Preparation tips for a great hunting safari

If you're fortunate enough to get a trip to South Africa soon, it's time to make sure that you're doing everything to make the most out of the 'once in a lifetime' trip. Many aspects are to be considered when you're going on a safari. You have to be fit. This is probably the most important aspect of South African hunting safaris and perhaps one of the most ignored one. Paying hundreds of dollars for a top-notch safari and not physically fit to fully enjoy it; or huffing and puffing profusely for stalk that you aren't able to steady your rifle to take an exact shot; that's totally unacceptable. The necessary fitness level vary depending on the type of hunt and the hunting area, good preparation is very important.

For plains game hunting in South Africa, walking 2-3 miles per day 4 days a week, shall prepare you adequately for success. If you plan on hunting buffalo, or giraffe, the possible number of miles you walk each day goes up noticeably (10+ miles per day for giraffe). In that case, 5 miles a day every 5 days a week and 10-15 mile hikes (if possible carrying a load while wearing the hunting boots) will prepare you physically for hunting. Ammunition that works well on a 150 pound white-tailed deer is not sufficient for a 700 pound Kudu. When you want a bullet that expands, never take one that expands so quickly that disintegrates and penetrates deep to reach the animal's vital organs. This is where you must spend money for top 'controlled expansion,' weighty bullets that are designed for larger, tougher animals.

You can't be excessively organized as far as marksmanship is concerned. This is one area that hunters overlook. Many hunters go to hunting in South Africa with a new rifle which they never shot. After all, you travel halfway across the world to make a fine shot on an outstanding animal. A feebly placed shot makes a lengthy follow up and a lost animal. You are to be obligated it to yourself to make every shot count. Once the rifle is correctly zeroed, you mustn't do shooting from the bench rest; very little shooting in Africa would be from the balanced rest and you would experience the maximum degree of felt recoil if shooting from the bench. Ask your outfitter what the probable ranges are, and practice those ranges by shooting off-hand with a customized rest, like kneeling, shooting sticks, or use a tree for the support.