Welcome aboard Matt. Please tell us a little more about yourself as it relates to hunting. Things like what have you hunted previously? What kind and caliber rifles do you own? Do you reload? What are you planning to hunt in Africa? Will you be going with a buddy or by yourself? We are not nosy, but we'd like to see where you are coming from if you get my drift.
Great questions! Happy to expound:
Previously hunted only locally: Elk, deer, ducks/geese, grouse, etc. Drew a bison tag this year so super excited about that -- wish me luck for then end of this month! More than anything else these days is backcountry hunting on horseback and focused on elk and deer. Want to go for pronghorn sometime if I can manage to draw a tag.
Rifles: Multiple, but apparently not the right ones for Africa! I go from 22lr to 338 wm. I'm sure my elk rifles will be fine for plains game, but looking to pick up something heavier as well. Current preference is for 375H&H, but we'll see. I do reload as well.
Africa plans - where: Looking at 2020 by myself and more than likely Tanzania. Zambia would likely be second choice. I've been to Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe before (though I wasn't hunting), so I figured it would be cool to see another part of the continent. Also like the idea of more traditional safari / tented camp / as-close-as I-can-get(afford)-to-Hemingway/Roosevelt-experience.
Africa plans -what: Planning solo trip at this point. Super excited to try for leopard and buffalo on first trip! Maybe I'll get super lucky and add a sable in the bag.
Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome!