You’ll show up as a client, and you’ll leave as family. South Africa safari hunts are an experience you won’t soon forget!
Based in the Limpopo Province of South Africa our home lodge “Savannah” is nestled beautifully under the shade of towering Acacia trees. It is here that we offer our clients over 30 different huntable species including the dangerous seven. Many hunters worry about travelling to Africa, but there is no need. The airport in South Africa is easy, clean and modern. Most people speak good English, and the PH will be right there to help you with the entire process.
Our South Africa hunting safaris are tailored to your needs.
You’ll hunt with a top notch PH, stay in a 5-Star lodge, and enjoy exceptional trophy quality on a huge ranch. The average concession is huge with miles of mountainous terrain, interspersed with valleys and river bottoms, you will be amazed at the number of plains game animals you see. When rifle hunting the day begins by driving around in search of game or alternatively fresh tracks, once the game is spotted the final approach is done on foot.
Offering both rifle and bow hunting.
Bow hunting is mostly done over a waterhole and the shooting distance varies between 25 to 30 yards. Weather permitting, there is always the option to try spot and stalk plains game with your bow. It is always rewarding when you manage to harvest one of these wary animals on foot.
- Amazing hospitality. The staff is exceptional, the PH’s are fun, friendly, and professional.
- 4-Star lodging, with spectacular food and lodging.
- The food is South African ‘Boere’ (local) with a touch of European. Expect lots of meat, vegetables, and fruit, all complimented by a variety of South African wines.
- Incredible hunting. LOTS of game, and you will be hunting high trophy quality animals. South Africa has over 30 huntable species, including the Dangerous Seven.
- All CITES animals do require proof of residence and a copy of your passport a minimum of 60 days prior to your hunt. This will give your outfitter time to obtain the proper permits.
- Bowhunter friendly. A truly amazing place to hone your bowhunting skills.
- Great place to take your family on an incredible adventure that they will not forget. If you aren’t a hunter, or have non-hunters in your group, don’t worry because there are plenty of activities available including: elephant riding; curio shopping; fishing; Bushman paintings African tribal dancing and more…
- The best time to hunt is debatable…. Opinions differ, but we feel that the best time of year to hunt in the Limpopo province of South Africa is late May through August.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Many hunters worry about travelling to Africa, but there is no need. The airport in South Africa is easy, clean and modern. Most people speak good English, and the PH will be right there to help you with the entire process.
- When travelling to South Africa you need a valid passport. Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months after your date of arrival in South Africa. Your passport needs to have at least 3 blank (unstamped) pages remaining. For Americans, Germans and Canadians you do not require a visa only a passport.
- When flying with children to South Africa you will require some additional paperwork, please make sure you meet all the legal South African requirements when flying with a minor.
- We suggest that you consider booking your flights to South Africa as soon as you have received confirmation of your safari, since flights are usually crowded during the hunting season, and costs do fluctuate closer to the date of departure.
- Prior to your arrival in Johannesburg it is advisable to have a company assist you with the clearance of your weapons. We recommend that you use the services of Air 2000. They are a reliable meet and greet service that have been in business for many years. They are a friendly and efficient company that will painlessly assist you in clearing customs and immigration in Johannesburg.
- However if you choose to do it yourself, the SAPS e520a form must be completed in black ink and must remain unsigned until the document is finalized in front of the police official issuing the actual permit at the airport. In order to import your firearm you will need:
- Valid Passport
- Return airline ticket
- Letter of invitation from your hunting outfitter(s)
- Completed SAP 520 Form (Not signed – should be signed in front of the official)
- Proof of ownership (CBP Form 4457 – Certificate of Registration for personal effects taken abroad)
- Proof of export from country of origin (CBP Form 4457– Certificate of Registration for personal effects take abroad)
- Letter of motivation (A letter written by yourself to motivate why you wish to import rifles)
- We highly recommend that you take out both Medical and Travel Insurance. Ask us for a free quote.
- According to South African law the following firearms and ammunition will NOT be allowed to enter South Africa:
- Any automatic or semi-automatic firearms.
- More than one firearm per calibre per person.
- More than 200 rounds of ammunition per person per firearm.
- Any pistol or revolver (unless specified for hunting).
- If you are less than 21 years of age.
- If you don’t comply, your application for a temporary import permit will be refused and your firearms and ammunition will be confiscated and will only be handed back to you when you depart back to your country of residence.
