So you want to hunt in Africa? We’re sure you have questions! Here are some frequent questions about hunting in Africa that every first time African hunter should know, about hunting in Africa in general, as well as some specifics regarding Limcroma Safaris.
Hunting in Africa is a dream for any big game hunter. In the modern day hunting industry it can still be a difficult task to make this dream a reality! Making the right decisions to ensure your dream African hunting safari is everything you expect it to be and more,you have to know before you go… We have compiled the most frequently asked questions about hunting in Africa in a quick reference guide to help answer them! If you have any additional questions please feel free to contact us.
We also have a dedicated frequently asked bowhunting in Africa section on our dedicated bowhunting page. (Click Here if you have some additional bowhunting questions)
In summer in the US, South Africa is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time, 7 hours ahead of Central Daylight Time, 8 hours ahead of Mountain Daylight Time and 9 hours ahead of Pacific Daylight Time.
*Please note: internet should be used in moderation as it is limited. Internet speeds are slow and we encourage you not to plan on downloading or sending large files.
You will need both a converter to plug your items into and an adapter to plug into the outlet. The converter will change the voltage from 230-240 Volts, 50 HZ to 120Volts. You can find converters and adapters at any electronics store like Radio Shack or department stores like Wal-Mart or Target. Limcroma does have a few converters and adapters in camp, but it’s best to bring your own to insure you have one. For our lady guests who need a hair dryer, we will have hair dryers in each chalet that are designed for South African electrical outlets. No need to bring along that big hair dryer.
To make sure you are getting the correct adapter, please click here.
The South African Rand is the used in South Africa for all purchases. You can see how your currency converts by linking to the following website: www.xe.com
You may exchange your currency for Rand at the airport when you arrive or at a bank on the way to the hunting area. Travellers checks and all major currencies can be exchanged at banks and various exchange companies. Banks are open Monday – Friday 9am-3:30pm and Saturday 8:30am-11am. Most ATM machines support the Cirrus network cards. You can check with your bank before you leave and find out if your ATM card will be accepted in South Africa.
Most shops, hotels and restaurants accept Visa, Master Card and American Express. Keep your passport available as you may need picture id when you use a credit card.
| What you bring is up to you, but here are items that at least one hunting guest or family member has said, “I wish I had brought ________” or “I forgot my ___________.” |
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The sun is very intense here even though it may not be summer time. Make very sure you pack sunscreen and lip balm with sunscreen to protect yourself while you are in sunny Africa.
You may purchase several types of insurance for your safari. Baggage insurance, firearm insurance, trip cancellation insurance, travel insurance and medical evacuation insurance are all areas to consider to make yourself more financially secure before you leave on your trip. Your travel agent can help you with trip cancellation, travel and medical evacuation.
The best firearm insurance for the money is with Sportman’s Insurance Agency. You can reach them at 800-925-7767 or visit them on the web at www.siai.net Limcroma Safaris highly recommends you insure your rifle for this long trek.
You have multiple choices for medical evacuation companies. You can buy a year policy or a policy that covers just your individual trip. Here are a few companies you can check with.
- Wilderness Medical Systems – www.wildernessmedical.com
- Med Jet – www.medjetassistance.com
- Medex – www.medexassist.com
No immunizations are required to enter South Africa. A tetanus booster and Hepatitis A vaccines are recommended by the Center for Disease Control. We recommend you look at the CDC website to learn more about health issues in South Africa. It’s a good idea to consult with your personal physician about travelling to Africa well before you leave.
The primary hunting area for Limcroma Safaris is malaria free. If your hunt takes you to other provinces, we will inform you if a malaria medicine is needed. You will need to start taking the medicine at least a week before you come. Again, consult your doctor and pharmacist for instructions.
The most important thing for this hunt is good footwear. We highly recommend leather boots that are well broken in as well as high quality hiking socks. This is NOT the trip to break in a new pair of boots or to wear cheap socks. You may be walking a great deal, and blisters on a safari are no fun. An extra pair of boot laces is nice to have just in case one breaks. You may want to bring camp shoes so you can get out of your boots if you like.
