Stormy Kromer
AH veteran
I returned yesterday from a week long plains game safari in South Africa. I learned a lot from this forum and would like to share some observations. Please note that I'm not attempting to say that my way is the only way, or the best way. I only want to share what worked and what could have been done better when planning a Safari.
1. Get a good partner to go with. I went with my wife and she enjoyed it as an observer.
2. Line up your PH and a plan on what you want to hunt. Make this flexible and keep your options open. I had 4 animals on my package and didn't get a shot at one the first two days. I opened up to other animals and later in the hunt the animals on my list came along. Have fun with what Africa brings you. My 4 animals turned into 7 and I had a great time. I gladly paid the trophy fees on the additional animals.
3. Use a travel agent to book your flights and hotels. I used Jennifer at Travel Express and it went well.
Airports, well they are what they are. We had time to spare at O'Hare, Newark and Johannesburg. Make the best of it.
4. Bring your own rifle. I brought mine and was glad I did. I took 7 animals and made some good shots, some not so good. I have only myself to hold to account, I have confidence in my rifle and confidence is a huge part of shooting well. A couple months ahead of time go to your nearest customs office and fill out the 4457 form for your rifle. In included my scope and binoculars but the only thing the authorities cared about was that the serial number on the rifle and 4457 matched up. I used Rifle Permits and they did exactly what they said they would. I upgraded to VIP service to meet us at the gait at Tambo. They made it easy and were well worth the cost. Keep a copy of the temporary permit on you and another inside your gun case, they do look at this as you enter and depart. I left my suppressor home, that's a whole other thread.
Put your rifle in a metal gun case designed for airline travel, not a plastic one. (The TSA told me so as they searched my metal case) I used a non TSA lock for the rifle, a plain old Master Lock from the hardware store. I had a key and my wife had another. I had a spare lock that used the same key inside the gun case.
Ammunition was kept in a plastic Plano ammunition box. It held 3 boxes in the original factory boxes with enough room for a small folding knife and leatherman tool. I used a TSA combination lock and kept a spare lock inside. I got the box & locks at Scheels for about $25 total. Kept it in my checked bag, told the airline and they had no problems on either end.
I used a .300 Win Mag with 200 grain Swift A Frames. Performed perfectly on 7 animals. Exit wounds on all except the front end first shot on a zebra, then it turned broadside I got a nice exit wound on the follow up shot. You don't need a .300 Win for most plains game, hell I shot a Steenbok with it. But, it was good to have the firepower when taking shots at Kudu and Zebra at difficult angles.
Scope. My rifle has a 3.5 x 10 Leupold scope. It worked well and held its zero when we checked it out at the range on arrival. Kept it on the lowest setting all the time until I got it on the animal.
5. Overnight in Johannesburg. We arrived on United 188 at about 6:30 pm. We got a room at City Lodge and were escorted right to the front desk by the nice folks from Rifle Permits. We got a good nights sleep and reorganized before being picked up by our PH the next morning. This was much better than getting in a vehicle and driving 4 hours in the dark to get to camp by 1:00 am and start hunting the next day. Take an extra day off and arrive a day early, well worth it. Day 1 of our safari was the day they picked us up weather it was in the morning or evening. City Lodge exceeded our expectations. Great place with a wonderful restaurant for dinner and breakfast. Book breakfast when you check in the night before, you'll be glad.
6. We took insurance from Ripcord for medical & evacuation. $150 each, great peace of mind. The most dangerous part of your safari is the drive from Johannesburg to your camp.
7. When traveling with United we were allowed two checked bags each. We took my rifle as one item and a large duffel bag as the other, this duffell held all of our clothes equipment. My binoculars were in the rifle case. We each had a small bag that would fit under the seat ahead of us. I would avoid using a bag that requires the overhead bins. We flew Economy and on every single leg the overhead bins filled up before we got on the plane. You'll be checking bags anyway, just check your stuff and let them carry it for you.
Its hard for me to sleep or read on a plane. I don't know what to tell you on how to prepare for the long flight. We will consider Premium Economy next time.
