Back to the Dark Continent: Suggestions?

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NickEllis

NickEllis

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The Background - (Or, Returning to Africa)

My wife and I sat down this past week, and had a long discussion about Africa.

A bit of background:

I grew up in the far north of Brazil, and when I moved stateside for college met my wife, who had also spent time down south. On graduating, however, we decided to hold off on marriage for a couple years; she headed to Tanzania for two years, and I headed off to Germany, Israel, and then finished out a masters degree in Vancouver. Three years later, we were married, and moved to Colorado. We love the mountains, the culture, the people. I don't know if I'll ever leave Colorado, and certainly not the West. I find it has the perfect combination of open space (for me), and interesting people (for my wife).

However, you don't spend more than half your life overseas without getting the itch again pretty quick, and we've been feeling it. My job allows me to work from pretty much anywhere with a decent internet connection and an airport (R&D for a Tokyo/Manhattan research company). My dream would be to have a place in the West where we would spend 6-9 months a year, and spend 6-3 months a year overseas.

So we sat down this last week and decided it was time to get back to Africa. I've been back to Brazil often, and its easy with family down there. But we need to take every open opportunity and invitation to visit the dark continent. My wife's time in Africa was spent between Dar Es Salaam and Moshi, with occasional multi-week excursions outside of Arusha with her Masaai room-mate from Dar.

Ok, enough historical background...

Now, we would like to visit for 3-4 weeks this time, have a nice time together, visit friends around Tanzania, perhaps visit the Zambezi (my wife's favorite spot in Africa so far, rafting the Zambezi) after which my wife would return to the States (her work isn't as flexible). However, I would stay for another two weeks, as it turns out I've got an invitation to stay with some of her friends outside of Moshi, no expense, and hunt. I'm very lucky to have a wife that not only puts up with this kind of trip, but also expects, even demands it!

To be continued with.... The Questions
 
Part II....
The Questions

From those illustrious members of this forum who have been to Africa and hunted there, I require wisdom! Here are the questions that jump out in this initial stage of planning. I must first give credit, however, to perhaps the single most influential catalyst for this trip for me personally, besides reading volumes of Capstick and Turner. This thread <http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=93711&highlight=buffalo+Africa> by our own H&HHunter, from the first time I read it almost four years ago now, has captivated my imagination. I knew I'd make it to Africa some day after reading it. I'm grateful for this board, which allows such a forum for ideas and activities which so entice the soul of any current or potential hunter!

My great unknowns:

1) What to hunt: If I limit my activities solely to Tanzania, what kind of hunting would you suggest I pursue? My dream has always been to spend a week hunting Africa plains game (Kudu, Gemsbock, Wildebeast, warthog, eland, impala, etc.), and then take a week to look for cape buffalo. Again, my ignorance raises its head: what could I realistically expect from two weeks of hunting in East Africa? And what are your preferred plains animals, found in Tanzania? Preferred regions?

2) When to Go: For the seasons, my wife suggests that if we don't want to fry, we go in May-October. I know nothing about the best seasons for African hunting. Suggestions on when to head over?

3) Tools:
Rifles
After listening much, and asking a couple questions both from our friends in Africa, and on this forum, it seems that the .375H&H would be an excellent primary rifle to take. Though I was going to use a .308 through this next year for the deer/elk season, I reckon a season of discovering proper handloads, and using this rifle through a Colorado elk season would give me the familiarity I like in a rifle. I'm experienced with a .308, and would probably take this as a backup rifle for the plains animals at least. Barnes TSX seems a good bullet of choice, but I'll work through that later.

