South Africa

Francolin shooting with dogs

Umdende Hunting Safaris

A Family-Run South Africa Operation with Plenty of Activities

The Comins family has owned Umdende for 2 generations and has a long working relationship with Frontiers. They offer plains game, waterfowl and upland bird hunting. Trips can be extended with photo safaris, cultural touring and fishing for trout, tigerfish and Indian Ocean saltwater species.

Driven by experienced, skilled owner and Professional Hunter Clayton Comins, Umdende has been big game hunting and bird shooting professionally for 15 years. They will assist you with all of your requirements, along with the highly skilled and motivated local Zulu trackers and skinners.

There are 13 bird species and 31 plains game species are available on privately held concessions ranging in size from 10,000-350,000 acres. Properties are high fence, low fence or no fence.

Accommodation ranges from 3-5 star and are equipped with all the modern amenities you would expect. Nights can be very cold during the winter months and all lodges are heated. Mobile phone reception is widely available and most lodges have Wi-Fi in the reception area or individual rooms. High quality shotguns and rifles are available for rent. Hunters bringing their own firearms will need to obtain a SAPS import permit and must apply well in advance. Light-weight, comfortable hiking boots recommended. Waterfowl hunting is done out of dry blinds, so no waders are necessary.

Guests fly commercially to Johannesburg. The outfitter will greet you upon arrival and transfer you by road to camp. US Citizens do not require a visa. Plains game hunting is available year-round (June-September best time). Waterfowl and upland bird hunting season is May 31-August 31. For repeat travelers looking for a different safari experience, Umdende offers 2 additional options: night time predator hunting for jackal and aardwolf or daytime hunting with dogs for bushpig or caracal. For those familiar with hunting mountain lions, this is a similar experience but with warm weather.

Cape Buffalo Kudu

Nyala

Umdende Safaris

Daybed at Singita Sabora Tented Camp in the Serengeti

Extend Your South Africa Hunting Experience Elegant Journeys in Africa

Frontiers has designed and coordinated photographic safaris in countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Ethiopia, and South Africa.

Explore vast savannahs, expansive deserts, and waterholes teeming with wildlife from open safari vehicles, dugout canoes, elephant back, hot-air balloons, horseback, quad bikes, camel back, or even on foot. These settings make up the many facets of Africa.

Frontiers has a long history in Africa dating back to our first safari in November 1971. It was a trial run for a new flying safari called “Sasafari.” The operators designed a wonderful itinerary utilizing Aero Commander aircraft which stayed with the party throughout South Africa, Botswana, what was then Rhodesia, and Mozambique. Along the way, our staff developed a high level of expertise, and discerning travelers sought out Frontiers to develop private itineraries embracing a wide range of interests.

Because we do not own or operate any camps or lodges in Africa, we can offer unbiased recommendations. We work with the best guides, camps, lodges, and safari operators such as Wilderness Safaris, Abercrombie & Kent, Africa House Safaris, &Beyond, Adventura Africa, and Belmond. Our suggestions are based purely on your objectives and where the peak game viewing may be at your desired time to travel. Where possible, we strive to contribute to conservation efforts, and we encourage our clients to be a part of a bigger story and engage with various projects that will broaden their experience in Africa.

With over four decades of experience and countless staff trips, our destination knowledge is unparalleled, and our enthusiasm is contagious. We look forward to sharing our expertise with you whether you are a first-time visitor or a veteran Africa traveler.

East Africa

Most of the images associated with Africa include endless plains dotted with wildebeest, Maasai warriors silhouetted against the horizon, spectacular sunsets, boundless African skies, palm-fringed white beaches, adventurous rivers, and snow-capped mountains. You can experience each of these visions in the countries that make up the bulk of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda.

• Float gently over the prolific wildlife and dramatic landscapes of the Masai Mara and Serengeti in a hot air balloon.

• Enjoy life-changing opportunities to interact with traditional Maasai and Samburu tribes as they keep their age-old lifestyles, tending to their livestock near the game parks in Kenya and Tanzania.

• Witness the annual Great Migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara. It remains one of the most incredible wildlife spectacles in the world and can be viewed year round.

• Trek to view the endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda, or the Congo for an unforgettable up-close experience.

Hot air ballooning over the Busanga Plains in Zambia

Southern Africa

Southern Africa is characterized by an extraordinary variety of environments, from the wetlands of the Okavango Delta (Botswana) to the white sands of the Kalahari Desert (Botswana/South Africa/ Namibia) and the red sands of the Namib Desert (Namibia). This region also includes the classic bushveld of the greater Kruger National Park (South Africa), the mighty Zambezi River and Victoria Falls (Zambia and Zimbabwe), and the wild coasts of South Africa and Namibia.

• Observe the mysterious phenomenon of the Roaring Dunes which is one of many unique surprises Namibia has to offer. The stunning red sand dunes at Sossusvlei are also the world’s highest.

• Spot some of Africa’s best leopard sightings in South Africa and Zambia.

• Stay in an array of accommodations, ranging from award-winning luxury lodges to simple mobile tented camps, in the most compelling safari destinations.

• Savor the spectacular scenery and gameviewing around the crystal-clear channels of the Okavango Delta making up the earth’s richest ecosystem.