Some of the world's oldest hominin fossils were found in South Africa, which led to the conclusion that Africa is the birthplace of humanity, dating back some 3.5 million years. During those early years, people had to hunt for survival, and although our methods and reasons have changed over the years, hunting is still a big part of the lives of many South Africans and the many international hunters who flock back to the land of their origin, facilitated by professional African hunting safari outfitters.
When the first morning rays tint the African skies into hues of lavender and burnt orange, the call of the wild is at its strongest. The smell of the African bush rises from the soil, as the sweet scent of fresh grass fills the air, waking the various wildlife from their slumber. The fish eagle skims the surface of a dam on Montague private game reserve, sounding out its distinctive caw. Lazily, antelope and dangerous game make their morning trip to the water, which is frigid after below-zero overnight temperatures. A rhino cow stomps on a small, frozen puddle as an oxpecker lands on her back, undisturbed by her movement and the soft bellowing in which she communicates to the rest of her herd.
Watching the scene unfold from a luxurious SUV over a steaming travel mug of local coffee is a surreal experience, which you will be privileged to enjoy when you book your African hunting safari through Choice Africa Safaris. For the past 26 years, Choice Africa Safaris has been the leading hunting outfitter in South Africa and has been the first choice for distinguished clients looking for an outfitter to help fulfill their African dream.
The winter months are typically best for hunting beautiful trophies in South Africa. Our winters are mild. We recommend booking your trip between April, when the summer vegetation is thick and the temperatures and October. The temperatures range from lows of ± 40F (4C) in the early mornings and evenings, with daytime highs of ± 70F (21C) between May and August. The best time for bow hunting is from June to September.
Owner-manager of Choice Africa Safaris, Randy Westraadt, an avid professional hunter, started off his career as a military man, completing 12 years duty with the elite unit, 1 Special Services Battalion, and soon became a Senior Officer.
Alas, he decided to heed the call of the bush, and so Randy started his first Safari Company in 1991. Since then, Choice Africa Safaris has grown into a leader in the South African Big Game Industry.
Over the last 26 years, Choice Africa Safaris has developed a reputation among local and international hunters and other outfitters alike. Operating from Montague Private Game Reserve in the heart of South Africa - and one of only a few privately-owned game reserves in Southern Africa where you will find wild lions -, the company offers clients the ultimate African experience. The company owns Montague Private Nature Reserve, which is the only proclaimed reserve to contain managed wild lions, rhino, buffalo, hyena, and leopard in Central South Africa. It has become the preferred venue for outfitters wishing to host the best quality hunts for their clients.
Choice Africa Safaris has invested in the Wildlife Industry and is focused on Sustainable Utilization through selective hunting. Over the years, Choice Africa Safaris has bought expansive areas of land totalling in excess of 25 000 acres of prime game land, which is home to four of the Big 5 as well as more than forty other species.
Randy is an avid trophy hunter and has hunted on five continents of the world, taking premier game, including Marco Polo, Lion, Elephant, Ibex, Lesser Kudu and many more. He knows what discerning hunters require to enjoy peace of mind during the perfect African Safari, which is why Randy is also member of the board of the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA).
In recent years, poaching has been a controversial topic around the world, and certainly in South Africa. However, there is much confusion about hunting and poaching, and few people truly understand the conservation value of the animals that are harvested by Choice Africa Safaris. Proceeds from hunting safaris not only help hunting and lodge staff to support their families, but it also helps to fund anti-poaching efforts, including sponsoring anti-poaching units.
Meat from harvested animals is often distributed between the staff and the local community. Recently, when an old rhino bull was rejected by his herd, the hunting crew harvested him, and provided 850 kilograms of protein-rich meat to the staff and locals alike. When you work with Choice Africa Safaris, their commitment to conservation is evident in everything they do, from managing the animals to the company's involvement in various community and industry projects.
Many tourists to South Africa are pleasantly surprised when they arrive at their lodgings. Instead of caves or tents, they arrive at luxury guest houses that combine warm African hospitality with world-class service and luxury amenities. During your hunting safari, the lodges you stay at will typically match the style of the hunting areas. Most lodges have a swimming pool in which you can cool off after a long day under the blistering African sun. Some of the lodges feature air conditioned rooms, and all lodges offer ensuite facilities and daily housekeeping to ensure that you return to a clean and tidy room after a day in the bush.
Before sunrise, you will over to the dining room, where hot coffee, tea, and fruit juice awaits, along with a light continental breakfast of toast, a choice of cereals, muffins served with local preserves, as well as a selection of cold cuts and seasonal fruits. South Africa's water supply is considered safe, but outfitters do provide bottled water.
South Africa's national food is the 'braai' - a barbecue consisting of one or more meats, including beef, mutton, pork, chicken and occasionally, fish, which is typically served at dinnertime. Unspoken hunting law deems that everyone should enjoy a braai at least once a week. Red meat on the braai is typically served with pap (a stiff version of grits, for our American readers) and a tomato-and-onion sauce, as well as salads and breads.
Your other meals will be prepared by trained chefs who are skilled at creation delectable gourmet meals to perfection, using only the freshest local ingredients. On request, they will prepare some of the best cuts of meat from the animals you harvested, using recipes that have been passed down through generations. This is just one of the ways in which hunting outfitters make your hunting safari a truly integrated, sensory experience. Of course, your meals will be expertly paired with a fine South African wine from one of the most sought after wineries for which our country is known.
On request, or as needed - for instance when the hunting ground for the next day is far from the nearest luxury lodge - , outfitters will make use of fly camps or bush camps that are more rustic and will provide you with an authentic South African camping experience, complete with a campfire and a moonlit sky. Here, you will fall asleep to the sounds of nature and wake up to the call of the wild in the heart of the African bush.
