African Safari 2012 - The update thread

[chrisb]

What do you do with the meat? Can you bring it back to the US or is it donated to locals?

[Rob]

Oh the meat is soooooo good.  I have never had better meat than a good Eland steak...

Oh that we could bring it home!  It is illegal (at least in Namibia and I assume the other countries as well) to export the meat.  That said,  nothing is wasted and all the meat goes to market.  Infact, in Namibia, if you wound and animals and are unable to recover it, you are actually charged a fee (usually the trophy fee plus 50%) to offset the money they loose when they sell it.  I think as an effort to protect the game, they want to keep the hunting set up as sport hunting, and avoid commercializing the harvest-at least on an international scale.

I know when an elephant is shot it is not uncommon to have an entire villiage come out and participate in the filed dressing of the animal.  I have seen photos of villagers lined up 20 deep with buckets and bags.  The cut off chunks of meat to take home with them and feed their families.  pretty cool actually.

[chrisb]

Oh the meat is soooooo good.  I have never had better meat than a good Eland steak...

Oh that we could bring it home!  It is illegal (at least in Namibia and I assume the other countries as well) to export the meat.  That said,  nothing is wasted and all the meat goes to market.  Infact, in Namibia, if you wound and animals and are unable to recover it, you are actually charged a fee (usually the trophy fee plus 50%) to offset the money they loose when they sell it.  I think as an effort to protect the game, they want to keep the hunting set up as sport hunting, and avoid commercializing the harvest-at least on an international scale.

I know when an elephant is shot it is not uncommon to have an entire villiage come out and participate in the filed dressing of the animal.  I have seen photos of villagers lined up 20 deep with buckets and bags.  The cut off chunks of meat to take home with them and feed their families.  pretty cool actually.

Very cool

[Rob]

Starting to think about rifles...

I am pretty sure I will be targeting Buffalo on this trip.  Since the largest rifle I have is a 338 WM and the starting legal min in most countries is 375 H&H, I will need to look for a new rifle (I am SOOOOO upset!)

I started by looking at the ballistic data on http://www.shootingtimes.com/ballistics/ballistic-tables/  I pulled down and pasted into Excel some of the more popular 400 cal big bore rifles.

Most Buff shots are taken between 20 and 80 yards so I am not too concerned with finding a flat shooting rifle.  I am more concerned with energy.  Based on this, I created a pivot table that averaged energy at the muzzle, 100 and 200 yards, and grouped it by bullet weight and cartridge.  Then I created a chart so I could see the data better.

My conclusion is that they are all pretty good.  The 416 Dakota and 450 Dakota stand out as being a bit better overall, but honestly, I think any of the cartridges will work just fine.  I lean towards the 416 Rigby or the 458 Win just because they are more common and should I find myself without ammo due to lost luggage in Africa, I would guess that I am more likely to be able to locate such ammo locally.

Cost of ammo stateside is not really a consideration as I plan to reload.

I really would like to get a nice double for this trip, but I think those are well out of my price range.  I am targeting to keep the cost of the rifle, sans optics, to between 1,000 and 2,000 dollars.

If I go bolt, then I want a controlled round feeding bolt.  I do not want a single shot rifle.

I am looking over the CZ 550 Safari rifles and they seem to be pretty good.  CZ has a great reputation with their rifles, and the price is right.  I cross posted this and will see what comes from there.

I welcome any feedback or suggestions if anyone has any ideas.  I plan to purchase this after I book my trip in March (unless a steal of a deal comes along!)

[Rob]

OK, some more info.  I chatted with an oufitter today and here is the general recap.

As mentioned before, I think our best bet is to go to Zimbabwe and hunt the Save Conservancy. 

Some history on the Save:
The Save Conservatory is an area of about 1 million acres.  It use to be used for cattle farming and was owned by a group of 18 ranchers.  While it was being used for cattle ranching, the ranchers tried to eliminate the big cats and elephants so their cattle could thrive, however when they decided to make it a conservancy, the 18 ranchers combined their properties, removed all the internal high fences and placed them instead around the perimeter, and began transplanting elephants back into the region.  The cats of course also returned in large numbers.   Now the Save is a massive hunting area with loads of wild game – both dangerous game like the big five (Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Rino and Elephant), crocodile and hippo (crocs and hippo are not as prevalent due to the lack of large rivers) as well as a huge assortment of Plains game (Kudu, sable, eland, Warthog, zebra, Nyala, Giraffe, Klipspringer, impala, bushbuck, etc).  It should be noted that desert animals such as Gemsbok, and steenbok are not found in the Save.

The Save is attractive to our party as it offers excellent trophy plains game, as well as excellent Buffalo and/or Leopard hunting.  It is one of only a couple areas that will meet all our needs.

