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Going to Africa in less than two years......what do you do on the long plane ride?
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Picture of ted thorn
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I my have a hundred questions in the next year or so but what do you guys do on the long plane ride?


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Posts: 7361 | Location: South East Missouri | Registered: 23 November 2005Reply With Quote
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Going . . . anxiously and nervously await getting there.

Coming back . . . lament the fact that the time passed by far too quickly and plan on when you can go back.

For more practical suggestions, see this link:

http://forums.accuratereloadin...8121043/m/4801073671


Mike
 
Posts: 21966 | Registered: 03 January 2006Reply With Quote
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I find myself trying to sleep usually without much success. To be honest I think the ride is just plain miserable. The only thing you can really do is get on and tough it out. Having said that you'll have one of the best hunts of your life and the plane ride will only be a small price to pay.

Any ideas where you are going yet?
 
Posts: 11636 | Location: Wisconsin  | Registered: 13 February 2006Reply With Quote
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Some airlinies have some pretty good board enterntainment.

I usually have a few beers and try to sleep Wink


http://www.dr-safaris.com/
Instagram: dr-safaris
 
Posts: 2109 | Location: Around the wild pockets of Europe | Registered: 09 January 2009Reply With Quote
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Go over mental list of everything packed, to make sure I have what's necessary (twice as much money and half as many clothes Smiler. Think of ways and questions to ensure myself and others have a good time, and establish expectations for the PH to accomodate.

Really, you're a bit anxious that your bags and guns get there, and all connections work out. Dealing with a good travel specialist makes a lot of that worrying un-necessary.
 
Posts: 1517 | Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho | Registered: 03 June 2004Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Heym 450/400:Any ideas where you are going yet?


I'm going with a group of Colorado boys I met from this forum


http://www.keiriverhuntingsafaris.co.za/


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Posts: 7361 | Location: South East Missouri | Registered: 23 November 2005Reply With Quote
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For any flight over about six hours, I try to fly business class.

Damn expensive, but worth it to me. I've wasted enough hunting days adjusting or recovering from the flight. More privacy, easier to sleep and slightly better food. Plus you actually get some attention from the stewardess'.

If it means I have to save for another year...so be it.

Other than that, an Ipod and a couple hundred tunes help pass the time. A Kindle would probably help too, but I haven't tried one yet.
 
Posts: 559 | Location: Mostly USA | Registered: 25 March 2011Reply With Quote
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Set your watch to Africa time once you board the plane, and try to get on their time zone as soon as possible.

Besides that, some tunes, a good book, and playing on the in-flight entertainment system.

It usually goes by fast going, but then again I'll be sitting in the front of the bus in Business Class!


Graybird

"Make no mistake, it's not revenge he's after ... it's the reckoning."
 
Posts: 3722 | Location: Okie in Falcon, CO | Registered: 01 July 2004Reply With Quote
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Read read and than read some more
 
Posts: 1903 | Location: Greensburg, Pa. | Registered: 09 August 2002Reply With Quote
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Get a prescription for Ambien. That's what I do when I fly to Asia or the MidEast ... It's the only time I take it.


Regards,

Chuck



"There's a saying in prize fighting, everyone's got a plan until they get hit"

Michael Douglas "The Ghost And The Darkness"
 
Posts: 4805 | Location: Colorado Springs | Registered: 01 January 2008Reply With Quote
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Having made the flight some 20 times here are some suggestions. Before, get to bed earlier and up earlier. If you can, aim for 4am and then when you get there you ll have less jet lag. Set you watch a day before for africa. Book Saa via new York for the direct flight and miss out Dakkar if you are going to SA. Take some good books, enjoy a movie but try to get to sleep Africa time. Don't drink much. I used to take a short acting sleeping tablet but with the risk of clots I would skip them if you are older. Take an aspirin before hand anyway. Do the calf excercises and drink a lot of water. Wake up early as you come over Angola. It may be your first but not last!
 