When the sun peeks over the horizon, you will head to well-equipped hunting vehicles which will transport you to the hunting area. A professional tracking team will look for fresh tracks that will lead the team to the animals. The hunting team will provide the level of assistance you require, based on your hunting experience.
At approximately noon, when the African sun is at its fiercest, you will return to camp for a well-deserved brunch or lunch. Your midday meal usually consists of a variety of options, including bacon and eggs, fresh local fruit and croissants served with delicious homemade preserves.
After lunch, you may retire to your room for a siesta until it cools down, or spend some time around the pool with your non-hunting companions. While most outfitters allow one non-hunting partner to observe during a hunting trip, families usually opt to explore all the many local or nearby attractions. Your outfitters will be happy to make arrangements for your family to experience the best South Africa has to offer, ranging from adrenaline experiences to shopping, visiting heritage sites, luxurious spas, or dining out.
Most of the areas you will visit during your African hunting safari are well connected with phones and internet, where you can use wireless internet to stay in touch via your phone or laptop. The international call feature on your cell phone will allow you to call out, or you may ask your outfitter to use their landline at a nominal fee.
The animals are typically most active at sunrise and at sunset, lazing away their days in thick brush. However, when they return to the watering holes in the late afternoon, you will leave camp again with the team to hunt until dark.
At the end of a long day of hunting, everyone will return to camp for a relaxing time around a warm campfire. Enjoy a glass of wine or a brandy while waiting for your traditional African dinner, consisting of meats and vegetables. Afterwards, hunters will recount the events of the day and share hunting tales until the stars shine blindingly from the black African night sky.
Choice Africa Safaris prides itself on fair chase walk-and-stalk hunts and cater for all legal methods of hunting, including rifle-, bow-, and handgun hunting. Handgun hunting has been described as the most challenging of the hunting sports. Executed successfully, all the elements of marksmanship, game knowledge and sensory awareness, are challenged. It is vital to determine your maximum effective range to execute a clean kill.
Many factors contribute to the efficacy of your hunt, including the movement and habits of the animal you are hunting. For this reason, all our professional hunters have intimate experience with regard to the species that are available for handgun hunting. Professional hunters will assist in ensuring a successful hunt.
Thanks to Choice Africa Safaris’ expansive land ownership and well-established, trusted industry relationships, you will have access to all mammals that can be hunted lawfully in South Africa. Whether you’re looking to hunt for dangerous predators, pachyderms, antelope, or critters, they can help make your African dream a reality, complete with magnificent trophies and mind blowing memories to prove it.
Dangerous game hunting is a highly regarded adrenaline rush for all hunters from novices to professional hunters alike. Whether you are experienced and have numerous dangerous game hunts under your belt, or a first timer who wants to feel the rush, Choice Africa Safaris can help you to execute a successful dangerous game hunt. They offer hunters access to all of the dangerous seven, including lion, buffalo, elephant, crocodile, hippopotamus, and leopard on their exclusive concession areas.
South Africa is home to a myriad plains game species that roam the savannas and bush. From zebra to bush pig, wildebeest, and many antelope and deer species, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the ultimate African safari. Watch as the professional hunters and trackers put their finely-honed skills and instincts to use, providing you with expert insights into plains game hunting, tailored to the species you wish to add to your collection.
When you hunt with Choice Africa Safaris, you’re never on your own. Your own personal hunting team is with you every step of the way to ensure that your hunt goes as planned. A hunting team typically consists of a professional hunter, expert trackers, and experienced skinners. You will experience unmatched synergy first hand as you watch each team member calmly and expertly executes their duties.
The best outfitters only employ professional hunters who are at the top of their game and officially recognized in dangerous game hunting as well as plains game hunting circles. Due to the abundance of the species available, professional hunters in South Africa are experienced in the different tactics and challenges that each dangerous species present.
You may rest assured that all of the skills needed to ensure a superlative dangerous game hunting experience can be found in the folds of your hunting team. These teams consist of hunters who know that the African safari is the optimal hunting experience. They know that it is a breathtaking milestone which simply intensifies with dangerous game hunting. What most international visitors consider 'going the extra mile' is the very basis of African hospitality.
No photo can ever truly capture the essence of an African hunting safari, but it can provide great memories of your time spent in the bush. Add a photography package to your hunting experience to make your memories last forever. Your outfitter can arrange photographers and professional hunting videographers to commit your memories to film. Fully qualified and experienced, these teams are adept at handling the demands, fast pace and dangers of the great outdoors. They frequently work with professional hunting outfitters and teams, and they never get in the way of the hunters taking down their cherished prize. A full photography package will include photos or video of the chase, the killshot and of course of you with your trophy animal.
Although Randy owns Montague Private Game Reserve, he has access to many other concessions across Southern Africa, which include Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and more. Each of these hunting grounds contains numerous game species - whether it be dangerous of plains game species -, luxury accommodation, and all the assistance and professional guidance you would need to achieve your ultimate hunting goal.
Choice Africa Safaris can tailor a hunting package to suit your exact needs. While Montague Private Game Reserve is situated in a malaria-free area, it would be a good idea to speak to your doctor if you plan to head up north as part of your trip as you may need prophylactics.
To enter South Africa, you will need a passport, a letter of invitation from your hosts, Customs Form 4457 for Exportation of Rifles, SAPS Form 520 for Importation of Rifles, and return flight tickets to your country of origin. Your outfitter will assist you with these issues once your South African hunting safari is booked and confirmed.
Contact Choice Africa Safaris to help you design the ultimate African hunting experience.
