First Timer African Safari Common Mistakes To Avoid

I am not sure where you are coming from on this. I am going on a 10 day, high quality PG hunt, that includes 10 trophy animals and 2 cull animals. Full service in every respect and a true adventure and just $6400. There are hardly any whitetail hunts that are any good here in Texas now for under $5000. So $640 per trophy versus $5000. What was the question?
The taxidermy is a separate issue.
Philip
 
Safari Planning- Air Travel
A video with tips for long flights and planning for safari!

 
steve white said:
stop worrying so much about how a trophy measures out and have a good HUNT.
Click to expand...

+1

As hunters it should Not matter whether we are just hunting at home or traveling the world. We should be more about conservation and getting a respectable size representation of our querry (regards to hunting outside our respective native country(ies).

Which is another matter: Trophy or Cull who decides? Another post, to avoid hijacking this post.

Everyone hunts for their own reason(s).
I have no problem with that.
I just do not see the purpose to hunt only for bragging rights.

(True) Hunting is an art and should be about:

Conservation.
Food for the table.
Hides/other portions ie antlers, horns, hooves, etc, if so desired, for whatever one chooses.
A wall ornament if desired.
Lastly, the hunter's name in some trophy book, ie B&C, P&Y, NMLRA, etc. if/should it qualifies.

Hunting should be about:
relaxing,
fun,
comradery,
basically enjoyable and pressure free

"Hunting" (Shooting) should Not be:
about bragging rights
Rushing to: get to a shooting house/stand/blind etc, shoot an animal, pull out the tape measure, immediately post to social media, and back to the house.
 
tedthorn said:
On common plains game
Don't import capes or back skins
Just horns
Capes are cheaper to buy in the USA rather paying to dip, pack and ship then ship again only to then tan then ship again.
Click to expand...


Are you by any chance a politician, or worse a troll!?

You have thoroughly confused me.

I have my mounts and back skins,and occasionally feet, mounted, tanned, respectively done by my taxidermist in South Africa. Then it gets shipped to my receiving customs company where I pick it up.

For those whom choose to have their taxidermy done state side; I don't know about you, and I will not even speak for others. But I will say if I chose to have my taxidermy done at "home", I would most certainly want the hides and horns of my animals mounted, not someone elses.

Once a hide is tanned, it Can Not be tanned again! A hard tan can be soften, but that's not being tanned again.

Hides are cheaper??
You Must be a Troll! Or stupid!

The cost involved for shipping (foreign) hides tanned or dipped and shipped, then tanned here in the states, for later use, is expensive. Let a lone the expense of inventory, never knowing when, If ever, a taxidermist will be able to use the hide(s).
 
My good moves:
Gator Aid or Drip Drop packets for staying hydrated. They were in great demand.
Pepto-bismol chewable tablets. Take one with breakfast as a prophylaxis against you-know-what. And it will happen due to time change, new foods, and bacteria that are new to you no matter how clean the camp kitchen. They are just novel to your system.
Not wearing heavy hunting boots. Low top trail shoes. Learned that shorts are way better than long pants.
Bringing useful stuff to gift the camp staff: sharpening stones, scissors, sewing stuff, and first aid accroutements. Way cooler than the stuff they usually get.
Tons of CVS lens wipes for glasses, optics, and the like. These were prized by everyone.
Arriving two days early to the jump-off point to hang out, recover, and adjust to the time. Did fun stuff.
My bad moves:
Not having a complete change of clothing in the carry-one and having to run around Maun, Botswana to find some when they lost my bag in Johannesburg. I did have my boots but looked like Safari Cliche for two days. Matching bright Khaki in sizes that were the closest I could find in the little tourist shop by the airport.
Bringing too many electronics, knives, gadgets, and the like that took up space and were not used.
Not having a fanny pack for a bottle of water on long hot stalks.
Not bringing gun oil to deal with dust and grit. We had to scrounge all over camp and found a tiny bottle in the last place one could be. My rifle was almost frozen up by that point.
A giant lock box for too much ammunition that took up too much space. And I had to pay tax on it. Next time, a Pelican 1120 case that holds two factory boxes.
Hunting in long pants. They caught on everything.
Not wearing gaiters. I would stop to pour sand out of my boots all the time.
First time took a pack hunting. Whatever I needed was in the bottom. Second trip I used a cheap ass gym back. Unzip, and grab. Fanny pack for a bottle of water and a few other essentials to take on stalks.
Not having anti-depressents for the last night when I had to pack up the rifle for the trip home. Had to drink too much gin resulting in hangover, even more depression. :)

