The Right Accessories for an African Hunt

[Philip Glass]

Just from reading this thread, what I'm going to say is probably going to ruffle some feathers.

I'm not 100% convinced having binoculars with you when hunting is even necessary for first timers who are just in a daze. It's nice to kind of pretend to know what's going on, but things often happen very quickly. When the PH points for an animal to shoot, you just bring your gun up.

That being said, you're probably going to want to bring binoculars...

Curtism1234,
You are so right! Hunting Africa is different and you must depend on your PH. Many times there is no time for the client to look the animal over and time can be wasted and the opportunity lost. That said you should have binos but like all gear don't be fumbling around with them when it's time to shoot!
Philip

 

[Captain Jackal]

My 2 cents, based on my experience since 1972.

Keep it light and silent as possible.
Rifle: the one you're most familiar, and accurate, shooting with, and no recoil fear.
Caliber: .303 British is what the locals use and say killed most game in Africa; I used .308 for ages, but as an all rounder I would suggest .375 Magnum though. .270 is plenty for, say, Klipspringer, while Buffalo needs way more punch than .375.
Shoes: wear Veldschoen (local cheaper version of Clark's Desert Boots) or something like Adidas; boots are way too noisy and heavy. Spray with Tabard insect repellent against ticks.
Clothing: light, soft, silent. Long pants and sleeves against thorns, ticks and sunburn (a real issue at my age). Keep a sweater/anorak in the pick-up, it does get cold. Hat.
Ammo: one round in every single pocket u got, won't make noise one cartridge against the other and wherever u look for ammo under stress, u got one.
Glasses and spare glasses and sun glasses.
Tweezers, Swiss 'Army' knife (sharp), band aids, shit pills, eye drops, blister plasters etc, antibiotic, wet ones (wipes), toothbrush.
Camera: u either hunt or take pictures. Maybe a good pocket camera, and for sightseeing a 'real' camera and a 500mm telephoto lens a must if u want so show anything at all back at home.

I do bring 10x Zeiss binos, never ever used once, better left at home.

BTW shooting from a bakkie/truck used to be forbidden, did the rule change in the 21st Century?

 

[Sika98k]

Don't forget the pith helmet its esential for the pictures!

Absolutely!

 

[Red Leg]

My 2 cents, based on my experience since 1972.

Keep it light and silent as possible.
Rifle: the one you're most familiar, and accurate, shooting with, and no recoil fear.
Caliber: .303 British is what the locals use and say killed most game in Africa; I used .308 for ages, but as an all rounder I would suggest .375 Magnum though. .270 is plenty for, say, Klipspringer, while Buffalo needs way more punch than .375.
Shoes: wear Veldschoen (local cheaper version of Clark's Desert Boots) or something like Adidas; boots are way too noisy and heavy. Spray with Tabard insect repellent against ticks.
Clothing: light, soft, silent. Long pants and sleeves against thorns, ticks and sunburn (a real issue at my age). Keep a sweater/anorak in the pick-up, it does get cold. Hat.
Ammo: one round in every single pocket u got, won't make noise one cartridge against the other and wherever u look for ammo under stress, u got one.
Glasses and spare glasses and sun glasses.
Tweezers, Swiss 'Army' knife (sharp), band aids, shit pills, eye drops, blister plasters etc, antibiotic, wet ones (wipes), toothbrush.
Camera: u either hunt or take pictures. Maybe a good pocket camera, and for sightseeing a 'real' camera and a 500mm telephoto lens a must if u want so show anything at all back at home.

I do bring 10x Zeiss binos, never ever used once, better left at home.

BTW shooting from a bakkie/truck used to be forbidden, did the rule change in the 21st Century?

Interesting. While I would agree the .303 has killed enormous quantities of game - particularly in East Africa, I have yet to see one in use - by anyone anywhere. Most popular caliber used by local whites in Namibia and RSA has to be the .300 WM. The farther north one goes the ubiquitous AK starts to show up among the other locals. But not many .303's - at least in my experience. Val Kilmer did have a great Lee Speed in "Ghost in the Darkness."

No buffalo on the planet "needs way more punch" than a .375. Nothing wrong with using bigger - I love several of the .40's - but I suspect more buffalo are killed very dead every year with the .375 than all the other calibers combined. One of mine will go to Moz with me in October as a one-rifle battery. It is the cal I would always recommend to anyone for a first buffalo rifle.

Needing a 500mm is pretty much old school. And I once used that sort of gear built around some very fine 35mm SLRs. It is the age of digital photography, and I have wonderful slideshows and photo books of every hunting or tourist expedition I/we make, with lots of fabulous wildlife photography. I have a little zoom Nikon miniature SLR that will fit in my pocket that shoots incredible HD photography. A larger one usually sits in the truck or hotel. Heck, the new IPhone has an incredible capability compared to what we used just a few years ago.

"Never ever used" the 10x binoculars once - seriously? We must hunt different places and in very different ways. One could do a hunt without binoculars if one wanted - totally relying on the PH - but why would anyone want to do that? I use mine constantly. I have glassed game to discuss a shot and game potential with PHs and guides everywhere I have ever hunted. Sure there are times to shoot and let the PH do the looking. But, in my experience, that isn't even most of the time.

