I don't think much is off the table.
African Safari advice needed
- Thread starter Big Game
- Start date
I don't think much is off the table.
Thanks for the advice KMG. I know I'd love to shoot a Kudu, might have to sell a few firearms to afford it. I was also thinking Gemsbok but I heard that Namibia was better for them. I know I'll fall in love with Africa and want to go back but don't know if I'll ever be able to afford it again, that's why I'm torn between spending my available funds on one extra animal ($2400/kudu) as opposed to several cheaper animals. Guess I'll make that decision when I get there. Is a cull Kudu worth the money?
KMG Canada
CGN Regular
- Location
- Alfred, Ontario
Big Game, IMHO Namibia is the better place for a Gemsbok, not to say there aren't corkers in RSA, but you will definitely pay less in Namibia. A cull kudu will give the same feel as if hunting a trophy kudu, but it is a rather expensive cull hunt. I would hunt the trophy Kudu and go with some other animals that are much cheaper for cull hunting, depending on what your outfitter has available like Impala, Warthogs and Blesbok for example. You mention that this might be your one and only hunt in Africa, you will probably regret not chasing that Kudu! Africa leaves quite an impression ... you will want to go back!
For easy math, take whatever you are quoted as a package price and double it. Then convert that to Canadian. Then add 5000 for airfare, incidentals and tips. That will get you close, but it won't get your trophies mounted or home. The good part is much of it can be spread over 2 or 3 years.
Note to self. Don't smile at the local girls. I think my wife would be unimpressed with me...
Im kinda shocked i haven't seen this come up before on threads discussing Africa...
Yeah, and if the missus is holding a gun, could end badly for you. What with the risk of lead poisoning and all.
That's not an uncommon position to be in. Many people have more
hunting rifles than they could ever hunt, and keep on buying yet somehow feel like they can't
afford the trips where they can actually use what they already have.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Thanks for the cold hard truth. When I went to Africa 20 years ago, I owned a 22, a shotgun and a rifle. I took the rifle with me. Now I have a safe full of guns, but haven't been back. Maybe it's time to revisit priorities.
KMG Canada
CGN Regular
- Location
- Alfred, Ontario
Reminds me of a Capstick quote, something like "When you are on your death bed will you remember the lion charge or paying off your mortgage"
I actually used it with my better half when talking about some upcoming lion hunts. I'd like to think it worked ... but probably the remodeled kitchen was much more effective in sealing the deal on the hunt
I have avoided these threads for the past few years and will still avoid giving much advice HOWEVER......I highly recommend that you go to see your banker and borrow what ever you are deficient for a dream hunt including all the plains animals you want. Chances are you may only go once unless your financial position improves greatly so do it right and pay it off over the next 3-5 years. It seems everyone can afford to finance a new 30-70,000 dollar pickup that will be worthless in 15 years, but can't seem to justify it for a lifetime of memories. I had to borrow for my first hunt over there and didn't even notice the 3 or 4 hundred a month it took to pay it off over a couple or three years.........things were much cheaper then. The principal is still sound though, I find it funny that it is absolutely impossible to save 30,000 dollars in 5 years but one can pay it off after the fact, in five years, without breaking a sweat.
So there is my one jewel of advice to the first time African hunter and I can absolutely state that you can take this advice and you will never regret it. What you will regret is skimping on your first and possibly only chance to hunt AFRICA!!!!
Oh ya..........second rule.......don't smile at the local girls !!!
So there is my one jewel of advice to the first time African hunter and I can absolutely state that you can take this advice and you will never regret it. What you will regret is skimping on your first and possibly only chance to hunt AFRICA!!!!
Oh ya..........second rule.......don't smile at the local girls !!!
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Sounds like very sound advice.......both parts!
My taxidermy will probably be limited to skull mounts and maybe one shoulder mount for me and one for my wife, depends on the quality of the animals. Plan on shooting lots of photos.
Travel in clothes you would hunt in. Slip a change of clothes into your carry-on with your binos and camera.. Wear your boots so you don't have to weigh them. That way you can lose all your luggage and still go hunting. You can borrow a rifle if you need to.
Scan your passport, any permits, tickets, licences and basically any scrap of paper that might be needed and email them to yourself. That way you can lose everything and still retrieve it if you can get to a internet connection.
If youre hunting with a friend, pack half of his ammo and you pack half of his. You probably wont both lose your luggage.
Roll with the punches. There's too much going on for everything to go perfect, so dust yourself off and get right back at it. If you're the type that is going to go into a rant and rave when things don't go right you'd probably be happier staying home. You'll likely have TIAB explained to you a few times. Remember you aren't in the first world anymore. In many countries they couldn't see the second world if they stood on a chair, if they had a chair. Many don't.
Resist the urge to try to change the world.
Scan your passport, any permits, tickets, licences and basically any scrap of paper that might be needed and email them to yourself. That way you can lose everything and still retrieve it if you can get to a internet connection.
If youre hunting with a friend, pack half of his ammo and you pack half of his. You probably wont both lose your luggage.
Roll with the punches. There's too much going on for everything to go perfect, so dust yourself off and get right back at it. If you're the type that is going to go into a rant and rave when things don't go right you'd probably be happier staying home. You'll likely have TIAB explained to you a few times. Remember you aren't in the first world anymore. In many countries they couldn't see the second world if they stood on a chair, if they had a chair. Many don't.
Resist the urge to try to change the world.
If you have a 2 gun Pelican case with three layers of foam, remove the center layer. Then you can slip two rifles already inside soft cases into the hard case. If you go with the more traditional cut-out foam or two layer compression foam try to at least have the serial numbers on top.
Okay, I will chip in a tad more advice.........
Make a list of the animals you want and prioritize it, from the ones you absolutely can't go home without, to the okay if I see one I'll likely pop it ones. Make your PH aware of your priority animals before you arrive as they will plan times and places and allotted hunting times for your priorities, with the other lesser important stuff thrown in along they way as you see descent ones. This can save a lot of time in the wrong places if it is known in advance.
Make a list of the animals you want and prioritize it, from the ones you absolutely can't go home without, to the okay if I see one I'll likely pop it ones. Make your PH aware of your priority animals before you arrive as they will plan times and places and allotted hunting times for your priorities, with the other lesser important stuff thrown in along they way as you see descent ones. This can save a lot of time in the wrong places if it is known in advance.
What makes other parts of the world so great is that they aren't the same as ours. I could never understand people that got all pissy because things weren't the same as at home. Why bother leaving home then?
