re: Africa hunting trip

I spent most of 2004 in the Limpopo Province. Here is the good and bad.

There are 2 types of clients that hunt Africa. The once in a lifetime guys and the very wealthy that return every 12-24 months. You want to act like the latter. Tell them from the get-go that you think it's amazing there and you will be returning with your brother/dad/friend next year. If they think you will be a return customer you will be treated better. IF they assume you will never be back, they won't go the extra mile.

Bring some good leather gloves as gifts for the PH and staff. Something like the Deerskin Full Leather Light-Duty Driving Gloves. Maybe some Costa's for the PH. A nice gift up front might get you on that 60" Kudu he's been saving.

Don't buy a new rifle. If you have some .300 magnum that you have hunted with for years bring that. Try not to bring a 7mm magnum. As stated on their website, buy and read "the Perfect Shot". Also as stated, buy premium/bonded/heavy ammo. Nosler partition, Barnes TSX and such. Don't bring anything like a ballistic tip with a 1 piece inner lead core. Those don't penetrate. Also don't bring Trophy Bonded Bear Claw ammo. Those are made backwards. Use their shooting sticks. Don't bring any or a mono pod.

Looks like that place is run by Afrikaans people. So be prepared to not only have the staff talking in front of you in a foreign language but the white folk will be too.

Don't bring a large hunting knife. Also as in don't attempt to help any of the trackers do any cutting on any animal. Just let them do their job. You may be perfectly capable of doing 100% of the skinning and processing, now isn't the time and it won't get you any points with anyone.

Bring cargo shorts to wear and natural colored t shirts. But you will probably need pants for the evenings. During Africa winters it's cold at night and hot in the day. So if you can bear a chill in the morning don't worry about pants and you will be more comfortable the majority of the day. Just have a good jacket you can shed. Don't bring any camo. Sneakers are fine for the majority of the hunting. Bring some thin leather boots that are VERY broke in. Well that's if you are in shape and want to walk some. If you can't walk far without sweating then don't worry about the boots as they won't push you. Yes their website says "fair chase" but if you aren't in shape and or can't stalk quietly they will be pushing you to shoot from the truck.

Bring the best bino's you can afford. Swarovski, Leica or Zeiss. 8x42 if your eyes suck. 10x42 if they are good. Don't get the bra strap for them. Just a regular strap and wear is across your shoulder down to the other side of your body.

Photos: This is a big deal to me as it's what you will be able to share the easiest, some don't care as much. The PH might try to get in all your photos. Let him for the first couple with each animal then politely ask for one by yourself. Spend a minute to wash any blood off the critters mouth and stick the tongue back in. Tuck the legs under and hold the horns up with one hand. Don't prop it with a stick. Don't lay the rifle over it's body. Hold it up with your other hand or don't have it in the picture. Try to get in the sunlight with the sun in your face and get the grass out of the way. The trackers will all be carrying machetes "pangas" and will take care of that. Bring a Canon DSLR.

Yes get the taxidermy done there. Don't pay to shoot a zebra. Just buy a rug at the taxidermy place. If you get a good Gemsbuck or Kudu, spring for a pedestal mount with zebra skin inlays in the pedestal. Those look amazing.

As stated about the souvenirs, yes you will buy plenty. Bring something like a Army duffel bag that's collapsible. Use it to bring the souvenirs back.

Check your bung hole for ticks every night. This will make more sense when you see your first dead animal. The ticks carry a version of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever there. But you probably won't get it just being there a few days and it's not bad either. Don't worry about malaria.