Athletic trainers like adidas will literally vacumm up grass seeds. Leather desert boots, like Clarks and veldshoen are a great recommendation. There are a host of other similar light hikers now days - The Russel PH and Selous series are typical. Heavy lugged mountain boots are indeed an awful choice.

And a light micro-fleece sweater ranks right up there with nuclear energy as one of the great inventions or our wonderful modern age. I always keep one in the truck for later than usual drives back in, for early morning departures, and for slumming around camp in the evening.

 

[rookhawk]

Also agree, the binos are a must. Also a must, a shemagh....it's a hetero version of a featherboa for those reading this thread.

A good compact flashlight like a sure fire is also important.

A small knife is way down the priority list in the optional to bring area.

I totally agree with those that said a compact camera is important.

 

[CAustin]

A lot of great advice in this thread for you to pick through. Don't overload yourself. Remember this hunt is to be fun. Take you best shooting rifle that you are most comfortable with and that you have practiced with extensively prior to the hunt. Bug spray yes! Sun screen yes! Lip balm absolutely! Good shoes that are broken in....yes sir! Binocs only if you really want to! You personal meds! Comfortable clothes that are not orange or bright colored! Good ammo! Sun glasses! iPhone or a camera!
A couple of changes of clothes....remember the vamp will have someone to wash them for you so no need to take ten changes!

Most important accessory you are taking is the WIFE! Have a great time.

 

[Goose Cracker]

Binoculars may not be mandatory, but I wouldn't think of leaving them home. There are too many wonderful things to see while stalking, sitting at a water hole, or just generally scanning around the awesome African bush.

I take my binocs everywhere I go on vacation. Too many times I've been on hols somewhere and wished I had them, so now they are always with me. Even at the beach with the wife.

 

[Bsto270]

A lot of great advice in this thread for you to pick through. Don't overload yourself. Remember this hunt is to be fun. Take you best shooting rifle that you are most comfortable with and that you have practiced with extensively prior to the hunt. Bug spray yes! Sun screen yes! Lip balm absolutely! Good shoes that are broken in....yes sir! Binocs only if you really want to! You personal meds! Comfortable clothes that are not orange or bright colored! Good ammo! Sun glasses! iPhone or a camera!
A couple of changes of clothes....remember the vamp will have someone to wash them for you so no need to take ten changes!

Most important accessory you are taking is the WIFE! Have a great time.

Thank you! Yeah as the months are rolling by (only until end of July now) I am getting increasingly pumped for it. She is too (we are both hunting on this one).

 

[billc]

Thank you! Yeah as the months are rolling by (only until end of July now) I am getting increasingly pumped for it. She is too (we are both hunting on this one).

Wow your almost there now. It seems like it was just a few weeks ago we started talking about your trip. Here is my rule for bino's. I always have them with and use them when we are searching for a target animal. Once the stalk starts your ph will look and you get on the sticks and be ready. You will have time to check the animal out before the shot in the scope. Don't over pack and take well broke in boots no matter what style you have they will work. Don't need some high dollar boot for a trip to SA. Chapstick is what I always forget and last trip I ended up with pink stuff that made me look like a had pink lip stick on. I know hard to believe my friends in Africa would do that to me.

 

[Bsto270]

Wow your almost there now. It seems like it was just a few weeks ago we started talking about your trip. Here is my rule for bino's. I always have them with and use them when we are searching for a target animal. Once the stalk starts your ph will look and you get on the sticks and be ready. You will have time to check the animal out before the shot in the scope. Don't over pack and take well broke in boots no matter what style you have they will work. Don't need some high dollar boot for a trip to SA. Chapstick is what I always forget and last trip I ended up with pink stuff that made me look like a had pink lip stick on. I know hard to believe my friends in Africa would do that to me.

I know it Bill the time just flew (although I will say the deer season I had certainly didn't help it go any faster). I am working on slowly breaking boots in now, and will likely pack a spare pair of some sort of footwear. Clothes I got whittled down to the few sets needed. Chapstick is a good tip, I should know better too, since every time I go out to fish in nasty sun my lips end up like beef jerky, especially out on the ocean.

 

[jacques smith]

Hi all. I'm very late to this thread as I have been hunting( never too much ). Please don't scrimp on your optics as u will just trash and replace at a later date Think of them as an investment in success. As to 85 percent of all shooting done from a truck I call BS. Enjoy your hunt

 

[rookhawk]

85% shooting from a truck. It is these statements that gives RSA safaris a bad name.

 

[spike.t]

Binocs only if you really want to!

still dont get where people dont think binos are that important...........there are so many opportunities to look at all sorts of things that if you dont have them you will miss out on.....even when not hunting you will have chances to observe many things that otherwise you wouldnt see...............................

 

[rookhawk]

@spike.t you called it. I consider binos on par with underwear. Actually, I could survive better without the underwear. 99.9% of a safari is spotting, game viewing and birding. .01% is killing. It would be a shame to be hampered for 99.9% of the daytime activities.

No interest in a "Helen Keller" safari!

