African Safari

[EDELWEISS]

Ive been dreaming about a safari for almost half my life. Ive read pretty much everything I can find from the old pros, to Roosevelt, Hemingway, Capstick, Boddington and Mark Sullivan. Much has changed about African Salaries in the last 100 years: but spirit of the hunt remains and I think it differs from most any other place in the world. Ive hunted Bear in Canada and Wild Boar in the US; but I think only Africa offers the number of Dangerous Game species open to hunters and at surprisingly "cheap" prices.

The 9 month safaris of Roosevelt are long gone and so are the days of taking the BIG 5 on one trip; but they are available. The days of packing a Land Rover and heading out are waning as well; but tented safaris are still available. Its possible to camp in the bush and find paw prints in camp in the morning.

Where else can you hunt with a Double Rifle, shooting cigar size cartridges during the day and be entertained by Zulu dancers at night.
http://ih1.redbubble.net/work.6693202.2.mtd,375x360,b,s,TWVtZXphIFp1bHUgRGF uY2Vycw%3D%3D,ffffff.jpg

2012 is my year. My double rifle is a 9.3x74R and Im headed to the land of the Zulu.....http://i2.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/-1/draft_lens1382265module8786597photo_891546_isandlw ana_1.jpg1206042886

[Red Ryder]

Nothing compares to Africa.
I was lucky enough to take my 12 year old son with me for 2 weeks in South Africa for my 40th birthday.
We shot more meat on day one that I have accumulated in all my North American hunts (A black and a blue wildebeest, for about 1400 pounds combined). Took a 2,000 pound eland in fading sunlight from a cliff's edge with a 7x57 at 250 yards. It took 10 of us to load it on the back of a sagging pickup.
Kudu with horns that reach to heaven, powerful zebras, lightning fast blesbok, gemsbok all in a magnificent setting with guides that love the wild. My son took a springbok on the run with a .223 and we brazed the liver right there and gave him a beer to go with it.

Memories I will cherish forever.

I recommend attending the SCI (Safari Club International) Convention to peruse your options. There are over 1500 safari companies in South Africa alone, and they vary drastically in quality, specialties and amenities.
I'd recommend some more recent publications on 21st century safaris for practical planning tips, although I loved all the Capstick books.

We also took a 2 day break from hunting to go to a high end game preserve and it was magnificent. Saw cheetah's with a fresh kill feeding babies, drove into a herd of elephants, saw cape buffs on a walk-around and a 14 foot Nile Croc. My favorite photograph of my life is of a leopard relaxing in a tree about 25 feet in front of us.

I am planning a return trip for Cape Buffalo and have a .416 Rigby all set to go. Can't wait to get back.

[bae]

We should set up a WT Safari.

[EDELWEISS]

We should set up a WT Safari.
Tooooo COOL! YES Id love it. Sincitynut is going with me, the more the merrier. We're still tossing some options; but it "looks" like its gonna be South Africa for Plains Game this time. Ive been in touch with several firms and we're narrowing it down. Im already planning a 2013-14 Dangerous Game hunt (Leopard and/or Buff). The beauty of Plains Game hunts is you can use the same rifle you hunt Whitetails with here (No semis) I couldnt resist buying a Double Rifle; but its not necessary, a 308 will work for most and a 300WM is more than enough for the rest.

Ive wanted to go for far too many years. My dreaming about it was actually one of the things my soon to be Ex-wife complained about in our divorce....

I am/was a huge fan of Capstick. His "Death in the Long Grass" is one of the first books that got me started on the idea of a safari. I "walked" along with Hemingway in the "Green Hills" and Ive worn out copies of Rouark's "Use Enough Gun". Im sorry I missed those days; but theres still plenty of hunting to in Afrika.

[Jake Salyards]

We should set up a WT Safari.

We did set up a WT Safari - its in Afghanistan.

[vlazlow]

Here is a thread w/ AAR and photos of my safari in 07.

http://www.warriortalk.com/showthread.php?25229-My-big-trip-starts-tomorrow!/page2&highlight=safari

[lightfighter]

I'm down with a WT Safari as long as there's no shooting of big cats, elephants, rhinos, hippos or anything considered endangered ( except in immediate self defense )

Stalking cape buffalo on foot would give one a good pucker.