REMEMBER THE ISSUING OF THE TEMPORARY IMPORT PERMITS AT THE PORT OF ENTRY IS FREE OF CHARGE. DO NOT TIP OR PAY ANY SAPS OFFICER FOR THIS SERVICE. YOU SHOULD KEEP THE PERMIT WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES WHILE IN SOUTH AFRICA AND WHEN THE FIREARMS ARE IN YOUR POSSESSION.
Request a Trip Insurance quote
LODGING AND ACCOMMODATIONS
Our main concession, Savannah, is situated in the western part of the Limpopo province. This property consists of mountains, flat thick bush and lush open savanna areas. This diverse eco-system is home to numerous plains game species as well as the stunning sable and cape buffalo. This beautiful property and it’s diverse vegetation provides some of the best hunting in the Limpopo province.
Savannah Lodge is situated on the edge of the property at the foot of the nearby hills. This luxurious, recently renovated farm house has four large comfortable king size rooms as well as one family room, perfect for families with young children. All bedrooms are en-suite and some of the rooms have an outdoor shower, perfect for those hot summer nights. Savannah Lodge is fitted with all modern day amenities, including hot and cold running water, showers and bathtubs, flushing toilets, wi-fi and daily laundry services. There is also a crystal clear swimming pool to cool down during the summer months.
Staff: Our experienced staff are there to cater for your every need. Our chef Goody will tantalize your senses with his delicious, traditional South African cuisine, giving you an experience of true African culinary delights.
Other Concessions: We also hunt different concessions in the area to provide our clients with the option to harvest a wider variety of species. Our hunting season usually starts between March and November with June and July being the prime time which is in the middle of the mild South African winters
Guides: We have surrounded ourselves with some of the most skilled and experienced staff in the safari industry in order to fulfill your quest: “to offer top quality hunting safaris, combined with personalized service and comfortable accommodations.“
Apart from quality hunting we consider the skinning and field preparation just as important. With highly trained skinners we will ensure that your trophies will be correctly cared for, we will then hand it over to the experienced Bull’s Eye Taxidermy to complete your final preparation.
Pre-Trip Preparation
ALL INCLUSIVE PRICE. NO HIDDEN FEES.
Daily Rates Include:
- Transportation from International Airport to hunting camp and return
- Full time service of a licensed and experienced Professional Hunter
- Driver, Tracker and Skinner
- Services of all camp staff
- Accommodations, all meals and drinks, including alcoholic beverages
- Laundry services
- Skinning and field preparation of trophies
- Government hunting licenses and permit fees
- 14% VAT
NOT INCLUDED
- Accommodation prior to and after safari
- Trophy fees of animals bagged or wounded and lost
- Taxidermy work and shipping of trophies to final destination
- Rifle hire and ammunition – $50/day
- CITES fees
- Additional trips or activities
- Medical expenses (please have medical insurance)
- Trip Insurance
- Gratuities for Staff
non hunting activities
Your entire family is welcome to come along on safari, with luxurious accommodation and many extra activities to do. We aim to please the whole family, even if some of our clients are not hunting. We are fortunate enough that in our nearby vicinity there are a few family friendly activities situated within an hours drive of Savannah Lodge:
- Kruger National Park
- Marakele National Park
- Horseback riding
- Zipline
- Predator Park
- Fera Care Rehab Centre
- Elephant Interaction and Riding
- Bird Shooting
Kruger National Park
As an extra add-on, we can program and book your stay in the amazing Kruger National Park. Relax in style in this massive 19 500 square kilometer National Park, where you can experience not only the dangerous 7 but all forms of birds and reptiles in their natural habitat. This is an incredible opportunity for the animal lover to be as close to nature as possible.
Garden Route Tours
For our wine connoisseurs, we plan an incredible tour along the “garden route,” which extends all the way down the Western Coast of South Africa. There are numerous national parks along the route where you can immerse yourself in true South African culture while visiting some of the world’s finest wine farms.
“I’d encourage you if you’re on the fence to take that leap of faith and go to Africa! You’ll fall in love with it.”
–GLORIA GOTT
What You’ll Need to Bring
Preparing for your first African Safari can be intimidating, but there’s no need to worry. The truth of the matter is that packing for a hunt in Africa isn’t all that difficult. We have worked together with our P.H.’s on a safari gear list for your upcoming hunt.
Pre-Hunt Checklist
- Valid Passport (South Africa requires your passport to be valid for an additional 30 days after your return date to the USA. No exceptions.)
- Airline ticket.
- Proper weapon documentation.
- Email the date and time of arrival to your P.H. for pickup at the airport.
- Inoculation (if needed in the area you are hunting).
- Deposit paid and confirmed.
