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Terry Carr is an experienced hunter with a number of safaris to his credit.
He is a Forum Moderator and frequent contributor to the African Hunting
Forum at
www.accuratereloading.com where a wealth of information is shared by
hunters and shooters from around the world about guns, reloading and every
hunting-related activity imaginable.
Terry's "Safari Tips and Packing List" has proven to be an invaluable
resource for hunters planning their first African safari experience.
He has generously agreed to allow us to reproduce it on the Chapter website
for the benefit of our Members.
SAFARI TIPS and PACKING LIST
By
Terry L. Carr
1. CAVEAT
These are my personal tips and ideas based on my experiences on four African
safaris. The first two safaris were to South Africa. The third safari was to
Tanzania. The fourth safari was to Zimbabwe. These tips are only from my
personal experience and are not intended to be a complete list nor are they
intended to be the only way to do it.
2. BEFORE YOU GO ON SAFARI
A. WRITTEN CONTRACT.
Before paying a deposit, you should have a detailed written contract with the
outfitter. The contract should, at a minimum, include the following:
1. The specific dates of the safari.
2. Are arrival and departure days counted as hunting days?
3. The number of hunters and PHs (1X1, 2X1, etc).
4. The name of the PH.
5. The area(s) to be hunted.
6. The daily rate.
7. The observer rate.
8. All applicable taxes.
9. Any licensing, permit or other fees or costs.
10. The animals to be hunted.
11. The applicable trophy fees.
12. The cancellation and return of deposit policies.
13. The services to be provided by the outfitter. Airport pick up and return.
Field preparation of trophies and delivery to a taxidermist/shipping agent.
Services of a fully licensed PH. Hunting vehicle. Tracker, skinner and camp
staff. Meals, alcoholic beverages, lodging and laundry service.
Just because it is in the brochure is not good enough; it must be in the written
contract. If the brochure says that you will be "the only hunting party in camp
and on the hunting concession", then put that in the contract. If the
accommodations are described as having "en suite bathrooms with hot and cold
shower and flush toilet", put that in the contract.
Duplicate originals of the contract should be executed. Keep one original
contract and the other original contract goes to the outfitter.
B. ISSUES TO DISCUSS WITH YOUR OUTFITTER/ BOOKING AGENT.
1. Sharing camp and hunting areas with other parties? Will there be other
hunters in camp and on the concession, or will you have exclusive use of the
camp and hunting concession? If you require camp and/or concession exclusivity,
you must add it to the contract.
2. Rifle caliber.
3. Ammunition type. Some PH’s have distinct likes and dislikes regarding the
brand of ammunition. Amount and type (soft and solids - you probably won’t need
any solids unless you are hunting dangerous game or very small game).
4. Special food, beer, etc. preferences.
5. Bottled water. Sometimes the local water is not great and you can carry
bottled water with you when you are hunting.
6. Expectations regarding trophy size.
7. Gratuities and number of people in camp. Usually the PH will have his own
staff of trackers, skinners and cook. The hunting concession may also have a
game scout, camp staff, etc. In addition to the monetary gratuity, I also take
other gifts for the PH and his staff (knives, flashlights, watches, knit caps,
gloves, clothes, etc.). Talk to the outfitter/booking agent and see what they
recommend and the sizes for the staff.
8. Accepted forms of payment (travelers’ checks, cash, etc.) for gratuities and
trophy fees, trophy preparation, etc.
9. If you are planning on wearing camouflage clothing, make certain it is legal
in that country.
10. Requirements for Visas, rifle and ammunition import. Also the amount of
fees, if any, that you have to pay upon entry into or departure from the
country.
11. General description of the hunting area and terrain. Is it on a ranch or
government concession area? Is the ranch fenced or unfenced? Is the topography
flat, hilly or mountainous? Is it thorn tree bushveld, open plains or desert
like? What is the length of the average shot?
12. How is the hunting conducted? Is it conducted on foot "walk and stalk" style
or is it conducted from the back of a hunting vehicle until game is spotted and
then stalked on foot. Shooting game from a vehicle is a controversial issue and
you should discuss, in advance, your preferences regarding such hunting
practices.