Bad move list longer than good move list.

Jeff
 
Deleted member 43267 said:
My good moves:
Gator Aid or Drip Drop packets for staying hydrated. They were in great demand.
Pepto-bismol chewable tablets. Take one with breakfast as a prophylaxis against you-know-what. And it will happen due to time change, new foods, and bacteria that are new to you no matter how clean the camp kitchen. They are just novel to your system.
Not wearing heavy hunting boots. Low top trail shoes. Learned that shorts are way better than long pants.
Bringing useful stuff to gift the camp staff: sharpening stones, scissors, sewing stuff, and first aid accroutements. Way cooler than the stuff they usually get.
Tons of CVS lens wipes for glasses, optics, and the like. These were prized by everyone.
Arriving two days early to the jump-off point to hang out, recover, and adjust to the time. Did fun stuff.
My bad moves:
Not having a complete change of clothing in the carry-one and having to run around Maun, Botswana to find some when they lost my bag in Johannesburg. I did have my boots but looked like Safari Cliche for two days. Matching bright Khaki in sizes that were the closest I could find in the little tourist shop by the airport.
Bringing too many electronics, knives, gadgets, and the like that took up space and were not used.
Not having a fanny pack for a bottle of water on long hot stalks.
Not bringing gun oil to deal with dust and grit. We had to scrounge all over camp and found a tiny bottle in the last place one could be. My rifle was almost frozen up by that point.
A giant lock box for too much ammunition that took up too much space. And I had to pay tax on it. Next time, a Pelican 1120 case that holds two factory boxes.
Hunting in long pants. They caught on everything.
Not wearing gaiters. I would stop to pour sand out of my boots all the time.
First time took a pack hunting. Whatever I needed was in the bottom. Second trip I used a cheap ass gym back. Unzip, and grab. Fanny pack for a bottle of water and a few other essentials to take on stalks.
Not having anti-depressents for the last night when I had to pack up the rifle for the trip home. Had to drink too much gin resulting in hangover, even more depression. :)

Bad move list longer than good move list.

Jeff
Click to expand...


Depends on time of year and location as far as wearing shorts. My 2 trips were in SA in June. Long pants were a must. So was my Gor-Tex rain jacket, safari jacket, long sleeve outer shirt, long sleeve t-shirt, and hand and body warmers. If I had not brought my Rocky snake boots and knee high med weight boot socks to help keep my legs some what warm the set of cotton long johns would have been worn.

First trip:
Starting on the evening of day 2 continuing thru day 7: The early morning temps ranged from 0° C to -23°C (according to my PH's bakki thermometer) by mid afternoon the temps felt around 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit, sustained winds I'm guesstimating at 30+ mph, with gusts in the 40+ - 50+ mph range.
Three out of the 10 days in SA shorts were wearable.

Second trip: 5 days out of 16 shorts were wearable.

Starting the morning of day 4 lasting thru day 10: guesstimating temps were in the 30's F warming up into the low mid fifties with moderate winds 15 to 20 mph with on and off rains: drizzles to down pours. Because I had added sightseeing days I didn't lose any hunting days due to the 2 days of down pouring rain.

Very unfortunate for the other 2 couples at the lodge, they did their sightseeing trips prior to the hunt. On the up side the husbands were able to drop all the animals on their respective lists. On one occasion one guy's wife videoed one of her husbands hunts. The other guy's wife opted to go shopping in Grahamstown. Otherwise the wives were out photoing African wildlife, going to East London and Port Elizabeth.

