Hesitations about Africa

Doug3006 said:

People are built different. Sitting in a chair for 13 hours can be difficult for some people. I get that. But I’ve always enjoyed the travel, even in cattle-class! As @Paulrhenderson said, “There’s worse things to do than be on a flight going to an iconic hunting destination.” I couldn’t agree more.

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I find I use the long flight time to catch up on reading and see movies I missed in the theatre. It's not fun, but. not really painful either.

Just enroute home from fifth safari at same outfitter in South Africa. They are like family, especially PH. Feel like he's my son. All properties are fenced, some high, some not high, and some sort of fenced. I hunt the US west every fall and fences don't bother me. The plane trip is not fun but I drive 21 to 24 hours to get to Montana hunting almost twenty years running. Is what it is. I'm in the vehicle alone which is desirable on long trips. Sitting next to a window on a jet is desirable because I can lean on it to sleep. Not so desirable when I have to get up to pee all the time (damn prostrate) and wake up the persons next to me. I really hate doing that to them. Also hate sitting next to someone who is 150 lbs overweight! Jeezus that pisses me off. Buy two seats for your fat ass! But I know it will be over with eventually.

The thing that brings me back is the geography (not plugged up with McMansions or raped for resources like US west) and the quantity and variety of game one encounters. Impala and springbuck are like gophers. Everywhere. On the big properties you never know what will show up. A few years back on my favorite property (167K acres) while looking for a shit ram impala I culled for staff meat, we kicked up a small herd of rare dinky antelope (I forget the variety) that were restocked in those mountains thirty years ago and never seen again. Last week when stalking giraffe, the ranch hand back at the vehicle called on the radio to tell us a herd of buffalo was coming down the mountain. Giraffe were bumped too many times so let's go have a look at them. Turns out the fantastic herd bull had only been seen on camera once fairly recently. He was born and matured on that huge property without being seen. Amazing. After stalking them a couple of hours I culled a shitty old cow from the herd with not great horns. Fortunately she was dry and not pregnant (but it wouldn't matter as her genes were not desirable). We loaded the buffalo and were on our way to the meat cooler at the farmhouse when PH spotted a very nice lone nyala bull. "Why don't you take him? Your first one had crap for a backskin." I really did want a backskin so we got him after a fun stalk through thick stuff. Turns out his hide was even worse. Unusable. That old bull was in tough condition. Killing him did him a favor. But now I have another fine skull to go with the first one and lodge owner got a pile of meat to process into sellable biltong.

You never know what will turn up at any given moment.

Formerly two hours was needed to process guns through Joberg airport. No more. Count on maybe three! Getting through customs is horrible now. For everyone! Forty-six gates and lucky if ten are manned. Never plan to be in a rush in South Africa. No one else is. These folks are the definition of "take it easy." Can be frustrating but also one of the things I love about the place.

Denvir Tire said:

After a lifetime of mechanic, machinist, and related jobs, I always inspect the tires, steering gear, etc on any vehicle we're getting into in Africa.
Ask any PH and I believe they'll tell you the two words you cannot find in Africa.....
Maintenance
Accountability

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Interesting. I’ve hunted with 4 different African outfitters and their vehicles were all impeccably maintained. A few were less than 2 years old. Several were much older but still looked and performed like new.

BACK IN MY HARD WORKIN IRONWORKER DAYS, WE USED TO JOKE AND SAY "IF YOUR SCARED WAIT IN THE TRUCK" AND MAKE A LITTLE SHOWING OF A GUY WITH HIS FINGERS ON THE HALF ROLLED DOWN TRUCK WINDOW PEAKING OUT.

I understand people's hesitations about Africa.

That's why I would almost always recommend a PG hunt in RSA as a first hunt.

(Everyone speaks English, for starters)



Just fly Delta from ATL to JNB.

Someone from the safari company can pick them up at the JNB airport, deal with the police, rifles, etc. (or I wouldn't use them.)

Then, just a 2-4 hour drive to the property, and all is good.

