Safari frequency?

[Fatback]

I went in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2022. Got trips planned for 2023, 2024 and hopefully 2025. The 9 year break was due to work responsibilities and having to use more financial resources for my family. Also did an expensive sheep/caribou hunt in 2021 that took me a couple of years to save for. I’m going to hunt as much as I can for as long as I can while still making family responsibilities the most important. We only get one shot at this life, so as long as my responsibilities are met, I’m going hunting.

 

[Philip Glass]

So, guys
experienced and seasoned safari hunters.

In theory I could go once per year on a plains game safari, but I have a bit problematic schedule at work.
So, in 5 years, I have been (only) 3 times on safari.

What is your estimated safari frequency?

More then once per year?
Once per year?
Once every second year?
Once every 5 years?
Once in a lifetime?

How often can you manage taking the trip, plains game or dangerous game, irrelevant?

I go once or twice a year usually but this year I have 3 safaris In 3 countries.
I've always said that if I could I would do one Africa trip and one mountain hunting trip a year.
I think once the bug has bitten most people go as often as they can afford. If I were to offer advice, I would say an every other year scenario with different countries and different game would be ideal for most folks that are able.
Fun discussion!

 

[Ridgewalker]

I envy every one! Do it while you can! I feel fortunate to have managed 4 hunts in Africa. Had one more booked and all the paperwork and permissions signed to take my granddaughter, then covid messed it up. Also a plan to go to Zambia for buff and leopard. Family health issues have pretty much stopped my enthusiasm. Maybe, hopefully I can restart with my granddaughter in a couple of years for her high school graduation if my health (I’ll be 78) and the family’s health improve. Granddaughter was so disappointed it broke my heart.
If nothing else at least I get to live you guy’s experiences through reports on AH! Thanks for all your efforts posting them!

 

[mark-hunter]

I go once or twice a year usually but this year I have 3 safaris In 3 countries.

You are legend of this forum @Philip Glass!

 

[Rickmt]

I go to SA every 2 years . I continue to focus on large property’s where the game is naturally occurring. My son likes to go and that is a big plus for me.

 

[Philip Glass]

You are legend of this forum @Philip Glass!

 

[IdaRam]

I try to go about every other year, which is half as frequently as I would like and about twice as frequently as I can actually afford! Part of my master plan to deny my children and grand children any meaningful inheritance

 

[Rare Breed]

Have been over 8 times starting in 1985. Some dry years then more frequent later on, never every year though.
Planned a hunt just before the Kung Flu hit and that queered that!
Now find myself somewhat less than enthusiastic about the travel which I always hated and pushing 70 now I doubt I will go again. Not saying never.....
I think if I never got on a plane again it would suit me just fine.

May I say contrer!!! You are still a young man!!! Awesome you have been 8 times!

 

[Rare Breed]

Philip Glass is indeed a legend and I count myself fortunate to call him my friend!!!

 

[sestoppelman]

May I say contrer!!! You are still a young man!!! Awesome you have been 8 times!

If the fire gets relit, I would do it. But I figure if I have to talk myself into it, the fire is out, at least for now.
Young man you say? I dont feel a day over 85!

 

[thi9elsp]

I went in 2011 and 2016. Both remote (Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe and Niassa Province, Mozambique) for buffalo and plains game. I want to do the Caprivi (I can't get used to saying Zambezia??) for buffalo and own use / management elephant. Maybe in 2025.

Budget and other trips my wife and I want to do keep me from going more often. And, rather than 4-6 plains game hunts, I've decided to go to remote and dangerous. I feel that is the beauty of Africa, each hunter can approach it their own way and it is the right way for them.

 

[MarkB]

Priorities in life dictate safaris. Family, kids, work and mostly finances. Seamed easier when I worked. Then divorce, kids grew up and retirement in 2017. First 4 were all wild, huge areas, Zim and Namibia, then bug bit in 2018, then another bug hit in 2019 that delayed SA until 2021.

My hunts seam further apart than most posts on here. Normal was every 5-8 years, spent time and money on NA game and fishing many places. Now even 2 years since last safari I am aching to return, I long for Zim and wild again. Time to rethink leaving the kids any inheritance, living and returning to Africa.

Envy those who have the ability for multiple trips yearly. Seams @Philip Glass has it about perfect. Well done.

MB

 

[Pheroze]

I have been twice, six years apart. I will be 56 this year, and my plan is to go back with a particular goal of hunting buffalo in different environments. Any PG would be an add-on. I have not figured out the timing yet and the locations.

 

[Stormy Kromer]

I have been on one (1 ) safari in my 57 years. I have been on several US hunts as a non resident in states other than my home state of MN over the last 30 years. I hunt one western state each year. I see that changing and fast. The western states are making it more difficult and expensive for our fellow US residents to hunt on our federal land. I know that in the US wild game is regulated by the states and I respect that. But, Wyoming is set to cut non resident licenses in half and double the fees in 2024.. They're losing me and a lot of other conservation minded members of groups such as the RMEF. Non residents aren't going to give time and money to causes that won't let them participate. By the time a non resident draws an elk tag in WY they've got $2,000 and 5 years into the license.....I'll be too old. I won't even get into the non residents who have been buying sheep and moose points all these years.... money down the drain, thousands of dollars for no hope of ever drawing a license now.

