Hunting Africa

[snoman]

I am going to go on a hunting safari in Africa, (sometime) and would like someinput on what I should look for and expect in the planning and hunting phases of my dream hunt, any input would be very helpful and welcomed with open arms...

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---snoman---

[Art Eatman]

Always sorta wanted to go; read a good bit about the travel and the various hunts.

1. Because of AIDS, a lot of African travelers are exploring the feasibility of carrying plasma with them, in case of serious injury.

2. Try not to fly through Europe; definitely not through England. Every report I've seen sez you could easily lose your guns.

3. Contact several outfitters for their input on the above. Have them list references; contact those references.

3. Rich was trying for a safari; he oughta have a good bit of info...

Good luck! Art

[Erick Gelhaus]

Just returned from a 2 week trip last night. Will have more to add, once the entire experience soaks in.
But Art hit some good points...AIDs/HIV is an extremely serious issue in some places - Set up to evacuated in case of medical problems.

Check out several companies & get references, not only for the company but the professional hunter you'll be with as well. We had two outstanding PH's with our party which improved the quality of our trip immensely.

Check 6,
Erick

[Mendocino]

Alright Erick,

I have been wondering how your trip was, stop the suspense already! Lets have some details...

Mendo

[This message has been edited by Mendocino (edited August 03, 1999).]

[Erick Gelhaus]

Greetings all!
Our party has come back from Rhodesia, er, Zimbabwe. Three of us were hunting and two of were using Steyr Scouts. Our fourth was photographing everything.

Aside from that, where do I start?
The view? Incredible, not only the animals but the bush, hills, all of it!

The travel? Long going there, even longer coming back. But I'll do it again, at least once more!

I mentioned the Professional Hunters with our party- I was with George Brown & my friend and his daughter were with Mitch Bunce. I cannot recommend these two gentlemen highly enough!

Several times, I found myself wondering (usualy in awe) what the country must have like in decades past.

I cannot begin to describe the feelings I had when we came around a corner in the bush and encountered a herd of giraffe grazing mere feet away.

I used Fed Premium 165gr Trophy Bonded BearClaws as my primary load. The other Scout was using the bullet loaded a bit lighter. Both of us had "A-Square" 180gr Monolithic Solids as back up.

I took a warthog, kudu, Zebra, a baboon, two Impala (one of which was wounded & lost) with the Scout. None of these animals required more than two rounds- most of the time one round was sufficient. I took my wilde beeste with a 375; I would have used that on the Kudu - except he popped up while we looking for warthogs.

The closest shot was about 25 yards and the farthest was around 130 yards. Most were in the 40 to 75 yard range.

The Leupold optics worked very well within the lighting conditions present.

Both of the professional hunters with us, along with other people we met, were intrigued with the Scouts and liked them. My PH had never heard of Col. Cooper or the Scout concept- he has now.

I think shot placement had a lot to do with the success we had on various game.

I made the trip following an invitation from a fellow Gray Gunsite grad.
If anyone ever calls and asks if you want to join them on a safari- drop
whatever you're doing, sell whatever needs selling and go. I can't recommend the experience enough.

The hides will be coming back for mounting and eventually display. The meat went to a local butchery. Some came back to camp and was very good, the rest did not.

There is more I could write, but I'm absorbing the trip and I don't want to bore anyone too badly.

Check 6,
Erick

[snoman]

I don't mean to pry, and if you don't want to answer, I understand, but what should I expect as a final cost to a trip to Africa, what are the prespects of a handgun hunt??
snoman45@hotmail.com

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---snoman---

[Erick Gelhaus]

Don't worry about prying. For my better half & I, she being an "observer" / photographer and myself hunting, the total will be a bit shy of $20,000.

Now, maybe I had could've done better on the US airfares? But that covers all flying, game fees, hunting fees, souvernirs, taxidermy, the miscellaneous things we needed ahead of time, passports, ammo, tips to the PH and others.

Hope this helps,
Erick

[BMWGS80]

I have been booking safaris to Rhodesia for 25 years. I still use the same guide and have many repeat clients. The price depends on what you want to shoot. I have clients in country right now. If you are serious about wanting to go email me and I will get you the information and get you in contact with one of my clients when you get back. My family has owned and operated a full service travel agency for over 30 years. A trip to Africa is the only trip I would borrow money for.

You can eamil me at BMWGS80@aol.com.

Sorry for the advert. I have strong feelings about safaris.

Cheers,

tad Stratton

[Al Thompson]

Hi Snoman,

I would strongly recommend joining Safari Club International. Don't have the info in front of me, will post tonight.

The money question is very dependent on what you want and where you go to get it. This can vary year by year, so planing is important.

Handgun hunting is a South Africa only proposition at this time (I think). Zim closed this down a couple of years ago. Might have re-opened. Sounds like BMWGS80 could give you some good info for Zim...

Giz