What gifts do you bring back from your safari?

[RichD]

I'm not thinking about trophies or hides, but rather what you bring back for your spouse, kids, family, and friends. When I came back from Botswana in 2023, I brought a gold pendant in the shape of Africa and bracelet for my wife; a painted ostrich egg shell and bracelet for our daughter; and our grandson just wanted a zebra stuffed animal. When I go to East Cape I'm not sure what to get, but my wife liked the ostrich shell.

 

[JimP]

On my first trip I brought back a few warthog tusk bottle openers for my drinking friends.

On my last trip I picked up a couple carved ostrich egg shells and holders for my sisters. I had planned on getting a few items in the Joberg airport but our check in with Qatar was such a cluster that it took the 3 hours that I had to spare to get checked in.

 

[Andrew62]

It's wonderful you bought your wife such nice gifts, often times it is the thoughtfulness that counts as much as the gift itself.

 

[Pablo]

“My Dad went hunting in South Africa and all I got was this lousy t-shirt”

 

[Field28]

Earrings, bracelets, pendants etc seem to go over well with the ladies.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Going against the grain, jewelry is something personal and a crap shoot. I've brought some back and it permanently rests in a jewelry box. Same goes for clothing. I've had better luck with Africa themed refrigerator magnets. YMMV

 

[Firebird]

Wood carvings and ostrich eggs go well. I try to find a nice carving or bronze for myself. I think most photography parks have a gift shop which is nice because you can pack them in your luggage. At the airport you have may have already checked your luggage and gifts get stuck in your carry on. I’ve made it work both ways.
I’ve always wanted to find a roadside carver and get something that way-might need to go to Namibia to find what I’m looking for. . .

 

[Field28]

Going against the grain, jewelry is something personal and a crap shoot. I've brought some back and it permanently rests in a jewelry box. Same goes for clothing. I've had better luck with Africa themed refrigerator magnets. YMMV

I brought back some magnets last time as well. One of the shops in Tambo had a good selection of handmade Christmas tree ornaments... elephant, giraffe, lion etc. I brought back a few of those as well.

 

[meigsbucks]

Heading back from Zim, stopped at the Out of Africa shop at Tambo. Picked up some magnets t-shirts and hats.
In Namibia, picked up some magnets at a gift shop at the airport.

 

[DLSJR]

Instead of bringing gifts back for my kids and wife, I’ve taken them with me to enjoy Africa together. My wife has been to Zambia & Zimbabwe with me, my daughter has been to South Africa and then to Kenya & Tanzania along with her boyfriend and came back engaged after he proposed at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Finally, my son has gone with me three times, once to South Africa and twice to Tanzania. He thinks his dad is a good guy since I took him buffalo hunting on Maswa North and Madaba in the Selous. So, they don’t get gifts, I do when I get to enjoy having them with me.

The only person whom I buy gifts for is my 3-year old granddaughter. And someday I’ll be taking her hunting with us, when she’s old enough to join us.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I'm not thinking about trophies or hides, but rather what you bring back for your spouse, kids, family, and friends. When I came back from Botswana in 2023, I brought a gold pendant in the shape of Africa and bracelet for my wife; a painted ostrich egg shell and bracelet for our daughter; and our grandson just wanted a zebra stuffed animal. When I go to East Cape I'm not sure what to get, but my wife liked the ostrich shell.

I brought back a 1/10 Kruger rand, set in a gold bezel and chain for my.wife and another for my mother. I also brought back s few cheap trinkets for hunting buddies. We didn't have any kids at the time.

39 years later I went on another safari. This time my wife went with me, so I put her in charge of gifts for daughter and grandchildren. I also got a leather cartridge carrier for my son-in-law. He hunts, so that was a good gift.