 

[CAustin]

still dont get where people dont think binos are that important...........there are so many opportunities to look at all sorts of things that if you dont have them you will miss out on.....even when not hunting you will have chances to observe many things that otherwise you wouldnt see...............................

This hunter doesn't need to lug them around! And if my professional can't get me close enough to the things of wonder to see them with the naked eye.....I will use his binocs thank you very much!

 

[Philip Glass]

Interesting. While I would agree the .303 has killed enormous quantities of game - particularly in East Africa, I have yet to see one in use - by anyone anywhere. Most popular caliber used by local whites in Namibia and RSA has to be the .300 WM. The farther north one goes the ubiquitous AK starts to show up among the other locals. But not many .303's - at least in my experience. Val Kilmer did have a great Lee Speed in "Ghost in the Darkness."

No buffalo on the planet "needs way more punch" than a .375. Nothing wrong with using bigger - I love several of the .40's - but I suspect more buffalo are killed very dead every year with the .375 than all the other calibers combined. One of mine will go to Moz with me in October as a one-rifle battery. It is the cal I would always recommend to anyone for a first buffalo rifle.

Needing a 500mm is pretty much old school. And I once used that sort of gear built around some very fine 35mm SLRs. It is the age of digital photography, and I have wonderful slideshows and photo books of every hunting or tourist expedition I/we make, with lots of fabulous wildlife photography. I have a little zoom Nikon miniature SLR that will fit in my pocket that shoots incredible HD photography. A larger one usually sits in the truck or hotel. Heck, the new IPhone has an incredible capability compared to what we used just a few years ago.

"Never ever used" the 10x binoculars once - seriously? We must hunt different places and in very different ways. One could do a hunt without binoculars if one wanted - totally relying on the PH - but why would anyone want to do that? I use mine constantly. I have glassed game to discuss a shot and game potential with PHs and guides everywhere I have ever hunted. Sure there are times to shoot and let the PH do the looking. But, in my experience, that isn't even most of the time.

Athletic trainers like adidas will literally vacumm up grass seeds. Leather desert boots, like Clarks and veldshoen are a great recommendation. There are a host of other similar light hikers now days - The Russel PH and Selous series are typical. Heavy lugged mountain boots are indeed an awful choice.

And a light micro-fleece sweater ranks right up there with nuclear energy as one of the great inventions or our wonderful modern age. I always keep one in the truck for later than usual drives back in, for early morning departures, and for slumming around camp in the evening.

Red Leg,
What little Nikon camera do you have? Just wondering because I need a very small but high quality camera for these hunts.
Philip

 

[James Cook]

lots of good advice in this thread. you're doing the right thing talking to your ph, because the answer to most of your questions is - it all depends - what terrain you hunt, what time of year, method of hunting, etc. due to the way we hunted, i never needed - leather gloves, knee pads or big binocs. binoc power required will depend upon the terrain - wide open, long distances the more powerful may be better; closer up and thick vegetation, a less powerful pair. the ph will have a great pair of binocs and determining what to shoot or not shoot - yours are "extra", don't have to be top of the line. do plan to layer your clothes due to significant changes in temperature. a backpack is helpful to stuff in the extra clothes when not wearing the,. essentials - appropriate clothing for temps, hearing protection, sun screen, chap stick, sun glasses (for wind protection too), cap/hat, extra shell case, good walking shoes/boots, prescriptions, flashlight, and a good camera. things i took that i didn't need - gaiters - just not needed as we hunted mostly rocky terrain; soft gun case - ph had plenty of them and they take up a lot of room; bug spray - no bugs the time of year we hunted; skinning knife - trackers skinned it all, rangefinder - ph's binocs had it built in and he gave me the yardage before every shot. some people don't use a sling for their gun, i kept mine on the gun, very helpful and never in the way. so ask your ph/outfitter, the things i didn't need you might - as stated earlier, it all depends.

 

[Red Leg]

Red Leg,
What little Nikon camera do you have? Just wondering because I need a very small but high quality camera for these hunts.
Philip

The Nikon 1 J5 is an amazing little camera - 20.8 MP gives you almost unlimited ability to enlarge or crop. Optics are - well - Nikon. And you can find them for under $500. I'll admit that I am starting to covet the new Sony Alpha a6300 but it runs 2x the Nikon. Both will fit in a hunting vest pocket.

 

[RolandtheHeadless]

Things I wish I'd left home: gaiters, extra pair of boots, pith helmet.

Things I was glad I brought: headlamp, rifle sling extra jacket, belt ammo carrier, and a good binocular. I carry a 25-year-old 8 x 32 Swarovski binocular. Personally, I've found that eight power is as high as I can go and hold the binocular steady enough to gauge a set of horns at five hundred yards.

 

[RolandtheHeadless]

On the subject of shooting from the jeep, my outfitter encouraged me to do it at every opportunity. His reasoning was that one can shoot steadier with arms braced on a window sill than on shooting sticks. Fewer wounded animals, better ethics.

Also, the client hunter doesn't need to get out of the cab at all, thus avoiding such uncomfortable things like rain, sun burn, dust, bug bites, and chilly winds. Thereby leaving you even greater energy for shooting more game. From the truck, if possible.