New hunter and wife

[ElevenBravo]

Former Army scout/sniper and his wife, planning on a trip to the continent next year. I currently work in the IT industry and have a side business building custom rifles and reloading equipment. The Mrs. and I have hunted extensively in Texas for hogs and exotics but we've gotten a bit bored with hunting African game at high-fence ranches, especially with some of their ridiculous prices. I'm still heavily into the research phase of planning a trip to SA, but I have a lor of questions/challenges.

1. I haven't picked an outfitter yet, still researching that. There's a lot to choose from! Based on just some quick scanning of other sites, Limcroma gets a lot of recommendations. That's a good start, but I have a few specific things. First the wife is a type 1 diabetic, so she needs to have food with her at all times. Do these outfitters have snacks like protein bars, candy, etc.. that she can carry with her? Do they break at lunchtime for a meal? Same with water, I'm assuming that bottled water is the safe option. My primary concern is for her health and safety. Currently she's more than a little sedentary (she doesn't do well in winter and basically hibernates) but I'm working on getting her back outside and walking around again, realizing that a safari is going to involve miles. Myself, I'm at the gym 4-5 times a week.



Second, she's a little bit autistic. She has been diagnosed with Asperger's. She's not like Rain Man or anything but can get upset over small things and has a couple of inconvenient phobias but nothing too disabling. She also pretty much has no filter. I'm hoping that this being SA, out in hunting country the staff are used to this. Nothing racist or inappropriate, she just doesn't pick up on social norms and cues so if you get into a hunting discussion with her, you're going to hear all the gory details whether you want to or not. And you'll see every picture of every cat we've ever had.



2. I don't own any DG-class firepower but I'm not expecting to go after the Big 5 although I'd love to go after a Cape Buffalo eventually. If that becomes the case, I've already decided that I'd rent a gun from the outfitter instead of sinking 4-5k into what would be a safe queen. For plains game, I plan on using my 300PRC and the Mrs. her -06. I'm currently working on building 7PRC and 7BC demonstrators for some potential clients so those may be options as well. In regards to the 7BC, what are SA's rules for bringing in suppressors?



3. I'm not sure what the Mrs. is planning on going after, but I definitely know what she won't go after: no rhinos, elephants, no cats of any kind (obviously). She would *really* like to knock down a Cape Buffalo (she saw a documentary where one was trampling lion cubs so she's taken it personally) but I think between the recoil of a 375 blowing her into the next zip code and the legitimate danger of the buffalo charging may put that on the back burner for a while. She is interested in sable and kudo to start, which coincidentally are what I'm interested in going after. Warthogs too. She's actually a crack shot when she's calm (can bang steel at 1000 yards) but tends to lock up when stressed. Anything else she's interested in tends to change, depending on what she's seen on the Outdoor channel.



I'm sure more questions will pop up as the process evolves, but thanks for any input!

 

[Shootist43]

Welcome aboard ElevenBravo. There is no reason to be concerned about your wife's needs. Stick with any of AH's vetted sponsors and you will be ok. Just let them know ahead of time. I take "KIND" bars with me, so I know what kind of snacks are available. If you are hunting near the lodge, lunch will be served there. If you are hunting further away "Box" lunches are provided. Bottled water is always available in the truck, but you can carry some in your daypack. BTW thanks for your Service.

 

[19_A_CPT]

From a former Cavalry guy, welcome! We did our first safari with GP Footprint Safaris in Northern Limpopo. The entire operation was fantastic and Gerhard (Jerry) did an amazing job. He had us in the thick of animals. Mind you, we bow hunted and both couples (My wife and I and my best friend and his wife) had an enormous amount of animals over the 5 days including 3 large buffalo bulls the second afternoon. Afterwards we did a 3 day safari to Kruger National Park.

Most outfitters will carry a cooler out in the field with lunch, snacks, drinks, etc.

Also, the outfitter usually has a couple of guns for rentals just in case yours malfunctions or the wife wants to go hammer a buff. Ours had a .308 and .375 (both suppressed) and the other PH had a .416 Rigby.

PS: That bald guy is me, the pretty lass is my wife and that other guy with hair is Gerhard.

 

[Mekaniks]

 

[375Fox]

When you start seriously looking into outfitters you might use the camp size as a way to differentiate outfitters. Africa isn’t like the US where short seasons make it necessary to share a camp. Africa is managed on quotas with long seasons. It should be relatively easy to find an outfitter that only takes one hunter or group at a time.
Snacks are no problem. The level of service you get from outfitters, PHs, staff in Africa is very different from North America. You don’t rough it on an African hunt, especially if you told them a particular need in advance. Biltong is African jerky, but they’d arrange anything you’d want.

 

[mdwest]

Welcome aboard 11B…

For what it’s worth, @Bos en Dal SAFARIS has hosted A LOT of US military veterans… I actually take groups of vets over every year for their first safari… they have a lot of experience, know and understand the culture, etc and cater to vets very well… a handful are active members here (myself, @roverandbrew , @Mountainshadows , and others)…

Regarding your wife… the diabetes won’t be a problem… if you let the outfitter you choose know about her condition, any good PH will be prepared and will have snacks on hand that can be taken with you in the truck… most have things like fruit, cookies, etc readily available…

You’ll definitely be able to stop mid day for lunch as well…

The problem on safari isn’t one of ever being hungry… it’s more of a problem of having too much great food around and always being tempted to over eat..

