Binos for Africa

[chase0109]

That’s the beauty of hunting, we all have different preferences in style and gear.

Everyone likes something different in optics. What works for one person may be terrible for me, and vice versa. Some even recommend not taking any binos

Personally, I’d rather leave my rifle at home than my binos and marsupial chest pack. There’s way more to see in Africa than just the animal I intend to shoot. I’m constantly using my bios and a chest pack is super handy. Obviously not for everyone. I also carry a range finder on my chest harness. Not that I necessarily need it in Africa. But I just like to know out of curiosity. I run the exact same set up in the US as I do in Africa.

I look at way more animals with my bios than I shoot with my rifle. Personally I value decent glass in ISO that I can single-handedly use far more than exceptional glass in non ISO.

We all figure out what works or doesn’t for each of us, but it’s nice to hear opinions and gain knowledge from all the other users on this site!
Chase

 

[IvW]

8x42 Leica

 

[mrpoindexter]

I got some Sig Sauer Zulu6 20x42. They are amazing. 20x power and with the image stabilizer, I can hold them in one hand while holding my bow in the other and they are rock steady. They weigh about the same my smaller 10 power binos.

 

[KY Hunting Guy]

I have not been to Africa yet so take this with a grain of salt. I like the Swarovski binoculars so much that I bought a pair for my wife and son also. Right now I switch between a pair of 8x42 SLC’s and a pair of 10x42 NL’s. I subscribe to the buy once cry once theory and have not seen a pair of binoculars that are better than the NL’s (At least to my eyes). I don’t see myself getting a specific pair for hunting Africa and will use what I use for hunting in the states. YMMV

 

[IvW]

I got some Sig Sauer Zulu6 20x42. They are amazing. 20x power and with the image stabilizer, I can hold them in one hand while holding my bow in the other and they are rock steady. They weigh about the same my smaller 10 power binos.

What are you glassing at 20x power with a bow in one hand?

 

[KDF]

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!

Thinking about gear is a big part of the fun in my opinion. Here are some thoughts:

- I have used Swaro EL 8.5x42s in Africa, and my wife and son have also used them. The extra field of view (when compared to 10x42s) is nice. The low light advantage is less significant in Africa where the need to maximize dawn and dusk clarity is less important.
- I now use the Sig Zulu 6 16x42s (image stabilization) almost exclusively. I like that they are cheaper and that I can spot game at longer distances.
- I would not get a different pair just for Africa and if you are buying a first pair of good binos, I would suggest getting a pair that will work for you in all of your hunting. Lightness is not really a concern in Africa and 10x30s might be a little small for a general hunting bino.
- I like to carry my binos over my shoulder and not in a western style bino harness. They get a little more wear, but it is a trade off for easy access. I feel less bad about this since I started using the $1,100 Sigs. Most PHs carry their binos this way (either open or in a pouch/case)
- One lesson I have learned over time is that when you are stalking, trust your PH to judge and keep a line on the animal. Try to locate with your eyes as much a possible. Switching from your binos and back to your eyes while you are moving, trying not to step on sticks and getting ready to get on the sticks can be a challenge.

Best of luck with your planning and your hunt!

 

[KDF]

What are you glassing at 20x power with a bow in one hand?

With the 20x you might be able to leave the spotting scope behind!

 

[DLSJR]

I’ve taken a variety of binoculars on various African hunts. 45 year old Zeiss 8x32’s (the green rubber armored ones), Zeiss 10x42, Leica 10x42 Geovids, even Swarovski 15x56 SLCs. They’ve all served a purpose and been great but on my last hunt, I went back to the very old 8x32 Zeiss’s for my Lord Derby hunt in Cameroon. What I gave up in magnification I more than gained in light weight and compact size. I’m leaving for a buffalo hunt in a month, to Hammond in Zimbabwe and I’m again taking those old 8x32’s. On the other hand, I’ll be taking my 10x42 Geovids in October for a Zambian Sitatunga hunt. Different hunts, one up close and trackingand one longer range with not much walking, each calls for different glass.

I’m going to get one more pair for African hunting and they’ll be the Leica 10x32 or 8x32’s. I like the compacts and they’ll be best for the majority of my African hunts.

 

[Art Lambart II]

Gear choices are always a personal decision and many of the responders to this thread prefer high end glass with or without a built-in range finder. The truth is you don’t need a pair of binos that cost more than your plane ticket or your rifle to hunt Africa. A $200-$500 is all you need to hunt Africa, until you learn to accurately judge African game you won’t need expensive Euro glass. If you want to own some high end binos by all means go out and buy some just don’t be surprised by how little you use them in Africa.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Gear choices are always a personal decision and many of the responders to this thread prefer high end glass with or without a built-in range finder. The truth is you don’t need a pair of binos that cost more than your plane ticket or your rifle to hunt Africa. A $200-$500 is all you need to hunt Africa, until you learn to accurately judge African game you won’t need expensive Euro glass. If you want to own some high end binos by all means go out and buy some just don’t be surprised by how little you use them in Africa.

