Headed back to Africa in 2016! <<Photos now posted starting P2>>

[Rob]

Rifles:

I am the primary hunter, although they have said dad can hunt too if he so desires.  He is still thinking on his rifles. 

I am targeting Hippo and Croc.  For hippo, a good accurate moderate to heavy caliber gun is best.  They are big, and thick, but not exactly tough.  For Croc, all that matters is accuracy...  I don't really have budget for other trophies, but I would like to possibly take a duiker, and perhaps some varmints (Baboon, Civit cat, Genet, Servel, porcupine, etc).

There will be some bird hunting opportunities, and they have shotgun and ammo for that.

So I plan on bringing three rifles:
*CZ 550 Safari Magnum (AKA Monique).
     -This was the gun I ended up taking my Cape Buff with last trip.
     -I have also taken a pronghorn, mule deer, Vervet Monkey, Warthog and Baboon.
     -All shots were one shot kills (using camp ammo - again, they lost my luggage on the last trip...  Grrr.)
      except the Baboon where everything went to hell with my shooting and it took me four shots to do the job for some reason.
     -The plan will be to use the 375 for the hippo.
     -I will shoot cutting Edge Bullets.  I have a 275 grain non-con and 300 grain solid combo using 69 and 68 grains of RL15 respectively that have the same point of impact to 300 yards that should do the trick.

*Remington Alaskan TI in 7mm Rem Mag with Benchmark Barrel (AKA Melissa)
     -This is my goto hunting rifle for the states.  Have taken a couple elk, several mule deer and Pronghorn. 
     -Not sure what bullets I will use.  I currently have a killer load dialed in with 168 grain Bergers being sent by 57 grains of I4831.  I want to use Swift A-frames.  if I can dial in a load and get some trigger time, I will go that route.
     -This will be my Croc gun.

*CZ 527 American in .223 Remington (need to name this gal!)
     -Nice accurate varmint gun
     -I have a good load dialed in for a 40 grain Vmax using 21.5 grains of I-4198. 
     -Will work on a load that shoots a solid with same point of impact.  should be a quick and easy load to work up.


So that rounds up the Rifle situation! 

[Rob]

Rifle Permits

There are two sets of permits we need.  First are the permits to go into South Africa  (note, we are flying direct from the US to South Africa so we do not need to deal with Sau Palo, Germany, London or any other countries that may or may not need permits.)  We are going with Air2000 for our rifle permit support company.  They will meet us at the airport, assist us with collection and permit processing of the South African permits, and help us get to our hotel in the JoBerg Airport.  We could probably do this on our own at this point, but having used similar services the last two trips we found them very helpful!  We would not have made a Capetown connection last time if it had not been for them!  We will need to get our pre-permit info sent in.  now that we have completed our airline reservations, we can start this process.  Here is their website:  http://www.hunterssupport.com/hunters/index.php

Second set of permits are the Form 4457's on the US side.  This "proves" that you had items with serial #'s (firearms, laptops, cameras, etc) in your possession prior to leaving on your trip.  These are required to bring your rifles back.

[Rob]

Misc. items
*Shot updates.  need to make an appt. to go see what shots I need to get updated.
*Need to work on my packing lists
*Decide if I want trip insurance...  Never need it till you do... hmm.
*need to buy a few things, but not much.
     -Permethian for Mosquito repellant
     -I need one more pair of hunting pants
     -Do I want to get a CDS scope for my 375 H&H??

Honestly, I think that is about it.  I am sure there is more to worry about...  The list seems too short!

[Rob]

Taxidermy.

Hippo:
*Not planning to do normal mount
*Will do Europeans
*I may take a few bones from the hippo (vertebra, femurs)
*will tan the skin for leather.  maybe make a jacket or recover a chair.
*would like to use the feet for couch legs.

Croc:
*As much as I would like a full body croc in the house...  my understanding wife has her limits. 
*European for sure
*Tan the skin for sure
*toying with a quarter-mount shoulder coming out of the wall (one leg showing)

Varmints
*Cool varmints may get a full body mount
*Baboon will be Europeans

Small game/other trophies
*if I get a duiker, I will do full body to match my Klipspringer and Steinbok.
*anything else will be a decide after I shoot.

My taxidermist is Jerry Huffaker in Abilene Texas.  He does amazing work.  He and my dad have become friends and done some hunting together as well.  Great guy.  My dad's kudu, gemsbok and eland are on his Africa gallery, and my zebra pedestal is as well.  http://www.huffakertaxidermy.com/galleryafrica.html

[Rob]

I think I posted this, but we are going with Chattaronga Safaris.  http://chattaronga.co.za/

We are doing the hippo/croc hunt on the Abangane live-aboard.  Not as luxurious as the land camps. But I can't wait for the more "wild" experience of being in the middle of nowhere!

And there is all the fishing you can do as well!  here is a photo of the boat and some of the fish fro the brochure.  Toothy critters!

