In June 2024, I embarked on a remarkable adventure to the Dark Continent to match wits with several African animals on my wishlist.
This was my first trip across the pond—an adventure I’d dreamt of since my youth. The entire experience turned out to be a life-changing one. Yes, I know that’s bold, but it’s true.
If you’ve booked an African safari, are in the final stages of planning, or are just starting to dream, the to-come “lessons learned” will ensure you have the best African experience ever and be able to tell others that Africa, truly changes you for the better.
Come Ready To Shoot Off Sticks
I don’t want to beat the practice regularly drum too hard. If you’re spending money to go to Africa, you know how critical it is to put lead on the mark.
I will mention that shooting off of sticks while standing, which I wish I had spent more time doing ahead of time, is a critical skill.
Your PH will have a set of sticks. Most African rifle hunts are spot-and-stalk style, and when it’s time to shoot, the PH sets up the sticks, tells you where to hold, and expects you to do your job.
I’ve shot from sticks my entire life. However, I mostly sit prone with my rifle locked in a BOG DeathGrip. Things get fast and furious in Africa. Chances are good you will be huffing and puffing, looking at multiple animals, and your PH will tell you to shoot the fifth animal from the right. You need to listen and be able to execute. A perfect practice partner for stand-with-sticks shooting is BOG’s Adrenaline Tripod. Create in-the-field shooting situations during practice.
Get In Shape For Africa
I realize this is Africa, not Alaska. However, I found incredible spot-and-stalk success because I listened to every word my PH had to tell me and could cover ground quickly.
Nothing was canned on this hunt. Charl le Roux, Head PH and Owner of Rosedale Safaris, and his team will take you on the adventure of your life if you can get off the high rack and hunt hard.
Go With Gracy
An African adventure can be intimidating to plan and execute. There are strict firearm/ammo import and export rules. You’ll be required to fill out a litany of forms, many of which must be carried with you during your African stay. Depending on your Dark Continent destination, some of you will have to meet pre-hunt medical requirements. Not to mention that Tambo International Airport in South Africa, where you will fly regardless of your final destination, is massive.
My hunt group’s best decision was to invest some extra coin and enlist the services of Gracy Travel International. The process was simple and inexpensive, and when you book with Gracy, an expert walks you through everything you need. They send you all the necessary forms and keep you on track to get everything filled out and returned promptly. Also, a member of Gracy Travel met us at Tambo International Airport and walked us through retrieving our firearms and ammunition. When we returned to fly home, the same individual handled the process in reverse. Throughout the entire travel process, I never felt anxious or worried. Gracy was on top of everything.
List? What List?
I spent two months before my African adventure creating my species list. I revised it multiple times. Our hunt sponsors (Leupold, Browning, and Winchester) asked us to build a list. We were asked to create the list in order of importance from first to last. My final draft read:
- Red Hartebeest
- Blue Wildebeest
- Kudu
- Black Wildebeest
- Warthog
- Impala
On the first day of my hunt, after a failed stalk on a big red hartebeest, Charl and my buddy and big-game hunting legend Scott Haugen spied a Cape eland. Both about dropped their binos. Charl whispered that it was the biggest Cape eland he’d ever seen. When I told him it wasn’t on my list, Haugen laughed and said, “If you don’t shoot him, I will, and I don’t have a Cape eland on my list either.”
I shot the monstrous 1,800-pound creature—Africa’s largest antelope from 226 yards with my Leupold-topped .300 Win. Mag. Browning X-Bolt 2 Pro McMillian SPR Carbon Fiber. The image below shows my reaction, which Haugen took and told me was his “favorite” moment of the trip.
Having a list is great, but I encourage you to have an open mind and listen to your PH. If they tell you they’re looking at a record-class animal that isn’t on your list, I encourage you to squeeze the trigger.
It’s Overwhelming
Africa, for the first time, is overwhelming. On the first day of my Safari, I saw over 500 animals and identified 16 different species. It’s unlike any place on earth.
I encourage you to ask lots and lots of questions. Charl was excellent, and though I’m sure I drove him nuts with all of my questions, asking them calmed me down and helped me learn about this magical place.
I also highly recommend taking some extra money with you. If you’re a hunter and like to shoot, Africa is your place. Just remember, there’s a price tag attached to every trigger pull. Show discipline and keep a running total of your harvest. However, have extra dollars on hand for those times when you see—and it will happen, I promise—an animal that isn’t on your list that you can’t live without.
I harvested every animal on my list above, as well as a Cape bushbuck, bontebok, Cape eland, and gemsbok.
Now Is The Time To Hunt Africa
This isn’t a lesson learned, but it’s a nice bonus to this article and what I want to leave you all with. Right now is the best time to hunt Africa.
Why?
Many outfitters shut down for several years during COVID-19, and out-of-country hunting ended. This allowed animal populations to build and for more trophy-sized animals to grow.
Also, because of the influx of animals, prices are down. For instance, this hunt marked Hauge’s 16th African safari. His goal was to harvest a roan and a sable. Though he’d seen and could have killed both species multiple times on past trips, the price was too high.
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“Most of the time, pre-COVID roan prices were over $13K, and sable were around $12K,” Haugen told me. On this trip, Haugen paid $5K for the roan and $3,800 for the sable. My bontebok, a highly prized antelope, was recently delisted after seven years of CITES restrictions. I paid $800 for my bontebok. Haugen has seen them bring over $7K at times.
Final Thoughts On Africa
I leave you with a warning. I was that hunter who would tell people, “I just want to experience Africa once, and it will be enough for me.”
Since returning home, all I can think about is how to get back
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