I've read a few posts from guys that always want a GPS with them in Africa.

Curious if that is typical, viewed as a good idea when one starts the tracking hunts?

In terms of a recommendation, I like garmin units, any one that stands out as a good unit to take on safari? Anything I should be particularly looking for in terms of features?

Thanks

I think any of them will work fine.

What I liked best was that I could take the location, stored by the GPS, and then enter the coordinates into Google Earth and show friends/family what it looked like there.

shane

I mark the camp. If the vehicle will be stationery when I leave it I mark the vehicle. I've seen trackers get lost when the sun gets low and one tends to rely a great deal on your trackers for direction even if I always try myself.

I generally turn it off the rest of the time and may mark areas of interest. Like a cross roads or a pan or water etc.

I use the small Garmin handhelds due to after sales service here in SA.

I was in Zambia in December and spent time at a lodge (photographic). On a game drive we had a vehicle break down. The radio couldn't make contact and it became an 8 hour game drive. Then ti didn't look so silly to have a GPS with the lodge marked, lighter and bag of tricks with me (and a pair of boots instead of slops on the drive and a hat).

Just edit to add that I use rechargeable batteries and carry a set of spare new store bought as well. Rechargeables can charge in the vehicle or in camp depending on what facilities you have.

I use a Garmin Etrex.

It is very small and fits in my pocket.

I always mark the camp as soon as we arrive.

I mark the truck as we leave it on a hunt.

I plan on bringing one along on my next trip. I use a Garmin 64S. What base maps do you gentlemen recommend?

I have no maps loaded aside from what it comes with (very limited). I use my gps to get where I am going on foot so roads are a nice to have but my application of the gps is basic. Tracks for Africa is a favourite here as I recall; maybe research that. I'm not sure how well most hunting areas are covered. You can also build tracks as you drive around as some of my mates do.

Thanks all. Will check out the etrex, been looking at the montana.

You must decide what works for you. I use am Etrex 20 which requires you to move to triangulate the compass. The Etrex 30 and Montana as I recall have a magnetic compass. I would prefer that if I did it again. I cannot stand still and get a direction in which to travel. Its a PITA sometimes.

My advise is to drop the GPS's if you are using a Smart phone. I as a PH have been using my iPhone for the past three years and have been happier with that than any GPS I have used. For my iPhone I downloaded an APP called GAIA GPS offline maps and it works really well. You select the area you want and you download satellite imagery. If you use an Android phone there is an even better offline APP called Backcountry Navigator. With your phone you have much better screens than you will get on a GPS.

I do as Saeed does.
I use a small etrex and mark camp, and truck locations every time we go for a stalk. I also plot the roads we drive on, so by the end I've got a fair bit of the area covered.
If something went to Sh.... I can get back to camp if I need to!!
Also put waypoints on the game I take, as a reference . It's cool looking at the old waypoints from safaris
Of old, my last 2 ele kills were over 1000km apart!( straight line distance from ZIm to Namibia)


Cheers

Nick

Without a doubt the Etrex that uses AA batteries. Not the recharge.
Also not the touch screen model, you want the one which uses the least power.

You can carry a spare set of batteries in your pack and that should give you almost a week of use under emergency conditions.

I take the car cable and cradle along too and use it on power when not in my pocket.
Works a treat and will get you back to the truck in the dark no matter the terrain.

as was mentioned, trackers are not infallible, so mark the truck, mark hides you use, mark camp and mark game downed in odd places.

Without a doubt this little bit of kit goes everywhere with me

quote:

offline APP called Backcountry Navigator. With your phone you have much better screens than you will get on a GPS.

+1

Those little Etrex are good. I use one as my No2 GPS when hunting our Wild Arnhemland.

I shot a buffalo deep in Tanzania, it was late evening and we took a 4 hour walk out of there at night..The next morning our tracker took us straight to the bull..I was amazed at the indigenous of Africa and their skill..I asked how he walked straight back to the bull, was he back tracking? He pulled out a GPS, said this works evertime boss...So much for the great African and histarical history..

Same with tracking in many cases..Ask how did you find that bull, the answer was I went the way he was running when I last saw him..