I was having a talk to various PH's and this topic came up..........

SHOOTING SKILLS: The ability to shoot QUICKLY and Accurately? And or the ability to shoot at longer than normal ranges, if necessary. Most PH's feel this is the most important skill for any client, quite naturally.

PHYSICAL FITNESS: How important is this for African Hunting?

EQUIPMENT: Well built rifles, the best optics, the right projectile for the intended quarry, etc?

A GOOD PH: How vital is this?

MONEY: The financial wherewithal to hunt on the best concessions, pay the highest trophy fees, pay for the best gear, the best PH.........this one is a minefield!

RESEARCH: The time taken to check which areas produce the best heads, best concessions etc?

FIELDCRAFT: How important are these skills in African hunting?

Anything I have missed?

Cheers,

To sum it up: Independently wealthy.

There are a few things in life that cannot be bought. African safari hunting success is not one of them.

Money.

the desire to hunt
the ability to overlook minor things
patience

Money...and time to spend it.

Define successful. Is it putting a good head on the wall or is it about having the time of your life. It could be time and money or attitude depending on your definition.

Money!!

Shooting ability........+ money to pay the bills.

But if you can't shoot, no amount of money will bag the trophy.

Addressed in Order (as seen from a one trip bwannabe, so please no one take it to heart and get all upset):

Shooting Skills: There is no single answer for this. I personally believe that an all-around good shot (quick/accurate at all ranges – able to shoot with a scope or iron sites depending on the situation) is the only way to go. You can never tell where or when a shot is going to present itself. Mainly I think if the hunter knows his limitations and expresses such to the PH, doesn’t take a shot he is not comfortable with…there should be no problems. But then, Mr. Murphy is always out there hot on your heels, so…

Physical Fitness: I think physical fitness is key to any successful hunt. The healthier the hunter, the more enjoyable the time spent hunting. And there is no point in going on safari, spending all that time and resources only to have to stop hunting because you can’t make the walk, or you miss a shot because you could not move fast enough to get into position, you sounded like a Rhino snorting and scared the game off after a 100 yard trot, etc, etc, etc.

Equipment: Having the best gear and the custom rifle and handmade boots is nice. There is no doubt about it. But is it all necessary? I don’t think so. Would you refuse to hunt if only you showed up in Africa and your bags were vacationing in the Antarctic? I wouldn’t. I would be looking to use the camp rifle, or a loaner from wherever I could find one, regardless of its set up. Even the worse bullet will kill if properly placed. We all place a great deal of emphasis on our gear, me included, and if given the choice I would much rather use my own, but in reality, when the cards are on the table, I don’t think it really much matters.

A good PH:
I think a good PH is vital to the success of a safari. But what is a good PH? Is he the guy who is a decent judge of trophies, but is lacking in personality? Or is he the guy who keeps you in stitches and liquored up for the whole trip, but can’t tell a kudu from a klipspringer (I highly doubt there is a ph out there who can’t tell the difference, but you get the idea right?) Is it a combination of both? What is going to make the trip for you? Are you happy as long as he runs a good camp and gives his best effort to get you trophies, but isn’t always able to produce? Good is relative.

Money:
Ah, the root of all evil. I guess in the end it all comes down to money. Personally I would rather go on a skimpy hunt with someone I like and be limited on my choice of animals than spend ever cent I could get my hands on and be stuck with someone I couldn’t stand. Where is the best concession? Does it matter? I know that no one wants to be shuffled off to the land of no animals, but it is called hunting…not shooting. Spending the most money on safari doesn’t guarantee the biggest trophies, or the best time. It only guarantees the most money spent.
Research: ?Naw. Send Ganyana a pm and ask him where to go. Research done. ïŠ

Fieldcraft: Extremely important. How could it not be? Why travel all that way and waste the time and effort to get within shooting distance of an animal to do nothing more than step on and break a stick underfoot so the animal can run off? Do you need to be a world-class tracker – no? But don’t you want to be able to recognize the tracks, be able to point them out here and there. Be able to follow a blood trail, etc? I sure do. I know there are people there who are paid to do that, but every set of eyes helps.

Just my opinion.
Brian

Time and money. The PH can make up for just about any other weaknesses

Patience.

quote:

What Are the Most Necessary Attributes to be a "Successful" African Hunter?

Sometimes all you need is an internet connection, a PC and a keyboard ...

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:

Sometimes all you need is an internet connection, a PC and a keyboard ...

I am going to go in a different direction than the previous posts. To me it is the LOVE OF:

Being in the great outdoors of AFRICA, where anything can and will happen. Nothing is taken for granted. Preparing yourself for the unexpected, rolling with the punches, and getting back on your feet - You Are In Africa!

