Africa, any tips?
- Thread starter wildfowler.250
- Start date
Yes, probably not best bought in ‘frica…
NickJ
Well-Known Member
I've hunted three or four times in SA, only once formally with a PH though. Apart from what has been said above I'd add:
- Take the sticks you use at home (unless they have similar in camp) I took my Viperflex Journey sticks to Zim last month as they collapse down to sections that fitted in my bag. Also, if the PH's don't have them take a rangefinder or RF binos. I missed an impala in SA off their rickety tripod sticks, the PH said it was 'about 200 yards, it was over 350 when we paced it out'
- If you borrow a rifle and you are not happy with it/the scope on the range ask for another one. I got given a duff scope once and soldiered on, it meant a miss, when we looked closer it was missing lenses!
- For mozzies I use Jungle Formula but don't get it on your binos, watch etc but that time of year in KZN there shouldn't be many, especially if you are on high ground
- I mainly wear UK ex Military cotton clothing, plain green or dark khaki
- Boots wise I have worn lowish boots but reckoned last time that if you bust an ankle on day one it's an expensive rest up in camp so have just acquired a pair of ex Mil Lowa Desert Boots for ankle support
- For Malarial prophylactic - my recent safari partner @Selous (a vet) took Doxycycline over Malerone (that I have always taken) as it's also the antibiotic they give you for Lyme disease (and possibly TBF?)
It's never to early to start planning, it's half the fun of it
- Take the sticks you use at home (unless they have similar in camp) I took my Viperflex Journey sticks to Zim last month as they collapse down to sections that fitted in my bag. Also, if the PH's don't have them take a rangefinder or RF binos. I missed an impala in SA off their rickety tripod sticks, the PH said it was 'about 200 yards, it was over 350 when we paced it out'
- If you borrow a rifle and you are not happy with it/the scope on the range ask for another one. I got given a duff scope once and soldiered on, it meant a miss, when we looked closer it was missing lenses!
- For mozzies I use Jungle Formula but don't get it on your binos, watch etc but that time of year in KZN there shouldn't be many, especially if you are on high ground
- I mainly wear UK ex Military cotton clothing, plain green or dark khaki
- Boots wise I have worn lowish boots but reckoned last time that if you bust an ankle on day one it's an expensive rest up in camp so have just acquired a pair of ex Mil Lowa Desert Boots for ankle support
- For Malarial prophylactic - my recent safari partner @Selous (a vet) took Doxycycline over Malerone (that I have always taken) as it's also the antibiotic they give you for Lyme disease (and possibly TBF?)
It's never to early to start planning, it's half the fun of it
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Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
Craig Boddington has written huge amounts on African Safaris and what to take etc.
Give yourself a few days before the Safari to explore the country, recover from the flights and to get acclimatised / used to altitude. A lot of South Africa is at quite high altitude- 4,000 to 5,000 ft so the air is little thinner.
Hunting is expensive so you want to start un jet lagged and raring to go.
Give yourself a few days before the Safari to explore the country, recover from the flights and to get acclimatised / used to altitude. A lot of South Africa is at quite high altitude- 4,000 to 5,000 ft so the air is little thinner.
Hunting is expensive so you want to start un jet lagged and raring to go.
A Guy Out West
Well-Known Member
I went in May to the Big Karoo, never saw a single mosquito. It was chilly in the morning and afternoons. Have a couple of species in mind that you would like to hunt in addition to your booked hunt. About 2 days before your hunt is over, tell your PH “I’d be willing to take a zebra if you make me a good deal on it”, You might be able to save yourself a lot of money. It could be what ever animal or animals your interested in. You will never be the same again. As Teddy Roosevelt said, the only man I envy is the man going to Africa to hunt for the first time.
Yes having done 8 SA trips and 2 Namibia I agree with all of the above Once you have been on your first trip you usually do a second and then some. If you shoot quad sticks take your own lots of outfitters still use Primus style bi/tripod style. My Viper Traven set have been on every trip with me break down in to standard suitcase. Don’t wear Camo it’s a bit frowned on brown or greed most camps offer next day washing turnarounds which vastly reduces what you need to take. Temperatures vary enormously across the country and seasons so do some research. Camp rifles also vary enormously from 40 year old BSA’s to Blazers, it’s unlikely the camp rifle will be moderated more chance it may have a brake so take hearing protection Lots of “ Gear lists” on the net most outfitters publish their own
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
Not always possible - although on the last adventure one of the team stayed behind, and his partner flew in for an extended break.
Nice if you can do that.
Every time we have been, it is the PH (and their team) who collect you from the airport, and drive you (six hours last time) to the camp.
Whenever we go, the mission is to get in and out of Jo'berg as quickly as possible - be that a connecting flight or a lift to the camp - which can be some distance away.
We had a flight cancelled on the way back, and had to spend a night in Jo'berg. Nasty dangerous place. Nasty dangerous pizza.
Hotel bar full of miners and prostitutes.
Could not wait to...
Jamsie
Well-Known Member
Worked in sub sahara Africa for years and we primarily used Malarone, which is a daily tablet. Never noticed any side effects. You need to start taking it a few days before you hit the ground in Africa to load your system and keep it going for a few days after you get back home. It won't stop you getting malaria if you get bitten but it will give you time to get to proper medical aid. Malaria will start to show itself around 8 - 10 days after you have been bitten, which effectively means that you could be home for a week before you notice anything. You will require a prescription for malarone (or at least you did when I was working in Africa) and it's around a quid a pop.
