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Dreams Do Not Retire
One hunter returned to Africa at 88. Another began his African hunting journey at 80. Their stories remind us that age may change the pace of an adventure—but it does not have to limit the dream.
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”This famous quote from C. S. Lewis, felt especially meaningful to us at Kalahari Safari this season. We had the extraordinary privilege of sharing in the dreams of two remarkable hunters—George and Mike.
Their stories could hardly have been more different. One had already spent many years hunting across Africa and returned at the age of 88. The other had travelled throughout the continent but, at 80, decided that the time had finally come for his very first African hunt.
Both proved the same thing: dreams do not have an expiry date.
George: Returning to Africa at 88
George is an 88-year-old United States Marine veteran and an experienced African hunter. Over the years, he has hunted in several parts of the continent and developed a deep love for Africa—its wildlife, its people and the wild places that have a way of calling a hunter back.
This season, George returned to Namibia to hunt with Kalahari Safari. His goal was no small one: to hunt his ninth Cape buffalo in the Caprivi.
Buffalo hunting demands patience, determination and respect. It is a hunt that requires the hunter to remain focused and composed, regardless of age or experience. At 88, George still possessed the desire to walk through a very wet Caprivi, to hunt and to test himself in one of Namibia’s great wilderness areas.
But perhaps the most meaningful part of this safari was not simply the buffalo. George shared the experience with his daughter and grandson.
Three generations travelled together, stood together in the African bush and shared moments that will remain part of their family story long after the trophies have been hung on the wall. For his grandson, it was an opportunity to see his grandfather not only as a Marine veteran and seasoned hunter, but as a man still pursuing adventure at 88 years old.
George’s ninth buffalo was a wonderful achievement. Yet the true trophy may have been the time spent together—the conversations, the laughter and the privilege of sharing another African sunrise as a family.
Mike: A First African Hunt at 80
Then there was Mike.Mike has travelled extensively and explored much of the world. He has visited more than 30 national parks across the African continent, experiencing Africa as a traveller, wildlife enthusiast and observer.
For years, he had watched Africa’s wildlife and explored its wild landscapes. Then, at the age of 80, he decided that there was still another dream he wanted to fulfil: he wanted to experience his first African hunt.
Many people might believe that 80 is too late to begin something new. Mike did not.
He came to the Kalahari to hunt kudu—one of Africa’s most iconic and respected plains-game animals. There could hardly have been a more fitting setting for his first hunt than the wide savannah landscape of the Kalahari, with its red earth, camelthorn trees and endless horizons.
Kudu hunting is rarely simple. These magnificent animals seem to disappear into the bush despite their size, earning them the name “grey ghosts.” Success requires patience, careful observation and a willingness to keep going.
At 80 years old, Mike did exactly that.
When he finally took his kudu, the moment represented far more than the successful completion of a hunt. It was the fulfilment of a dream—one that had waited quietly while he travelled the world and explored Africa in so many other ways.
His first African hunt had not come too late. It had come at exactly the right time.
Age Changes the Pace, Not the Dream
Hunting at an older age may require adjustments. The days may move at a gentler pace. More time may be needed to rest, and each stalk must be planned with care. But none of this diminishes the experience.If anything, age often brings a deeper appreciation for it.
There is less need to rush and more time to notice the small things: the first light touching the savannah, the tracks in the sand, the call of a bird in the stillness and the quiet companionship around the evening fire. The realisation that you are living your dream, even now.
George and Mike reminded us that the measure of a safari is not how quickly or how far someone can walk. It is found in the willingness to continue dreaming, the courage to pursue those dreams and the people with whom the experience is shared.
One hunter returned to Africa at 88 to pursue his ninth buffalo alongside his daughter and grandson.
Another arrived at 80 to begin his African hunting story with a kudu in the Kalahari.
Their journeys were different, but their message was the same:
Age may slow your footsteps, but it does not have to quiet the call of Africa.
It was an honour for all of us at Kalahari Safari to share in these two remarkable dreams—and a beautiful reminder that, as long as there is another sunrise and another horizon, it is never too late for one more adventure.
Janneman Brand
Kalahari Safari, Namibia
www.kalahari-safari.com
