Binos for Africa

[Sika98k]

I have used both Swarovski 8x30 SLC’s and Leica 10x25 Trinovid binoculars. I wouldn’t have liked to have been using the Leica’s in heavy bush but for plains game glassing they were fine (and light )

 

[dogcat1]

Swarovski SLC 8x30 or Leica 10x42 Ranging. Depends on what and where I am hunting.

 

[Green Chile]

I have gone to binos with a range finder with no regrets but most of the RF use in Africa has been to determine that if we get to that bush we are under 100 yards from the target animal. Or sometimes the PH will say how far is that...I answer and he says let's get closer. The RF is useful on klippies and mountain game.

 

[Philip Glass]

Will be going on Safari in 2026, would like to invest in some quality binoculars. Am thinking of something like 10x30 to keep them light and compact and able to be used 1 handed when needed but also would consider 10x42. Soliciting opinions on pros and cons of those options or anything else the more experienced members have found to work really well out there. Thanks!

The new Swaro EL Range 10x32 are by far the best binos for Africa IMO. They are powerful yet compact. From PG in the EC to measuring the exact distance to your leopard bait in Zim these are a great hunting tool. IMO the range finding binos are the greatest hunting invention since the telescopic sight.
If you have another favorite brand I am sure if they have a 10x32 with rangefinder you would be fine. I've tried others and always come back to Swaro.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Because I will continue to hunt the US and other countries, as well as several in Africa that I need/want a range finder for, it’s great to have that in the Bino’s. Plus I have DOPE in my RF Bino’s for 4 different calibers. .22-250, .243, 300 RUM, and my SAKO .375 H&H which shoots predictably accurate at distance, so it makes that part real simple. I’ve had the Zeiss Victory RF for a few years now and they continue to contribute to my success.

To each their own…

 

[Green Chile]

Zeiss and Leica are also good...but I tend to prefer Swaros for most of my optical gear. I have owned and hunted all of the major brands but come back to Swaro each time.

 

[LWPhunt]

many good suggestions on here.
Budget may dictate
Bino harness or just the bino strap?
personnel eye preference is key
balance and feel, some just don't feel as balanced, etc.

All the names listed, Swaro, Leica, Zeiss, Meopta, Vortex, Maven will be great.
If you go small, light and nimble but you may be unhappy when you can't mag up some.
rarely does a big bigger get in the way, but too small, no fun.

 

[AZDAVE]

I am one of the guys that @Green Chile helped with getting a set of 8x30 Swaro's. long story short my wife adopted them for her buffalo hunt and you can't pry them from her fingers. He also helped me replace them with a set of 8x42 Leica RF binos. At SCI I bought a set of 12.5x50 Tract binos purely to use here in southern Arizona on my Coues deer hunts.

The only place in Africa I wanted more than 8 power is the eastern cape.

 

[Nhoro]

I use 10 x 42, my wife has 8 x 42. And I would recommend the 8x for thicker Bush. Quicker to get on target and focus.I recommend Nikon for a more budget brand. Even their mid range Prostaff are good. I would rank Vortex and Leupold below Nikon and Zeiss, leica and swarovski above. However the big names are offering a few % better image at 3 to 10 x the price. You just have to figure out whether all that cash is worth a little better image. All brands can break or get damaged/ scratched. So investing my life saving in something that my kid can drop or drive over is not wise for me.

I think binos are a pleasure in the Bush. You can see birds etc. Often you will be able to see animals better and it helps prepare you for a shot. Nothing worse than a clown using his scope as binos. I think seeing the animal and knowing where it is moving puts you on the sticks and in position to take the shot and makes you a better hunter.

 

[Green Chile]

If you have a chance to look at the Swaro 8x30 CL, I can highly recommend those as well. The weight savings is fantastic and they tuck under your arm without any annoyance. I use them a lot on DG hunts where I want some magnification but no frills or extra weight...ele tracking for example. They are just under $1500 USD. Sell one of the guns you don't use and get one!

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

For value, I've had a pair of Minox for over 20 years and they are still really good... Probably use them more for ducks and geese... And back up.

Sig Sauer Zulu6 HDX Binocular Image Stabilized work great on my boat and I've looked through them last SA Safari... Actually, really nice. Good value too!

Sig Sauer Zulu6 HDX Binocular Image Stabilized

Description SIG SAUER ELECTRO-OPTICS’ ZULU6 HDX binoculars create a groundbreaking new paradigm in hand-held glassing solutions, utilizing SIG SAUER’S proprietary OIS™ Optical Image Stabilization technology and HDX lenses that deliver a full-resolution image without a tripod. OIS Scan Mode...

ads.opticsforce.com

 

[meigsbucks]

My take is a little different than most here. My main bino for Africa is a Swarovski 10x30 CL. Light and bright.
However, I also have pair of 8x20 Zeiss that fold and fit in a pocket. I’ve had those since the 1970’s and they have been on EVERY hunt since. Not good in low light, but very clear and sharp images. On my first safari, my PH told me to just carry the little Zeiss binoculars when stalking. He’d do the glassing and trophy assessments and I should concentrate on the shooting. I’d glass from the truck with the Swarovski and when on stalks just have the Zeiss. There were a few times I had to get out the Zeiss. I never felt like I was missing anything.
On my second hunt, I told my PH about that and he concurred.

