Heading to SA in 4 days....last minute tips?

[Schmidty]

I will 100% reiterate the relax and enjoy it advice. I will even say slow down and enjoy it.

 

[Slaton]

Take a bunch of American junk food in single serving packages. We got them out one evening around the fire before dinner and everyone enjoyed trying different and new things. Also made goodie bags for the trackers.

 

[Hunt anything]

Have fun and take what Africa gives you!

 

[JimP]

Take a bunch of American junk food in single serving packages. We got them out one evening around the fire before dinner and everyone enjoyed trying different and new things. Also made goodie bags for the trackers.

We had planned on stopping at a small local school near my outfitter so we hit a store similar to a Walmart and loaded up. We bought soccer balls, school supplies and a lot of other stuff along with a cart full of junk food. And while I missed the day that the others went over to the school I heard that they kids loved it.

Also we took a lot of the junk food with us on our tour and when we went to Lesotho we took a horseback ride to a remote village to spend the night. That junk food was a big hit with the kids along the way. Along with tennis balls, they just loved them.

 

[Letzhunt]

Take small denominations of US $. $1, $5, $10. I took only as low as $20 and had a few people outside the Safari staff I would have tipped a bit less..not that i am cheap but they didn't really do much for it but it gets some off your back without making it awkward. Do not tip in the airport to those in the yellow vests....they do not work there....handle your luggage and gun cases yourself.

Plan to shoot at least one extra animal when the opportunity arises. For some reason they just look better when you are there. If its planned, at least in your head, it works out better. If you are lucky like me your wife will be along and say "Babe that is really cool ...if you want one it is my gift to you!"
my response...."BOOM! thanks Honey"

 

[Ridge Runner]

Best travel tip for any trip, take half as many clothes and twice as much money as thought needed.

Probably the best advice given anyone thought to mention. It won't be a Wal-Mart, but if needed you can purchase any additional necessary clothing, or other necessities. That is providing you brought the extra dollars. As for bringing the excess, unless intended to leave behind, save the space for other souvenirs, reminders, of your trip.

 

[Ridge Runner]

This is more broad based than just Africa, but it's been in the back of my mind. Have you thought about/explored options on what happens if you need some type of medical attention while on your trip. I ask because a fellow I work with was in either Sweden or Switzerland vacationing with his wife and she had a bike accident that needed immediate medical attention. Before they would treat her, he had to provide a $40,000 deposit for treatment. I assume many, or most, foreign countries do not accept U.S. healthcare coverage, Medicare, etc. so it gave me something to contemplate. Not sure if a service like Global Rescue covers the treatment cost or just transportation. Anyway, I should probably start a new thread or search if there has been one, but it's better to have things somewhat in place if treatment was needed. Good luck in your adventure.

+1.
I get temporary travel insurance. Just Because: It is better to have and not need than not have and to need.

JMO.

 

[ActionBob]

On the critters I'll reiterate the importance of being ready for the unexpected. Get a full price list ahead of time. Decide if there are any animals you will not take. On my first hunt those were Red Lechwe, Nyala, Sable, Roan. Expensive, not challenging in the environment they had them, and not how or where I wanted to hunt them.

On the other hand I had no interest in a red hartebeest until I saw them. Same for black wildebeest. I didn't know what a mountain reedbuck was but shot a great one as my first African animal. I told the PH with the above exceptions, if he spots a great animal I'll do my best to get it. 6 minutes after checking rifles, he stopped the truck and asked if I was serious. I said yes, he said grab your gun and follow me. 5 minutes later I had my first critter and had to ask what it was!

In my opinion, the best experience and the way a good PH will prefer to hunt is to "just go hunting". Find very good specimens and stalk up and take them as they come

Definitely add in a night hunt Don't dismiss the little critters. Find a good duiker or Steenbok, take it if you can.

 

[wildfowler.250]

You’re going to have a great time! To answer some questions in the order you mentioned:

Taxidermy- euro mounts or shoulder mounts? If you are uncertain, I recommend having euro mounts done with tanned caped hides in SA then you could always later have shoulder mounts done in the U.S. at a later time.

