Burial in Africa

[rblum]

As I get older, I have come to appreciate my own mortality. This is a question probably best answered by PH’s in Tanzania and SA.
If a client dies on Safari, and has expressed a desire to be buried near where he died, can this be accomplished? What are the requirements after death of a client who dies in the field while on safari.

 

[DieJager]

This is going to be interesting.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

told my wife if I die there just bury me there, I do wonder how that could be done

 

[cwickgo9]

Hmmmm....begs the question of someone that would go after the dangerous stuff just to go out that way. I can't imagine planning to get trampelled, mauled, gored, disemboweled on purpose and we all know the PH is definitely going to do everything he can, including put himself in harms way to prevent it, but I've seen crazy up close so . . .

 

[K-man]

Hmmmm....begs the question of someone that would go after the dangerous stuff just to go out that way. I can't imagine planning to get trampelled, mauled, gored, disemboweled on purpose and we all know the PH is definitely going to do everything he can, including put himself in harms way to prevent it, but I've seen crazy up close so . . .

I didn’t see anywhere in the op that was discussing death by animal, especially planning for such. Just a death while on safari. I personally know several people who passed while “abroad” in Africa, but none asked to stay there. My guess is it’s probably harder and more paperwork to stay than be transported back to the states. Getting some popcorn now….

 

[Sarg]

Wow what a question that is, that’s more a Outfitter question then PH question, we have had two dead people in camp over the years (natural causes) it caused major disruption to the proceedings, never thought about burying them there or thought about any client committing Suicide by Buffalo/Lion or such !

I did work as a Range Officer/instructor at a commercial Pistol range & work protocol was to put restraints on the pistols so clients couldn’t shoot them selves or others with our range guns & I carried when on duty, this was doubly so when we had Asian/Japanese groups - never had a issue myself & all the groups were great people !

 

[Altitude sickness]

Different Continent but same concept.

When I was climbing extreme altitude peaks. One of the requirements before a climb is to fill out a form on certain necessities.

If you die. What do you want done with the carcass.

When climbing in Nepal the options were. Up to a certain altitude do you want to pay for helicopter evacuation of your body.

Do you want to be lugged down to where your body could be burned by the locals? in 2011 it was $3000 to be burned.


I choose the free option. Leave me where I lay or kick me into a crevasse if possible.

After camp four you run out of options. You lay where you fall.

When ascending the Lhotse face between camp 2&3 a member of our team suffered a heart attack and died on the Lhotse face. A 3000 foot vertical wall of ice. Everything including adrenaline was tried.

He was lowered to camp 2 and put in his sleeping bag while his wife made arrangements to have a Helo take him back to Kathmandu then on to California. He laid in his sleeping bag for two days waiting for the helo. Then we loaded him up and home he went.

 

[grand veneur]

In general, there is no obligation to repatriate the body of a deceased person abroad to their home country. Perhaps in some countries, for religious reasons, there is a problem with being buried there, but certainly not in Africa. In all cases, it is much easier and cheaper to be buried or cremated on place than to have your body repatriated. Where to bury them is another question, and that might be decided by the local authorities. Otherwise, there is the option of cremation and dispersing the ashes somewhere, which can certainly be done in many African countries. I know of a case of a deceased hunter whose ashes were dispersed in Uganda.

 

[Nyati]

If that ever happens to me, yes, I want to be burned and my ashes dispersed somewhere in the veldt.

 

[BeeMaa]

If I were to die while on safari (regardless of the circumstances) it would be a good death. I'd be more concerned with the living that are left to deal with it.

As far as my body, I know what I would like to be done, however I will have very little input on what actually happens. The good news is that it will make zero difference to me.

 

[Altitude sickness]

A Ripcord or Global Rescue policy will pay to repatriate your carcass

 

[Muskox]

The client before me in Namibia died in transition between the camp I was in, and the camp in the Northern Cape in South Africa. He died in a hotel in town in Upington or Aroab.

Was a major shit show. The hotel wanted the PH to come and pick him up, he was in his 80's. No one had a situation figured out to deal with it. It was ongoing my entire safari.

