What keeps you dreaming of Africa?

SCJagter

SCJagter

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Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa
As we all know once you have been to Africa you are never the same and you just have to keep going back whether in person or in your dreams, it truly consumes you.

I sit and dream everyday of my times in Africa and the fun, joy, fulfillment and the longing for days past....

So what keeps you dreaming of Africa......?

For me its two Kudu's in my office that started my passion for African hunting and a bow and arrow set that was made by a blind bushman from my time in Botswana(special times/a wonderful people), and especially the "productiveness" the AH site brings to my work day....!!

This is home. You'll never leave Africa. - Colonel Coetzee - Blood Diamond
Or in my case Africa never leaves me....

SCJagter

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Also I forgot my copper buffalo that my wife absolutely hates! And I mean hates so much she even tried dropping it....!(at least she denies it, but I know the truth!) But it has a found a special place!
 
It was a fundamentally life changing experience for me. At 60 years old you think you know who you are. Once I went to Africa to hunt it truly changed what and how I thought about hunting. I also think about my experiences in Zimbabwe everyday. I also think about going back in 2015 everyday. It has consumed me.

Africa has sunk it's roots into me with the myriad of unique wildlife and plants, it's landscapes and it's people. The stalks, the shots, the animals, the tracking, the food, the smells, the sounds.

I will think about Africa everyday for the rest of my life…

Africa 2013 249.JPG
 
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Every time I walk into my home this big fellow greets me! I have several of his friends on other walls and more coming! Yep it changes your outlook on hunting for sure. I can't wait to go again.

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One thing is checking my AH web site out daily.

Checking my Face book buddy's out - many from Africa and we chat in PM there.

Doing e mails and checking on African friends and how next year is booking are going.

Receiving an e mail with pictures of great trophy's that have been spotted and if i am interested. letting me know that there is an opening and if want it.
 
Oh man, I am in the process of planning my first hunt next year and starting to almost become an obsession just from the anticipation. From you guys are saying it sounds like it's only going to get worse once I make the trip.
 
brushmore said:
Oh man, I am in the process of planning my first hunt next year and starting to almost become an obsession just from the anticipation. From you guys are saying it sounds like it's only going to get worse once I make the trip.
Click to expand...
Now there's a promise.....it does get worse. LOL! Only back two months from my second trip, and I already have my third African hunt in the works. I still have plenty of wall space to fill up. :)
 
I e-mailed my father last might and used the word "obsession." That's what I am. I'm obsessed with Africa. I told my father that as much as I had always loved to hunt that Africa was just "different." My father is retired an an avid skier and his comment was that he had been obsessed with skiing, but that 18 years of 50-60+ days of skiing had toned him down a bit. My thought was, "well, I guess that hunting in Africa for 50 days a year might just abate my hunger a bit."

Now as far as what helps to fill that dream in the meantime:
  • Pictures (don't have the trophies yet)
  • Shooting and recently buying a .458 Lott
  • Talking to my cousin about the next trip we will go on together
  • Talking to people on here about the next trip
  • Talking to anyone else I know about the next trip
  • Talking to my dogs about the next trip
  • Talking to myself about the next trip
The experience will never leave me, but I hope to repeat it over and over again. Time will tell how many times I get to do it, but I will be back.
 
If only the seasons were syncd I would defiantly think of one day spending my winters in africa and summers in the states! That would be the life!
 
Hello SCJagter,

Excellent question.

Thanks for posting it.

For me, it is because Africa stirs something very ancient down in my soul that sedentary people can never know.

I cannot define it but it is there and it surfaces each time I am in bush Africa.

It surfaces when I am in the bush here (Alaska) as well but, it is so much the stronger in Africa for some unknown reason.

Again, I cannot define it but it is very real and probably left over in my DNA, from when our ancestors were hunter-gatherers, ten thousand years ago, perhaps ten million.

Walk softly and carry enough gun,
Velo Dog.
 
Well said velo dog, I believe those words resound in all of us...
 
Every time I get my Discover Credit Card Bill in the Mail
 
It's hard to put it into words, maybe because I don't really know myself, I just know that after 7 African hunts I think about going again all the time everyday. It occupies my thoughts and has infected my inner spirit!
 
SCJagter said:
If only the seasons were syncd I would defiantly think of one day spending my winters in africa and summers in the states! That would be the life!
Click to expand...

I like it the way it is. Winter at both an hunt year round!
 
Velo Dog said:
Hello SCJagter,

Excellent question.

Thanks for posting it.

For me, it is because Africa stirs something very ancient down in my soul that sedentary people can never know.

I cannot define it but it is there and it surfaces each time I am in bush Africa.

It surfaces when I am in the bush here (Alaska) as well but, it is so much the stronger in Africa for some unknown reason.

Again, I cannot define it but it is very real and probably left over in my DNA, from when our ancestors were hunter-gatherers, ten thousand years ago, perhaps ten million.

Walk softly and carry enough gun,
Velo Dog.
Click to expand...

Velo Dog,

You are a poet and a muse. I never tire of reading your posts.
 
SCJagter said:
If only the seasons were syncd I would defiantly think of one day spending my winters in africa and summers in the states! That would be the life!
Click to expand...

Royal27 said:
I like it the way it is. Winter at both an hunt year round!
Click to expand...

+1 on winter at both ends!! As a teacher and now a professor, I can't take a week to go elk hunting. One of the first reasons I thought about safari was I could go during our summer. I am never going to be able to split my time ... but all I have to do is work a couple of extra years on the end and I should be able to go several summers in the interim.
 
I don't know if I will ever be able to split my time either, but this thread is about dreamimg. So.... :)
 
I have been bitten by the bug and it dominates my thoughts. Most people that know me are sick of hearing about Africa (especially my wife). They just do not get it. I find that I only want to speak with those that have hunted Africa or are interested in going. This sickness has gotten to the point that hunting in my home state of ND does not excite me like it did pre-Africa. I feel that it is only going to get worse after 2015's lioness hunt. Africa, once you go, you know!

As far as what keeps me dreaming of Africa...The wallpaper on my iPad, iPhone, Macbook are all Africa related. 8 awesome shoulder mounts and numerous rugs and back skins in my man cave. Daily correspondence with friends in Africa and of course surfing AH.
 
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