African Hunt Equipment

Once you've booked your hunt, it is time to sort out what African hunt equipment to take with you....

Hunting Binoculars

• This item of hunt equipment is a must for African hunting.
• A pair within the range of 8-10 power will be ideal.
• A light pocket-size pair of binoculars will be fine but if you prefer larger binoculars, make sure you have comfortable carrying straps that don't allow them to bang around too much or get hooked up on. The elastic strapping that goes over both shoulders is ideal.
• As with most things, buying a good quality pair of binoculars is preferable over cheap ones.

Binoculars From Amazon

Rangefinders

• These are not essential but you may like to bring your own.
• Most PHs will have a pair but most will give you an accurate range estimate just from experience.
• If you do want to buy a set, test them on small targets before you buy. There is no point trying them out on a brick wall 20 yards away from the shop. You will need to test them on something the size of a child's head or a little smaller at 100 yards or more.
• Be warned, some of the most expensive rangefinders are the least effective on small targets at long ranges.

Rangefinders From Amazon

Pocket Tools

• Always a useful piece of hunt equipment to have with you.
• If you buy a good quality one, these tools will last a lifetime or at least, until you lose it!

Leatherman Pocket Tools From Amazon

Hunting Knives

• Most hunters will feel naked without a knife hanging on his belt.
• Choose one that you won't be too heartbroken if you lose it.
• Try not to lend it to anyone in case the blade gets ruined and if you do, make sure you get it back.
• If you intend to do some skinning or game butchery, you will need a sharpener.

Buck Knives From Amazon

Torches/Flashlights

• Essential African hunt equipment - especially in hunting camps that run on generators which are turned off after everyone retires to bed.
• There are plenty of good brands available as handheld flashlights and headlamps but don't forget the spare batteries.

Surefire Flashlights From Amazon

Ear Defenders

• An important piece of kit for shooting at the range but you must decide whether to actually hunt with them.
• It is important that you can hear clearly when on the final approach and this is not the ideal time to start fiddling with ear-plugs.
• Electronic ear protection seems to be the answer with the ability to hear normal conversation but defend against the sudden impact noise of a shot.

Ear Protectors From Amazon

Cameras

• Another essential item of hunt equipment to bring with you.
• If you use a digital camera, don't forget to bring plenty of memory as you're sure to take a lot more pictures than you think you will.
• Also don't forget to bring a spare battery pack and both a mains and 12 volt charger for any rechargeable items.
• If your camera can take interchangeable lenses, bring a wide angle lens if you can. They always make the hunting trophies look better.
• Fixed lens cameras have the advantage of being completely dust proof.
• Should you choose to use disposable batteries, bring plenty of them.
• If you bring a video camera, please make sure you either bring the manual or know exactly how to use it.
• Most video cameras have a beep function whenever you press a button and that beep can sometimes spook the game and most hunters are not sure how to disable it.
• Go to African Trophy Photography for tips on taking good trophy pictures.

Compact Wide-Angle Cameras From Amazon

Ammunition Pouches and Culling Belts

• Ammunition pouches are perfect for the job of carrying ammunition.
• A nylon and elastic pouch will do the same job as a custom made leather one.
• Make sure that the cartridges don't fall out when you bend over but are not too tight when you need to get your hands on the them quickly.
• Culling belts look great and are very useful when you're culling. However if the belt is full of ammunition, it's very heavy and if you're walking all day you may well find it a burden.
• It is recommended to carry an ammunition pouch or two on your belt and maybe a spare box of ammo, either in a day pack or back in the truck.
• Most rifles take at least 2 rounds in the magazine, and if you add that to the number of rounds in a pouch or two on your belt then it's all you need.

Ammo Pouches And Belts From Amazon

Water Bottle

• A personal water bottle is essential to carry in case you get separated from the main water bottles usually carried by the tracker.
• Light soft bottles or containers are preferable so you can squeeze the air out and the water won't slosh around noisily.

Water Containers From Amazon

Mini First Aid Kit

• An important piece of kit to be carried on your belt.
• It is probably easier to create your own basic first aid kit in a small, sturdy belt pouch rather than buy a ready-made kit which may have useless items in it.

Small First Aid Pouches From Amazon

More (Not Strictly Necessary) African Hunting Gear

Some kit that you may want to bring but is not really essential....

Global Positioning System

• Not essential for you to bring as your PH will probably have one.
• However, bringing your own GPS is ideal if you want to keep records of where your trophies were shot.

Handheld GPS From Amazon

Shooting Sticks

• Every hunting camp will have sticks for you to use so you really don't need to bring any, unless you really want to.
• Go to Shooting Sticks or Shooting Sticks A Guide For The Unwary for tips on how to master shooting sticks.

Spotting Scopes

• Again, another piece of hunt equipment that is not really necessary to bring unless you really want to use one to view game and birds for pleasure.

Spotting Scopes From Amazon

Night Vision Equipment

• These things are great fun to play with but not actually much use for hunting.

Night Vision Scopes And Goggles From Amazon

Satellite Phone

• Very useful in the more remote parts of Africa but in those places the safari company will probably have at least one.
• Currently the two best versions are the Iridium and the Thuraya products.
• The Iridium works worldwide but tends to drop more calls and sometimes has slightly poorer call quality.
• Iridium is more expensive to buy but cheaper to use.
• The Thuraya works on geo-synchronous satellites and call quality is better.
• The drawbacks of the Thuraya are a more complicated call pricing structure and they don't work in all parts of Africa.
• So before you buy or hire one, check out the current situation on their respective websites.

Satellite Phones From Amazon

Satellite Internet System

• If you cannot be without your laptop and Internet communications while hunting in remote areas of Africa, you will need a Bgan.
• Run by Inmarasat, it is a gadget as large as a laptop which you link up to receive emails etc.

BGan Satellite Internet Systems From Amazon

Movement Detectors And Trail Timers

• These are not really necessary hunt equipment items to bring.
• Mostly used for hunting cats, your PH should have these if he feels it is necessary.

Two-way Radios

• Not really a necessity for you to bring. Your PH should have a set to use if he needs to use them.

2-Way Radios From Amazon

Other Hunting Gear Resources

For a list and brief review of practical, useful, quality hunting equipment for elk and other big game hunting, go to Elk Hunting Tips: Hunting Gear.

Related Topics

• Gear For The Hunt by Don Heath
• African Hunt Packing List
• Hunt Preparation Checklist
• Packing Tips
• Gun Cases