South Africa Wingshooting
South Africa wingshooting is known for some of the most diverse and exciting bird hunting in the world. Seven feathers Goose, Francolin, Ducks, Rock Pigeons, Dove, Snipe, Guinea Fowl all on one trip. Delicious meals and lovely lodges fill the itinerary. Shooters and non-shooters are welcome. The non-shooters will enjoy daily activities in the areas surrounding the shoots. In the middle of the itinerary take a day or two to enjoy some game viewing in the areas.
Call us for more details on South Africa wingshooting as each trip is highly customized.
When we design your African safari you can expect the following: We will listen as you share your vision of what your African Safari Experience should look like. We then begin designing your safari with lodge and destination selection, activities selection, flights, meet & greet services, travel insurance, clothing & equipment list, countdown to Africa (this assist you with detail preparation leading up to trip time), detailed pricing with all included/not included items, and more.
As a full service African Safari specialists, we have visited over 80+ safari lodges in Africa over the last 30 years. We selected only a handful of those for you that have met our strenuous criteria. Combination big game hunting, bird hunting, photo safari, Okavango Delta, Kruger Park, Namibia, Botswana, Cape Town and Victoria Falls safaris are our specialty.
Accommodations & Meals
Your lodging will depend on species hunted. All lodges are 4 to 5 star with excellent meals and staff.
Hunting
The wingshooting season starts in the beginning of May and ends middle September. Harvest seasons will vary from year to year affecting the prime times.
All itineraries are customized and will be adjusted depending on the harvest as needed before trip time!
Driven Guinea fowl – Prime April to July- On the earlier dates we often beat Guinea fowl out of standing corn. This normally gives us unsurpassed shooting with the birds coming out in small groups and offering extended shooting. It is quite thrilling standing at your position listening in anticipation as 20 Zulu beaters drive the birds towards you.
Francolin and Spur fowl over Pointers – April to July – For those who enjoy a brisk walk in the morning, the Francolin and Spur fowl offer great sport. We use 2 English Pointers, which work the surrounds of harvested corn, peanuts and soya fields. Baynesfield has predominantly Red Necked Spur fowl and Natal Francolin. Zulu Wings has more Swainsons Spur fowl and Shelly’s Francolin.
Bags are not big, you can expect 10 – 12 birds between 2 guns over 2 dogs.
Flighting Doves – Prime April to June – Normally shot coming in to feed around harvested corn fields. Bloemfontein offers hot barrel shooting for mainly Cape Turtle Doves as well as Laughing Doves. Baynesfield has the huge Red Eyed Dove (referred to locally as a Pigeon) as it is larger than our Rock Pigeon.
Dundee offers predominantly Cape Turtle Dove as well as Laughing Dove.
Rock Pigeons – Prime April to June. Rock Pigeons are rated by most as one of the most sporting birds on the planet. Shot in Bloemfontein on flight lines and over decoys in Dundee and Baynesfield, their ability to change direction in mid-flight makes them a worthy quarry. Our Pigeons’ decoy well over pigeon magnets.
Duck – Prime June – August – are baited and shot over decoys. They are counted and watched the night prior to shooting and seldom let us down. The main Duck shot are Yellow Billed Duck, which talk and fly very much like a Mallard. Red Billed Teal being our fastest Duck, will test your reflexes; and normally last to come in are the White Faced Whistling Ducks.
Geese – Prime June – August – are shot over decoys, a couple normally also come in with the Ducks in the evenings. We shoot our Geese out of dry land pit blinds or standing blinds, either first thing in the morning or last thing in the evening.
The two species are Egyptian Geese and Spurwing Goose; the largest goose in the world, with ganders often exceeding the 20lb mark.
Snipe – are shot in August in the wetlands. They are only found in our areas on wet years which is normally every second year. Probably our most challenging bird when they get up at your feet and zig zag away at an alarming rate.
Add On Driven Guinea Fowl Near Stella (Charter in near Sun City) – Two full days of shooting and three nights. A driven dove shoot can be added into the mix for variety. First drive is a cloud of birds overhead with 100 beaters! Second drive the birds push nicely in the Savannah and come in waves of 10’s and 20’s overhead. You will enjoy 8-10 drives per day! Guinea Fowl fly medium high about 30 yards high always. While the hunt is not difficult, the number of birds makes it difficult. The line will shoot about 300 birds depending on the number in the line. A line of 6 will probably shoot 200 for the line. THESE ARE ALL WILD BIRDS! Not pen raised birds.
