My Top Ten Gear Items For Safari

[rinehart0050]

Great video Philip! With a safari coming up, it's always good to refresh my memory on what to pack.

 

[rinehart0050]

Well, most decent cameras are approaching that price range or a bit more. I don't know what you mean by telephoto lens reducing pixel counts/photo quality unless you are talking about cropping.

One thing to consider is not to take more camera equipment than necessary. I pondered about taking my Nikon Z7 and a multitude of lenses (or even just one lens), however I will be at a hunting safari not a photo safari and do not need the extra weight or the hassle of the bigger cameras. I even considered my Leica M with just one lens (but it is manual and too much of a hassle to give to someone to take photos).

After some research I decided to test the Fuji X100V, it is 28MP and 35mm equivalent. It is 5"x 3"x 2" weighing 1 lbs, so pretty compact and handy. I am looking at some case options with a belt loop so I can carry it on my belt and not worry about digging it out from my backpack. If a camera is not handy, it does not get used. So far testing has been pretty good, the f2 aperture is open enough for low light photos and it has enough overall resolution to do the equivalent of a digital zoom. Next test will be the video capabilities. I should have it dialed in by the time my hunt comes along in August.

Rereading this thread, lots of great tips and discussions on cameras/cell phones.

Newer cellphones are getting crazy good now. We just picked up Samsung S21 Ultras. The have a 108 megapixel main camera, 12 megapixel lens with 10x/240mm equivalent optical zoom, digital zoom up to 100x, 8k video at 24 fps or 4k at 60 fps.

I used to always bring my Nikon DSLR with zoom lens, but this new phone may be rendering my camera obsolete. I'll test it out in zimbabwe in a few months and then everyone can see if my photos are good or not in my report!

 

[JimP]

One thing that we all should do is something that I read on here a while ago. And that is to carry multiple memory cards for both your phone and digital camera. Then swap them out each night once you get back to the lodge.

Doing this will insure that the pictures taken that day should be safe until they are uploaded to a larger storage media once you get home. I know that when I went on my first safari that I took two digital cameras, one that I always had with me on my hip and one that I left in my pack usually in the truck, and I would take pictures with both throughout the day. But what would of happened if one of the memory cards would of become corrupted and no pictures were saved to it or they were not able to be retrieved?

If I would of changed out the memory cards each night I wouldn't have to worry too much about the above happening, at most all I would loose would be a days worth of pictures.

 

[Happy Myles]

A couple of items that will get used on any trip. For an African safari, I leave home the fancy custom huntng knife and take a Leatherman tool. You will use the pliers more than the blade, take a backpacker role of ductape, always have ductape. I keep a head net on my belt, it stuffs into a tiny bag on my belt. If you venture into the tsetse fly country, or trying to track in a heavy sweat bee area you will appreciate it. Let alone if mosquitos are around. A nap at midday when you are exhausted is more pleasant with a headnet keeping pesky flies off your face.
Back to the ductape. It works on more than patching gear. Several decades ago in deep jungle I got a quick shot at a Bongo with my 416 Rigby. It was hit hard and the boys gave a short chase and found it dead. The boys were cheering excitedly except for one, he had stumbled and fallen on my razor sharp panga (machete) and cut his foot to the bone. I had loaned it to him because he did not have one. Another confessed he had left the first aid kit in lorry which was several hours away through tough, tough country. I pulled the wound together, then reversed a piece of Moleskin with the soft side to the wound and strapped the whole injury down with Ductape. In those days some of the boys did not wear shoes on their tough calloused feet. He walked through swamp and jungle, hours back to the old truck without a whimper and insisted on carrying his share of meat. Grand, tough people the Pygmy.

i have never taken the custom machete anywhere again.

 

[C.W. Richter]

One thing that we all should do is something that I read on here a while ago. And that is to carry multiple memory cards for both your phone and digital camera. Then swap them out each night once you get back to the lodge.

Doing this will insure that the pictures taken that day should be safe until they are uploaded to a larger storage media once you get home. I know that when I went on my first safari that I took two digital cameras, one that I always had with me on my hip and one that I left in my pack usually in the truck, and I would take pictures with both throughout the day. But what would of happened if one of the memory cards would of become corrupted and no pictures were saved to it or they were not able to be retrieved?

If I would of changed out the memory cards each night I wouldn't have to worry too much about the above happening, at most all I would loose would be a days worth of pictures.

And for those of you that take pics with your camera-same-ensure you have a mini SD card, because if your camera fills up with photos it has too little memory to properly operate when you need it! You won't always be able to upload the pics to "the cloud" considering where you're at.

 

[Philip Glass]

Exactly.
A good guideline is to stick to cotton and canvas in darker earth tone colors.
If you need general clothing, Carhartt and Duluth Trading are good sources.
Keep it simple and put more money into practice shooting off sticks than clothing.

This is what I’ve been advising my hunters to do. I’ve also tried to hammer into them they they only need a max of 3 changes of clothes total! But many will buy a custom gun and expensive gear and not shoot off sticks enough.

 

[BeeMaa]

This is what I’ve been advising my hunters to do. I’ve also tried to hammer into them they they only need a max of 3 changes of clothes total! But many will buy a custom gun and expensive gear and not shoot off sticks enough.

We take 2 sets of clothing each, but 3 sets of socks & briefs. Nothing really special either, it’s what we wear most of the time anyway.
Practice is the important part. Being a well dressed crappy shooter earns you 0 cool points.

 

[outwestidaho]

We take 2 sets of clothing each, but 3 sets of socks & briefs. Nothing really special either, it’s what we wear most of the time anyway.
Practice is the important part. Being a well dressed crappy shooter earns you 0 cool points.

Same thing we do 2 sets of cloths plus what I'm wearing. 3 sets of socks and 3 undies.

