Although it is a new destination that Grand Safari is now marketing, with our French back ground (born and raised in France myself) it was getting obvious that this magnificent country will be on our portfolio sooner than later. Chamois, Red Stag, Roe Deer, Mouflon and Fallow Deer, the French Big Five!
We offer three safari options and six safari extensions in France, combining some of the best big game and bird hunting Europe has on offer, with a rich culture and world best fine cuisine and wine. A trip of a lifetime from the French Alps to the Sologne Bérichonne plains and woods, you will be treated as a king with our “French touch” option. Bring your Queen!

I know your needs and expectations so well when it comes to African Hunting, that I have worked out various options covering the best of what mother Africa has to offer to you, the dedicated hunter. Our meticulous planning and great ethic remain the same, only accommodation and hunting areas vary, dependent upon your desires and game requirements.

GRAND SAFARI, a dynamic organization producing excellent results, taking care of all your needs during your safari.

We have you covered…Christophe Beau

Grand Safari is proud to announce the opening of its latest hunting destination, FRANCE.

Born and raised in this beautiful and unique country, it is about time we give the French hunting traditions the place they deserve in our portfolio. History and culture is everywhere in France, from the numerous castles to even more numerous churches and other historical monuments, to arguably the best gastronomic restaurants in the world. Hunting traditions are very strong in France and we offer you the opportunity to share some of them with our highly skilled staff and partners. Will it be hunting in the plains, forest, mountains; we propose the best combined hunting opportunities the country has to offer.

This is a hunt where your partner will love to accompany you.

We have worked out 3 safari options in France, offering you all the best hunting opportunities.

Option 1 – “Le Big Five”

Main species: Red Stag / Roe Deer / Fellow Deer / Chamois / Mouflon

Season: From 1st of September to the 20th of December

Biomes and landscapes: Dam & lake, crop field, forests (pine, oak & birch wood), undergrowth with furs, large bedspring, open mountains.

Areas: It combines the Sologne Berichonne and the French Alps.

Hunting methods:

Walk and stalk (Red Stag, Roe Deer & Fallow Deer)
Hunting from a hide

Typical itinerary:

Day 1: Arriving in Lyon at St Exupery Airport. (They are numerous international flights arriving directly in Lyon, or you will have clear customs in Paris first before connecting with one of the daily flight to Lyon). Meet and greet and transfer to le Château des Périchons where you will spend the first night. If time allows you will sight you rifles in that evening.

Day 2 to Day 4: 3 days of hunting Red Stag, Roe Deer and Fellow Deer in the Sologne Berrichonne area. This is the heart of the Big Game Hunting in France. We have 5 concessions there, some being fenced, some open, depending on the game targeted. There is also some of the best wing shooting to be done here, and we strongly suggest, to all bird hunting enthusiasts, to look up at our Wind Shooting extension.

Day 5: This is a transfer day when you will reach the French Alps for the remaining days of your French hunting safari. Our hunting ground in the French Alps is merely a 4-hour drive from here, allowing for a swift cultural and historical tour in the middle age city of Bourges. Discovering the “Palais Jacques Coeur” is a must (http://www.palais-jacques-coeur.fr/en/), together with taking a slow drive through Bourges down town where historical monuments are plentiful. Most of the Cathedral ambulatory glass dates from about 1215, the whole monument is simply spectacular (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourges_Cathedral) . Lunch will be served at Le Château des Périchons before reaching the city of Grenoble where you will meet your second Grand Safari PH specialized in Mountain species.

Day 6 to 8: 3 days of hunting in open mountains for Chamois and Mouflon.

Day 9: Transfer to our booked extension or back to St Exupery airport in Lyon for your return journey back home.

Option 2 – “Big Antlers”

Main species: Red Stag / Roe Deer / Fallow Deer

Season: From 1st of August to the 31st of October

Biomes and landscapes: Dam & lake, crop field, forests (pine, oak & birch wood), undergrowth with furs, large bedspring.

Areas: Sologne Bérichonne

Hunting methods:

Walk and stalk
Hunting from a hide

Typical itinerary:

Day 2 to Day 4: 3 days of hunting Red Stag, Roe Deer and Fallow Deer in the Sologne Berrichonne area. This is the heart of the Big Game Hunting in France. We have 5 concessions there, some being fenced, some open, depending on the game targeted. There is also some of the best wing shooting to be done here so bird hunter enthusiasts should seriously consider adding our Wing Shooting extension here.

Day 5: Transfer to your booked extension or back to St Exupery airport in Lyon for your return journey back home.

