AFRICA 2.5 - Upland Safaris

[hot grail]

With the addition of Salzweisen park and the hope for an Africa 2.0, I think a Africa small game map would be wonderful after the addition of the next African map. The idea has been floated around before but I thought I'd put my own spin on it. I've Noticed there's a huge interest in the community towards small game and bird shooting, and luckily, South Africa has some wonderful birds and small game to offer.

Uplands Safaris could be based in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. This province has some amazing wildlife and beautiful flora with a mix of highlands, Lowveld, Highveld and Sub-tropical areas. The Specific region I have in mind draws inspiration from the area surrounding White River in the province. I have a mix of Waterfowl, Upland game birds, pigeon/doves and some mammals as the hunter quarry.

Waterfowl:
-> Yellow Billed Duck (New, C1) P
-> Red Billed Teal (New, C1)
-> Knob billed Duck (New, C1) P
-> Egyptian Goose (New, C1) P
-> Spur Winged Goose (New, C1) ** P**

Other Game Birds:
-> Crested Francolin (New, C1) P
-> Swainson's Spurfowl (New, C1) P
-> Helmeted Guienefowl (New, C1) P
-> Rock Pigeon (New, C1)** P**
-> Laughing Dove (New, C1)
-> Cape Turtle dove (New, C1)
-> Kori Bustard (New, C2) ** P**

Other Game:
-> African Tree Squirrel (New, C1)
-> African Ground Squirrel (New, C1)
-> Scrub Hare (Reworked, C1) P
-> Black Backed Jackal (Reworked & reskinned Side striped jackal, C2) ** P**
-> Steenbok (New, C2) P
-> Bushbuck -> (New, C3) P
-> Warthog (Reworked, C4) P
-> Impala (New, C4)

Now this list is quite long considering Salzweisen only has 15 species and I have recommended 18 species total, so I have marked the Priority species with a "P".

Some New equipment would be needed for this map, namely, new decoys & callers for water fowl. As for a new firearm, I'm not too well versed in shotguns but perhaps a South African produced "Musgrave 12" 12ga Pump shotgun.

For my Waterfowl enthusiasts.
We have Yellow billed duck, Red billed teal, Knob billed duck, Egyptian goose and spur winged goose respectively in these photos.

For my Upland game bird fans and Dove/Pigeon shooters.
Crested Frankolin, Swainson's Spurfowl, Helmeted Guienefowl, Rock Piegon/Dove, Laughing Dove, Cape Turtle Dove and Kori Bustard in order.

For my small game fans.
African tree squirrel, Cape ground squirrel, Scrub Hare, Black backed jackal, Steenbok, Bushbuck, Warthog and Impala in their respective order.

Some examples of the landscape and flora of the region

Synthetic stock version of the Musgrave 12. They also come in Turkish walnut

[quasi thicket]

Awsome stuff

[hot grail]

Here's a crude and quick concept for the map. 5km long and 4.5 km wide to make it similar in size to Salzwiesen.

White Circles with little houses = Outposts

White circle with house & chimney = main lodge

Tan brown = open fields (think central vurhonga with bushes)

Darker brown = Sourveld region

Dark Green = Marshy wet areas

Red lines = region borders

Yellow line = sub region borders

Green circle = corn field

Brown lines = roads

Blue = water

[quasi thicket]

Awesome map bru, it’s nice to see such effort and dedication in a map suggestion!

[hot grail]

Thanks man, what can I say, I'm a South African that wants to see South Africa in CotW so I'll go the extra mile 😂

[zealous hedge]

Interesting set of both Small Game and “Small Game” animals

I would like a reserve like this though

[fallow warren]

I appreciate the diversity here instead of adding an overwhelming # of waterfowl its got my 👍

[hot grail]

some are a little bigger but theyre so common that i couldnt exclude them. Leopard was on my mind for that but i think its a biiiit too much. Maybe 1 or 2 on the map if we push it, seeming that nothing ever stops a leopard

[hot grail]

I realized I made some mistakes on my map, I think I'll fix it and repost it

[zealous hedge]

The reason I said Small Game and "Small Game" is mostly because I never heard someone refer to animals like impala or warthog as small game animals, that is like calling mule deer and grey wolf small game, don't get me wrong an African Small Game and Bird focused map with a few big game animals is a cool idea

[hot grail]

Oh ja Impala and Warthog are 100% not small game, I just didn't really wanna make a new category for them lol

[zealous hedge]

Fair enough

[hot grail]

So here's some alternative animals that could work on the map(minus the 2 i could fit), in order we have;
African Snipe - C1
Natal Spurfowl - C1
Smith's Red Rock Rabbit - C1
Dassie- C1
Cane Rat - C1
Vervet monkey - C1/2
Chacma Baboon - C3
Common Duiker - C2
Ystervark - C2
Southern Reedbuck - C3

Then we have 2 nearly equally elusive animals that can't be stopped by borders or fences.
The Bush pig (C4) and the African Leopard (C7)

