I should be in Africa right now!

[wesheltonj]

No hunting trips cancelled, but a vacation trip to Antarctica and Patagonia cancelled due to Covid. Finally going this year.

 

[sestoppelman]

Not that close, but I did have a much anticipated trip to Zambia planned when my wife was diagnosed with cancer, so had to cancel that.
Her cancer is now in remission, but it wouldn't feel right dashing off to Africa while she still deals with it, so probably not much chance of it happening anytime soon, if ever.
Good that I went early and often.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I can relate. I was supposed to be hunting hippopotamus on land in Tanzania again by now. But I can’t because of my newly appointed government post.

I can’t take it anymore. Africa needs me again !

 

[Field28]

Well, as much as I hated to not go, I made the right decision. My 87 year old father who has been bed ridden for two years finally had to go to a long term care facility. Brand new Veterans home through our State Veterans Administration, very nice place. I'll be damned if he hadn't thrived in there. They wait on them hand and foot. Dad had damn near withered away, I went to see him Saturday and he's gained some weight, gotten his color back and doing well in general. He was all jacked up to play pictionary which was that afternoon's activity.

While we were getting Dad settled, his wife, my Stepmother who is 86 had to have an emergency coronary catheter.

My Stepfather 84, had to have an emergency pacemaker procedure. The procedure had numerous complications, a small tear in one of his lungs for one. While in the hospital he contracted covid.
A night later my mom called to check on him and was told that he had contracted MRSA. Well, he didn't have MRSA but did have pneumonia. We finally got him home last week after a three week hospital stay.

So, I definitely would have had to cut my trip short and fly back. Family comes first!
Next years trip will be all that much sweeter, damn it's gonna be good to drink a cold Castle or Windhoek sitting by the fire in the Boma! Next year will be special!

 

[dchum]

Well, as much as I hated to not go, I made the right decision. My 87 year old father who has been bed ridden for two years finally had to go to a long term care facility. Brand new Veterans home through our State Veterans Administration, very nice place. I'll be damned if he hadn't thrived in there. They wait on them hand and foot. Dad had damn near withered away, I went to see him Saturday and he's gained some weight, gotten his color back and doing well in general. He was all jacked up to play pictionary which was that afternoon's activity.

While we were getting Dad settled, his wife, my Stepmother who is 86 had to have an emergency coronary catheter.

My Stepfather 84, had to have an emergency pacemaker procedure. The procedure had numerous complications, a small tear in one of his lungs for one. While in the hospital he contracted covid.
A night later my mom called to check on him and was told that he had contracted MRSA. Well, he didn't have MRSA but did have pneumonia. We finally got him home last week after a three week hospital stay.

So, I definitely would have had to cut my trip short and fly back. Family comes first!
Next years trip will be all that much sweeter, damn it's gonna be good to drink a cold Castle or Windhoek sitting by the fire in the Boma! Next year will be special!

You’re a good man

 

[cajunchefray]

I thought about canceling my 2023 safari due to my dad having Alzheimer’s. I was having to be involved quite a bit with his care. Luckily my Uncle stepped up and took over while I was gone. I still worried a lot about him and my mom while I was gone, due to the logistics it would take to get home in case of an emergency. My dad passed away in April 2024, and I was able to return to Zim this year for an elephant hunt. Now my mom is getting pretty old and her mind isn’t what it used to be either. So I may have to put international trips on hold for awhile.

All that just to say I completely understand!

I really understand that situation that can go from difficult to stressful. Prayers for your mom.

 

[Happy Myles]

I am sensitive to the old age issue as I am 86. My last safari I was 81 I still managed to take 10 head of plains game with 10 shots using my 6.5x284. Plus a couple Buff with a 416 Rem. I now live vicariously through these pages for African hunting.

 

[dchum]

I am sensitive to the old age issue as I am 86. My last safari I was 81 I still managed to take 10 head of plains game with 10 shots using my 6.5x284. Plus a couple Buff with a 416 Rem. I now live vicariously through these pages for African hunting.

And we are so happy to have you and your amazing story’s and knowledge of Africa.

Thanks for always sharing a cool bit of info from your life of hunting