Let me lay out what I consider a decent rifle in general, then please critique into submission: the search is on, high and low, for a good .375H&H bolt gun. The consensus seems to be a controlled feed action (e.g., pre-'64 model 70), with preferably a good sear safety. I'm thinking between 20-23inches for a barrel. Stainless action and barrel. Though I'm a sucker for wood stocks, if I'm going to use this rifle from everything and in every elevation from elk to the Africa plains, synthetic or laminate seems the way to go. The pre-64 Winchesters seem pretty tough to find. I've also thought of finding a stripped .375 action, re-barreling and re-restocking it. They seem as rare as hen's teeth as well these days. Would it work to find a heavy m98 mauser action and have this machined to a .375? For current production rifles: I have been looking at this Kimber 8400 Talkeetna (http://www.kimberamerica.com/rifles/africa-alaska/talkeetna/) but honestly don't know enough about the 8400 model Kimbers to know whether this is a good way to proceed for a potentially DG rifle. What about the new Winchesters? It seems like for years they were getting a horrible rap about QC, degrading workmanship, etc. and I'd rather not purchase something I'm going to regret. I'm also looking at the Ruger MK77, and the CZ550 (though the fit and finish has seemed rough to me). There was a beautiful Weatherby Safari MKV at the local shop in .375, but at 6k, it just didn't seem worth it. Might as well save up and get a truly superior rifle for that much. However, the current high-end rifles out there (i.e., Dakota, Empire, etc.) are simply outside of my price range. Is it even possible to keep a rifle of this spec between 1k-2k?

To top the rifle off, I'm thinking something 2.5-6x, something that will sit as low to the bore as possible. Suggestions? Leopold seems a good first choice. I prefer ghost rings for backup sights (blame it on shooting an M1a for the past year and a half, just not as fast or as accurate with express sites). I also know next to nothing about a good stock fit, length of pull, or stock shape (american, hogback, etc.?) which will be the most useful for a rifle of this caliber.

More tools: what other essentials should be taken on an African safari? Suggestions might include foot gear, clothing, first-aid stuff they might not have down there, etc. Whatever you've found to be helpful.

4) Guides: there is a possibility I may have access to some private ranches in the area, through our friends. However, would anyone have some good insight into guiding outfits of good repute I could investigate?


Wow, that was a mouthful. Hard to answer all these questions when they're all piled on like that! But I'll leave it at that.
 
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If you can go a little earlier or in Oct. you can you can catch the migration across the Mara River. If you have not seen it, or even if you have you will never forget it. One of the high points of my life. Well, almost everything in Africa has been a high point.
 
cornman, what is "a little earlier"? March-April? Thanks, I'd forgotten that Laura mentioned the migration was breathtaking. I saw a few pictures, and always wanted to see that for myself. Great suggestion.
 
Gaiudo,

I do know a couple of outfitters in Ta. BUT if you go with an outfitter expect to pay MAJOR$$$. Ta has become the most expensive country in Africa to hunt due to major governmental fee increases last year.

I do not know what the rules are on hunting as a guest of a resident.

Now for rifles. I know nothing of the Ed Brown rifle other than what I've seen on the web site.

A .375H&H is a fine choice for a client rifle. If however you were hunting buffalo without a back up PH I'd be a little leery. In that case you need as much rifle as you can comfortably shoot.

As far as scopes go my strong recommendation is a Leupold VX III in 1.75X6 mounted as low to bore as you can. The scope should never leave 1.75 power while in the field with DG about.

As far as rifles go. there was never a pre 64 built in stainless. the gun you are looking for is a Stainless classic in .375H&H.

The finest buffalo hunting in Ta is up in the Masai steps in the Northern part of the country. That is where you will find the largest buff in terms of trophy quality.

However there are abundant buffalo in the Selous, Kilombero, Rungwa and other places. The hunts you need to be careful of are the ultra cheap hunts that are conducted on transitional native land around the boundary of the Selous. These places are hit or miss on all game as the poaching pressure is very high.


Tanzania has a very strict game quota and what you are allowed to take depends on how many days you are booking for. You will not be allowed to take a full bag on a short hunt.

Once again I do not know the viability of hunting as a guest of a citizen. That may well change things. If it is even legal.

As far as gear goes. Good light weight binos, comfortable light weight boots, cotton clothing in earth colors. A good day pack and you are just about set. Basic first aide and a fire starter a good flashlight a small light GPS are also great gear to have.