13. If you have any health or medical limitations (overweight, unfit, diabetic,
etc.), talk to your outfitter or booking agent prior to departure to ensure that
your needs can be accommodated.
C. Register your guns, cameras, binoculars and other valuables with U.S. Customs
on Form 4457 Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Abroad. This
will prove that you did not buy any of these items overseas. Obtain a Form 4457
for you personal items and a separate Form 4457 for your firearms. South Africa
has become more strict about firearms importation and a Form 4457 listing your
firearms is now a necessity.
D. Taxidermy. Coordinate with your taxidermist regarding the preparation and
shipping of your trophies. It is extremely important to ensure the following:
1. Prior to departure, your taxidermist must provide you with laminated plastic
trophy shipping tags and all the relevant delivery information including the
specific wildlife port of entry and final shipping destination. You need to
ensure this information is given to your outfitter. Your outfitter will be
responsible for coordinating with the African taxidermist who will be doing the
dipping, packing, crating and dispatching of your trophy shipment to the US.
2. Your taxidermist should be qualified and experienced in mounting African game
species.
3. Prior to departure, ask your outfitter to get a written estimate from the
African taxidermist for his dipping, packing and crating charges based upon the
wish list of trophies you have given to your outfitter. Also ask for an estimate
of the anticipated overseas freight costs.
4. Generally, the dipping, packing and crating fees are separate from other
hunting costs and payable directly to the African taxidermist (in some cases
they may be collected by your outfitter). The actual overseas freight costs from
Africa to your home destination are paid "Collect" when the shipment arrives and
has been cleared by Customs and Wildlife authorities. It is important that the
African taxidermist notify both you and your taxidermist of the shipping waybill
information so that your shipment can be cleared promptly in order to avoid any
unnecessary storage fees. Your taxidermist will arrange for the clearance of
your trophies or use a clearing agent.
E. Get in Shape. You will enjoy your safari more if you are physically fit. Most
safaris can involve long hikes on both flat and hilly country.
F. Practice shooting your rifle from various positions (shooting sticks, off
someone’s shoulder, resting against a tree, kneeling, etc.). Practice off-hand
follow-up shots. Don’t "admire" your first shot. Reload quickly and be ready for
a follow-up shot.
G. Vaccinations and anti-malaria pills (go to the Internet and copy the
vaccination recommendations from the CDC,
www.cdc.gov and take a copy with you to
your doctor’s office). Go to your doctor several months before your trip as some
vaccinations take several weeks before immunity is developed. Also, have your
doctor give you a prescription for antibiotics that you can take with you in
case someone gets sick during safari, as well as a prescription for sleeping
pills for use on those long overseas flights. [Here is another good reference
for travel health issues www.mdtravelhealth.com,
this is actually easier to understand than the CDC site].
H. Firearms limitations. Pursuant to US law, you are permitted to take a maximum
of three firearms (no semi-auto or full auto and no firearm greater than .50
caliber) and no more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition for the firearms. You are
not permitted to transfer ownership of the firearms or ammunition (you can’t
give your PH a firearm or any of your ammo). You are permitted to take semi-auto
sporting shotguns (with barrels at least 18 inches long) and muzzle loading
firearms larger than .50 caliber. Check with the airline several weeks before
your flight regarding their rules for traveling with firearms. Delta’s website
states that any rifle case containing more than 2 firearms will be subject to an
excess baggage charge. [Note: Some African countries will not allow you to bring
in any semi-auto firearms (even shotguns). South Africa allows the import of
only 2 rifles and one shotgun (no pump or semi-automatic shotguns are
allowed-unless you acquire a temporary import permit in advance). South Africa
does not allow the import of two rifles of the same caliber].
If traveling to, or through, South Africa, you should take a completed but
unsigned SAPS Form 520 with you. (Note: the form should be filled out in black
ink). You can download a copy of the form and the instructions at
www.saps.gov.za/crime_prevention/firearms/formseng.htm
You will also need to have your firearm(s) and ammunition available for
inspection when arriving in South Africa. In addition, you will need to have
your Customs Form 4457, passport, airline ticket as well as the address and
phone numbers (fixed and mobile phone numbers) of your outfitter. You must be at
least 21 years old to import a firearm into South Africa.