[JD Lester]

One thing about Afrika, hunting or not when you step out of the truck you step into the food chain.

v/r

JD

[Mervo]

I'll be headed there in June for work (climbing Kilimanjaro), followed by safari. Did I mention they pay me to do this??

[Jack Rumbaugh]

Cue Mooseman in 3... 2... 1...

He has been a bunch of times and has the trophy room to show for it. I would guess he would be our resident guru on the subject.

[austin]

We should set up a WT Safari.

Now THAT is an idea.

[austin]

I'm down with a WT Safari as long as there's no shooting of big cats, elephants, rhinos, hippos or anything considered endangered ( except in immediate self defense )

Stalking cape buffalo on foot would give one a good pucker.

Well - I'd like to go just to watch the people and animals stalk each other.

I've killed enough of just about everything that unless its to put food on the table or to kill something that has killed, I get nothing out of it.

[lightfighter]

Well - I'd like to go just to watch the people and animals stalk each other.

I've killed enough of just about everything that unless its to put food on the table or to kill something that has killed, I get nothing out of it.

I hear you.

I'm thinking of hunting the herd animals which to my mind are livestock. I assumed that one would eat their kills and / or share with any of the locals that might be in need ...

If they don't taste good I wont shoot em

How's zebra taste ? I need to replace a couple of zebra pelt rugs that have worn through

[Grey Man]

I recommend attending the SCI (Safari Club International) Convention to peruse your options. There are over 1500 safari companies in South Africa alone, and they vary drastically in quality, specialties and amenities.
I'd recommend some more recent publications on 21st century safaris for practical planning tips, although I loved all the Capstick books.


+1 to that they have some amazing deals at their conventions, I saw some guys go to africa for 10 days, with 5-6 animal tags, for 4K.

My wife was about 7 months pregnant, thus I was and still am not buying anything :crying:

[mooseman100]

I'm down with a WT Safari as long as there's no shooting of big cats, elephants, rhinos, hippos or anything considered endangered ( except in immediate self defense )

Stalking cape buffalo on foot would give one a good pucker.


None of those are considered endangered in the countries you are allowed to hunt them, don't be fooled by the govt.

[mooseman100]

One thing about Afrika, hunting or not when you step out of the truck you step into the food chain.

v/r

JD

More part of the food chain when you get out of a float plane in the north country than in Africa. Up north is way more dangerous than Africa. I am way more concerned about a brown bear than I am a lion or leopard.

[mooseman100]

If you are a hunter you will greatly appreciate hunting Africa, any of the countries will do though they are all different.

Yes SCI is a worthy organization to belong to if for no toerh reason than the magazine. The convention is unfreaking believeable, I can not even describe it. Dallas Safari Club is also a wonderful organization annual convention in feb in Dallas.

Edelweiss, dude call me before you go. RSA is where people go for the first safari quite often, shoot I have multiple safaris there myself. However, not everywhere, but most everywhere you will be hunting behind a fence. Now some people do not care, some do. It is all fine when it is huge, 10,000 acres or so, but often it is way way less. It is hte only reason you see so many different species inclose proxmity to each other. It is awesomely cool, but not natural.

Like Pfleger said, look at Namibia. HUge pieces of land in alot of the country. 20,000 acres is small. The guy I hunt with there, www.fultonclassicsafaris.com (http://www.fultonclassicsafaris.com) hunts on like 1.3 million acres. Eland, kudu, mtn zebra, springbok, gemsbook, warthog, giraffe, ostrich, all roam free. If you want other species they can take you to a game ranch, much bigger than in RSA. This same guy also hunts elephant, buff, leopard, croc, hhippo, lion. So it gives you an opportunity to hunt plains game with a fellow before you hunt the big stuff.

I could go on and on. PM me if you would like to talk further and I'll give yoiu my numbers. Same with anybody.

I am jealous of the double.

[Foxpup]

My dad loves Africa- and I don't blame him! My favorite memory is going with him when I was sixteen. I got to track the impala. One of my most reassured possessions is that impala hide. I will go back some day on my own when I have th funds. If you ever have the chance to go- don't question it. You won't regret it.

[lightfighter]

None of those are considered endangered in the countries you are allowed to hunt them, don't be fooled by the govt.

Even so, they're so majestic I don't want to shoot them anyway.

[EDELWEISS]

Even so, they're so majestic I don't want to shoot them anyway.