Posts: 485 | Registered: 16 April 2012Reply With Quote
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I read watch movies snack and sleep.
I do have a friend who actually got lucky on the flight over,he was in 1st class and I was in coach.


If your parents didn't have any children chances are you won't either.
 
Posts: 479 | Location: Davie Florida | Registered: 15 January 2005Reply With Quote
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Two tylenol PM and two glasses of Cabernet and you wake up in Africa.


Mike

Legistine actu quod scripsi?

Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.




What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
 
Posts: 10181 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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eat, drink, sleep( with the aid of sleeping pill) watch a few movies i missed, read- not necessarily in that order. i always fly in the front but even in couch, you can stand anything for 16-18 hours- after all, women go through 12-24 hours of labor without dying from the experience. the ride home is infinitely worse as the fun is over and your are trying to figure out how quick you can go back!


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Posts: 13653 | Location: Georgia | Registered: 28 October 2006Reply With Quote
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get on the gass Big Grin
 
Posts: 896 | Location: Langwarrin,Australia | Registered: 06 September 2007Reply With Quote
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Sleep, read, watch movies and walk around the plane a few times....
 
Posts: 712 | Location: England | Registered: 01 January 2010Reply With Quote
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The long plane ride is a neccessary evil.
Since I don't know a better way to get there & back, I simply set back & try to survive it.
Flying business class helps a lot.


LORD, let my bullets go where my crosshairs show.
Not all who wander are lost.
NEVER TRUST A FART!!!
Cecil Leonard
 
Posts: 2786 | Location: Northeast Louisianna | Registered: 06 October 2009Reply With Quote
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First of all, if you can afford it, business class or better is a must. The "lie flat" beds are critical to the strategy outlined below.

Immediately upon boarding the airplane, set your watch to the time zone of your landing point (if not direct flight, the initial landing point likely is in Europe somewhere). At bedtime, in the landing point time zone, take an ambien/sleeping pill of your choice. If you have a second leg of the flight, repeat above instructions.

So, for example, if you leave NY for Heathrow at 5 p.m., it is 11 pm London time, and you need to dose yourself almost immediately upon takeoff. Alternatively, on a recent direct from NY to Joburg that departed 11 a.m. NY time (6 p.m. Joburg time) wait 3 or 4 hours into the flight before knocking yourself out. For me, at least, the sleeping pills tend to work for about 6 hours. Not perfect, but at least you will arrive in Africa somewhat rested and ready to hunt, vs. needing a full day to recover from the trip.

As for time awake on the airplane: Kindle loaded with a bunch of African hunting books, plus inflight movies.
 
Posts: 113 | Location: The Republic of Texas | Registered: 26 January 2011Reply With Quote
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DD, at first I thought you ment he joined the mile high club. Big Grin
 
Posts: 5338 | Location: Bedford, Pa. USA | Registered: 23 February 2002Reply With Quote
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Two words: "Kindle Fire". My wife bought me one for my birthday, and I've now downloaded ten books I want to read, plus "Angry Birds" game.


Jesus saves, but Moses invests
 
Posts: 1388 | Location: Lake Bluff, IL | Registered: 02 May 2008Reply With Quote
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With 2 years and counting before the trip, I would be more concerned on how to pass the time and think about the flight when it is closer to take-off time.
 
Posts: 2731 | Registered: 23 August 2010Reply With Quote
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one ambien - 7 hours
one computer battery 5 hours
two movies - 3-4 hours
if you dont have work or stuff to do on your computer replace that with reading....


"The greatest threat to our wildlife is the thought that someone else will save it”

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Posts: 1201 | Location: South Africa  | Registered: 04 March 2005Reply With Quote
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10 weeks to go.....let's chat some more....I'm starting to get excited


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Posts: 7361 | Location: South East Missouri | Registered: 23 November 2005Reply With Quote
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Ted,

Between napping, movies, meals, drinks etc the time will go faster than you think.

Your off on a real adventure. I'll be lookng forward to your hunt report.

Shoot straight and have fun.

