I left my socks, my knife, my extra timberland boots, t-shirts, all the candy I had left, my soft gun cases (sleeves you get for $6 a piece at gunshows here) everything in my shaving kit, (extra razor, shave cream, tribiotic ointment, band-aids, soap, etc) my remaining 375 and 06 ammo.
This was on top of about $1k in tips.

Just about anything I wasn't going to need when I got home.

Ammo that they could use, hydration pack, medications(antibiotics), rifle sling, lenspen, lens cleaning cloth. Have left a couple of really good custom knives with the skinners. Don't think they have seen anything that sharp. Clothes that I take, school supplies for the kids.............It all makes me appreciate what and how we have and have it.

Don't they take those fine customs knives and sharpen them on rocks?

quote:

Originally posted by RAC:
Don't they take those fine customs knives and sharpen them on rocks?

Yep!

I always bring tee shirts and caps which are plentiful here in the oil patch. Sometime I bring knives with white handles that I buy at a local commercial fishing supply store at a reasonable price and sharpen well on rocks. I also bring tennis shoes that my family is discarding.

Just cash...

Light weight, doesn't take up much space, always fits and seems to be useful!

Tips.

80 rounds of Federal 06 ammo with the Barnes 165 bullet.

A couple of ball caps.

When my PH was here in Feb I sent back 3 sets of Burris Binos for the trackers.

I left behind some real good quality hoodies, lots of cash, some epipens, and a whole pile of antibiotics. Most of the antibiotics were taken by the PH's and the camp management for their families as many antibiotics are near impossible to get or outrageously priced. I found it strange as basically no one had ever heard of epipens. As I have a deadly allergy to ibuprofen I carry these everywhere. I also found it strange that nothing for sever allergic reaction was kept in camp.

I used to take all sorts of things as gifts to leave behind like lighters, a lot of knives, shirts and hats but cash transports so much easier and there is never any question about how well it is really recieved that I only give money now. I do leave the PH my leftover ammo in common calibers as it is always welcome.

Mark

Batteries and charger for the PH camera, ammo, coat hangers that they requested we bring over.

Cash, two knives I didn't want to take back and a pair of gloves and a hat that I had lent to my tracker when he was clearly very cold on a frosty morning in Namibia.

I have had more than one PH tell me that expensive gifts, like a good knife will get sold for cash on the trackers first trip into town after Bwana heads back for his home land. They want cash!

Ciprofloxacin (antibiotic)
Babywipes
Gunwipes
375 H&H Ammunition
Skin-so-Soft
A couple of wind-up flashlights
Cash (including a bunch of singles)

What I considered a very nice tip for the PH, tracker, staff, etc.

I also left the extra clothes I purchased so the next poor sole that comes along will have a change of clothes if they are remotely my size.

Left some candy, and other little things I brought along.

Left all the skinners knives and more knives.

2006 just some of what I brought.


Mike

I always buy about 10 or 12 pocket knives from those internet venders! They are cheap and the boys seem to like anything that will cut something. They seem to like the ones with bright colored scales, and I hand them out at various times during the safari, I also take three or four cheap qualifilled light jackets with hoods and watch caps for the boys on the hunting car, because they are always cold.

What they NEED more than anything is cash, and that is what I leave at the end of the safari. Of course I leave all my batteries, sunscreen, and insect repellent a few tubes of Neosporin and aspirin and left over ammo.
...........................................................................

All the above. But.......... one gift was especially appreciated by all the guys.
I took 5 deflated soccer balls and a airing needle. Within minutes, they had one inflated from the 12 volt compressor in one of the trucks and were having the time of their lives !!!!!!!!!

I also packed about 20 squirt guns for the kids of the men. And costume jewelry for their wives.

They got more knives and hats than they can count.

Randy

A bone dry bottle of Oban.

Jorge,
I may have to start hunting with you!

quote:

Originally posted by Jorge400:
A bone dry bottle of Oban.

These are very useful for storing peanuts if you also leave the cork/cap.

Dead Animals.....

I slew of Philadelphia Eagles hats so the next Dallas Cowboy fans that come to camp will wonder why there are so many IGGLES fans.

one of my trackers in Zim wears Tom Ford sunglasses

Anything I didn't want to haul home. Ammo, gun cleaning kits, knives, shoes, shirts etc.

the most important thing though was pictures! Lots and lots of pictures of dead presidents.

cash is king the staff have school fee's for there kids and most of them don't need your old clothes and hats. they sell most everything to get money for what they need at home anyway.

But hook what about the zip ties and duct tape?

quote:

Originally posted by ddrhook:
cash is king the staff have school fee's for there kids and most of them don't need your old clothes and hats. they sell most everything to get money for what they need at home anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by timg953:
But hook what about the zip ties and duct tape?

I hope a good impression, I was in shape and could shoot, When It was time to close the deal I carried my end.



Cash and 250 barnes tsx. he liked my uncle mikes rubber rifle sling and some cold weather gear that he could not find there.


JD

I left cash everytime,,,the universal gift,, then everything else I was carrying except my optics, and weapon of choice. I left preventative meds such as advil, benadry,cipro, tetracyclines, bug spray, jacket,clothes etc. I usually take clothes that I can easily replace or have duplicates at home. I usually only take 3 or 4 changes of clothes in the first place. Deflated soccer balls are always a huge hit, especially the kids,, they don't get any of the cash.
I always ask the Ph what he would like or need before I go,, last time we all took a game cameras for him and left them for him,, and all the batteries we could get on our weight allowance.
Once the Ph wanted DvD's, Disney variety for his kids,, real easy to take and easy to obtain...If you know your Ph,, ask him what he needs from the states and if possible make it happen..

everyone know you can't get zip tie's or duct tape in africa!!!!! everyone except the Africans who use it more than a drunk redneck. the only thing i left other than cash was i gave a set of frogg toggs to a hobbit i know he be a Portuguese hobbit now!!!!

quote:

Posted 24 May 2012 09:42 Hide Post
everyone know you can't get zip tie's or duct tape in africa!!!!

SAYS WHO? Aubrey has a supply duct tape and every owner of a Land Rover has too.

quote:

Originally posted by freischuetz:

quote:

Originally posted by RAC:
Don't they take those fine customs knives and sharpen them on rocks?

Yep!

Also, my PH warned me not to let the skinners use my Randall on my cape buffalo because they would ruin it. The hide was covered in mud, which dulls a knife in moments. As you say, they would then sharpen it on a rock.

I've left behind some clothing and stuff for trackers on different hunts, as well as knifes.

On my last hunt I "donated" a cap to the camp. My PH Russell Lovemore has a collection of caps from previous hunters. On the outside you write your name and the animals you shot, and on the inside you write animals missed. Quite interesting the read on all of them

Meat from my animals, unwanted skins and heads and unexpended ammo for the PH. (even common calibres can be worth quite a bit).

Most of my hunting clothes (I take the oldest outdoor working clothes I have when I go overseas) cooking oil, sugar or cash for the staff.