Read "Death in the Long Grass" and you'll never look at a cat (any cat), the same way again. Nothing gets wasted in Afrika and nothing lasts the night thats weak or injured.

If you'll pardon the Disney BS- Afrika IS the perfect example of the CIRCLE of LIFE.

[Netpackrat]

More part of the food chain when you get out of a float plane in the north country than in Africa. Up north is way more dangerous than Africa. I am way more concerned about a brown bear than I am a lion or leopard.

I don't know about that. There are only a few animals up here that are really dangerous, you can at least see them coming usually. Africa's got poison snakes, disease ridden bugs, all manner of predators including crocodiles and riverine sharks, plus really thick skinned herbivores that can be tough to stop. I enjoy reading Capstick's books too, but I've got absolutely no desire to ever visit Africa. There are just too many ways to die there, and most of them are pretty unpleasant.

[Netpackrat]

Don't get me wrong; I'm not saying that one should avoid anything that carries the risk of a violent death. I'd just rather live up here where my chances of something starting to eat me while I am still alive, or getting some horrible disease because the wrong bug bit me, are less. Yeah, we've got some potentially dangerous critters here, but I'm far more likely to punch a smoking hole in the ground or something along those lines. Kind of falls into the whole category of going stupid places to do stupid things, I guess.

[Red Ryder]

Eric:
I was incredibly moved by your post and agree with you wholeheartedly.
We were discussing end of life care for relatives just yesterday among a group of business owners and began sharing stories of loved ones and their demise. There are a lot worse things that could happen to you than being trampled by a Cape Buffalo on the trip of a lifetime. Alzheimers and dementia eating away at one's mind is possibly the worst way to go.

I am reminded of Rip Torn's character in Extreme Prejudice. He plays a local sheriff near El Paso who is a mentor to Nick Nolte's character, Jack Benteen, a Texas Ranger. They end up in a gunfight with bandits at a gas station and the older man is shot to death after shotgunning one of the villains. The Ranger said of his mentor "He died going for it, which means a lot to people down here".

Cause of death is less relevant than quality of life, and many people make it to 80 years old never having done a damn thing.
I took my son to Africa against many opinions and rate it as the experience of a lifetime, and when I pass, I can count on him telling stories of our time on the hunt seeking adventure in the wild. As Jimmy Buffett says "that's what livin' is to me".

Besides, if you go in July, it is winter in Africa and the bugs and snakes aren't out to bother you as much.

[mooseman100]

I don't know about that. There are only a few animals up here that are really dangerous, you can at least see them coming usually. Africa's got poison snakes, disease ridden bugs, all manner of predators including crocodiles and riverine sharks, plus really thick skinned herbivores that can be tough to stop. I enjoy reading Capstick's books too, but I've got absolutely no desire to ever visit Africa. There are just too many ways to die there, and most of them are pretty unpleasant.


I have done 6 safaris to African countries and 8 trips to either AK or BC/Yukon. I have had grizz in camp a few times but never a lion/ leopard. Elephants have come through camp at night but never a worry. Had a bear outside my tent in BC, close enough to hear it breath and stomach growling, that was way more unsettling than anything I have been through in Africa. Plus the big north problem in hypothermia. The weather is my biggest concern up there. You got me on the snakes, have had cobras in the thatch roof above dinner table, he was just looking for mice. If you like hunting, truly you owe to yourself to go to Africa, just as folks owe to thier self to go to AK.

Great piece Eric. I'm with you on sliding into the coffin from a full run. My wife always says when they find me dead and half eaten in the bush somewhere to look in my hand to find the eyeball of the critter that bettered me that day. That is the way I would rather go!

[Netpackrat]

Snakes freak me out; not so much because they are dangerous, but because I have no concept of how to behave in snake country. I visited my brother once when he was living in VA, and I started to go after a frisbee that went into some high grass. He yelled at me to stop, and I looked at him kind of puzzled. "Could be snakes in there. I can get a new frisbee." Never would have occurred to me. Even being told something like that, without it being ingrained, I'd probably do something dumb without thinking and get bitten.

On the other hand, things like flying around in homebuilt airplanes don't really bother me a lot, so I guess it is what you are used to and comfortable with. Hypothermia can be dealt with and prepared against. Bears are admittedly not so good, but I'd rather go up against a bear than something like a leopard.

