Additional Items For Your Safari

Another thing to keep in mind is to take all possible precautions against bug bites. Wearing long sleeved clothes is a good start. Make sure that your shirt is tucked in and your pant legs are tucked into your boots if possible. In addition, wear some sort of bug repellent, DEET works best, on all exposed skin. This will not only deter mosquitoes from biting, but will also reduce the chances of bites from other insects as well as ticks. Finally, sleep indoors, in a tent, or with a mosquito net to prevent mosquito bites during the night.On my most recent trip to South Africa, my wife and I both used a combination sunscreen and bug repellent. It worked very well for both purposes. The only complaint I had is that it is a little rough on the skin, so I don’t recommend using it on your face. However, it’s a good choice for the neck, arms, legs, etc.

Furthermore, ensure that you bring the appropriate equipment to take care of your rifle on the hunt. I use a very sturdy, hard rifle case to transport my rifles on airline trips. That works great for the flight. However, the hard rifle case is simply too large and unwieldy to carry around daily. I really wish I would have brought a soft rifle case (or a gun “sock”) to protect my rifle during the many hours I’ve spent driving around looking for a spot to pick up the trail of game.

On top of a soft rifle case, make sure you bring the appropriate materials to clean your rifle in the field. During my trip to Zimbabwe, I was hunting during the wet season and it rained several times during the trip. Fortunately, I brought a bore snake and a rag to clean my rifle with, which turned out to be a good decision. I borrowed some gun oil from the PH and was able to clean my rifle on a daily basis. This not only ensured that it worked properly when I needed it, but it prevented any rust from accumulating on my rifle during the two week safari.

Another item to consider is a medical kit. Your PH should carry a first aid kit to deal with any injuries that occur during the hunt. However, it is to your benefit to bring along medicine such as Tylenol/Motrin/Asprin, Ciprofloxacin, Loperamide (Imodium A-D), and Pepto-Bismol. This is of course in addition to any prescription drugs that you regularly take and any anti-malarial drugs necessary for the area you are hunting.

Hunting is a physical sport and bumps, scrapes, and bruises are part of the cost of doing business. After a couple of days of hard hunting, you will wish you had some pain medication for sore joints and muscles. Also, even if you are careful, it’s still possible to get traveler’s diarrhea. If that happens, you’ll wish you had some Cipro or Imodium to make you feel better instead of spending several days laid up sick on your safari.

When you are preparing for your hunt, keep in mind that it will typically be the little things that are the difference between a good and a bad trip. A good idea is to make a list of items that you think you will need over the course of several weeks prior to the hunt. This will aid greatly in identifying all of the little “ankle biter” things that you may need on your hunt.