusks, tea or coffee — before heading into the field. Light snacks and fruit are carried on the hunting vehicle, along with plenty of water and soft drinks. Lunch may be a packed meal taken in the field or a cooked lunch back at camp, depending on the day’s hunting.
A chef is present to prepare the meals, while laundry and camp facilities are generally attended to daily. In the afternoon, when the day’s hunting allows, there is usually time for a sundowner, a beer or other drinks before returning to camp. Evenings are generally spent around the fire, sharing a drink and talking through the day’s events.
After the Hunt
Once an animal has been taken, photographs are taken in field before the animal is recovered. The animal is normally loaded onto the safari vehicle and transported, together with the necessary equipment, to the central skinning shed.
There, the trophy is prepared according to the client’s requirements. Skins, skulls and other trophy components are salted and stored, while the meat is placed in a cold room for later processing and use. Once the recovery and preparation of the animal have been completed, hunting can continue or the party can return to camp, depending on the time of day and the plan for the remainder of the hunt.
Getting Here
Most international flights into South Africa arrive at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. From Johannesburg, the most convenient option is to take a short domestic flight to Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport. The flight takes approximately 45 minutes and is generally an inexpensive and convenient way to reach the area.
A complimentary collection from Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport can be arranged for clients travelling with Robin Fourie Safaris. From Hoedspruit, most of the Lowveld hunting areas are within easy reach, while Highveld hunting concessions are generally only a few hours away by road, depending on the particular area.
Road transfers from O.R. Tambo International Airport are also possible and can be arranged where required. For most clients, however, flying directly from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit provides the simplest and most efficient way to begin the safari.
Firearms & Ammunition
Careful consideration should be given to the combination of rifles and ammunition brought on safari. A rifle should be a trusted and familiar platform, with which the hunter is completely comfortable, and the same applies to the ammunition and optics being used.
For dangerous game, a minimum calibre of .375 H&H and up is recommended. Hunters travelling with a double rifle for dangerous game are generally advised to bring a second bolt action rifle with a suitable scope as a backup. For plains game, calibres from .243 Winchester upwards are suitable, with most modern .30 calibre cartridges being more than adequate for the majority of species, including eland.
Premium bonded or monolithic expanding bullets are recommended for plains game, bullets should be appropriate for the calibre, species and conditions being hunted. Non-bonded or excessively light-for-calibre bullets are best avoided. Hunters should be completely familiar with their chosen rifle, ammunition and ballistics, and should have full confidence in the rifle, scope and ammunition as a complete system.
Firearm handling and importation can be arranged through experienced specialist agents, making the process of bringing firearms into South Africa considerably simpler. Foreign visitors must have the appropriate permits for the temporary importation of firearms and ammunition, and the required documentation should be arranged well before travelling.
For domestic flights within South Africa, the airline must be informed that a firearm will be checked as baggage, and the firearm must be declared and handled in accordance with the airline’s current procedures. These requirements can vary between carriers, so clients should confirm the current requirements with the airline before travelling.
For clients travelling further through South Africa or who prefer not to travel internationally with their own firearms, rifle hire is also available. Company rifles are well maintained and set up with reliable optics and premium ammunition, with suitable options available for both plains game and dangerous game. These rifles can be arranged in advance and provide a straightforward alternative for hunters who would rather travel without their own firearms.
Clothing & Equipment
Clothing requirements will depend largely on the time of year and the area being hunted. South African summers are generally warm to hot, and excessive warm clothing is seldom necessary in the Lowveld. Winter mornings, particularly in the Highveld, can be very cold, and appropriate warm layers should be packed for those hunts.
A wide-brimmed hat is preferable to a cap, providing better protection from the sun. Sturdy, well-worn walking or hunting boots with good ankle support are recommended. New boots should ideally be avoided on safari, as blisters can quickly become a problem after long days on foot. If bringing new boots, it is worth packing a comfortable pair of running shoes or trainers as a backup for days when something lighter is preferred.
Clothing should be kept in neutral, darker colours. Drab greens, browns and similar tones work well in the bush. Very light colours, particularly on hats and shirts, are best avoided. Even faded light khaki can reflect a surprising amount of light and make it difficult to remain inconspicuous while stalking. Shorts or long trousers are largely a matter of personal preference, although most hunters prefer long trousers for the additional protection they provide from thorns, grass and brush.