"High-fence" in Limpopo might as well be surveyor's tape, because I have seen a Gemsbok run through it like it wasn't even there. IMO, it's more like a demarcation between one property and another.


Most American's don't have a passport, because most don't ever need one, because of the size and diversity of the US. (even for hunting)


After the first hunt, I've never talked to anyone who didn't want to go back.



This can be either to take more PG, or to begin (what can be a long journey) to hunt "wild" Africa.

My only apprehension was if I would screw something up with the gun paperwork. I went through it multiple times and had multiple copies stashed throughout my luggage.

I guess I’m fortunate that I’ve had the chance to travel pretty extensively can’t back to a simmer backpacking Europe. That was the days before cell phones. I’d call my parents once a week from a pay phone to let them know what country I was in.

To anyone nervous about traveling I try to encourage them to get out of their comfort zone. The discomfort is a big part of the fun. It expands your horizons. Try the local foid and drink. See how the locals live.

I just did my first safari to Dande. The hunting was amazing but seeing how the villagers live day to day was just as enjoyable and more impactful on my world view.

For anyone who has hesitations, they should purchase their airline tickets through Gracy Travel or Travel Express.


Sure, it cost a little bit more, but their agents will provide everything needed including a concierge at the airport who will handle anything involving firearms.




I used Gracy last time, because I had to deal with both firearm/ammo and Covid restrictions. Everything worked out just fine.

Safari Dave said:

For anyone who has hesitations, they should purchase their airline tickets through Gracy Travel or Travel Express.

Sure, it cost a little bit more, but their agents will provide everything needed including a concierge at the airport who will handle anything involving firearms.

I used Gracy last time, because I had to deal with both firearm/ammo and Covid restrictions. Everything worked out just fine.

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Their very modest fee was more than repaid when my return flight was cancelled and the airline (United) tried to shovel me into a miserable and convoluted itinerary. I called their emergency number, and my situation was fixed in a couple or three hours.

For my first safari (a 2x1 buffalo/PG hunt in the Selous of Tanzania), we had a 3,500 square mile block two-thirds the size of Connecticut all to ourselves, with a dozen staff people working just for us! It took nearly a month back home for it to dawn on me how special the experience truly was.

My PG safaris were on large gated private ranches, all with Fair Chase conditions. I know this because I lost a few of them, lol.

Many animals I took were within 1" of Rowland Ward (buff, kudu, eland), which was satisfactory as I'm not really a tape measure hunter. I don't require monsters to be happy with my trophies.

I've encountered only one lamentable ranch owner (my experience described elsewhere, without naming him), however, much of my time there was otherwise very good (because of the excellent PH and fine game). He blew it with me due to his greed and lack of handshake deal honor. My other outfitters were exemplary and 100% to their word.

My last RSA hunt was in 2011, and I'm leery of returning because of soured political conditions. I do not trust their police or officials. I suspect I enjoyed the RSA at its cusp, though I'm keen to be mistaken about that. Accordingly, when I return to Africa I'd like to experience some new countries (Nam, Zim, Moz, etc.).

Although I've already achieved most of what I ever wished for in my safaris, I'd like to go back at least a few more times with my wife. I'm passionate about hunting in Africa, though not addicted to it (or anything else). I had great times there, met fine people, and heartily recommend it! As Jeff Cooper wrote, it's worth doing at least once even if you have to max out your VISA card. Life is short, but memories are long.

Was fortunate to have an SCI local president that had twenty four Africa safaris to his name as my mentor so any trepidations were gone before the first trip to RSA. Also wandered around to a few sketchy places in the world but like the states, there are places in them that are no goes.

JPbowhunter said:

This is not intended to be a negative thread and I do request that it doesn’t degenerate into any arguments or rudeness to one another like some recent topics I’ve read.

There are obviously lots of great things about hunting Africa but were there some things that you were apprehensive about or thought you may not like?
How did this pan out?

Some things may have been a non issue and soon forgotten, others perhaps you did in fact not enjoy.

Maybe it was the safety of where you were travelling, the culture shock, cost, being doted upon in a big lodge, being with other groups of hunters or being in a high fenced area or a great other number of things.

