Anyone have great success or failure with a hand held GPS for use in Africa?

I've used various models of Etrex and had no problems whatsoever in several trips.

Whatever model you get, make sure you can incorporate Google Earth satellite overlay maps. Garmin makes it fairly easy to do this.

I have been using the Garmin etrex for years, and love them.

I have a Magellan SportTrak that's a least 10 years old.
Took it to Namibia in 2013 and it recorded every trophy location with no problems.
Once in a while I will go to Mapper.com and put in the coordinates and reminiscence.

MauserK98

Depends on your goals. If you need many points to be recorded, the SPOT http://international.findmespot.com/ is very useful. Also you have an ability to send OK (or SOS) messages with actual point on map to your family and friends. You can adjust to record all your way on the map.

If you just need the emergency way to the camp - Bushnel BackTrack is OK. http://bushnell.com/hunting/gps
You can record few points like camp, car, huge ele bull or something

I use both.

The Bushnel Back Track is a great tool for hunting. Locates start and finish and one other coordinate with the press of a button.

Spare batteries are really important when using a GPS.

My Garmin Oregon with Garmin topographic maps and T4A maps is my constant companion when out and about.
It has been hunting, mountaneering, overlanding and white water rafting without missing a beat for years.

For those who like to keep track of how much they walk, they might consider what I used this year.

It is a SUUNTO AMBIT3 PEAK sports watch.

I set it on TREKKING and measured the daily distances we walked.

We did not really do much of that this year - total was about 230 Kilometers.

On one safari we did close to 400!!

I've been using the Garmin Fenix for a couple of years.