How many times have you been there? Where are we with out experience?

[mark-hunter]

I sense that for most of the people who you mention, Africa is too far out of their "comfort zone." They will always be "interested" but will continue to make excuses until time has passed them by.

Exactly. I think the same. Somehow, I can't help myself but feel sorry for them. Maybe it sounds harsh, but it is how I feel.

 

[mark-hunter]

1 photo safari - never again

Why not?

 

[Tanks]

Some of my friends are "interested" only. But they "need to collect first all the local species", or they are building the house, or have no time, or have no money at this point, and generally, they will never go.
Those are either priority issues, or moving from their comfort zone issue, or real budget constraints.

One factor, that applies to USA people is vacation time. A lot of younger people tend to take a lot of vacation time as a day there and a day here than contiguous 10 days etc..

One of my engineering companies had about 150 employees before I sold it. I offered an extra week of vacation to anyone that took all of their vacation contiguously as I had read a study that stated people were much more productive if they took vacation time all at once. Hardly anyone took me up on it, barely 30%.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Twice. And I was unaware that my number was the same as Hemingway.

My goal is every other year. Divorce derailed that this year. I hope to get back on track.

 

[Franco]

Why not?

Photographers

 

[Cooposo]

I’m a rookie. I decided to double up for my first time over, in August of 2026. I’m starting with a few days in Cape Town with my wife, which will be our first consecutive days both together and away from the kids since Aug 2023.

Then my wife and I will head to the eastern cape for 7 days with @KMG Hunting Safaris

After that was scheduled I was fortunate to find more room in my schedule. And somehow a Model 70 in 416 Rem Mag appeared in my gun safe. What to do, what to do? I considered buffalo, and Marius and others were more than accommodating in trying to find something to work with my schedule. In the end I decided to do something different entirely.

So now the second leg will be sending my wife home the states and back to the kids, meeting my German-speaking younger brother in Windhoek, and taking him for 5 days hunting with Kowas. He will be hunting management animals. I will target eland, Hartmann zebra, and oryx.

I thought on this first trip over I’d rather put the money toward helping him get over to Africa and hunting a different country altogether than going for buffalo. We’ll see how it goes!

 

[mark-hunter]

And I was unaware that my number was the same as Hemingway.

Safaris of yesteryear were different than modern-day safari.
Old day safaris were a few months long, and they were generally full bag safaris.
Full bag safari is still posible in Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe.... But is coming very expensive.

Modern safaris are generally specialized, and shorte" 1 week, 2 weeks, either for a few plains game species, or specific big game species, or specific high-value plains game species. So most of the sport hunters took one or two safaris in the old days in their lifetime.
That was sufficient for a lifelong memory and trophies. This was Hemingway time.

Hemingway went on first safari in 1933, and wrote "Green Hills of Africa".

Second trip, he took in 1953-54, this safari was partially sponosred by "Look" magazine, and his than wifes family.

He wrote the article in "Look" magazine about this safari

Hemingway Writes on Africa - Look Magazine 1954 / The Explora - Premier Online Field Sports & Gun Journal

For the full article please click this link.

www.westleyrichards.com

He then wrote, following the last safari, the book "True at First Light". A book, less known in our culture, which was posthumously published by his son.
It took him few years, the last years of his life to write it, and while he was still alive, it was not published.

On his second and last safari, he experienced an airplane crash, wich left him with fast-developing neurogical problem, which affected his writing ability progressively deteriorating.

 

[rinehart0050]

I think many clients arrive on their first safari thinking one and done.

If they leave satisfied without intention of returning, they probably missed the plot!

Africa is truly addictive! 4 safaris - RSA x2, Zimbabwe x1, Cameroon x1. Ready for as much more as my pocket book can handle!

 

[mark-hunter]

If they leave satisfied without intention of returning, they probably missed the plot!

I think that in order to return, a hunter must catch a bite of Safari culture, not only the environment.

This comes from books, movies, magazines, online articles, and interaction with PH, trackers, and local people.
The majority of communication is in English. And I think many international hunters miss that. If for nothing else, then for not speaking and reading English.
The second condition is financial ability, and we are losing the middle class fast.

