Last day of Safari sadness

Betterinthebush

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Lower 48, Alaska, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa
I managed four hours of sleep last night. And it wasn’t restful. There’s a heavy burden of dread bearing down on me. The inevitable day is upon me finally and I could no more escape it than I can stop the sun from rising in 3 hours.

I’m sitting here in camp listening to wild Africa conduct business as usual on this early morning. Crocks snapping their jaws closed followed by a rolling splash in the river mere yards from where I sit sends shivers down my spine and raises goosebumps on an already chilly night. A spotted hyena is whooping and calling not more than a mile from me (no doubt wondering why my bait station he’s been raiding hasn’t been restocked). And way, way off a king is sending out a message for everyone to hear. Powerfully reminding everything and everyone who the real and rightful owner of the ground is that he’s allowing me to trespass into.

For all the excitement and anticipation of leaving for safari, this feels like the exact opposite. So much has happened on this hunt and to me as a person while I’ve been here.

I will soak in this last day. I will bathe in Africas glory of sights, sounds and smells. I will desperately try to somehow slow down time. I will fail, of course, but I will return. That is a genuine comfort. In the meantime until then, I can smile on so much happenings in such a brief time that I’ve been a guest here.

I’ve walked with a king. And I’ve been given an invitation to do so again.

My most sincere hope is that everyone who wishes to do so experience a like moment of profound sadness to leave something or someplace just like they found it and to look forward to a reunion.
 
Look forward to the next adventure, you’ve had a heck of a hunt!
 
I know exactly how you feel. Even as we were rolling off the runway, I was praying for the plane to break down and delay me another 2 months.
 
I managed four hours of sleep last night. And it wasn’t restful. There’s a heavy burden of dread bearing down on me. The inevitable day is upon me finally and I could no more escape it than I can stop the sun from rising in 3 hours.

I’m sitting here in camp listening to wild Africa conduct business as usual on this early morning. Crocks snapping their jaws closed followed by a rolling splash in the river mere yards from where I sit sends shivers down my spine and raises goosebumps on an already chilly night. A spotted hyena is whooping and calling not more than a mile from me (no doubt wondering why my bait station he’s been raiding hasn’t been restocked). And way, way off a king is sending out a message for everyone to hear. Powerfully reminding everything and everyone who the real and rightful owner of the ground is that he’s allowing me to trespass into.

For all the excitement and anticipation of leaving for safari, this feels like the exact opposite. So much has happened on this hunt and to me as a person while I’ve been here.

I will soak in this last day. I will bathe in Africas glory of sights, sounds and smells. I will desperately try to somehow slow down time. I will fail, of course, but I will return. That is a genuine comfort. In the meantime until then, I can smile on so much happenings in such a brief time that I’ve been a guest here.

I’ve walked with a king. And I’ve been given an invitation to do so again.

My most sincere hope is that everyone who wishes to do so experience a like moment of profound sadness to leave something or someplace just like they found it and to look forward to a reunion.

You have trully caught the moment!
"So much has happened on this hunt and to me as a person while I've been there"

My last day, on my first safari I felt the same, and every and each time on a last day of my 5 safaris.

There are hundreds of reports on this forum, but most of them do not catch millions of emotional things that each of us experience.

Thank you for sharing!
 
My last day was yesterday……. Typing this from the airport. On the way home now. I ended up with 0/2 of my primary animals (nyala bulls are hard to find!), and yet had the most amazing, epic hunt ever. I got my biggest kudu to date (free range), a monster blue wildebeest (free range), and an unexpected DG opportunity that I’ll never forget. I can’t share details yet, until all the reports are filed, but problem animal control can produce some unbelievably incredible opportunities.
 
I am at constant look for problem animal!
 
Been there with this emotion—it’s the Africa effect, I think most of us on this website truly love that continent, leaving it is hard and filled with emotion. Hang in there and start planning your next trip. My trips are usually a few years apart, I’ve learned to revel in all the prep and planning as part of the joy of being a safari goer.
 
