Depends on what other game is on the menu during the safari.
Have used the following with good success:
1. Dakota African Model 76 in .416 Rigby. Swarovski 1.5-6x42. 400 grain Swift A-Frame. Multiple PG animals. Also accounted for buff and lion.
2. Custom Pre-'64 Winchester Model 70 in .338 Winchester. Swarovski Z6i 1.7-10x42. 225 grain Nosler Partition. Multiple PG animals. Also accounted for a leopard and an eland.
3. Winchester Custom Shop M70 in .300 Win Mag. Zeiss 2.5-10x42. 200 grain Swift A-Frame. Multiple PG animals..
4. Winchester Model 70 in .30/06. Leupold 2.5-10x42. 180 grain TSX. (PH's loaner rifle. used to shoot bait animals).
5. Custom Mauser M98 in 300 H&H. Zeiss 2.5-10x42. Forget which ammunition was used. Multiple PG animals.
All worked well.
My recommendation, based on personal experience, is any rifle from .30/06 through .416 with a very high quality scope and premium ammunition. First criteria should be how well you shoot that particular rifle. Second criteria should be what animals are on the menu. If you have a pet .270 that you shoot well, bring it. Ditto for a .308, .280, 7mm-08 or 7x57. I imagine a .375 or 9.3x62 would also perform admirably, but I have never brought one to Africa personally.
Another thing to consider is where you will be hunting. If you are on a PG hunt, but the area is also populated by DG, I would bring at least .375 with a soft up and solids down. If you get an unexpected charge by a buff or an elephant, you will want more in your hands than a .30/06. You can always eject the soft and quickly chamber a solid.
Am planning on a PG hunt next June (2018) in a non DG area.. Will either bring a BACO Winchester M70 super grade featherweight in 7x57 Mauser (Swarovski Z3 2.5-10x42), a custom M98 in .30/06 (Zeiss 2.5-10x42) or a Blaser R93 in .30/06 (Zeiss 2.5-10x42). Working up loads now, focusing on loads built around Woodleigh Weldcore bullets. None of these rifles has been to Africa previously. This will be a PG only hunt.
