I am from South Africa and hunt the 'big five' regularly- only with doubles. I have owned various rifles throught the years and the one that I always return to is a Westley Richards 450/400 3". The only compromise I have done is to install a red dot sight. Whilst I have not owned a 500, I have owned various 470's and, to me, these almost feel like a 'backup rifle' rather than a 'hunting' rifle- and I am not particularly recoil shy. Currently my regular battery that can be used succesfully in the bush is the Westley and a Rigby 303 double. Plains game is a little more complicated.
Hope this helps,
Charls