I managed four hours of sleep last night. And it wasn’t restful. There’s a heavy burden of dread bearing down on me. The inevitable day is upon me finally and I could no more escape it than I can stop the sun from rising in 3 hours

The best way to avoid this is… book the next one and put down your deposit before you depart from this one..

Then you simply transition from the joy of being there to the joy of planning, preparing, and daydreaming about the next adventure until time to get on a plane and head back over :)
 
Heading to Moz June 30 for safari planned in 23 when we hunted a different area in Moz. While there this trip we will begin planning our 29 return. Rinse, repeat.
 
I managed four hours of sleep last night. And it wasn’t restful. There’s a heavy burden of dread bearing down on me. The inevitable day is upon me finally and I could no more escape it than I can stop the sun from rising in 3 hours.

I’m sitting here in camp listening to wild Africa conduct business as usual on this early morning. Crocks snapping their jaws closed followed by a rolling splash in the river mere yards from where I sit sends shivers down my spine and raises goosebumps on an already chilly night. A spotted hyena is whooping and calling not more than a mile from me (no doubt wondering why my bait station he’s been raiding hasn’t been restocked). And way, way off a king is sending out a message for everyone to hear. Powerfully reminding everything and everyone who the real and rightful owner of the ground is that he’s allowing me to trespass into.

For all the excitement and anticipation of leaving for safari, this feels like the exact opposite. So much has happened on this hunt and to me as a person while I’ve been here.

I will soak in this last day. I will bathe in Africas glory of sights, sounds and smells. I will desperately try to somehow slow down time. I will fail, of course, but I will return. That is a genuine comfort. In the meantime until then, I can smile on so much happenings in such a brief time that I’ve been a guest here.

I’ve walked with a king. And I’ve been given an invitation to do so again.

My most sincere hope is that everyone who wishes to do so experience a like moment of profound sadness to leave something or someplace just like they found it and to look forward to a reunion.
Absolutely know the feeling!!! You should write poetry my friend!
 
Well said my friend! On my last evening in camp there is always that nagging feeling “will I ever make it back” of course there’s always plans to return but life at times says otherwise.
 
Africa, and in particular, Zimbabwe, has a way of taking hold of your heart and never letting go. You will forever be cursed, or blessed, to return here, time and time and time again.
 
Love your post, says things perfectly. I look forward to hearing more about your hunt
 
I felt the same thing in July of last year when my wife and I were returning to San Antonio from our first safari. In the airport whiskey lounge waiting for our flight home, we were already planning a return trip in 2029 or 2030.

Long story, short. We’re headed back in July of 2027 and dragging my parents while I hunt a buffalo and my wife gets after a croc!

Jake
 
I managed four hours of sleep last night. And it wasn’t restful. There’s a heavy burden of dread bearing down on me. The inevitable day is upon me finally and I could no more escape it than I can stop the sun from rising in 3 hours.

I’m sitting here in camp listening to wild Africa conduct business as usual on this early morning. Crocks snapping their jaws closed followed by a rolling splash in the river mere yards from where I sit sends shivers down my spine and raises goosebumps on an already chilly night. A spotted hyena is whooping and calling not more than a mile from me (no doubt wondering why my bait station he’s been raiding hasn’t been restocked). And way, way off a king is sending out a message for everyone to hear. Powerfully reminding everything and everyone who the real and rightful owner of the ground is that he’s allowing me to trespass into.

For all the excitement and anticipation of leaving for safari, this feels like the exact opposite. So much has happened on this hunt and to me as a person while I’ve been here.

I will soak in this last day. I will bathe in Africas glory of sights, sounds and smells. I will desperately try to somehow slow down time. I will fail, of course, but I will return. That is a genuine comfort. In the meantime until then, I can smile on so much happenings in such a brief time that I’ve been a guest here.

I’ve walked with a king. And I’ve been given an invitation to do so again.

My most sincere hope is that everyone who wishes to do so experience a like moment of profound sadness to leave something or someplace just like they found it and to look forward to a reunion.
Very well said
 

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