Option 3 – “Open Mountains”

Main species: Chamois / Mouflon

Season: From 1st of September to the 20th of December

Biomes and landscapes: Open mountains / French Alps

Areas: French Alps

Hunting methods:

Walk and stalk
Spot and stalk

Typical itinerary:

Day 1: Arriving in Lyon at St Exupery Airport. (They are numerous international flights arriving directly in Lyon, or you will have clear customs in Paris first before connecting with one of the daily flight to Lyon). Direct road transfer to the city of Grenoble in the French Alps where you will meet and greet your Grand Safari PH specialized in mountain species.

Day 2 to Day 4: 3 days of hunting Chamois and Mouflon in the wilderness of the French Alps. Open area, breathtaking landscapes and sceneries. Although you don’t have to be super fit for this option, this is certainly the most challenging hunt France has to offer.

Day 5: Transfer to your booked extension or back to St Exupery airport in Lyon for your return journey back home.

The French Touch experience, by Grand Safari

The “French Touch” supplement is an upgrade from the offered accommodation to a romantic or luxury room in a castle or equivalent. It also includes a gastronomic dining experience in some of the best restaurants in the area. You will be accompanied by a Grand Safari translator at all time during your customized tailor made experience. This is the ideal way to enjoy what France has to offer during your French Grand Safari! The way is should be…

The “French Touch” is highly recommended especially when accompanied with your partner. Price on request upon your chosen accommodation.

Safari Extensions

Grand Safari has various safari extensions on offer in France. Each of those extensions may be added to any of our safari option in France, and we will advise you of the best choices to make upon of the time of the year you will be travelling. This will allow you, the discerning hunter, to add a unique hunting experience to your French safari, or to discover one of the French romantic, cultural or gastronomy curiosities with your partner.

1/ Wing shooting

Some great wing shooting is to be done in France, especially in the Sologne Bérichonne area.
We offer a 2 day / 3 night package that will combine flushing birds with pointers and shooting from hides over water. A great add-on to any French safari where you may harvest up to 5 species of ducks, pleasant, partridge, pigeons, woodcock and thrush. Bird species vary upon the season and the amount of water on the ground.

Bird species: Ducks (5 species), pheasant, partridge. There are also migratory birds such as pigeons, woodcock and thrush.

Black Grouse: On request only, and only during our Option 3 “Open Mountains” safari option, we have limited access to the endemic “Tétras Lyre” or “Petit Coq de Bruyère” commonly known as Black Grouse. This is a very challenging hunt.

2/ “Chasse à Courre” or French Traditional Hunting over hounds

This is a very old tradition and consists of hunting Roe Deer with the help of a pack of dogs. The dogs are hunting and the hunters are following, traditionally on horseback, commenting the hunt to each other in a distance blowing their hunting corre. This is a unique opportunity to experience a hunting technic elaborated in the middle age and so deeply part of French hunting traditions. We make use of ATV’s for those not wanting to ride horses. It is a one day / 2 nights extension that also includes the visit of a local vineyard and some wine testing.

3/ Castles and Historical monuments

France is arguably the richest European country in culture and historical monuments. We offer a 2 day / 3 night extension where you may discover some of the French architectural jewels.
“Le Château de Meillant” , “La Bastie d’Urfé”, “Le Château de Vaugirard”, big carrousel of Louis XIV and much much more…

4 / Wines, Cheeses and Chocolates

Afterall, France is the world leader in the production of cheeses and wines. You may have a different cheese each day in France, with countless variety of wine… We offer you to discover some of the very French cheese speciality before visiting the Wine Museum in the well-known Beaujolais area. The meseum is in “Le Château de la Greffière” also offering some wine testing. An other world renown wine icon is “Les Hospices de Beaune” , built in 1443 and very rich in history.
The region is also renown for its master chocolate makers and fine patisserie.
We offer a one day / one night extension to discover some of the best cheeses, wines and chocolates of the area.

5/ “Mount Blanc / Chamonix / Annecy / Megève”

This is a 1 day / 1 night excursion that we have worked out in the event that you harvest your Chamois and Mouflon sooner than expected. You never know, hunting is hunting, and it can be rather tough in the mountains or you may hit excellent weather and conditions and find what you are looking for the first day. Being then so close to the highest peak in Europe, the “Mount Blanc”, we have worked out an extension to discover this mystical peak as well as the “Mer de Glace” the longest glacier in France. The Mont Blanc Tramway or Tramway du Mont-Blanc (TMB) is a mountain railway line in the Haute-Savoie department of France. It is the highest in France and the fourth highest in Europe.

The spectacular views of Mont Blanc and adjacent mountains of the Mont Blanc massif provided by the tramway make it very popular with tourists. It is a rack and adhesion railway, using the Strub design to overcome a height difference of 1,792 m (5,879 ft).