What, if anything, would you have done differently

Just a few more months, then I'm off to South Africa for my first plains game hunt. My excitement continues to build every day and I'm always scouring the forums for advice, experiences, and other useful tips that could make my trip even that much more unforgettable. I've read a lot of threads here in the forums over the years and absorbed some fantastic insights and tips from members. I have truly enjoyed reading these threads and I'm curious to learn what, if anything, would you have done differently on your first plains game hunt. If this has been touched on or discussed before, apologies.

more days hunting and have a rest day for jet lag before the hunt started

I’d only get one or two animals mounted. The rest just skulls. It seems like most hunters overdo taxidermy on their first trip. Put the money towards more hunting.

Take the time to take more photos. You will feel like you didn't take enough. Use one the rifle permit professionals to help you clear Customs...use their VIP service to get through the main line faster. Enjoy every day no matter how it turns out. You have saved and sacrificed to get to Africa. Every time I go back, I walk out to look over the land and say to myself...you're home again.

I wasn't aware I needed a power converter. That caused some problems for charging devices. I also didn't take enough photos. Plenty of dead animals but not enough of landscape, wildlife, birds, wildflowers, etc. Some of the vehicles I saw on the highways were strange. Especially the junk/scrap collectors. Wow, can those guys tie a load on! Wish I'd snapped a photo or two. Speaks volumes about life in South Africa. Also some of the old provincial towns we drove through were quite picturesque, especially in the pre-dawn hours when no one was about. Regret not having my PH stop for a second so I could snap a few photos. The "township" zones we drove by also spoke volumes about life in RSA but I guess I am less inclined to savor memories of that scenery. Nevertheless, the folks out walking the road there always smiled and waved. I should have taken a photo so they would know they were worthy. And they were. No one walking the highway around here smiles and waves at me.

375Fox said:

I’d only get one or two animals mounted. The rest just skulls. It seems like most hunters overdo taxidermy on their first trip. Put the money towards more hunting.

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that was our biggest mistake on our first safari.. we thought we needed to shoulder mount EVERYTHING.. and then also needed the backskins from EVERYTHING..

paid way too much for taxidermy, which also led to paying way too much for shipping...

that money could have been much more wisely spent on another hunt..

Ontario Hunter said:

I wasn't aware I needed a power converter. That caused some problems for charging devices. I also didn't take enough photos. Plenty of dead animals but not enough of landscape, wildlife, birds, wildflowers, etc. Some of the vehicles I saw on the highways were strange. Especially the junk/scrap collectors. Wow, can those guys tie a load on! Wish I'd snapped a photo or two. Speaks volumes about life in South Africa. Also some of the old provincial towns we drove through were quite picturesque, especially in the pre-dawn hours when no one was about. Regret not having my PH stop for a second so I could snap a few photos. The "township" zones we drove by also spoke volumes about life in RSA but I guess I am less inclined to savor memories of that scenery. Nevertheless, the folks out walking the road there always smiled and waved. I should have taken a photo so they would know they were worthy. And they were. No one walking the highway around here smiles and waves at me.

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Most men shouldn’t need a power converter. Just an outlet adapter. Most electronics are good. If traveling with your wife there are a few items that could need a converter.

Like others, went overboard on taxidermy the first trip and less the second but still too much. If I had to do it over again, I'd do photos or video only. Taxidermy and shipping could have easily paid for two more hunts.

Be open to opportunity. Depending on your list of animals, don’t pass up a big Waterbuck, while hunting a Kudu or Gemsbok… Bring extra money! Just in case. Hunting always seems to become more expensive and you may not get back as soon as you like.

What @NIGHTHAWK just said.

Also, I would have made a more concerted effort to make it to Africa at a younger age, rather than let it fester as a dream for 3 decades.

If your outfitter takes credit card, make sure you buck it up with a healthy surplus before leaving if you anticipate being close to the limit. Yes, you can transfer from line of credit to credit card to cover overage but sometimes funds are held temporarily. AND LET BOTH CREDIT CARD OUTFIT AND YOUR BANK OFFICER KNOW YOU ARE GOING OVERSEAS. Can be a pain in the butt if card gets flagged and frozen for "suspicious" activity. This was a problem for me when settling up at the end of my first safari. Fortunately, the bank manager here stayed late that night and answered the phone. He got the money moved. Whew! REMEMBER, even though the credit card may have your bank's name on it, they are a SEPARATE COMPANY. My bank can't do a thing for me when the credit card company screws up.

P.S. My outfitter was not concerned even though it was my first safari with him. "Don't worry about it. Just straighten it out when you get home." What a guy! But I got it straightened out before leaving the lodge. Very, very embarrassing.

