I should be in Africa right now!

[Field28]

So, as I write this I should've just finished up lunch at The Rat and Parrot in Grahamstown and be heading into the bush to chase a Kudu, instead I am Stateside running a job site.

I should've started hunting in Eastern Cape on the 7th. With elderly parents and stepparrents having multiple health problems arrise at the same time I decided that this was not the time to be a couple of travel days away. Lost some deposit money, that's not a huge deal.
Trying to have the attitude that next years trip will be all that more special.

Anyone else had to cancel within a month or two before flying over? Curious to hear?

 

[slam8031]

I feel your pain! I was on the runway last night to take off to go to ATL to head to JNB and the engine failed on takeoff--which is better than it could have been... fortunately rescheduled for today!! My hunting buddy had to cancel due to personal health concerns two months ago.

 

[BourbonTrail]

I canceled the day I was supposed to leave for my first safari (2021) due to a false positive Covid test. It was pretty awful. I made the most of it when I finally went in 2022.

 

[Doug3006]

I’d imagine that more than a few of us had to cancel safaris due to COVID. I did. In my case, we rescheduled and Buzz Charlton and Miles McCallum applied our deposits to the next year. Although we had to change the month of the safari. It all worked out, but it was still a hard thing to take.

You’ll get to Africa next year and I’m sure you’ll have a great time.

 

[mdwest]

We had a 2020 hunt planned that got cancelled due to COVID (I would have gone... but South Africa didn't want me visiting lol)..

As soon as the country opened back up, we were on a plane (within a month or two)..

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I had to cancel a safari in June of 2020 due to Covid. Went go Alaska fishing instead

 

[Skshyk]

Tell me about it! I was suppose to leave on the 6th for 21 days in Tanzania but due to flooding I had to postpone to June 28th!

 

[Adipose]

Although it certainly is not fun having to cancel a trip, I am sure it is a lot harder for the outfitter that heard this one month before the hunt especially if you were the only one scheduled that week or month. Its got to be tough when you make the majority or all of your income in 4-6 months.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

June 2020 trip cancelled like everyone else’s due to Covid. Moved to June 2021 and the day of departure woke up with 103 fever and had cancel all plans. Luckily Jennifer was able to handle all the changes and got me on a flight 7 days later. Outfitter adjusted his plans and schedule. This was a 23 day trip covering several areas and I wasn’t missing it!

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

July 2023, I was a couple days from heading to Zambia, when I fell off a ladder and fractured two vertebrae. From the emergency room, I sent messages to Jennifer at @TRAVEL EXPRESS and Mike at @spike.t and postpone things. I healed up enough that I was able to reschedule for a few months later.

I also had an archery elk hunt planned for September 2023 and knew I couldn’t handle the rigors of that hunt. I had paid a 50% deposit and was on the hook for the other 50%. I was fortunate that my Montana outfitter and friend had a long waiting list. The outfitter reached out to a couple guys that had a tag and we worked out a deal where everyone was happy.

 

[Muskox]

So, as I write this I should've just finished up lunch at The Rat and Parrot in Grahamstown and be heading into the bush to chase a Kudu, instead I am Stateside running a job site.

I should've started hunting in Eastern Cape on the 7th. With elderly parents and stepparrents having multiple health problems arrise at the same time I decided that this was not the time to be a couple of travel days away. Lost some deposit money, that's not a huge deal.
Trying to have the attitude that next years trip will be all that more special.

Anyone else had to cancel within a month or two before flying over? Curious to hear?

Cancelled a European hunt 15 days prior last year in Poland. Lost the deposit. Cancelled another hunt this year in Slovenia. Going next week.

 

[PARA45]

I leave Saturday to South Africa, and I hope and pray that there are no delays.

 

[Field28]

Miss this place!!!

 

[Fatback]

Had to reschedule from 2020 to 2022 (Covid) for my first cape buffalo hunt. My outfitter/PH was very understanding and we got it worked out. Had a great hunt in 2022 and was able to take my first buffalo on that hunt.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

About six years ago when I hunted my first buff in the Save I twisted my ankle badly two days before. X-ray showed nothing broken, but the area was black and blue and painful. "You can't go", they said. So I went and it hardly bothered me, until I got home.
Then a few years ago I was booked to go on a hunt with some buddies. It just didn't feel right, I wasnt in the right place and cancelled. They went and had a great time, I didn't miss it at all. Funny how that happens occasionally.

 

[pilar]

I feel your frustration, last year right before we were getting ready to leave, I came down with a E. coli infection in my kidney that I caught at the doctors office,a week in the hospital and doctor almost laughed when I said Zimbabwe, this year I’m in same situation as you , mother in law has dementia and wife said 2026 please

 

[Stubbleduck]

Not Africa but one week before my planned Manitoba bear hunting trip in mid May I got a call that the outfitters hunting area was 80% plus burned over by one of the wildfires and the Provincial government had closed all access to the area. I told the outfitter, I've hunted with him several times in the past, that I considered this a Force Majure type event and that he owed me nothing.

 

[GuttormG]

Stuck here this week, so quiet I am going to claim some kind of wilderness compensation

On the other hand, I am close to beeing able to claim I have been everywhere

 

[Altitude sickness]

I’ve had hunts canceled due to weather, fire, viruses, sketchy outfitters disappearing.

The worst was 4 weeks before my first Alaska drop camp moose hunt. I was team roping steers and my green roping horse got into the wrong lead and when making the turn. He tripped and fell on me. Skidded to a stop on my left leg. Turning my foot 180 degrees. I and everyone in the arena heard the Tibia, Fibula And ankle bones Snap.

After surgery I let my doctor know I was going to Alaska. He of course said not only no. But hell no.

Of course I went anyway. I crawled everywhere. Long story boring. I shot my moose. I cut while my buddies packed it to the raft.

Turns out sitting on a high point and calling works.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Yeah I got some interesting looks when being dropped for 2 weeks. But I had some very capable friends along.