Extra animals: sure if it’s in your budget! You may come across animals of opportunity so I recommend being a little flexible, maybe you’re looking for a Kudu bull but come across a world class bushbuck. Shoot the bushbuck you may not get another opportunity!

Hunters can really make tipping complicated, me included. Bottom line, you tip what you are comfortable with period! I recommend personally giving your tip to each individual that you plan on tipping. I put mine in envelopes for them and personally thanked each of them.

Be flexible with potential flight delays and work with your travel agent to work through it, it’ll be okay, you’ll get it worked out if it happens, don’t worry. Sounds like you are very experienced going on guided hunts in North America so it goes without saying and you already know this but having a positive attitude, willing to help out and being flexible goes a long way towards having a great hunt.

You’re going to have an awesome hunt and experience! Don’t forget to do a hunt report and share your experience with us!

Good initial post/topic as im in a similar boat going out first time later this year

This post is interesting as im a bit lost with what to do with taxidermy. Had planned mostly shoulder mounts but did wonder should I get euros of everything in case the capes aren’t good?

Torn between dip and pack skulls and a euro in case the boil the life out of it as a euro but dip and pack more likely to get rejected at import maybe?

 

[Raskolnikov743]

Its finally almost time to leave after months of impatiently waiting. I have scoured the forums here and the wealth of information available is priceless even though it's free. I have done my best to prepare and have secured all of the correct paperwork etc required for travel. Booked an overnight stay at Africa Sky and also had them handle the rifle paperwork. Some things I have struggled with are.... what to do as far as taxidermy? Should I go ahead and hunt extra animals while there?

I am nervous on tipping even though I have read the numerous posts here about and the PH is avoiding answering the question like the plague. Seems as though some tip a lot and some tip what they feel is reasonable. My concern is knowing what to expect as being good service or great service for this type of hunt. I have hunted all over North America and I have had good experiences on 99% of the hunts and everyone seemed thrilled with a 8-10% tip but only once was there ever anyone other than a cook to tip. Heck the two outfitters in Canada wouldn't even accept tips and that was probably the best service I had on a hunt in my life.

All that rambling only to ask if anyone has any last minute advice to share for a first timer?

RE: Should I go ahead and hunt extra animals while there?

My brother, wife, two sons (8 & 6) and I took our first trip to SA last July. It was amazing. HUNT THE EXTRA ANIMALS WHILE THERE: costs more to get back and hunt it than to return and hunt it.

While there, we took Sable, Eland, Kudu (2), Cape Buffalo, Nyala, Impala, and Springbok. The morning of the day we were to leave camp, I decided to pull the $1000 trigger and pursue a gemsbok, because I kept imagining being home and wishing I'd collected that animal/experience. Returning for a gemsbok would cost way more than the cost while already there.

Point - if you can swing it, enjoy each experience while there! And enjoy yourself, most importantly. So excited for you.


Blessings,

JW


*FYI - I wish I'd hunted the Waterbuck, but I kept that on the table for next time, and I felt like giving my wallet a rest

 

[Rare Breed]

Its finally almost time to leave after months of impatiently waiting. I have scoured the forums here and the wealth of information available is priceless even though it's free. I have done my best to prepare and have secured all of the correct paperwork etc required for travel. Booked an overnight stay at Africa Sky and also had them handle the rifle paperwork. Some things I have struggled with are.... what to do as far as taxidermy? Should I go ahead and hunt extra animals while there?

I am nervous on tipping even though I have read the numerous posts here about and the PH is avoiding answering the question like the plague. Seems as though some tip a lot and some tip what they feel is reasonable. My concern is knowing what to expect as being good service or great service for this type of hunt. I have hunted all over North America and I have had good experiences on 99% of the hunts and everyone seemed thrilled with a 8-10% tip but only once was there ever anyone other than a cook to tip. Heck the two outfitters in Canada wouldn't even accept tips and that was probably the best service I had on a hunt in my life.

All that rambling only to ask if anyone has any last minute advice to share for a first timer?

Use the same judgement for tipping as you have used on your NA hunts as you are an experienced hunter in terms of poor, good and great experiences. All of us who have hunted Africa many times know “take what Africa gives you,” meaning have some budget to not know every animal you will take. As an example you may have bought a package but what if you see a magnificent water buck not in your package. Be ready to take potential advantage always only if you can afford it

 

[Sabre]

On the extra animals: I'm sure you sense a theme here from people. And that is to be prepared and budget for extra animals. As someone else mentioned, if you look at the cost of going back, it is much cheaper to shoot an extra animal or two and add to a trip, than to plan an entire extra trip to take them.

