Africa’s Bird-Hunting Mecca

SHOOT of a lifetime

For the sheer abundance and variety of birds, you can’t beat southern Africa. An old hand’s wingshooting primer for greenhorns

BY KEN BAILEY

FLYING IN WITH the sun behind them as though they’d stolen the Red Baron’s playbook, the birds suddenly appear. But it’s too late. Having obviously seen us, they’re already twisting skyward as I shoulder my gun. I manage to get off two shots, but in truth, it’s a desperation move—I don’t cut a single feather before the flight of a dozen sandgrouse disappears toward the horizon.

They’ll be back, though. Sandgrouse keep to their schedule with the precision of a Swiss watch, and I’ll be waiting for them, better concealed, when they return the next morning. In the meantime, I’ll go chase guineafowl and francolin. Such are the bird-hunting options in southern Africa—if you miss one bus, there’s always another just minutes away.

For hunters, the appeal of an African safari is the marriage of the abundance and the diversity of game. Understandably, many only dream of hunting big game, with literally dozens of antelope species to choose from, in addition to the fabled big five and a broad assortment of other unique animals of all sizes and descriptions. As with others, I have also been captivated by the intoxicating allure of Africa’s big-game hunting.

With every return visit, however, I became increasingly distracted by game birds, from flushing a covey of francolin while stalking a kudu bull to getting sold out by squawking guineafowl on a Cape buffalo hunt. As a result, I discovered the opportunities for bird hunting are every bit as numerous and notable as they are for four-legged critters. Now I make bird hunting a major part of every visit to this part of the world. And I’m not alone—dedicated wingshooting safaris are an emerging trend in African hunting circles.

After all, there’s no other destination that offers the variety and numbers of birds as southern Africa does, particularly in South Africa and Namibia. Aside from the airfare to get there, it’s also very affordable when compared to guided wingshoots elsewhere, including North America. If you’re considering a trip, here’s some background to get you started.

THE BIRDS

The most popular time for bird hunting in southern Africa is May through to September, sometimes extending into October for sandgrouse. Each country and province or region has its own regulations and seasons, so your

outfitter can help coordinate your trip accordingly.

Expect to bag hundreds of rock pigeons; (left) the author with a pair of guineafowl

DOVES & PIGEONS

THEY DON’T QUITE compare with the numbers you’ll find in Argentina, but there are still astounding populations of doves and pigeons in southern Africa. Approximately 12 different species are available, though not all are found everywhere. The most common are the doves (Cape turtle, laughing, red-eyed and Namaqua), along with rock pigeons. They’re considered agricultural pests, most often hunted in or near cultivated fields. While it’s unlikely you’ll have a 1,000-bird day on par with Argentina, a 300- to 400-bird shoot is doable, and that’s more than enough for most of us. »

Imagine wild turkeys combined with pheasants, and you get guineafowl

FEW AFRICAN BIRDS are as recognizable as the iconic guineafowl. Their somewhat unusual appearance belies a crafty mind—think equal parts wild turkey and pheasant, featuring the best and most challenging attributes of each. Found everywhere across southern Africa, the helmeted guineafowl can be pursued by either walk-up or driven hunting. Driven hunts typically involve up to a dozen beaters walking in line across landscapes known to hold guineas, pushing the birds towards waiting shooters (I’ve seen flocks ranging from two or three birds to as many as 80 or more). Once the birds realize what’s up, they flush in a cacophony of squawks and flapping wings. They’re deceptively fast fliers, and tough to anchor, so you never end up with as many in the bag as you’d think. As a bonus, they’re terrific on the table.

PARTRIDGE, FRANCOLIN, SPURFOWL & QUAIL

THESE FOUR BIRD

groups are all somewhat similar in appearance to North America’s Hungarian partridge and quail, with at least one or more found nearly everywhere across southern Africa. They’re often hunted with pointing or flushing dogs. The most iconic is the greywinged partridge, held in esteem comparable to Great Britain’s red grouse. Greywings are most commonly found in montane grassland habitats above 5,000 feet in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province, where they’re hunted with wide-ranging pointing dogs. You must be in good shape to handle the many kilometres of up-and-down terrain you’ll encounter while pursuing them.

Francolin and partridge are typically hunted with wide-ranging pointers

PARTRIDGE, FRANCOLIN, SPURFOWL & QUAIL

Yellow-billed ducks are among southern Africa's numerous waterfowl species

SANDGROUSE

THINK OF SAND-

GROUSE as a cross between a pigeon and a grouse. They’re among the most revered of Africa’s gamebirds, having been referenced in much of the classic African hunting literature. Four species are found in southern Africa, with Namibia and Botswana as the recognized epicentres. Invariably, sandgrouse are hunted over the watering holes they visit during their rigorous daily schedule—it’s not unheard of for them to fly 50 kilometres or more to find water. Since they fly erratically and are difficult to hit on the wing, sandgrouse are among the most prized and rewarding African game birds. »

WATERFOWL

SOUTHERN AFRICA IS blessed with a diversity of duck species, with yellow-billed ducks, red-billed teal, Cape shovelers and southern pochards the most common. They are typically hunted over small impoundments using floating decoys, much as we hunt ducks here in Canada. And just like at home, you can expect a well-trained retriever to collect your downed birds.

