How do you Pass time before safari

[Fire652]

Yea I used to use Sitka but like Kuiu. I can take two shirts and one pair of pants and spend at least a week in the back country. Figured it should do the job.

 

[sheephunterab]

No real need for high tech clothing or camo in Africa. I take a pair of zip off pants and a couple t-shirts and a couple button shirts and I'm good. It can get awfully hot in the bow blinds. Shorts and a breathable t-shirt are perfect. With daily laundry service you don't need much for clothing.

 

[Fire652]

No real need for high tech clothing or camo in Africa. I take a pair of zip off pants and a couple t-shirts and a couple button shirts and I'm good. It can get awfully hot in the bow blinds. Shorts and a breathable t-shirt are perfect. With daily laundry service you don't need much for clothing.

That's why I was thinking of taking the Kuiu gear I have. I do not have zip off pants and all my light weight shirts are either Kuiu or a few Sitka. I am thinking it would be better to take what I have and invest in more powder for shooting.

 

[sheephunterab]

I couldn't remember the last time I wore long pants in Africa but many do. Like I say, those blinds can be brutally hot. I'm sure your shirts will be fine but also take note that depending where you are that the laundry service can be pretty hard on some fabrics and they will iron everything. This is as much about looking good as killing parasites. Some of the high tech fabrics don't stand up well to ironing. At the very least, I'd pick up a pair of zip offs and a pair of safari gaiters and then decide if your high tech gear can withstand the rigors of the African laundry service!

 

[Fire652]

I couldn't remember the last time I wore long pants in Africa but many do. Like I say, those blinds can be brutally hot. I'm sure your shirts will be fine but also take note that depending where you are that the laundry service can be pretty hard on some fabrics and they will iron everything. This is as much about looking good as killing parasites. Some of the high tech fabrics don't stand up well to ironing. At the very least, I'd pick up a pair of zip offs and a pair of safari gaiters and then decide if your high tech gear can withstand the rigors of the African laundry service!

That is a very good point. I think I will invest in some zip off pants and maybe two lightweight shirts and leave my technical gear home

 

[BWH]

That's some awful nice gear/attire. Be careful. The sitka & kuiu snags very easily as you probably know.... and EVERYTHING in africa has thorns.

 

[buck wild]

I watch lots of Africa videos on Youtube. I try to start gauging trophy quality of certain animals. I find myself talking to the screen saying, " don't shoot that one, it's too young/small"

 

[BWH]

I bet I know one way you will waste a lot of time...... at www.africahunting.com. LOL..... There are about 1000 addicts on here to prove it!

 

[JimP]

Without reading through all the post here is what I did.

Reloaded bullets, went shooting came home and reloaded more bullets, went shooting again came home and reloaded more bullets. All this between trying to find powder to load the bullets. No one had my favorite powder and I was about to go to powder #2 but really didn't want to.

Spent a lot of time on the forum here reading everything that I could click on.

Tried to figure out what else I had to do.
Clothes..................................,,,,,,,,,,,,..check
Suitcase..............................,,,,,,,,,,,,,....check
Renew Passport................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.....check
New US Customs 4457.....,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.....check
Second 4457.........................................check
Talked to SSI........................................check
Filled out paperwork for SSI................check
Talked to Lori @ Travel Express.........check
Booked Flights with Lori.....................check
Shoot more bullets..............................check
Reload more bullets.............................check
Buy ammo box for bullets....................check
Make list of what to do.........................check, check, check
Go over list every night for 4 months...check
Mark days left until I leave...................check

So 2 months before I left I had everything done and just had to wait to head over to a friends home and to the airport for the long flights.
All in all it didn't drag on too bad but I also had a lot of other things going on that took my mind off of the trip.

 

[kathy]

I work to pass the time and to pay for the hunt.
Study the atomy of the animals you will be hunting, A MUST
You haven't said what time of year or where in Africa you are going ?
It can get pretty cold early mornings ,late afternoon, pack a warm coat. Forrest

 

[Fire652]

I am going with Limcroma safaris rsa in the Limpopo region. May 2018

 

[LivingTheDream]

What is on the hit list for 2018?

 

[Fire652]

Right now I have a twelve day safari for : Impala, warthog,duiker, springbok, blesbok, kudu, zebra, and eland. I am also bowhunting Cape buffalo and if a truly magnificent sable presents a shot I will take it.