I use my binos all the time in Africa. From looking at birds, spotting game, or on a stalk. If you're going to buy Binos you might as well buy a pair that you can use for all of your other hunting. I think 8x is perfect for that. Some people like 10x but feel you get a little more eye strain. There's nothing I can't spot with my 10x Swaros that I can't also spot with my 8x Swaros. If I had to buy again, I'd have just started with the 8x Swaros. I'd like have then added a set of 15x56 SLC's as my second pair for when I don't want to lug the spotting scope around.

 

[Wiley64]

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.

Man math at its best. I’ll cut every corner I can to add an addition animal once I get there!

 

[Doug Hamilton]

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!

On my last safari I took my Nikon Monarch 10x42s. I also took my Vortex 8x28s for my wife to look at animals and birds. The PH liked the Vortex so well he thought that I should carry those. I've hunted with the Nixon's all over the Western states and BC so I carried those. As JimP said, carry what you are used to and like. The smaller and lighter binos would probably have worked as well,but that f something has worked well for me, I tend to use it.

 

[Moody808]

Firstly, I would like to say thank you to everyone who participated and shared their insights on this thread. When I first made the post I certainly wasn't expecting 5 pages of advice! I think that is a testament to the helpful nature of the members on this forum as well as the breadth of the collective knowledge here.

I took the advice of many of the members, to go an compare a bunch of binos in person. I ended up going to Go Hunt in Las Vegas, what a cool store and great group of people!. They spent a couple of hours talking story with me and we tested a slew of binoculars in the outdoors looking out at the mountains and desert. I know that a lot of the advice people were providing was based on the limited information I shared in my initial post. I probably err'ed in asking about "binos for Africa" specifically, and not providing more details which probably accounts for the wide variety of suggestions. In the end I settled on a pair that I think are really versatile for a great deal of applications and will likely last me a very long time and hold a good amount of their value, the Swarovski 8x32 NL Pure's. They were a lovely wedding gift (yes, my wife is cool as heck, we are going on safari for our honeymoon)! Being able to compare them side by side with the multiple brands and different sizes really helped, there were many good options but for my eyes it seemed like every time I looked through these things I grinned in disbelief at the quality of the picture I was seeing, they really were "wow".

I am also going to pick up a smaller set of binos to complement these, something similar to the CL range or Zeiss Victory Pockets as well. Thanks again and I hope this thread helps any other bino nubes who may come across it in the future!

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Firstly, I would like to say thank you to everyone who participated and shared their insights on this thread. When I first made the post I certainly wasn't expecting 5 pages of advice! I think that is a testament to the helpful nature of the members on this forum as well as the breadth of the collective knowledge here.

I took the advice of many of the members, to go an compare a bunch of binos in person. I ended up going to Go Hunt in Las Vegas, what a cool store and great group of people!. They spent a couple of hours talking story with me and we tested a slew of binoculars in the outdoors looking out at the mountains and desert. I know that a lot of the advice people were providing was based on the limited information I shared in my initial post. I probably err'ed in asking about "binos for Africa" specifically, and not providing more details which probably accounts for the wide variety of suggestions. In the end I settled on a pair that I think are really versatile for a great deal of applications and will likely last me a very long time and hold a good amount of their value, the Swarovski 8x32 NL Pure's. They were a lovely wedding gift (yes, my wife is cool as heck, we are going on safari for our honeymoon)! Being able to compare them side by side with the multiple brands and different sizes really helped, there were many good options but for my eyes it seemed like every time I looked through these things I grinned in disbelief at the quality of the picture I was seeing, they really were "wow".

I am also going to pick up a smaller set of binos to complement these, something similar to the CL range or Zeiss Victory Pockets as well. Thanks again and I hope this thread helps any other bino nubes who may come across it in the future!

Awesome choice! You'll be able to use those anywhere in the world for anything you hunt

 

[Moody808]

Just finished a cull hunt in the Northern Cape, ZA and used Zeiss Victory T*FL 8x 32. These binos have also been to the Eastern Cape a couple times. I like their weight and not a bother with the Rick Young harness. Maybe not the best for long distance but seems like the PH typically has 10x42. These are my primary birding binos all spring so they do double duty on hunting trips. View attachment 675528

Thanks for recommending these, I hadn’t heard of them before, just ordered myself a set!