Suggestions on things to take for first Cape buffalo hunt- Zimbabwe

[SCLawyer]

Dande is amazing. It was my first hunt over there. You'll love it. You need to start exercising though. Walking, treadmill, whatever. Dande is a lot of up and down hiking. Be prepared.

Wear compression socks on the place. Get out of your seat and walk around. Take tylenol. Have a few cocktails. Whatever to avoid blood clots.

Unless you are traveling with a firearm, don't check a bag. Pack everything in a small duffle or backpack. If you can't fit everything in one, you're probably taking too much. Whatever you do, wear your hunting boots on the plane and make sure they are well broken in. I pack everything in/on a Filson backpack. Works great.

This was my packing list for my '24 trip to Nyakasanga:

Zim '24 packing list

On my person:

1 poncho shirt
1 shorts (or pants)
1 boxers
1 socks
1 pair hunting boots
1 light safari jacket
Wallet (passport wallet)
Phone
Sunglasses
Ear buds

In my backpack:

Packing Cube 1
2 safari shirts
1 hooded t shirts
4 pair socks

Packing Cube 2
2 shorts
1 pair gym shorts
3 pair boxers
1 GPS Pouch
1 belt slung ammo holder
1 pair ankle gaiters

Dop Kit

Back zipper pouch
1 wide brimmed hat
1 flip flops (or in bottom of main)

Right Front Pocket
1 charger
1 adapter
1 spare sunglasses w/hard case
Candy

Middle front pocket
1 Garmin inreach
2 disposable toothbrushes (airplane)
20 liquid iv's (sugar free)

Left front pocket
1 deet repellant
1 skin so soft

Inside Zipper pocket
Cash

On Webbing
1 binos (w/ strap)

In my Dop Kit:
Tooth brush w/case
Tooth paste
Face sunscreen (from melis)
Q tips
Deodorant
Razor/Shaving cream w spare blades
Advil and/or Aleve
Imodium RX from Doc
Malaria pills
Travel shampoo/soap
Eye drops

 

[Brian]

I didn't read through the list completely. You sure have a lot of stuff.

How about high quality bullets for the 500 NE? Like CEB or Northfork?

 

[Tintin]

Some great lists / suggestions.

@Tanks - I suspect we may both have taken more than a light beating from the OCD stick.

also

AirTags (or Android equivalent) ... with fresh batteries installed + spare batteries .

USB Powerbank.

Boot cleaninig brush / rag - to keep the customs folks happy upon rertuning home.

Chafe cream

A few podcasts loaded up on the phone to listen to on the flight.

 

[Russ16]

AirTags are a must!

As for chafe cream I highly recommend the body glide stick or gold bond stick. Both last longer and are less messy than any cream I’ve used.

 

[Tanks]

AirTags are a must!

Yep.

 

[DLSJR]

TAKE a good, go with the flow attitude. Your PH will put you on a buffalo. Make sure you do your part - shoot well and shoot often.
You do not need a knife. You need good shoes/boots with soft soles. You don't need a watch. You need 8x30 binos and know how to use them. You need 2 boxes of ammo. You do not need a culling belt.
You need to listen to your PH. All of your previous hunting experience in the USA or Canada is not worth dick in Africa.
Do not read too many books on Africa hunting. Do listen to your PH.
Take tip money for the trackers and camp staff. Do not take a leatherman or knife or trinkets for the black guys. Cash is king.... They don't need "stuff".

Best advice on this entire thread!

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

Here is my list of stuff I take for Africa. Also, includes a preparation list. Just minor changes pending on location at times. Yes, I am a list maker.

These lists are gold. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

Yep.
View attachment 745478

Riddle me this - Regarding airtags - how does it help you really to know where your gun case is other than you know it did or did not get on your flight...or is that what it's for?

 

[Green Chile]

It helps to know that it made the 2nd flight, etc. I recently didn’t have the bag come out on the conveyor belt but could show someone that it was in the building here in Africa…not back in Europe. They went back and found it.

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

It helps to know that it made the 2nd flight, etc. I recently didn’t have the bag come out on the conveyor belt but could show someone that it was in the building here in Africa…not back in Europe. They went back and found it.

Makes sense.

 

[Russ16]

It helps to know that it made the 2nd flight, etc. I recently didn’t have the bag come out on the conveyor belt but could show someone that it was in the building here in Africa…not back in Europe. They went back and found it.

