I know there have been a few disucussions around here on how one (and how much) should carry water on a safari but I thought I would reintroduce the topic. Specifically, on a buff hunt in Zimbabwe in early May. I drink a lot of water on a normal basis and expect my intake will go up considerable when on safari. Should I carry some myself or let the trackers carry all of it? If I am to carry then should I get one of those crazy camel things? How much should one carry? An old topic, but an important one........

The trackers carry the water for you - that is why you are paying a lot of money... They will carry all you want.

quote:

ly May. I drink a lot of water on a normal basis and expect my intake will go up considerable when on safari. Should I carry some myself or let the trackers

I just carry a sport bottle on my ammo belt. That way I have it when I want it.

-Steve

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Originally posted by dogcat:
The trackers carry the water for you - that is why you are paying a lot of money... They will carry all you want.

My thought exactly, they better be carring enough.

Unless of course things go wrong, and the Hunter and PH become seperated from the trackers...Also do the trackers drink out of the same waterbottle as the client? Having seen some with rotten or missing teeth and carrying god only knows what infections in their mouths, I think I would pass on that one!

Just a suggestion, but I recommend you take some powdered gatorade or tang; something more than just water. After a few days, hydrating yourself with just water might mot cut it. Your body needs the electrolytes.

Always carry your own gun, ammo, GPS and water. I spent an interesting evening and night in the hinterlands of Mozambique without my water suppply and a GPS and vowed never to do so again.

Get a Camelbak or similar small hydration pack. Carry at least a liter of water yourself. You never know when you will be separated from the water and I wouldn't want to drink after anyone else during a hunt. If trackers are carrying safe water, drink from their packs at breaks to lighten their load and conserve your water supply.

Perry

I like to be self-sufficient, and have found that carrying a couple of liters on my back in a Camelbak is the best solution for me.

This allows me to drink a little bit every so often without having to stop. I am convinced that this also keeps me more hydrated than I would be if I had to occationally stop up to get a water bottle out of the trackers backpack. In my experiance, I have found that most people don't want to stop up more often than stricly necessary, so they end up going further than they should without drinking. A Camelbak eliminated this problem.

If I am not fit enough to carry 2-3 liters of water on my back (in addition to my rifle, ammo, a small GPS unit and a knife on my belt), then I shouldn't be out hunting.

I agree with drinking a little bit as you go along to prevent dehydration. In Zambia I always carried at least a bottle on my belt and made sure that the trackers had a few more. It would have been impractical to ask them to pass the water all the time and this method only had me asking them when I needed a new bottle.

BTW, a great product that I used was Electrolyte tablets that dissolved in the bottle (I forget them name). I just added 2 each time I opened a bottle and didn't have the powder mess. Trust me, just water isn't enough when Buffalo hunting all day in the hot african sun.

Buzz's trackers carry backpacks and water for the client [NOTE this seems to be the excepetion, and elsewhere I have experienced that the trackers may/may not throw a bottle or two in their pockets or carry a canteen]. However it is still good practice to make sure there is enough as a short walk can turn into a long march w/o notice. It is nice to have your own and drink when you want as you will get more thirsty then the guys, but after a few days you might find that the Camelbak stays in the truck (I'm taking one in March and we'll see).

Also, I always drink one full bottle when exiting the truck before tracking. As the guys are getting ready, hit the cooler in the back. Not only does this hydrate better then if taken during exercise, but it will give you a buffer.

Think about carrying (handing-off) a few Clif bars too in case you "bonk". And don't forget your PH.

Several years ago I bought a neat little combination belt,belt pouch,bottle carrier made by a company called Z-kreation. It's a 1 liter bottle in an insulated pouch and a 2 compartment pouch I carry my Canon Elph camera a couple of bandannas,a pack of kleenex,deet and maybe an energy bar or 2. I'm diabetic and don't like my Blood sugar to get too far out of balance. I usually half freeze the bottle and it is good for the time we are out.

I used a small pigskin backpack with an insulated half gallon jug. The other compartments carried my 2 cameras and other assorted goodies. The tracker carried it. I never once saw a tracker take a drink. My PH admired it so I gave it to him. Only cost me 20 bucks at one of those online 5 & 10's like HeartlandAmerica.

I carry a camel bak in my pack, and if I drop my pack then I keep a bottle of water in the back pocket of my vest. I NEVER depend upon anyone else to carry what I may need to survive if we are seperated for any reason. You can always bring it back if you do not need it, but, you sure as hell cannot use it if you do not have it.