I recently was speaking to a friend who went with a mate and they both had some apprehensions about certain things. One loved it and is going back soon while the other decided never to go again.
Just yesterday I was talking to my father about it and now that he’s realistically in a position where he could do all but the most expensive hunts in Africa he’s lost all interest in going.

It seems some people’s desire burns greater over time while others diminishes and I’m curious to know why that is for different people.

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There are many kind of people in this world and what one person loves about Africa, the other detests.

I'll give you an example via a 20 year old story. There was a donor to SCI that offered up auction hunts in RSA. I wanted to research them more before jumping in to an Africa hunt. The operator was very kind and gave me a list of HUNDREDS of past clients. So far, so good. Very transparent.

So anyway, I'm from WI originally and I think like a Wisconsinite. Wisconsin and Michigan natives tilt stereotypically towards method hunting, practically wrote the book on bow hunting, and generally have similar preferences to me.

So I did a sort on the reference list and I contacted about 10 past clients from WI. EVERY ONE of them hated their hunts and vowed to never go back. Their issues:

1.) Everything was too easy.
2.) Small fenced areas.
3.) Shooting fish in a barrel.
4.) Astroturphed.

A different group of people might have LOVED that kind of a hunt. The people that go to Texas for safaris hunting a menagerie of game would surely like the hunt offered above, I would have hated it and so did all my "neighbors" of similar hunting preferences.

On the other hand, I like exotic food, exotic travel, wilderness areas, fly camps, and hunting wild game under wild conditions without high fences. There are people that would HATE my kind of hunt because they want to eat plain, boring American fare. They want a swimming pool. They want to shoot many animals quickly and cheaply.

When someone says they hated or loved Africa, you need to size up the kind of interests they have and compare them to what the received. Someone that loved or hated RSA, or loved or hated Zimbabwe are probably different people with very different styles of hunting game.

I just returned from my sixth safari. Mozambique this time. I crave adventures, and have had many. Adventures by definition mean that things are not all spelled out, some things will go off the plan, some plans will not be fulfilled.
Every time I've been to Africa, I've experienced many wonderful new things, met great people, and learned a lot. I've had some "bad" experiences, but nothing that took all the joy out of the trip. I could make a long list of those. I won't though.
Each time the trip could be summed up as a wonderful "net positive". The benefits of travelling outside of one's comfort zone are many, so just go do it!

For some, there isn't enough game if they have to do a stalk for more than a few hundred yards. For others, it's no fun unless they did a stalk of at least a few hundred yards.

For me, things have changed with my age. Hunting waterfowl and Deer late season is completely different. When I was younger, the snow and ice didn't bother me, but now a heater and hot coffee are mandatory. I've also learned to appreciate a blind or at least something to break the wind.

When I was a young, a week in the woods without a shower, eating Beanie Weenies over a fire and sleeping on the ground was a good time. Now in my sixties, I'm more into coming back to the Lodge for a warm shower, clothes washed and folded on the bed and a dinner around the fire with friends.

I guess there's a time in every mans life when he's got to wimp out.

Went to Africa in 2014.....have thought about going back, but it probably won't happen.

Just a few concerns:

1.) I have had an increase in health concerns....both for me and my brother, who has CP and I am now his guardian since our mom passed 4 years ago. It is one thing to be a few states away on a hunt if there are issues where he is concerned (and believe me, there are issues; usually at the MOST inopertune time!), but I think it would be another matter if I was half a world away. Having all sorts of medical issues myself also concerns me with re: to being treated in a foreign county.

2.) cost: getting closer to retirement, I doubt I will have the disposable funds to do another safari.....I wish I would have passed on the taxidermy I had done on my first; I could have financed a good portion of a second safari with those funds. If I do manage to go again, I would be bringing anything back but photos.......and myself (hopefully)

3.) Going by myself. I don't have many friends......and those I do have don't hunt. Of those that DO hunt, NONE of them have a desire to go to Africa. Being a solo individual wandering around in a foreign county tends to make one a mark for criminals, esp. if one is unfamiliar with the area.