The downside to bumping up the credit card with extra cash is you can't pull the excess back out without paying a huge penalty (20%!). Best advice is just leave the excess on the card and use it up for gas, food, etc.

All good advice. I wished I would have watched YouTube videos of hunts in areas close to where I would be hunting. Just to be somewhat familiar with the terrain.

Great question and thread!
For me two things I would have done differently. First and foremost was to slow down and enjoy the experience. I got too caught up on getting my list of animlas. Slow down, take it all in, and take what the bush gives you. Basically just saying relax and enjoy the experience and small things.
Second thing I'd do differently is to pack less clothes. It's easy to over pack. But with daily laundry less is needed than one thinks.
I do recommend keeping a journal of each day. Its fun looking back at those and remembering what you saw and even ate.

Loads of great advice here on reducing an ambitious taxidermy plan, taking pics, etc. My new piece of advice would to slow down. My first trip was 2024. PG, just like you, so I had a "list". In thinking about the trip in the rearview, I think the PH was really hustling hard to get me to shoot anything he saw as quickly as he could. If I could do it again I would be more selective and maybe shoot less. Savor the experience. Like many things you only get your first time once. This is your trip and not the PH's. Communicate with the PH, do your part as a client, and let them know what would make you happiest. They are in the making-people-happy business. And don't bring noisy boots.

And I hear the advice on the jet lag. I never got on RSA time. I just plugged it out with naps and weird sleeping hours.

Pretty much all my suggestions have been mentioned above but I’ll add them anyway to second their recommendations.
1. You’re dates are already set, but 12-14 days is ideal.
2. Take as much extra cash with you as you can afford. Tons of random opportunities you didn’t plan for.
3. Don’t rush any shots - there will most likely be another opportunity.
4. Skip the back skins, and shoulder mounts for most. Euro mount the majority.
5. If you’re hunting less than 6-7 animals and a relatively decent shot, you’ll only need 1 box of ammo. Take a second box as backup, but not 3-4 boxes unless you are going to shoot a bunch.
6. Your PH and his team don’t really want trinkets unless specifically asked for. Give them cash. Take 10s and 20s for tips - defer to PH on amount.
7. The airport clowns in Africa all want tips and are very direct about out asking for tips to “make sure your rifle gets on the right flight.”
8. My favorite part of the trip is usually sitting around the camp fire and listening to the sounds while having a cold drink.
9. Random pictures of all the sights and critters is what I find myself revisiting the most - not the trophy pics.
10. iPad or tablet with lots of movies and a decent bag of snacks for that long flight.

Have a great trip and post some pics

All great advices and I’ve done exactly what some have expressed here. Something I didn’t do on my first safari was practice from the sticks. So, practice, and practice some more from the sticks. Get off the bench.

crossfire3006 said:

Just a few more months, then I'm off to South Africa for my first plains game hunt. My excitement continues to build every day and I'm always scouring the forums for advice, experiences, and other useful tips that could make my trip even that much more unforgettable. I've read a lot of threads here in the forums over the years and absorbed some fantastic insights and tips from members. I have truly enjoyed reading these threads and I'm curious to learn what, if anything, would you have done differently on your first plains game hunt. If this has been touched on or discussed before, apologies.

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More days hunting and I would do dangerous game and I'd do it in another country.

Not casting shade at RSA, but the difference between RSA and a wilderness area in another country is slim. The difference between PG and DG is marginal. The cost of a few more days is barely anything.

Example: Zimbabwe, 18 hunting days, 21 days in country, DG and PG, $25k all-in with tips and airfare. It would not be difficult to ring up a similar bill in RSA for a high fence plains game hunt. The death by a thousand cuts additional costs can bring things pretty close to parity.

I did not know how expensive things are for them there. If I had known, I would have asked what sorts of things they would appreciate me bringing to leave or gift to them. Something as simple as a Yeti coffee mug made for big smiles. I would have liked to have left the PH and all of the staff some items without reducing my tips at all.

NDWoods said:

I did not know how expensive things are for them there. If I had known, I would have asked what sorts of things they would appreciate me bringing to leave or gift to them. Something as simple as a Yeti coffee mug made for big smiles. I would have liked to have left the PH and all of the staff some items without reducing my tips at all.

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The most valuable thing you can bring is iphones and ipads. Go into your junk drawer, plug them in, charge them up. Contact your cell carrier and get them "unlocked" since they are antiques and out of contract. Upgrade them to the latest IOS level they can handle, likely many generations back.

The Ipads get used by trackers with a SD card dongle so they can review trail cam film in the bush on your behalf. The iphones are for staff that would love to own a ten year old phone that is worthless in the USA.

Be flexible, I could’ve shot multiple species of the tiny ten and a monster waterbuck. Since that first safari I’ve been playing catch up!