8. Traveling with cash. I made payment arrangements with my outfitter ahead of time, including all tips, so cash wasn't a big deal. I brought $1,000 in a wide variety of bills, mostly $10 and $20 and $50. I brought back around $800. The rest was used for tipping people that helped. I found that cash isn't needed or even accepted at the airports, restaurants or hotels. At Newark you can't use cash if you want to. You can't order a beer without using a smartphone and credit card........crazy.
Leave most of your cash home and bring at LEAST 3 different credit cards. I called all my credit card companies in advance and told them I'd be traveling to Africa. They all told me that I'd be fine and it wasn't even necessary to call them. When I got to City Lodge my GM card was DENIED. I wasn't going to spend an hour on the phone to get them to reinstate it so I used another card and that was accepted. Frustrating.
9. Clothes. I wore one outfit and packed 2. I wore clothes that I could hunt in just in case my bags didn't arrive. Here is what I'd pack if I go again.
Pants. 2 pair of Carhart work pants in either brown or original Carhart. No need for chaps with these pants.
Shirts. 2 Columbia long sleeve fishing shirts in tan or brown. No undershirts.
Socks. 3 pair of light weight breathable socks. I used Darn Tough hiking socks, comfortable but too hot.
Boots. I wore my 9" Cabela's Outfitter boots with airbob soles. I love these boots but they were too hot. I'll like the support of the 9" boot and will look for an un-insulated similar boot for next time.
Hat. I wore a typical baseball style hat in camo. Next time I'll bring a mesh hat since they're cooler. No stocking hat necessary.
Coat. I wore a Carhart work vest for a couple hours some mornings. Sage color matched the terrain nicely. I packed a jacket and never wore it. No need for rain gear, if it sprinkled we just got in the truck. I'd avoid anything with a hood.
Realize I was there in March when it's early fall, it gets cooler later. I wore sunscreen every day.
10. Equipment. I brought a bi-pod and shooting stix. Didn't use either one but I could have, probably should have. Next time I will bring a front end rest in case we get a shot from off the hood of the vehicle. This would be much better than a rolled up jacket.
Knife. I brought a Havilon folding knife and leatherman just because I always carry these. I didn't use either one the entire trip. I gave them both to my tracker (I gave them to the PH so he could show him how to use them first). This way he won't ask to borrow the PH's knife anymore. The PH appreciated this very much and thought it was a good idea.
Electric Converter. I bought one for about $35 online. Worked great, I left it with the PH so others can use it. I don't need it here. Note that electric service in SA is very, very unreliable.
Photo equipment. Most everyone uses phones for this now, but I did bring my digital camera and took backup photos. Take your time and take good photos.
Binoculars. In the Limpopo area the brush is thick. Not a lot of long distance glassing. I brought my 7x30 Swarovski's. They worked well. Get a good binocular strap so they aren't bouncing around.
11. Taxidermy. I contacted Splitting Images ahead of time and they work together with my PH. Before I left the paperwork was all filled out and they had a route truck pick everything up. There was an email from them waiting for me when I got home. Excellent service so far, we are going to have the completed items shipped to our door. We had an idea of what we wanted from what we saw on their web site ahead of time.
12. Tipping. I asked the owner about this before I booked the trip. He showed me his suggested tipping guide in his brochure. I followed it to the T and included it in the final payment so he could give them to each person personally. He didn't want us giving cash to the staff directly. He had his reasons. I did give my PH a little something above and beyond. He was tremendous.
13. Paperwork. We each had a small pouch with a shoulder strap that held our passports, cash, cards and original permits/papers. I kept mine inside my shirt. I made 4 copies of everything and kept a copy in our checked bag, rifle case and carry on bags. Didn't need them but it felt good knowing we had them.
Make sure your passport has at least two pages open. I heard a horror story of someone arriving in SA that didn't have room was denied entry, they had to get a flight for the trip home. Imagine another 15 hour flight after you just got there......
Overall, the biggest obstacle keeping me from going to Africa was all the unknowns and how to plan for it. Our outfitter was a tremendous help in pointing us in the right direction. We had an absolutely wonderful time and if I can help anyone I certainly will This site was helpful also, thanks everyone.