Long pants or shorts are both good while hunting. Pants with legs that zip out and convert to shorts can be quite handy.
Think layered clothing for this hunt. It will be quite cool in the morning but usually will warm up during the day. Having a nice, warm jacket, a pull over fleece or a sweater you can take off later in the day works well. You will want to bring a pair of warm gloves for the cold mornings as well. A light rain jacket is also a great idea in case you encounter an extremely rare wet day on your hunt.
As far as color of clothing, camouflage is great if you prefer. Dark clothing such as olive, dark green and dark tan also works well. It’s best to avoid light colored khaki clothing if at all possible.
Don’t forget a hat or cap of your choosing for skin protection.
Belt and a cartridge holder can make life much easier for you during the hunt.
Your laundry is done every day except Sunday so we recommend four pair of undergarments, 4 pair of socks, three shirts and three pants/shorts for your stay.
Most of our hunting guests and their families wear their hunting clothes for dinner as we retire to the fire before and after dinner on most nights. If you wish to have some other comfortable clothes to wear to dinner, a sweat suit, or jeans and a sweater or sweatshirt would be fine.
Upon arrival, after passing through passport control, you will pick up your checked baggage. You then pass through customs and proceed to the meeting area. You will be met there by a Riflepermits.com representative who will provide you with your paperwork and escort you to the South African Police Service (SAPS) firearm control office. When your firearm arrives, you will then complete your import of your rifle into South Africa with the help of the Riflepermits.com representative. Make sure you don’t lose your rifle permit. Remember, if you bring a firearm in, you must take it back out with you. It is illegal to leave your firearm in South Africa.
If you book your hunt with us, we will provide you with more details on what is required. Once again for instructions and forms go to: www.riflepermits.com
You will need to go by a US Customs office and fill out a Customs Form 4457 before you go on your trip. The US Customs Service has offices at any large international airport. Check your government pages in the phone book to find the phone number for your local Customs office. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DAY OF YOUR DEPARTURE TO GET THIS FORM AT THE AIRPORT. GET IT AT LEAST 6 MONTHS AHEAD OF TIME!
We highly recommend that you use a rifle permit import service called Riflepermits.com. This service is very inexpensive compared to the time and hassle that this service saves you. They will save you anywhere from 1-4 hours of waiting for your gun in the police office. You usually obtain your rifle within 5-10 minutes when using their service.
To use their service please visit their website at: www.riflepermits.com
Your ammunition needs to be packed in a lock-box. The lock-box and the ammunition together can not exceed 11 pounds/5 kilograms. You can only import 100 rounds of ammunition for the caliber of rifle you are importing and most importantly, your ammunition AND lock-box cannot exceed 11 pounds/5 kilograms.
You are NOT ALLOWED to import ammunition that does not match the caliber of the rifle you are importing.
You and your family members will need a passport that is valid 6 months beyond your departure date. Make sure you have at least 2 blank pages in each passport for visa stamps, more if you are adding stops to other countries in your itinerary. In 2004, the South African Passport control required you to have a front and back page blank that is titled Visa. Don’t check that when you are on the airplane filling out your immigration form. Citizens from the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany and Spain do not require a Visa.
Click here to find a US Passport Office near you.
Make a copy of your passport and put it in a bag that is separate from where you keep your passport. It is much easier to obtain a new passport if you have a copy of your passport. If you lose your passport, contact the US Embassy.
Well, you don’t want to swim, that’s for sure. From the US, we use and highly recommend Custom Travel Africa, our prefered travel agent. If you have frequent flyer miles, you’ll need to deal directly with your specific airline. Plan ahead at least 6 months for this as the frequent flyer seats go very quickly.
“In my 78 years I have hunted in many places, however, none are as nice in all aspects as Limcroma.”
“I’ve been thinking about this since I was 10 years old. And finally I came to Limcroma and everything was spectacular!”