first Safari

[David jr]

Hello Muskox
Yes I will only take the 458 and 30/06
458 dangers game
30/06 plains game
I have the other calibers they will stay home .

 

[BJH65]

The amount of walking for both elephant and buffalo really depends on the concession you hunt and type of bull you are looking for. Some you’ll walk a lot more than others.

This is spot on advice. We recently completed an elephant and buffalo hunt in the Greater Kruger Area of South Africa. I recently did a hunt report. I believe elephant hunting there will be much less physically demanding, you won’t be tracking a bull elephant 10-20 miles a day. Most of your walking will be anywhere from 1-3 miles at a time, looking for a suitable bull. The same could hold true for buffalo although I did a little more walking for them. The Greater Kruger has a good network of dirt roads that also can minimize the amount of walking.

The heat can be a factor depending on when you go but overall I believe this will be a much less physically demanding hunt. You would be much closer to medical evacuation and medical treatment if needed. The one present drawback, elephant are presently non exportable from SA but that could change by the time you go. The buffalo are exportable and several Greater Kruger reserves have plains game available as well as various private reserves.

Hunting the Greater Kruger area should meet all of your requirements but still having modern amenities available should you need them.

Just something to consider.

Best wishes,

Brendon

 

[375Fox]

Here is another question which barnes TSX bullet weight would you take in 30/06 for plains game , I have Barnes 150 ,165,175 OR 180 The 150 at 3000 fps has taken wild bulls weighing around 2000 pounds and a lot of other game . I know African game are made different and a little tougher than animals over here in US.

I will take some 520 grain and 350 grain lead gas checked ammo for the 458 the 520 will be at 2100
fps and the 350 will be at 2400 fps and will only be used for the largest plains game .
I will have the ok from my PH before taking and using the lead bullets .

You can only bring 5 kg/11 lbs of ammo with you. With large calibers you’ll hit this faster than you think usually somewhere around 60+ rounds. It’s technically ammo weight but many airline representatives at the check in counter in Africa are going to treat it as 11 lbs ammo + case. You can’t really be bringing multiple types of ammo because of this. Any of the Barnes bullets will be fine in your 30/06. For your 458, the important thing if you bring multiple types of bullets is getting ammo that shoots to same point of impact. I’m sure certain PHs will let you use your lead cast bullets on certain animals, but I don’t think any PH is going to let you use them on an elephant. Elephant brain shots already cause deformation in many of the best solids affecting straight line penetration. When you book talk to outfitter before you get too set in your bullet choices. They can accommodate you in some ways and others it’s probably not advisable. If a 520 gr lead cast bullet acts like a solid, you’ll potentially have problems getting a shot at a buffalo. Over penetration can be an issue. Certain premium softs you have a reasonable expectation they will not exit letting you shoot in a herd. Softs are also an advantage on a hippo brain shots, if the shot is slightly off the soft causes additional damage where it will hopefully drown.

 

[375Fox]

I thank all for the reply's.
I have looked into going to the SCI in Nashville in 2026 conflicts with doctor’s appointment .

I do have Bog pod on tripod have it for the grand children's , I will start shooting with the bog pod.

The 375 H&H yes I have three of this rifle one Mauser and two Winchester’s model 70 with control feed . I have shot The 375 for over forty years it would be no challenge to take one of these rifle .

I am looking for a fun and challenge Safari , This is the reason I have chosen the 458 and 30/06
The 458 has been beat up over the years not the 458 fault it was the powder at the time which caused the caliber to get bad reviews .

I have a 416 Taylor that would work very well on this Safari . I have thought about taking the 416 instead of the 458 . The 416 shoots just like the 375 and has the killing power for the dangerous game and will shoot flat enough for plains game. I may change my mine and take The 416 Taylor .

I must take the 30/06 This was my father only caliber he would shoot and he took a lot of animals with 30/06 . My father nerve traveled to Africa .Dad passed in 1995.

When I take African game with the 30/06 Dad will be with me . I know that is dumb but for me it is
very important for the 30/06 to make the trip .

Here is another question which barnes TSX bullet weight would you take in 30/06 for plains game , I have Barnes 150 ,165,175 OR 180 The 150 at 3000 fps has taken wild bulls weighing around 2000 pounds and a lot of other game . I know African game are made different and a little tougher than animals over here in US.

