Hello and first off thank you as always for looking.  This past weekend I won a safari with Numzaan Safaris in a live auction at the local Friends of the NRA banquet.  As of now I’m planning on going in August of next year and would like to harvest a Gemsbok, Impala, Springbok and a Zebra.  Any advice from the seasoned African hunters of ARFCOM would greatly be appreciated.  

Since this is a gun website, I have a few gun questions as well.  Recently I dumped my larger caliber bolt actions (still have a k98 and 91/30 PU) for both fun precision shooting and hunting for the 6.5 Grendel.  In my neck of the woods it has been perfectly capable killing 2 bucks and multiple pigs last season.  Well now that I am headed to Africa, 1 the do not allow semi autos in the country and 2 with dangerous game in the area a lager caliber is probably in order.  Do I buy a African rifle or do I rent one from the Professional Hunter and not have to deal with the importation headache?  If I buy, what caliber do I do? Is 375 not needed or does it make sense as it’s a workhorse of a cartridge?

Must be in Left Hand
375 H&H
375 Ruger
270 Win
30-06 Springfield
7mm-08
308 Win
Etc

Thank you all for your help in advance.

@SmartDrug will be coming with me.

Tag.

Can't wait!

very cool, just know its a disease and this wont be the last

as for advise- 
1. I always take 2 firearms, one in my case one in my buddies and he does the same. Reason? if one gets lost we both have a weapon to use.
2. For your game use a .25-.30 cal rifle, I loved the 165 grain 30-06 and it took 75% of my game over there. My rifle selection for plains game may change buy my other rifle will always be a 375 H&H
3. Get a handling service when you land, its $125-$200 a man and worth every penny for the customs issues
4. Bring small gifts for the staff, the skinners love knives, the trackers binos, gloves, watches, etc. its very cool to see your stuff being used on other hunts by the guys, plus it may mean they work bit harder for you which is key 
5. good boots, not an option, spend money get good ones i.e.- Courtney, danner, asolos, etc.
6. practice shooting off of sticks, much harder than it looks and thats how you will shoot all your game for the most part. Off hand with a sling is also needed 
7. depending on when you go it can get as cold as it does in the mountains in the western states, and then switch to Arizona style heat. Merino wool is great for temp swings of this nature 
8. I always get the 2 week subscription to Global rescue before I go, its cheap insurance and gets you to an American or good European hospital if the worst happens
9. Cotton or wool is what you wear, your expensive fishing shirts and poly gear will be melted within an hour of taking it off as they seem to have laundry ninja personnel over there and their iron have one setting- Surface of the sun
10. PLAN ON TIPPING YOUR PH'S, TRACKERS, SKINNERS, AND HOUSING STAFF! The outfitter will provide you with a tipping guide, once you see how hard people work for your happiness over there you will be happy to tip. 

IM me anytime for more direct questions anytime

The first time my Dad went on safari, he took his own 270.  The PH wasn't sure he'd brought enough gun.  Six 1-shot kills later, he was impressed.  
Dad got a kudu, zebra, gemsbok, hartebeest, warthog, and impala.  They even let him cull a couple animals for camp meat.  

That was about 12 years ago.  Regulations for transporting rifles into Africa have become even more of a shit-show since then...Or at least the African version of their enforcement has become even of a shit-show.  

The last time he went back, he used a 375 H&H on hand at the safari camp.  Took an eland and a blue wildebeest.  
Said it was much easier not to have to mess with all of the paperwork and hassle of transporting his firearms as well as not having to worry about shipping damage.  

So take your pick, OP.  But be ready for the clusterfuck that is airport customs in Africa if you decide to take your own.  
Being a lefty, you might just have to bite the bullet and bring your own gun.  If they have some left-handed models at the camp for use, I'd go that route.  
You could even buy the same model here in the states to practice with.

I have taken 25 trophies not including culls and most of it was done with a 30/06 and 165 Barnws TSX

Even my Eland would have dropped to it. I just happened to have my 8m with me at the time.

It's really all that is needed for plains game.

Most of the rest of my animals were taken with a 6.5x 55

It's really the shooter not the cartridge.

First off thank you all for your responses.

@Hasher, I was under the impression that 7mm was the minimum diameter allowed to hunt plains game.  Ideally I would use this as an excuse to buy a 260/6.5creed/6.5x55. The 375H&H is the classic African cartridge, so it has a bit of that sex appeal too it.  Its also a super versatile cartridge.  Also if ever go back for dangerous game or a western bear hunt it would be already be in the arsenal.

Disclaimer: I've only been on one safari, so take my info with a grain of salt.

-Your gun caliber is really insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Unless you have a personal urge to take your rifle, I'd leave it at home and save the $150-200. Just bringing my bow was a hassle in itself with the police. They let me borrow a CZ550 for the two animals I took with a rifle.

-Good quality binos are a must.

-Good boots paired with gaiters are a must. I wore shorts the whole time with zero issues.

