Frequently Asked Questions

Fly into Johannesburg and then catch a connecting flight to Port Elizabeth or East London. Booking your tickets through a travel agent is a good idea, as they can help ensure that your flights are booked on one ticket, which can be beneficial in case of any flight delays or missed connections. A travel agent can assist you in comparing the different options and finding the most convenient and cost-effective flights for your trip. It’s important to make sure that you have enough time (3-4 hours) for clearing customs in Johannesburg and rechecking your bags for the onward flight to Port Elizabeth (in the Eastern Cape) to avoid any potential delays. We will collect you at the airport in either Port Elizabeth or East London.

We offer over 30 different plains game species as well as some of the rarer species. We also offer buffalo hunts – these can be added to a package hunt!

Hunting is available throughout the year and the temperature can vary significantly depending on the season. From October to March, it’s summertime, and the temperatures can reach up to 40 degrees Celsius, which may be quite hot for some people. On the other hand, from April to September, it’s cooler, and during the winter months, temperatures can drop close to freezing early in the morning and in the evening, however, the daytime temperatures are usually very pleasant. It’s important to consider the weather conditions when planning your hunting trip and to pack appropriate clothing and gear. Additionally, it’s a good idea to check weather forecasts and plan accordingly to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

Our private ranches range from 6000 – 20000 acers. We also hunt on a private conservancy of 100 000 acers as well as plenty of free range areas.

The Eastern Cape is a malaria free area, and no other specific vaccines are needed.

270 Win to a 300 Win Mag are very good all-round calibres for African Game. For dangerous game a minimum of 375 H&H needs to be used. The Hunting range is from 100 to 300 yards.

Rifles are rented @ $30 per day which excludes ammunition.

If you plan to bring your own rifle, you must complete a SAPS 520 form upon arrival at Customs. We recommend filling out this form before your arrival, which can be emailed to you upon request. Additionally, you will need to provide your passport, return airline ticket, proof of firearm ownership, and an officially stamped Customs Declaration Form US 4457 if you are a US citizen. You must also obtain documentation from a government institution allowing temporary firearm export. A letter of invitation from us and a personal motivation letter are required. We suggest contacting Air 2000 at air2000@global.co.za for assistance with documentation and a ‘meet and greet’ service at Johannesburg International. PHASA (Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa) offers a similar service. Please click here to find out more https://phasa.co.za/pre-issued-permits/

The Eastern Cape is known for its breathtaking terrain, from majestic mountains to expansive Karoo plains and lush coastal forests. This diverse landscape provides a unique hunting experience, allowing hunters to test their skills in different environments.

Most commonly spot and stalk hunting, where you use vehicles to access good areas and then walk or stalk the game on foot. This can be an exciting and challenging hunting technique. It’s good to know that the methods can be adjusted based on the fitness levels of the clients, ensuring that everyone can participate at their own pace. It’s important to be prepared with appropriate gear and equipment for spot and stalk hunting, including comfortable footwear, camouflage clothing, and any necessary hunting tools such as binoculars or range finders. Being physically prepared for the terrain and weather conditions is also important, especially if walking or hiking will be involved. Additionally, following all hunting regulations, safety guidelines, and ethical hunting practices is essential to ensure a responsible and enjoyable hunting experience.

Our Lodge has recently undergone renovations to ensure that every guest is comfortable and well taken care of. We take pride in offering personalised safaris that are unique and create lifelong memories. As our lodge is on a smaller scale, you have the option to request exclusive use of the camp during your stay (subject to availability based on the time of year and group size). Our Professional Hunters are highly experienced. With over 40 years in the industry, we have worked diligently to build a flawless reputation over the years. We can assist clients with every aspect of their dream hunting safari, from A to Z.

You can either wire the funds to us or we also accept VISA and MASTER credit cards (but not AMEX or diners club), a small fee of 3% is charged for credit cards.

Ballantyne Safaris prides itself in letting you know all costs before your safari begins. There are no hidden charges. Our daily rates include everything needed for your safari from the day that you arrive until the day that you depart. Please refer to our “Terms of business page” for more information.