I let the trackers carry it. If the trackers are heading in one direction and I'm heading in another for some reason, like recovery or getting a vehicle or... I grab a bottle.

I also drink at least a bottle before leaving the truck. I find thst I drink water at about twice the pace of the PH and four or five times the pace of the trackers.

The PH's have ensured that water bottles stay seperate, and I've double checked that this is so and stays that way.

This works fine for elephant hnting where walking is likely to far out distance buffalo hunting. On the other hand, because it is likely to far out distance buffalo hunting, I'm less inclined to want to carry anything that can't be left in the truck or carried by the trackers. Works fine in October when its hot.

JPK

Anytime I left the truck, my Camelback came with me. It is the "Mule" model, and I always have a couple of granola bars, a small first-aid kit, a small flashlight, and a compass in it (I also asked what direction we were heading when I left the truck in Africa). I also always had a camera in my pocket, a leatherman on my belt, my rifle in my hand, and at least ten extra rounds of ammo.

In seventeen days of hunting we had three "quick looks" turn into 5-hour walks, used up the granola bars on several days, used the flashlight twice, and the first-aid kit once. I think the PH actually was willing to hunt harder and longer, because he knew that I was prepared for changes in plan.

I'm with load-n-boomer. I think that if you are planning to really be humping it, you'd be best served to take your own water. I used a camelbak too. It had room for my small film camera and a flashlight and three liters of water. It was really a life saver because the guys "watered" up before we left and did not carry any water. To take a drag, you just "un-cork" the rubber tube and suck. Shop around on the web and you can find them at a reasonable price. Kudude

Gentlemen,

Sometimes quite a number of us go after buffalo, and no matter how much water is carried, it is never enough, as the newbies seem to drink it non-stop until there is nothing left.

In fact, I follow my PH example, and drink something as we leave the truck, and not drink while out until we get back to the truck, or we stop for a rest - assuming that any qwater is left by then.

What I have found helps is that one should drink plenty of liquid at camp after returning from a day's hunt, and in the evening.

That way one is fully hydrated at the beginning of the day.

This system has worked for us so far, even when we had to be out for 13 hours at a time.

I never carried water either (having always depended on trackers to do so), until I had been out from dawn until dusk in 100+ F degree heat and managed to run out of the precious H2O more than once some time in the middle of the afternoon.

Then and thereafter I carried and from now on I will carry as much as I can manage.

Dehydration can be deadly. Not a problem for truck hunters, but once you get out on your hind legs and walk, especially in late October's and November's heat, water quickly becomes your best and only friend.

When hunting in the Top End at home I like to use a 3 L camelbak as a minimum. Especially later in the season when 3L's is often not enough.

In Africa sometimes the trackers carry {i]some[/i], and it can vary a lot, from nothing, to small 600 ml mineral water bottles, to a decent amount. It varies a lot from company to company and often from day to day.

If I think the outfitter/trackers are not carrying enough water I carry my own, even if it is only a small bottle. Even for what is supposed to be only a short walk.

I DO NOT drink water from a bottle which is to be shared, especially with trackers whom often may have very serious diseases! I came back from Zimbabwe in 1994 with glandular fever, and one possible source might have been a long tracking day with a single water bladder shared between six people.

Carry your own- even if it is only half a litre!

You can always refill your personal bottle from the supply the tracker is carrying every time you stop, and it means you can have a sip whenever you feel like it- and it is frequently not convenient to pause a hunt to pass forward some water

In many ways a small bottle on the belt is better than a camel bak - A back pack of any kind in hot weather is a chore. Yes, the tracker will be carrying water for you- it should be in a cooler or sealed bottle to distinguish your water from the tracker/PH’s supply- but hunts seldom work out exactly as planned, and I have often had a stalk that goes on ... and on...and on. The animal just moves behind a bush, or rust moves into a depression or, or, and the guy with the water is sitting under a tree with the game scout 100 yards back wondering what’s taking us so long!

If you are used to a hot climate, and have some conditioning, you can go for long periods without water. Most of the parks game scouts seldom bothered to carry any. They drank their fill in the morning before the patrol started, and drank again in the evening when you stopped at the next water hole. I have never been able to last all day without a drink- A litre and I am ok, but I need some. Also, I like to put darolite (rehydration salts) in my water, so now carry my own.

If you are not used to heat, or used to drinking often....carry your own!

Here is a link for the Camelback hydration packs.