Hunting in Africa is not gear or gadget intensive. That is about all I can come up with right now. By the way if you want an out of the box ready to go DG rifle in .375 caliber take a good hard look at the Ruger Hawkeye African chambered in .375Ruger. $850 and you are ready to go. That is probably the way I'd go today if I was starting over.

One of the hardest working outfitters in Ta is Miombo safaris out of Dar. But they ain't cheap. I huntied with them back in 2002.
 
H&H,

I'll have to check on the legal issues, of course, but when my wife was there the people she worked for (Americans, but permanent residents for a good 25 years now) went constantly, as in a couple times a month; they extended an invitation this past year to come up and hunt with them. Now, what that actually means legally... you've got me, and it certainly bears some looking into!

It sounds like you'd suggest engaging the services of a PH for buffalo? If thats the case, would it be better, and more cost efficient considering the prices, to only hunt plains game in TZ, and then go somewhere else for buff? Should that be the case, could you suggest in what country, and perhaps with whom (PH, outfitter)? Since I'd already be in Africa, I'd certainly rather take best advantage of whatever opportunities are to be found. If that means hunting outside of TZ, then all the better.

Thanks on the heads-up re: the Hawkeye; I hadn't even considered it.

Edited to add: On the Ruger site, it appears they are offering the Hawkeye African (and indeed all the Hawkeye models) only in .375 Ruger, rather than .375 H&H. This would be unfortunate indeed! If I'm wrong here, let me know.
 
The Hawkeye is chambered in .375 Ruger the only H&H that Ruger builds is the RSM model.

There are no flies on the .375 Ruger it is one of the few new cartridges that interests me. Of course cartridge selection is a very personal choice and I am not recommending one over the other.

Call your friends about hunting with them I simply do not know what the regulations are. I am sure that they will.

I am NOT recommending necessarily that you must use a PH for buffalo hunting. I'd much rather hunt without one given the choice. I am simply suggesting that it may be the only legal way to do a buff hunt as a non resident. Once again I don't know.
 
I don't imagine that the .375Ruger would be widely available in Africa, is my main concern. The ballistics are quite nice though.
 
I don't imagine that the .375Ruger would be widely available in Africa, is my main concern.
Click to expand...

Gaiudo,

Unobtainium comes to mind.;)
 
Technical discussions of rifles and much hair-splitting about calibers tend to dominate these debates, but one often-overlooked feature of a rifle is the gun fit - how does the firearm fit YOU, personally?

What you want is a rifle that is on target as soon as you raise it to your shoulder. If you look at a target, close your eyes, and then shoulder the rifle . . . as soon as you open your eyes, the crosshairs (if using a 'scope) should be darned close to where you were looking. If you have to squirm about in order to get on target, that's not a good thing.

My .375 fits me perfectly, and for that reason I mounted it with a 6x42 Leupold. This magnification will horrify some, but I've used it on game (including Cape buffalo) within 10 -15 paces with no trouble at all. It has 4 1/2 inches of eye relief, so if I'm shooting uphill or at an awkward position, it won't smack my eyebrow, either. (Note that some low-power variables lose eye relief as they're zoomed.)

A reliable $1500 (or, for that matter, $500) rifle that fits is a better hunting tool than a $3000+ custom rifle that doesn't fit you very well. And a good part of the rifle's reliability is how you handle it. Unbelievably, the PH's I've spoken to STILL have stories about people showing up in camp with brand new rifles that were sighted in by their gunsmith! :eek:

Avoid high-gloss finishes - matte is MUCH more appropriate for a hunting rifle.

As for calibers . . . I've written before that a .30/06 with proper bullets is a good choice for leopard, as well as all non-dangerous thin-skinned game worldwide, with the possible exceptions of eland and giraffe. A .308 is close enough to a .30/06 so it should work pretty much the same, so long as relatively heavy bullets are chosen.

