Ok all you africa experts answer this

billc

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How do you stop your kid or yourself from going crazy when the 10 day count down is on before you leave.We have done lots of shooting and feel very good about the skills he has shooting the 300 win mag now.Now the wait is the hard part.Plus does not really help ever other hunting show on tv seems like it is about africa.
 
I would just check my packing list, make sure things are OK at work and home. Try to not over think things. Easier said than done. I found watching Africa hunting programs relaxing!
 
billc

One thing that i do is have a detailed list for each bag...

You have your bags packed two days prior to leaving all weighted and ready to go...i try to stay 2 pounds under the limit...

1. Rifle case and all that go into it.
2. Luggage and your clothing plus - lockable shell case...split your ammo if traveling with different rifles..
3. carry on bag...
4. Pass-port - plus pass port-pictures.
5. Rifle permit filled out
6. Shell permit if needed
7. Netherlands permit if needed
8. Cell phone activated day before leaving for countries you will be in.
9. Check cash you are traveling
10. Personal gifts...
11. Cameras and chips....

The list could go on...

All liquids are double wrapped in zip-lock bags...i have had to many leak over the years.
 
Exercise. It clears the brain, physically tires you so your brain relaxes.
 
Will be harder the time at plane, theres when you want to be free hunting africa
 
Get your GP to prescibe some mild sleeping tablets for the flight (Zopiclone is good, use only 1/2 if not used to such meds). Forget the in-flight movies and try to sleep as much as you can so you can enjoy your safari from the moment your feet touch foreign soil. If you have never had sleeping pills before, try 1/2 a few nights before leaving to make sure you get no side effects.
 
Packing list really helped me, but I also spent some time just staring at shot placement pictures. I stared at them so much that I had "burned" into my memory. I really think it helped to - there was no question where to aim when the time came. I also spent some time brushing up on trophy assessment.

Last suggestion - learn some of the local language so you can try and communicate a little - things like, thank you, good morning, good evening, how are you, etc.

nd
 
Last suggestion - learn some of the local language so you can try and communicate a little - things like, thank you, good morning, good evening, how are you, etc.
nd

Excellent point :thumbsup: perhaps also read up on traditions of the people whom you will be around at the camp / hunt. Africans are very tradition-prone. They will rarely show you when you 'offended' them, but they will let you know and respect you when you have some traditional knowledge and applies it here and there. Surfing the web or reading up on this will kill some time for sure before your departure.
 
Try to take some books or magazines along to read that you are able to leave.

Head phones for you to use...batteries...

I have seen this happen many times by seasoned hunters... is that they pack everything except there AMMO...Make sure you take your ammo...
 
I think exercising helps to keep me loose and relaxed. Reading a good hunting magazine makes me at ease at the airport or anywhere for that matter. I took sleeping aids last time to Africa and it helped. I was so amped to hunt...that I needed to come down and relax to sleep. And it helped.

Even though I grew up on a farm and work at a wastewater treatment plant....I would strongly suggest some meds for upset stomach....diarrhea. Maybe it's all the worrying, airline food or whatever. But a upset stomach is not good.
 
I took the advice of the "Hunt Doctors" Stephen I. Merlin M.D. & Paul A.J.Plante M.D. who wrote an article for
"SAFARI The Journal of Big Game Hunting"Official Publication of Safari Club International. In the article they discussed acclimating yourself to the time zone in which you will be hunting by actually mimicking the time difference and your sleep patterns for several days before you leave on your trip.
In other words, for a few days before you leave, put yourself on RSA time.
I understand that not everyone may be able to do this because of family obligations,work,time constraints etc. I was lucky enough to be able to try it and it did work for me. I was able to sleep well there from day one onward(although a bit jet lagged for a day) and was up "bright eyed and bushy tailed"
I am physically allergic to simple drugs like aspirin and penicillin so I tend to shy away from the use of drugs so, I welcomed the Hunt Doctors advice and was happy it seemed to work for me.
Have a GREAT TRIP BILLC & SON ! Can't wait to hear all about it.

Ty
 
When on the plane drink lots of water you might think you will go to the Bathroom alot but your body dehidrates on long flights.
we always asked for exta water.
 
