What made you know that you must hunt Africa someday?

[sestoppelman]

Was it a book, a movie? A family member that had gone? What was it that set the wheels in motion that would eventually make you say, "that's it, I am going".

For me, it was reading Robert Ruark as a kid of 12 in the mid 60's that planted the seed. I day dreamed about it for years, then as life gets in the way of such things, put it on the back burner. Then one day while perusing 'HUNTING' magazine I saw an ad for those famous or infamous, cheapo Zambia buffalo hunts. Some of you may remember seeing those ads that would let you hunt buffalo for 5 days including airfare for less than 3K! It struck me that hey, this was possible! That rekindled the fire and led me to PH Capstick and after reading "Death in the Long Grass", well that was it, I started saving the dough for my first trip, which was Tanzania in late 1985. Its too bad we only get one first safari!

 

[Cliffy]

It's strange now to try and think of it. I always loved to go fishing with my family every summer at June Lake in the High Sierras of Calif (still the only place that seems like home to me even to this day). We'd fish, I'd clean them and and I'd eat them! It just seemed the way of things. At 12 or so I read every Outdoor Life magazine that came out and wanted to hunt so I could eat what I collected. Hmmm, seems strange but that was what it was. Did some bird hunting and some rabbits ( all ate very well). Finally went deer hunting in my early 20s and filled the freezer. Always had the African bug and finally made it happen the first time in 1999 in Zim. Haven't gotten rid of that bug yet! Everything over there eats well, too! My mouth is watering right now for Gemsbuck steaks on the grill!

 

[enysse]

I guess it was just going to the local SCI shows and meeting people that hunted the heck out of Africa. Seeing their trophies and pictures kindled a passion, that if I don't do it, I will live to regret it for the rest of my life. And hunting never gets cheaper or easier as you get older....at least that is what I think anyway. Airline regulations get worse and worse....and I hate all the paperwork and extra fees.

 

[Spooksar]

A Hunters Wandering In Africa by Selous in my teens. The same reason I bought a double rifle.

 

[BRICKBURN]

No one in my family ever hunted in Africa. Here at home I have been consuming venison almost my entire life. As Cliffy noted, the steaks on a Braai are a nice addition to the menu.


Watching this guy certainly piqued the interest. Well, really cemented my attention to the African continent.

St. Louis Walk of Fame - Marlin Perkins

The newer version:
Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom

My Uncle went to RSA in the 70's and brought back some wooden carvings for us kids.
A Giraffe, Rhino and a Buffalo. I got the giraffe.
I still have it in my "Tower" in the front hall.

Incredible in the wild





I wrote a story in grade school that was nearly endless about walking the Kalahari, seeing Baobab trees, etc. A total work of imagination. I wish I still had a copy. (I think it was cinched at this point)

My first Baobab tree.



Enough was enough, I was not getting any younger so it was time to go.
My uncle is now too old to take. I wish I would have clued in earlier and dragged him back to Africa to hunt.
It's too late to take him, but he sure enjoys the pictures.



The very first Sunset in Africa - Otavi, Namibia



..... and more.

Kalahari Sunset






Kalahari Sunrise






Hluhluwe Mists






More mists in Hluhluwe Umfolozi






Playing in the heights of the Drakensberg




I think there are still plenty of firsts to discover.

 

[buchnerl]

Great story Brickburn!

 

[Code4]

I read 'Taller Than Tress' by John Gordon Davis when I was 12 yo.

 

[Savage Hunter]

a friend backed out on me 2 years in a row the day before the deadline for applying for elk tags.
My wife told me I was going somewhere to hunt something besides whitetail deer "this year" (2012) +no matter what.
She dreaded the thought of going thru another deer season complaining about being bored with deer hunting.
She lived that hunt vicariously thru my son and me, and she will be going in 2014 with me if things work out for me to go.

When I was a young guy, I thought I couldn't afford it and probably never could so I didn't think about it.
As I got older and became a missions minister (along with being a pharmacist) I still couldn't do it because all my time off went into mission trips and my money went there too.
I am now a bi-vocational pastor/pharmacist and don't do overseas missions anymore, I now have time off to go and enough money to do hunts outside of Mississippi.

