What To Bring on an African Hunting Safari for the Best Experience

If you’ve been searching for the right answers to the question, what to bring on an African hunting safari, you are in the right place.

Embarking on an African hunting safari is an unforgettable adventure that requires meticulous planning and preparation. The vast and diverse terrain of the African continent offers some of the world’s best game hunting experiences, but also presents unique challenges for hunters. One of the critical aspects of planning for an African safari trip is deciding what gear and equipment to bring along.

Choosing the right gear for an African hunting safari is essential for success and comfort during your trip. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or a novice, there are several items you must bring to ensure a successful hunt. From firearms and ammunition to camping gear and clothing, every piece of equipment plays a crucial role in making your trip an enjoyable and memorable one.

In this post, we will be answering all your questions on what to bring on an African hunting safari.

Let’s dive in:

What Do You Wear to an African Safari Hunt?

When planning for your hunting trip in Africa, it’s important that the clothes you choose to take with you aren’t too flashy, as you don’t want to look like a lighthouse in the desert at night. 

On the African continent, especially on the Safaris, temperature at day can get as high as 35⁰C during the dry season (from October to April), so you want to make sure the clothes you will be wearing on your hunt are light and breathable. The rainy season (May – September) isn’t so different – with temperature during the day as high as 33⁰C.

So to help you make the right choice of clothing for an African hunt, we have prepared the list below:

This list includes:

• 2-3 shirts made from breathable fabric; cotton is highly recommended. These shirts should consist of two short sleeve shirts and a long sleeve shirt.
• Two pairs of trousers
• Comfortable ankle boots. Any hiking boots will do. I’d personally recommend high-top field training hike boots.
• A fleece jacket or softshell jacket
• A windbreaker jacket that doesn’t rustle (sounding like dry leaves getting crushed doesn’t do you any good when stealth is the goal).
• Flip flops/slippers for lounging at the lodge
• Leather gaiters, both short and long
• Hat with a wide brim. Never underestimate this, the sun in Africa can be very torturous, but one might not notice because of the wind. The back of your neck is an essential part to protect.
• Ghillie suit. You surely don’t want to look like an easy meal for predators.
• Real tree camouflage. If you plan on hunting in Mozambique, never take a military-style gloss. It’s illegal for civilians.
• Multifunctional scarf. Trips will mostly happen in open-top vehicles, and the gushing wind gets chilly.
• Gloves & Bernie. Evenings and mornings can get very cold
• Pajamas
• Insulated underwear, Merino wool, highly recommended
• Heavy clothing for the rainy season
• Money belt
• Ziplock bag for dirty laundry
• For ladies, a sports bra will do you so much good

Essential Hunting Gear for an African Safari

Your African safari hunting gear is the next most important thing when considering what to bring on an African hunt. And we have prepared the list below to help you choose the right hunting gear.

They include:

• A personal rifle and scope, or you could just rent from the hunting farm. Any long-range gun you feel comfortable using will do, but we’d recommend the Arctic Warfare 50 (AW50).
• Scope. Mobility is essential when hunting dangerous games, so a good quality low-powered variable scope of 1.5-6 x 25 magnification will do. For plain fun, 3.9 x 40 magnification is recommended.
• Ammunition (40-60 rounds). Anti-tank ammunition isn’t necessary, there are no dinosaurs in Africa. Caliber between 270 & 375 is fine, and we’d highly recommend premium quality soft points ammunition like the Woodleigh, Swift A-frame, Norma, or Barnes. For dangerous game, anything smaller than 375 H&H is below the minimum requirement, and solid ammunition is required if you don’t want to become a Safari news headline
• Lockable rifle case. Hardshell case for transporting through the airport and a soft padded rifle bag for traveling to/between hunting grounds.
• A lockable box for ammunition, separate from the rifle box
• Binoculars (8 x 42 for optimal performance)
• Hunting knife, not Swiss knife
• Shooting stick, tripod, or bipod
• Cartridge case for when actively hunting
• Headlamp 
• Flashlight
• Spare A, AA & AAA batteries
• Phone scope. It’s used for attaching a phone to a rifle scope for photos and video recording 
• Lens cloth and cleaning equipment.
• De-fogger

Personal Gear and Supplies to Pack for an African Safari

When the question of what to bring on an African hunting safari is asked, essentials don’t end at clothing and shooting gear, there are other useful supplies needed. 

