I read alot of the posts pertaining to packing lists, etc. How many of you have found that you carried way too much stuff on past safari trips? I especially see this in the way of clothes. If you camp has daily laundry to you really need anymore than 3 full sets of clothes - shirts, pants, drawers. I understand bringing certain cold weather gear, but from what I read you were it out to hunt in the am and around fire at night, but most folks seem to shed this stuff mid day. So if you brought a down jacket, wool shirt/sweater, hat and gloves are you good to go? A lot of the other stuff packs small, so should not be a big worry.

I remember my time in the military and packing for a year long deployment with less stuff than I read about some of the gear folks are taking.

Just musings of someone going, but has not gone.

PhoenixDawg,

You are right! Most people do shed all of that as the day goes on and as you stalk more.

You'll really only want to wear all of that first thing in the morn' and if its colder at night around the braai.

Don't over pack! It's not necessary! Laundry is done everyday. You really only need 3 sets of safari clothes, 1 set of 'regular' clothes, a few undergarments (undies, socks, pjsetc.), a medium weight jacket, gloves and/or hat for the colder parts of the day and that's about it...

Based on my experience over three prior trips, I obscenely overpacked the first trip, still grossly overpacked the second trip, started to get it right the third trip and hopefully will have it mastered this trip. I think most folks take way too much stuff. A couple of changes of clothes, with a jacket or sweater is really all you need on the clothing side (plus a hat). It is laughable some of the stuff I took on the first trip. I'll put it this way, if you are having trouble meeting the airline weight limit of 50 pounds a bag, unless you are hauling stuff over at the request of your PH, you are taking too much.

I didn't take much with me last fall, but it was definately too much.

When I go back in '09 If I wasn't bringing a rifle I'd fly with nothing more than a carry on. I'd like to bring a total of three changes of clothes including the one I'm flying in, a small toilet kit, camera and my hunting boots.

I'd think that even in Zimbabwe if you asked ahead of time the Safari operator could provide a razor and whatever else the airlines and TSA arbitrarily decided you can't bring on the plane.

For me, lighter certainly would have been easier.

Dawg,

The more often I go the less STUFF I take along.

I'll get some arguement on this but......

You don't need:

GPS
A big sheath knife
Big ass cartridge belt
More than 40-60 cartridges
Water carrying contraption
Safari vest
More than 3 changes of clothes

For Africa you need very little if any special STUFF. You probably need less gear than for any big game hunt anywhere else in the world. You definitely don't need SAFARI clothes. Simple cotton pants and shirts in green are perfect.

Mark

you know I read the above comments with amusement. i have always prided myself with traveling light, however, regardless of the time I have been to Africa, I still bring to much junk! From enough whiskey to last two or three weeks; cigars which evaporate, cleaning gear, ammo, optics, camera, sat phone, rifles, etc.,etc.I barely make the weight limiots, in fact, last year, we paid over weight charges. Next month, We are leaving for Zim and despite my best efforts we will look like immigrants.

Here's what I just finished packing into my luggage for my 2-week trip in March to Namibia. This time I am taking almost twice as much as I usually carry because some of my time there will not be exclusively hunting and that I will be about 4 days without daily laundry service. While at social gatherings I try not to look like I'm straight out of the bush.

baseball cap, olive
wide-brim hat, felt, brown
shemagh, dark olive

barn coat, cotton, olive
sweater, fleece, dark khaki
shirt, long-sleeve, cotton, dark khaki or olive (3)
shirt, henley, cotton, dark maroon
shirt, short-sleeve, cotton, semi-casual (2)
t-shirt, cotton, brown or olive(2)

pants, cargo, cotton rip-stop, dark khaki or olive (3)
pants, casual, cotton, light khaki
shorts, cotton, olive
underwear, cotton (5)
belt, leather

boots, ankle-high, leather
shoes, chukka, leather
socks, cotton (5 pairs)

gloves, rough-out, leather

When I get ready to return to the US I usually give away almost all my clothing except what I need for the plane ride home.

Namibiahunter

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:

You don't need:

GPS
A big sheath knife
Big ass cartridge belt
More than 40-60 cartridges
Water carrying contraption
Safari vest
More than 3 changes of clothes

. . . and:

- A range finder
- Rain gear
- A set of binoculars that would make the Coast Guard proud
- Gun cleaning equipment more than a bore snake

Hell, you don't NEED soap, deodorant, meds, spare eyeglasses, spare shoelaces, either, but, life is much easier with them. you cannot rely upon anyone having what you need: the green machine used to say, you are not paid to bring it back. Thinking back, when we went down range our rucks usually weighed between 85-110 pounds for each of the 4-6 man unit, this for a trip lasting 4-10 days

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Dawg,

The more often I go the less STUFF I take along.

I'll get some arguement on this but......

You don't need:

GPS
A big sheath knife
Big ass cartridge belt
More than 40-60 cartridges
Water carrying contraption
Safari vest
More than 3 changes of clothes

For Africa you need very little if any special STUFF. You probably need less gear than for any big game hunt anywhere else in the world. You definitely don't need SAFARI clothes. Simple cotton pants and shirts in green are perfect.

