SOUTH AFRICA: My Buffalo Hunt South Africa 2026

[375Ruger416]

Me too. And an extra on days when I’m very active.

 

[Pheroze]

Try LMNT electrolyte solution. As a physician, I have used all of the options out there from pedialyte/gastrolyte to various commercial options for myself, my kids, and patients. For rehydration during activity, they are the best I have used so far. I am told some costcos carry them, but I have bought mine from LMNT online. https://drinklmnt.com they are individually wrapped so very convenient for travel

I have bought some Canada Rocks electrolyte solution to try, but haven’t used it yet so cannot recommend it.

That’s great, thanks for the advice

 

[CBeck]

I’m envious! Wishing you your best safari yet!

 

[Pheroze]

The weather was a gorgeous bright 0C today. I got out to the range and practiced shooting the 400 from the sticks. I pulled one shot and spent some time correcting that issue. Things are going well with the 400

The 308 NM has an issue. The load I developed for my last safari shoots quite randomly. I bought factory Norma ammo and it shoots fine, so I am saving about 15 rounds for the trip just in case I don’t get another load developed in time.

I think I have narrowed the issue to my new scope mounts. I had my gunsmith install a swing mount style mount and the process must have changed the harmonics of the rifle. Action screws and everything else checks out. And, with the factory load shooting fine, I can’t explain the loss of accuracy with my hand loads that were excellent. I took a Vaal Rhebuck cleanly at just under 300 yards with that load. Back to the lab! This time I have boxes of Woodleigh bullets that I will try to make work.

 

[Brian]

I am a big CEB and NF bullet fan, killed 19 buffalo with them. Excellent terminal performance.

 

[Rolly]

Try LMNT electrolyte solution. As a physician, I have used all of the options out there from pedialyte/gastrolyte to various commercial options for myself, my kids, and patients. For rehydration during activity, they are the best I have used so far. I am told some costcos carry them, but I have bought mine from LMNT online. https://drinklmnt.com they are individually wrapped so very convenient for travel

I have bought some Canada Rocks electrolyte solution to try, but haven’t used it yet so cannot recommend it.

375Ruger416
If I am on a Statin drug (5 mg per day)will the grapefruit salt in the LMNT affect me negatively?

 

[PARA45]

Outstanding, and following. Please post pictures of your set up, you know how much we all love a little gun porn.

 

[Pheroze]

Outstanding, and following. Please post pictures of your set up, you know how much we all love a little gun porn.

Not a professional quality pic, but some amateur gun porn!

 

[Hedge774]

That’s great, thanks for the advice

From personal experience, drink one with breakfast or after your coffee whether you need it or not. Liquid IV is also a good choice. They are sold at Sam's. I will be going to Limpopo mid April for my first Buffalo hunt. I hope we can share pictures! Shoot straight, Stay safe, God bless!

 

[Hedge774]

I am on the statins as well. I felt no kind of negative side effects from the electrolytes and I had 3 packs daily.

 

[375Ruger416]

375Ruger416
If I am on a Statin drug (5 mg per day)will the grapefruit salt in the LMNT affect me negatively?

Probably not. Grapefruit can be an issue with simvastatin, atorvastatin, lovastatin and reduce the breakdown of the statin drugs potentially causing rhabdomyolysis.

The ingredients list just says natural flavor and I’d be astonished if there was enough in it to have that effect. However, out of an abundance of caution the safest thing to do is to drink the other flavors if you’re on one of those statins or the blood thinner warfarin. So far, I like all of the flavors although chocolate is a bit of a weird idea at first, it can be good with coffee or on its own.

Of course, consult a physician licensed in your jurisdiction, but that’s what I’d do.

 

[BRICKBURN]

@Pheroze ENJOY!

 

[Woodcarver]

View attachment 746153




Not a professional quality pic, but some amateur gun porn!

Good luck on your adventure! Hope to see both of those rifles leaned against trophies in your hunt report!

 

[Ekaterina Lobach North Fork Bullets]

Dear friends

In one month I will travel to Limpopo for my first Buffalo hunt. Being a certified AH addict I thought long and hard about where I wanted to go for this inaugural Buffalo Hunt. My hunting in Africa has been focused on the Eastern Cape region. I have enjoyed great plains games hunts and I felt I wanted to experience a Buffalo hunt.

Why hunt Buffalo. Why indeed. I don’t consider myself a thrill seeker. However, I have to challenge myself or I rapidly lose interest in life. So, committing to this hunt feels like a step or two up from what I have done to date. Also, I have learned that I get a little fatigued with a long list of animals, and I prefer to focus on a small few that are difficult to achieve. The hunt is what I really enjoy. Most importantly , a buffalo hunt just screams Africa and I feel it must be experienced. I am hoping this hunt proves to be everything I have heard as I can see myself hunting buffalo in various parts of Africa.

