Africa Trip - general pointers from folk in the know?

[Stalker62]

I think would find it a bit weird to not bring my own rifle.

On our last adventure, my mate's .275 never made it through customs - he was lucky it was still there on the way back out.

Wee bit annoying as we were 'half-gunning' with it.

We used the camp's .416 and 7mm - we survived.

Fortunately, the other two lad's rifles made it through, (both beautiful doubles) but yes, it is a bloody mare.

 

[finnbear270]

The Icelandic Reindeer hunting seems to be aligned with not using your own rifle.

 

[old 30-06]

I agree with most of the comments that our forum members have stated above. My take on your proposals are as follows :- I am on my third wife, forget the wedding, its a lot of money on one day of your life that you will try to forget in the future. Go to Africa. It is everything and much much more. It will cost £250 to take your rifle. Take it whatever you do. If you were to miss an opportunity because of an unfamiliar rifle you will never forget it. Trophies are expensive and take a year to turn up. Take photo's instead, have them blown up to picture size and decorate the man cave with them. I have hunted in a reserve of 35,000 acres, and although fenced round the perimeter it always felt a fair chase. You may go a couple of days without a shot, which is why it is called "hunting".

The quoted prices for Nyala and Kudu seem very high. I read that you have a "shopping list" of animals to shoot. It does not work like that, unless you do an American (drive to a two acre paddock with an old beast standing under a tree by a tub of food). Wildebeest are wonderful, but Zebra are far more wary than them and much harder to shoot. Do not get hung up on "I must shoot one of these". Hunt what is there in front of you and enjoy the entire experience. Make sure of the temperature when you intend to go, it gets really really hot. Lastly, go to Africa.

 

[Jamouk]

Also worth looking at Africa Hunting forums !

 

[wildfowler.250]

Folks, firstly thank you for all the replies! Appreciate it! I’ll reply properly when I get a chance but to narrow it down a bit:

100% want to do some shoulder mounts and done in the uk. I’d rather do this and only go once and never go back but totally get the idea. Space and floor pedestals is going to be a consideration to be sure.

Definitely looking at SA although aware there’s other places with pros and cons.


Looked at shikari,(spelling?) and been on africahunting a fair bit - although that usually comes with a host of PMs offering bookings.


If anyone can narrow down that grey area between what I pay the outfitter for the hunt,(animals plus day rate) and what I pay the taxidermist at the uk end then that would be amazing.


Does seem to be huge variations in estimates for bringing stuff back but definitely will have the work done in the uk

 

[tusker]

Your second paragraph is interesting. I only went once and I am now going again for the sixth time. I only know 2 people who only went once and that was because they didnt have a positive experience. Africa will get in your blood and you will never stop thinking about it untill you return .
Tusker

 

[Stalker62]

I’d rather do this and only go once and never go back ...

I know we are all different. I know that.

However.

That is the maddest thing I have ever read (and there are some regulars on this site {you know who they are} who would run you a close second).

If I had the option of another trip to Africa, or paying for the Grandchildren's University fees, I would fall back on that excellent advice from Lord Kitchener...




They get sent to Catterick,







and I get sent to Safari.

 

[Sika98k]

I think would find it a bit weird to not bring my own rifle.

Agreed, I bought mine to hunt with. So it may be a bit of grief but I’ve personally found Lufthansa and Ethiopian Airlines easy to work with. They have guidelines on their websites. Follow these and you are good to go.

 

[stevec]

Your second paragraph is interesting. I only went once and I am now going again for the sixth time. I only know 2 people who only went once and that was because they didnt have a positive experience. Africa will get in your blood and you will never stop thinking about it untill you return .
Tusker

I 100% agree with this.

My wife and I went on a one off last year. We went back (to another part of Africa) this year. Due to the cost, we will not go again for several years but it gets under your skin and you will end up going back. The only people I know who have not gone back have been banned by their wives, one wife went and hated it, the other refuses to go or let her husband go.

I am sure there are some wives in the same position as well, whose husbands will not let them go. I met a lady last month who’s husband stayed in camp reading whilst she hunted.

 

[Stalker62]

The only people I know who have not gone back have been banned by their wives, one wife went and hated it, the other refuses to go or let her husband go.

Refuses to let her husband go?

Wow.

My wife would never dream of going to Africa - nor would she ever dream of trying to stop me.

 

[stevec]

Now I’m not sure how I feel about a Zebra

I would not do so again.

I was not sure about a Zebra either until I tried to stalk one. It is really challenging, unless you are shooting at a water hole. They are so alert, although probably only as much as red deer here

 

[John Gryphon]

I definitely feel like there would be some degree of stigma associated to this.

There is NO stigma, you would be doing it for YOU and not for any other ****.

rolling about getting the antlers home.

err they be `orns eh wot!

nor would she ever dream of trying to stop me.... she is def a keeper!

Geez I find it very hard to swallow how blokes are beaten into submission by their wives on these matters. Let her have the new dresses whilst we are winging to the hunt!

​

 

[stevec]

Refuses to let her husband go?

Wow.

My wife would never dream of going to Africa - nor would she ever dream of trying to stop me.

Everyone is different. It is not a situation that I would want to be in either

 

[Stalker62]

Everyone is different.

Absolutely.

Just makes me feel that much worse about forgetting our wedding anniversary earlier this month...


True Story.

Great wife. Terrible husband.

 

[John Gryphon]

forgetting our wedding anniversary

Many many years ago I asked my at the time GF "when is your fiftieth again?" (birthday)


a hoare frosted reply of "it was last week"

 

[stevec]

My other thoughts from my limited experience- hunting in Namibia and Mozambique and visiting a hunting camp owned by a friend in South Africa is that:

1. Properly wild hunting in somewhere like Mozambique is amazing but comes with a significant cost - higher running costs equals higher rates and much greater difficulty in getting there

2. There is nothing wrong with big, well-run fenced areas. I have hunted in one in Namibia, approx 30,000 acres behind a fence.

3. I would not hunt in a lot of fenced areas, particularly smaller ones that are reliant on introduced game and not natural replacement.

4. I would 100% choose Namibia over South Africa. Namibia is safe, friendly, clean, very easy to get to and to drive when you are there - better than UK roads in my experience and there is no more racial tension or corruption than in the UK. Also a varied country with mountains, desert and savannah. If it wasn’t for our work in the UK, my wife and I would move there.

 

[stevec]

One other thing is that from my little knowledge, there is a culture of not hunting over water holes amongst Zimbabwean PHs. I like this a lot and really do not like hunting over a water hole, or excessive use of vehicles I much prefer walking through the bush

 

[Stalker62]

... really do not like hunting over a water hole, or excessive use of vehicles I much prefer walking through the bush

Africa is a long way, and expensive to get there.

Too long and too expensive to then spend your time plotted up at a watering hole, slotting any thirsty animal that rocks up.

That is not Africa and it is most certainly not hunting.



Caveat.

I am aware that some disabled Hunters have limited mobility and that this may be their only option. That aside - not for me.

 

[finnbear270]

If I were disabled, I would try my best to be hauled out into a position where game might use a trail for a while, perhaps early hours ... Overwatch on a waterhole would equate to a high seat shoot over a bait station for a Fox.

 

[Tazz]

There is always a big decision around taking your own rifle, I always have with proper preparation SA is fairly straightforward and my last two trips there was no “ inference” of handing over cash. Namibia is more straightforward when taking rifles. If you shoot regulaly off quad sticks over here then take your own I have the Viper travel that breakdown small enough to go in a regular suitcase, regulaly they will expect you to shoot 250 yds plus off sticks depending on the ground and having your own sticks is a plus