So my advise for first timers:

I'll say it again, Don't over pack.

Contact your outfitter or your PH and ask what the weather is normally for the time of year you are planning to hunt and plan for unseasonably low and high temps if your going to arrive in Africa's spring and fall months.

A light rain jacket, may not need it for rain, but can come in handy on cool nights.

All these items combined adds up to +/- 4 pounds, easily fits in the checked baggage, and make good gift items:

A small first aid kit, sewing kit, if going in Africa's late fall, winter, early spring hand/body warmers, a bore snake, small plastic container of gun cleaning solvent/oil, a rag to wipe your firearm, wipes to clean your glasses and optics.

If you are going into hunt in South Africa and traveling to different concessions pack a soft gun case to avoid lugging around your heavy duty airline baggage handler proof gun case.

Any prescription meds required make sure to have enough plus extra in case of any delays.

Get in shape. You never know how far you are going to have to stalk and/or track an animal. You may also be walking up and down steep hills.

If you are not accustom to shooting past the 100 yard range, find a range that offers shots out to 300 yards and practice shooting varying distances between 100 and 300 yards.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Ridge Runner said:
Are you by any chance a politician, or worse a troll!?

You have thoroughly confused me.

I have my mounts and back skins,and occasionally feet, mounted, tanned, respectively done by my taxidermist in South Africa. Then it gets shipped to my receiving customs company where I pick it up.

For those whom choose to have their taxidermy done state side; I don't know about you, and I will not even speak for others. But I will say if I chose to have my taxidermy done at "home", I would most certainly want the hides and horns of my animals mounted, not someone elses.

Once a hide is tanned, it Can Not be tanned again! A hard tan can be soften, but that's not being tanned again.

Hides are cheaper??
You Must be a Troll! Or stupid!

The cost involved for shipping (foreign) hides tanned or dipped and shipped, then tanned here in the states, for later use, is expensive. Let a lone the expense of inventory, never knowing when, If ever, a taxidermist will be able to use the hide(s).
Click to expand...
Having sold numerous African plains game capes it is generally true that you can purchase capes in the states cheaper than importing your own for common plains game. It's a different matter if you want your own capes. Tedthorn was wasn't saying your hides would be tanned twice, he was only saying you would have to ship again to your tannerie.
 
My experience with wearing shorts:
In Zimbabwe the first two weeks of September. It was warm to hot 80-90F. I wore long pants the first day (80’s). After that shorts except for one day that started off cool and windy (50’s). I changed into shorts at lunch. HOWEVER... at the end of the 14 days my legs looked like a lion had used them for a scratching post. Shorts were the way to go.
In Namibia, in July, I researched the previous weather; for years low of 40F, high 70-75. A cold front moved in and it was in the 50’s most days. I think I only wore shorts two or three times.
I take a few more clothes than most here. I wear a set of long shirt and pants on the plane. A set of short sleeve shirt and shorts in my carry on and a set of each in my duffle.
Note: One gentleman I talked to as a reference is a proponent of zip off leg pants.
 
Take some cash in smaller bills. 20's 10's
If you are a cigar smoker take some cheroots too so you can offer around whilst you puff a big one.
Insect repellant.
Spare sun glasses.
Rennies.
Antihistamine cream.
Pata patas for a trip to the loo, never walk barefoot at night, even in your tent - a scorpion or centipede sting can ruin your trip.
Shake out your boots before putting them on.
A small torch for next to your bed.
Drink your night water out of a bottle and replace the cap - a mouth full of stink bug isn't nice.
Extra dental floss.
Heat fatigue tablets.
Plug adapters.
 
I’m going on my first hunt in Africa in May to Zimbabwe for Buffalo, any advice?
 
and please,enjoy the african red wines,so great,as a wino,take my word.
 
Hogpatrol said:
Practice shooting off of sticks with your rifle.
Click to expand...

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