The Asperger’s won’t be an issue for any quality outfitter or PH… they are used to accommodating all types of people with a wide range of issues/concerns… they can find ways to support people in wheelchairs, people too out of shape to walk more than a few hundred yards, people getting up in their years that may need additional help with a wide range of medical concerns, etc..

PH’s are part expert hunter, part tour guide, part host, etc… they will go out of their way to give you and your wife the best experience possible no matter what challenges or obstacles might be presented to them… it’s what they do for a living.. and most are very, very good at it..,

Don’t worry about the firepower… if you’re comfortable renting a rifle, most camps will have a variety of rifles on various appropriate calibers and will set you up with something suitable for whatever quarry you’re setting out after for the day…

 

[Firebird]

Go to the “hunt reports” section here in the site and read what all those who cared to report on their experiences are saying.
Agree with the above, any reputable ph will easily accommodate your wife’s needs.
Enjoy the planning end, a big part of the adventure!
I will go back to SA just for fresh picked oranges in July!

 

[Rare Breed]

I can’t think of a SA outfitter that if they know the circumstances you described would not work with you so both of you have a great experience. To better enable that I recommend doing a hunt where you have the entire camp to yourself for the week. That would rule out two of my favorites Game4Africa and Fronteer. @TSALA HUNTING SAFARIS in their Limpopo camp would be just you and your wife with the Tsala family who she would love

 

[Shootist43]

ElevenBravo, I forgot to mention that because Africa is south of the equator their seasons are reversed. Our summer is their winter. In South Africa nights and early mornings can be cool to cold. By 10:00 you generally need to be in short sleeves. For PG your current battery of rifles will be fine. FYI most PHs prefer using heavy for caliber bullets.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Welcome to AH ElevenBravo!

 

[ElevenBravo]

Thanks for all the replies, even from the Cav and dirt dart (I kid, I kid. Leg infantry with Bullwinkle Badge). I'm doing a lot of reading in between arguing about the shortcomings of the 6.5CM, have a few emails out to some outfitters. A lot more questions as things proceed but hopefully I'll get through this with my sanity.

 

[Nyati]

 

[jomw10]

You should have no issues what so ever with food/water/drinks, etc in South Africa.
Any outfitter recommended here will take care of you and your wife. This are 5 star operations over there. If you let them know in advance, they will make any meal you can think of.

As for the rifle, she can definitely rent a 375 with a suppressor for Buffalo and maybe Eland. She should have no issues shooting that, it will kick less than an unsuppressed 06.

I haven't been to the Limpopo region yet, but from the descriptions I like the Eastern Cape better.
More topography, some hiking, similar to the hill country. Personally I have hunted with games4africa. Great outfitter.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

Welcome welcome welcome

 

[Ridge Runner]

Welcome to the forum.

Also an 11B, with other MOSs and Branches.

 

[Tanks]

Welcome.

The Mrs. and I have hunted extensively in Texas for hogs and exotics but we've gotten a bit bored with hunting African game at high-fence ranches

You realize, I hope, that almost all of RSA is high-fenced game farms. The difference is that they are much easier on the pocketbook than African game in TX.

That being said, all of the issues you brought up can be taken care of by some of the more reputable outfitters there. If they can handle drunk Russians they sure can handle someone with Asperger's.

 

[mdwest]

You realize, I hope, that almost all of RSA is high-fenced game farms.

absolutely true... however..

not all high fenced game farms are created equal..

huge difference in hunting a 2000 acre piece of property and a 20,000 acre piece of property..

on one youre going to be looking at fences all day.. on the other you might not see a fence the entire time youre there..

 

[ElevenBravo]

absolutely true... however..

not all high fenced game farms are created equal..

huge difference in hunting a 2000 acre piece of property and a 20,000 acre piece of property..

on one youre going to be looking at fences all day.. on the other you might not see a fence the entire time youre there..

Well even with 20k acres, it's all on layout. Ox Ranch is 20,000 acres but they have their land fenced off into different hunting areas. I imagine game ranches out in SA aren't internally partitioned as much or at all.

 

[Hunt anything]

Any outfitter worth his salt can handle your needs and concerns. My only concern would be the pure hell of the airports and airlines these days.
As mentioned earlier, get in touch with Wik at @GAME 4 AFRICA SAFARIS. They are top shelf.

 

[ElevenBravo]

Welcome.


You realize, I hope, that almost all of RSA is high-fenced game farms. The difference is that they are much easier on the pocketbook than African game in TX.

That being said, all of the issues you brought up can be taken care of by some of the more reputable outfitters there. If they can handle drunk Russians they sure can handle someone with Asperger's.

well it's a couple of things. I've been to big ranches in Texas and a few small ones. A place like Ox is big but they have a lot of internal fencing. Smaller ranches, you're going to see the boundary fencing a lot. I'm hoping the ranches in SA don't have a lot of internal fences. And second, for the price of one critter from most of these Texas ranches, I can buy 2 tickets to SA, whack a whole bunch of critters, and get some exposure to another culture.

This is a big thing. My wife loves Ox- that and cats are pretty much all she talks about- but it's really expensive and I can stretch our dollars further going to Africa. I want to go on vacation, but I need to spend my money better to support my business. And despite Ox's size, I'm well aware of the fences around me.

My "I don't like guns and hunting" dad with with us to Ox the last time, and he had a great time. But he looked at the website, pulled me aside and said "I can't believe how much you're spending here".