The Second Safari Dilemma: What Are You Really Chasing?

"How do you choose your second safari?" That's a great question, @CloudySkies, and one that doesn't have a single right answer.




My perspective comes from the other side of the campfire—as an outfitter in Namibia.

One of the things I've noticed over the years is that every hunter's "perfect second safari" is different because the first trip teaches you what truly matters to you.

Some discover they love chasing as many species as possible. Others realise that one old kudu bull, tracked on foot for hours through the thornveld, is worth more than a dozen easy trophies.

For many of our returning hunters, the second safari becomes less about the trophy list and more about the experience. They already know Africa delivers incredible game. Now they're looking for something deeper: different terrain, a new challenge, tracking instead of driving, spending time with a PH who has become a friend, sitting around the fire at night, and feeling immersed in Africa rather than simply visiting it.

Namibia offers that beautifully because no two areas hunt the same. The open Kalahari, the mountains of the Khomas Hochland, mopane bush, camelthorn savannah—each changes the hunt completely, even for the same species.

My advice to anyone planning a second safari is not to ask, "What animals don't I have yet?"
Ask instead, "What kind of hunting experience do I want to remember twenty years from now?"

The answer to that question usually points you to the right destination.
That's when a safari stops being about collecting trophies and starts becoming part of your story.

Janneman Brand
Professional Hunter & Outfitter
Kalahari Safari | Namibia

www.kalahari-safari.com

My first Safari (June of 2024). I told myself it was a one and done. Just need to satisfy that itch. I am not proud to say it was really all about harvesting a lot of different animals. I left with 8 different plains game species (Zebra, Kudu, Blue Wildebeest, Golden Wildebeest, Impala, warthog, Red Hartebeest, and blesbok. I now have (what I consider) some great looking trophies. But... I fell in love with the land. The sunrises, the sunsets, the people, the nightly fellowships at the brai, the food, all of it. I knew I had to go back. My next Safari is in June of 2028. I want the pace to be a tad slower and soak it all in. I have a Cape Buffalo on my list. My first journey down DG Lane. I am also really hoping it works out so that I can do the AH Group dangerous game hunt in 2028 (hoping for a back to back so as to pay 1 airfare there and back). If that comes to fruition, a Croc will be on my list.

Kalahari Safari NAMIBIA said:

"How do you choose your second safari?" That's a great question, @CloudySkies, and one that doesn't have a single right answer.



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My perspective comes from the other side of the campfire—as an outfitter in Namibia.

One of the things I've noticed over the years is that every hunter's "perfect second safari" is different because the first trip teaches you what truly matters to you.

Some discover they love chasing as many species as possible. Others realise that one old kudu bull, tracked on foot for hours through the thornveld, is worth more than a dozen easy trophies.

For many of our returning hunters, the second safari becomes less about the trophy list and more about the experience. They already know Africa delivers incredible game. Now they're looking for something deeper: different terrain, a new challenge, tracking instead of driving, spending time with a PH who has become a friend, sitting around the fire at night, and feeling immersed in Africa rather than simply visiting it.

Namibia offers that beautifully because no two areas hunt the same. The open Kalahari, the mountains of the Khomas Hochland, mopane bush, camelthorn savannah—each changes the hunt completely, even for the same species.

My advice to anyone planning a second safari is not to ask, "What animals don't I have yet?"
Ask instead, "What kind of hunting experience do I want to remember twenty years from now?"

The answer to that question usually points you to the right destination.
That's when a safari stops being about collecting trophies and starts becoming part of your story.

Janneman Brand
Professional Hunter & Outfitter
Kalahari Safari | Namibia

www.kalahari-safari.com

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Frankly, that’s a refreshing perspective from an outfitter. I find completion oriented lists and slams all too often get in the way of enjoying what each day in the bush can offer.

My first safari was this past spring, Limpopo, with Stefan Joubert. It was an incredible time, I took 8 trophies. Had a great camp, went with a great group of guys. I have been cooking over wood coals a ton since I got back, glad to get away from that propane grill, and get a little more Africa style in my life. Still buzzing on it.

Trophies are still high on my list, I’m not ashamed to say that. I built a big trophy room, and I want it to be absurd when I die. But, the experience is EQUALLY important to me. I want to see much more of the continent and hunt vastly different terrain. I’m looking forward to spartan camps and bougie camps. Highland, low land, and everything in between. I’m a mountain hunter, so I love getting after it.

I’m 51. Let’s say I have 25 years of big game ahead of me. Southern hemisphere hunts double my opportunity, so I plan on at least one “non western big game” hunt per year. Africa will probably be the bulk of those.

I really enjoy this site, for dreaming and finding new places and critters to learn about.

