Been a "lurker" here off and on for several years. Been active on a few other sites and just checking in on this one from time to time. Was kind of active on AR for a long time, just finally got sick of the sites owner and his constant anti-American and anti-west in general BS. Decided to drop off there and join here.
Retired military (AF) 28 years. Spent over half of that time overseas for extended tours, Germany for 4-years, Saudi Arabia twice for a year+ each, Kuwait for a year, Italy/Bosnia for three years total and numerous short times into Afghanistan and Iraq. After 9/11, I was assigned to HQ USCENTCOM and spent the last 9-years of my career there as a staff monkey in the J5 coordinating Coalition force offers into the AOR. Traveled to 68 of the 83 Coalition countries during that time. Those trips were for the most part to European, a couple in the Pacific, a few in Africa and if the last part of their name is "stan". Specific African countries were: Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and a couple other unmentionables.
First trip as a "4-legged" hunter was to Namibia while I was still on active duty. Fell in love with the country and went back again the following year with a mil buddy. Retired in 2010 and have been going back several times a year every years since then to hunt. My wife and I have rented cars and traveled all over the country and in the past 10-years I've accumulated just under 3-years total "in country".
In 2011, I singed up for an completed a PH school in KZN. I knew going in I couldn't have a PH lic. as I was not a citizen nor permanent resident and I would never be granted "residency" status as I wasn't "tan" enough. I did it just for my own knowledge and training. Had to go a couple of weeks before the class started to "hunt" with the schools founder/owner, Ian Goss, so he could assess my knowledge and hunting skills. I was given a list of books to read as well as "the accordance" to pretty much memorize before I arrived 6-weeks later. In summary, I passed Ian's initial assessments, passed the course and the full written KZN exam. Stayed an extra week to hunt for fun after the school was over.
Since then, I've been organizing small groups of 2-4 hunters for trips into Namibia to my friend's place in the mountains in the NW part of the country, 45k east of Kamanjob. Sometimes its a couple of trips a year.
Once guy I've taken a couple of times asked if I could organize a trip for him "someplace else". Dug around and found a place in the Tuli block of Botswana with a side trip across the boarder to RSA for a croc. We did that in Jun 2019 and had such a great time, I took my wife back that Aug and we did 10-days of culling in Namibia and then 10-days of culling in Botswana.
This year (2020), I had organized two trips to Botswana, one in Jun and second in Aug. Still hopeful the WuFlu will get sorted out and both or at least the Aug trip will still be "a go".
I normally try to put together 2-3 trips ten to fourteen day trips a year between Namibia and now Botswana. I'm not a professional "booking agent" or "outfitter". I just do this for fun. I've been VERY fortunate in my life/career (everything is still attached and works for the most part). I truly love Africa and helping others who've had an African safari as a life long dream or don't hae anyone to go with and don't want to go to "the dark continent" alone, to "make it happen".
I don't get a "cut" or a "commission". If I go, I pay my own way. I'll help with sorting out airline tickets, lodging to/from if needed etc. If you go to either my friend's place in Namibia or Botswana, I can help with rifle permits and travel documents to get there and back and generally whatever is needed to help hunters get there.
Please feel free to pm me if you want more information.
Retired military (AF) 28 years. Spent over half of that time overseas for extended tours, Germany for 4-years, Saudi Arabia twice for a year+ each, Kuwait for a year, Italy/Bosnia for three years total and numerous short times into Afghanistan and Iraq. After 9/11, I was assigned to HQ USCENTCOM and spent the last 9-years of my career there as a staff monkey in the J5 coordinating Coalition force offers into the AOR. Traveled to 68 of the 83 Coalition countries during that time. Those trips were for the most part to European, a couple in the Pacific, a few in Africa and if the last part of their name is "stan". Specific African countries were: Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and a couple other unmentionables.
First trip as a "4-legged" hunter was to Namibia while I was still on active duty. Fell in love with the country and went back again the following year with a mil buddy. Retired in 2010 and have been going back several times a year every years since then to hunt. My wife and I have rented cars and traveled all over the country and in the past 10-years I've accumulated just under 3-years total "in country".
In 2011, I singed up for an completed a PH school in KZN. I knew going in I couldn't have a PH lic. as I was not a citizen nor permanent resident and I would never be granted "residency" status as I wasn't "tan" enough. I did it just for my own knowledge and training. Had to go a couple of weeks before the class started to "hunt" with the schools founder/owner, Ian Goss, so he could assess my knowledge and hunting skills. I was given a list of books to read as well as "the accordance" to pretty much memorize before I arrived 6-weeks later. In summary, I passed Ian's initial assessments, passed the course and the full written KZN exam. Stayed an extra week to hunt for fun after the school was over.
Since then, I've been organizing small groups of 2-4 hunters for trips into Namibia to my friend's place in the mountains in the NW part of the country, 45k east of Kamanjob. Sometimes its a couple of trips a year.
Once guy I've taken a couple of times asked if I could organize a trip for him "someplace else". Dug around and found a place in the Tuli block of Botswana with a side trip across the boarder to RSA for a croc. We did that in Jun 2019 and had such a great time, I took my wife back that Aug and we did 10-days of culling in Namibia and then 10-days of culling in Botswana.
This year (2020), I had organized two trips to Botswana, one in Jun and second in Aug. Still hopeful the WuFlu will get sorted out and both or at least the Aug trip will still be "a go".
I normally try to put together 2-3 trips ten to fourteen day trips a year between Namibia and now Botswana. I'm not a professional "booking agent" or "outfitter". I just do this for fun. I've been VERY fortunate in my life/career (everything is still attached and works for the most part). I truly love Africa and helping others who've had an African safari as a life long dream or don't hae anyone to go with and don't want to go to "the dark continent" alone, to "make it happen".
I don't get a "cut" or a "commission". If I go, I pay my own way. I'll help with sorting out airline tickets, lodging to/from if needed etc. If you go to either my friend's place in Namibia or Botswana, I can help with rifle permits and travel documents to get there and back and generally whatever is needed to help hunters get there.
Please feel free to pm me if you want more information.