Mark


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Posts: 13115 | Location: LAS VEGAS, NV USA | Registered: 04 August 2002Reply With Quote
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Ted, 10 weeks? That's about when I leave for my 14th time over, this time it's back to Malapati in Zim with Nixon again. I just bought 7 Safari books I didn't have, to use on future trips. I read, watch movies, eat, sleep, and we're there! It's not that bad.
 
Posts: 20177 | Location: Very NW NJ up in the Mountains | Registered: 14 June 2009Reply With Quote
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Next week we are off to Africa for a week.

I have filled up my 128GB ipad with TV shows and movies I like to watch, in addition to several dozen books, from both ibooks and amazon.

I find that I spend about half the time reading, and half watching my movies.

We are travelling on Emirates, which has an exceptional entertainment programs, especially in First Class.


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Posts: 69676 | Location: Dubai, UAE | Registered: 08 January 1998Reply With Quote
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I have a completely different take on it. You have to be on the plane that long regardless. Embrace it as part of the experience and adventure. Now, I even look forward to it.

I have met some extraordinary people on the flights.

The two days of travel are to be anticipated, not dreaded.

Steve


Formerly "Nganga"
 
Posts: 3760 | Location: Phoenix, Arizona | Registered: 26 April 2010Reply With Quote
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For someone with long legs like me I buy all the legroom I can afford. With my budget that generally means exit row or any kind of upgrade from coach. Take a good pain reliever like Alleve as you get on the plain (helps with my arthritic knees). Take some form of sleep aid and try to sleep on Africa time. Bring the Kindle for entertainment.
Have fun!


Have gun- Will travel
The value of a trophy is computed directly in terms of personal investment in its acquisition. Robert Ruark
 
Posts: 3831 | Location: Cave Creek, AZ | Registered: 09 August 2001Reply With Quote
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Xanex.


Dick Gunn

“You must always stop and roll in the good stuff;
it may not smell this way tomorrow.”

Lucy, a long deceased Basset Hound

"
 
Posts: 180 | Registered: 25 June 2010Reply With Quote
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Ted Thorn,

My wife and I went to Namibia on Safari in May 2013. This was my first time to Africa.
We flew Delta "Coach Comfort" on the Bulk Head. My wife is always board if flying is over 3 hours. As for me, going over was great, pumped up, excited, watching movies, sleeping, etc.
Coming back was hell. Hunt was over, no more pumped up, nothing to look forward to. Long, Long flight.
Take advantage of the free booze, eat a lot and sleep; if you can.
If you take the Bulk Head, try to get one of the 3 outside seats. Plenty of room to get up and walk around without stepping over anyone.

MauserK98
 
Posts: 193 | Location: Tennessee | Registered: 01 June 2003Reply With Quote
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It can be tough, so I do lot of walking, avoid alcohol and sugary drinks ( easier on jet leg and sugar high and low ), talking and listening to other people, occasional movie and cat naps.


" Until the day breaks and the nights shadows flee away " Big ivory for my pillow and 2.5% of Neanderthal DNA flowing thru my veins.
When I'm ready to go, pack a bag of gunpowder up my ass and strike a fire to my pecker, until I squeal like a boar.
Yours truly , Milan The Boarkiller - World according to Milan
PS I have big boar on my floor...but it ain't dead, just scared to move...

Man should be happy and in good humor until the day he dies...
Only fools hope to live forever
“ Hávamál”
 
Posts: 13376 | Location: In mountains behind my house hunting or drinking beer in Blacksmith Brewery in Stevensville MT or holed up in Lochsa | Registered: 27 December 2012Reply With Quote
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I watch TV, eat and drink Scotch...

Pretty much what I do everyday at home. Big Grin

I do get up and walk about the plane every two or 3 hours.

