Win Free Air Passes to Africa for 2011

[billrquimby]

Get your teeth worked on before you leave.

Bill Quimby

 

[billrquimby]

If you will be in a malaria area, check with your booking agent or outfitter to learn what prophylactic is recommended and then ask your doctor if he recommends it for you. Some types will need to be started before you leave home.

Bill Quimby

 

[billrquimby]

Look up the rules that TSA and the airlines you will be using have imposed for flying with firearms and ammo, and then print copies to take with you. Some airline clerks and a few TSA people are misinformed. It should go without saying that you need to follow those rules.

Bill Quimby

 

[billrquimby]

If you’ll be in Reno in January for the SCI convention and are planning on booking a hunt there (or just want to know more about African hunting), be sure to attend the club’s “Your First African Safari” seminar on Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon. And be sure to ask the panelists questions. It could help you avoid problems on what should be one of your greatest experiences.

I’ll be the moderator again (my 22nd year), and the panel members again are among the top people in their fields of expertise:

-- Gun and hunting writer/video maker/author Craig Boddington speaking on firearms and ammo for Africa,

-- Outfitter Johan Calitz on what your outfitter/PH expects from you and what you should expect from him,

-- Beverly Wunderlich of JB Adventures and Safaris on how a booking agent can save you money, time and problems,

-- Retired taxidermist Jack Atcheson on how to ensure you have the best mounts after your safari, and

-- Safari Press and Sports Afield publisher Ludo Wurfbain (what to read before, during and after your safari).

A brief question and answer period will follow each panelist’s presentation.

The panelists and I donate our time in the hope of helping first timers avoid problems that might mar their first taste of Africa.

If you attend, let us know what we can do to make it more helpful.

Bill Quimby

 

[hutty]

1. Relax and remember TIA, this is Africa. Leave the western mentality at home and roll with it.

2. Carry small bills $5-$10 for tips.

3. If you are planning on buying some large gifts to take home let the PH and taxidermist you will be using know. Most places will deliver the larger items to the taxidermist and will ship it over with your trophies. No need to pay twice to get that unique piece home.

4. Pack a set of clothes you can hunt in your carry on. Wear shoes on the plane that you can hunt in. If your clothes get lost its great to have the clothes on your back and a spare so you can hit the ground running.

5. Lunesta- A great way to get a solid 6 hours of sleep on the plane ride across the pond. Take one and way up feeling great with no lethargy or dopey feeling.

6. Make copies of your 4457 and passport and tape them inside your gun case. If the case gets lost in the US and customs has to open it, your proof of ownership is right there. Have more than one address tag on the outside of your gun case.

7. Carry pens and a small journal. Right in the journal about what happened every night before going to bed. The days run together so quickly and when you get home it will allow you to keep everything in order, recall small details, and tell a better story with your photos.

8. Get a nice pocket size digital camera and practice with it before hand.

9. Bring some gatordade or propel packets with you. Add them to bottled water on your trip to make it taste better. If for some reason you become ill, the electrolytes will help your body bounce back quicker and get you back out hunting.

10. Let your doctor know you will be traveling in Africa hunting and get scripts for a Z pack, antibiotics, etc. Bring some moleskin with you. If you get blisters on your ankles or feet it can save a safari.

 

[jeff]

If bowhunting pack two seperate bow cases not a double and have arrows and release in each case and pad with half of your clothing,that way if either case makes it you are still ready to hunt! That happend to me on my last trip to SA. my second case didn't arrive for three days, but it didn't ruin my hunt that way.

 

[James.Grage]

Make sure your american money are new bills with no marking on them and no tears on the edges.

 

[James.Grage]

Carry your money in at least 3 different places and restock the money clip that you use. Keep a limited amount in it at all times. 1's - 5's - 10's - 20's - 50's and for the high rollers 100's i carry the 100's for any additional payment that could come up with the trip...

 

[James.Grage]

Trip insurance is a good bet with a trip of this nature.

Medical evacuation insurance is a good buy.

Purchase a phone in the country you are in and a card for minutes, and have the dialing instructins in hand before you head into the bush.

 

[michaelhh375]

Dear fellow hunters. To avoid all problems with parking the car at air port, overweight of luggage, cue at check in, boring waiting time at gate, cue at boarding, small seats, sick person next to you, screaming kids, no drinks available, dirty and small WC, no sleep cause seat is not adjustable, swollen feet, etc etc etc. ALWAYS fly FIRSTCLASS.

Be carefully out there and Merry Christmas to you all.

Michael

 

[jeff]

Use a travel agent, a real person is so much better when there is problems, sometimes it even cheaper!

 

[jeff]

Take travel size disinfectant wipes and wipe everthing at your seat and drop table, setting 18 hours I don't want any viruses to get me befor the hunt.

 

[billrquimby]

If you take a number of medicines as I do, ask your doctor to write new prescriptions for everything you’ll take to Africa, and then keep those prescriptions with your passport. You probably won’t have anything that’s on another country’s prohibited list, but it could help you avoid a heap of problems if you must explain to a customs agent in Africa why you’re traveling with “all those drugs.” It also may be of help if your meds are lost or destroyed.

Bill Quimby

 

[billrquimby]

Forget what you’ve heard about Africa’s plains game being harder to kill. If you won’t be hunting dangerous game, you won’t need a .375 H&H or larger caliber for plains game. Your .270, 7 mm Remington Magnum, .30-06 or similar “deer” rifle with good bullets will do just fine on kudu, zebra, gemsbok, hartebeest and wildebeest. Proper bullet placement is the key to one-shot kills, so take something that you shoot well.

Bill Quimby

 

[Bobpuckett]

Hi Lori

I have been reading all of the post and they give some good advice, here is my tip and I hope I'm not repeating someone (Plan your trip far in advance.) by giving yourself time to ask any question that you may come up with and being able to adapt to any changes that come up you will have a more pleasant trip. Feel free to contact the outfit your going to be hunting with any question you may have, it is better to know what to expect when you get there then to get there and be unprepared. Bob

 

[jeff]

Take a empty water bootle through security and then fill it up. Saves buying one in secure area where they cost three times as much.

 

[billrquimby]

You may want to consider having your outfitter or camp manager hold most of your cash and travelers checks in the safe at his home or office while you’re in camp. Get a receipt, of course.

Bill Quimby

 

[Deb]

My tip is, be sure to carry a good book to read this helps with long flights, layovers with time to spare and if you are a Bow Hunter it helps to kill time while your waiting on game to show at the water hole. Deb

 

[TRAVEL EXPRESS]

WINNERS OF THE FREE AIR PASSES . . .

Post #29 & #87 have been selected to each receive one free air pass. Congratulations to Scott Spencer and Hank2211!

I would like to thank everyone that participated in the promotion. There were many good travel tips and advice offered that I’m sure everyone will find useful on their next trip.

Feel free to continue to post in the ongoing Travel Tips thread if you have any additional tips or advice you’d like to offer.

 

[enysse]

Thanks

Thanks a lot for running the contest Lori, the next time I goto Africa...I will give you a call! It was a very generous donation!

And congradulations to the winners too!