[sincitynut]

I have to agree with Eric whole heartedly!

I made my peace with God along time ago, where death could occur at any time. I didnt want to die, but I was no longer afraid of it. I think it made me a better leader and a better person. I did alot of soul searching when 1 of my men was KIA. It was my job to make sure they all made it home and I felt like a failure when I could not fulfill that obligation.

Then my career in Law Enforcement started. I knew that anything could happen at any time, but always hoped that my friends and I would go home after every shift. It was not to be. But I do know that my friends enjoyed life to the fullest and believed that when their time came they would be taken into the hands of God.

Alaska State Trooper Troy L. Duncan EOW 5-19-84
Anchorage PD Ofc Louie G. Mizelle EOW 6-6-89
Anchorage PD Ofc Harry B. Hanson Jr EOW 7-17-86
Baltimore County PD Sgt Bruce A. Protero EOW 2-7-2000
Pennsylvania Game Commision Ofc David L Grove 11-11-2010

May they all rest in Peace.

I was not big on going to Africa, but Edelweiss has convinced me to go along. I plan on hunting plains game and enjoying every minute of it. Yes, there are lots of ways to die in Africa, but I will be enjoying life and will take that chance. On a lighter note, my wife just wants me to take alot of pictures! She did ask me to make sure my insurance was up to date :smile: Go Figure

[TrojanSkyCop1]

I visited Kenya and Cameroon with my parents when I was 2 or 3 y/o and therefore, unfortunately, too young to remember the experience. The closest I've gotten to an African safari since then is my current job working with the Ugandan guard force in Iraq.


Where am I going with this....the 'peaceful' part of death that one needs to address should concern the after.....everyone mentioned above was a Christian and had secured thier peace ahead of time. Wether one exits cleanly or maybe not so much....it is neither here nor there the way I see it....what did you do to prepare for the day it visits you.....live your life to the fullest having made right for the meeting with the Boss. Serving your fellow man and engaging in dangerous pursuits of adventure provide the flavor to life....you don't have to throw caution to the wind, but you all so might consider sliding into the grave having had one hell of a ride in life....

Given the choice, I would rather folks read about my sun bleached, clean picked bones, with empty rifle cradled in hands, discovered on some mountain ridge with the skeletal remains of a grizzly at my feet for company. I want my death to reflect the intensity that I enjoyed life. Who wants to just whittle away or be discovered rigored up wrapped around a camode with a blown up heart....not me.

Wow, deeply moving, powerful stuff, Eric, thanks for sharing.

[Winchester67]

Wear safety glasses...ALWAYS. A valued friend of mine just got back from Safari, and was unlucky enough to get some local fauna lodged in his eye. Hit and miss...I will know more this week.

[EDELWEISS]

Clearly "we" dont hunt because its our sole source for food. Lord knows its cheaper to go to the grocery store once you factor in all the costs We hunt for the HUNT.

I never really considered the risk as a negative; but neither do I discount them either. Frankly its killing me that my first Afrikan Safari is for Plains Game. Id MUCH prefer to start with Dangerous Game. Ive dreamed about hunting Lion since I was a kid.

PH Mark Sullivan (NITRO EXPRESS SAFARIS), has a reputation of intentionally putting himself and his clients in a position so the animal will charge. Its quite controversial and many folks bash him for it (the same way somebody "here" gets bashed by the mainstream folks). Mark Sullivan stands firm with his argument that by giving the animal (Buff, Hippo, Lion, etc) a chance to charge, he gives them a chance to decide how they will die. He also doesnt shoot until they are close (30feet). Like I said its controversial; I'll hunt with him one day if I can!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jKOvIo0-rs&feature=player_embedded#!

[mooseman100]

You will enjoy the plains game hunt, hopefully you will be somewhere you can at least see some of the big 5. Lion and leopard hunting over bait is one of the most boring hunts you can ever do, followed by a few minutes of a pure balls out rush, if you are successful. Buff and ele hunting is generally tracking and gettin in close, this is the most fun IMHO.

[Gabriel Suarez]

This last spring, my son whacked an aggressive javelina, and it ignited his hunting instinct. I was not going to make a big deal out of it but now its their idea...the girl of course thinks she can best him at anything he does (and often enough). At this point of my life I don't care to have adventures I can't share with them, so my plan is this.

