quote:

Originally posted by Clem:
Carry a roll of butt-wipe in a ziplock bag. Many uses other than the obvious.

I'll go one up on that. Take a box of unscented "baby wipes" on safari with you. Keep a few in a baggie in your day pack. If you get the runs you will be looking for something a bit softer than a handful of leaves!

(1)Give yourself a few days to get into the rhythm of the place. Once you achieve that, treasure it!
(2) Give yourself over to the nature experience. Think about how you were as a kid on your early camping trips - curious about (and observing) everything. Trees, birds, grasses - all that is about you - watch 'em, learn 'em, enjoy 'em.
(3) Take some time off from hunting - maybe every 4th or 5th day just take a break for at least half a day.
(4) Shake off your mistakes. Not easy, but oh so necessary.

Really great post and some outstanding suggestions from the forum members - thanks!!

1.) take some life savers/hard candy, they will help when you are on a stalk and your mouth goes dry.

2.) Addition to the tip about not shooting through brush: If you do shoot through brush and find blood, if your PH says "You hit him hard, he won't go far" get ready for an all day hike.

3.) Take the rifle that you are confident with. You will be in an unframiliar place, shooting at unframiliar game, under the eye of strangers. Knowing that you will hit what you aim at makes that shot easier.

4.) every night take your beverage of choice, walk away from the fire, look up. Yes that is the southern cross.

TerryR

No matter what your PH say, put another shot into the animal unless you are sure it is not ever going to get up again. The amount of meat being wasted by an extra shot is less than the trophy that will go missing if the animal get up and run off.

Wimpie

quote:

Originally posted by Die Ou Jagter:
Don't book package hunts do day rate and trophy fee!

Package hunts make it easier for you PH to not do his job.

Ala Carte is the way to go!

Try to have a day or two with no particular animal on the agenda. Spent my last hunting day doing that; just looking for a really good specimen of whatever we'd find.

All great advice,

I'd like to just emphasize a few points.

1X1 is the only way to go it's absolutely ridiculous to hunt 2x1 for a $100.00 or $200.00 a day difference. You get half the hunting for a lot more than half the price 2X1.

Go now. I have just learned first hand and the hard way, that when health problems hit you it happens with out warning and that's all folks. While there is a chance that I'll never hunt big game again I am damn happy to have the trips that I have done in my memory. I’ll never forget as long as live every buffalo I’ve ever shot and the elephant. And the look on that old dagga boys face right before I killed him at spiting range in full charge.. You can’t buy these experiences in a book or in a film you have to be there to know what it’s really like. (And to know why you should use the right weapon!)

When you do get that new "heavy" rifle go out and use it in field conditions. Go shoot jack rabbits with it go shoot hogs hell just go shoot rocks if that's all you've got. Range time is great for sighting in but after that it's almost worthless for practical applications in true hunting conditions.

Greg

Greg, I'd agree with your 1x1 vs 2x1 unless you have a good friend to go with!

Don

Here are some from my experience:

> Take or borrow a shotgun and enjoy some wingshooting while you are there. Add a few days for this purpose.
> Don't take a long shot even if the PH says "it's 250 meters" esp. when your judgement says closer to 350. The stalk is more than half the fun.
> Don't let the PH pressure you into hunting from the vehicle (unless of course that's your preference in which case you should try doing it the hard way for a change, you won't feel shitty after you pile up the corpses).
> Study the species ahead of time so you know a male from a female (eg Wildebeest, Oryx), and how to judge a good trophy. You decide whether to shoot or not, not the PH.
> Don't fraternize with local women (this is for you Scandinavians!). This can only make trouble and it's exploitation of poverty in the most vulgar sense.

quote:

Originally posted by Don_G:
Greg, I'd agree with your 1x1 vs 2x1 unless you have a good friend to go with!

Don

Agreed but even then I like one on one and if you want to spend a few days hunting together go for it. Family is the only time I think 2X1 makes good sense.

Greg

Main lessons for me:

1. Get a lot fitter before the next safari

2. Practice a lot more in the field from field postions. Preferably on something with hair, fur or skin that can run away.

3. Make sure any deposit is held in trust until close to the commencement of the safari.

4. Once there forget anything else and just have fun.

Take more money than you planned

Take and extra day or 2 prior to beginning the hunt to allow you soul to catch up to you. You will remember more of your hunt, walk better, sleep better, eat better and shoot better.

Travel by road when you can to better see the country. But fly in a light place once in a while to get a birds eye view of Africa.

See the natural wonders in the area you hunt.

Each and drink what the locals do, except for Brandy and Coke.

Perry