A sturdy belt is useful, particularly one that can accommodate a cartridge pouch, ammunition holder or other small hunting accessories. Gaiters can also be useful for hunters wearing shorts, helping to keep grass seeds, thorns and other debris out of your socks and boots.
A small, comfortable daypack is useful for carrying personal items while hunting. Sunscreen, wet wipes or hand sanitiser, energy bars or other snacks, and an electrolyte or rehydration drink are all worth having with you in the field. A lightweight rain jacket or poncho is also recommended during the summer months, when afternoon thunderstorms can develop quickly.
A small pair of binoculars is useful, with 8x to 10x magnification being more than adequate for most hunting situations. Cameras are entirely optional, although many clients enjoy having one along to record the safari.
Insect and tick protection is also worth considering depending on the area and season. Products such as Peaceful Sleep and Tabard are commonly used for mosquitoes in South Africa, Skin So Soft can be useful in areas where tsetse flies are present in parts of Mozambique. Appropriate tick protection should also be considered when hunting throughout Southern Africa, particularly in areas with heavy vegetation.
Trophy & Taxidermy
Trophy handling begins the moment an animal is taken. Animals are generally recovered whole and transported to the skinning facility as soon as practical, where they are skinned according to the client’s requirements and the type of trophy being prepared. Skins, skulls and other trophy components are salted, dried and prepared for the next stage of the process.
Once the trophies have been properly treated and dried, there are two main options for taxidermy and export.
Option 1: Dip & Pack, Mount in the USA
Trophies can be professionally treated, prepared and packed in South Africa before being exported to the United States. The trophies are then delivered to a taxidermist of the client’s choice, where the final mounting is completed. This option can reduce the cost of international shipping, although taxidermy work in the USA will generally be more expensive than comparable work in South Africa.
Option 2: Complete Taxidermy in South Africa
The alternative is to have the trophies fully mounted in South Africa before they are crated and exported to their final destination. South African taxidermists work with African game on a daily basis and have extensive experience with the anatomy, forms and finishing required for the various species. The standard of work can be exceptional, and taxidermy costs are generally lower than in the USA, although the completed mounts are larger and can therefore incur higher international shipping costs.
For most clients, having the taxidermy completed in South Africa is the option we recommend. The combination of specialist knowledge, quality workmanship and competitive taxidermy costs generally makes this an attractive option, despite the additional cost of shipping completed mounts.
A number of established taxidermists can be used, depending on the species hunted and the client’s requirements. Robin Fourie Safaris has existing relationships with reputable local taxidermists and can assist with selecting the appropriate taxidermist, arranging the preparation of trophies and coordinating the process through to export.
All export arrangements and documentation are handled as part of the trophy export process, with the final requirements depending on the species, destination country and applicable import and export regulations.
Hunts can be conducted throughout the year, depending on the concession and the species being hunted. We are fortunate to operate in areas where year-round hunting is possible, and each season brings its own conditions and opportunities.
November to February is the height of the summer season. The Lowveld can be extremely hot, with daytime temperatures commonly reaching around 30–34°C (86–93°F), while heavy rainfall can make roads and tracks difficult to travel. The bush becomes thick and green, visibility is reduced and some areas can become heavily bogged down. It can be demanding hunting, but it can also be highly rewarding, with animals often encountered at close range in dense cover.
March to May brings the transition towards the dry season. Vegetation can remain thick, particularly after a good summer rainfall, and there may still be periods of rain depending on the year. Conditions gradually become drier and more comfortable as the season progresses, while the bush still retains much of its summer character.
June to October is generally the dry season in the Lowveld. The vegetation dries and thins out, surface water becomes limited and animals become increasingly concentrated around reliable water sources. Daytime temperatures are generally comfortable, with average maximums in much of the Lowveld around 24–28°C (75–82°F), while mornings and evenings can be considerably cooler.
The Highveld follows a different pattern. From June through August, temperatures can become very cold, particularly at night and in the early morning. Freezing conditions are possible, with temperatures occasionally dropping below 0°C (32°F), while daytime temperatures can remain pleasant once the sun is up. Hunters visiting Highveld concessions during this period should be prepared for genuinely cold mornings and appropriate winter clothing.
There is no single best time to hunt. The conditions, vegetation, water availability and behaviour of the game all change throughout the year, and the right time to come will depend on the area, species and type of hunting you are looking for.