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Agree with Hoppdoc..the 416 would and will work great for everything...One item some people forget is that while you are out there shooting the little plains game..a not so little elephant or buff or lion might be in the bush near by...that .257 will look even smaller at that moment..

I would take a larger caliber gun for a plains game rifle..as in 338 or larger--if it was me I would take a .375 of one sort or another--load it with 270 gr bullets and that will be all you need --plus if your .416 had problems..the ..375 is still legal to use on DG..in addition, with the tight cover where you will be hunting most or all of you shots will be 100 yards or less..even if they stretched to 200--the .375 will handle that situation nicely..IMHO..

Good Luck...

Ripp

Very sound advice. Ripp introduced me to that train of thought thankfully. I was very glad I had a rifle capable of handling any situation. Several times I recall feeling reassured by the firepower at hand. And a second rifle is always a good idea, as is a spare scope in rings sighted and ready to mount. Rifles with overlapping capability can save your safari. Stocks can crack, parts can fail, sights can break or fall off. Big guns are subjected to lots of recoil, and the rigors of african hunting can test the best equiptment. Hauling rifles in small aircraft, cruisers, and crawling through heaven knows what presents lots of opportunities for damage. So do airline baggage handlers! I take two rifles with me when I deer hunt too. Nice to have in the truck. Never waste a hunt that way.