I don't remember if I ever found out what they did with his body.

The family in America freaked out, and I think there was a spouse. Not sure if they exported him back to America or they did something with him there.

Either way, I think it is one thing to be cremated and have your remains unturned in Africa or dumped in the bush. It is an entire other thing to deal with to be buried there.

I prefer to be buried with family in Wyoming in Shoshone on the west side of town near the lake. I have at least 20 or 30 relatives there. We are putting my parents there when they go.

I promise you, no matter how it works out. You will have zero idea.

Pine box for $400 or a $10,000 super Cadillac casket. You won't know the difference. Cheaper is better, closer to nature is better. In a couple thousands years if you are lucky you will be dirt again. Better than in some museum.

 

[Muskox]

Different Continent but same concept.

When I was climbing extreme altitude peaks. One of the requirements before a climb is to fill out a form on certain necessities.

If you die. What do you want done with the carcass.

When climbing in Nepal the options were. Up to a certain altitude do you want to pay for helicopter evacuation of your body.

Do you want to be lugged down to where your body could be burned by the locals? in 2011 it was $3000 to be burned.


I choose the free option. Leave me where I lay or kick me into a crevasse if possible.

After camp four you run out of options. You lay where you fall.

When ascending the Lhotse face between camp 2&3 a member of our team suffered a heart attack and died on the Lhotse face. A 3000 foot vertical wall of ice. Everything including adrenaline was tried.

He was lowered to camp 2 and put in his sleeping bag while his wife made arrangements to have a Helo take him back to Kathmandu then on to California. He laid in his sleeping bag for two days waiting for the helo. Then we loaded him up and home he went.

Every major mountain has climbing fatalities. Some never recovered. There are even climbing and aircraft mishap remains in the Tetons.

I climbed a bit in my youth, was interested in big mountains. My 2nd uncle lives in Jackson and has summited hundreds of big mountains globally. He worked as a roofing contractor in Driggs Idaho before he retired. His photos of Everest kind of ruined me for climbing. Movies and documentaries about climbing have gone on to solidify that. Big mountain climbing is walking through grave yards of unburied men and women hoping that you don't become one of them. Pretty somber, for a dad of 4 girls.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

A Ripcord or Global Rescue policy will pay to repatriate your carcass

What if you op for just dip and pack?

 

[TOBY458]

My fear would be that I would reincarnate as a baboon.

 

[JimP]

As far as my body, I know what I would like to be done, however I will have very little input on what actually happens. The good news is that it will make zero difference to me.

The best thing that you can do is to put it in your will, and make your wishes known to family and the executor of your will.

I have done just that.I let them know that I am to be cremated and where to distribute my ashes.

Granted your family can do pretty much as they want, but at least you let them know what you want done.

 

[K-man]

My fear would be that I would reincarnate as a baboon.

With my personality I’d probably come back as a scrum cap buffalo. My wife says that would be an upgrade.

 

[Seavas]

If a client dies on Safari, and has expressed a desire to be buried near where he died, can this be accomplished?

Every PH I have met keeps a shovel or two in the back of his truck! Seems pretty straightforward...

 

[Oil & Dirt]

With my personality I’d probably come back as a scrum cap buffalo. My wife says that would be an upgrade.

I’ve said before, a return as a white Kalahari Ferrari would be about as bad as it could get

 

[Racer00]

My last safari in June of this year, on about the 5th or 6th day, we were hunting bushbuck in thick creek bottoms. I’d already taken my buffalo and a great Nyala, so we were enjoying a no pressure hunt. As we fought thru the brush I became very tired and short of breath late in the day. Finally told my PH I couldn’t go on. He commented that he’d heard me breathing heavily for the first time this trip.
He sent his appy back for the truck a Cpl miles away. As we rested and waited, I finally asked him if he’d ever had a client die while on a hunt. I should have had my camera going. The look on his face was priceless. I told him I was fine and it was just curiosity. But for a moment I thought he was gonna have a heart attack. Lol.
After a good night sleep and a late morning start, I was fine for the remainder of the trip. Not sure what hit me but it sure made him nervous for a hot minute.