Anyway, those are my concerns/anxieties.....................

Ontario Hunter said:

Formerly two hours was needed to process guns through Joberg airport. No more. Count on maybe three! Getting through customs is horrible now. For everyone! Forty-six gates and lucky if ten are manned. Never plan to be in a rush in South Africa. No one else is. These folks are the definition of "take it easy." Can be frustrating but also one of the things I love about the place.

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I was 20 minutes in the passport line and no more than 4 minutes in the police office getting my rifles. Walked in grabbed my case and opened it. Confirmed serial numbers and out the door.

Do you not get pre approved rifle permits?

I’ve written a response a few times and it ends up an essay. To summarise, for me it’s simply that I can’t afford to do the type of hunt I know I want and I’m hesitant to do anything less than that because I’ve done so before and it’s left me with a hollow feeling.

I’d love to hunt a large wilderness area where i can see the big five during the day and listen to them at night.
I would compromise to do a low fence farm hunt if I could track an eland and do a little pg hunting with just myself and a tracker.
But neither of those things are realistic.

It’s not Africa or nothing for me, being Aussie I’m fortunate enough to have a 12 month season. I hunt every week, deer in the winter and pests in the summer. I’m hesitant to compromise on what I know I want when there are other options outside Africa, some of it - such as buff and banteng - are already close to home and just as enticing for me.

Africa is a destination that ebbs and flows for me. It interests me deeply, but only under the right circumstances.

Mark458 said:

I was 20 minutes in the passport line and no more than 4 minutes in the police office getting my rifles. Walked in grabbed my case and opened it. Confirmed serial numbers and out the door.

Do you not get pre approved rifle permits?

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You might start to notice Ontario Hunter has a long list of self inflicted problems no matter how much advice is given.

JPbowhunter said:

This is not intended to be a negative thread and I do request that it doesn’t degenerate into any arguments or rudeness to one another like some recent topics I’ve read.

There are obviously lots of great things about hunting Africa but were there some things that you were apprehensive about or thought you may not like?
How did this pan out?

Some things may have been a non issue and soon forgotten, others perhaps you did in fact not enjoy.

Maybe it was the safety of where you were travelling, the culture shock, cost, being doted upon in a big lodge, being with other groups of hunters or being in a high fenced area or a great other number of things.

I recently was speaking to a friend who went with a mate and they both had some apprehensions about certain things. One loved it and is going back soon while the other decided never to go again.
Just yesterday I was talking to my father about it and now that he’s realistically in a position where he could do all but the most expensive hunts in Africa he’s lost all interest in going.

It seems some people’s desire burns greater over time while others diminishes and I’m curious to know why that is for different people.

Click to expand...

I haven't read responses yet, but look forward to reading this thread.

For me, it would be feeling "nickel and dimed to death", so to speak. Not that you don't know about the costs ahead if you do research. But towards the end of the hunt and dealing with getting animals shipped back etc, you can feel like everyone has their hand out and many are taking advantage.

And you do have to be cautious because some taxidermy, or shippers or importers really are taking advantage charging far more than "market rates" even when market rates are already soaring.

Things you will be offered and may take advantage of that all add up are things like: rifle permit helpers, meet and greet, shuttles, travel agents, the hunt itself, tip for PH, tip for trackers, tip for skinners, tip for lodge staff, tip for rifle importer, tip for farm workers who help for a day, tip for houndsman if you use them, dip and pack fees, rifle rental fees, price per round fee for ammo, Taxes taxidermy fee, crating fee, export fee with a bunch of random fees in there, shipping fee which varies wildly, import fee with a bunch of random associated fees and which may come with a bunch of extra airline storage days with no explanation or way to debate it, freight shipping to your door fees.

Some people will pick one or two things I listed trying to pick it apart, but the reality is, at the end you can feel nickel and dimed to death and you can feel taken advantage of.

The only thing I was hesitant about was how the airport and dealings with people from another country would be. ( police with rifles etc…)
Nothing else was even a concern.