Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa knives on safari?

This is totally random, and maybe not a bright question, but: do most/many safari destinations have restrictions on blades the way they do on firearms (former military cartridges and so on)? I.e., length or type not allowed to come into the country with a tourist, concealed vs. not, etc.?

Thanks y'all.

I have always taken a 3” folder and a fixed blade in a sheath I wear on my belt for every safari (10).

I have only been twice, but knives never came up going through customs and immigration in SA, Namibia and Zambia.

I've only been once, to Namibia, thru South Africa. No questions asked. I had my normal 3 blade Buck pocket knife and my Leatherman in my suitcase. We used my Leatherman to fix a winch out in the bush. I whittled a couple sticks with my pocket knife, but there was no need for a knife, I just feel like I don't have my fly zipped up when I don't have a pocket knife in my pocket.
Bfly

Only took knives as gifts for the skinners.

I took one on my first trip, but saw no need for anything other than my pocket knife on my next four.

No restrictions on fixed blade, regular folding or one hand opening "flick" knives in Namibia, Botswana or South Africa. No personal knowledge about others African countries. I don't know for certain if they restrict "auto opening" spring assist knives like Out the Front automatics or switch blades.

Always travel in you checked bag or better yet in your rifle case.

Taking one and utilization kind of depends on how much you want to immerse yourself in the full experience. I'm personally the happiest when I'm fully participating with my hands on and in the game I've shot, both field dressing and if time permits, in the skinning shed too. Other's prefer to just allow the PH/trackers/skinners do it. No harm in either level of experience - it's your hunt, participate as much or as little as YOU want. It can also depend on where you're hunting and what you're hunting. Shooting a mountain zebra or kudu way back up in the mountains of NW Namibia and you and your PH could be field dressing, skinning and quartering it to get it down and out.

I personally always take a good, fixed < 4" blade belt knife, a folding pocket size box cutter with the replaceable large carpet hook blade to use as a gut hook for zipping them open, a Leatherman and a pocket sharpener. I use them all multiple times on every trip.

I actually take several of the pocket size folding box cutters and a bunch of replacement large hook carpet blades and give them to the skinner(s) as little "gifts". Early on, I'd take a few inexpensive fixed blade knives to give them. Then, I saw them sharping them on just an old rock! Never again. The folding box cutters and a 100 double ended replacement blades will last them a fare amount of time.

If not wanting to be very hands on dealing with the game, then a medium size Leatherman kind of covers things well.

Since 2000 I've gone on 6 African hunts to South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. I've always taken a fixed blade (or swing blade) belt knife, a Leatherman, and a 2" pocket knife in my luggage. Never had any American of foreign customs problems.

On one of my Mozambique hunts, the skinners were skinning my leopard, and I went over to them with my 2" knife and asked if I could help. They all had a good laugh.

Been to Africa 5 times on safari. Trips have been to RSA, Zim and Cameroon. Never had any questions about blades asked. The only ones I ever took were Swiss Army knives and multi-tools. I always gifted the head tracker with the Swiss Army knives and the PHs got the multi-tools at the end of the hunt in addition to the usual tips. They always seemed to appreciate it. I also made it a point to take aspirin, Tylenol, cold medicine, anti-bacterial stuff, Band-Aids, the white sports tape etc... in a small first aid kit as well as a small sewing kit and always left those items was well. Many of the more remote destinations have a hard time getting those items we take for granted here.

Thank you for your knowledge this helps me with my first Safari in 2023

Been three times, never took or needed a knife.

I had a knife in case the Buff knocked my rifle out of my hands....I could jump on his back and take him out Tarzan style.

I used my Swiss army knife daily and my 6" fixed blade several times. I guess it depends on the kinda guy you are. If you want them to do everything but wipe your a$$ then no. I pitched in and did a lot. I even sat a blind one day by myself. I had to deal with 2 warthogs.

Been there seven times and only used my foldind knife 3 or 4 times to cut the skin of the back leg and hook up the winch. Also took several cheap kitchen knives
as gifts to the natives.

Enjoy your trip!