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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 494
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OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 494 |
Figured I'd bump this with the first timer advice inquiry.
Safe travels to everyone on their way over the next couple of months.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,616
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,616 |
Figured I'd bump this with the first timer advice inquiry.
Safe travels to everyone on their way over the next couple of months. Tag. Glad I found this. I'm to the "looking at tickets" phase for next May. I found out real quick Delta "business class is outrageous.
Have Dog
Will Travel
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 10,826
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 10,826 |
I highly recommend the front row Isle seat of coach comfort just behind business class. If you are over 6' tall you will be much happier after the 16 hour flight with footroom to stretch out. This is nice for $150
Maker of the Frankenstud Sling Keeper
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,616
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,616 |
Thanks for the heads up. I found out today I can use my AA miles on Delta and they quote 160,000 miles roundtrip to Joburg. Business class. That's more like it.
Have Dog
Will Travel
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 10,826
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 10,826 |
The Airbus 777 business class seats turn into a bed
Maker of the Frankenstud Sling Keeper
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 46,245
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 46,245 |
I wouldn't do a dang thing different, I had a blast and will be trying for a repeat my next trip over! This though only take 40 rounds when I go. I took 40 and we must have shot up 30+ rounds at the range after the safari, ammo was no good left behind, no one there had ever seen a 45 cal Sharps paper patch load or a 400 Whelen.
Trump Won!
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,182
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,182 |
Generally good advice, though I must respectfully take exception to two points:
1. If you can afford to do so, upgrading from coach to 1st, or even Business, Class is worth every cent if, like me, you're in your 60's or older.
2. Bring more, not less, ammunition than you think you'll need. When I hunted on the Selous, it happened that another hunter from a camp many miles upriver arrived sans ammo because his airline lost it in transit. Fortunately, he was shooting a .375 H&H and I happened to bring a spare box of ammo with me, which I gladly conveyed to him. Aside from such eventualities, your PH will appreciate your giving him such ammo as you have left over following your safari.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,733
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,733 |
Also for the 1st timers
Set aside about as much money for the back side of your safari
Nobody talks about this much but I take every opportunity to warn those of the large cost after the last handshakes and goodbyes
Dip Pack Ship US Brokerage US shipping
These cost often vary from area to area but South Africa is becoming famous for over charging clients or threatening large and outlandish storage fees on DP&S And then add Taxidermy and you have quite a bill.
NRA LIFE MEMBER GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS ESPECIALLY THE SNIPERS! "Suppose you were an idiot And suppose you were a member of Congress... But I repeat myself." -Mark Twain
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 10,826
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 10,826 |
I will add to this even though this safari is over
Hire your USA taxidermist before you leave.
A reputable one with lots of experience with African taxidermy and everything about it
Use the USA taxidermist D/P/S people and not your African outfiter/host D/P/S guy as South Africa is getting a reputation for putting the old flip side whammy on the American hunter
Maker of the Frankenstud Sling Keeper
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 588
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 588 |
Bump. Re reading threads as I plan my second trip in August. Good stuff.
Do or do not, there is no try.
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,362
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,362 |
Heading out for our fourth in August -- forget videos and TV shows. Make up your own mind about what's important (out of the exhausting list produced so far.) Forget about a shopping list. Hunt and "take what the bush provides."
Listen to previous hunters where you are going and -- decide now to shoot again, even if the PH says, "You hit him hard!" It's your money and you pay either way.
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,748
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,748 |
Tip #1: Go!! It's great hunting. Make the hunt what you want. If you want to ride around in the truck, fine. If you'd rather spot and stalk, tell the PH. Mine were happy to do whatever I wanted. I had one of the greatest hunting days of my life stalking Kudu through the lowveld bush.
Tip #2: Consider doing less taxidermy and instead taking great pictures and having them nicely framed. Taxidermy really adds up and you could shoot more animals vs. having more taxidermy. Tough call, but the taxidermy really ended up more than I anticipated. I could have shot a couple more bigger animals such as Kudu, or many Impalas.
Tip #3: Either shoot or dry fire A LOT prior to going. Easy to do, and it will make your life easier. Bad shots are expensive. I used printed targets set up across my basement and loaded three blanks to practice shooting off sticks and cycling bolt. Really helped.
Tedthorn; great idea on the medical kit.
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 42,608
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 42,608 |
Take even MORE money. Passed up on a leopard on bait because I was short of funds (the PH later told me I could have wired him the money!) and here I am over ten years later and who knows when I'll have another cat opportunity like that one..
A good principle to guide me through life: “This is all I have come to expect, standard lackluster performance. Trust nothing, believe no one and realize it will only get worse…”
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,579
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,579 |
Take a couple extra TSA locks packed in your luggage. I now only use the cable style. Every trip I've been on my locks are bent or lost so having a replacement, especially for my rifle case, has been beneficial.
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 42,608
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 42,608 |
TSA locks are ILLEGAL for gun cases.
A good principle to guide me through life: “This is all I have come to expect, standard lackluster performance. Trust nothing, believe no one and realize it will only get worse…”
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,579
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,579 |
I also carry an extra lock for my gun case.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,690
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,690 |
On taxidermy, I am leaning more and more towards Europeans. Short of my buffalo and bushbuck, last years take in Zimbabwe will be Europeans. Same for our up coming trip to Namibia in June. Next years trip to Burkina Faso will only see my roan and bushbuck in a shoulder mount, the balance will be Europeans. Having the Europeans done in Africa is pretty inexpensive.
Conduct is the best proof of character.
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,496
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,496 |
Sitting in a lodge in Limpopo reading this and chuckling. Thus far 7 zebra, 4 wildebeests, 5 impala. 270 Federal 130 TB Tipped. Perfect.
Oh and the most popular ctg in new rifle purchases...6.5 CM to the exclusion of all others.
“Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away”. Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Posted by Brad.
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 42,608
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 42,608 |
You'll never see me with that uber-gay caliber, that's for sure
A good principle to guide me through life: “This is all I have come to expect, standard lackluster performance. Trust nothing, believe no one and realize it will only get worse…”
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,300
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,300 |
Sitting in a lodge in Limpopo reading this and chuckling. Thus far 7 zebra, 4 wildebeests, 5 impala. 270 Federal 130 TB Tipped. Perfect.
Oh and the most popular ctg in new rifle purchases...6.5 CM to the exclusion of all others. Nice, that is great Rick. Any recovered bullets?
Semper Fi
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