| Q. |
What caliber rifle should I bring on a hunting safari in Africa? |
| A. |
As a general rule you should bring a rifle that's capable of taking the largest animals that you intend to hunt on a given trip, that rifle should then prove to be adequate for everything else that you intend to be hunting on that trip. If you are hunting primarily plains game then something in the 7mm to 338 caliber range should be about ideal. If you are hunting dangerous game then nothing less then a 375 should be seriously considered with the various 416s, 458s or even larger calibers being better if you can shoot one of them accurately. It is important that only premium bullets should be considered with any caliber chosen for hunting African game and with any of the calibers listed above smaller animals such as, duiker, steenbok, klipspringer etc. can be taken with a minimal amount of damage by using solid bullets in the same rifle. |
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| Q. |
What is the food like on a hunting safari in Africa? |
| A. |
Nearly all African safari camps serve excellent meals which will usually include many of the following; fresh salads, soups, fresh vegetables, fresh baked bread, beef, pork, game meat, fowl, fresh baked deserts and assorted local delicacies. If you have any special dietary needs they can generally be accommodated with enough advance notice. |
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| Q. |
How hard is it to get my gun into Africa? |
| A. |
Getting firearms into most African countries isn't difficult but it can require a considerable amount of paperwork which is why it is important to have your Booking Agent help you complete all necessary requirements well in advance of your departure date. |
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| Q. |
Do I need vaccines to go on a hunting safari in Africa? |
| A. |
While most Southern African countries do not require vaccines it's a good idea to check out the US - Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov/ then click on Traveler's Health , then click on Destinations . This will give you the most up to date information available so you can contact your personal physician to schedule any recommended vaccinations. Be sure to do this well in advance of your scheduled departure as most vaccines take time to become effective in your body and some vaccines must be given in a series over a period of days or sometimes weeks. |
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| Q. |
Do I need insurance to go on a hunting safari in Africa? |
| A. |
While you don't need insurance to go hunting in Africa there are several types that you may want to consider. The first is MedijetAssist ( www.medijetassist.com ) which in the case of a medical emergency in a far away place will pick you up in a medically equipped jet complete with a professionally staffed medical team and they will transport you back to your home hospital. The second is Trip Insurance which can protect your pre-paid trip costs in the event of an interrupted or cancelled trip due to airline cancellations, medical emergencies, terrorist incidents, etc. There are numerous companies that offer various plans and they can be found by typing Trip Insurance into any search engine. |
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| Q. |
What type of clothing should I wear on a hunting safari in Africa? What colors? What are the temperatures like and do I need a jacket, sun screen, or bug spray? |
| A. |
Temperatures and the presence of insects can vary greatly depending on which African country and what time of the year you will be hunting. Consult your Booking agent or Professional Hunter for specific recommendations. The preferred hunting clothing color in most of Africa is a dark olive green and it's usually a good idea to pack at least a light jacket and some sunscreen. But in general most people tend to pack far to many clothes considering that nearly all safari camps have a daily laundry service. |
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| Q. |
How do I handle tips on a hunting safari in Africa? |
| A. |
Tipping can vary greatly with regards to what the safari cost, how many people are involved in the safari, how many different camps you will be in and last but certainly not least what kind of service you felt that you received. Since there are no set guidelines with regards to tipping it is wise to consult your Booking Agent for his recommendations for the specific safari that you have booked and then consult with your Professional Hunter at the end of your safari for his recommendations. Ultimately though the decisions will be up to you. |
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| Q. |
What are the physical demands while on a hunting safari in Africa? |
| A. |
In general the physical demands of the average hunting safari in Africa will be much less than the physical demands of hunting in the Western United States . There are a few exceptions, but your Booking Agent will be able to tell you what is entailed physically on any hunt that you are interested in doing. |
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| Q. |
Can I call home while on a hunting safari in Africa? |
| A. |
Nearly all safari camps have some type of outside communications. But if you feel that you need to be in regular contact with your business or home it's best to take a compact satellite phone with you. However, they can be quite expensive and they may not be a very good investment for you if you won't be traveling and using the phone a lot each year. A better option may be to rent one to take with you for the duration of your trip. |
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| Q. |
What is the best way to book airline reservations for a hunting safari in Africa? |
| A. |
Without a doubt the best way to book airline reservations for a hunting safari in Africa is through a full service Travel Agent who knows the ins and outs of Africa, such as Falcon Travel in San Antonio, Texas . It's tempting to use mileage tickets or try to book things online yourself but then there's no one to answer your important questions or track down your missing bags and firearms. Besides it's usually actually cheaper to use a good agent in the long run. |
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| Q. |
Is the shot placement different on African game vs. North American game? |
| A. |
In general it should be! Most Americans have been programmed to shoot a deer behind the shoulder in the heart / lung area in an effort to minimize meat damage. While that shot will also kill an African animal, African animals tend to be much hardier and that shot can turn what would have been a few minutes recovery time into several hours due to the cover and the distance that the animal may be able to run when hit accordingly. It's a much better idea on African game to break shoulders while firing into the heart / lung area and to anchor the animal near the spot where it was shot. This is the reason that only premium bullets should be used in Africa . Of course there are exceptions at each end of the scale from the diminutive dik-dik to the enormous elephant but in general shoulder shots are the way to go. |
