The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting Travel Forum What do I NEED..?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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As I am about a year out from my first safari (Namibia) I am making a list of wants/needs. Should I have: Sat phone Global Rescue type service Voltage converters - Is one brand better? Bipod on the rifle - I have Bog Pod sticks First aid kit Taxidermy tags Trip insurance Gun insurance CITES for leopard What do I need for giraffe/Damara dik-dik/baboon Is 2 days at Etosha right? More or less days? I appreciate your suggestions! | ||
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It depends on where you're hunting but a visit to www.shakariconnection.com should answer a lot of your questions.  | |||
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Your PH will probaby have a sat phone for emergencies, first aid kit (although a general antibiotic from your Doc wouldn't hurt). Leave the bipod unless you're going to do some varmint shooting, you'll be shooting off sticks tht your PH has. Medjet or the other big evac company is a comfort to the wife, Trip insurance - sure, check your homeowner's insurance for gun coverage. Chapstick, sunscreen and baby wipes (you'll appreciate these) Frank "I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money." - Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953 NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite | |||
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Sorry. I missed some of your questions. Here's the info: http://www.shakariconnection.c...an-game-species.html http://www.shakariconnection.c...ument-downloads.html http://www.shakariconnection.com/global-rescue.html http://www.shakariconnection.c...ravel-insurance.html The correct way to get your CITES permits is in advance. | |||
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My input is as follows: Sat phone - NOT NEEDED MOST PLACES IN NAMIBIA. JUST GET A GLOBAL/COMPATIBLE SIM CARD FOR YOUR CELL PHONE. Global Rescue type service - CHEAP AND A GOOD IDEA, IMHO. GOD HELP YOU IF YOU ARE SERIOUSLY HURT, NEED EVAC AND DON'T HAVE IT - AS IT WILL COST A SMALL FORTUNE TO GET THE HELP YOU NEED WITHOUT THIS COVERAGE. Voltage converters - Is one brand better? - CHECK YOUR ELECTRICAL STUFF. THESE DAYS, MOST OF THE GOOD STUFF IS DUAL VOLTAGE. A PLUG ADAPTER IS SUFFICIENT. Bipod on the rifle - I have Bog Pod sticks - DEFINITELY NOT, IMHO. PH WILL HAVE SHOOTING STICKS, WHICH CAN BE USED FOR STANDING, SITTING AND KNEELING, AND PRONE YOU DON'T NEED STICKS. First aid kit - ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA. CHECK TERRY CARR'S PACKING LIST IN THE "AFRICA - REFERENCE AND INFORMATION" FORUM. (GOOD TO CHECK IT AS A GENERAL MATTER ANYWAY - IT'S A TERRIFIC REFERENCE.) Taxidermy tags - NOT STRICTLY NECESSARY, AS ALL OUTFITTERS WILL HAVE TAGS, BUT STILL A GOOD IDEA, TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE PROPERLY COMPLETED. Trip insurance - I NEVER BOTHER. BUT IF YOU ARE ILLNESS PRONE, OR IF YOU ARE RISK AVERSE, THEN GET IT. Gun insurance - YES. ALTHOUGH IF THE GUNS AREN'T ESPECIALLY VALUABLE AND ARE EASILY REPLACEABLE, THEN I MIGHT BE PERSUADED TO DO WITHOUT IT. CITES for leopard What do I need for giraffe/Damara dik-dik/baboon - DON'T KNOW. NEVER HUNTED ANY OF THOSE IN NAMIBIA. BUT SHOULD BE EASY TO FIND OUT FROM YOUR OUTFITTER/BOOKING AGENT. Is 2 days at Etosha right? More or less days? - ONE OR TWO DAYS IS ENOUGH. I appreciate your suggestions! - MY PLEASURE. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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I always carry a Swiss Army knife and have all my life. Last trip, I used the scissors to remove five stiches from my eyebrow. It's one of the handiest items in existence for travelers of any type. | |||
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Firearms care stuff-small size to be left behind is what I brought. I brought my own brushes, jags etc...figured I could use the PHs rods. Screw driver bits and driver for your stock, scope bases etc. My stock screws got loose and cost me a Hartebeast. (missed not wounded at least). More sunscreen than you think you will need as extra can be left behind. Robert If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them, they must become happy. Thomas Jefferson, 1802 | |||
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Gators - They keep the seeds out of your shoes. Don't under estimate these. I bought some from Texas Hunt Co last year, but they were next to impossible to get over my ankles. I am trying a pair from Tag Safari that have velcro down the back in a couple of weeks and hopefully they will perform better. | |||
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What everybody has said above. A good Tilley hat, like the one that Ivan Carter wears, is always a good idea to protect you from the sun and skin cancer, and that hat is guaranteed for life. Good sunglasses is another must. I like the Avon Skin So Soft for sunscreen/bug repellent-it does both. I take the Leupold multi-tool for my rifles. Safari gaiters. A good, but inexpensive pair of Boyt's canvas can be purchased from Midway for $9.99/pair. Good binos, a good camera with plenty of memory cards, etc. of course. And, don't cut corners on cheap ammo! | |||
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I never leave home heading to Africa without Cipro, Great drug for stomach issues Saved me more than one time NRA LIFE MEMBER DU DIAMOND SPONSOR IN PERPETUITY DALLAS SAFARI CLUB LIFE MEMBER SCI FOUNDATION MEMBER | |||
