Alaskan Montanan Washingtonian, planning first African Hunt
Hello all, greetings from Eastern Washington! My father and I are finally getting serious about hunting where we've always dreamed. I was born in Alaska and grew up in Montana, and my father and I have hunted from Jackrabbits to Moose (not to mention scads of ducks and upland birds) in both places. My bedtime stories as a boy were from Alexander Lake and Africa became the place of my imagination. I've now been to South Africa twice (once with my father) on academic and mission trips, but I've not hunted there. Unfortunately, my father was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and we realized that we can't keep putting this off forever, so we're doing our homework and checking out our options.
Right now we're thinking primarily about Zimbabwe or Namibia, largely due to affordability. Dad doesn't really care if he shoots anything, but just would love to be out on a hunt and do a little wingshooting. I'd like to do some plains game and maybe a buff if the budget allows.
I'm also very interested in Burkina Faso, a country that has always held my imagination, largely because of the culture (doesn't every kid dream about Burkina Faso?;) ). It seems like a reasonably affordable place to hunt as well, so I'm going to look into it some more. I'd love to hear about anyone's experience there. Uganda would be a dream come true, but seems far too expensive.
If anyone has any recommendations or considerations, I'd love to hear them. We want a good hunt in open country, nothing handed to us on a platter and have no need for extravagant luxury. On the other hand, dad isn't as young as he once was (alas!) so while he can still hike and work, a Cameroon Jungle hunt isn't really it either (maybe for me someday!).
Greetings and thanks!
- Nick
