That makes sense. There wasn't anything man eating where I was!
Which binos for Africa
- Thread starter Domer
- Start date
Hmm well we had lions and hyenas through the camp and elephants browsing the trees 2m from the car at night. Quite thrilling to be at eye level in the rooftop tent just a couple of meters away.
A good torch is a must as well!
I've had a pair of these I use for hunting over the last 20 years. You just don't need all the light gathering optics we do here. Nightfall happens fast. There isn't much twighlight
BDS Approved but you need 'young eyes:
K
K
We’re going this year. I thought about taking my thermal….. then realistically, on such an experience what does it matter if there happens to be a lion in a bush? It’s not like when you are shooting, trying to find the animal. You actually want to see the animal properly and clearly. Good glass is what you want to be taking
R06.5
Well-Known Member
I would say they would be perfect and tick all the boxes (but I am biased as I’m selling them). Offers there, there great German optics, light weight, well made lifetime warranty. Compact and a range finder for when the bitey things get too close!!
Drop me a message if there of use.
Good quality 8x32 or 8x42 would be perfect. I took my Swarovski 8.5x42 EL and they were great. I have never taken a thermal and probably would advise against unless you know they are permitted. Would imagine the rocks would heat up like mad in the day and make spotting more difficult so may be of less utility than in the UK but might be wrong with that assumption.
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
Very much depends on what you are trying to do. A decent pair of 8x32 or 8x42 binoculars will be the mainstay. Birdlife in Africa is fantastic, but for the smaller species you do need binoculars. If you like sitting in hides, blinds etc over water holes a spotting scope on a tripod is great to have, especially if you have adapter for a mobile phone camera. I would also take a couple of decent LED torches - even basic ones these days through out a really good beam.
Thermal Imaging, two way radios, cameras with long lenses - very much depends on where you are in Africa and current security threat etc etc.
As for animals coming into camp - one of the joys of Africa is being low down on the foodchain, and being a source of very good protein. Most of the problems will come from wee critters (skelums) such as Scorpions getting into your shoes, puff adders crawling into your sleeping bag for warmth and being bitten by mosquitoes carrying malaria. Decent mosquito nets keep these all away.
As for bigger animals, the most irritating will be jackals, baboons and monkeys trying to pinch stuff around camp. Especially bad in torurist areas where they are very used to tourists. Otherwise if big animals such as elephants, hippos etc come in, just carry on quietly what you are doing, don't frighten them or try to scare them off, just let them be and enjoy them. They have chosen to come in close and they know that you are there.
If you do need a mid night pee, pee bottles work well. If you do have to go across to an ablution block, have a really good scan with a high powered torch first, and then make noise as you are climbing down the ladder and walking across. There is a very good reason why Africans all sing and chatter away when walking through the bush.
Basic good camp hygene really helps, close up the camp boxes and put them away before turning in. Animals are incredibly inquisitive. An elephant will happily put its trunk into a car and pick up food items. I once had a bush baby trying to talk a pawpaw out of my tent.
Biggest challenge is water. Three main dangers - Bilharzia - a really nasty little worm, transmitted by snails, that burrows into your skin and ends up in your liver and kidneys. Most slow moving water that is anywhere near humans will carry it. Crocodiles - in places are present in large numbers, but they are very good at hiding in evne very small pools. They don't really care what size you are, but if you stay in one spot for more than a few moments then will nail you. I have seen crocs taking Impala off river banks that are several feet above the water level. And Hippos - despite their size they are really quite nervous animals, and their place of safety is deep water. If you should get between a hippo, its young, and / or deep water it will take the straight route and that is directly through you, or your canoe or boat etc. Hippos can easily out run a man and they weight a few tonnes, and have big tusks. In some parts they have become particularly cheeky, as tourist guides have taken to throwing rocks at them to allow their clients to get photos of their open mouths.
Lions - are very large carnivores. Their main diet is cow sized buffalo's, but a human is a nice little "amuse bouche". In some places lions have lost all fear of man and can cause problems. Lion cause a lot of paperwork for tourist guides if you happen to guide your party into the midst of a lion pride. Hyena's also quite cheeky.
Have a listen of - get's the juices flowing, and should be compulsory listening for all before they go to Africa. Nothing like being in a camp listenting to the animals at night and you imagination going wild.
Thermal Imaging, two way radios, cameras with long lenses - very much depends on where you are in Africa and current security threat etc etc.
As for animals coming into camp - one of the joys of Africa is being low down on the foodchain, and being a source of very good protein. Most of the problems will come from wee critters (skelums) such as Scorpions getting into your shoes, puff adders crawling into your sleeping bag for warmth and being bitten by mosquitoes carrying malaria. Decent mosquito nets keep these all away.
As for bigger animals, the most irritating will be jackals, baboons and monkeys trying to pinch stuff around camp. Especially bad in torurist areas where they are very used to tourists. Otherwise if big animals such as elephants, hippos etc come in, just carry on quietly what you are doing, don't frighten them or try to scare them off, just let them be and enjoy them. They have chosen to come in close and they know that you are there.
If you do need a mid night pee, pee bottles work well. If you do have to go across to an ablution block, have a really good scan with a high powered torch first, and then make noise as you are climbing down the ladder and walking across. There is a very good reason why Africans all sing and chatter away when walking through the bush.
Basic good camp hygene really helps, close up the camp boxes and put them away before turning in. Animals are incredibly inquisitive. An elephant will happily put its trunk into a car and pick up food items. I once had a bush baby trying to talk a pawpaw out of my tent.
Biggest challenge is water. Three main dangers - Bilharzia - a really nasty little worm, transmitted by snails, that burrows into your skin and ends up in your liver and kidneys. Most slow moving water that is anywhere near humans will carry it. Crocodiles - in places are present in large numbers, but they are very good at hiding in evne very small pools. They don't really care what size you are, but if you stay in one spot for more than a few moments then will nail you. I have seen crocs taking Impala off river banks that are several feet above the water level. And Hippos - despite their size they are really quite nervous animals, and their place of safety is deep water. If you should get between a hippo, its young, and / or deep water it will take the straight route and that is directly through you, or your canoe or boat etc. Hippos can easily out run a man and they weight a few tonnes, and have big tusks. In some parts they have become particularly cheeky, as tourist guides have taken to throwing rocks at them to allow their clients to get photos of their open mouths.
Lions - are very large carnivores. Their main diet is cow sized buffalo's, but a human is a nice little "amuse bouche". In some places lions have lost all fear of man and can cause problems. Lion cause a lot of paperwork for tourist guides if you happen to guide your party into the midst of a lion pride. Hyena's also quite cheeky.
Have a listen of - get's the juices flowing, and should be compulsory listening for all before they go to Africa. Nothing like being in a camp listenting to the animals at night and you imagination going wild.
Vortex Diamondback 8x42 worked perfectly for me in South Africa: banged them, dropped them, bounced all over the bakkie- they came out like a champ. You’ll use them to augment in scouting; a rangefinder isn’t absolutely necessary, your PH will handle that for you. I would suggest the chest carrier for your binos though…it’s a lifesaver!
I put five trophies in the salt after nice challenging stalks through the bush; multiple guys glassing (me, PH, tracker) helped a great deal.
I put five trophies in the salt after nice challenging stalks through the bush; multiple guys glassing (me, PH, tracker) helped a great deal.
Spot on!
Great write up and the “This is Africa” podcast is a great tool. Also, spend as much time as you can on the “Africa Hunting” website. You’ll get more info there than anywhere else- it is invaluable for the Africa Hunter….
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