Preparing for the heat

[IdaRam]

Great advice given already and I don’t have much more to contribute, but here are a couple thoughts.
Let your PH know right at the start you may need to acclimate over the first few days. Don’t let him run you out of gas on day 1 and don’t be bashful about saying when you have had enough. Better to knock off early and be excited about going back out in the afternoon than to be dragging and not feeling well. Also, the more you work on your physical conditioning the better you will hold up in the heat. If you are already in great shape, wonderful. If not, you have three months to work on it. Nothing you can do about the difference in climate, but physical condition can be worked on.
I bet hunting in the Valley will be excellent at that time of year! I’ll be looking forward to the report Have fun and best of luck!

 

[ianevans]

Scotland to the Zambezi valley in late October. ....slight temperature difference.......went to boarding school in Scotland for 8 years....made me allergic to cold weather ...so I would say enjoy the heat.........dry heat isn't so bad......but when the rain clouds build humidity goes up and makes it feel hotter....also the temperature doesn't go down that much at night which you might find worse as can be hard to sleep....but being in Scotland not sure how you can replicate the heat apart from exercising in front of a couple of blow heaters set on max temp......apart from all that ....just go have a great hunt and if when you walking you feel you need a break just say so....don't try to push it and pretend you are ok.....better to take 10 min break than keel over ....

Hi Spike ,many thanks for useful info .If you went to boarding school in Scotland you would have played rugby . I boarded at Glasgow Academy from 1965 to 72 and we played most other Scottish boarding schools . .cheers Ian

 

[ianevans]

Hi Everyone , many many thanks for all your replys and very useful hints, which i assure you i have taken on board and will act on . My friend Ant a South African PH is coming along for a holiday so i know i'm in good hands . i'm walking about 2 miles a day 5 days a week as well as being a working farmer so trying to build up some fitness. this hunt is my 65th birthday present from me to me and something i've dreamed about for a long time . roll on October will keep you posted thanks again
Ian

 

[spike.t]

Hi Spike ,many thanks for useful info .If you went to boarding school in Scotland you would have played rugby . I boarded at Glasgow Academy from 1965 to 72 and we played most other Scottish boarding schools . .cheers Ian

Loretto in musselburgh

 

[ianevans]

Loretto in musselburgh

Yes we played Loretto, when wewre you there

 

[spike.t]

Yes we played Loretto, when wewre you there

67 to 76....

 

[thi9elsp]

Ian you might look into these electrolyte gels. https://www.runnersworld.com/nutrition-weight-loss/g22716327/best-energy-gels/. Ann and I were in Niassa Mozambique the end of October / early November a few years ago and brought these along - two per person per day. Some days the highs were 97 and one day over 100 Fahrenheit. Ann uses these gels when she does her marathons and half marathons. We always drank water with them.

If possible I would add a weighted back pack to the walking you are doing. And don't be embarrassed to tell the PH to bring 3+ 1.5 to 2 liter bottles of water each day just for yourself - the trackers can carry it in their backpack and it won't phase them. Our PH in Mozambique looked at us strangely when we asked for that much water. We were sure glad we had it on those 6+ hour hikes for Cape buffalo. Also, having the trackers carry the rifle when you are first leaving the truck is worth it until the PH says for you to start carrying it. And, if the stalk ends with no animal, they will willingly carry it to the rendezvous point with the truck.

FYI we hunted out of Mange camp along the river in Chewore north with Chifuti back 2011. Had a great time.

 

[Desperatezulu]

Some great advice here already. My 2c would be to get yourself really fit - as fit as you can manage. Dress (over)warmly when exercising to cause overheating and sweating and carry extra weight in a backpack as has been mentioned. You might not be able to pre-acclimatize yourself but you can ensure that you're properly fit.

Unfitness AND hot conditions are going to make you miserable and negatively impact your experience.

If you can afford the time, do a few long walks over broken ground - long as in 30km+. The broken ground will work your joints and the long walk will test your fitness, and your walking 'technique' as you fatigue and get sloppy with posture and where you place your feet. Exercising in a gym ,while better than nothing, is a far cry from the real thing. Remember the saying that you hunt elephant with your feet.

 

[Nkawu]

I would add that make sure your wide brim hat doesn’t over heat your head- get ones with ventilation of some kind. Also, I would stay away from synthetic clothing and go for lightweight cotton etc, basically what the local farmers/ hunters wear. I’ve also hunted in sandals before in hot humid weather (Courteney makes a pair, rocky is cheaper).