Go to www.professionalhunters.co.za
and click on "General Hunting Information" and then click on "Importation of
Firearms" for some detailed information regarding the importation of firearms in
RSA.
Many hunters are using www.optimahandling.co.za
to assist them in clearing their firearms upon arrival in South Africa.
I. Ammunition limitations. Each passenger can take only 11lbs. (5kg.) of
ammunition according to airline regulations. This ammunition has to be in your
checked luggage (you can’t carry it onboard) and separate from your firearms.
Some airlines are now allowing ammunition to be carried in the gun case. Check
with the your airline for their rules. Also, you can not carry any part of your
firearm in your carry on luggage (e.g., rifle bolts, some airlines won’t let you
carry on your riflescopes). If you are traveling with a non-hunting companion,
they also can declare 11 lbs. of ammunition (if you are over your weight limit).
J. Luggage weight limitations. On international flights, airlines limit the
weight of each piece of luggage to 70 pounds. I believe some airlines have a 50
pound limit for domestic flights, so there may be an issue on your domestic
flight from your home town to your international departure airport. (Confirm the
luggage weight limitations in advance with your airline). If you are flying with
a local carrier or an air charter while in Africa, their luggage weight
limitations may be less than 70 pounds. If you are traveling with your spouse,
two smaller bags may be better than one large bag.
K. Get a copy of The Perfect Shot by Kevin Roberston. This book will give you
excellent advice regarding the anatomy and shot placement for all African game
animals. [You can get a copy from Safari Press or Cabelas].
African Hunter magazine sells the Shot Placement Pocket Field Guide which can be
very handy as well. www.african-hunter.com
L. Insurance. Contact your health insurer to be certain your health insurance
covers you while you are overseas. It is my understanding that most insurance
companies require that you notify them within 48 hours of receiving medical
services, even when overseas. You will need a phone number to contact your
health insurer, not a 1-800 phone number which won't work from overseas. Also
check with your homeowner’s insurance for coverage if your guns, camera,
binoculars, etc. are stolen. Consider Trip Cancellation Insurance. Consider a
local Air Ambulance insurance policy, your outfitter should be able to help with
this. This kind of policy is usually needed when hunting more remote areas. Also
consider taking out Medical Evacuation Insurance. Medjet Assistance,
www.medjetassistance.com
seems to have a good reputation.
M. Estate Planning. If you don't already have one, get your will done.
N. Leave a copy of your passport, travelers’ checks, airline tickets, health
insurance card, Medjet card, Customs Form 4457 and safari contract with a family
member. Also give your family member copies of the credit card(s) you are taking
and the contact information for the issuing bank, in case your credit card(s)
are stolen. In addition, give your family member a copy of your itinerary, with
phone and fax numbers and email addresses, so they can contact you if there is
an emergency. Don’t forget to stop delivery of your mail and newspaper. Notify
the credit card company that you will be using your credit card while in Africa.
3. PACKING LIST
a. Broad brimmed hat and a baseball cap.
b. Well-worn boots (preferably with Gore-Tex) and an extra pair of
bootlaces. Some outfitters recommend two pair of boots. [I always take a
pair of trail running shoes (in a neutral color-not white) which I use as my
camp shoes and which can be worn while hunting, in the event something happens
to my boots.]
c. Warm and windproof jacket, vest or sweater, gloves and a stocking cap.
Riding around in the morning and sitting around the fire at night can get pretty
cold. June, July and August are particularly cold in South Africa with a
possibility of below freezing temperatures at night. Depending on when and where
you are hunting in Tanzania, you may need no warm clothing or only a light
jacket. Zimbabwe can also be cold during their winter months.
d. Leather gloves.
I prefer finger-less weightlifter gloves—they keep my fingers free for shooting
and reloading and still give some protection when crawling through the bush.
e. Boot socks.
3 or 4 pair. It is important to always wear a dry pair of socks to avoid
blisters.
f. Three hunting shirts.
g. Three pair of pants and/or shorts.
All of your hunting clothing should be green, olive drab, dark khaki, dark tan
or brown. Avoid light khaki, stone or light tan colored clothing, as these
colors are too light for Africa.
h. Lightweight raincoat.
Depending on when and where you are hunting, this may not be needed.
i. Underwear.