Kalahari Safari NAMIBIA said:

My advice to anyone planning a second safari is not to ask, "What animals don't I have yet?"
Ask instead, "What kind of hunting experience do I want to remember twenty years from now?"

The answer to that question usually points you to the right destination.
That's when a safari stops being about collecting trophies and starts becoming part of your story.

Click to expand...

Exactly. Life is a collection of experiences and our collection of hunting experiences is what we will value far more than the dead creatures on the wall as the light begins to dim. I have hunted with the same outfitter more than once, but I prefer to try new areas. The Caprivi could not be more different than the ranch country of Central Namibia and the Kalahari is different than both. The forests of coastal Mozambique and swamps of the Delta seem a world away from the thorn of the upper Zambezi. Zambia is its own unique set of experiences.

We should also never forget the rest of the planet. The Western Hemisphere holds a host of destinations and species stretching from the artic to Patagonia. I have always loved to hunt in Europe. There, the traditions of the hunt add a set of cultural experiences unique to that continent. Asia, and Australia (and New Zeeland) offer still other adventures.

I have a couple of friends who are "collectors." They have no interest in hunting anything twice. For me, certain species offer unique challenges that draw me back time and again - whitetail, roe deer, red stag, kudu, cape buffalo, and eland (walking one down - not potting one at a waterhole) are six to which I will return to until I can only relive such hunts through photos and failing memory.

My second safari was done more as a favor for an elderly friends wife. Her husband was bugging the crap out of her about going back to Africa. She approached my wife and we decided we would accompany him on his last safari. She would not let him go alone anymore, he picked the outfitter and his pkg, while I went on a strict daily rate and a see it and if I liked it I would hunt it. I did make it clear to my outfitter this was Joes safari and I was secondary. ( @GAME 4 AFRICA SAFARIS )

That was in 2018 and his 5th safari, he commented that it was his very best and most memorable. His health really started failing recently but he still asks me every time I see him when we’re going back but I think deep down he realizes he can no longer physically go on a safari.
I definitely feel fortunate and blessed to have been a part of his last safari and I was able to introduce my wife to Africa.

My subsequent safaris have been either focusing on a specific animal but weighing heavily by the area.

Red Leg said:

Exactly. Life is a collection of experiences and our collection of hunting experiences is what we will value far more than the dead creatures on the wall as the light begins to dim. I have hunted with the same outfitter more than once, but I prefer to try new areas. The Caprivi could not be more different than the ranch country of Central Namibia and the Kalahari is different than both. The forests of coastal Mozambique and swamps of the Delta seem a world away from the thorn of the upper Zambezi. Zambia is its own unique set of experiences.

We should also never forget the rest of the planet. The Western Hemisphere holds a host of destinations and species stretching from the artic to Patagonia. I have always loved to hunt in Europe. There, the traditions of the hunt add a set of cultural experiences unique to that continent. Asia, and Australia (and New Zeeland) offer still other adventures.

I have a couple of friends who are "collectors." They have no interest in hunting anything twice. For me, certain species offer unique challenges that draw me back time and again - whitetail, roe deer, red stag, kudu, cape buffalo, and eland (walking one down - not potting one at a waterhole) are six to which I will return to until I can only relive such hunts through photos and failing memory.

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Very well put.

My second safari was about experiencing Dangerous Game. It came to fruition on the drive to the airport for the First Safari. Since then each subsequent safari has been about seeing a new country, a new place, experiencing the difference in their culture, trying their local beers, chasing their endemic game species, and understanding the differences in their hunting styles and culture. It’s amazing to see and experience the neighboring country, province, or even town.

I’ve hunted with the same PH in Zim multiple times in several different areas of the country. I’ve hunted with his Shona trackers from the Valley and his Ndebele trackers from Western Zim. You can see how they work/hunt differently. The same applies to different countries. IMO one of the biggest mistakes hunters make in Africa is returning to the same places and properties they experienced previously, or hunting through the same outfitter. There’s certainly room to repeat hunts and destinations (I’m planning a repeat to Coutada 11 and Zim) but I think there’s so much to be gained by hunting with new people and new places. Even a different PH in the same concession will be a different experience. Book and Hunt with the concession holder and local PH, don’t book Zimbabwe (or another country) with your South African Outfitter that offers hunts there.

I finally came up with the funds for my first safari in 2024. For me, it was always going to be about free range buffalo hunting in a classic style old world camp.

I found that in Mozambique's Gaza Province taking a great buff and an extensive bag of plains game on that safari.

I had such a wonderful time with that safari exceeding my expectations and dreams of what an old world safari could be!

