Kenya: Southern Cross Lodge - Shooting and Fishing Safaris

Southern Cross Lodge in Kenya provides guests with a unique opportunity to combine African wing-shooting/hunting with deep-sea fishing for Marlin & Sailfish.

Duck Shooting at Galana

There are few places on earth that offer sportsmen as diverse and exotic quarry, landscape, impressions and sheer sporting excitement as Kenya. Where else could you get the opportunity to match your shooting skills against the swift Sandgrouse, catch a Sailfish or Marlin, sail a dhow along a coral reef or flush a flock of Spurfowl in real big game country? All this within a week!

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The Shooting

The shooting is conducted on a private ranch adjoining the Tsavo-East national park. This area is one of the largest government owned cattle concessions in the country, and is true big game country. It is not uncommon to encounter elephant, hippo, crocodile, gerenuk as well as lion, leopard and wild dogs while out on a hunt or around the safari camp. Throughout the 3 days shooting guests will have a chance to shoot Guinea Fowl, Francolin, Sandgrouse, Spurfowl, Doves and various species of duck depending on the time of year. The days sport is typically a mix of driven, flighted or rough walked up shooting. Generous bag limits are in place allowing guests to enjoy excellent sport whilst being conservative enough to ensure a healthy breeding stock of wild birds. These limits are as follows: 20 Sandgrouse, 25 Dove/Pigeon, 15 Spur/Guineafowl and 10 ducks per gun per day.

Incoming waterfowl

Francolin

Leaping Marlin off the Kenyan Coast

The Fishing

The Eastern coast of Kenya and in particular the waters surrounding Malindi, has long been reputed for its excellent seasonal fishing for Billfish: Sailfish, Striped, Black and Blue Marlin along with the many other game fish migrate through these waters in abundance. During October & November the numbers of Sailfish present are outstanding, whilst Feb-March is the main Marlin season although they can be caught all year round. If you are exceptionally lucky you may even achieve the fabled fantasy slam - A Blue, Black and Striped Marlin, Broadbill Swordfish and Sailfish within 24 hrs. Your week includes two full days deep sea fishing which concludes each evening with drinks in the Malindi Fishing Club - a perfect hangout to engage in some light hearted rivalry and hear the tales of the other anglers as each blue-water game fishing boat returns. (We can also plan extended over-night trips, specialising in broadbill Swordfish at a small surcharge.)

Guest room at Southern Cross shooting and fishing lodge

Accommodation & Service

Southern Cross Lodge

The main lodge is located near Malindi and is owned and run by Philipp Schulz who has been running bespoke mixed sporting safaris since 1997 in South Africa and more recently in Kenya.Your stay will be split between the Southern Cross Lodge for your fishing holiday and the Galana River Camp for your shooting trip. The lodge is only booked out to a single group at a time ensuring that you will have the undivided attention of the staff and the feeling of exclusivity and privacy throughout your stay. The lodge is set amidst lush tropical gardens and consists of a main five bedroom guesthouse and a smaller two bedroom studio. All the bedrooms are fully air-conditioned and have their own en-suite bathrooms. Expect expertly prepared fresh food, attention to detail and the space and comfort to totally relax throughout your stay.

Galana River Safari Camp

Guests room at Galana Shooting Lodge

The Safari camp will be your home during your days and nights shooting. The accommodation is a typical east African safari camp located on the banks of the Galana River. This setting is just 15 kms from the gates of Tsavo-National Park and is real ‘big 5’ country. Here you can enjoy exceptional bird shooting as well as game-viewing before relaxing on your private terrace in the evening enjoying a well deserved sun downer. The lodge and twin bed bungalows have all the conveniences expected of a modern safari lodge without sacrificing the charm of an African riverside camp. You can expect the same meticulous standards from both the staff and from the kitchen as that experienced at the main lodge in Malindi.

Location and Environment

Southern Cross is located in the south east of Kenya near the main coastal town of Malindi. The surrounding bush countryside is covered in typical African thorn savannah with dispersed hilly areas. The Southern Kenyan climate is tropical humid with an average temperature of around the average 30 Celsius during the day.

Non-Hunting Activities

Wild Life Viewing

The shooting camp is located just 15 km’s from the entrance to the Tsavo-East national park which is part of the largest national park in Kenya, covering an area of 22,000 KM². There is exceptional game and wildlife viewing in the park. Other Activities in the Malindi Area include snorkelling, beach drives with lunch on a lagoon island, sunset dhow trips and visits to local ancient Arabic ruins.

Best Time To Go

The season is split in to 2 different hunting periods the best periods to combine the shooting, fishing and fine weather is as follows:
- Mid February to Mid March
- Mid August to end of September

Getting there

Arrive at Nairobi airport and transfer via internal flight to Malindi. Depending on your international flight schedule it may be convenient or necessary to overnight at a hotel in Nairobi prior to your internal flight.