What to Expect

We have tried to give as much information as possible in this section, within the confines available. Please read this all carefully and feel very free to contact us with regard to any questions that may arise.

We hunt on 23 different hunting blocks spread over three distinct regions of Tanzania. The average size of these blocks are in the region of 2800 sq kilometers or more, with not a single fence anywhere to be seen. Obviously climatic conditions vary with areas as well as time of year so contact us for more details once the area and dates of your safari are booked.

While the price lists give you a general idea as to where species are found, it is very important to check with us as regards species availability in the area you will be hunting. Key species may occur in one Masailand block but not another for example. It is a good idea to prioritize your species at the time of booking and discuss this list with us.

Health Matters

You will need a course of anti-malaria prophylactic. Get current information from your Doctor but we find most people do fine on Mefloquine, the trade name being Malarone. Check also for up to date information on Yellow Fever innoculations. Please bring an adequate supply of any prescription medication you may need. Our camps and vehicles have good first aid kits as well.

We recommend sun block, insect spray and sunglasses. In some areas Tsetse flies can be an irritant and face veils can help. Bug suits can also be handy whilst travelling on the vehicle. These can be obtained from suppliers such as Cabelas.

We only drink bottled water, both in town and in the bush.

Clothing

Tanzania is generally warm to hot – with some cool mornings experienced early in the season (July – August). As such a medium jacket and light sweater is generally all that is needed as warm wear. We recommend three changes of hunting clothes, more are unnecessary as we do daily laundry in camp. Most people prefer trousers to shorts, and we recommend darker tones such as olive green and cotton or drill fabrics. A good pair (or two) of well worn-in hunting shoes is very important. Light boots or tennis shoes are best, and many people use short cotton or leather gaiters to protect their socks from stickers. A good hat is essential( dark colour). A pair of light leather gloves and the face veil is a help against the tsetse fly. I personally prefer t-shirts and light sweats around camp, and wear sneakers at all times.

Hotels in towns are casual, although the smarter restaurants prefer slacks and blue jeans to short pants. Dar es Salaam can be very humid, Arusha far cooler and drier.

Being close to the equator it can rain in some areas at unexpected times. A lightweight, foldable poncho is therefore a good idea.

Equipment

A good camera and/or video camera are a must. It is sometimes a good idea to bring both a digital and a film camera as back up.

(We do recommend the services of a professional videographer as an excellent way to record your trip for posterity. Ask for more information on this.)

Please note that camp generators give out 230V AC. International travel packs of plugs and connectors are easily found and a useful addition to your kit. A good pair of binoculars definitely enhances the experience; we think 8x to 10x are best. As always, a good hunting knife is useful and I go nowhere without my Leatherman. Flashlights and spare batteries are needed - we recommend the small Surefire models as excellent. We also like the new LED headlamps for nighttime needs -I have a $10 one from Wal-Mart that works great.

Guns and Ammo

Weapons and ammunition are easy to bring to Tanzania with a few basic procedures to follow. A two rifle battery is all that is necessary. Once you have filled out the Client Information sheet, our staff applies for your permits and meet you at the port of entry with all paperwork in order.

You will be charged by Tanzanian Customs a duty fee on arrival for your ammunition. It is not based on very clear guidelines but we find that it costs most hunters $40 to $60.

If you prefer to use one of our rifles, please give us plenty of advance warning, and we will unfortunately have to charge for this service, as ammunition is hard to come by and extremely expensive in Tanzania.

Tastes and ideas vary widely as regards firearms, suffice to say that a weapon you are familiar with is a good choice. A .375 is the minimum caliber legal for buffalo, hippo and elephant. With the right ammunition, this rifle is a killer. However the .400 calibers provide a little extra punch and are a good choice for heavy game.

A lighter rifle can be of assistance for longer shots, the .300 magnums are a good choice, provided you use premium grade ammo – 180 gr or more. I am a great fan of the .300 H$H Mag, particularly as a leopard killer and performing well on plainsgame/antelope.

For those lucky enough to afford double rifles, by all means bring them, but bear in mind that scopes are often a great advantage and that a great trophy can be lost because it is out of range for heavy express sights.

For your heavy caliber, bring at least 20 solids and 60 soft nose bullets. I recommend the Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer Solid and Bear Claw softs as ideal. They are loaded by Federal Premium, whom I also highly recommend. Other good choices are the Barnes X bullet, the Winchester Fail Safe and the Swift A-frame. Woodleigh of Australia also make an excellent line of both Soft and FMJ bullets, especially for the heavier calibers. Bring a minimum of 60 rounds per rifle, this may seem excessive but if a scope needs to re zeroed, many rounds can be expended on the shooting range.

Scopes are also a matter of taste. In general, however, you get what you pay for with optics. I prefer Zeiss above all, while Leupold make a very good scope at a reasonable price. Schmidt & Bender, Swarovski and Kahles also have wonderful optics, and I personally feel that it is wise to buy the best scope you can afford.

For a heavy rifle, I recommend a 1.5 to 5X variable scope with good optics. A lighter caliber rifle should ideally be fitted with a good quality 3 – 9X variable scope. Bear in mind that a good scope can give you many advantages, particularly in low light situations associated with cat hunting. Test the rifle and scope repeatedly on the range prior to your trip, this is the most important part of your kit.

I prefer slings on rifles as safer and easier to walk with. I personally use an ammo belt with my spare rounds showing an inch at the top, and on this belt also carry a knife, Leatherman, GPS and flashlight. Our trackers carry water for you, as well as excess cameras etc. while walking. If you wish a little extra protection for your rifle on the gun rack, a soft carry case is a good idea. These also assist in the packing of the charter airplane.

Most guides dislike muzzle brakes, and I am no exception. However, if it makes you shoot better, by all means use one. I carry shooting sticks at all times as a portable rest, but don’t forget to practice off hand shooting as much as you can before you come.