The plane ride does not bother me at all, as I view it a necessary part of the hunt, so I enjoy it. Smiler


DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY
 
Posts: 16134 | Location: Texas | Registered: 06 April 2002Reply With Quote
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I spend some time getting myself settled as comfortably as possible by trying different leg, arm and seat positions. That usually takes about 16 hours. Then I sleep for about an hour or so, and voila, I'm there. Smiler
 
Posts: 861 | Registered: 17 September 2009Reply With Quote
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I have really big problems sleeping on airplanes. One time I was traveling home from SA. I was early on J-burg AirPort and succeded to sweet talk me to an emergancy seat (I'm 1.90m). When the plane was taxing out I found myself sitting (only two seats in that row) with a nice lady from J-burg traveling to visit her sister in London. She liked (like me) to have several drinks. When it was time to sleep I told her that I have enormous problems sleeping on planes. She told me that I should try one of her pills. I asked what kind of pills it was, she answered -no worries it is only herbal and you are a big guy so you should take two. I waked up in London drewling, barely made it out of the plane. Got on the plane to Swedem but was not really myself. When my wife picked me up on Umeå airport in Northern Sweden she imideately asked what was wrong? When we arrived home I sleept for almost 10 hours. I would love to know what "herbal" pills she gave me...
 
Posts: 292 | Location: Northernmost Sweden | Registered: 17 July 2013Reply With Quote
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As others have said I set my clock to the destination's, and try to maintain that schedule by either staying up longer or forcing myself to sleep.

When I am up, there is always Kindle books on my iPad or the entertainment system.

One thing to re-emphasize is if you can afford it business class is the way to go. The beds that recline 180 degrees make a huge difference on freshness at arrival.
 
Posts: 1083 | Location: Southern CA | Registered: 01 January 2014Reply With Quote
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Remember to start drinking water from when you leave home to the return trip. A/C and jet lag eat it up. Put a small bottle in your front pants pocket when you leave the 'bakkie' (pickup), too.

You've gotten lots of good advice so far...


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Posts: 4899 | Location: Bryan, Texas | Registered: 12 January 2005Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by BNagel:
Remember to start drinking water from when you leave home to the return trip. A/C and jet lag eat it up. Put a small bottle in your front pants pocket when you leave the 'bakkie' (pickup), too.

You've gotten lots of good advice so far...


If you are a man of experience (read older) get an aisle seat; with all that water drinking (which is the right thing to do) you will need to "go" quite a bit. Crawling over your seatmate if you don't have an aisle seat can get frustrating.
 
Posts: 209 | Registered: 20 December 2007Reply With Quote
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I purchased coach comfort front row aisle both ways. I am a good bit over 6 ft and took the advise from many here that suggested I should.

As far as flirting with older flight attendants.....my wife will be sitting in the seat next to me so......


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Posts: 7361 | Location: South East Missouri | Registered: 23 November 2005Reply With Quote
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I travel economy comfort, put my watch to Zim time when I board, watch lots of movies, and pop two Ambien when it is midnight where I'm going. I wake in 6-8 hours and have not experienced jet lag since I'be been doing this.
Cal


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Cal Pappas, Willow, Alaska
www.CalPappas.com
www.CalPappas.blogspot.com
1994 Zimbabwe
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1998 Zimbabwe
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1999 Namibia, Botswana, Zambia--vacation
2000 Australia
2002 South Africa
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2005 South Africa
2005 Zimbabwe
2006 Tanzania
2006 Zimbabwe--vacation
2007 Zimbabwe--vacation
2008 Zimbabwe
2012 Australia
2013 South Africa
2013 Zimbabwe
2013 Australia
2016 Zimbabwe
2017 Zimbabwe
2018 South Africa
2018 Zimbabwe--vacation
2019 South Africa
2019 Botswana
2019 Zimbabwe vacation
2021 South Africa
2021 South Africa (2nd hunt a month later)
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Posts: 7281 | Location: Willow, Alaska | Registered: 29 June 2009Reply With Quote
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I always take a Wilbur Smith book to read. Ambien also. Thoughts of Africa your hunt and time there.

Mike tu2


Michael Podwika... DRSS bigbores and hunting www.pvt.co.za " MAKE THE SHOT " 450#2 Famars
 
Posts: 6768 | Location: Wyoming, Pa. USA | Registered: 17 April 2003Reply With Quote
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