This question is frequently asked by many people. Although gratuities are not obligatory, they are greatly valued by our entire staff. For larger groups of guests, the kitchen and lodge support staff must put in extra hours, so we kindly suggest considering higher amounts than those provided below. These amounts are merely suggestions, and we encourage clients to use their own judgment and discretion.
The chef: $20/day
The kitchen and camp support staff: $10-$15 each per day
Tracker: $15 – $20 per day
Professional hunter: 10% of your safari or $100/day

Hunting with a companion can be rewarding, as you share the excitement and success of the hunt in real-time. “2 X 1 hunting” with a lower hunter-to-Professional Hunter ratio can reduce daily rates, making it more affordable for those who prefer to hunt with a companion. Communicate your preferences to the outfitter or booking agent for the best experience.

Non-hunting companions are welcome to join hunts at Observer Rates listed on our Daily Rates page. They can share in your accomplishments, capture memories on video, and enjoy leisure activities around camp. There are many popular activities away from camp which non-hunters can enjoy (at additional costs). These include visiting game reserves to see the Big 5 or exploring nearby historic areas. Contact us for inquiries.

At Ballantyne Safaris, we value the importance of family in today’s world. We believe in teaching the ethics of hunting and conservation, and a family safari is a perfect opportunity to do so. These memories will be cherished by children for a lifetime. To support this goal, the non-hunting observer rate for family members under the age of 7 is offered at half the normal rate. However, please note that we are primarily a hunting outfitter and do not have staff available for childcare, although we do offer day side trips for families to enjoy together.

Trophy fees are associated with the animals you hunt and vary for each species. These fees also apply in the case of a wounded animal that cannot be recovered. While we make every effort to track wounded animals, if they are not found, the trophy fee for the loss will be charged. You can find our trophy fees listed on our “Trophy Fees” page.

Our packages are an economical way to include everything (daily rates & trophy fees) together. Each package includes the trophy fees for different animals. The trophies taken aren’t just any animal of the species, but representative mature animals. Most of your trophies will make the SCI record book.

Although hunting is unpredictable and there are no guarantees, we are confident that you will have a successful hunt and harvest all the trophies included in your package. However, in the unlikely event that you do not take all the animals included in your package, we offer a 50% refund on the listed trophy fee for those animals. Please note that this policy applies to rifle hunting only. However, if you repeatedly miss a certain animal or refuse to shoot a mature animal recommended by your Professional Hunter (PH) due to personal size preferences, the trophy fee will not be refunded. There will be no refunds on discounted rates.

Our hunting packages are carefully planned to allow ample time for harvesting all the trophies included. On average, we allocate about 2 animals per hunting day. However, we understand that during your hunt, you may come across other animals not included in your package. The decision to take an additional animal is entirely up to you. If you choose to do so, the trophy fee (as listed on our Trophy Fees page) will be added to your safari balance at the end of your trip.

We understand that your spouse, special other, or child may also wish to hunt during your safari. They are more than welcome to shoot one of the animals at no additional cost. The trophy they harvest will be considered part of your package. However, their hunting activity must occur while accompanying you on one of your actual hunts. If you also wish to hunt the same animal and there is enough time available, the trophy fee for your animal will be added to your package price.

About 35% of our hunters each year are only interested in one or two of the animals that are included in our packages, and they are mainly interested in hunting some of the other animals. With the knowledge of what they are interested in, we set up a hunt for a length of time that should be sufficient to hunt their requested animals. These hunts are set up based only on the daily rates for the length of their stay and the trophy fees for the animals that they take are added to the cost at the end of the safari. Some hunters even set up a certain length hunt and just want to hunt whatever they encounter during the safari, with no set goals before they arrive. These hunts are also set up by the daily rates for the number of days and trophy fees are added in at the end of their hunt.

We do not charge for your arrival or departure days, as we consider them non-hunting days. Your hunt begins on the day after your arrival, according to the length of time you have chosen. We understand the travel involved in reaching our camp, so we encourage you to relax, settle in, and unpack upon arrival. You can also enjoy a sundowner and visit our rifle range to ensure your rifle is sighted in. On the day of your departure, you will have time to pack up, and maybe even do some souvenir shopping before your flight departs.

In our area, the average shot distances range from 100 to 300 yards. Occasionally, shots may be up to 350 yards, but typically they are shorter. It’s important to be comfortable with long shots, as tracking a wounded animal in the bush can consume precious hunting time. We recommend sighting in your scope for 200 yards, as most of your opportunities are likely to be within this range.