I want to go back to africa in June 2014, then in December my daughter wants to go mountain lion hunting out west for her college graduation present.

after that, I got some desires including mt goat, elk, moose, etal. But, I'd still like to do Cape Buffalo in the future. Not sure which order.

 

[garyleach]

As Brickburn pointed out Mutal of Omaha's did it for me as a kid, then I had a bud who was outfitting over there and 1 thing lead to another, heading back for a 3rd time in 2014.... Its a hard one to explain to non-hunters, but my hunting buddies get it and next yr there is 7 of us going over, 4 of them for their 1st safari!!!!

 

[Cliffy]

garyleach- it's fun to watch newbies on their first day in camp! I call it sensory overload. They all have sore necks the first night from looking around so much! Done it with 6 and want to do more.

 

[Diamondhitch]

I'm sure Mutual of Omahas Wild Kingdom planted a seed but it finally started to grow when I first saw hunting videos from Africa, it was still out of my reach at that time but a few years later I was in a place that I could make it happen. 10-15 long years later after fruitlessly trying to convince someone else to go I abandoned my hunting buddies and took the plunge, I should have left them behind and went myself long ago. Since returning from this last trip I finally have 1 hunting buddy wanting to be a bit more adventurous, he finally wants to do an international trip... Did I mention he has a brother in law in New Zealand that he has kept a secret :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

Anyway, anyone out there sitting on the fence because they cant seem to convince their buddies, JUST GO. My only regret is not leaving those sticks in the mud behind long ago!!! LOL

 

[sestoppelman]

My dad took me to a movie in the 60's one time called if memory serves "World Safari". As the name implied it was not just Africa but lots of it was. This along with Ruark and hunting mags and the old 'American Sportsman' series were all part of it too. Marlin Perkins wasn't really part of my motivation, though I enjoyed the series. I was always afraid he was going to fall over due to the port list he always had.

 

[35bore]

Would have to say Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, back in the day. Then later in life (I really hope this doesn't start a new bunch of shit talk) here it goes, about the time I married I told my wife of my intention of hunting Africa. She bought me a DVD that really rekindled or reinstated my desire to hunt Africa. The DVD was by Mark Sullivan called "Death on the Run".

 

[GSTONE]

My Dad gave me a book when I turned twelve...the book was "Hunter" by John Hunter. I could not put it down! From that point on, I wanted to see Africa. I remember hunting blacktail deer as a teen and thinking "elephant" or "rhino." When my first wife passed away from cancer in 2010, I needed something to keep on going. I ordered a copy of "Hunter" and read it again. I knew then that I must go to Africa and live the dreams I had as a boy. I have hunted in Africa each year since.

 

[6MM]

John Wayne in Daktari, Mutual of Omaha for sure. Once you go you have to go back

 

[Bobpuckett]

I think for me it was a little of all the above, My dad planted the seed with his wishes of hunting far off places but never was able to go having to work and raise 7 kids, we did do the rabbit and squirrel hunts and when I got older there were deer. TV shows and hunting books played a big part and like others here watching shows like Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom and Doc Tari every chance I got. and a very good friend Bill Hoyt who went on his Safari for Buffalo and other plains game when he got back I couldn't wait to here the story he told me then that I had to do it once even if I had to take a loan it was worth it. Years later I went on my first Safari and I didn't have to take a loan, and every sence then I've been kicking myself in the butt for not having done it earlier.

 

[Rob404]

Never gave Africa a thought til a Member from a Gun Forum mentioned just returning from Africa,,I traded a few e-mails with him and then found this Forum,,,Hooked,,I live my Dream next May

 

[garyleach]

I hear you Cliffy, i couldnt agree more!!!!!!! Its the best overload you will ever have:laughing:

 

[sestoppelman]

John Wayne in Daktari, Mutual of Omaha for sure. Once you go you have to go back

That would be HATARI, Daktari was a TV show about a veterinarian. I was nine when my folks took us to see Hatari at the movies. I watch it about once a year still, great movie. My first safari was in the same area that Hatari was filmed. Another reason to watch it over again.

 

[sestoppelman]

Never gave Africa a thought til a Member from a Gun Forum mentioned just returning from Africa,,I traded a few e-mails with him and then found this Forum,,,Hooked,,I live my Dream next May

Nothing like waiting for that first safari to happen. Good luck!!