I also like to take a pair of lightweight sweat pants and a long sleeve T-shirt
to wear when I am relaxing in the tent. They can also be worn as pajamas if it
is cold at night.
j. One outfit to wear at night.
Something casual and comfortable. Remember that all of your clothes should be
fast drying (synthetics or thin cotton—no jeans) because there probably won’t be
a clothes dryer in camp. If it is humid or raining, it is better to have fast
drying clothes. Tell the PH to warn the camp staff that some of your clothes are
synthetic or they might get ruined by an iron that is too hot.
k. Pocketknife.
l. Water bottle holder or canteen.
Always take a bottle of water with when you go hunting. A short walk might turn
into a long jog and the PH and trackers can go miles without taking a drink.
Check with your outfitter, if one of the trackers always carries water, you may
not need this.
m. Flashlight and extra batteries.
Take the brightest flashlight you can find, the small Mag-Lites are not very
bright. I like Pelican flashlights—especially the StealthLite model.
n. Alarm clock and watch.
o. Camera, film and batteries.
Take your film out of its packaging and put it in a Ziploc bag and carry it with
you in your camera bag. Have the film hand inspected instead of putting it
through the X-ray machine at the airport.
p. Electric converter.
If the camp has electricity and you need to recharge your camcorder batteries
(or if your wife takes her hair dryer). You will also need the proper plug
adapter. Most of the electric converter kits do not have the proper plug adapter
for African countries.
q. Toiletry items.
Tooth brush, toothpaste, dental floss, deodorant, Q-tips, hair brush, comb,
shampoo, bar of bath soap, small scissors, extra contact lenses, contact lens
solution, contact lens case, cologne, razors, shaving cream, hand lotion,
matches, tweezers and finger nail clippers.
r. Hanging toiletry kit.
Most camps have limited shelf space in the bathroom (if any). I have found that
a hanging toiletry kit works great. You can always find a doorknob or hook to
hang it on.
s. Ziploc and garbage bags.
I take a few Ziplocs, of assorted sizes, and they always come in handy for a
variety of uses. I also take a couple of plastic garbage bags to separate my
dirty clothes and hunting boots from my clean clothes at the end of the safari.
t. First aid kit.
First aid booklet, anti-diarrhea pills (Imodium AD or similar), Pepto-Bismol
(liquid or tablets), aspirin or similar (for headaches), ibuprofen (Advil, for
muscle aches and toothache), allergy pills (if you are susceptible to allergies
or hay fever), Band-Aids, oral rehydration salts, antibiotic cream, cortisone
cream (or other anti-itch cream for rashes, allergic reactions to plants and bug
bites) moleskin (for blisters), laxative, antihistamine tablets, anti-malaria
pills, antibiotic pills, sleeping pills, non-drowsy cold tablets, cough drops,
eye drops, dental repair kit and prescription medicine.
u. Binoculars.
Some people prefer full size binoculars. Others like compact binoculars. My wife
takes her own pair of binoculars.
v. Bug spray with DEET.
w. Sunscreen and lip balm.
x. Taxidermy tags and shipping instructions.
y. Daypack, small duffel or waterproof bag.
Take a daypack, small duffel bag or role-top waterproof bag to keep your extra
ammunition, binoculars, sunscreen, gun cleaning kit, raincoat, etc. in the
hunting vehicle.
z. Luggage locks.
I use those small combination luggage locks on all my bags. They keep the
contents of my bags safe from luggage handlers and the camp staff. Travel Sentry
www.travelsentry.org
has a line of luggage locks that allow the TSA to open your luggage without
cutting the lock.
aa. Travel Kleenex and individual wet wipes.
In case Mother Nature calls while you are in the bush.
bb. Screw driver and appropriate tools that fit your rifles and scope mounts.
cc. Gun cleaning kit.
dd. Lenspen or lens cloth.
For cleaning camera, binocular and scope lenses.
ee. Rifles and rifle slings.
ff. Earplugs and a couple of targets.
For sighting in your rifles.
gg. Ammunition, ammo pouch and belt.
hh. Copies of passport, travelers’ checks, health insurance card, driver’s
license, Medjet card, airline tickets, Customs Form 4457 and safari contract.