Two stories. Not gun related but golf clubs.

Coming back form Ireland. Airline app shows clubs have arrived. They are nowhere at JFK baggage claim. Checked the AirTag and started waking toward the dot on the map. Eventually found them behind a construction barrier where they and two other bags had somehow fallen off a carrier.

In Scotland the tour company dropped us at the course and took our bags to the hotel. When I get to the hotel My travel bag isn’t in my room. Hotel security can shows it being unloaded from the bus. No one can find it. I turn on the Find My app and start walking around the hotel. Halfway down a hallway on the third floor I get a ping. Hoyle manager opens the door for me and there is the travel bag. It was delivered to the wrong room which was unoccupied. We never would have found it until someone checked into the room.

One gun related.

Last November I arrive in Romania. Head to baggage claim and activate the app. I watched the bag move from plane toward baggage claim. But then it detours. I go to the area where it shows on the map. The had segregated my baggage and taken it to a holding area under supervision. I never would have known to go look there. I’m sure I would have found it eventually but can’t imagine how much time it saved.

I have AirTags in every bag and backpack I own. They are very cheap insurance. You can buy them by the four pack. I suggest you not put them on an external holder that looks like a baggage tag but inside the bag itself. Preferably in a spot close to the outer cover for maximum signal but where they aren’t readily obvious and not easily removed.

 

[Tanks]

Riddle me this - Regarding airtags - how does it help you really to know where your gun case is other than you know it did or did not get on your flight...or is that what it's for?

It confirms that it makes connections. In case it goes missing you can help locate it at the airport. In the pic I posted it confirmed that my gun case and Pelican Air case made it to Doha.

 

[Tintin]

In other AirTag news ....

Apple have just released Gen 2 AirTags, purportedly with expanded finding range and louder speaker.

There are now third party AirTag / 'FindMy' compatible tags. I saw some in Kmart about half the price of Apple's, and USB rechargeable.

Plenty of even cheaper options from Bezosville, eg AUD$10 / (~US$7) ea.

For valuable item tracking, I'd prob stick with the originals, but am keen to try some cheapies for convenience, non mission critcal items.

Cheap enough to use for one-way parcel tracking etc.

 

[fourfive8]

Which would be better ? Practicing reloading your rifle running forwards or backwards ?

Sounds cartoonish but there’s a serious reason for practicing reloading, especially while moving or under stress. After popping a couple rounds into a buffalo and he doesn’t go “bang flop”… completely different from standing on the line at the shooting range and casually reloading out of a cartridge box or belt loops.

 

[BAY]

This is gold! Screen shooting and saving in my safari notes. Too bad I have to wait until July ‘28 for my 18 days in Dande!!

 

[crackerman]

Dude wipes or equivalent

The one thing I don't see mentioned is the right mindset. I have seen plenty of videos where the guy is a hero in his own mind and you can see how he freezes when the buffalo squares up or they celebrate to early after the first shot and buff is thinking about charging.

Have fun but remember these big things can kill you, when I shot mine I stayed in the gun until the PH was satisfied the buff was dead.

Have fun, respect the quarry, and bring us back an epic trip report!

 

[Altitude sickness]

Dry out the wet wipes. Re package in zip lock. Then re hydrate when you get there. Saves weight

 

[Longfeather1]

A good sense of humor goes a long way too.

 

[Brian]

You are very well organized. Good job.

I want to mention "Bullets" again.
To me, the bullet is the number one consideration in your preparation for a cape buffalo hunt.

You have chosen one of my favourite calibers for cape buffalo.

With a 500 NE, a high quality premium bullet will often give you a clean, quick, one shot, DRT, kill on a cape buffalo. I know this for a fact.

An average bullet from a 500 NE, like a Hornady, will not do that very reliably even with a good hit in the boiler room. I know this for a fact as well.

I am not trying to rain on anyones parade. I wish every cape buffalo hunter a happy and safe hunt.
I am just trying to be helpful. Brian

 

[Tanks]

n average bullet from a 500 NE, like a Hornady, will not do that very reliably even with a good hit in the boiler room. I know this for a fact as well.

I'll disagree. I have shot multiple buffalo with Hornady DGX with my .500 NE. I did not need more than one shot before they expired soon after.