How common it is to see dangerous game while hunting in Africa

People talk about how you need a Big bore in case you run into dangerous game while hunting.....So my question is how common is it too see dangerous game while you're hunting in Africa?????

Christian, it is a bit like asking how common it is to see dangerous game while hunting caribou in the Yukon. Certainly one could see a big griz, but we don't take a .375 on the off chance we might. If you book an African plains game hunt, you will be perfectly well armed with your 30'06 or other heavy "deer" round. In the right area, you might see a member of the big five, but your PH is not going to allow you to blunder into one. If you book a hunt for buff, then arm yourself with that big bore. The only time a light and heavy rifle come into play is when you book a safari with both dangerous game and plains game on the dance card. Then you might want to consider both a big and medium bore.

Red Leg is absolutely correct. I'll also add that it also depends on where you go in Africa. Your chances of bumping into elephant, buffalo and lion in most places in South Africa are slim to zero, but good to excellent in Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Bill Quimby

Thank you for your comments.

..They are absolutely correct!! In 2 safari's to south Africa I seen a small herd of Buffalo - which the PH said he didn't know existed there while hunting on a different ranch & once we stumbled on a fresh kill by a leopard - but didn't see the leopard.. Those were both exciting & tense moments.. None the less those are things that make great memories, but if you are equipped with a 30/06 or similar you should be well armed for what you are doing unless you know for sure Dangerous Game is in the concessions you are hunting!!!

Christian,

For whatever its worth, I don’t think you could have received a better or more clear answer to your question than the one given by Red Leg, along with the very appropriate caveat added by Bill Quimby. That truly is the reality of it.

Since Leopard was mentioned you would not be in any trouble with your 30-06, in fact many prefer this for the thin skinned cat. I personally prefer the 338 WM for Africa but I don't in any way discount the great 30-06 as I have a few in my safe. It is true you will probably only see dangerous game in South Africa on a preserve or park.

Originally Posted by Red Leg

...it is a bit like asking how common it is to see dangerous game while hunting caribou in the Yukon. Certainly one could see a big griz, but we don't take a .375 on the off chance we might...

Originally Posted by billrquimby

Red Leg is absolutely correct. I'll also add that it also depends on where you go in Africa. Your chances of bumping into elephant, buffalo and lion in most places in South Africa are slim to zero, but good to excellent in Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Red leg said the chances of running into a griz in the Yukon is slim, but it does happen. That is true of the Yukon, but in Coastal Alaska, where we hunt caribou, we see the coastal brown bear on a daily basis, and have them walk right into camp. Our favorite area is West of the Katmai Park, where the brownies gather to fish the salmon runs in late summer. When in September they are traveling back to the hills for den-up these bears are migrating through our area and are used to being around people all summer, and are not shy about coming into your camp and joining you for a meal. We use 375 H&H bolt rifles to hunt everything in this part of Alaska. So as Quimby says, it depends where you will be hunting.

I never book a plains game only hunt in Africa, so I have a big bore double rifle, that I carry all the time, and I have a 9.3 double, or a 375 H&H bolt rifle that I let a tracker carry. I think if I was going to hunt P-game only, I would still use a rifle that would take on about anything should I run afoul of something bad. Not necessarily a legal chambering but one that would at lest have a chance of saving my, or someone else’s life in a pinch. A very good choice for this would be a 338 Win, or 340 WBY in a good CRF bolt rifle, with a low to medium power scope, and good iron sights to back up a broken scope.

There is an old saying from times gone by in Africa that reads as “When hunting in dangerous game country, carry a rifle that will kill dangerous game!” Bigger bore rifles will take plains game very well, but small plains game rifle will not do the best job on a big animal that is bent on mayhem!

I always find these threads interesting. I have been to RSA once hunting plainsgame. We encountered Cape buffalo 3 times while hunting Kudo. The first lone bull acted like we didn't even exist. Next we ran into some cows with calves.If you have ever witnessed a herd of cow/calf charge through the bush, then you will understand why they are so dangerous and unpredictable. The thing I noticed most was that it looked like they would run through a bush and hook it with a horn. Like there may be a predator there, so get a shot in while they can. Keeping this in the back of my mind, While stalking through some thick bush, hunting Kudo, we walked right into 2 old Duggaboys that were bedded down. (50 meters) The first thing the PH said was " if they charge, pick a tree". Both of the bulls stood up and gave us the "you owe me money" look that I have read so much about. We backed out of there working towards some trees. The Bulls followed us getting to within 30 meters. That was the last we saw of them. I was never happier in my life as I held the .375 H&H in my hands. IMO, Take the biggest gun you can effectively shoot when in Africa or anywhere for that fact. You never know what you will run into ! Even in South Africa.

Depends on where your hunting, what country and what area...You won't see Mule Deer in Wesconsin and you won't see elk in Florida...Africa ain't no different..

In Africa, you will see Dangerous game almost daily in most of Zimbabwe or Tanzania, but not in So. Africa unless its in or near a park perhaps omitting an ocassional Leopard that,s out of his boundry and wondering through..If you see a dangerous game animal you would be better off climbing a tree than sitting in a African prison, your Ph can handle the situation, its not your job..He is the professional..

As to a big bore, it seems that folks just want to pack a big bore on a plainsgame hunt on the dark continient, and use that as an excuse, when a 30-06 would work anywhere any time in an emergency, even on DG....but if they want to use a .375 or whatever on a plainsgame hunt then thats fine also, its a great plainsgame caliber. It is their hunt and their choice.

Depends on where your hunting, what country and what area...You won't see Mule Deer in Wisconsin and you won't see elk in Florida...Africa ain't no different..

In Africa, you will see Dangerous game almost daily in most of Zimbabwe or Tanzania, but not in So. Africa unless its in or near a park perhaps omitting an ocassional Leopard that's out of his boundry and wondering through..If you see a dangerous game animal you would be better off climbing a tree than sitting in a African prison, your Ph can handle the situation, its not your job..He is the professional..and that bull belongs to some rancher as a rule and he paid for him and will charge you an arm and a leg if you shoot him for any reason..

As to a big bore, it seems that folks just want to pack a big bore on a plainsgame hunt on the dark continient, and use that as an excuse, when a 30-06 would work anywhere any time in an emergency, even on DG....but if they want to use a .375 or whatever on a plainsgame hunt then thats fine also, its a great plainsgame caliber. It is their hunt and their choice.