That said, don't run yourself into the poor house to shoot extra animals. Don't go insanely over your budget to shoot a crazy number of extras and then regret it when you get home and you spent way more money than comfortable. That could sour the experience a bit.

Same goes for taxidermy. If you are a person who likes taxidermy (I am), it is difficult to pass up shoulder mounting all these cool new animals. But I'll tell you what, if you just kept euros on everything and shoulder mounted nothing, you could probably turn around and go right back to Africa for the money you saved. As a person who really likes Euro mounts as well, I will focus more on Euros in the future.

It is easy to look at the trip as your "once in a lifetime" trip to Africa. And it might be, I don't know your circumstances. But for most people, once they go, they can't stop thinking about going again. So, don't way overspend on extras and taxidermy if you might go back, because you are most likely going to want to go back. Going back is a lot easier if you don't have a $10,000 extra animals bill followed up by a $20,000 taxidermy bill.

 

[Hunt anything]

Take small denominations of US $. $1, $5, $10. I took only as low as $20 and had a few people outside the Safari staff I would have tipped a bit less..not that i am cheap but they didn't really do much for it but it gets some off your back without making it awkward. Do not tip in the airport to those in the yellow vests....they do not work there....handle your luggage and gun cases yourself.

Plan to shoot at least one extra animal when the opportunity arises. For some reason they just look better when you are there. If its planned, at least in your head, it works out better. If you are lucky like me your wife will be along and say "Babe that is really cool ...if you want one it is my gift to you!"
my response...."BOOM! thanks Honey"

I actually did the wife likes it thing twice! One on a big waterbuck bull and three years later on a gemsbok bull. Of course when we got the extra taxidermy bill it was “what was I thinking” can’t wait to see what she points out in August!
This year I think I’m going dip&pack my trophies and have them shipped to my house unless I shoot a giant warthog or bushpig, then they go to a USDA taxidermist. After a cooling down period I’ll decide what needs to be shoulder/pedestal mounted or just euro mounts. Then I can have the taxidermy done piecemeal, one or two every year or so to spread out the pain! In actuality knowing my addiction to taxidermy I’ll probably just mount them all and all at once.

 

[thriller]

PICK UP SOME BILTONG!

I saw Paris Hilton at the biltong stand I joburg

 

[Charles de Ribeau]

PICK UP SOME BILTONG!

But you can't legally bring it back to the US.

 

[SETH RINGER]

But you can't legally bring it back to the US.

NO, YOU EAT IT LIKE CRAZY THERE.

 

[Dinsdale]

i’d say skip taking shit, and take more money.

trackers/skinners/camp staff/locals have school fees to pay. cash is what changes their lives, not cheap trinkets. its short satisfaction feel good

but thats just me

 

[dailordasailor]

been over only once so have nowhere near experience many do. I had same worries you did.

I had plans to add Culls and maybe a couple cheap animals and had enough funds "Set aside" for it. We ended up shooting like 5 extra animals and one being a weird looking Kudu that guide offered for $700 when we saw it. Had to argue with the wife that she should shoot it or end up regretting it. When told PH i'll shoot it, wife changed her mind. That kudu skull looks great in our living room... I wish we had more suprise culls pop up, but put some aside incase they do. The gentlemen earlier on this thread that passed up a $600 giraffe is shining example. Also, our PH took credit cards so if you run short on cash but can afford it, pay card when get home. I dont regret shooting anything we did.

I tipped like $1200 in total. Is that good or bad, i have no idea. We had one tracker that we might of given $400 plus an ipad and a sweater he liked of mine and gave rest to PH to "distribute". Our PH was also the outfitter and his wife was the camp manager. Does that change things i dont know but will see what happens on next safari.

 

[Mekaniks]

Have fun!

 

[Berettaco]

Take a stack of $10 and $20 bills for tips - kind of a pain but I have found it to be super handy.
As other have said - if possible, take that extra animal that happens to jump out.