Where to hunt my first buffalo: I have read the stories of epic buffalo hunts in many different countries. But I have tried to be honest with myself and not overestimate my abilities. I love South Africa, so the chance to go again (this will be my forth time) is something I look forward to. But I also recognize the danger associated with this hunt and so I wanted to go with someone I know and trust. I called Marius at @KMG Hunting Safaris and booked this hunt with him. Marius is a very honourable and capable PH. I know he will do everything to ensure success on a bull I will be proud to show off. I have also found he is very good at ensuring the best possible shot is taken. We have planned to hunt some plains game after the Buffalo hunt, time permitting. After enjoying several hunts with Marius, it just felt right to call him for this one.

My oldest son is coming along as an observer this time. He may join in on the plains game portion of the trip. Marius got Sinclair on his first African animal in 2016, in fact it was the first animal taken in Africa by any of our family.

I have prepared by studying video and books on these massive creatures. Shot angles and scenarios play though my mind very regularly!

I will be using my 400 H&H. 400 grain @North Fork Bullets (softs) is the main bullet. I was asked to have a handful of solids for very particular purposes and I have loaded their cup nosed solids.

These are three shot groups at 100 yards

View attachment 745818View attachment 745819

After these were taken I properly zeroed the rifle and she is good to go!

For the plains game I am brining my 308 Norma Mag loaded with 180 gr CEB Maximus bullets.

I will fly Ethiopian Airlines (my third time with them) through Addis. They still have the cheapest business class, which suits both my champagne tastes and my beer bottle pocket. I find business class makes a huge difference and one reaches JoBurg rested! The staff are very friendly and helpful too. Claiming the rifle in Addis is the thing of great stories, as has been reported in other threads. So far I have made my plane each time, but usually at a sprint with my shoes in hand lol

For the next month I will continue to get in as much range time as I can, shooting from sticks, various positions and off hand. A lot of dry firing with various pieces of furniture, door knobs and the like substituted for a charging Dagga Boy!

I have a pair of Courtney’s and a pair of Jim Green barefoot rangers for the feet. The barefoot rangers are a different style and I am spending a lot of time in them to make sure they are comfortable. The winter has been harsh, so a lot of treadmill walking and wearing them around the house. On cold dry days, short walks out doors, too. I have had the Courtney boots for over ten years.

Well, if you’re still with me at this point, thank you for reading this and let the countdown begin!

Thank you very much for your trust! It is a great honor for us that you chose North Fork Bullets for such an important hunt.

We wish you the best of luck! From your preparation, it is clear that you are a serious person, passionate about ethical hunting.

Please share your hunting experience with us afterwards — we are very interested and look forward to hearing about your successes.

/Best regards,
Ekaterina Lobach,
North Fork Bullets

 

[UpNorthMI]

Enjoy your hunt, I look forward to reading the report.

 

[Pheroze]

Thank you very much for your trust! It is a great honor for us that you chose North Fork Bullets for such an important hunt.

We wish you the best of luck! From your preparation, it is clear that you are a serious person, passionate about ethical hunting.

Please share your hunting experience with us afterwards — we are very interested and look forward to hearing about your successes.

/Best regards,
Ekaterina Lobach,
North Fork Bullets

Thanks! And, in case you are wondering I am open to sponsorship opportunities

On a serious note, they were very easy to load and the solids matched easily with the softs!

 

[Badjer]

Love to hear your story. I hope to have a buff in my future as well, so I will be following too.

I take electrolytes most of the summer, because I got close to heat stoke once and seem to be heat sensitive now. As far as Electrolyte powders. My own research has found LMNT has a lot of sodium, Liquid IV lots of sugar. Force Factor Rapid Hydration (Walmart) OK but not always available, Wilderness Athlete Hydrate & Recover (online -good but expensive) I have recently bought some Sports Research Hydrate Electrolytes (Amazon) they seem to have the best balance of salt and minerals but haven't used yet.

I gave out Wilderness Athlete packets to my hunt group after a long hot stalk in SA. All thought they were great! I consider electrolyte powder packets as a must now.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Be careful on drinking electrolytes all day long. You should not use them in every bottle or in all water you drink. It can cause very high blood pressure, kidney issues.

They are not meant to be in 100% of the water you consume

 

[Badjer]

Be careful on drinking electrolytes all day long. You should not use them in every bottle or in all water you drink. It can cause very high blood pressure, kidney issues.

They are not meant to be in 100% of the water you consume

That's why I personally chose to avoid LMNT even at 2 or 3 packets day it adds up.

Sorry Pheroze, didn't mean to hijack your thread. I started another about electrolyte powders.

Thread 'Electrolyte Powders to take along'

Feb 16, 2026

In a recent thread by #Pheroze the subject of electrolyte powders had come up. I copied my comment from that thread here. Electrolyte powders are a MUST for every hunt for me!

>>I take electrolytes most of the summer, because I got close to heat stoke once and seem to be heat sensitive now. As far as Electrolyte powders. My own research has found LMNT has a lot of sodium, Liquid IV lots of sugar. Force Factor Rapid Hydration (Walmart) OK but not always available, Wilderness Athlete Hydrate & Recover (online -good but expensive) I have recently bought some...

• Badjer
• Replies: 66
• Forum: Before & after the hunt

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[Slickshooter]

Looking forward to the hunt report! Have fun