Camelbacks

Last year we exited the vehicle to climb a hill to get a view of the other side. Once on top we saw 5 huge kudu bull. We stalked them for 6-7 hours and ended up not getting a shot. Of course the whole time they were walking away from our truck. It was just supposed to be a quick look so nobody bothered to bring any water. At the end of the day I realized if I wanted to be guarateed a drink I better make sure I have it with me. The PH and the tracker were unaffected by not having a drink. I had no ill health affects just a few mental ones. I was so thirsty that I didn't care about the hunt towards the end of the day, it gave me a bad attitude. A great learning experience. I know I paid these guys well (my wife may have paid them better, but I'm still alive) and I am not displeased with their performace or the way they conducted the hunt. I am used to drinking alot, they are not. It is up to the individual to be sure he or the trackers have the neccesary ammount of water and whatever else for survival.

Thanks for all of the great feedback!

I was on only one buff hunt. (Zimbabwe) I carried my own water - hip flask) (and there was a young feller who carried my rifle on long walks -but most definitely was not my "Gunga Din"). I shouldn't be puzzled, I suppose about all the craving for water. I learned in a hard school when young, to conserve water and drink in bare sips, just enough to take the edge off water thirst. The trackers did not carry my water -but then, as I say, I was on only one buff hunt.

quote:

Dehydration can be deadly. Not a problem for truck hunters, but once you get out on your hind legs and walk, especially in late October's and November's heat, water quickly becomes your best and only friend.

I agree with you Mrlexma. I had a couple of pretty rough days at the beginning of my recent hunt. It TOTALLY depends on what you are acclimatized to. There wasn't enough water in the Great Ruaha to keep me cool the first couple days of chasing buffalo in that heat. My body took some time figuring out how to sweat enough in that heat. I just don't experience that kind of heat/humidity at home, and there are so few hot days in our summer that your body doesn't need to adjust to it.

A week later though, I was doing just fine. Just blinking quickly would draw a good bead on my forehead!

Cheers,
Canuck

The best advice I got before my recent hunt in Tanzania was from Retreever, he told me if your feet hit the dirt, grab extra water. PVT supplied plenty of bottled water and I made sure I had at least a 2 liter with me at all times and it came in handy several times after those short walks turned long. Canuck, got a chuckle from your post on the heat/humidity, you need to come to Houston before your next hunt to acclimate! When I got to TZ in Oct, days were around 92 but for me, the humidity was very low, what a concept... sweat would actually evaporate instead of just soaking your clothes all day!!! Cheers, Lee.

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanahile:
I know there have been a few disucussions around here on how one (and how much) should carry water on a safari but I thought I would reintroduce the topic. Specifically, on a buff hunt in Zimbabwe in early May. I drink a lot of water on a normal basis and expect my intake will go up considerable when on safari. Should I carry some myself or let the trackers carry all of it? If I am to carry then should I get one of those crazy camel things? How much should one carry? An old topic, but an important one........

this is a good topic, and not posted much on often enough, let the trackers carry it. I drink gallons a day under normal circumstances BUT sometimes they havent brought enough so what i noticed is my body will get so thirsty i feel like i'm going to die(almost) then after about 30 minutes of misery it goes away for a few hours and comes back-this is based on one stalk. However after about a week of hunting I seem to become more efficant infact each year i'm overall tougher than the previous year. I'm not a tough guy but I seem to become more "Safari Durable" with each hunt the one year I missed comming back the next time I was softer, one year I hunted around 55 days by the end nothing seemed to matter. My PH Alan Vincent was telling me about his dad Roy and how tough he is-Saeed will verify. The body adapts over years of hunting-not 7 day plains game hunts but long tough hunts on successive years you'll be suprised what you can handle.

Having said that I have been so thirsty I have drank standing water-it didnt taste funny so i figured i'd be ok, and I was. Another time after chasing a wounded water buck it started to rain we laid our backs to catch rain drops,m each one was like a diamond.

Oh yeaqh one more thing I haqve learned I drink about 2 liters of water before getting in the truck in the morning, i drink until i'm uncomfortable and still force more water into my body, if i have to pee, i dont. I just hold it in Alan and were talking once about how it almost seems that your body reabsorbes the water, i know it dosent, but you would be suprised how much you can drink and not have to pee if you get out of the truck and get busy before you have to pee, it wont pass through. You'll be glad you forced the extra into your body, this is something i have experminted with on my hunts, when i was a rookie it was an issue, not any more.

Just a couple of comments which may be useful:
- if you are used to drinking a lot of fluid, your kidneys lose some of their ability to conserve water. his effect reverses after a few days of getting "dry";
- Australian Institute of Sport scientists have found that athletes often fail to fully rehydrate at the end of the day and advise that you should drink enough in the evening that your first morning urine sample should be light in colour;
- alcohol in the evening will dehydrate you (yes, I know this is blindingly obvious);
- caffeine in Coke as well as coffee and theophylline in tea will add to your tendency to dehydrate.

