The One Piece of Gear You Didn’t Know You’d Need in Africa

[Kalahari Safari NAMIBIA]

As an outfitter in the Kalahari, I’ve noticed something interesting over the years: hunters spend months planning rifles, calibers, and ammo… but often it’s a simple, “non-hunting” item that ends up being the most indispensable piece of gear on safari.

In our part of Namibia, where sand and thornbush are constant companions, I’ve seen hunters swear by things like gaiters to keep sand out of boots, a tough pair of leather gloves for thornveld tracking, or even a humble roll of duct tape that saved the day more than once.

From your own time in Africa — what’s the one piece of gear you brought that surprised you by being absolutely essential?

 

[Altitude sickness]

A five pound bag of 100 dollar bills.

 

[Sideshow]

Contrefit

 

[Bandera]

SOG Power Plier Multi tool.
A set of Fix It Sticks.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Cheater eyeglasses.

 

[Altitude sickness]

A headlamp

 

[uplander01]

Wet Wipes LOL

 

[ACM]

Small pocket-sized streamlight.
Hunting the wild parts of Africa you can unexpectedly find yourself in the bush after dark making your way back to the cruiser after a long track, or at tent camp where the genny shuts off every evening and things are black until breakfast.

 

[Rare Breed]

As an outfitter in the Kalahari, I’ve noticed something interesting over the years: hunters spend months planning rifles, calibers, and ammo… but often it’s a simple, “non-hunting” item that ends up being the most indispensable piece of gear on safari.

In our part of Namibia, where sand and thornbush are constant companions, I’ve seen hunters swear by things like gaiters to keep sand out of boots, a tough pair of leather gloves for thornveld tracking, or even a humble roll of duct tape that saved the day more than once.

From your own time in Africa — what’s the one piece of gear you brought that surprised you by being absolutely essential?

$5 Walmart headnet to ward off mopani bees

 

[steve white]

chapstick....I burned my lips deeply in Tanzania. Maybe should have said zinc sun BLOCKING ointment.

 

[Philip Glass]

Neck gaiter

 

[Kalahari Safari NAMIBIA]

$5 Walmart headnet to ward off mopani bees

Luckily we do not have mopani bees in the Kalahari!

 

[Acopperdawg]

single wrapped wet wipes were a life saver! I second taking a Fix-it-sticks kit.

 

[AZDAVE]

Flashlight, power plug adapter, cheater eyeglasses.

 

[Mauser78]

the only item i ever drove to town for except beer and tabaco.

 

[mdwest]

Most valued non hunting related item: dude wipes... not just for the obvious emergency use.. but also for simply cleaning up a bit in the field when you get particularly sweaty or dirty.. its nice to take a little 30 second break to get all of the grime and filth off of you before getting back into the bakkie after spending the previous hour inhaling red dust and getting covered in sweat while wandering through the bush..

Most valued hunting related item: a wide brimmed hat. I typically start the morning out with a thin beanie on just to keep my head warm.. but as the day goes on, I prefer protection from the sun and the mid day heat, and will swap out my beanie for my faux tilley (looks a lot like a tilley airflo adventurer.. but was just some hat I picked up at COSTCO probably 8-10 years ago thats still going strong)..

 

[375Fox]

Chapstick has become the most important item to me on a safari. It’s a difference of enjoying myself or being absolutely miserable.

 

[coreydb]

wet wipes and 10x more money.

 

[Foxi]

a good coffee.
Good coffee is not a particular strength of African hunting camps (sorry Valie and other Ph's I've hunted with

 

[Adipose]

Dog Treats!