Hunting activity has greatly evolved over the centuries. Days are gone when African hunters would only need bows and arrows to pursue animals in the jungle. They did not have hunting gears when going out and yet those traditional African hunters have not adopted the new hunting rules. They only go hunting with the only lower part of their body covered, courtesy of their cultures and customs. So, the traditional hunters are some of the key tourist attractions. Foreigners come to witness the harsh world men that don’t use hunting attires to prevent injuries. However, they down their bucks so easily because they already know how to do it!
The western hunting culture is gradually being adopted in Africa because people have begun seeing hunting as an outdoor fun. Hunting enthusiasts nowadays wear hunting outfits to prevent scratches and injuries when in the rough terrains.
Going for hunting should be fun and not one that will bring bad memories due to torturing experience. This can be incurred if the right gears are not carried when going out. Many hunting experts advise on not wearing bright colored clothes when going to hunt. For example, a white outfit is easily spotted by animals and thus the hunter may not down even a single animal. Also, white gets dirty easily. However, it may not be a factor that many would consider during hunting. Neutral colors like jungle green, tan, and khaki brown are most preferred for hunting. These colors are not easily spotted by animals and can camouflage well with the surrounding environment.
When hunting, one should opt for outfits that covers the body completely to avoid body scratches and pricks by thorns in the forest. The long sleeved t-shirts, jackets, and trousers instead of shorts. Also, this kind of attire will prevent insect bites which may disrupt your hunting experience. Some of the insects include mosquitoes and tsetse flies, usually found in rainforests of Africa. Other insects a hunter may encounter are found in east Africa and Namibia. Some experts say navy blue attire may attract tsetse flies easily, hence not recommended for hunting. Dark colors are also not fit because they might become uncomfortable during hot conditions. Don’t forget that the continent consists of some hot deserted areas.
Sometimes hunting is not as easy as just walking on the beach. It is usually done under harsh conditions, either hot, cold, or rainy conditions. So, appropriate hunting outfit is necessary depending on the particular weather. One of the most important things to consider is the hunting boots, depending on the nature of the terrain and weather conditions. Basically, they must be comfortable in order to make your hunting day complete. There are many boots in the market, but your choice will be determined by various factors as just mentioned earlier.
Proper hunting boots should fit properly for comfort purposes. They should neither be too tight nor too loose. Choose those that fit perfectly and allow comfortable walking throughout the hunting time. Remember hunting is entirely walking through the woods, and probably you will climb up and down on rough terrains.
Depending on the season, choose your boots properly. For instance, rainy conditions need waterproof boots. Other conditions such as morning dew, the boots should offer maximum water resistance. The moisture can affect your toes after a prolonged hunting session. If you are hunting during hot conditions, ensure that the boots’ material is breathable. This will provide more comfort even when hunting all day long.
Warm hunting boots are recommended especially if the hunting area is muddy. This will allow easy walking through the mud and prevent getting exhausted before the scheduled hunting time. You don’t want heavy boots that keep dragging you behind especially when trailing a target animal.
Hunters should avoid wearing jewels as this may attract robbers who pose as honest people. Suitable, simple, and comfortable attire is all that is needed during the hunting expedition.
Hunters should avoid wearing light outfits because they might be torn while walking through thickets and bushes.
A hunter should have a backpack packed with essential hunting tools such as earmuffs, earplugs, knife, and a tactical flashlight.
Do not forget to carry water because you may need water when dehydrated. The African continent is hot, and thirst may terminate your hunting session.
Why need a proper outfit hunting gear?
When hunting, it’s advisable to observe safety measures. Hunters must be aware of the dangers that may occur while hunting and therefore proper handling of guns to dressing and licenses should be considered. Many hunters, according to experts, tend to underestimate the importance of protecting their ears, and a number of them will hunt without hearing protection devices. A gunshot can cause a lot of damage to the ear since the noise exceeds the recommended sound exposure.
Sound, as perceived by the ear, is measured in units called decibels (dB). A Simple comparison can help to explain the damage caused by a single gunshot. A gunshot can measure up to 150 dB which compared to a normal conversation noise (60dB) is almost 3 times. The sound of such intensity is likely to cause hearing problems, though different ears react differently to noise exposure. However, it is important to note that hearing loss occur painlessly and slowly with long-term effects in some cases. In other cases, a sound of 130dB or more is enough to cause instant ear damage.
Experts argue that for a permanent hearing damage to occur one must be subjected to a sound frequency of 130dB or above. Continuous exposure to noise at 80dB for more than eight hours can also cause permanent hearing damage. So why gamble with your hearing while there are precautionary measures with as little charges as 50 cents? Protection is always better than cure and for permanent hearing damage, there is no cure!
Most readers will argue that they have been exposed to loud noises and fired several gunshots without protection and are still in perfect hearing. The human body is composed of systems such as the nervous system. The systems are made up of specific tissues that perform specific functions. For example, the muscle tissue is capable of adaptation if exposed to vigorous physical activity or extreme conditions such as long distance running. These tissues respond by growing stronger. However, other tissues of the nervous system such as brain functions and hearing respond to tissue abuse by growing weaker and weaker. Once these tissues experience enough abuse they lose their functionality for the remainder of the individual’s life. The hearing problem occurs slowly and therefore may go unnoticed until the last minute of hearing loss. Ear protection is, therefore, precautionary even if no symptoms are available.
An early symptom of hearing loss can present itself earlier in some cases. Tinnitus refers to the perception of sound by human ear when there is no sound present. This condition is common with people who work in areas with loud noises without protection. This is a clear indication that your ears are in danger. Hearing loss can present itself at any age, therefore it’s important to take precautionary measures for every individual in the hunting group. Some retail shops offer protection devices for animals such as dogs.