Make two copies and put one copy in your luggage and one in your rifle case.
ii. Copies of itinerary.
Include the phone number of your outfitter. Put a copy in an outside pocket of
your luggage. If your luggage gets lost, they will know where to find you.
jj. Travelers’ checks, US cash, credit card(s) and local currency.
I take some local currency to tip baggage handlers in Africa and I usually tip
the game scout in local currency. I also take additional money to pay for
trophies that I shoot that weren’t on my original list. Because of
counterfeiting in Tanzania, take only the new version of US cash.
kk. Passport, airline tickets, driver’s license, health insurance card,
Medjet card, SAPS Form 520 and Customs Form 4457.
Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date. You
must have several blank visa pages in your passport (I would think at least 4
blank visa pages, depending on your itinerary. South Africa will use two full
pages and Zimbabwe uses one full page). Go here
http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds19/ds19_844.html
to have visa pages added to your passport. Consider taking two passport size
photos, in the event your passport is lost or stolen, you will need the photos
to get a new passport.
ll. A zippered ticket wallet and security wallet.
A ticket wallet that is large enough to hold your passport, airline tickets, a
copy of your itinerary, a small amount of cash and your other documents. Check
with your PH about the safest place to keep your tickets, cash, etc. while
hunting. I also use a neck wallet (under my shirt) where I carry my travelers'
checks, most of my cash and my credit cards.
mm. Sunglasses and neck strap.
nn. Soft gun cases. Protects your rifles from bumps and dust while on the
gun rack in the back of the hunting vehicle.
oo. Small spiral notepad and pen.
To record your experiences.
pp. Paperback books.
qq. Field guide to animals and birds.
rr. Cotton bandanas.
ss. Eyeglasses, reading glasses and eyeglass repair kit.
tt. Small sewing kit.
uu. No-Jet-Lag Pills.
I get them from
www.magellans.com
but you can also find them at some health food stores.
vv. Shower shoes.
ww. Duct tape.
Some people also recommend taking a few plastic electrical ties.
xx. Gaiters.
Safari Gaiters (available from Cabelas) helps keep seeds and grass from getting
in your boots – especially when wearing shorts. They are widely used in Africa.
[Cabelas may have discontinued the gaiters. Go to
www.boytharness.com and search for "Canvas
Gaiters"].
yy. Compact head net.
Not one of those with the integral hat and/or wire stays (one small enough to
fit in your pocket) for protection from mopane and tsetse flies. Applies only to
Zimbabwe and Tanzania (a bug jacket might also be useful in some areas of
Tanzania).
zz. Flyswatter.
A convenient tool when your wife says, "Honey, there is a spider in the shower."
Leave it in camp for the next client.
aaa. Cell phone.
Although it won't work in Africa, it may be very useful if you have to make some
last minute calls to your travel agent, outfitter, family, etc. should any
problems arise during your travel in the US.
bbb. Pack half of your clothes and ammunition in your wife’s bag and have her
put half of her clothes in your bag. If the airline loses one of your bags, you
will still have some of your ammunition and both you and your wife will have
clean clothes.
4. ON SAFARI
a. First day: sight in rifles. If your rifle is prone to throwing the first shot
out of a clean barrel, take a fouling shot. Then, take time to make a couple of
good shots on the target to show your PH that you can shoot. Your PH will be
watching to see if you flinch from recoil. Also, you are probably going to be
sighting in your rifles at 50 yards, so know where each of your rifles sight in
at 50 yards.
b. First day: have a talk with your PH about your expectations of trophy size,
your comfort level with long shots and the schedule/routine for your safari.
Remember, if you don’t feel comfortable with the shot, DON’T TAKE IT. Your PH
would much rather try to get you closer or get you a better rest to shoot from
than to track a wounded animal.
c. Greeting the staff. In South Africa it is traditional to shake hands when
greeting. However, the handshake is much softer than a normal firm American
handshake and it is a three-part handshake. The first part is a normal
palm-to-palm handshake, then a thumb-to-thumb handshake, and then a palm-to-palm
handshake (all done in one continuous motion).
d. You should treat all of the staff with respect (particularly in the Zulu
culture of South Africa, respect is very important). Take time to learn a few
words of the local dialect such as "thank you" and the name of the animals you
are hunting.
e. Gun safety is extremely important while on safari. Talk with your PH about
when he wants you to load a round in the chamber. The usual rule is that you
should never hand the gun bearer a loaded gun and never put a loaded gun in the
hunting vehicle. Always double check to make sure your rifle is unloaded and the
safety is on. Never point the muzzle of the rifle at any person.
f. When taking pictures of your trophies, be sure and take a couple of pictures
of each trophy while using the camera flash (even in broad daylight). You will
be surprised how much this improves the pictures.