 

[ftrovato]

My take is a little different than most here. My main bino for Africa is a Swarovski 10x30 CL. Light and bright.
However, I also have pair of 8x20 Zeiss that fold and fit in a pocket. I’ve had those since the 1970’s and they have been on EVERY hunt since. Not good in low light, but very clear and sharp images. On my first safari, my PH told me to just carry the little Zeiss binoculars when stalking. He’d do the glassing and trophy assessments and I should concentrate on the shooting. I’d glass from the truck with the Swarovski and when on stalks just have the Zeiss. There were a few times I had to get out the Zeiss. I never felt like I was missing anything.
On my second hunt, I told my PH about that and he concurred.

Sound advice!

 

[mdwest]

10x42's are the "go to" bino for my wife and I for 90% of the hunting we do.. I carry a set of Leupold "Pro-Guide" BX4's and my wife has a set of Zeiss Conquest..

That said, I've been giving serious consideration to a small set (10x25? or something similar) of good binos (Swaro, Zeiss, etc).. the only "small" binos I have are a cheap, lower end set of leupolds that Ive had for almost 25 years and the clarity/crispness isn't there for my intended use..

Where we deer hunt, Ive only got maybe 200 yards of distance, and the shooting lane is less than 20 yards wide (not a very wide field of view at all) at my primary blind, and my wife primary blind sits on the edge of about an 80 yard deep, 40 yard wide field.. we don't necessarily need a big set of binos.. but it would be nice to have something small, light, and out of the way, to take closer looks at distance to see if that "doe" really is a doe.. or might have tiny buttons on its head... and its always fun to watch the smaller critters like cardinals, squirrels, rabbits, etc come into the field... sometimes working the 10x42's is a bit of a PIA..

 

[Daisy]

The new Swaro EL Range 10x32 are by far the best binos for Africa IMO. They are powerful yet compact. From PG in the EC to measuring the exact distance to your leopard bait in Zim these are a great hunting tool. IMO the range finding binos are the greatest hunting invention since the telescopic sight.
If you have another favorite brand I am sure if they have a 10x32 with rangefinder you would be fine. I've tried others and always come back to Swaro.

I was just about to post this. Mine are leupold but range finding binos. Cutting my hunting kit from two pieces (binos and rangefinder) to one is a real win and offsets the slight increase in weight for the ranging binos.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

The new Swaro EL Range 10x32 are by far the best binos for Africa IMO. They are powerful yet compact. From PG in the EC to measuring the exact distance to your leopard bait in Zim these are a great hunting tool. IMO the range finding binos are the greatest hunting invention since the telescopic sight.
If you have another favorite brand I am sure if they have a 10x32 with rangefinder you would be fine. I've tried others and always come back to Swaro.

Unless Swaro recently changed something the glass in the El Range Line is the same glass and coating as what was in the SLC line. It's not the better EL or NL glass and coatings.

I'll take a used set of 8x30 SLC's for $500-800 + stand alone range finder for the same $500-800, over a $3000 set of El Range 8x32 or 10x32's and spend the difference on additional trophy fees.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

My take is a little different than most here. My main bino for Africa is a Swarovski 10x30 CL. Light and bright.
However, I also have pair of 8x20 Zeiss that fold and fit in a pocket. I’ve had those since the 1970’s and they have been on EVERY hunt since. Not good in low light, but very clear and sharp images. On my first safari, my PH told me to just carry the little Zeiss binoculars when stalking. He’d do the glassing and trophy assessments and I should concentrate on the shooting. I’d glass from the truck with the Swarovski and when on stalks just have the Zeiss. There were a few times I had to get out the Zeiss. I never felt like I was missing anything.
On my second hunt, I told my PH about that and he concurred.

This is great advice. I considered doing exactly this myself, but found a deal on the used SLC 8x30's and felt it was the best of both worlds and I knew I'd use the 8x30's here in the states as well. They tuck under the arm perfectly, don't add a lot of weight, and on a stalk are great to ID an animal in thick brush or way out there to see if I'm interested then defer to his judgement.

I've even found myself hunting out west with the 8x30's over my 10x42's, especially when I'm carrying a spotting scope. The 8x30 is plenty to ID game, and I bust out the spotter when I want a better look at the animal.

 

[pilar]

I’m not a rich person, so every dollar counts when I buy something
I am sold on Steiner 8x military on binoculars ( and have been for 30+years)
And Swarovski spotting scopes if I am glassing at distance all day
fwiw I think that’s a brushy area so 8x should work better than 10x

 

[Philip Glass]

Unless Swaro recently changed something the glass in the El Range Line is the same glass and coating as what was in the SLC line. It's not the better EL or NL glass and coatings.

I'll take a used set of 8x30 SLC's for $500-800 + stand alone range finder for the same $500-800, over a $3000 set of El Range 8x32 or 10x32's and spend the difference on additional trophy fees.

It has been improved over the original EL Range. Nothing can compare with NL Pure however. A stand alone rangefinder is old tech IMO.

 

[Esoteric Junkie]

Will be going on Safari in 2026, would like to invest in some quality binoculars. Am thinking of something like 10x30 to keep them light and compact and able to be used 1 handed when needed but also would consider 10x42. Soliciting opinions on pros and cons of those options or anything else the more experienced members have found to work really well out there. Thanks!

The best bang for your money is the Zeiss SFL 8x30 or 10x30. Both tip the scales at 16 ounces. Stepping up in image quality ever so slightly is the SF series but you will spend almost twice the money for about a 2-3% increase in color fidelity. Resolution is going to be the same. The SFL is a phenomenal binocular series. If you are not in a mad rush to purchase something in the next ten days wait till April 10th and Zeiss will be announcing a groundbreaking series of binoculars.

EJ