I will take some 520 grain and 350 grain lead gas checked ammo for the 458 the 520 will be at 2100
fps and the 350 will be at 2400 fps and will only be used for the largest plains game .
I will have the ok from my PH before taking and using the lead bullets .

DSC show in Atlanta is the week prior to SCI. Its smaller than SCI but still has more outfitters than you’ll be able to get through.

 

[Rumrunner]

I have had both knees and a hip replaced. Rehab from a total knee replacement is brutal. I worry you may be trying to do a significantly strenuous safari so soon after the replacements. I’m sure the PH can help but it took a couple years, doing all of the PT and exercises afterwards to get anywhere near 100%. But we all heal differently, I wish you good luck healing quickly.

 

[MLindsay]

I have had both knees and a hip replaced. Rehab from a total knee replacement is brutal. I worry you may be trying to do a significantly strenuous safari so soon after the replacements. I’m sure the PH can help but it took a couple years, doing all of the PT and exercises afterwards to get anywhere near 100%. But we all heal differently, I wish you good luck healing quickly.

My ph and I hunted buffs 3 months after his knee replacement. He walked alot of miles.
Most of my friends with knee replacements, I guess 6 or so, were walking long distance 6 months after the surgery.

Everyone is different

 

[Philip Glass]

You can definitely take your handloads. You aren’t limited to factory ammo, but you are limited to 11 lbs maximum. Cast bullets would be a discussion with your PH before the hunt.
You’ll likely get a lot of offers sent privately but there are only a few sponsors I’d even consider for this kind of hunt. You are looking at $70k+ in any quality area, potentially a lot more depending on the type of elephant you’d like to hunt. I’d only consider offers from PHs based in the country you’d hunt with a few exceptions. If this is your first trip and potentially only trip and you want a safari of this magnitude, I’d reach out to the more established US booking agents like the hunting consortium, jack Atcheson and sons, hunters networks. They can present a lot of options and countries and discuss pros and cons of each for your situation. There are a lot of ways to go wrong if you don’t know exactly what you are looking for. If it’s before your surgery going to DSC or SCI show would provide you a huge amount of options to compare, but maybe too many.

Perfect advice!
I would only add to take a look at our AH sponsor @DALTON & YORK SAFARIS as an option.

 

[Philip Glass]

I thank all for the reply's.
I have looked into going to the SCI in Nashville in 2026 conflicts with doctor’s appointment .

I do have Bog pod on tripod have it for the grand children's , I will start shooting with the bog pod.

The 375 H&H yes I have three of this rifle one Mauser and two Winchester’s model 70 with control feed . I have shot The 375 for over forty years it would be no challenge to take one of these rifle .

I am looking for a fun and challenge Safari , This is the reason I have chosen the 458 and 30/06
The 458 has been beat up over the years not the 458 fault it was the powder at the time which caused the caliber to get bad reviews .

I have a 416 Taylor that would work very well on this Safari . I have thought about taking the 416 instead of the 458 . The 416 shoots just like the 375 and has the killing power for the dangerous game and will shoot flat enough for plains game. I may change my mine and take The 416 Taylor .

I must take the 30/06 This was my father only caliber he would shoot and he took a lot of animals with 30/06 . My father nerve traveled to Africa .Dad passed in 1995.

When I take African game with the 30/06 Dad will be with me . I know that is dumb but for me it is
very important for the 30/06 to make the trip .

Here is another question which barnes TSX bullet weight would you take in 30/06 for plains game , I have Barnes 150 ,165,175 OR 180 The 150 at 3000 fps has taken wild bulls weighing around 2000 pounds and a lot of other game . I know African game are made different and a little tougher than animals over here in US.

I will take some 520 grain and 350 grain lead gas checked ammo for the 458 the 520 will be at 2100
fps and the 350 will be at 2400 fps and will only be used for the largest plains game .
I will have the ok from my PH before taking and using the lead bullets .

You always want to use heavy for caliber bullets and Barnes are my go to in any caliber. On .30-06 I'd not consider any but the 180g. My advice would be to be planning and working on your rehab more than worrying about rifles and bullets (I know we can't help ourselves!).
You can likely do most of what you are wanting my concern is your health condition for an elephant hunt. Those are typically 10+ miles per day every day. Strenuous for even the best of us!