 

[Fire652]

I also would like a gemsbok and blue wildebeest

 

[Fire652]

When do you apply for your rifle permits and any other documentation needed to travel. I already have my passport

 

[cpr0312]

You can get your Customs 4457 anytime, and with something like rifle permits get it to them about 2-3 months before safari just to be safe. Once you contact the rifle permit company (whoever you choose) they will give you step by step directions

 

[Fire652]

Ok I think I will use Henry Durrheim at @riflepermits.com

 

[cpr0312]

Henry will take care of you! I have used him twice

 

[Art Lambart II]

I love bow hunting but I think your first African Safari should be experienced on your feet with a rifle in your hands. Walking through the bushveld in search of game can't really be described it must be experienced. I recommend saving the bow for your 3rd or 4th safari and buying a big bore rifle to hunt that Cape Buffalo. It will take you at least 6 month to read all the info on AH about big bore rifles then another 3-4 months to decide which one you want and another 1-2 months to find it at the price you're willing to pay.

Whatever you decide start shooting your hunting rifle off of sticks now, I started a year before my hunt and used a 22 for most of my practice, when I switched to my hunting rifle I was shocked at how poorly by my standards I was shooting, fortunately I had enough to recover from my mistake.

Things happen fast in the bush so practice shooting quickly off of the sticks, 3-5 seconds at most. Animals at water holes or on the savanna may give you more time to aim but shots in the bush happen very quickly. Don't spend to much time practicing unsupported shooting positions 98% of your shots will be from the sticks.

I never carried my back pack or day pack in the field, they stayed in the truck unless we hunted a water hole and I took my back pack because that's where I kept my camera. I used a Cabelas Safari vest to carry what I needed on my stalks and it worked great. Hunting with a PH in South Africa is much different than hunt by yourself in the states, you really don't need to carry much with you, extra ammo, TP if nature calls, a multi-tool, sun screen and your binos if you want them, is all you really need. I did carry a water bottle one day and after I used it all I could hear was my Drill Instructor screaming "Keep the M@#$%^ F!@#$%^ canteen full, you can hear that water sloshing around for miles".

I would also recommend bringing a good camera (SLR's work great) with a standard lens for the trophy pictures and a 300mm zoom lens for taking pictures from truck and at water holes. You my shoot your rifle 20 times or less but you'll take hundreds of pictures.

 

[Fire652]

I love bow hunting but I think your first African Safari should be experienced on your feet with a rifle in your hands. Walking through the bushveld in search of game can't really be described it must be experienced. I recommend saving the bow for your 3rd or 4th safari and buying a big bore rifle to hunt that Cape Buffalo. It will take you at least 6 month to read all the info on AH about big bore rifles then another 3-4 months to decide which one you want and another 1-2 months to find it at the price you're willing to pay.

Whatever you decide start shooting your hunting rifle off of sticks now, I started a year before my hunt and used a 22 for most of my practice, when I switched to my hunting rifle I was shocked at how poorly by my standards I was shooting, fortunately I had enough to recover from my mistake.

Things happen fast in the bush so practice shooting quickly off of the sticks, 3-5 seconds at most. Animals at water holes or on the savanna may give you more time to aim but shots in the bush happen very quickly. Don't spend to much time practicing unsupported shooting positions 98% of your shots will be from the sticks.

I never carried my back pack or day pack in the field, they stayed in the truck unless we hunted a water hole and I took my back pack because that's where I kept my camera. I used a Cabelas Safari vest to carry what I needed on my stalks and it worked great. Hunting with a PH in South Africa is much different than hunt by yourself in the states, you really don't need to carry much with you, extra ammo, TP if nature calls, a multi-tool, sun screen and your binos if you want them, is all you really need. I did carry a water bottle one day and after I used it all I could hear was my Drill Instructor screaming "Keep the M@#$%^ F!@#$%^ canteen full, you can hear that water sloshing around for miles".

I would also recommend bringing a good camera (SLR's work great) with a standard lens for the trophy pictures and a 300mm zoom lens for taking pictures from truck and at water holes. You my shoot your rifle 20 times or less but you'll take hundreds of pictures.

Little confused. Did you notice a difference when you went from the 22 to the big bore. Or did you notice a difference when you went from shooting the 22 off the bench to now using sticks