Several varieties of ear plugs and ear muffs are used to provide protection to the ears during shooting. These products are designed to reduce the amount of sound reaching the eardrum and therefore reducing it to a lower frequency than the original. Each package of the ear muffs and plugs come with a reduction rating. It’s usually indicated using decibels (dB) e.g. 40dB. The higher the number indicated on the package the more effective they block more noise. The question is if guns produce so much noise do the earmuffs and plugs with such low frequency really help?
First, the sound produced by a gun travels in a forward direction and therefore the sound that reaches the ear is much reduced. Second, the main purpose of using protection is not to completely get rid of the noise, but to reduce its impact to the ear. This will prevent long-lasting damage to the ear. Scientific research on ear protection has shown that the protection works within the range the common devices are set. So again do not underestimate the protection power of the devices.
Earmuffs have been on the use of hearing protection, especially during shooting range. They are advantageous since they can be used and reused for years. They are of different varieties ranging from simple ones to electronic ones. An electronic earmuff allows the hunter to experience normal hearing levels of the surrounding noise and at the same time prevent loud noise from reaching the ear. A simple mechanism is involved when a loud noise is detected because the earmuff speakers are deactivated until a safe level of sound is reached.
However, electronic earmuffs are expensive in terms of money but they worth the price. To some extent, hunting enthusiasts combine the use of earmuffs and ear plugs. The combination provides an added advantage in protection but each device works independently. And that’s why the user cannot add their specific frequencies to obtain a combined protection frequency.
Africa is the second most popular and the second largest continent in the world. It boasts a diversity of wildlife, perhaps hosting the world’s largest density of animal populations. The herbivores practically take the highest number of wild animals, which have attracted game hunting in various countries. Jungle animals such as reptiles are also abundant in most parts of the continent, while aquatic life such as amphibians is commonly found in swamps, lakes, and rivers. Game meat is popular in many hotels/restaurants especially in game parks, which is mostly preferred by foreign tourists and even locals.
Due to the wide variety of wildlife in the continent, wildlife safaris in many countries have been established. These offer transportation services to and from the game parks and game reserves, as well as hotel booking for travelers. The entire continent experiences different climatic conditions ranging from subarctic to tropical on its maximum peaks. The northern half is mainly desert and semi-desert, while the southern and central regions are savanna plains and rainforest areas. Visitors from the polar region enjoy Africa’s climate, however, the continent is the world’s hottest because 60% of the land surface contain arid and dry lands. Nevertheless, the climate remains ideal health-wise for most hunted animals such as impala and black wildebeest.
Botswana is one of the rich wildlife countries with diverse and attractive landscapes. The vast sandy areas of the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta are the leading regions that offer stunning adventures. The watery lands of the Delta host a wide variety of wildlife and eye-catching view for visitors, making it one of the suitable hunting destinations in the country. To the north, the Linyanti and Chobe reserves contain enormous populations of game. However, most of the predators are found in these reserves. Therefore professional tour guides are recommended to accompany the hunters during the safaris. The Chobe National Park is renowned for the prowling lions through the Savuti grasslands. To the northern part of the park are herds of elephants, which usually hang around the Chobe River.
For bird lovers, the Okavango Delta has plenty to offer. In addition to hosting different types of birds, the area is quite amazing with the waterways and the spectacular lagoons covering nearly 15,000 sq. kilometers. The waterways are habitat for hippos and crocodiles, while animals such as leopards, elephants, and antelopes drink water from there. Even though the area is often visited by a few dangerous animals, hunting enthusiasts can utilize the opportunity to down antelopes such as the shy sitatunga and lechwe. Like many other African countries, Botswana has exclusive and sophisticated traveler camps and lodges that offer comfortable services despite being a wilderness region.
East Africa is another prime area for game viewing and hunting. Kenya is one of the leading countries renowned for its impressive scenery and abundant wildlife in the game parks. To the northern area, the Samburu Game Reserve hosts a lot of game including the big game such as lions and elephants. This semi-arid region is a home for blue-legged ostrich and the desert-adapted Gerenuk antelope. The antelope species attract game hunt in the area, as the locals are also traditional hunters. It is an ideal place for foreign hunters to have fun, as well as interact with traditional tribes such as Maasai and Samburu communities. To the south, the Maasai Mara is a famous national reserve covered by grasslands. The vegetation is perfect for wildebeest and antelopes, as well as big game such as buffalos. The herds of preys attract predators such as cheetahs, lions, and leopards in the area.
The Maasai Mara offers a stunning game viewing as the predators hunt for prey. The hunters in this area must be cautious because the dangerous big game predators are camouflaged by the grass. However, the hunting experience can be amazing and safe with reliable safari guides. The bird watchers and hunters can find fun at the Lake Nakuru where there are millions of flamingos and other aquatic life. The Amboseli National Park is famous for large tuskers, including other grassland-adapted species such as gazelles. The stunning wildlife encounters are facilitated by the amazing setting of the landscapes. The steep Rift Valley escarpments and the mountains are examples of the wonderful backdrop.
Lastly, South Africa is one of the leading traveler destinations in Africa. It is where many visitors from different parts of the world visit to view the 5 big game (African lions, African elephants, African buffalos, African leopards, and African rhinoceros). In addition to wildlife tours, the country has several wineries, breath-taking views, landscapes, golden beaches, deserts, and mountains. It is populated by a mix of Africans, Europeans, and Asians, and therefore rich in a variety of cultures. Also, the sophisticated tourism infrastructure and safari services make the country a nice place to visit again and again.