DESTINATION AFRICA,
PART THREE
My first trip to South
Africa, and a subsequent trip to Zimbabwe were booked through ECH Global owned
and run by Robert Goss. Through Bob
Goss I got to meet the outfitter at Bob’s home, as he was staying with Bob for
a couple of days before he flew back to Africa. We discussed the animals available and all costs, allowing me to
finish my wish list; I now had all the facts.
I chose kudu, zebra, warthog, gemsbok, impala, bushbuck, steenbok and
duiker. A mixture of sizes and prices,
to be hunted over ten days in South Africa.
We were to hunt during the middle two weeks of May, in an area in South
Africa’s northern province, close to the border with Zimbabwe. The outfitter Fanie Steyn hunted an area of
over 40,000 acres, belonging to his family, so we would be the only hunters on
the ground
.
My preparation over the next
few months for the hunt included a lot of walking, and as much shooting on the
range as I could get. I already owned a
Sauer model 90 in 375 Holland and Holland, I bought it as much for the
nostalgia, of owning a rifle capable of taking Africa’s largest game, as I did
for the “just in case I ever go” dreams I was having. Although it packed quite a punch in the recoil department, it
shot like a dream, regularly shooting cloverleaf groups at 100 meters. It came with iron sights fitted, not wanting
to loose this facility; I bought Apel swing off mounts, to attach a 1.5-6 x 42
Karl Kahles scope, a decision I have never regretted. The bullets were to be 300 grain solids and soft points from
Hornady, home loaded over a charge of Reloader 19, producing 2500 feet per
second of velocity, that’s over 4100 foot pounds of energy. I did consider taking a smaller calibre
rifle as well, but decided that it would only complicate things, so it was to
be a one-rifle safari for me. This is
where the .375HH comes into it’s own, using solids, you can shoot animals like
duiker and steenbok which are smaller than muntjac, and not blow great holes in
them, as you would with a soft point.
The soft point though would be used on larger antelope and zebra, where
you need to impart as much shock as possible.
For toughs among you that aspire to some thing a little bigger, the
375HH can also legally be used on buffalo and elephant, so as you can see it
really is a very versatile calibre.
If on the other hand you
were hoping to take your stalking rifle with you, calibres like 270win, 308win,
30-06, and 7mm are all capable of take plains game, by that I mean antelope,
zebra and pigs. I would have to say
that 243win and the 6mm calibres are in my opinion to small for most African
hunting. If you were to limit yourself
to animals like springbok, impala, steenbok, duiker and klipspringer, then
there wouldn’t be any problem, but animals like kudu, zebra, wildebeest and
eland really need a bit more gun. Lets
face it; nobody wants to wound anything, nor do you want to be wasting precious
time following up wounded game, so if you don’t own a larger calibre ask your
outfitter if you can borrow one. Shots
at game in Africa are normally taken off shooting sticks, which you stand
behind and rest the rifle on, if your not use to this style of shooting, I
suggest you make your own shooting sticks and have a go on a range before you
go, as a little practice could make a lot of difference.
You will need a pair of
binoculars, but because there is very little dawn or dusk in Africa, their
light gathering qualities do not have to be great, you will for the most part,
be using your binoculars in bright sun light.
This gives you the opportunity to use a smaller pair, like 10 x 25 for
example, they are considerably smaller than what we would normally use for
stalking in the UK, and much lighter, and after what could turn out to be many
hours of walking under a hot sun, you will be glad you down sized. The same applies to knives, you will not be
required to clean out or skin any animals you shoot, this is the job of
professional skinners, and will be all in with the price, so leave your buffalo
skinning knife at home, a small knife is all you will require. Other essential items will include a hat,
and a camera, for those all-important trophy photos, and don’t forget a warm
jacket, as on my last visit to Africa it snowed!
I hope this article has for
toughs among you, who are thinking of going to Africa, provided you with some
useful tips, and for others who thought Africa was beyond their reach, I hope
to have shown you that Africa is not exclusively the play ground of rich and
famous, it is with in the grasp of every one, it may take a year or two of
saving to get there, but it will be worth every penny. I only wish I could impart in words the way
Africa will make you feel, and the experiences you will have, but that’s for
you to find out for your selves.
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