I have them working on fieldcraft, stalking, and riflery at present and for the next year...with a few minor hunts interspersed locally.

Next Fall (2012) I hope to get them to Texas to whack something big and porcine. We will move from there and god-willing, before they begin College, will get them either to Alaska or to Africa...whichever fits better.

For me, if I need food, its cheaper to go to the store and buy it. I hunt because of what it is. The stalk, the focus, the predatory instinct. The only thing I considered endangered is manhood in america's youth.

[GunClinger]

Hmmm... I'm going to have to talk to the wifus about Africa. Another option in the vein of dangerous hunts is Kamchatka bears. I spoke with a couple Russian guides about it and they both mentioned the necessity of retraining even experienced Kodiak hunters for hunting their smaller but more aggressive Kamchatka cousins. No such thing as patient stalking and waiting for broadside or quartered shot placement. You go into the brush and provoke them to start hunting you. The shots are always head-on while being charged. You're not so much going out to hunt, they say, as going out to test yourself in combat. I've been itching for years now to go and see for myself. Just hearing them describe the hunts gets my adrenaline going.

[Netpackrat]

It isn't necessarily always going to be cheaper to buy your meat at the store. If you're local and can finagle a way to reach the game without spending stupid money on equipment, etc, and you bag something like a moose, it's not unreasonable to wind up filling your freezer and not have to buy much meat for the year. Generally around here, you'll get 2 or 3 guys together on a hunt, which is often necessary just to handle the sheer volume of meat that a moose provides. My neighbor across the street and his buddies got 3 or 4 between them last year, and the ATV he uses is a business expense for his mining activities.

[bae]

It isn't necessarily always going to be cheaper to buy your meat at the store. If you're local and can finagle a way to reach the game without spending stupid money on equipment, etc, ...

I just need to open my office window:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZF4RQggIrWg/TY0qbl7vIFI/AAAAAAAACcA/A2_jSjL1NxI/s640/img_2023.jpg

[bae]

.......it ain't about the money......its about the moment.....

Exactly so. If I just wanted meat, I'd put a trail of apple slices on the way to the smokehouse, and stand there with a baseball bat :-)

[lightfighter]

I must be a freak cause when I see big game like cats, elephants and rhino's etc., my first desire is not to kill them but rather give a shout of praise to the Lord for His creation.

Now, as I said before, if they're trying to make a meal out me that's an entirely different situation ....

I figure tracking down a pissed off cape buffalo is enough pucker factor for me.

There was a video posted here, at least I think it was here, of some South Africans hunting a cape who turned on the hunters and wardens and pinned one of them on the ground against tree and was trying to rub him out.

In the meantime the client whom was supposed to be shooting the buffalo froze and was getting screamed at by the other guide to shoot. A complete cluster #$%^ ensued where the pinned guide / warden was trying to stab the buffalo to death with some sort of bush knife / machete while the other was trying to seize the long gun from the comatose client to make the shot.

I think a couple of the guys were hospitalized while the buffalo is now on somebody's wall.

[bae]

I must be a freak cause when I see big game like cats, elephants and rhino's etc., my first desire is not to kill them but rather give a shout of praise to the Lord for His creation.


I sometimes enjoy simply stalking and getting into position for a good shot, and then not bothering to actually take the shot, saving the trouble of cleaning and transporting the animal, and leaving it around to stalk another day.

Then again, I sometimes flyfish with just yarn as my lure, no hook at all, sort of like a trout-based real-life video game.

I think I enjoy the chase more than anything else.

[Gabriel Suarez]

I sometimes enjoy simply stalking and getting into position for a good shot, and then not bothering to actually take the shot, saving the trouble of cleaning and transporting the animal, and leaving it around to stalk another day.
.

YES!!!! Exactly.

One noted spanish author Ortega Y Gasset (I bastardize for the conversation at hand) wrote "One does not hunt in order to eat, but rather to the contray, one eats in order to be able to hunt". I stalk on a regular basis and love doing it. Moving silently upon prey...or an enemy - is one of the great accomplishments of man and sadly, one of the most lost arts of today.

[bae]

One noted spanish author Ortega Y Gasset (I bastardize for the conversation at hand) wrote ...

His book "Meditations on Hunting" is a fine read!