Activities
We will tailor any trip for the non-shooting companions. After 23 years in the business, They have learned that if you want to see the hunters again, you better take great care of their Observers. Typically these trips include the following:
Historical sights
Zulu Villages
Midlands Meander
Game viewing
Bushmen paintings (3000 years old)
Battlefield Sites
Drakensberg Boys Choir & Drakensberg Mountains
Your personal interest’s
We can customize any itinerary to include Cape Town, Kruger Park, Victoria Falls, Photo Reserves in Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia and more.
Length of Stay / Itinerary
Multiple itineraries available from 4 day itineraries to 12 day itineraries! Each is designed for your wingshooting preferences and species. If you wish to combine photo safaris, big game hunting safaris, Cape Town, Kruger Park, Victoria Falls etc with your wingshooting, we offer exceptional combination itineraries.
Multiple itineraries available from 4 day itineraries to 12 day itineraries! Each is designed for your wingshooting preferences and species. If you wish to combine photo safaris, big game hunting safaris, Cape Town, Kruger Park, Victoria Falls etc with your wingshooting, we offer exceptional combination itineraries.
WHEN PLANNING YOUR ITINERARY WE WILL WANT TO WORK AROUND THE MOON FOR DUCKS.
Sample Itineraries:
Day 1: Arrival in Johannesburg where you will be greeted as you exit the airplane and escorted through passport control, luggage collection, Customs and gun registration (if you choose to bring a gun). On arrival day, you will immediately transfer to the first hunting lodge near Bethel which is about a two hour drive. Hunting today will depend on your arrival time in Johannesburg.
Day 2 – 4: Bethal for 3 days of Duck, Dove, Pigeon, Driven Guinea, and Francolin
Day 5: Bloemfontein: An early departure from Bethal to Bloemfontein. 3 options: by charter flight from Bethal to Bloemfontein, drive back to Johannesburg and fly commercially to Bloemfontein or transfer by vehicle 6 hours. Go straight to the field for an afternoon shoot.
Depending on arrival time enjoy an afternoon hunt. Full days shooting for Rock Pigeon shot on flight lines into fields of sunflower or corn (this is some of the most challenging shooting to offer anywhere!)
Activities in this area include hot air balloon rides early in the morning, sheep farm, stargazing with a famous story teller, touch farms like Cheetah and museums.
Day 6: Hunt the very challenging Rock Pigeon morning and evening
Day 7: Continue your trip with a photo safari for a few nights, continue your hunting with a driven Guinea hunt including 70 + beaters at Vryburg for three nights, or begin your trip home.
Alternate Itinerary with photo safari in the middle
Day 1: Arrive in Johannesburg and transfer to Bethel for 4 nights
Day 2-4: Hunt Duck, Dove, Francolin, Geese, Guinea, Pigeon
Day 5: Transfer to private photo safari property adjoining Kruger Park (5 hour drive or fly from Johannesburg or charter) Arrive for afternoon game drive. OR we offer another wonderful photo safari property only one hour from Bethel.
Day 6: Enjoy twice daily game drives
Day 7: Fly commercial to Bloemfontein for Rock Pigeon hunting
Day 8,9: Rock Pigeon
Day 10: Begin travels home or continue on to Vryburg for two nights for Driven Guinea with beaters.
Travel Details & Location
You will want to fly into and out of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Rates
2024 (call for updated pricing)
– Rates begin at $950 per day for shooters and are dependent on the number of shooters in the group.
Trip Insurance & Cancellation Info
Trip insurance is highly recommended to protect your investment on this trip. We will assist you with trip insurance upon booking. See links at the bottom of this page for the two providers we suggest for our clients.
Family Expeditions, LLC confirmation and refund policy:
If your trip is more than 90 days out from date of departure, a 50% non-refundable deposit confirms your reservation and must be received within 10 days of booking to confirm your dates. All trips must be paid in full at least 90 days prior to the departure date. If your trip date is within 90 days, FULL payment for the trip is required. All payments to Family Expeditions are non-refundable. Should you need to reschedule or cancel your trip, we will do everything in our power to assist you in finding a suitable substitute or transferring your dates per the lodge/providers/government requirements. Trip insurance protects your investment!