- Traveler’s checks and enough cash for gifts, tip, etc.
- Travel Insurance.
Safari Clothing
Keep it simple. Bring a few changes of light hunting clothing (most places will have a daily laundry service). Odds are you will be riding in the back of a truck on a high rack to and from hunting areas, and that can get chilly. So bring a good jacket along. During the day, temperatures should be pleasant.
*When hunting in Mozambique it is important to note that you are allowed to bring realtree type camo but it is against Mozambican law for an ordinary citizen to wear military style camouflage.
- 2 pairs of light hunting pants
- 2-3 hunting shirts
- 2-3 pairs of socks and underwear
- 1 pair of insulated underwear (tops and bottoms) *we recommend Merino wool
- Light jacket for stopping wind
- Wide brim hat or cap
- Good ankle boots/shoes that are very comfortable (you don’t need heavy mountain boots)
- Comfortable shoes for lounging at the lodge
- Light stocking hat and gloves
- Light rain gear
If you are hunting from May to August, be sure to bring some heavier clothing as well as temperatures can occasionally drop below freezing. If you are hunting during this time add the following items:
- 1 pair of insulated hunting pants
- 2 pairs mid-weight socks
- Insulated coat
Optics
Get the best optics you can afford. Don’t skimp here.
- Binoculars (Quality 8’s or 10’s)
- Spotting Scope
- Tripod
- Rangefinder
- Bino Harness
- Phone Skope – Mount your phone to your optics
- Lens Cloth and Cleaning Equipment
- De-fogger
Firearms and Ammunition
Clients always ask us what type of rifle and caliber they should bring to Africa. Our advice is always, bring the rifle that you are most comfortable shooting with, shot placement and premium quality bullets are more important than caliber choice. For plains game, we recommend any caliber between 270 and 375. However calibers for dangerous game, the minimum requirement by law is no caliber smaller than 375 H&H. We recommend using premium quality soft point ammunition like Swift A-frame, Woodleigh, Norma or Barnes. For elephant and hippo it is advisable to use heavy caliber solid ammunition.
When hunting dangerous game, use a good quality low powered variable scope of 1.5 – 6 x 25 power. We recommend a higher powered scope of between 3 – 9 x 40 magnification for plains game. When transporting your rifle it should be transported on the airline and on any major road in a solid, lockable, hard case. Whilst travelling between hunting areas or on the back of the hunting vehicle we recommend that you bring a soft padded rifle bag.
- Rifle
- Ammo (40-60 shells should be adequate for a typical hunt)
- Gun case with locks
- Soft gun case
Archery
- Bow (talk to your Agent or PH about poundage requirements)
- Arrows and good broadheads (2-3 dozen arrows should be adequate for a typical hunt)
- Bow case with locks
- Soft bow case
Post-Hunt Checklist
- Valid Passport
- Airline ticket
- Proper weapon documentation
- Certified copy of your Passport for the taxidermist.
- Tip your P.H. – The standard tip for a guide is 10% to 20% of the cost of your trip. Remember to tip the cooks and other help in the camp as well. The amount you give reflects your appreciation for your guide’s hard work and effort.
- Pay trophy fees and final payments for the animals you take on your Safari.
- Make arrangements for your trophies.
Gallery
VIDEOS
The hunting was simply unreal. We had a ball. Lot’s to choose from, hard decisions, but we have hunted in Africa several times before. From previous experience, we have learned to go with the target of opportunity.
We simply can’t say enough about the outfitter and our PH. This was our fourth time hunting in South Africa, and they not only beat the pants off all of our other hunts, but exceeded our grandest expectations. We have a ton of specific stories of individual hunts and tracking, but you’ll have to experience it yourself to understand that.
Please plan on a nice gratuity for all, because they deserve it and that’s part of hunting in Africa.
I booked an eight-animal hunting safari in the Limpopo province in South Africa. I shot all of the plains game species on my list, a zebra, gemsbok, kudu, blue wildebeest, Blesbok, Impala, Nyala and a Sable.
It was a 12 out of 10 experience! Incredible time!
Booking Information
Interested in booking this trip? If you have not yet received pricing please request it here, and be sure to reference the trip number at the top of this page. Please note that reservations are not considered finalized until agreed upon deposit is received. This ensures agreed upon dates and current pricing. Quality outfitters are in high demand so let us know right away, as some trips do book years in advance.
When you’re ready to book, if you haven’t already ask your Outdoors International Consultant for updated pricing.
If it looks good, your consultant will write up a booking agreement for you. Remember, our service is free to you. There are no added costs.