Mark

Mark,

I will disagree with you on the cartridge belt........IF you are baboon "busting"

I envy you Americans, 50lbs a bag!! From Oz it's 20 kilos for the lot............I always travel light!

I don't take fleece as it picks up too many grass seeds etc and if you take lots of layers, there is nowhere to put them in the safari truck. So, an abrasion resistant soft shell, parka, gloves is all I take with me for the cold am and pm rides.

Mark

big ass cartridge belt, I think we can market that thing call it the

BACB,

set up a booth in Reno and away we go

What about the crossed Mexican style ones, Panch Villa style...........bloody perfect

Blair

That would be call the

BAMSCB(Big ass mexican style cartridge belt)

i agree with you its hard to get it right but it took me about 10 trips to africa to get it right but i still like my own belt with cartridge holder and folding knife not for skinning but so i have one as a tool for cutting up an apple or something like that. i find that a open bullet holder serves me best as i can get them out and reloaded as fast as i can but its true most of them are to much.I think a good medical kit is important for personal medications, you never anticipate an accident

I think we all over pack. I a like to boast about how I have it down to a science and can get everything in a carry on, which I have done several times.

After my last trip I tought about taking a photograph of what I took, and what I didn't need or touch.

For me, I find the hardest part of the whole endeavor is finding al the little stuff I have that I want to bring- which usually takes several hours, though I try to keep it all together at home.

My list

I wear comfortable and easy to wash and iron street clothes, good for travel and something nice enbough to wear out for dinner, and carry whatever coat I will wear while hunting. I don't wear any hunting clothes on the plane, camo, boots, etc.

One kit bag with
surefire flash light with extra batteries
sunglasses
ammo holder
hunting belt
hunting watch
small binos


Then for the rest of my bag:

one pair long pants ,that zip off into shorts
1 or 2 pair shorts
2 hunting shirts
3 pair hunting socks
2 pair underwear (plus the one I am wearing)
2 folodable hats (ball cap and wide brim)
flip flops or lightweight shoes for aroud camp
sweat suit to wear on plane and around camp

noise cancelling headsets
a couple of books
lightweigt boots
small digital camera

I put a knife in the gun case

And I buy all my toiletires while leaving the airport.

This way I can check one bag ( the rifle case, with ammo inside, though this is sometimes problematic- see my post in Travel re ammo)

And I zip through departure and arrival.

No waiting for bags, then off to firearms, depending on the country, and push them to get my rifle case first, and I am usually if not always the first in line to process my rifle.

On our trip this year to Namibia, my wife did not have a second checked bag. We packed one regular hard suitcase for all the curios and carvings to bring back. We loaded it with 50# of books, puzzles, and games for the workers children on the ranch. That is the only time we have ever tested a weight limit.

I have the biggest, ugliest orange Cabela's waterproof carry-on you have seen. No one would dare try to steal it. It will hold two weeks worth of stuff. Smash it down and it fits into any overhead, and in 20 years, it is all I have needed for a trip. If a checked bag with convenience stuff doesn't arrive, I am still able to hunt just fine.

What might seem too much for one person is just right for the one toting it. I think I took too much stuff, but then again most people would not have put up w/ the amount of camera equipment that I carried. However, having it to do all over again I would have taken even more camera stuff in my kit. So to each his own, but the suggested lists are way too long. Dr.C

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:

You don't need:

GPS
A big sheath knife
Big ass cartridge belt
More than 40-60 cartridges
Water carrying contraption
Safari vest
More than 3 changes of clothes

. . . and:

- A range finder
- Rain gear
- A set of binoculars that would make the Coast Guard proud
- Gun cleaning equipment more than a bore snake

Oddly enough, my rangefinder was the only piece of equipment I left at home that I wished I had! On the other hand, my hunt was successful, so perhaps the rangefinder wasn't really necessary after all.

However, I did take a Big Assed Cartridge Belt. I got such a ribbing about it that each day, I carried fewer and fewer rounds in it. Finally, about seven days into the hunt, every animal left on my list jumped out in front of me and I got back to the truck after dark with ONE round left.

If I ever go back, the one piece of equipment I will be taking is an Even Bigger Assed Cartridge Belt (EBACB)!

While I generally agree with comments about taking too much, I generally plan any where from five to seven days travel before or after the hunt which requires several more sets of clothes. Even so, I can get my clothes, ammo, gear, and extra shoes in a large duffel with room to spare. Kudude

I took way too much crap on my first safari, the list gets shorter every trip. Less is better.

The first time I met Mark Young was in a bush camp in Zimbabwe in 1994. It was a first safari for both of us and I used a borrowed rifle and those little shell carriers that federal puts in their boxes. Five safaris later the only things Ive changed is I bought my own rifle and I bring a big assed cartridge belt,BACB, because it looks so cool in photos. I did go on an elephant cull once and used every shell in the belt before I got back to the land cruiser.

quote:

Originally posted by Phoenixdawg:
Blair

That would be call the

BAMSCB(Big ass mexican style cartridge belt)

Here's me in my Big Assed Cartridge Belt



Don't leave home without one!

Wooly,

How many rounds does that thing hold?