The Australian army uses a really neat two litre belt canteen made of a compressible material so you don't make "slosh-slosh" sounds. Camelbacks are too hot for me.

mike

quote:

Originally posted by AussieMike:
The Australian army uses a really neat two litre belt canteen made of a compressible material so you don't make "slosh-slosh" sounds. Camelbacks are too hot for me.

Mike

Are these water bladders available online anywhere?

Try an insulated camelbak with an insulated "hose" for cooler water.

***

Not meaning to be racist but African blacks seem to be built differently to us "Northern" hemisphere whites. Some of the guys seem to be able to go all day in hot sunny weather without a hat, not drink for hours walking and working. Have a drink only during lunch or in the evening and presumably in the morning. Though some trackers I have noticed do carry their own water. Perhaps foresight and planning!

For the guys not drinking much, do they sweat less?

(as I said, not meaning to be racist, but different races are 'put together' slightly different - eg melanin levels etc)

On a buff hunt where you're tracking much of the day in the heat, I've found that I drink a bottle of water almost ever hour. The trackers have plenty, and as was said earlier, carry it all just for you, though it's not unusual for me to have a bottle in my pocket.
One thing that amazed me was how little water the trackers drink. I would say that after I have gone through 8 bottles in a day while in the bush, they have only had 2, and I'm in pretty decent physical condition. It's their home and through the eons Mother Nature has certainly conditioned them to live.

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:
[

Are these water bladders available online anywhere?

Try an insulated camelbak with an insulated "hose" for cooler water.
For the guys not drinking much, do they sweat less?

(as I said, not meaning to be racist, but different races are 'put together' slightly different - eg melanin levels etc)

John,

The bladders with a belt pouch are sometimes available at army disposal stores - about $A40.

I sweat too much to wear a camelback in the heat, I prefer a bum bag or belt with pouches.

People who don't need to drink much sweat less, any sweat that drips off is wasted, it is not cooling you, similarly sweat soaking into clothing is less efficient. The trackers are usually fit and lean and produce less heat, so need to sweat less.

Also, when you become accustimed to heat the composition of the sweat changes, it becomes less salty. Making sure you have adequate salt intake will also help.

I have worked in the dry heat in Uzbekistan in mid summer where the humidity is low, daytime temps up to 50C and airconditioning uncommon. I could drink 6-8 litres per day, never see a drop of sweat and not pass urine until I'd had about 4 beers at night.

mike

We have an excellent lightweight camo fanny pack that has a pouch big enough for camera, ammo, survival stuff, medications etc. On either side are two pouches that each contain a liter water bottle with a cyclist style closure. There is also a map/licence pocket on the outside. I have used one myself for several years in both Africa and the USA and find it excellent. The pack has "buddy lock" gizmos on it so you can hang additional stuff on the pack or belt, and loops under the pack so you can fold up a tarp (or light jacket) and attach it to the pack. It's made by Field Line and it's only about $25, weighs almost nothing.

AussieMike

Thanks. But most of the "surplus" stores down this way sell "imitation" gear, which is nowhere near as good as old surplus gear.

On my last safari in Namibia I was interested to see the Bushman or San tracker actually put a small water bottle in his pocket for himself. While none of us carried anything. It was supposed to be just a short hike to check some dunes and it was. Normally I did did a small bottle in my pocket though.

The San are supposed to one of the principal desert dwelling races on Earth (other than also some Aussie desert Aboriginals) that traditionally can do with incredibly little water.

Myself I thought he was a smart man, and showed planning and foresight.

A good idea is to thoroughly hydrate in the morning before leaving camp.

Carrying water depends on your setup. We had plenty on the truck in the Selous and I carred 500ml in the pocket of my vest.

If you hydrate thoroughly first thing, it will reduce your need for water later in the day, unless it's just bloody hot, like a late season hunt in Tanzania.

I learned the hard way by doing a July tour in Djibouti. +43C is the norm, and you feel like a piece of jerky after an hour in that sun.

Rehydration salts are also reccommended and can be obtained by googling it and ordering online,or talk with your doctor prior to departure.

There was some talk about newbies getting thirsty...I don't care if you're on your first hunt or your fifteenth, dehydration can become a definite hazard and so can heatstroke and sunstroke. Wear a good bush hat. Boonie hats are great. Keeps the tops of your ears from frying. 1000 LURPS can't be wrong. Baseball caps are for Boddington.