Mokore Safaris
Our outfitter has recommended that we book our trip with Mokore safaris in the Save.  http://mokoresafaris.com/.  Mokore offers us a 60,000 acre unfenced hunting area to explore.  If we have 4 hunters, he believes we can get the entire camp dedicated to our party which will be a bonus.  This will need to be discussed further to make sure that is a reality for us.  I like the idea of having the camp dedicated to our party.

Duration:
I feel pretty strongly that to really gain the full African Safari experience, a minimum of 10 days is needed.  However I understand that not everyone wants to spend a full 10 days in the bush so we may need to arrange differing departure or arrival days.  We can work those details out later.  For the Buff hunt, a 10 day hunt is the minimum.   Plains game hunts of 7 or 10 days would be good-but you already know my bias.

Transportation
To get to the Save, we would fly from the States to Johannesburg South Africa, and then transfer to a second plane and go to Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.  We would be met at the gate when we land in Jo-Berg and personally assisted through the somewhat arduous South African customs process.  Having been through it before, it is not a walk in the park, but not impossible to navigate-especially with assistance. 
Depending on connections we will either head directly to Harare, or stay the night in Jo-Berg.  Once in Harare we will again be met at the gate and escorted through customs and taken to cars that will transport us to the camp.  It will be a 5 hour car drive to the camp.  The cost to transport us to the camp is 500 per vehicle each way. 

Time of year:
After talking to the outfitter, I think we should shoot for Late September for our target date.  August is OK, but the more you push out into September/October, the more the water dries up and the more concentrated the game is.  So the later you wait, the better the hunting.

Rates:
Assumption:  this is the 2011 price list so I am assuming we can lock in at these rates for a 2012 hunt.  This needs to be confirmed.
The rates for this camp are:
Plains game:  500 per day per person.  2 people per Guide (AKA Professional Hunter or “PH”).  So for a 7 day hunt, 3,500.  5,000 for a 10 day hunt.  Observer fee is 200 per day  on top of these rates.
Buffalo:  1,100 per person per day.  One person per PH.  Trophy fee is 2,800.  A successful  10 day hunt would run $13,800.
Leopard:  950 per day for a 15 day duration and a 3,750 trophy fee.  A successful 15 day hunt would run 18,000

Deposits:
Deposits are paid in 3 phases (I am assuming 10 day hunts without the observer fee, you can do the math for different combos as  needed):
First payment:  25% of daily rate would be due on booking.  I want to book in March of 2011.
•   1,250 for Plains game
•   2,750 for Buffalo
•   3,600 for Leopard
Second payment:  25% due one year out from trip date.  So Late September 2011
•   1,250 for Plains game
•   2,750 for Buffalo
•   3,600 for Leopard
Final payment: Balance of 50% is due 90 days for Departure date so late June 2012
•   2,500 for Plains game
•   5,500 for Buffalo
•   7,050 for Leopard
It is recommended that we pay for all or most of our expected trophy fees before leaving the states.  Upon conclusion of the hunt, the stateside outfitter would transfer the money to the PH.  The reason this is attractive is that it avoids us needing to carry large sums of money with us on our trip.  I really like this idea myself.

[ribka]

I would go with CZ 550 rifle. I have two and a very accurate, smooth rifles and I like the controlled feed. A bit heavier than some my other rifles but bullet proof. And from I have read about hunting in Africa most authors recommend the CZ as the best African rifle for the money

Thanks for informative articles. I hope to make it over there in the next few years with the wife

[chrisb]

spreadsheets and pivot tables? That's my kind of gun shopping!

[bearpaw]

Rob this is a great thread, I just found it and enjoyed reading all your investigative work.

I am afraid to get started on Africa at this time, especially with the current economy. But reading your thread makes me look to the future and wonder when I will be able to start working on Africa. 

Just as you said it is addictive, I don't know anyone that has been satisfied with 1 trip, everyone goes back again and again. Good luck, I hope you have an awesome trip and I look forward to reading all about it in this thread. 

[Rob]

I have a weakness for spreadsheets, pivot tables and visio swimlanes...  it is an illness actually...

I have a lead on a pretty good deal for a 450 Dakota in a CZ 550.  My major concern with a 450 Dakota is that if I loose my bags/ammo enroute, it will be very difficult to find any shells in Africa so I am mulling it over.  I may get a 375 H&H as well and bring it with me as my second firearm.  Finding 375 H&H ammo is pretty easy as that round is more or less the "30.06 of Africa".  It will work just fine on smaller animals if I load up some solids, and will still be legal for use on Buffalo should something happen to my ammo.  That precludes me from bringing my 12 gauge though...  Lots of time to think that one through though.