Thanks for all the tips.SAome i never thought of for sure.The worst is if all is true that you want to go back as soon as you leave.How do you wait with out going crazy till you get bck.LOL
 
I'd agree on the language thing. I intend to learn some Afrikaner (splg) before I go back. Make a list of all the stuff in the bag and assign a price to it. Unpack your bag and leave at least one thing out.

That being said don't believe all of that stuff about your laundry being folded every day at the end of your bed. If the sun does not shine you laundry won't be done. I wore a pair of zip-offs and took three pair. Used them all once and wore one pair twice waiting on the laundry to dry.
 
Work out where you are going to place all your great trophies :biggrin2:
 
Check and recheck that you have everything. Don't forget a journal to record each day's events, in fact you can begin keeping it now. take some long walks in the shoes that you are going to wear. Take the 22lr and practice. You will sharpen up your shooting and get rid of any incipient flinch. bore everyone to death by telling them again and again how much fun you are going to have. If you wear glasses get a copy of your prescription to take with you. go to the customs office to get get you 4475 forms if you haven't already. When all else fails, read some capstick.
 
I took the advice of the "Hunt Doctors" Stephen I. Merlin M.D. & Paul A.J.Plante M.D. who wrote an article for
"SAFARI The Journal of Big Game Hunting"Official Publication of Safari Club International. In the article they discussed acclimating yourself to the time zone in which you will be hunting by actually mimicking the time difference and your sleep patterns for several days before you leave on your trip.
In other words, for a few days before you leave, put yourself on RSA time.
I understand that not everyone may be able to do this because of family obligations,work,time constraints etc. I was lucky enough to be able to try it and it did work for me. I was able to sleep well there from day one onward(although a bit jet lagged for a day) and was up "bright eyed and bushy tailed"
I am physically allergic to simple drugs like aspirin and penicillin so I tend to shy away from the use of drugs so, I welcomed the Hunt Doctors advice and was happy it seemed to work for me.
Have a GREAT TRIP BILLC & SON ! Can't wait to hear all about it.

Ty

Ty, that is good advice. I am a GP myself, and I will incorporate that in my travel advice. Thanks!
 
The excitement is what fires you up for the safari! Make sure you check & recheck that you have everything you will need. If that doesn't calm you down - just think about how bad your butt is going to hurt on that long flight & you will settle down for a few minutes! That is the worst part of the whole trip. Good Luck & have a great Hunt!!
 
Go find some 220 grain or heavier ammo for the .300 Win Mag and start shooting all over again. I took Hornady Superformance SST in 180 grain for my .300 win mag and never saw a drop of blood on any animal except where we found them dead. Don't get me wrong. I killed every animal and nothing travelled over 100 yards after being shot. The ammo certainly was lethal, but I attribute that more to accuracy than the hunting load. Next time I'm taking something that will spill blood. After all, a wounded animal costs the same as one in the truck. Now that I've done it, and experienced the thought of having to pay for an animal that I might not recover, I want that animal torn in two! I'm through with the idea of "any 30 caliber will do crap." African animals don't bleed anything like north american game.
 
bigred...

That is why i use my 338 win mag and have a 375 h & h and looking at getting a 404 Jeffrey and a 470 NE...

Even with solid hits with the 338 using 225 gr bullets it took a while for my wildebeest to show blood...the rest were not an issue as they were with in 20 feet of where they were hit...

The trackers had many story's about hunters who were less that good shots with the rifle they were using and they worked there butts off to track game that was wounded...not every animal is found...and like you said you still have to pay for the wounded animals whether you have them in the truck or not...

Go find some 220 grain or heavier ammo for the .300 Win Mag and start shooting all over again. I took Hornady Superformance SST in 180 grain for my .300 win mag and never saw a drop of blood on any animal except where we found them dead. Don't get me wrong. I killed every animal and nothing travelled over 100 yards after being shot. The ammo certainly was lethal, but I attribute that more to accuracy than the hunting load. Next time I'm taking something that will spill blood. After all, a wounded animal costs the same as one in the truck. Now that I've done it, and experienced the thought of having to pay for an animal that I might not recover, I want that animal torn in two! I'm through with the idea of "any 30 caliber will do crap." African animals don't bleed anything like north american game.
 

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