Dreaming of Africa

[RAC]

Hi. I have always wanted to hunt Africa.  Looks like I will be able to go, probably in 2005.   I am in the early planning stages.  JJHACK, I bought your book about a year ago.  Very informative and you have a great African hunting web sight.  I want to hunt plains game though I have not decided what exactly I want.  Zebra, Kudu, gemsbok, warthog,  impala, ect, ect.... I need to buy an African field guide of Mammals.   I want to be a little unconventional.  I want to take a Marlin 45-70 and a handgun.  I want to spot and stalk game and keep shots under 100 yards.  Under 50 with handgun.  If I can take 3 guns, I would also take a bolt action for backup.   JJHACK, what kind of bullets and grain weight would you recommend in a 284 Winchester?  I am leaning towards a Fail Safe in 150 grain.   From reading these post it seems I would be better off with a 30 cal+ bolt action but for me it would make my hunt more exciting with my lever action and 500 Linebaugh.   My background is whitetail deer hunting in Louisiana in box stands and climbing tree stands.   Thanks.  Roger Cox

[JJHACK]

We can put you into easy handgun range if you want to hunt from an elevated platform. The average shot distance is under 200 yards and likely under 100 much of the time. The 45/70 is fine as is the hangun. You can only bring two long guns and one handgun so all three are fine. I think you really only need one personally but two is OK. Three means you will never have the one you want with you. We hunt spot and stalk all the time and when the high hides ( box stands) are used we can get really close as they are located in very high use areas.  The 284 is a very small diameter bullet you will not likely get much blood tracking from. I would use a bullet that would exit so that means the heaviest one you can shoot well.  I think I would just leave the 284 and hunt with the handgun and the 45/70 that would be a great trip!

Remember that the 4500 dollar hunt includes all the animals you mentioned! That hnt will likley cast a bit more in 2005 because the exchange rate is changing over the last few months. As our dollar gets better so does the SA dollar.