I feel blessed and I'm heading back to Moz next week for Buff and a smaller bag of plains game.

However, I developed a love for the Tiny Ten on that safari so I will continue to hunt those species in the Southern Cape of SA this year added on after the Moz trip next week.

From there, who knows. I suspect something different. Maybe Elephant or Leopard if I can afford it along with more of the Tiny Ten.

We all need time, health and money. Hopefully I will have all of them in 2027 or 2028 to continue with this new bug that has bit me called 'AFRICA'.

Well, it's pretty natural for a hunter's career to evolve something like this:

I want to shoot something
I want to shoot something else
I want to actually find the thing I shot
I want to learn to spot/track/shoot better
I want to shoot something big
I want to shoot something bigger
I want to learn how to actually find something big
I want to learn how the thing I'm chasing behaves
I want to spend time with guys that like to hunt too
I want to spend what little free time I actually have doing what I enjoy the most
I want to hunt in a new area, or with a new weapon, or in a new way
I want to share what I'm doing with people I enjoy
I want to teach people what I've learned
I want to watch the people I've taught do it on their own
I want to carefully select a few hunts that will be a proper capstone to a hunting career

More or less, I've wandered this path.

Recent high: I took my sister and brother-in-law to Namibia this year. Watching them discover the magic of it was 90% of the fun.

Recent low: A (rather expensive) Canada deer hunt that I had been looking forward to for a couple of years. It was by far the worst guided hunt I've ever been on. The biggest deer I laid eyes on was in the skinning shed. One the guides shot it for himself on the second day while with clients.

Second safari was to hunt some animals I didn’t see the first trip-(bushbuck) Then to hunt a couple that were favorites-(waterbuck) and maybe to upgrade a trophy-(kudu). Animals are important to me-in the wild, on my plate, in pictures or on my wall. But I also took my wife the second trip so she could be part of the adventure I never stop talking about. Little things like sunsets and nightly fires or biltong make special places in our hearts

Red Leg said:

I have a couple of friends who are "collectors." They have no interest in hunting anything twice. For me, certain species offer unique challenges that draw me back time and again - whitetail, roe deer, red stag, kudu, cape buffalo, and eland (walking one down - not potting one at a waterhole) are six to which I will return to until I can only relive such hunts through photos and failing memory.

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For me that is elephant and buffalo. I can never get tired of shooting those two.

Tanks said:

For me that is elephant and buffalo. I can never get tired of shooting those two.

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Mine has to be bushbuck followed closely by reedbuck, I definitely could become addicted to buffalo!

For me it’s always new country or different area in South Africa or Namibia. Secondly. new species are main goal and lastly I’m definitely looking to try and get bigger ones of animals I have already shot if I’m lucky enough to see one. I really enjoy trying to figure out where exceptional trophies come from. Sometimes you get lucky and you pick the right spot first and sometimes it’s the last country or area you try as in the case of my last big kudu and Nyala. Like Boddington said years ago, “ most safaris produce one maybe two exceptional trophies and the rest are representative of the species and hopefully none are poor trophy quality ”. I’ve found this to be very true! I’ve had one poor quality trophy - 6” Valie- after 4 grueling days he looked damn good to me!!!!

My first safari was with Game 4 Africa in the Eastern cape where I took a Cape buffalo, warthog, springbuck and Impala. All iconic African species. Despite being in my twenties I said to myself if I’m only ever able to go to Africa the one time (as my circumstances in the future could change for unplanned reasons) I wanted to experience a fair chase dangerous game hunt as a priority!

And after 4 hard days in the heat I got my buffalo! the plains game species I took that week were also very special and memorable too having never taken any type of antelope or pig up until that trip!

But despite saying at the time I worried I might never return I’m now booked in to go back to Game 4 Africa in 2027 with the focus being on more iconic African species which caught my imagination on my first trip. So I will be hoping for Kudu, Bushbuck, Bushpig and Blue Wildebeest and another Impala and Warthog!

1st safari - wanted to go & shoot something/anything. caught up in all of it. Felt like lots of pressure to shoot from the PH. Was concerned about my budget the entire time. Ended up with only 2 animals. And a bunch of “wish I would have done” afterthoughts

2nd safari - specifically wanted a Kudu. took time to enjoy every moment. No pressure, had clear expectations and communication ahead of time with the PH. Planned ahead and had extra money set aside in case I wanted an additional animal. Ended up with 3 animals, 2 of them were my “if I ever go back” list. Came home with “that was fantastic” memories

Some of the magic of the second safari is all the time & reflection on the first safari. Balance that with good communication from the outfitter/PH and the second time will easily outshine the first trip.

So enlightening to read all your stories and feedback! Thank you for sharing