The leopard could work on such a small map but in exceedingly small numbers, think 2 at a time max. The leopards weight or toughness definitely doesn't make it a Class 7, but it's pure speed and power, especially when wounded, cornered or when it has the drop on you make it worth shooting it with a bigger caliber

[hot grail]

If the map were to come with a thematic outfit, seeming that the map is based on a farm, stereotypical "Boer" clothes could work nicely

[zealous hedge]

Things I have learned

Cape Porcupines are also called “Ystervark”

[hot grail]

Yup, the iron pig for direct translation 😂

[fervent crag]

There’s the short shorts

[hot grail]

This is the way

[fallow warren]

Here in the US < 50lbs is considered small game, 50-300lbs Med. 300-1500lbs Lg Game, 1500+ XL/DG.. Safari has its own categories & view on game like plains game as an example.

[hot grail]

So in Afrikaans, the vervet monkey is know as the Blouaap, which translates directly to blue moneky....you get 2 guesses why

[dull robin]

Is that it's bum or....

[zealous hedge]

Nope

[junior fiber]

I think vervet monkeys would be perfect

[dull robin]

💀😭

[stray kindle]

No one has any idea how much I would absolutely love to see all of this, beautiful work man don't stop it, Im hoping they see this and add this map

[hot grail]

Thanks man, will keep this one bumped 🤝

[hot grail]

Yellow Billed Duck

Behavior:
Social and Alert
Habitat:
Rivers, lakes, dams, marshes
Senses:
Excellent sight, good hearing
Social:
Highly social in dry season
Active:
Late afternoon
Recomended Equipment:
Class 1 ammo, Beacon deluxe Duck caller, Yellow Billed Duck decoys
Species:
Anas Undulata
Difficulty:
Easy

The Yellow Billed Duck is one if the mos common water fowl in Southern Africa, being readily found in any body of fresh water. These birds are highly Social especially in the dry season. Characterized by their Yellow bill, they are quite easily distinguished from other ducks in Africa. These ducks are very similar to Mallard Duck in many ways, including, in shooting. It's recommended to set up a grass blind on the end of a lake and use a caller and decoys to call these bird in during late afternoon for a successful hunt.

[hot grail]

Incase the idea of another 12ga Pump action shotgun doesn't sound too great for you, how about a small caliber break action air rifle ? Something many of us have use or still use for small animals like squirrel or in this photo where I hunted 2 of the dove species I proposed, laughing dove and Cape turtle dove

[fallow warren]

I'm all for a PCP Weapon Pack

[hot grail]

Red Billed Teal

Behavior:
Social and docile
Habitat:
Wetlands
Senses:
Excellent sight and hearing
Social:
Highly social outside of breeding season
Active:
Early morning & Late afternoon
Recomended Equipment:
Class 1 ammo, Beacon Delux Duck caller, Red Billed Teal decoys
Species:
Anas Erythrorhyncha
Difficulty:
Easy

These ducks are very common and widespread throughout East and Southern Africa year round. Characterized by their bright red bill and Grey boddies. Most active Early in the morning and late in the afternoon, these ducks can be found all around wetland and vlei areas.

[quasi thicket]

Hate these guys make my life hell

[hot grail]

at this point I think its all theyre good at. Experts in destroying thatch roof and stealing food out of the kitchen

[quasi thicket]

From my experience they Can’t dodge a twelve gauge very effectively

[hot grail]

damn 😂
better fate than a slingshot I think

[quasi thicket]

Ja you could argue that point strongly

[dull robin]

Could there be more tiny ten?

[hot grail]

There could.
The Red Duiker, Common Duiker, Klipsringer, Livingston's Suni, Oribi, Sharp's Grysbok and the Steenbok all could potentially be found in the suggested area. Blue Duiker and Cape Grysbok are very unlikely, Dik Dik definitely wouldn't be there.

I honestly just chose the best known and most common small antelope, minus the common Duiker

[queen cedar]

I love this idea so much, just one thing I would add, Hadeda's! 🤣 Daai blerrie goed maak my wakker elke oggend xD. Nah I'm just kidding, great map idea though!!!

[queen cedar]

Bump

This map would also not be super difficult to add, hence we have a Mpumalanga reserve in COTW: the Anglerhere is practically no reason for this reserve to not be in the hunting version.

[hot grail]

I've been thinking about small game weapons used extensively on farms here in SA and honestly there's 1 that can absolutely not be overlooked. The bolt action .22lr

I think almost ever farmer has one of these for small game, small pest control and even culling. I was at a friend's farm recently and he told me about the Duiker he'd shot with is .22lr

For the specific rifle I'd suggest, it's just the humble bolt action rifle, based on the CZ 457 American 22' in .22lr

[zealous hedge]

I hope African maps like this one and #1363751758123241503 come to the game alongside bigger maps like Africa 2.0. These smaller sized African reserves would open up a lot of potential for introducing the birds and small game species of Africa while the larger maps introduce a lot of the larger game