1. Get a good partner to go with. I went with my wife and she enjoyed it as an observer.
2. Line up your PH and a plan on what you want to hunt. Make this flexible and keep your options open. I had 4 animals on my package and didn't get a shot at one the first two days. I opened up to other animals and later in the hunt the animals on my list came along. Have fun with what Africa brings you. My 4 animals turned into 7 and I had a great time. I gladly paid the trophy fees on the additional animals.
3. Use a travel agent to book your flights and hotels. I used Jennifer at Travel Express and it went well.
Airports, well they are what they are. We had time to spare at O'Hare, Newark and Johannesburg. Make the best of it.
4. Bring your own rifle. I brought mine and was glad I did. I took 7 animals and made some good shots, some not so good. I have only myself to hold to account, I have confidence in my rifle and confidence is a huge part of shooting well. A couple months ahead of time go to your nearest customs office and fill out the 4457 form for your rifle. In included my scope and binoculars but the only thing the authorities cared about was that the serial number on the rifle and 4457 matched up. I used Rifle Permits and they did exactly what they said they would. I upgraded to VIP service to meet us at the gait at Tambo. They made it easy and were well worth the cost. Keep a copy of the temporary permit on you and another inside your gun case, they do look at this as you enter and depart. I left my suppressor home, that's a whole other thread.
Put your rifle in a metal gun case designed for airline travel, not a plastic one. (The TSA told me so as they searched my metal case) I used a non TSA lock for the rifle, a plain old Master Lock from the hardware store. I had a key and my wife had another. I had a spare lock that used the same key inside the gun case.
Ammunition was kept in a plastic Plano ammunition box. It held 3 boxes in the original factory boxes with enough room for a small folding knife and leatherman tool. I used a TSA combination lock and kept a spare lock inside. I got the box & locks at Scheels for about $25 total. Kept it in my checked bag, told the airline and they had no problems on either end.
I used a .300 Win Mag with 200 grain Swift A Frames. Performed perfectly on 7 animals. Exit wounds on all except the front end first shot on a zebra, then it turned broadside I got a nice exit wound on the follow up shot. You don't need a .300 Win for most plains game, hell I shot a Steenbok with it. But, it was good to have the firepower when taking shots at Kudu and Zebra at difficult angles.
Scope. My rifle has a 3.5 x 10 Leupold scope. It worked well and held its zero when we checked it out at the range on arrival. Kept it on the lowest setting all the time until I got it on the animal.
5. Overnight in Johannesburg. We arrived on United 188 at about 6:30 pm. We got a room at City Lodge and were escorted right to the front desk by the nice folks from Rifle Permits. We got a good nights sleep and reorganized before being picked up by our PH the next morning. This was much better than getting in a vehicle and driving 4 hours in the dark to get to camp by 1:00 am and start hunting the next day. Take an extra day off and arrive a day early, well worth it. Day 1 of our safari was the day they picked us up weather it was in the morning or evening. City Lodge exceeded our expectations. Great place with a wonderful restaurant for dinner and breakfast. Book breakfast when you check in the night before, you'll be glad.
6. We took insurance from Ripcord for medical & evacuation. $150 each, great peace of mind. The most dangerous part of your safari is the drive from Johannesburg to your camp.
7. When traveling with United we were allowed two checked bags each. We took my rifle as one item and a large duffel bag as the other, this duffell held all of our clothes equipment. My binoculars were in the rifle case. We each had a small bag that would fit under the seat ahead of us. I would avoid using a bag that requires the overhead bins. We flew Economy and on every single leg the overhead bins filled up before we got on the plane. You'll be checking bags anyway, just check your stuff and let them carry it for you.
Its hard for me to sleep or read on a plane. I don't know what to tell you on how to prepare for the long flight. We will consider Premium Economy next time.
