Hesitations about Africa

[Russ16]

Yes Gracy Travel always

I used Gracy this year and while helpful I wasn’t terribly impressed. There were two of us going and he was constantly emailing only one of us even to the point that he didn’t send me the final trip packet. He entered my phone number incorrectly with Qatar which made it impossible to add the trip to my Qatar app and when I asked him to check the number he said it was correct only to admit it was correct about a week later.

 

[Scott CWO]

I used Gracy this year and while helpful I wasn’t terribly impressed. There were two of us going and he was constantly emailing only one of us even to the point that he didn’t send me the final trip packet. He entered my phone number incorrectly with Qatar which made it impossible to add the trip to my Qatar app and when I asked him to check the number he said it was correct only to admit it was correct about a week later.

Contact Shawn Kennedy instead and tell her Scott sent you.

 

[rsmurray]

I used Gracy this year and while helpful I wasn’t terribly impressed. There were two of us going and he was constantly emailing only one of us even to the point that he didn’t send me the final trip packet. He entered my phone number incorrectly with Qatar which made it impossible to add the trip to my Qatar app and when I asked him to check the number he said it was correct only to admit it was correct about a week later.

Really surprised at that. All I know is Debbie and Gio. They have been excellent for me in fact this is the first complaint I have ever heard?

 

[Hogpatrol]

Can't speak for hunting other countries but have done fishing trips in Moz, RSA and Angola that required a lot of travel logistics that included firearm storage. This was the latest, all handled by Shawn at Gracy Travel and went off without a hitch including the firearms part. For those with trepidations on emergencies, I used Ripcord, but Global Rescue is another option.

A fishing trip in Angola then back to RSA for a cull hunt in the Northern Cape. In a couple segments the itinerary had to exactly match the cull hunt's PH in RSA and @Trogon who were also going and on other flights before the meetup at Citi Lodge, and then some of the remainder of the trip.
Emirates: Dulles, Dubai, layover, Joberg.
Meet & Greet and then hook up with Bruce, Gracy's Man About Tambo
Out of SAPS like a dose of salts. Used Gracy online SAPS firearm import forms, easy peasy.
Overnight Citi Lodge, Storage company picks up firearms. Citi Lodge stores checked bag with ammo.
Airlink to Luanda, Angola
Four days fishing
Airlink to Joberg
Overnight Citi Lodge, Guns delivered to Citi Lodge, retrieve checked bag with ammo.
Airlink to Kimberly
PH pickup, ten day/night cull hunt
Back to Kimberly
Airlink to Joberg
Emirates Joberg, Dubai, layover, Dulles, shuttle to hotel, drive home.
IIRC, it was around three weeks and 50+ hours in the air total. Somewhat of a burnout but memories that are priceless.

Thinking about Africa? Use Gracy, enroll in a travel insurance like Ripcord and "Just do it"!

 

[Russ16]

Really surprised at that. All I know is Debbie and Gio. They have been excellent for me in fact this is the first complaint I have ever heard?

Gio is who we worked with.

 

[375Fox]

I used Gracy this year and while helpful I wasn’t terribly impressed. There were two of us going and he was constantly emailing only one of us even to the point that he didn’t send me the final trip packet. He entered my phone number incorrectly with Qatar which made it impossible to add the trip to my Qatar app and when I asked him to check the number he said it was correct only to admit it was correct about a week later.

This was always my experience with Gracy. They got me from point A to B but missed the small things on every reservation.

 

[MLindsay]

No person is perfect. Gio has handled my last 10 safaris, smooth as silk. Bruce is like a brother to me and the things he has done at Tambo have been amazing, like finding an Airlink lady that was not busy when over 100 people were in line at counters. On that occasion we go behind a couple of curtains come out on the other side and there is a lady with Airlink just standing at counter, boom on my way

 

[Russ16]

This was always my experience with Gracy. They got me from point A to B but missed the small things on every reservation.

I’ll probably try travel express next time around.

 

[DLSJR]

Contact Shawn Kennedy instead and tell her Scott sent you.

Shawn Kennedy is fantastic. She’s the only person I’ve used on every single Africa trip and she is absolutely top-notch.

When we had problems in 2019 due to 14 straight days of rain in Tanzania and our charter couldn’t land due to a muddy airstrip, Shawn answered my call to her cell phone at 5:00 AM Texas-time and within a couple hours had made a plan and got us home. Same thing in 2024 when CamAir stranded us in Garoua for 1 1/2 days. She and her team worked quickly to come up with Plan B to get me home.

Scott is right, Shawn of Gracy Travel is as good as they come.

 

[DLSJR]

Exactly! A coupe of friends, for years!! and when they were still healthy, talked, wrung their hands and talked some more, and some more about going moose hunting in Alaska and going to Africa. Both lost health then passed before they went anywhere.

I think I was 19, maybe 20 when my father told me something I’ve never forgotten and have tried to live life by. We were sitting in a duck blind and he was dealing with a terminal illness that had derailed his and our family’s life. My dad told me “I’ve waited my entire life for you and your brother to get old enough to take you on hunting and fishing trips we’d all enjoy together. Now that you’re old enough, I’ve lost my health and can’t do things I’ve dreamed of for years. Don’t do what I’ve done, live your life fully but responsibly. Don't totally blow all your money, but don’t wait to live your life later like I have.”

My dad died a little over a year later at 46 years old. I was 21 and by then had hunted Alaska twice. His enjoyment was listening to me tell him about sheep and grizzly hunting. He wanted to visit Alaska but never did.

I’ve lived by my dad’s advice. I’ll be that guy who will be remembered for having done some truly epic shit.

 

[Hedge774]

I am kind of in this boat. The only thing that slows me down is being away from my family. I look forward to when I can actually take a 21 day or multi country safari.

Im not sure why travel freaks people out. You just roll with it, I have had more issues on domestic flights than international ones.

Preach it brother.

 

[Betterinthebush]

I think I was 19, maybe 20 when my father told me something I’ve never forgotten and have tried to live life by. We were sitting in a duck blind and he was dealing with a terminal illness that had derailed his and our family’s life. My dad told me “I’ve waited my entire life for you and your brother to get old enough to take you on hunting and fishing trips we’d all enjoy together. Now that you’re old enough, I’ve lost my health and can’t do things I’ve dreamed of for years. Don’t do what I’ve done, live your life fully but responsibly. Don't totally blow all your money, but don’t wait to live your life later like I have.”

My dad died a little over a year later at 46 years old. I was 21 and by then had hunted Alaska twice. His enjoyment was listening to me tell him about sheep and grizzly hunting. He wanted to visit Alaska but never did.

I’ve lived by mt dad’s advice. I’ll be that guy who will be remembered for having done some truly epic shit.

Spot-on-the-money as usual @DLSJR

 

[Xpraetor]

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

The internet can be a blessing & curse, but several in this thread have made very astute observations, one of which is as legit as it gets, experiences are based in culture, perspective which is the base of individual bias.

I don't know anyone well enough on this Forum to be comfortable making inferences on personality or character, but it seems there are several within the ranks who can .....