Hunting Safaris
Plains Game Hunting
South Africa offers the widest range of game species to the sportsman in all of Africa. More than 30 species of game can be hunted including several unique and distinctive Cape species. Plains game hunting brings more hunters to Africa each year than all of the Big Five combined. Southern Africa can boast of more species of mammals than any other place on the globe.
Our plains game hunting terrain varies from open rolling veldt plains to mountainous thick bush. Each of these areas offers a unique habitat, which is ideally suited to certain plains game species and holds it’s own special challenges for the plains game hunter. The hunting techniques that we employ can vary based upon the preference of the hunter. It can range from walk and stalk, to glassing and hunting from a blind with bow and arrow. A client with a disability or anyone whose physical activity is limited by age or medical condition can hunt from one of our well-equipped hunting vehicles. Hunting the thick bush, shots can often be taken well inside 100 yards; the open rolling veldt plains may demand shots out to 300 yards.
The vehicles and other equipment we utilize at Shaun Keeny Safaris are maintained to the highest standard for we realize the importance of well functioning equipment in remote areas and difficult situations. Vehicles are 4X4 and have been specially fitted with equipment to make life easier in the bush.
The best months for hunting are from April through to the end of September; these are our cooler winter months. Daytime temperatures are reasonably warm (up to 18oC/ 65oF), with nights being colder (sometimes as low as -4oF / 25oC), although temperatures usually remain above 0oC / 32oF. We do sometimes get snow. Rainfall occurs only in summer and averages around 400mm (16 ins) per annum. This average has little meaning however as rainfall in successive years can be as low as 150mm (6 ins) and as high as 650mm (26ins).
Dangerous Game Hunting
Of all the game animals in Africa, none capture the attention of the big game hunter like the mention of the “Big Five”. Africa’s “Big Five”, the Elephant, Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Lion, and the Leopard account for some of the most exciting and interesting Big Game hunting in all of Southern Africa.
While several of the antelope species like the Kudu, Wildebeest, and Eland can be quite large, none can be considered as dangerous as the members of the “Big Five”. The resulting rush of adrenalin is the very essence of that which brings so many hunters to Africa.
Shaun Keeny Safaris runs big game safaris in South Africa. With good numbers of Buffalo available in South Africa – we are hunting more an more of these incredible animals right on our doorstep. Except for the open plains of the Free State and much of East Africa, Africa’s Dangerous Game is hunted in semi-open scrub country. With the help of a competent Professional Hunter and a good stalk, most shots can be taken within 100 to 200 yards. The heavy, thick-skinned members of the Big Five are often taken at much closer ranges.
Most countries of Southern Africa specify the use of a rifle of at least .375 caliber or greater when hunting the Big Five. Except for the big cats, quality, controlled expansion bullets or solids are a must. For the soft skinned cats, rapid expanding bullets are a better choice. In this regard, always trust the advice of your Professional Hunter. Make sure you are thoroughly familiar and comfortable with your weapon of choice. Keep in mind that in all cases, it is much more important where your shot is placed than with what you have made the shot.