A .375 is good for everything else . . . some call it marginal for elephant and Cape buff . . . but it's on the right side of the margin. (Full disclosure: I've only taken two Cape buffalo myself, so I have just enough experience to be dangerous.)
 
Thanks, Hank. I'm trying to figure out the fitting question now... see the thread in the Rifle forum on finding resources for fitting rifle stocks. With so much talk on finding a rifle that fits, I've been hard pressed to figure out whether the fitting of a rifle is merely a hit or miss process, or whether stocks can be modified to fit the shooter. Does McMillan make stocks for the individual shooter? Also, are there benefits between different stock profiles, such as a straight American style stock, or the more European "hogback" stock? One would almost with for a shooting exhibit where these various types of stocks could be tested!
 
I agree with almost everything Hank has to say about rifles. I vehemently disagree with his choice of optics for a DG rifle.

But we've talked about that in the past.:);)


Both of my serious DG rifles fit me like a glove. My .375 is set up so just as Hank stated when I bring it to my shoulder my eye is on the scope. My double is the same only of course it is an iron sighted rifle.
 
Yeah, H&H and I mostly agree, and as for the points where we don't, I guess we've tacitly agreed to disagree, since neither one of us is likely to convince the other.

I'm lucky, in that, by "try fitting" a lot of rifles, I happened to find a couple that fit me very well . . . sometimes, different combinations of features add up to the same "whole" . . . I'm afraid I can't be much more help than that.

I think the main take-away is that a hunting rifle is a tool, and any beauty it has in a gun case is entirely secondary to it's main function. Highly figured stocks look great - but a straight grain stock is likely to be stronger, and hence, better suited to a heavy rifle. Dual crossbolts ruin the clean lines of the stock . . . but they do a great deal to prevent splitting ahead of and behind the magazine well. An extra recoil lug on the barrel six or eight inches ahead of the receiver may have a slightly negative effect on ultimate accuracy . . . but shifting some of the recoil energy to a stronger portion of the stock is worth it for .375 H&H and up. Shiny finishes and "mile deep" bluing look great in a gun store or at the SCI convention . . . but all I see when I look at something like that are horrible, game-spooking reflections in the woods.
 
I completely agree that in a hunting rifle practicality should be placed before aesthetics, where such conflict anyways. No reason for a hunting rifle to be ugly, of course, but stuff like crossbolts seem a necessary and functional advantage that trumps aesthetic considerations.

I "try fit" a Weatherby yesterday. The irons were PERFECT, never even had to move my head. Which, unfortunately, means the scope would be too high. In yall's experience, does the fit of the mainstream brands hold fairly consistently within the rifle models? As in, if a Ruger African is too low, does that mean they all will be, and I'd might as well not waste time looking at more Rugers?
 
For those who were in Africa, how many took malaria medicine while there? In six years in Brazil, neither I nor anyone in my family even once took a prophylactic (preventative) malaria medicine, as the side effects were considered worse than the initial stages of malaria! The treatment for malaria in its early stages was fairly innocuous. Perhaps conventional wisdom on this is different in Africa. Any thoughts?

However, contracting dengue, in the middle of a two week amazon boat trip, rates up there as a top all time worst experience - went from 180-155 in two weeks.
 
I've taken Malerone every time I've been in Malarial parts of Africa. I have some bad side effects from it however. I'd really like to not take it again.

I am leaving for the Zambezi valley in Early May. (If Zimbabwe doesn't implode by then.) I think I might go with doxycyline next time. I really don't want Maleria I've seen what it does to people. I had a PH go malarial on me last time I was in Zimbabwe he went from normal to a shiver puddle of jello in about 2 hours. But he was also back to almost normal in two days with proper medicine and rest.

Is it true that once you contract malaria it never leaves your system? That is what I've been told.
 
Yuck, malerone tended to have horrible effects on visitors to north Brazil. I swore I'd never take it. We would have teams come in that would be useless all week from the side effects of that stuff. Effects some worst than others, though.

