How long from the time you returned to your home did it take you to book your next safari?

[Betterinthebush]

Days, weeks, months.., years? What was your first safari for? What was your second safari booked for?

For me it was seven days.

After a very fruitful and exciting first safari in Namibia for plains game, I was finalizing interviews with PH’s for a hounds over leopard hunt within hours of returning home. Seven days later the PH/houndsman selected, contract terms and hunting area finalized, and deposit money sent for the first hunt of the year in Nuanetsi in May of ‘26 for 15 days and option to continue the hunt in SA for caracal, serval.

My wife will not be going with me this time. She will be going with me in ‘27 for Buff in Caprivi and do Vic Falls then. At least, that’s the plan.

 

[375Fox]

I’ve agreed to the next safari before leaving camp before, but the more safaris I go on the more I think about what I want now. The time after finishing to booking again has begun to increase. I currently have 3 very different safaris booked.

 

[Rumrunner]

Took about 2 weeks to realize I had to go back even though I really wasn't enthused about going on the first hunt. Really did it because my son really wanted to go.
About 8 months later we booked a 10 day hunt in 2027.

 

[mark-hunter]

When I got home from my first safari, I had my wish list for next. Booking is just a formality.

 

[Beretta391]

On the last night of our 1st Safari I saw my wife talking to the owner. I asked what they were talking about. She said I just booked our next Safari. We just got back in June from our 10th Safari!!

 

[DLSJR]

When I first went to Africa, I was going every 3 years - 1983, 1986, 1989. Those were big hunts of 24, 15 & 24 days with lots of dangerous game hunting. I booked each of those hunts about 18 months before going.

Then I took a long break from Africa to raise a family, finally went back in 2009 for a family vacation that included a 5-day hunt but didn’t go back again until 2018. I booked both of those hunts less than 12 months before the hunt.

Since then, I’ve had African hunts booked constantly, with 6 in the last six years. Next year I have 3 hunts, all of which have been delayed from earlier bookings for various reasons (wife’s health, changing a friend who was gonna go with me to a different buddy, etc).

I don’t have any hunts actually booked beyond 2026, but have verbally agreed on another Selous hunt with my son for 2028. 2027 is a big question mark at this point but I’m probably going back to Cameroon for Roan & Buffalo. I’d also like to hunt elephant in ‘27. I’m also planning an archery elk hunt for 2027 with PH Alan Vincent as he really wants to bow hunt elk. We will use my points to draw good tags.

I’m 66 so trying to do as much hunting as health, time & finances allow for as long as they last.

 

[Justbryan]

I book hunts out 2 or 3 years in advance so I have my next trip booked before I finish my current hunt. I usually book at DSC convention or shortly after the event.

First hunt- 10 plains South Africa
2nd hunt- Red Deer & Fallow New Zealand
3rd hunt- Cape Buffalo
4th hunt- Tahr & Chamois New Zealand
5th hunt- All night Critters & Giraffe
6th hunt- Ibex & Roe Deer Spain
7th hunt- next year Namibia
8th hunt- 2027 Australia

My wife always goes with me and we add a few weeks of tourism.

 

[Stetsonham]

Had initial plans before even heading on my first trip about potential 2nd trip. Booked 2nd about 6 months after returning I believe.

Same with the second, I currently have ideas/plans for the third trip but haven’t put a deposit down yet. Hopefully I’ll be back in Africa 18months after the second trip and having a deposit down a 10 months before.

 

[375er]

I’ve agreed to the next safari before leaving camp before, but the more safaris I go on the more I think about what I want now. The time after finishing to booking again has begun to increase. I currently have 3 very different safaris booked.

You dog, you!!!

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I had #2 was booked before going on my first safari. Another example is having my 2026 hunt to Coutada 11 in Mozambique booked 6mo before going wheels up to Zambia this summer. If I can make it to mid June of 2026, it’ll be the first time I haven’t have an African Safari in the hopper before going on my next safari. I’ve very much in the planning stages now, but with a big 2028 sheep hunt planned, it’s possible I take 2027 off to finish paying for the sheep hunt, or take advantage of a potential cancellation or late season opportunity.

 

[Tim Blackwell]

Isn't that what the plane ride home is for??

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Probably a few weeks. These days it is about those who come along, my relatives usually, so planning a slot is to do with their work schedule, harvesting season, etc.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

This thread made me chuckle as it reminded of the old Wolf Brand Chili commercial of my youth…neighbor how long’s it been…”well that’s too long.”

I took way too long to book my first, like a couple decades longer than I initially anticipated, but that was due to my relocation to Alaska and everything I had to explore, hunt, and one-up what I’d previously harvested.

By the time I went on my first African hunt, I already had the second one booked for my daughter to come with me, and by the time we did that 2nd one together I already and the 3rd and 4th both booked for 2026, and working on plans for at least two in 2027. I’m a bit of a PIA I think for the outfitters, when I’m wanting to try and come over a couple times a year but have a few months that are just simply unavailable each year. I do not intend to miss sheep season or moose season, and then have a spring and late fall trip with the misses with or without the kiddos.

 

[Uncharted_NT]

The key is to always have the next one booked.

 

[Betterinthebush]

The key is to always have the next one booked.

Yes. I’ve learned this now.

After leopard I’ve got a big DIY solo for moose in September’26. Then Buff/Touring in Caprivi August’27 which I just got the contract for Saturday.

As long as I’m able I’ll have the next one already booked at least a year out. I just had to explore the first one a little bit before committing myself to the next.

 

[BeeMaa]

We always get caught up in the hype while on safari, but we know this. So we will typically wait a bit for the adrenaline to leave our system and after we get our trophies mounted, will start making concrete plans.

 

[Surgeon1]

To quote my dad, "The day you leave Africa you are already plotting your return, to reconnect with a piece of your soul you are leaving behind knowing full well it's a vicious cycle that can't be solved"
JRS 1955

 

[skydiver386]

Of course there was a desire to return, but also a wanderlust to see other places, and pursue other species. New Zealand for Tahr and Chamois, Australia for Buff, Argentina for Dove, etc.

God only gave us so many days on this Earth, spend it wisely.

 

[Hunt anything]

I’m always looking, but get serious when the previous hunt is paid off and the trophies are on the wall.I will look at what area, country and animals I want to pursue. This keeps me going every 3-4 years and in our financial situation works out just right.

 

[BeeMaa]

Of course there was a desire to return, but also a wanderlust to see other places, and pursue other species. New Zealand for Tahr and Chamois, Australia for Buff, Argentina for Dove, etc.

God only gave us so many days on this Earth, spend it wisely.

We consider all of those pursuits “safaris” of some sort, if not in Africa specifically. Even doing something out of the ordinary in the US.