Challenging yourself to hours if not days of stalking, always learning, questioning, and pushing your skills. Seeing a multitude of wildlife in their natural habitat and enjoying every second.

Making a decision in regards to a trophy by size, by character, or just a memory to keep forever. Hunting ethically to your personal limit and being respectful of any animal harvested.

The preparation and planning of every detail. Then carrying it through, taking the lessons learned and modify them for the next safari-hunt.

To put my response in perspective, I have only been on one PG hunt May of 2005. I "LOVED" evey minute of the preparation and carry through and am anxiously anticipating another in 2009 where I hope to add a Cape Buffalo to the agenda.

I will never be the "successful African hunter" in some peoples eyes, as I don't have the time and money, particularly for the big five. But in comparison to most of the U.S. hunters that I am friends with, and in my own experiences I have been a succesful African hunter, as I dared to dream of this adventure and carried it off regardless of how humble it was in comparison. And I have this forum and most of the contributors on AR to thank.

I now count two South African PH's as friends of mine. Making good friends is its own reward and the wonderful time I spend with them, wherever we get together, is probably the greatest personal "success" I have derived from hunting in Africa. I have never shot a "Big Five" animal (although I never despair about winning the lottery one day) and have thoroughly enjoyed just about every hunting minute on my plains game hunts. I did track Cape Buffalo and Rhino and got into shooting situations on several occasions and it was an immense thrill. I'll be able to pull the trigger on them one day, the only hunt better than the last is the next.

The ability to weed out 80% of advice that is eihter bullshit, what someone else wants you to do, or what someone else wants to do and focus on the 20% thats practical.

Money and the ability to tell your hind end from your elbow, in that order.

But possession of those bare minimums and the hunting "success" that follows will not be enough to make you happy!

Money and the realization of knowing our time here is limited.



You can borrow money, but you can't borrow time. Go now.

Money is important 'cause you can't go for free, but most anyone can save up for a trip or two in a lifetime... The cost of a bar brand toddy, not drunk once a day,(alas) will pay for a buffalo safari every ten years or so.. You don't have to go to the best places, either. One must really screw up to find an area that doesn't at least have "representative" trophies... and most folks can afford that... but:

How the heck can you have a good experience if you have a PH who isn't there to show you the time of your life (and, of course, has the personality and competency to do so)?

A safari is an intimate experience with the PH. You eat three meals with him/her, you sit by the fire and share stories, you bump around in a Land Cruiser all day... you'd dang well better get along, or you might wish you had some of those toddies you gave up to pay for the trip.

Choose well. Nothing can ruin a safari quicker than dreading getting up and having to spend the day with someone you aren't compatable with. You can get married for that.

References are great, but nothing is as important as eye-ball-to-eye-ball discussions at SCI or Dallas. You can't learn everything, but you sure get a good start.

Money, time, and a permission slip from your wife.

Namibiahunter

Money and time, and a willingness to spend both.

Shooting skills. Yes, the PH can shoot your animals for you, but that hardly makes you a "successful" African hunter.

Physical condition. Yes, you can shoot your animals from the back of the truck, but neither does that make you a "successful" African hunter.

Adaptability and a willingness to accept a bit of adversity. If you will hunt only when everything goes exactly as planned, you won't do much hunting.

In addition to desire and sufficient funding and the other qualities mentioned above...TRACKERS are key on certain hunts, especially for elephant, where the trackes can have as great or greater impact then the PH. At times, they are the ones actually doing the hunting!

Of course, a good working relationship between a top PH and skilled trackers is the ideal.

Patience
Money
Ability to not the little things get to you

Six trips across the pond and this is my take bearing in mind it relates to a typical plains game hunt or buffalo hunt.

MONEY: At a bare minimum you must have enough to get you there and back and pay for your day rate and what you want to shoot. Without the $$$, all the rest is just a dream. So come up with the dough first. Can't get them if you can't get there.

A GOOD PH: If you have a bum your trip will be a bummer. Most important thing once you get there. Can't get them if you PH can't find them or you won't go with him.

PHYSICAL FITNESS: You have to be able to at least walk at a moderate pace for a few miles in mostly gentle terrain. You must be able to get to the game, or in and out of the truck for trophy photos if nothing else. If old fat dudes and little girls can do it-it can't be that demanding. Can't get them if you can't get to them.

SHOOTING SKILLS: Even beginners like my teen aged daughters were able to take their game with good kill shots. You must be safe above all else because usually you will be hunting in a crowd of at least 3 at a minimum. You must also be familiar with loading/unloading, safety, sights and firing mechanism of your firearm. The better you are the better trip you will have. Can't get them if you can't operate the tool.

