32 days left!!!

OK fellow bloggers I am 32 days from leaving on my first ever African safari. My wife and I can't wait. I have been shooting every weekend off of shooting sticks. Bought plenty of memory sticks for the camera and studied vitals pictures of plains game.

I am sure there are some "dos and don't" that apply to Africa. Any suggestions of how to make sure we don't step on any toes while there? My wife will only shoot pics while there. Can she go on all my outings without making the guide grumpy? Any ideas on how to make our trip more enjoyable would be great.

Thanks all!!!

Originally Posted by Message

OK fellow bloggers I am 32 days from leaving on my first ever African safari. My wife and I can't wait. I have been shooting every weekend off of shooting sticks. Bought plenty of memory sticks for the camera and studied vitals pictures of plains game.

I am sure there are some "dos and don't" that apply to Africa. Any suggestions of how to make sure we don't step on any toes while there? My wife will only shoot pics while there. Can she go on all my outings without making the guide grumpy? Any ideas on how to make our trip more enjoyable would be great.

Thanks all!!!

Good luck ! I am sure you will have a great unforgettable safari !

Well minus the fact that I am jealous.....have fun! Your ph should be fine with the wife tagging along. You might want to tell him ahead of time just to make sure you are both on the same page. Only other thing I would recommend is a journal. It's fun to go back and read stuff years later. Amazing how much you will forget.

Good luck and shoot strait!

Originally Posted by Message

OK fellow bloggers I am 32 days from leaving on my first ever African safari. My wife and I can't wait. I have been shooting every weekend off of shooting sticks. Bought plenty of memory sticks for the camera and studied vitals pictures of plains game.

I am sure there are some "dos and don't" that apply to Africa. Any suggestions of how to make sure we don't step on any toes while there? My wife will only shoot pics while there. Can she go on all my outings without making the guide grumpy? Any ideas on how to make our trip more enjoyable would be great.

Thanks all!!!

Good luck on your hunt. The wife and I leave in 35 days on our second trip over, your wife will not have any problems you've already got the hunt booked so they know she's coming and already have her in the plans. Again good luck on your Safari and give us a good hunting report with lots of pics that your wife took when you get back.

I second the Journal.

As for not stepping on toes and enjoying yourself; be polite and be patient, while enjoying yourself in a new country.
Soak it all up.

A scenario for the field:
Have your wife wear bright white clothing and wave a big white hat while remarking loudly when she is out stalking with you.
The PH will love her!
Don't be surprised if you get a very polite question: "Perhaps your wife might like to enjoy the lodge pool this afternoon?!

Good luck and go have some fun.

I'am leaving in 17 days, about 3 months ago my wife decided not to go along, my PH said "good, we can hunt for another 2 days"

Congratulations may it be a life changing experience with more trips to follow 17 days and counting for my next trip I cant wait and thinking back to my first trip I'm sure there are so many thought going thru your mind lots of great advise already given so I will only add have a safe trip

My son and I are at 89 days.

All good advise, I'm sure your PH will be fine with the wife tagging along. Christine planned on coming along maybe half the time and ended up along every day but one. The extra set of eyes is nice too, I think she spotted more game than anyone, although at the moment she saw it everything was a duiker from Impala to Nyala! LOL Im sure your wife will have a great time.

Originally Posted by Uintaelkhunter

Congratulations may it be a life changing experience with more trips to follow 17 days and counting for my next trip I cant wait and thinking back to my first trip I'm sure there are so many thought going thru your mind lots of great advise already given so I will only add have a safe trip

17 days, if my math is right May 10? That is the day I leave also. Where are you going?

We leave May 25 for Namibia

I leave for Africa in about an hour........







but I'll wake up in Phoenix!

Originally Posted by Message

We leave May 25 for Namibia

Who are hunting with?

Originally Posted by PHOENIX PHIL

I leave for Africa in about an hour........



but I'll wake up in Phoenix!

LOL, no jetlag at least.

10 days here. 4th trip. My best words of advise for your wife are to make sure you bring her a good pair of binoculars and a bino system. My wife walking behind myself and my ph has always spotted game that we would have just walked by without her there. My wife one year got a pair of Leica geovid 10x42 range finding binoculars for Christmas. It also depends on what you are hunting and how but knee pads and leather gloves would be a plus for her. Remember everything in Africa has thorns. Even the grass. My best advise for you is to buy a set of levelok shooting sticks and learn to use them. A good rest with your elbow resting on something solid will give you the best chance of making a good shot. Levellok brand are light and have the quick adjust clamps. The twist and adjust are not as easy to adjust in the heat of the moment of getting a good rest. Have a great hunt.

Originally Posted by Diamondhitch

17 days, if my math is right May 10? That is the day I leave also. Where are you going?

Hoedspruit RSA I leave may 11 from Atlanta to Joberg

Oh man, I am so jealous, but very happy for all of you going on your African adventures.
My wife and I have planned our African hunt for 2014. I have got to figure out a way to go sooner.
In the mean time at least I can experience your journey though your pics and hunt reports.
I sincerely wish all of you the best on your quest to fulfill your African dreams.

Originally Posted by Stretch

Oh man, I am so jealous, but very happy for all of you going on your African adventures.
My wife and I have planned our African hunt for 2014. I have got to figure out a way to go sooner.
In the mean time at least I can experience your journey though your pics and hunt reports.
I sincerely wish all of you the best on your quest to fulfill your African dreams.

Hey Stretch I think Willem still haves a few of those bow hunts left for $1000 per hunter sure would be good practice.
Besides 2014 is only 2 yrs off OMG 2yrs no I couldn't wait that long.

107 days for me !!
To add to the others just slow down, and enjoy your time there the animals will fall.

Originally Posted by Bobpuckett

Hey Stretch I think Willem still haves a few of those bow hunts left for $1000 per hunter sure would be good practice.
Besides 2014 is only 2 yrs off OMG 2yrs no I couldn't wait that long.

Rub some salt in the wound Bob The reason 2014 was initially planned is we have some other hunts planned before Africa and some other bills to be paid first. The more I read about Africa the more I would like to move my date up. Priorities may have to change. My outfitter say's we can move up our hunt if we want to. Africa is contagious.