I'm not doctor, but observing visitors in Brazil: doxycyline is a lot cheaper, and just as effective apparently. Also, being an antibiotic, it can help with other diarrhea-causing unfriendlies. Just remember to take it 2-3 days before departure, and then another two weeks after returning (those incubating mosquito parasites can be real bast***s). However, I talked to the folks, and they said doxy can cause skin sensitivity, and that fair-skinned people can have reactions to the strong sun. Man, I remember now why we avoided this crap like the plague!

have you checked out Lariam/mefloquine(sp?)? I seem to remember that being an Africa-specific anti-malaria drug. Did a quick check on it.... extremely effective, but side effects may include psychotic behavior.... wow. CSB did a story on it: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/01/27/60II/main538144.shtml

We were told in Brazil that the predominant species of malarial mosquitoes are only active between 2am and sunlight. Hence, the use of a good sleeping net is essential (and we did use these extensively, especially when out in the bush). Have you thought of using a permethrine-dipped bed-net?

I guess its true that a couple days of malaria could ruin a hunting trip. Recovery time is generally very quick and easy with meds and rest. Thats probably the difference between living somewhere and vacationing; those two days can be quite valuable. Same reason I never worried about the food or water choices much when I lived down there; body was pretty assimilated anyways, and recovery time was fast. However, I do seem to remember having quite an ensemble of parasites when I got back stateside and visited the doctor....

I had heard that, unlike dengue, modern malarial treatment does indeed remove the parasite from the system. I could be wrong about this.


I'm no doctor, take this with a grain of salt. "Personal experience" suggestions re: diseases are notorious.
 
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When I've gone to Africa, I took Mefloquine/Lariam. No side effects that I was aware of, though I understand some people don't do well with it. (IIRC, women tend to react badly far more often than men.)

I also sprayed my clothing, bedding, and mosquito nets with "Duranon" tick repellent, as some of the areas I hunted in had tick fever around. (Useful in repelling all sorts of vermin.) I also used 3M "Ultrathon" insect repellent - it's basically DEET, but with some proprietary monomers added to extend its effectiveness. I found mixing it with some SPF45 sunblock (at the time, it was not easy to find unscented sunblock!) protected me from both the sun and biting critters.

My doctor also prescribed a broad-spectrum antibiotic (May have been Doxycycline) in case I came down with something, and a prescription-strength ointment, Mupirocin, useful on all types of minor skin injuries even though it's most often used to treat impetigo.

I remember reading that Doxycycline will make many people more susceptible to sunburn.
 
I think that Mefloquine/Lariam is very person-specific; most have no reaction, and those who do react tend to react strongly. Psychosis seems to be one of the more severe reactions.

I like the idea of mixing repellent with sunblock.
 
Last time I was in Zim one of the ladies in the group had a severe psychotic reaction to Larium. I've been scared of the stuff ever since.

One time when I was on Malerone I was awakened by the most horrible hallucination. In the dream I was watching a cape buffalo bull as I was observing him his horns grew to about 20' wide and his face became that of Chucky the horror doll. He then walked over to me and asked me if I owed him money.....;)

Malerone makes me feel generally like CRAP! Not to mention the wild dreams. I also remeber the one where Saddam Husein was dressed like little bo peep and dancing a waltz with Mussolini while I tried to get a clear shot at them with my cork pop gun in between the carousel animals that were running around on the dance floor.:uhoh:

Hmmmm. I wonder if these dreams would mean anything to a psychiatrist? I guess I better shut up before "they" come and take me away..Ha ha..Ho ho..Ha ha ha..:D
 
Wow...

:D

Not only do you owe me a new keyboard, you just about dang near owe me a new Macbook Pro! I just laughed so hard it fell off the couch.

"Do you owe me any money"....

"Saddam and Mussolini...."

Thats just about the funniest thing I've heard all year. I bet some of my German friends would have a great time psycho-analyzing your "American aggression." :cool: Glad you were taking shots at them, rather that running away.
 
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