Advice needed for group of three first time safari

[huntbour]

This seems to be an unpopular opinion by what I’ve read in the thread but I would just rent rifles. You’ll spend the cost of renting one just getting yours there between a high quality case, baggage fees, and a travel agent. Depending on where you live you’ll likely have 3 flights to get to your destination. No worries about the airlines losing them and not having to drag them around or wait at a baggage claim and no extra paperwork and customs delays.

I’ve only been once so far but I took only a carry on and a backpack and didn’t use a travel agent and used a camp gun and scored hits at 370 and 390 yards. The camp rifles will likely be suppressed too something you may or may not have.

If you are sentimental or can only shoot certain guns well by all means take your own rifle.

Oh yeah, and pack light. Your laundry will be done daily by the camp staff so no need for more than a couple changes of clothes, maybe some extra socks, and good shoes maybe two pairs.

We definitely love our guns, but it's not essential for us to bring them. Given this is our first safari, we're more interested in what's most cost effective and the least headache.

 

[JimP]

You can cheap out on taxidermy by having euros done. Both as a finished product and shipping home.
Even if you do one mount and the others as euros.

Talk to your local taxidermist and see what he charges. My taxidermist was 15 months out once he got the dip n pack along with being more expensive. But by the time I paid for the larger crate it wasn't much cheaper, but I had my mounts on the wall over a year quicker.

 

[huntbour]

I think

You can cheap out on taxidermy by having euros done. Both as a finished product and shipping home.
Even if you do one mount and the others as euros.

Talk to your local taxidermist and see what he charges. My taxidermist was 15 months out once he got the dip n pack along with being more expensive. But by the time I paid for the larger crate it wasn't much cheaper, but I had my mounts on the wall over a year quicker.

I think mostly Euro mounts, and possibly one shoulder mount, would be the direction we'd choose. As much as I'd love to get 5 shoulder mounts, I'd prefer to put the money towards a more unforgettable experience while actually in Africa, rather than the taxidermy to bring back home. Thats not even considering trying to find the space for 5 shoulder mounts, on walls that are short on space as is.

 

[mark-hunter]

- I noticed most hunt packages are 1 on 1 or 2 on 1. We would prefer to hunt together if thats possible. How would this typically work? Would we have to split up as a a 2 on 1 and a separate 1 on 1. Would we have to rotate the third person as an observer each day?

- Budget for the entire trip would be around 30k give or take. How feasible would this be regarding a plains game hunt? What would be the best possible trip we could get on a budget like this?

- Any animals that y'all would recommend as particularly fun or standout hunts?

- Would you recommend bringing our own guns or renting them from the safari we choose?

The situation in camp is not "protocolized". It will be a friendly and flexible atmosphere. Of the three of you, most likely you will go 2-1 and 1-1 in all combinations. Just let the PH plan daily activities, and dont worry

with 30K, you guys will have a fantastic trip. It is hard to say what you would prefer to hunt, but I recommend: Hartmann zebra (endemic in Namibia only), kudu (the longest-horned antelope in Africa), and eland (the biggest antelope of Africa).

I suggest to take your own guns.
Reason, most likely camp guns will be good, no issue on that, but you dont know which ammo you will get. So, take your guns and your quality ammo.

Extra tip
Take the best possible camera with you. Take pictures of everything. Mobile phones are not for serious album material.