South Africa is a big country with the most diverse habitat in on the contenent. From snow capped mountains covered with pine trees to desert and rain forest. The provinces have different laws and rules regarding game. When you look at the whole of south africa and make any general statement your likely not seeing or understanding the whole big picture of the country.
Yes South Africa has plenty of high fenced small properties stocked with purchased farm raised game, but so does the USA just look at what is available in Texas. However South Africa also has vast areas of private game manged lands and parks bigger then some US states which allow hunting of big game. Just as the USA does, Alaska for example.
So yes what you hear is probably true but does not mean that is the only way to experience a big game hunt. You can shoot a cape buffalo in Texas just as you can in a farmed area of South Africa. But you can also hunt a wild Bison in Wyoming, Utah, and Montana. Or a Grizzly bear in Alaska or Canada in completetly wild country. Just as you can a Kudu, zebra, Buffalo or Elephant in South Africa.
It's why you must check references to get what exactly it is your looking for. Anyone selling you more animals then days is likely hunting on "put and take" property. We have on many occasions taken more animals then days per person when everything is "just right" and the hunter is not expecting more then just representitive trophies.
As for Rhino, the story is true we operate "green hunts" every year and stalk rhino with a dart rifle that has a 40 yard maximum range. Shooting a rhino with this dart rifle is more like a bow hunt then a gun hunt. You will need to be VERY close to a 4 thousand pound animal that can run 30 MPH and nothing gets in it's way! SCI will accept Rhinos shot this way so long as the same rhino is not darted more then two times per year. Since Rhino horn is much like a finger nail and grows constantly and is worn down at a rapid rate the size of the horn is always different. When darted only once every six months the size will sometimes change but 5-10 SCI points.
This income is what pays for their anti poaching patrols and managment of the entire herd. Probably why South Africa has more white Rhino then anyplace on earth. Probably why South Africa allows the hunting of so many each year. We have 16 cows and 4 bulls. 10 of our 16 cows are pregnant right now. That is just our consession alone! Last year we hunted and killed 4 Rhino Bulls and bought 2 new bulls to improve the blood line. With the kind of attention we have with our rhino hunting operation it will be strong for the foreseeable future. Darting is one of the key tools in the management and needed income to continue the productive growth of our herd.