I have 8 years and several hundred $$ in preference points to draw a pronghorn antelope license in Wyoming. The license is going to about $900 next year when I may have enough points to hope to draw. For the opportunity to hunt federal land.

For real, you can go to Africa and hunt several species for less then an average pronghorn antelope hunt in the US today.

States have the right to determine who gets to get a license in their state. I can't afford it anymore and am considering stopping to fund groups such as RMEF and other conservation groups if they don't support affordable opportunity for all hunters. Residents can fund their own way if they want to conserve public land to hunt on.

Sorry for the rant.

Its looking like Africa is going to be my new hunting land.

 

[JimP]

I have been on one (1 ) safari in my 57 years. I have been on several US hunts as a non resident in states other than my home state of MN over the last 30 years. I hunt one western state each year. I see that changing and fast. The western states are making it more difficult and expensive for our fellow US residents to hunt on our federal land. I know that in the US wild game is regulated by the states and I respect that. But, Wyoming is set to cut non resident licenses in half and double the fees in 2024.. They're losing me and a lot of other conservation minded members of groups such as the RMEF. Non residents aren't going to give time and money to causes that won't let them participate. By the time a non resident draws an elk tag in WY they've got $2,000 and 5 years into the license.....I'll be too old. I won't even get into the non residents who have been buying sheep and moose points all these years.... money down the drain, thousands of dollars for no hope of ever drawing a license now.

I have 8 years and several hundred $$ in preference points to draw a pronghorn antelope license in Wyoming. The license is going to about $900 next year when I may have enough points to hope to draw. For the opportunity to hunt federal land.

For real, you can go to Africa and hunt several species for less then an average pronghorn antelope hunt in the US today.

States have the right to determine who gets to get a license in their state. I can't afford it anymore and am considering stopping to fund groups such as RMEF and other conservation groups if they don't support affordable opportunity for all hunters. Residents can fund their own way if they want to conserve public land to hunt on.

Sorry for the rant.

Its looking like Africa is going to be my new hunting land.

Can you hunt pronghorn, elk, moose, mule deer, rocky mountain goats, bighorn sheep, or a number of other animals that live here in the US in Africa?

I you have several hundred dollars tied up in 8 preference points there is something wrong.

I'd also like to see where you got your information on a Wyoming pronghorn costing $900 in 2024.

 

[Pondoro]

I have gone every year since 2013...will not this year but definitely next year..

I curse myself for not going since the late eighties..

 

[Scott CWO]

Can you hunt pronghorn, elk, moose, mule deer, rocky mountain goats, bighorn sheep, or a number of other animals that live here in the US in Africa?

I you have several hundred dollars tied up in 8 preference points there is something wrong.

I'd also like to see where you got your information on a Wyoming pronghorn costing $900 in 2024.

Special antelope is $629 plus application fees. Not $900 but expensive. Preference point is $31 per year. Deer $41 and elk $51.

 

[Cleathorn]

Always interesting to see what other guys are doing. And this thread gives me something to do on the plane from Spain to Italy.

I’ve done 9 African safaris since 2010. I currently have trips booked for RSA in August, Uganda in January, Cameroon in March, and Namibia in July 2023.

I am typing this on the plane from Spain, where I just completed the Spanish Capra slam. I’ve hunted Spain 3x in last 2 years.

I’ve also hunted Slovenia, Macedonia, and multiple provinces in Canada in the last 10 years. Argentina 2x for the typical red deer, black buck, water Buffalo, plus some high volume dove. New Zealand in 2022 for Tahr, chamois, feral goat and Arapawa rams.

I also like to fish, so there have been fishing trips to Mexico, Europe, Australia (2x), New Zealand (2x), Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Bonaire, Belize (few times), Figi.

I can’t/don’t keep track of hunting and fishing in the US anymore. It’s frequent.

I also have 5 kids and a wife that will hunt and fish with me, so that helps. I take 1 or 2 each time, so I get to spend some great time with the kids, and/or my wife. That makes each trip worth every penny I’ve spent (I’ve spent a lot of pennies).

if I counted correctly, I’ve done 32 international hunting or fishing trips since 2010. It’s been a good run.

 

[zip4644]

I have my third trip in 3 years in September and my fourth in November. I also have a trip planned for September of 24....the Africa bug bites hard when it bites....I am fortunate that my family likes to go as well....I figure I will continue to hunt Africa until I can't anymore or until I get rich and can afford to hunt in North America .....

 

[TSIBINDI]

...First trip, 1988 at age 50. Final trip, 2017 age 79. Twenty-five trips in 30 years. Shortest S/A ten days. Longest Zim fifty-one days. Toss the low/high, the average in country was twenty-six days.