Geese, meanwhile, are generally hunted in agricultural fields over decoys, again similar to how we hunt the big birds here at home. Beautiful Egyptian geese, with their dark brown eye patch and brown breast patch, are by far the most common. Spur-winged geese, the largest goose species in the world, are also frequently encountered. As their name suggests, these huge, mostly black birds have a dangerous-looking spur pointing forward from the crook of their wings. You’d swear you can feel the earth shake when one of these giants hits the ground.

Tough to hit on the wing, sandgrouse promise a challenging and rewarding hunt

GUNS & GEAR

Owing to the climate, terrain and travel, there are some special considerations you need to make when packing for your Africa wingshooting adventure.

Not keen on flying with your own shotgun? Your outfitter can set you up

SHOTGUNS

IT’S INCREASINGLY CHALLENGING to fly with firearms, so many hunters opt to rent shotguns from their professional hunter (PH) once they arrive in Africa. While you can competently shoot any rifle that you sight-in, a shotgun must fit you well if you expect to shoot it proficiently. For that reason, some veteran wingshooters prefer to jump through the necessary hoops to bring their own shotguns to Africa. Your outfitter will help ensure you correctly complete the requisite paperwork.

SHOTSHELLS

SINCE THERE’S AN avid birdhunting community in southern Africa with a ready supply of ammo, there’s no need to bring your own. Expect to pay approximately $15 per box. If you intend to shoot anything other than a 12-gauge, however, check with your outfitter about the availability of appropriate shotshells before leaving home.

FOOTWEAR

WELL BROKEN-IN huning boots are a must. I prefer eight- or nine-inch leather boots with good soles to provide protection from the thorns you’ll inevitably encounter. Leather gaiters are also a necessity to save your shins from the thorns, and to prevent spearequipped grass seeds from embedding in your socks or migrating down into your boots.

APPAREL

YOUR OUTFITTER WILL supply you with a list of recommended clothing. Most camps in Africa provide daily laundry services, so you can generally get away with fewer changes of clothing than you’d take elsewhere.

The mornings and evenings can be quite cool, especially at higher elevations, so I bring a base layer of thin merino wool; it adds just the right amount of warmth when it’s chilly, yet wicks away sweat. You’ll also appreciate the added comfort a wool hat and a lightweight down jacket offer in the cooler hours. Leather gloves are another blessing; they protect your hands in thorn country and take the chill off when temperatures drop.

When hunting southern Africa’s bushveld—or shrublands—I generally wear lightweight upland bird hunting pants that offer protection against thorns. You only have to meet some of the daggers that pass for thorns in Africa once to appreciate anything that helps ward them off.

ACCESSORIES

ILIKE TO bring a shell belt, slip-on recoil pad (if multi-day dove hunts are on tap), multi-tool, headlamp and small binoculars. The beauty of hunting in southern Africa, however, is that you could literally show up with just the clothes on your back and be so well cared for by the PHs and their staff that you’d still enjoy the wingshooting of a lifetime. That said, there’s no substitute for having your own familiar gear at hand.

Good boots, gaiters and upland bird-hunting pants are a must

THE LOGISTICS

If you’ve never been to southern Africa, travelling kitty-corner across the Atlantic and coordinating with an outfitter can seem daunting. The good news is, you won’t be the first to make the trip, so the groundwork is largely a breeze.

With its abundance and diversity of game birds, southern Africa is a mustvisit hunting destination

SELECTING AN OUTFITTER

MORE AND MORE outfitters are now specializing in wingshooting safaris. Search for them online, or attend a trade show such as the Safari Club International convention, which attracts a large number of African PHs. As with all outfitters, be clear about your expectations before booking, and be sure to check their references. While there are good and bad outfitters everywhere, it’s my experience the bad ones don’t last long in southern Africa.

GETTING THERE

TRAVEL TO SOUTHERN AFRICA is straightforward, if arduous. Typically, it means a flight to Europe followed by a 12-hour flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. Take whatever you need to relax and sleep on the airplane, because it’s going to be nearly 36 hours from door to door. Expect to pay between $1,500 to $2,000 for a round trip. Thankfully, once you arrive, you’ll find nearly everything is cheaper than at home.

You’ll be met at the airport arrivals lounge by your PH or his representative, so don’t worry about having to find your way around a strange airport or country; again, the level of service provided by outfitters in southern Africa is second to none.

Check with your local travel health authority about any precautions you may need to take. You needn’t worry in most parts of South Africa or Namibia, but if you’re travelling to other countries in Africa you may require anti-malarial drugs or other medications. Finally, visas are not required for Canadians travelling to South Africa or Namibia.

ON THE GROUND

IF YOU’RE AN avid wingshooter with an itch to travel, you owe it to yourself to consider southern Africa. You won’t find a similar abundance or diversity of birds anywhere else in the world. You can specialize in just a couple of species if you prefer, or experience the entire spectrum of bird options and hunting styles. And since you’ll already be there, be sure to book yourself a few extra days before or after your hunt. Visit a game park or two, check out South Africa’s wine country, go see Victoria Falls, or simply enjoy the sights and sounds of the backcountry or the modern cities; your outfitter can help with setting up side trips. Just be forewarned before you get too far along in planning your dream wingshooting safari—once you’ve been to Africa, you’ll always want to go back. OC

Southern Africa

Africa Namibia

Botswana

Atlantic Ocean South Africa

Johannesburg

Indian Ocean