Suggest that you read up on the symptoms of malaria so that you know if you've been bitten. Long sleeves / trousers are a must after sunset and lotions with picaradin as an ingredient. Make sure that you rub it on all exposed skin. Midge head nets over a brimmed hat if it gets really bad. Sleep under a mosquito bed net unless you are in air conditioned accommodation with room temperature set to 18 Degrees C or less.
Malaria can be avoided by following some simple rules and it really is something to be avoided. (don't ask me how I know this ... )
Final thoughts:
You may think that you are a bad ass being out there hunting some of the most dangerous animals on the planet .... but you are not! The female mosquito is the most dangerous creature on the planet and she is hunting YOU. You may wish to keep that in mind
Stay safe.
Jamsie
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
Forget the US$, take with you SA Rand for the equivalent of £50 in small denomination, to be distributed in the airport to someone uttering "coffee" or to the ones pretending to load your luggage from the trolley to the car and viceversa.
For tips rely on the outfitter advice.
For tips rely on the outfitter advice.
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
And then spend your time there beating them, (and all their mates) off with a stick.
I prefer to use a good old fashioned Anglo-Saxon game for these shysters. I don't have to have it exchanged into the local currency, I always have it with me, and it is understand anywhere across the world...
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sikamalc
Administrator
I have hunted Africa a few times, Zimbabwe, Zululand, Botswana, the cape, the Transval.
Take light weight gear for the daytime, good soft walking boots, worn in. At night a light weight jacket comes in handy as it can get chilly once the sun is down. If you are camping in a tented camp or a chalet, make sure you spray the whole area with mosquito killer before going to dinner, shut the door, and on return anything buzzy in the room should be dead.
No doubt a mosquito net will be provided. However African winters are not usually the best time for mosquito's to be flying around. Talk to your GP about what area you are visiting, as different areas of Africa have different strains of malaria. Taking your own rifle is a blessing, but the down side is the hassle at the airports, especially this side, most seem incapable of processing people properly.
Talk to your PH, he should be more than happy to give advice, and tipping is always in US dollars.
If your having any trophies mounted, make sure they use good salt on the skins. I have seen some camps use brown colour salt. Waste of time, it will never work very well and the skins will slip. Make sure they use good white salt, and not bloody great lumps laid on the skin either. I've had one camp many years back where I had the staff break up the salt with rocks to make it smaller so the skin takes it on better. Don't forget their your trophies and you've paid for them.
Take light weight gear for the daytime, good soft walking boots, worn in. At night a light weight jacket comes in handy as it can get chilly once the sun is down. If you are camping in a tented camp or a chalet, make sure you spray the whole area with mosquito killer before going to dinner, shut the door, and on return anything buzzy in the room should be dead.
No doubt a mosquito net will be provided. However African winters are not usually the best time for mosquito's to be flying around. Talk to your GP about what area you are visiting, as different areas of Africa have different strains of malaria. Taking your own rifle is a blessing, but the down side is the hassle at the airports, especially this side, most seem incapable of processing people properly.
Talk to your PH, he should be more than happy to give advice, and tipping is always in US dollars.
If your having any trophies mounted, make sure they use good salt on the skins. I have seen some camps use brown colour salt. Waste of time, it will never work very well and the skins will slip. Make sure they use good white salt, and not bloody great lumps laid on the skin either. I've had one camp many years back where I had the staff break up the salt with rocks to make it smaller so the skin takes it on better. Don't forget their your trophies and you've paid for them.
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Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
Just to whet the appetite
sportingclassicsdaily.com
Hunting Tuskless Elephants in Zimbabwe – Sporting Classics Daily
sportingclassicsdaily.com
NickJ
Well-Known Member
@SelousJust to whet the appetite
Hunting Tuskless Elephants in Zimbabwe – Sporting Classics Daily
NickJ
Well-Known Member
@SelousJust to whet the appetite
Hunting Tuskless Elephants in Zimbabwe – Sporting Classics Daily
John Gryphon
Well-Known Member
Definition of plenty S1962?
I cant help myself here lol...much to cons chagrin.
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
@John Gryphon
Tipping is (as we all know), a very personal thing.
However, I always try and carry 10% of my Safari fee in USD - in actual cash (paper money).
On the last day we then all retire to somewhere 'quiet' and then spend a fraught hour or so, trying to remember what the PH 'suggested', what we all thought we had agreed back in the UK, what we then agreed half-way through the trip, ignore what we agreed the night we had too much gin, add for that wounded Impala, and the subsequent three hour track...
Divide the total by the number of shots fired, add the square root of an Gnu, carry over the two laundry staff, and divide by the number of Trackers...
Then stick your 'share' into one of the envelopes - (which you always forget to bring), and write the recipient's name on it.
Hand it over discretely, pray you have not 'under-tipped', and thereby ruined your chance of a re-match. Not to mention, just shafted folk who have worked really hard for you.
Any 'spare' USD just gets put back into the money belt, and is used as the foundation for the trip's tips.
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John Gryphon
Well-Known Member
Thankyou S1962.
Your opinion on taking trade goods? IE revered Green Rivers or similar knives, (every man LOVES a knife or three) hunt clothing or even Nike shoes (yes) instead of cash?
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