 

[BeeMaa]

Same thing we do 2 sets of cloths plus what I'm wearing. 3 sets of socks and 3 undies.

I apologize for not being more specific.

2 sets of clothes total, one worn and the other packed. Also packed 2 more pairs socks and 2 briefs. Of course a light fleece...etc.

We travel quite light as a result of years of motorcycle camping and having to conserve space and weight.

 

[outwestidaho]

I apologize for not being more specific.

2 sets of clothes total, one worn and the other packed. Also packed 2 more pairs socks and 2 briefs. Of course a light fleece...etc.

We travel quite light as a result of years of motorcycle camping and having to conserve space and weight.

I use to do that . But one of the places I hunted in 2018 only did laundry every other day and not on Sundays. Not that I cant wear the same clothes for 2 days, but I play it kind of safe now.

 

[Tanks]

On my next trip I will be traversing between different camps and terrain some requiring long pants for protection. So, will have two pairs of shorts and 3 pairs of long pants (will use two of the pairs inbound travel which leaves one.

 

[Happy Myles]

Good work Phillip Glass. this is an enjoyable helpful post. I have for decades spent a lot of safari time in Fly country. Tsetse fly, the most vicious animal in Africa. Some times the best hunting is located in Fly habitat because livestock and people do not get along well with the fly. I treat my long pants and shirts with permethrin. They are medium green in color, tight weave Egyptian cotton. I take DEET with me. None of this stops Tsetse but does give them pause. I have heard the pros and cons regarding DEET and permethrin but I spend time in unbelievably bad Tsetse country where you would almost sell your soul for some relief. As you know, that is not country for South African shorts. Kindest Regards

 

[Muskox]

Thank you!

 

[rookhawk]

I like hip packs, but I am biased as I have medical issues carrying weight on my shoulders. They sit tight and low which keeps branches from snagging it. They are smaller but it prevent you from overloading. You don't need more than 5-10 pounds of items all day.

I try to carry things the ph doesn't have. Imo, a knife is not necessary when you can say "hey, can I see your knife for a second". The less generic items in your pack means the more personalized items fit.

@curtism1234 i think you need a knife, just a smaller knife. Have you seen the scandi 1.5” knives people wear on a necklace? Great knives. Or a 3” scandi fixed blade. It doesn’t have to be huge but it has to be sharp. PH knives aren’t always sharp and they aren’t always right there when you need them.

Knife-ShootingSticks-Binos

those are the three essentials for me. After that, rifle, ammo, scope, sunscreen, hat, gaiters, multi tool and the rest. I’d rather borrow a gun than borrow binos, sticks, or a knife. (Emphasis on small knife, everyone hunts with a knife too big)

 

[noyb72]

I have only been to Africa once, but spend several weeks a year in different lodges fishing or hunting. No matter how light I need to be I always have 3 sets of clothes. One to wear, one to wash, and one for the skipped laundry days or to put on when you rip the rear end out of your shorts on a sharp nut of the Panga center console!

You can't take spares for everything, but I've needed a third set of clothes enough that I am never without them.

 

[Philip Glass]

I have only been to Africa once, but spend several weeks a year in different lodges fishing or hunting. No matter how light I need to be I always have 3 sets of clothes. One to wear, one to wash, and one for the skipped laundry days or to put on when you rip the rear end out of your shorts on a sharp nut of the Panga center console!

You can't take spares for everything, but I've needed a third set of clothes enough that I am never without them.

I agree and that is our normal plan for Africa. Happy safari planning!
PG

 

[Philip Glass]

Good work Phillip Glass. this is an enjoyable helpful post. I have for decades spent a lot of safari time in Fly country. Tsetse fly, the most vicious animal in Africa. Some times the best hunting is located in Fly habitat because livestock and people do not get along well with the fly. I treat my long pants and shirts with permethrin. They are medium green in color, tight weave Egyptian cotton. I take DEET with me. None of this stops Tsetse but does give them pause. I have heard the pros and cons regarding DEET and permethrin but I spend time in unbelievably bad Tsetse country where you would almost sell your soul for some relief. As you know, that is not country for South African shorts. Kindest Regards

I had my first trouble with tsetse flies in Cameroon a couple years ago. I proved the permethrin for clothing and Avon Skin So Soft lotion are the best combo. I had no flies while others next to me were eaten up. I was hunting in only two changes of clothes and by the end of the 13 day safari the permethrin began to wear off and I got a couple bites.
So now my advice is, if in tsetse fly country consider an extra change of clothes and make sure everything (underwear and all) is treated.
Thanks
Philip

 

[mark-hunter]

Do we have somewhere available tse tse fly distribution map, to see where they impose the risk?
Great advise, btw!
Thanks!

 

[Philip Glass]

Do we have somewhere available tse tse fly distribution map, to see where they impose the risk?
Great advise, btw!
Thanks!

Not that I know of. Anywhere there is a fair amount of livestock there are few tsetse flies. I was surprised to not have any in the Zambezi Valley in Zim when I was there. This is a question for the outfitter if you book a hunt where they may be.

 

[Happy Myles]

Avon Skin So Soft with DEET is good. Must confess in really bad fly country my wife takes a mesh bug jacket soaked in Deet. Once in the C.A.R, as I recall, a French scientist lectured me on how harmful DEET could be, as evidenced by taking paint off a lorry dash board and peeling skin. By day three she was begging me for part of my DEET supply. Another time in the Cameroon a new South African PH appeared the first morning in shorts saying fly did not bother him. By noon he had changed his mind. It is hard to comprehend the Tsetse until you have experienced them in their finest habitat. I have had trackers argue over which elephant dung is best to burn in a can the back of the lorry to help keep Fly at bay. Insisting we stop at a specific place.