5. PACKING LIST FOR YOUR CARRY-ON BAG
a. Bottled water.
b. Gum, mints, candy and snacks (cheese crackers, peanuts, granola bars, etc.).
c. Ink pens and small notepad.
d. Paperbacks.
e. Contact lens case, contact lens solution and an extra pair of contact lenses.
f. Eyeglasses and reading glasses.
g. Sunglasses.
h. Chapstick.
i. Aspirin, sleeping pills, Pepto-Bismol tablets, No-Jet-Lag pills and
prescription medicine.
j. Eyeshades, eye drops and ear plugs.
k. Phone numbers and addresses of the people you want to send postcards, or whom
you would need to contact in case of an emergency.
l. Phone numbers and addresses of your outfitter, booking agent, travel agent
and any hotel(s) at which you are staying.
m. Travel Kleenex.
n. Tooth brush, toothpaste and dental floss.
o. Small hand lotion and small deodorant.
p. A change of clothes (or, at least, a clean shirt and underwear) in the event
your checked luggage is lost.
q. Travel wallet with airline tickets, passport, SAPS Form 520, Customs Form
4457, travelers’ checks, credit card(s), driver’s license, Medjet card, health
insurance card and cash (remember to take some cash in small denominations for
tips at the airports and hotel).
r. Pictures and descriptions of your luggage (see Travel Tip below).
s. Cell phone.
6. MISCELLANEOUS
Travel Tip. It is good to have pictures of your luggage along with the brand
name and dimensions of the luggage in the event you have to file a lost luggage
claim. It is also nice to have an inventory of the contents of each bag.
www.magellans.com
carries a product called Retriever Luggage Tags which may assist in the recovery
of your lost luggage.
If you have time to kill while in the Johannesburg airport (after your duty free
shopping and before your flight home), there is a lounge called the Premier Club
Lounge. After going through passport control, turn right and go almost to the
end of the terminal. On the right will be an escalator. Go up the escalator and
turn left. Walk a short distance and the Premier Club will be on your right.
Admission was 98 Rand per person (about US$13.00) in June 2003. [I believe the
current fee is about US$20.00]. That price includes free sandwiches and snacks
along with free drinks (beer, wine, liquor, sodas, juice and bottled water).
There is comfortable seating and a smoking lounge.
Familiarize yourself with the airline schedules before booking your hunt.
Currently with South African Airlines, depending on which day of the week you
fly, you can save several hours on the flight time between Atlanta and your
destination (Cape Town or Johannesburg). Flying out of New York to Johannesburg
can save you several hours flying time versus flying out of Atlanta.
Shooting sticks are widely used in Africa. Some PHs use bipod shooting sticks
and some use tripod shooting sticks. You can make your own and acquire
invaluable practice before you go. Go to a home improvement store or garden
department and buy five bamboo poles (6 feet long poles) along with a two vacuum
cleaner belts (Eureka F&G size). Your total cost should be well under $20.00. To
make the tripod shooting sticks, put three poles together and wrap one of the
belts around the poles three times. Roll the belt down about 6 inches from the
top. Use the same procedure for the bipod set, just wrap the belt around the
poles four times.
You may want to wrap the top portion of the shooting sticks with something soft
(leather, cloth, etc.) so as to protect your rifle. I have also seen tripod
sticks where one of the poles (above the belt) has been cut off, so as to make
it easier to support your rifle.
Take a spare of anything you consider an absolute necessity. I always take a
spare toothbrush and an extra pair of sunglasses. Also, take twice as much film
as you think you will need. Take pictures of everything. You will be able to
enjoy your safari for years to come through those pictures.
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