Thanks to Mr. Capstick, I've joined this forum and booked my 1st trip to Africa.

[BradJ]

Hello all!

I am 29 years old, and enjoy the outdoors in about every way. Hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping are all favorite past times. Although I never really dreamed of going to Africa, I wasn't against the idea. Then I started listening to Peter Capsticks books, starting with Death in the Long Grass. I was immediately captivated, and eventually wrote Africa down as a bucket list trip. After talking with my wife I found out she was terrified of going to Africa, so I wasn't sure who I would end up going with someday. Then one day I was talking to my mom, and we were discussing bucket list trips we wanted to do. When I mentioned Africa, she told me she used to flip through my dad's hunting magazines and read the Africa articles and would dream of going there. I was very surprised at first, because she has never been very interested in hunting, (although not against it at all) and then I told her we should make it a reality. A couple months later after lots of research we have a trip booked with CT-SAFARIS for July 2026 in SA. My biggest priority animal is a Kudu, and hers is a Zebra, although we both have additional animals on our list as well.

I have already leared a lot from this website, and enjoy reading the hunting reports.

Thanks for reading and I'm glad to be here!

 

[Mekaniks]

Chris is an excellent outfitter. You will have a blast. Looking forward to reading your report when you get back.
In the meantime don’t be afraid to ask questions, we all had a first safari

 

[EPIC SAFARIS]

Death in the Long Grass has stirred many an imagination to the point hunts have been booked. Congrats on joining AH and have fun on your first safari.

 

[Adipose]

You will have an amazing time. So are you and your Mom planning on hunting on this safari? If so, that is way cool. Will your wife be going along or just you and Mom?

 

[Cooposo]

My story is very similar to yours, and I’m just a couple years older. I’ll be going in Aug 2026. Looks like we’ll have hunt reports to write about the same time!

Have you thought about rifles and ammo you will take for the Kudu and Zebra?

 

[BradJ]

You will have an amazing time. So are you and your Mom planning on hunting on this safari? If so, that is way cool. Will your wife be going along or just you and Mom?

Yes, we are both planning to hunt. She has Zebra and Impala on her list. This will just be a mom and son trip. I think it will be very special. Me and my dad have gotten to take several trips together, (mostly hiking trips to places like the grand canyon, and 14'ers in Colorado). Me and my wife has taken several trips together as well. But this one, will just be me and mom.

 

[BradJ]

My story is very similar to yours, and I’m just a couple years older. I’ll be going in Aug 2026. Looks like we’ll have hunt reports to write about the same time!

Have you thought about rifles and ammo you will take for the Kudu and Zebra?

That is awesome, and yes hunt reports are a necessity!
We had originally talked about August, but decided to shorten it a month to July after we decided we were actually going to make it a reality.

So as far as rifles are concerned, she is planning to borrow a rifle from the PH. I plan to take a rifle, and I may end up buying a rifle for this trip. Probably a wood stocked 30-06, possibly a Winchester pre 64 mod 70.

So are you going alone or with someone?

 

[Cooposo]

That is awesome, and yes hunt reports are a necessity!
We had originally talked about August, but decided to shorten it a month to July after we decided we were actually going to make it a reality.

So as far as rifles are concerned, she is planning to borrow a rifle from the PH. I plan to take a rifle, and I may end up buying a rifle for this trip. Probably a wood stocked 30-06, possibly a Winchester pre 64 mod 70.

So are you going alone or with someone?

My wife will be going with me. Like you, two years ago I was trying to plan a trip for my mom. We had planned a trip to England to see castles, etc etc. She ended up not being able to go, so we switched that to Scotland , my wife came with me, and we incorporated a red stag hunt. It was the first time my wife had hunted with me and she thought it was one of the best parts of the trip. I took a red stag and a roe buck. That was such a good experience it wasn’t tough to talk her into South Africa. And she even said she wants to hunt a springbok, completely out of the blue. So it’s just a matter of time until I get her backpacking in for elk with me…

 

[franzfmdavis]

You will both share a top 10 life experience!

 

[CamoManJ]

Welcome to AH @BradJ, happy you’re here.
My story also started similar, back in the 80’s when a cousin handed me a copy of Capstick’s “Death in the long grass”. It did take 2 1/2 decades to finally make the dream to go on Safari in Africa come true. I went solo, after years of family & friends falling thru, etc…decided I was going no matter what, glad I did…just going one way or another is what matters. Most likely you’ll be planning your return before you finish your first safari & refine precisely what you want to do differently, it is a disease. You’re on the right track & in the right place, buddy! I’ll be looking forward to your hunting reports & other posts.

 

[glblanchard]

Welcome! You will have a blast.

 

[EXECUTIVE HUNT AFRICA]

Good day! Welcome to AH and congratulations on your plans!

 

[cpr0312]

Welcome aboard!

 

[Nyati]

 

[Mountaineer]

Welcome! Next you will be buying big bores! It’s a very addictive bucket list trip.

 

[sureshot375]

Welcome!! I’m sure you and your mom will have the time of your lives!!

Hopefully you can get your wife to join you on a subsequent trip. There will be a subsequent trip.


I went to Africa the first time when I was 12.

I drug my poor pregnant wife and step daughters to Africa a few years ago. It’s safe. The minimal risk involved with any travel is a small price to pay for living.

 

[BradJ]

Thanks for the welcome everyone!

@CamoManJ Thanks for the warm welcome, and for sharing your story with me. I am sure you are right! Now that I've been bitten by the Africa bug I can already tell this may be the first trip, but probably not the last.

@sureshot375 Thanks for the kind words, and I couldn't agree more!

 

[Green Chile]

Welcome aboard and thanks for posting. Capstick has stirred many of our imaginations and who knows how many trips to Africa. It's great to hear about your mom joining you. That's fantastic! Don't hesitate to ask the forum any questions you have and the archive search function is full of thousands of helpful topics.

This is how it begins...welcome to the addiction!

 

[BradJ]

@Green Chile Thank you! I'm sure I will have questions eventually, but for now, the well put together planning guide, and the search function has served me well.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Warmest welcome. I know that you & your mother will have a fantastic safari. Kudu & zebra are two of my favorite plains game quarry, as well.