Damn, I'd like one of those for a 'roo hunt (or any hunt)

I have one of those heavy leather ammo belts - 15 rounds it lasted 2 days, I like the fold over holding 10 rounds. I also used a sling that holds 4 rounds and then you have say 4 rounds in the rifle well hell that is just about a box of ammo. I carry a RR, multi tool and folding knife on my pants belt. My binos are compact 10X25 which fit in my shirt pocket and my camera fits in my other shirt pocket. The binos and camera have lite lanyards so I don't drop them I am good to go. Oh yea the sun glasses in a hard case in a cargo pant pocket and the chap stick in my pants pocket.

My rule: If you have to pause and think whether you have to take or leave something - leave it.

I agree that I always take along way too much on Safari no matter what Country or type of hunt it is. And no doubt I could "do" with a whole lot less, but why? I usually use a Tuff Pak containing 2 rifles and some clothing and a pair of boots, checks in pushing the 50# limit. My other checked bag will be between 43#/45# and the carry on with optics, cameras, etc. will go at least another 15#. I like using all my "toys", especially on Safari. To me that's one of the neat things about it. It's not like I have to carry all the stuff on my back each day, as compared to a backcountry elk hunt. Plus I see no real need to do without an item or extra piece of clothing if it adds to my comfort and enjoyment. I have never had a PH complain about the amount of gear I bring and it's never been a problem getting it all to camp. I leave some stuff behind for the staff/PH so a little room is created for goodies I might pick up. I just don't see Safari as a "see how much you can leave behind" thing. I most likely would never pay "excess baggage" costs, but usually use most all of my allowance. I do not have a "Big Ass Cartridge Belt", yet!! But will have before I leave for Namibia in April, since I am still a few pounds under the Airline limit!! Go, hunt and enjoy.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

I never go without my BACB - and a BA sombrero.



It's easy to pack too much.

I really would like one of those chest bandoliers. Does anyone know where I can get one?

Namibiahunter

namibiahunter

Here are some

Bandolero

Aziz

Namibiahunter,

Please DO show up on your next safari with one of those bandoleros.

Mark

When I started to go to Africa to hunt I was provided a packing list and additions to it from conversations with previous clients. Over the years, on each trip, I make a list of what I take and what got used!. I have done the same thing with our trips to Europe.

Over time, I have developed a check list for African hunting and general touring. My lists for Africa include one for cold weather hunting in the Cape and for other places. I use it every time I saddle up. You don't want too much, but you aren't going to Wally World and pick up something you forgot either. Kudude

quote:

Originally posted by Blair338/378:
Wooly,

How many rounds does that thing hold?

Damn, I'd like one of those for a 'roo hunt (or any hunt)

That baby will hold 25 rounds of Remington's finest! Mind you, 25 rounds of 375 H&H ammo will have your cargo pants down around your knees before you're 100 yards from the truck. I only stoked it with 9 or 10 cartridges after the first day.

I did shoot myself down to one round one day, though.

quote:

Originally posted by namibiahunter:
I really would like one of those chest bandoliers. Does anyone know where I can get one?

Namibiahunter

I think I might just take one of those BAMSCB's on my hunt this year! Thanks for the link Aziz.

quote:

Originally posted by kudude:
When I started to go to Africa to hunt I was provided a packing list and additions to it from conversations with previous clients. Over the years, on each trip, I make a list of what I take and what got used!. I have done the same thing with our trips to Europe.

Over time, I have developed a check list for African hunting and general touring. My lists for Africa include one for cold weather hunting in the Cape and for other places. I use it every time I saddle up. You don't want too much, but you aren't going to Wally World and pick up something you forgot either. Kudude

Kudude - would you mind posting your lists or sending via a PM? These would possibly be very helpful to us first timers.

quote:

Originally posted by Oday450:

quote:

Originally posted by kudude:
When I started to go to Africa to hunt I was provided a packing list and additions to it from conversations with previous clients. Over the years, on each trip, I make a list of what I take and what got used!. I have done the same thing with our trips to Europe.

Over time, I have developed a check list for African hunting and general touring. My lists for Africa include one for cold weather hunting in the Cape and for other places. I use it every time I saddle up. You don't want too much, but you aren't going to Wally World and pick up something you forgot either. Kudude

Kudude - would you mind posting your lists or sending via a PM? These would possibly be very helpful to us first timers.

Try Terry Carr's list as well:

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/122101325/m/869101261

Cheers,
Andy

And a sombrero too - but one that hasn't been chewed on.

Namibiahunter

quote:

Originally posted by namibiahunter:
I really would like one of those chest bandoliers. Does anyone know where I can get one?

Namibiahunter

www.cabelas.com has them, just go to their home page
and use their search box entering "bandolero".

namibiahunter you are demanding, I hope you can find the perfect one for your next african safari.

sombrero

Aziz

Agree with the travel light posts....now as to the cartidge belt. I was hesitant to try using one, bought a Murry version because it was so darn well made....like I said, felt a little foolish using it the first time, BUT, I found it one of the best and most usful tools I have ever bought...you can laugh at me, call me Pancho or Stewie Granger, whatever, I found the utility value high.