8. Traveling with cash. I made payment arrangements with my outfitter ahead of time, including all tips, so cash wasn't a big deal. I brought $1,000 in a wide variety of bills, mostly $10 and $20 and $50. I brought back around $800. The rest was used for tipping people that helped. I found that cash isn't needed or even accepted at the airports, restaurants or hotels. At Newark you can't use cash if you want to. You can't order a beer without using a smartphone and credit card........crazy.
Leave most of your cash home and bring at LEAST 3 different credit cards. I called all my credit card companies in advance and told them I'd be traveling to Africa. They all told me that I'd be fine and it wasn't even necessary to call them. When I got to City Lodge my GM card was DENIED. I wasn't going to spend an hour on the phone to get them to reinstate it so I used another card and that was accepted. Frustrating.
9. Clothes. I wore one outfit and packed 2. I wore clothes that I could hunt in just in case my bags didn't arrive. Here is what I'd pack if I go again.
Pants. 2 pair of Carhart work pants in either brown or original Carhart. No need for chaps with these pants.
Shirts. 2 Columbia long sleeve fishing shirts in tan or brown. No undershirts.
Socks. 3 pair of light weight breathable socks. I used Darn Tough hiking socks, comfortable but too hot.
Boots. I wore my 9" Cabela's Outfitter boots with airbob soles. I love these boots but they were too hot. I'll like the support of the 9" boot and will look for an un-insulated similar boot for next time.
Hat. I wore a typical baseball style hat in camo. Next time I'll bring a mesh hat since they're cooler. No stocking hat necessary.
Coat. I wore a Carhart work vest for a couple hours some mornings. Sage color matched the terrain nicely. I packed a jacket and never wore it. No need for rain gear, if it sprinkled we just got in the truck. I'd avoid anything with a hood.
Realize I was there in March when it's early fall, it gets cooler later. I wore sunscreen every day.
10. Equipment. I brought a bi-pod and shooting stix. Didn't use either one but I could have, probably should have. Next time I will bring a front end rest in case we get a shot from off the hood of the vehicle. This would be much better than a rolled up jacket.
Knife. I brought a Havilon folding knife and leatherman just because I always carry these. I didn't use either one the entire trip. I gave them both to my tracker (I gave them to the PH so he could show him how to use them first). This way he won't ask to borrow the PH's knife anymore. The PH appreciated this very much and thought it was a good idea.
Electric Converter. I bought one for about $35 online. Worked great, I left it with the PH so others can use it. I don't need it here. Note that electric service in SA is very, very unreliable.
Photo equipment. Most everyone uses phones for this now, but I did bring my digital camera and took backup photos. Take your time and take good photos.
Binoculars. In the Limpopo area the brush is thick. Not a lot of long distance glassing. I brought my 7x30 Swarovski's. They worked well. Get a good binocular strap so they aren't bouncing around.
11. Taxidermy. I contacted Splitting Images ahead of time and they work together with my PH. Before I left the paperwork was all filled out and they had a route truck pick everything up. There was an email from them waiting for me when I got home. Excellent service so far, we are going to have the completed items shipped to our door. We had an idea of what we wanted from what we saw on their web site ahead of time.
12. Tipping. I asked the owner about this before I booked the trip. He showed me his suggested tipping guide in his brochure. I followed it to the T and included it in the final payment so he could give them to each person personally. He didn't want us giving cash to the staff directly. He had his reasons. I did give my PH a little something above and beyond. He was tremendous.
13. Paperwork. We each had a small pouch with a shoulder strap that held our passports, cash, cards and original permits/papers. I kept mine inside my shirt. I made 4 copies of everything and kept a copy in our checked bag, rifle case and carry on bags. Didn't need them but it felt good knowing we had them.
Make sure your passport has at least two pages open. I heard a horror story of someone arriving in SA that didn't have room was denied entry, they had to get a flight for the trip home. Imagine another 15 hour flight after you just got there......
Overall, the biggest obstacle keeping me from going to Africa was all the unknowns and how to plan for it. Our outfitter was a tremendous help in pointing us in the right direction. We had an absolutely wonderful time and if I can help anyone I certainly will This site was helpful also, thanks everyone.
Great info and report, thank you for sharing with us! 