-Lots of sunscreen if you're a fair skin.  

-A lot of hunting in SA isn't what I'd call hunting, but more drive around and shoot. I'm not knocking anyone if they're into that sort of thing, but if you're not, let your outfitter know asap so he can tailor your hunt into something more sporting. The animals you listed can be all be shot day one in the above method, which will leave you tapped out or spending a ton more money. The PH and outfitter are there to make sure you have a good experience, but they also need to make money. Showing up and with only a couple thousand makes for a short and dull trip for all parties.

-Your list should be somewhat fluid. I had no intention of taking an Nyala, then I saw one. Also think about taxidermy and where you want to get it done at -there or here. I did euro mounts (which I think look awesome) and saved a ton of money over shoulder mounts.

-Enjoy yourself while you're there. My buddy and I decided to check out the Johannesburg nightlife at an Afrikaaner bar called Randlords that was pretty legit. I bought drinks AND tipped the bartender $5US and he looked like I gave him $1mil. The city is kind of sketchy in areas so your head must be on a swivel.

This time last year I was a safari virgin too, so if you want to know anything else, you can IM me.

You bring up some good points. I may end up borrowing a rifle as this trip is going to cost a good chunk of change.  If I find a good deal, well we will see.  I would like to do spot and stalk hunts, Ill make sure to have that conversation.  Also if you don't mind, what did you pay to ship your European mounts home? Im kind of torn between shoulder and European.  I wonder how much extra its going to cost to send dipped capes back vs just skulls. The Zebra if I take one will go back as a hide.  I really want a zebra rug.

AfricaHunting.com

Great community with people from hunters to outfitters to trophy import specialists that are practically falling over themselves to help you. Best resource for hunting Africa there is.

Spot and stalk is what I did, and you really earn those trophies.

I took 5 animals and I think the shipping was $700 for all euros and 4 flatskins. I still haven't received them yet, but once they get to ATL, I'll still have to pay to clear them.

Oh, and you can haggle a bit with the outfitter when it comes to animals. The guy I went with ended up with a white blesbok for the price of a regular one just because the outfitter wanted to see some action. He got his zebra for $1100 IIRC.

There is no minimum caliber for plains game that I know of in SA.

Next trip over I will be working on the tiny 10 and one of my two rifles will be a 22/250 for Vhaal Reedbuck where the shots are very very long.

My second rifle will
Likely be my 06 again

Every PH I know give the same advice.

"Bring the deer/Elk rifle that you shot well
And being premium bulletts."



It's good advice.

I have kills Wildebeast with a 6.5x55 and it would ho elf have killed my Eland just fine.

mine as well, I don't know what people are talking about when they say Africa hunting is a "drive up" affair. I have never worked harder for a trophies in my life. 

Personally, working up loads for my own rifles and taking them was well worth any  hassle.

YMMV

Looking at your list, any can be killed with any caliber you would use for whitetail.  That said, the cost of wounding an animal is significant in Africa vs the back 40.  That is why most folks tend to go with the 'use enough gun' philosophy,

While my son killed all sorts of stuff with a 7x57,  the PH had him use my .375 for his zebra.

Yeah, my PH in Namibia pretty much does everything with a sporterized nazi Mauser converted to .270. But his shooting is all basically stress free and he has a lot of trigger time on his animals.

Zebras can be incredibly tough and don't know when they are dead. Three years ago my dad hit a broadside zebra a few inches high with my .375(his rifle was giving him trouble) and only grazed the lungs. We finally found it two days later after the vultures had gone to work.

Last summer my dad hit a zebra hard in the neck with his .416 rem mag but missed the spine. We chased him for a day before we were able to put him in the salt.

Order of importance when selecting a rifle/caliber/ammo: 1) Shot placement, you need to be comfortable enough with your rifle and the recoil to be able to make good consistent hits. 2) High quality bullet appropriate for the game. Then a distant(for most plains game) 3) All other things being equal a bigger hole seems to be better.

.375 h&h is an amazing round. The sound of a 300 grain round nose soft point connecting is one of the most gratifying sounds I have ever heard. Lower weight bullets have the trajectory of a .30-06, so they can reach out there. I have one shot dropped a few springbok approaching 400 yards. I forget if it's buffalo bore or double tap, but they load a 230 grain bullet(very light for caliber) into a .375 that's trajectory is darn close to a .300 win mag.

I'm picking up a new model 70 in .458 win mag for next year tomorrow. I have fallen in love with Winchester model 70's this year. The action just feels like it's on ball bearings and you can't beat the 3 position safety.  My .375 is a browning x-bolt, it's a great rifle but a detachable mag comes with its own issues. I can't just top it off without removing it and at $50/mag and for other reasons I'm not carrying multiple extra mags with me.

All great advice.

If you think $50 a mag is high look at mags for a Sauer 90 in the magnum calibers for at mags for a Sauer 200/202.

Suddenly $50 for the magazine doesn't seem so expensive!