These valuable supplies to bring along include technical gear. and personal hygiene kits. We’d take them one after the other.

Technical Gear

• A smartphone and charger
• Camera + battery. It depends on how serious of a photographer you are
• Memory card
• Power bank
• Adapter

Personal hygiene kits

• Toiletries
• Nasal ointment and lip balm. The dry wind has a way of making life a lot harder than it should
• Hand cream and toothbrush
• Hair comb/brush
• Deodorant. Scented deodorants are entirely out of the picture because the more unnatural you smell, the easier it is for both prey and predator to detect your presence and flee or follow your scent trail.
• Sanitary products
• Antiseptic gel/ hand sanitizer. Very useful in the absence of water.
• Detergent and nylon rope for a makeshift laundry line in the absence of laundry services at the lodge.
• Antiseptic cream
• Disinfectant
• Glasses. Contact lenses are very uncomfortable due to dust.
• Nose mask
• Nail scissors
• Tweezers
• Sunscreen and after-sun lotion
• Razor
• Travel hair dryer
• Shower gel/shampoo
• Mosquito repellent

The Importance Of Staying Hydrated When on a Hunting Trip in Africa

It has already been explained that the weather on the safaris can get quite hot during the day, and the winds are arid. 

Dehydration is a real problem for hunters because excessive sweating and prolonged exposure to the elements while stalking a game can worsen it. And so for this reason, your body will most appreciate a small day-pack with a drinking system.

Medication & Vaccination

Due to the warm climate in the continent, many annoying insects that also serve as pathogen vectors roam the African plains. And so to travel there without appropriate vaccination or medications will do you no good.

We have prepared the list below to help you make the right choice of what vaccinations and medications to take when traveling to Africa for a hunt on one of its many Safaris.

• Anti-blister stickers
• Pain killers
• Personal medications
• Malaria prophylaxis
• Broad spectrum antibiotics
• Covid quick test
• Diarrhea medication
• Antihistamines for bug bites and allergies
• Cold & flu medication
• Band-aids
• Plasters
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Cotton wool

Protecting Against the Elements

We know that the sun, the rain, and the wind all play their roles in making the Earth conducive for man. However, when you’re a hunter, they can become the reason why Earth becomes non-conducive for you. The scorching sun, the heavy rain, and the dry gushing wind all play their part in frustrating your agenda.

Protective measures against these will go a long way. Aside from the ones we earlier listed in this post, choosing suitable clothing and personal hygiene kits like sweaters, sunscreen, a travel blanket, and an inflatable pillow will be an excellent addition to your list. A raincoat and a pair of rain boots will also be a great addition.

Trust us on this one; you can never be over-prepared for the harsh realities of the African climate.

Conclusion

In conclusion, going on an African hunting safari is an experience of a lifetime. But to fully enjoy your trip, it’s crucial to pack the right gear. Your gear list should include the necessary clothing, hunting equipment, and personal items, you can work with the lists we provided here. Don’t forget to also check the hunting regulations in the country you’ll be visiting and comply with them.

Moreover, while preparing for your African hunting safari trip, you should also ensure you have the necessary travel documents and vaccinations. This will ensure that you have a smooth and safe trip. Remember, safety should be your top priority, and with proper preparation and planning, you’ll have an unforgettable safari adventure that you’ll cherish for a long time. With this post, we hope we did our best to answer your question on what to bring on an African hunting safari.