[carpsniperg2]

Sounds like a awesome trip. I cant wait to see pic's when you get back.

[bugs n bones]

Sounds like a great trip!

[BNAElkhntr]

Jealous!!!!

[Rob]

Work has been CRAZY.  Very little time to work on the Africa trip.  Things are coming down the wire.  Only 9 more Saturday's until I am in Africa!!! 

I finally managed to get the rifle permits out the door.  What a process.  Here are details for those who are interested.

Zimbabwe permits are obtained on entry and it is a simple one page form to fill out.  Even though we are hunting in Zimbabwe, we need rifle permits for South Africa since we are passing through Johannesburg on our way to Zimbabwe.  The process is pretty straightforward, but requires a bunch of pre-work to be done so that things are expedited upon arrival.

We are going with Air2000 for permit expediting.  For $180, they offer meet and greet in Jo-Berg, assistance in getting the pre-issuance of rifle permits, and help moving around the rather large Jo-Berg airport.  Some go without this services and navigate it all on their own, but I have used this kind of service on my prior trips and find it well worth the money.
 
The following documents needed to be sent in to them so that they arrived 30 days prior to our arrival in JoBerg
•  SAPS520 form with Sections E1-E25.4, G and I completed – including signatures in section I and J.
    o  This is the South African rifle permit form.  it must be filled out in black ink...  They literally won't take it if it is in any other color including blue...)
•  Authorization form requesting Air2000 Hunters Support to obtain a permit on my behalf
•  Credit Card Authorization form that permits the Air20o0 charges of $180.00 to cover the meet and greet support services
•  Original Notarized copy of my current passport and assurance that there are more than 2 free pages left for country entry stamps and the expiration date 4 months past my expected return date
   o  The expiration date is critical - some airlines won't let you board the plane if your expiration date is not at least 4 months beyond the termination of your trip.
•  Original Notarized copies of the three form 4457 documents for the three rifles I will be brining, as well as the original forms
   o  These are the "Certificate of registration for personal effects taken abroad" and are issued by the Customs and Border protection office (and only there...). They are not a registration, but a verification that you had the item in your possession prior to departure of your trip.  It is used to verify that you did not pick up a firearm while out of country and attempt to bring it back into the US.  S.A. uses it to verify the same - that you had it prior to your arrival in the country.  No copies of this form are left with US officials.
•  A letter from my outfitter confirming my dates of visit, species hunted, where we are hunting, and his outfitters accreditation number.

All this was mailed out in a package via USPS Global Priority Mail that guarantees delivery in 5-10 days...  My dad mailed his 3 weeks ago and it is still in transit.  Gotta love Africa...

Costs for rifles:
-180 for meet and greet/permit expedite service
-63 for mail
-88 for notary services (I did double notarizations so I have copies of all the documents on my person as well as mailed in advance) - so this could be cut in half, or eliminated if you have access to free notary services through your bank)
Total:  $339


As a reminder, I am bringing the following with me:
•  Bolt action CZ 550 Safari Magnum chambered in 375 H&H with 46 rounds of ammunition
•  Bolt Action Remington model 700 TI chambered in 7mm Remington Magnum with 50 rounds of ammunition
•  Bolt action CZ 527 American chambered in 223 Remington with 70 rounds of ammunition

I had to determine the quantity of ammo at this time as it is required on the SAPS form.  There is an 11 pound limit for ammo (including cases) so these quantiles will put me in under the limits by about 1/10 of a pound.

That is WAY more ammo than I will need to sight in and hunt. 

[Rob]

Still trying to decide what to do for taxidermy for hippo and croc.

Priority is to do euros.  Probably tan the hides into leather for projects down the road.  But I am toying with doing the Hippo feet into something like the photos below.  I am also thinking a head mount on the hippo that sits on the floor like the photos below - mostly submerged like lawn art...

[pianoman9701]

Still trying to decide what to do for taxidermy for hippo and croc.

Priority is to do euros.  Probably tan the hides into leather for projects down the road.  But I am toying with doing the Hippo feet into something like the photos below.  I am also thinking a head mount on the hippo that sits on the floor like the photos below - mostly submerged like lawn art...

You'll have to take a wildebeest, too, and have the croc grabbing him by the hindquarter!

[Rob]

My loving wife of 24 years - the vegetarian who is not a fan of my hobby of hunting or trophy mounts - has been very patient of the 23 mounts in the house thus far...  That might put her over the edge!

[h20hunter]

Rob.....what say you bring me back a certain little monkey mount of my own. I think the kitchen, right next to the sink would be the perfect spot.

[bugs n bones]

My loving wife of 24 years - the vegetarian who is not a fan of my hobby of hunting or trophy mounts - has been very patient of the 23 mounts in the house thus far...  That might put her over the edge!

a hippo and croc euro look pretty sharp if they done properly

[Rob]

I could not agree more, and my wife could not disagree more!

H2O, I will shoot you a PM