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All above suggestions are excellent and I agree with pretty much all of it. Assuming of course you're carrying your rifle, don't step away from the truck without: A. Water (someone has some; tracker, etc.) B. Extra cartridges C. TP / packet of Kleenex Everything else you can adapt around. | |||
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Ditto to all the above. I would also suggest Immodium AD or some other medicine in case the African food "does not agree with you." I meant to be DSC Member...bad typing skills. Marcus Cady DRSS | |||
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All very good info. Just got back from Namibia. We took a sat phone, but I never used it. My Iphone worked just fine. Remember to turn off the roaming feature or you will get a surprise in your billing. No need for converters, just adaptors. I think a med jet type policy is wise. First aid kit is to me a personal comfort kit. Take what makes you feel comfortable. I take enough meds to handle most situations, mole skin, imodium, cipro, skin so soft and the basics-chapstick etc. We did Etosha in one day-it was plenty, but we didn't see any lions. The best advise I can give to you is to always have your flashlight with you--not in your pack on the truck, or back at camp-because you figured you would be back for lunch. On my belt is a cartrige wallet, a gerber multi-tool; great for extracting thorns, and my sure fire outdoorsman. I can't tell you how many times, I was glad to have my light and everyone asked to borrow it. After the third day, most of the crew was packing a light. You just never know if you will get in before dark. Oh yeah, always have tp in your pocket and some of the individual hand wipes. Good luck, PG | |||
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Oh yeah...I have a cartridge holder on the butt stock of all my rifles....2 down ( or whatever it holds) empty chamber safety off. Ready in a hurry or top off before walking/stalking. I put one round in each pant and jacket pocket...no rattle and always there no matter which pocket I went to. Robert If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them, they must become happy. Thomas Jefferson, 1802 | |||
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You absolutely should get baggage insurance, if going through JNB. They will probably steal something. If hunting Leopard, or if you have shaky health, medevac is also a good idea ... although realistically, if they can't patch you up in Namibia, you aren't going to make it back to the States. Trip cancellation insurance is also advisable these days .. the airlines nail you for changes in dates. All of these insurances can be purchased in ONE policy, eg Travelguard. Be sure to buy the policy immediately after you lay out your first money ... otherwise the premium will be stiff. You seem to have gadgets on your mind ... spend more time on physical and shooting preparation, and less time worrying about gadgets. The only gadgets you absolutely need are your rifle and your ammo, a hat, and a good pair of boots. A camera is about the only modern gadget you will use. Regarding permits, get your warthogs and baboons mounted (finished) in Namibia ... this makes your life on this end a LOT easier. The others you can ship salted/dipped or finished, it's up to you. Giraffe are no different than impala, other than size. Dik dik and leopard both need CITES, on both ends, as far as I know. Russ Gould - Whitworth Arms LLC BigfiveHQ.com, Large Calibers and African Safaris Doublegunhq.com, Fine English, American and German Double Rifles and Shotguns VH2Q.com, Varmint Rifles and Gear | |||
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Thanks for all the great suggestions! Been away from AR for a while applying for hunts in the western states (which I never expect to draw!). I have looked at the resources/checklists here and as this will be my first safari don't want any big items missed or brought when I should leave them home. I have Verizon wireless so my phone does not have sim card; now what? I regularly use a bipod, but have used the BogPod tripod gun rest also. Surely I can get TP there but what about baby wipes? Packing meds is also a great idea. I will have a couple of cameras with lots of storage media. Again, thanks to all! | |||
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You have a "card" in your phone, just open the back, take out the battery and there it should be! It looks like a very thin memory card. Just make sure, through a Verizon store, that the cared and phone will work internationally Robert If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them, they must become happy. Thomas Jefferson, 1802 | |||
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Take a small digital camera like the Nikon Cool Pix. A couple of packs of AA lithium batteries will last the entire trip. Take photos of everything. You can always delete the ones you don't want but you can't take more once the trip is over. The photos of dead animals will be the most interesting to you but the photos of local people will be the most interesting to your friends and family. Take lots of photos of people and local scenery. Elephant Hunter, Double Rifle Shooter Society, NRA Lifetime Member, Ten Safaris, in RSA, Namibia, Zimbabwe | |||
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