woodmaster
Well-Known Member
I have been considering a trip to Africa for some years now. In fact ever since I had a customer from Kwa Zulu Natal, who talked about his farm and the land around etc. My parents and siblings lived in Zambia for a while before my birth, which also added a bit of intrigue to the place for me.
So a couple of years back and coming upto my 40th birthday I thought about going over for a plains game safari. Talked to a few outfitters at the shooting show, and read a few posts on here. The following year I very nearly got sorted and made a trip, but things were extremely busy and major investment was being made by me into my business, so it would have been a real stretch of time and money.
I thought it would be better to wait and enjoy the lead up as well as the trip rather than my normal path where I'm still finishing jobs 2 hours before my flight departs.
So now I decided I'll always be busy and just need to get things moving. And as I've hardly done any stalking this year I decided this was time to go. Spend the money I would have on syndicates and the like and book a trip to SA.
We have booked up with a guy who advertises on here, and although it has been a bit of a effort to get everything in place, me and my shooting buddy depart in the near future.
I am determined to get everything organised well in advance so I'm not so stressed the day of departure and still making calls at the airport etc to get jobs organised and customers happy.
We will be hunting on the east coast for plains game from Eland down to Duiker including Nyala, Kudu, etc. The terrain looks amazing and I am very much looking forward to watching some great sunrises and sets over the mountains.
Flights are booked, deposits paid. I only have to make a load up for my .30-06, tweek the sights on my bow and keep practising with it, take rifle for a service after load development, sort out travel insurance, medical insurance, gun insurance, get money changed etc etc.
Really quite a lot!
If anyone is thinking about a trip I would really advise you look into just all the little things which require an answer or need organising. There is quite a bit unless you are a frequent hunter of foreign places.
We will be doing some hunting as 1x1 (so have a guide each) and other times be 2x1 (both stalking with one guide). This will give us time to stalk our 10 animals in 7 days and enjoy seeing each other have some stalks. This way you get the pleasure of sharing the experiences and each others success.
I have stalked with my mate many many times and have been away together for a week at a time on many occasions so we know what to expect of each other.
I'll name the outfit later on when I do a write up of events, so perhaps some of you who are also thinking of a trip can see how things work out. I'm very confident we will be treated very well and the place will be as good as it looks.
I'm a little concerned about all the travelling with rifles and bows etc as we will also be visiting my friend at the end of the safari. This entails a couple of internal flights on smaller aircraft. With different luggage arrangements. But I'm sure it'll work out with some pleasant conversation and no doubt some charge or other.
I have read a book on the subject of hunting in Africa written by an american (called Safari Dreams). Quite informative and certainly helpful IMO.
So if any seasoned safari hunters have any useful tips feel free to share them.
I do wonder if it's normal to tip the PH and camp staff or is this more of an american thing?
Do any of you regular safari hunters know of anything which PH's or other people like estate owners etc like to receive as little thank you gifts, which are not normally obtainable in Africa?
Would you try and stalk your animals in any particular order, or just what make a good stalk at the time?
Any good Bow hunting tips would be very useful.
Thanks.
So a couple of years back and coming upto my 40th birthday I thought about going over for a plains game safari. Talked to a few outfitters at the shooting show, and read a few posts on here. The following year I very nearly got sorted and made a trip, but things were extremely busy and major investment was being made by me into my business, so it would have been a real stretch of time and money.
I thought it would be better to wait and enjoy the lead up as well as the trip rather than my normal path where I'm still finishing jobs 2 hours before my flight departs.
So now I decided I'll always be busy and just need to get things moving. And as I've hardly done any stalking this year I decided this was time to go. Spend the money I would have on syndicates and the like and book a trip to SA.
We have booked up with a guy who advertises on here, and although it has been a bit of a effort to get everything in place, me and my shooting buddy depart in the near future.
I am determined to get everything organised well in advance so I'm not so stressed the day of departure and still making calls at the airport etc to get jobs organised and customers happy.
We will be hunting on the east coast for plains game from Eland down to Duiker including Nyala, Kudu, etc. The terrain looks amazing and I am very much looking forward to watching some great sunrises and sets over the mountains.
Flights are booked, deposits paid. I only have to make a load up for my .30-06, tweek the sights on my bow and keep practising with it, take rifle for a service after load development, sort out travel insurance, medical insurance, gun insurance, get money changed etc etc.
Really quite a lot!
If anyone is thinking about a trip I would really advise you look into just all the little things which require an answer or need organising. There is quite a bit unless you are a frequent hunter of foreign places.
We will be doing some hunting as 1x1 (so have a guide each) and other times be 2x1 (both stalking with one guide). This will give us time to stalk our 10 animals in 7 days and enjoy seeing each other have some stalks. This way you get the pleasure of sharing the experiences and each others success.
I have stalked with my mate many many times and have been away together for a week at a time on many occasions so we know what to expect of each other.
I'll name the outfit later on when I do a write up of events, so perhaps some of you who are also thinking of a trip can see how things work out. I'm very confident we will be treated very well and the place will be as good as it looks.
I'm a little concerned about all the travelling with rifles and bows etc as we will also be visiting my friend at the end of the safari. This entails a couple of internal flights on smaller aircraft. With different luggage arrangements. But I'm sure it'll work out with some pleasant conversation and no doubt some charge or other.
I have read a book on the subject of hunting in Africa written by an american (called Safari Dreams). Quite informative and certainly helpful IMO.
So if any seasoned safari hunters have any useful tips feel free to share them.
I do wonder if it's normal to tip the PH and camp staff or is this more of an american thing?
Do any of you regular safari hunters know of anything which PH's or other people like estate owners etc like to receive as little thank you gifts, which are not normally obtainable in Africa?
Would you try and stalk your animals in any particular order, or just what make a good stalk at the time?
Any good Bow hunting tips would be very useful.
Thanks.