ABOUT US

Dark Continent Adventures is a small family owned business in Montana.  We are Scott, Jada, Madison, James, and Scherrie Knight.

It all began as a bucket list Cape Buffalo hunt for my father/grandfather James.  It became the family trip of a lifetime for all of us.

In August of 2018 we made the trip to South Africa and got the chance to hunt with George Halliday.  George was the most amazing professional hunter (PH).  While in South Africa, George not only provided us incredible hunting opportunities, and help harvesting incredible trophies.  He also showed us the great sights, sounds and tastes of Africa.  All along doing it with the utmost professionalism and hospitality.  This led to great bond of friendship that lasted well beyond our trip.

In December of 2019 while having a conversation with George he let us know that he was starting his own safari company.  Aptly named George Halliday Safaris.  Our family was so excited for him.  Due to the friendship we had developed with George we wanted to help him in any way we could.  The opportunity was presented to work together with George as his American based booking agent.  So in January 2020 Dark Continent Adventures (DCA) was created.

We were treated to the most amazing family trip and hunt of a lifetime.  Now we have been given the opportunity to do the same for you, your friends, and family.  If you want the safari of a lifetime.  Let us know your dreams, and together with George Halliday Safaris, we will make it come true.

 

Sincerely,

The Knight Family

Dark Continent Adventures

More Safari Information

Hunting information

Hunting information

In Most of our hunting areas we are permitted to hunt throughout the whole year with exceptions on certain free range animals.  Typically the best time of the year is from mid-March to mid-October. Generally bowhunters will frequent September and October because of the dry climate and better chances of success. Rifle hunting shots can range from under 100 yards to over 300 yards all depending on the situation and client. Most shots gets taken from tri-pod shooting sticks when walking and stalking. We are also permitted to use dogs in the case of animals being wounded, we pride ourselves on the exceptionally high recovery rate of wounded animals.

Hunting rifles

Hunting rifles

We suggest that the client bring along a scoped rifle from .30cal for the average smaller bushveld and plains game.

I always recommend a minimum of .30 cal for plainsgame up to the size of Kudu and a minimum of .338 for animals up to the size of Eland. For dangerous game the legal minimum calibre is .375 H&H.

We recommend clients bring their own rifles just for the fact that being familiar and comfortable with a gun makes the world of difference in confidence. We do have high quality rifles in camp for those that don’t want to travel with rifles.

Ammunition

Ammunition

It is imperially important to shoot good constructed bullets such as Swift A-frame and Barnes TSX/TTSX. We also prefer heavy bullets over light bullets

Weather you are hunting dangerous game or plains game bullet selection is of utmost importance. In recent years we have had very high success with Barnes Bullets, Swift-A-Frame bullets and for the long range hunters the Hornady ELD-X makes a perfect mach. Which ever bullet you decide on make sure it is a well constructed expandable bullet that doesn’t disintegrate on impact with thick skin and heavy bones.

Clothing

Clothing

The temperature is moderated during the day to cold on winter nights. Dress is very informal. From our experience the following clothing is required on Safari; 4 shirts, 3 pairs of long trousers, 2 pairs of short trousers, 2 pairs of lightweight hunting boots or sneakers, if preferred, socks, underwear, bush hat/cap, bush jacket, camo fleece vest, sunglasses, flashlight with extra batteries and rainproof jacket (March to May).

Camouflage

Camouflage

  • March – May – Dark Green Camouflage
  • June – Dark Green, Brown and Yellow
  • July – October -Grey, Brown and Dark Green

Experience has proved that the above colours were most effective to blend with the vivid seasonal vegetation. We have also found it preferable to wear fabrics made from natural fibres instead of synthetic ones.

Bow Hunting Equipment

Bow Hunting Equipment

We suggest that the client bring along a well-tuned bow of draw weight not less that 50lb. Arrows should weigh no less than 400gr. If larger animals are going to be hunted such as Giraffe, the bow should not be less than 90 foot/lb. Well-constructed broad-heads are also essential for a successful hunt.

Range finders and binoculars will be beneficial for judging and spotting of trophy animals.

Photography & Sightseeing

Photography & Sightseeing

Non-hunting Safaris can be arranged on concessions, private reserves and National Parks throughout South-Africa. Packages to suit your requirements can be compiled on request. A minimum of 210-mm lens is suggested for game photography.

ABOUT HUNTING IN SOUTH AFRICA

There is some information that one should understand about hunting in South-Africa and why it is the top hunting destination for hunters all over the globe.

Our Conservation Success Story

Written by PHASA

South Africa’s wildlife and conservation success story is unparalleled anywhere in the world. The safari hunting industry has played a pivotal role in this success since day one and will continue to do so indefinitely! In 1964, we had about 575 000 wild game animals countrywide. During the 1960s, safari hunting and game ranching were mere fledglings in South Africa, but the fact of the matter is that hunting started to place a value on wildlife and wild areas, creating a direct incentive to purchase, own, protect and conserve this precious resource. It became a viable investment. As the safari hunting industry began to grow and with it, the demand for South Africa as a destination, more and more land was converted from agriculture to wildlife.

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Today, we can boast a wildlife population of close to 24 million head of game. Some species, such as white rhino (of which there are currently more than 5 000 on private land and a further 13 000 on State land), black wildebeest and bontebok, were brought back from the brink of extinction. Our sable and roan populations are healthy and growing, once again, and are mostly found on private land today.

Species are constantly being re-introduced into areas where they have become locally extinct. There are currently more than 10 000 privately owned game ranches in South Africa, predominantly in marginal agricultural areas, covering an estimated 21 million hectares of land. To put it into perspective: private enterprise owns three times more land, managed under hugely successful and effective conservation programmes, than all the state-owned parks and reserves combined.

The wildlife industry, as a whole, which includes professional hunting, contributed some R10 billion to South Africa’s economy in 2014 and this figure is expected to increase annually. Detailed information and statistics about the industry and its economic value are available from the PHASA office and website.

Today, we have more international hunting tourists travelling to South Africa each year than any other country on the continent. The South African conservation success story is based on private ownership of land and game, and the sound principle of ‘sustainable utilisation’, of which ‘responsible hunting’ forms a major part. A simple comparison is Kenya, a country that has lost 85% of its wildlife since terminating all hunting in the late 1970s.