EQUIPMENT: Any decent boots, hat and clothes will do. Look at the various outfits of guys on this forum wear hunting. Will hunts in a shirt with the sleeves cut off, shorts and sandals. He doesn't carry anything but a few spare rounds of ammo and a copy of his book. While some of the guys would make Stuart Granger blush with the resplendence of their safari togs and could live for a week out of their day pack. For plains game take you favorite scoped 284,30,8mm,338,9.3mm deer rifle. Dangerous game take a 375 H&H or rent from the safari company. You don't even need a knife on safari. Can't get them naked and bare handed, but almost.

RESEARCH: Pick good PHs and this will take care of itself. However, don't expect to find Kongoni in the Zambezi Valley, Lord Derby eland in the Karoo or 100 pound elephants anywhere. Can't get them if you don't know what they look like or where they live.

FIELDCRAFT: The least important aspect of hunting in Africa. Be able to tell the difference between the various critters you are hunting. You will not generally need to be able to track, find you way or build a fire-shelter-or find water. The PH will hold you by the hand if need be to get you in position to shoot game.
Someone with complete ignorance in this area can still expect to take a few head of game on most safaris. If you can't keep from falling in the long drop or get lost going or coming back you should stay home. Can't get them if you must blow a whistle all day to keep from getting lost.

Perry

Money and someone to share the experience with.
The rest will come as you prepare and do your research.

I agree with those above that indicated the importance of the PH. A good PH makes a tremendous difference. Good PH's also tend to come with good trackers, be in good areas, associated with reputable outfits, etc. Do your due diligence on the PH, check them out. As a corporate lawyer, we have a saying that you hire lawyers not law firms. That means it is far more important who the specific lawyer is that is doing the work than it is what law firm the lawyer is with. In my mind, PHs fall into the same category.

Well those were all interesting takes on the subject..............with the money being the winner, it seems.

NamibiaHunter and Jim Manion, JudgeG and MJines all made good comments on other aspects........

All good to read.

quote:

Originally posted by Terry Blauwkamp:
Shooting ability........+ money to pay the bills.

But if you can't shoot, no amount of money will bag the trophy.

$money, $money, mo $money, & time.

No mun, no fun Money will get you there, from a simple 5 day, 3 animal hunt to a 30 day safari trek through the jungle per se. You have to have the money to get there. However, a family on a 7 day hunt can have the ultimate in sharing the experience together. Those memories won't be measured on whom shot the biggest or most, but burned in their minds and hearts will be Africa. Some will shoot straight, some will miss. That's part of hunting. So to me, memories are the success of any African adventure. They will be what pulls you back. Save money, make time, do without this and that...we yearn to return. That alone my friend is success all on its own. LDK

Money,Health,Experience,friends and your favorite beverage, maybe a nice woman is too mucht to ask, but is the cake´s strawberry.

The ability to distinguish animals in the bush quickly.

Once you have the money, then physical fitness, and a good rifle that (a) you shoot well, & (b) has ample power for the game you're after.

quote:

No mun, no fun Money will get you there, from a simple 5 day, 3 animal hunt to a 30 day safari trek through the jungle per se. You have to have the money to get there. However, a family on a 7 day hunt can have the ultimate in sharing the experience together. Those memories won't be measured on whom shot the biggest or most, but burned in their minds and hearts will be Africa. Some will shoot straight, some will miss. That's part of hunting. So to me, memories are the success of any African adventure. They will be what pulls you back. Save money, make time, do without this and that...we yearn to return. That alone my friend is success all on its own. LDK

Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris
http://Grayghostsafaris.com Phone: 615-860-4333
Email: GGafricansafaris@aol.com
Roland Ward - SCI Scorer

Cant' say much more than that really

Frank, once you have the money you are too old to be in proper shape and the money takes of the rifle. See you in Dallas

Select a good Safari Company, getting in good phyical condition is a must for ultimate success, Be able to shoot fast and accurately from the off hand position and be familair with your rifle..THEN, enjoy your hunt, don't make it an ordeal, appreciate where you are and what you are doing and what is around you, become part of that, don't go on a hunt with pre concieved notions.

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
the desire to hunt
the ability to overlook minor things
patience

Right after an unlimited amount of good old hard cash!

I can shoot, I can keep up with the PH (but not the trackers), I know where I want to hunt, my equipment is good, I have the companies and PH's fixed in my mind, I even have the time (except for those bloody cancellation hunts) but the money is coming slow.

The time issue is ironic because the timing for Alaska hunting is absolutely terrible but Africa sits perfectly in my schedule.

A positive attitude.

Access to significant discretionary funds is paramount. It really doesn't matter how fit you are or how good a shot you are if you haven't saved up enough to pay for the trip!

After that we can worry about CRF, caliber, type of sights, what kind of socks to wear, etc.