Glad folks are enjoying the thread.  It is helping me out as well.  The best advice I can give regarding Africa is is still don't go!  It really does become an obsession.  Gets in your blood and you can't shake it.  Was talking to the outfitter last night and he was talking about how it is probable that you will be walking through the brush on a stalk and end up having to high tail it out of an area as fast as you can because you stumble upon a rhino or a group of agitated Elephants...  And they will be 20-40 yards away before you see them!  Can't wait.  

[chrisb]

What do you plan on using the 12 gauge for?

[ThePascoKid]

Rob, I have a question you may be able to answer, in doing some research on travel to Africa I have come across more than one article that says your ammo must be in it's original container, I also reload, how do you get away with bringing reloaded ammo?

[bow4elk]

Thanks Rob .  For some reasons African game doesnt get my blood going but i have a feeling you will change my mind    Looking forward to learning more

rougheye, the African bushveld is something to behold.  The birdlife alone is nothing short of unreal and the sounds will never leave your memory.  It's an experience in its entirety vs. just shooting a pile of animals.  As Rob mentioned, you see so much game there's never a dull moment.  Even for non-hunting family members or a spouse, it's an incredible vacation.  I had just as much fun stalking game with a tripod as I did with my bow.  Although there was a top end Kudu that still haunts me.  My PH said the stalk couldn't be done.  He sat back as I slipped into 30 yards on an enormous bull.  As I anchored and began to settle my pin, he winded me and, like our elk, spun out of there in a split second.  Still hurts 

As for hunting tactics, I'm not a huge fan of sitting waterholes day in, day out but that's pretty much how most plains game outfitters are set up.  We actually packed treestands in our luggage and I opted to put mine up off the waterholes to change it up a bit.  And I did a lot of spot and stalk hunting alone, which is something you must first negotiate with your outfitter and PH BEFORE you book a trip.  When I went in '95 South Africa had received a 100-year record-breaking rainfall, which hurt my video work and hunting badly.  I still got a ton of good sellable footage and managed a couple critters anyway, but none of that mattered.  The memory of it all will get me back there again someday, hopefully with my whole family.

[Rob]

Couple things:  First an assumption.  I think you said earlier you were going to Limpopo which I think is in South Africa, right?  What I am saying below mostly corresponds to our South African experiences in 2007.
 
1.   We brought all our ammo in both factory boxes, and hard case boxes for reloads.  I am not sure what the "rule" is, but the practice is, have it in boxes made to handle Ammo.  If you want factory boxes, I am sure you can ask your buddies here on Hunt Wa if they have any empty ammo boxes for the caliber you will be shooting they would donate to your cause!
2.   If you have not already, I CANNOT emphasis enough that you should use an expeditor like www.riflepermits.com to get all the paperwork done to clear customs.  They were a huge asset.  Not only did they help us get our rifles through customs, but when our connection was tight, they stayed with us and helped us get to the front of the security line, skipping about 45 min of queue time!
3.   Make sure you have a US Border Patrol form 4457 filled out for firearms registration.  This proves you left the US with the firearm.  As I recall, we needed this on the reentry side in the USA.
4.   Do not bring ammo through customs in calibers that do not match the guns in your possession.  i.e. don’t carry ammo for your guide for a gun you don’t have with you, or ammo for your traveling companion unless you are both shooting the same caliber.

If you have not already booked travel, or made arrangements, then I would reach out to Kathi Climes of Wild Travel.  She specializes in arranging travel for hunting safaris and knows all there is to know about bringing guns in and out of the different countries all across the world as well as a whole slew of other hunting travel related topics (what supplies to bring, what to expect at customs, what medications are needed, thoughts on shots, etc).  She is a very active poster on the Accurate reloading forum.  We used her to arrange our travel to Namibia and she was GREAT.  It is a good idea to check what I said with her anyway as my info was from 2007 and things may have changed. 
Even if you just have general questions, I am sure that she will be more than happy to offer assistance.   and if you have general questions she is more than happy to offer assistance.  Can’t say enough good things about Kathi.

Her e-mail is kathi@wildtravel.net, or Log into http://forums.accuratereloading.com and shoot a PM to Kathie (her profile is at this link:  http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/personal?x_myspace_page=profile&u=1591071)

[Rob]

It's an experience in its entirety vs. just shooting a pile of animals. 

exactly...

[arees]

I highly recommend the CZ 550 Safari.  I have one in 458 Lott which also takes 458 WM.  It is a bit heavy, but I don't mind and it helps with the recoil.  It has a smooth action and is more accurate than I am.  I'm still waiting to take it to Africa, but it will be going some day.

I used riflepermits.com for my last transit through Joberg and had no problems.  I buddy left his ammo off his forms and had to pay an on-the-spot $20 expiditing fee to get his permit.  I think it is better to get the paperwork done right up front.