Leaving Saturday for First Safari!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #toodamnexcitedtosleep

glgardnerjr

glgardnerjr

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Needed to share my excitement with people who would appreciate it:)

Wednesday, July 30th and frantically trying to make sure all is ready for my first safari. Hunting with Frans Troskie of Sitatunga Safaris and they have been great to deal with. Leaving THIS SATURDAY, August 2nd. Flying to Johan then into Zim on Frans' Cessna for a Cape Buffalo and Sable hunt. Hoping to add Zebra, Kudu & Waterbuck as well. Taking my 20 year old son for him to shoot and impala and warthog (he's spoiled enough already without letting him shoot the world!!!). He is awesome with a GoPro and at editing film so we are filming everything which I will share upon return.

Guns (CZ in 404 Jeff & Whitworth in 375 H&H) are sighted in and I'm shooting well off the sticks which really helps with the confidence. Been dreaming of this since I started reading and devoured everything African related I could get my hands on. Special thanks to Peter Hathaway Capstick (whom I got to meet once), Robert Ruark, Earnest Hemmingway and all the other authors that fueled my passion with their writing over the past 50 years!

Need to give a big thank you to Lori Spears at Travel Express who has been fantastic and responsive. You can see my earlier post about my problems with another travel agency that makes you damn sure appreciate someone like Lori, can't recommend her highly enough.
 
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Outstanding! My son and I are on our way to Moz on the 14th. Also with Lori's great assistance. Just started getting stuff together. And to keep from deservedly being called a stingy bastard for the rest of your son's life, let that young man shoot more plains game.
 
Red Leg said:
Outstanding! My son and I are on our way to Moz on the 14th. Also with Lori's great assistance. Just started getting stuff together. And to keep from deservedly being called a stingy bastard for the rest of your son's life, let that young man shoot more plains game.
Click to expand...

I'll probably relent and let him do more, I've never been very good at saying no. I do struggle with the fact that it took me 52 years to finally go on my first safari. He's got to have something to look forward to in life!!!!
 
Good luck on your safari.
Father son team should be great fun.
I'll keep an alert eye for the report and video.
 
I understand how excited you are as I've felt it as well. Get over there and make some great memories. Be sure to take lots of pictures to share with everyone when you get back.
 
A buff on your first safari !

Wish you the best of luck.
 
glgardnerjr said:
I'll probably relent and let him do more, I've never been very good at saying no. I do struggle with the fact that it took me 52 years to finally go on my first safari. He's got to have something to look forward to in life!!!!
Click to expand...

:) Took me 56 years, and I did the same thing in 08 with my son. I was hunting leopard on a first safari and general PG and my son was hunting just PG. Considering the total cost of going over there and what I was spending on myself on the leopard, letting him shoot a bit was a wise "investment." I have been over three times since (once with spouse), but this will be the first time he and I will be together in Africa again since 08. Who knows, may be our last. We both will hunt buff, and I am also trying to find a sable and Nyala. He has pretty much a blank check on any of the common PG.

You two will have a grand time. Enjoy every minute of it. I have no such grand adventure memories of my father. It is a wonderful gift you are giving him.
 
If it makes you feel any better, I'll be starting my 3rd trip Saturday and I'm pretty excited about it myself!

But there's nothing like that first trip, and you're starting off with a bang!

Have a great time. We will await your report.
 
glgardnerjr said:
Needed to share my excitement with people who would appreciate it:)

Wednesday, July 30th and frantically trying to make sure all is ready for my first safari. Hunting with Frans Troskie of Sitatunga Safaris and they have been great to deal with. Leaving THIS SATURDAY, August 2nd. Flying to Johan then into Zim on Frans' Cessna for a Cape Buffalo and Sable hunt. Hoping to add Zebra, Kudu & Waterbuck as well. Taking my 20 year old son for him to shoot and impala and warthog (he's spoiled enough already without letting him shoot the world!!!). He is awesome with a GoPro and at editing film so we are filming everything which I will share upon return.

Guns (CZ in 404 Jeff & Whitworth in 375 H&H) are sighted in and I'm shooting well off the sticks which really helps with the confidence. Been dreaming of this since I started reading and devoured everything African related I could get my hands on. Special thanks to Peter Hathaway Capstick (whom I got to meet once), Robert Ruark, Earnest Hemmingway and all the other authors that fueled my passion with their writing over the past 50 years!

Need to give a big thank you to Lori Spears at Travel Express who has been fantastic and responsive. You can see my earlier post about my problems with another travel agency that makes you damn sure appreciate someone like Lori, can't recommend her highly enough.
Click to expand...
You are totally welcome - the travel is a big part of a trip like this so we do our best to make sure that part goes smoothly - been there, done that and like to keep a close eye on all my peeps!
Have a super safari with your son, I'm sure he'll get some good footage with that GoPro and look forward to hearing about your trip!
Get some sleep or if not then maybe you'll sleep good on the flight (y)
 
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GOOD LUCK AND PLAY SAFE !
Glen
 
Glgardnerjr,

I wish you and your son a safe and successful hunting trip.

You are a good Father.

My Father was a good one as well, even though he did not like to hunt and fish.

He liked to sail, play golf and tennis.

I'd rather pour salt in my eyes than play any sort of game.

Nonetheless, we found our common ground with sailing around in his two person little sail boat.

He would sail and I would drag a line and lure behind the boat.

When we would anchor in a shallow enough place, I would often get in the water with my speargun.

My Father also would take myself and other similar minded boys who, were perhaps not so fortunate in the "Father Department" out of the city so that we could hunt and fish.

My point (finally) is that you are totally doing the right thing in participating in your son's life.

If more Father's would make the time to actually be a parent and to invest the effort to bond with their children, the dope dealers would go broke, jails would be nearly empty and marriage counselors would have to do something else for a living (like open a safari company or manage sail boat dealership) .

I salute you as Proper Father, sir.

Cheerio,
Velo Dog.
 
Man I can relate to your excitement!

I am off to the valley next weekend for a Buff hunt. the spin is this time I get to take my dad! Very special to share these experiences!
So I suppose the wheel turns, which means this is your first safari, but likely not your last, as I am sure your son will look forward to returning the favour!

Enjoy and live in the moment.................its about the experience and not the trophy's!
memories for life!
 
We'll said Velo and well done Jumbo. My father was a school teacher and child of the depression. He was an angler. And he dreamed of fishing for rainbows and browns with his fly rod (with which he was deadly on local bass and bream) his whole life. He died still dreaming of that trip long before I could have taken him. No doubt a big reason I have taken my son on many of my adventures.
 
To gigardnerjr:
As a fellow hunter, I share in your excitement and wish you a very successful hunt! The experience comes full circle with the safe return of your trophies...We are personal importers and as such, are your single point of contact with your outfitter, taxidermist and shipper to ensure the timing, accuracy, and compliance of permits for the safe import of your trophies. It all starts before you leave. BE SAFE!!
 
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