I asked my booking agent about returning clients. How many? How often? Very rare.
Once, I noticed a group of hunters in a camp, non-English speaking (or poor English speaking), with very weak (to none) interaction with Ph or trackers. A language barrier. So the agent who escorts the groups acts as interpreter for them, between them and PH. They will not catch the culture. they might return only to get some specific trophy, but not so much for experience. And not so often.

 

[Tanks]

Modern safaris are generally specialized, and shorte" 1 week, 2 weeks, either for a few plains game species, or specific big game species, or specific high-value plains game species.

One still can get a decent Safari today at a reasonable price. On my 3 week trip to Nyakasanga area in Zim I got an elephant, cape buffalo, hyena, almost a 60" Kudu (0.25" short), warthog, zebra, baboon, and gemsbok. The only thing I couldn't get was Eland as they were out of tags.

 

[Beck]

the people who have only gone once haven't had a chance to book their second trip yet.

 

[Warbeast]

Never been.

And woth the prices i see propaböy never can

 

[mdwest]

How many times have you been on African hunting Safari?
Most clients I know about went once only. Not so many of those who return. One and done type.

If we're only counting Africa, Im in the "up to 10" category..

My experience is very different than yours though.. For example, since 2019 I have been organizing hunts with friends and have exposed 7 different families to hunting in Africa for their first time.. of those 7 families, 5 have already returned at least once.. the 6th would have already returned but had some life issues get in the way that has delayed his next opportunity to hunt in Africa, but I believe he is now planning another African hunt (has since had those issues resolved)... only 1 of the 7 will likely never return.. he had a great time.. but he's a younger guy, not an avid hunter, etc.. with a growing family.. he wanted to check a safari off of his "bucket list", but now that its been done he's largely moved on to other adventures..

Of the couple of hundred people I know that have hunted in Africa (outside of AH members that I know), I can only think of one off of the top of my head that hasnt been back at least once... and the one guy I can think of very likely would go back, but he's run into some financial difficulties over the last several years that have probably set him back until hes at retirement.. his first hunt in Africa was a huge one though.. he took buff, sable, and several other PG in Zimbabwe..

 

[DieJager]

Never been.

And woth the prices i see propaböy never can

I think you overestimate how much it costs. I see you hunting with a Blaser R8. You could have had a nice safari with flights included for that money.

If you are living in Germany and have the money to hunt you can save enough in a few years to hunt in Africa. Granted maybe not a full bag safari in Tanzania but definitely a nice PG hunt in Namibia or SA.

Look at the offers for example on Egun. Decent offers on there. Live your dreams brother.

 

[Hunt anything]

Out of all of the people that I know that have been on Safari only one has no interest in going back. To me he is a “ box checker” he has gone to New Zealand, Argentina South Africa and Canada. He has been one and done on all.
Some of the others that have only been once want to go back but life has gotten in the way.

 

[Warbeast]

I think you overestimate how much it costs. I see you hunting with a Blaser R8. You could have had a nice safari with flights included for that money.

If you are living in Germany and have the money to hunt you can save enough in a few years to hunt in Africa. Granted maybe not a full bag safari in Tanzania but definitely a nice PG hunt in Namibia or SA.

Look at the offers for example on Egun. Decent offers on there. Live your dreams brother.

I dont have and never had an R8.
In germany i always hunted for free. Still do.

Only put in work and hours.

 

[DieJager]

I dont have and never had an R8.
In germany i always hunted for free. Still do.

Only put in work and hours.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I've seen your media and there I see the picture of the R8. Thought it was yours.
Still don't give up the dream!

Edit: it is a K95

 

[rookhawk]

Literally HALF the respondents have been to Africa between 5 and 20+ times. I love that statistic! It shows the level of expertise members can glean from one another on this forum.

 

[JOHN GRENZ]

Four times. Next year trip number five to Namibia which will be first time hunting there. First trip was Eastern Cape in SA with my son in 2012. Five flights to get to East London after which my son said this better be good to make all that worth it. On the flights home he said seven days isn’t enough but we have to do this again. So in 2014 we hunted the Limpopo for ten days. Two more times since then. Next year grandkids are going too.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

One factor, that applies to USA people is vacation time. A lot of younger people tend to take a lot of vacation time as a day there and a day here than contiguous 10 days etc..

One of my engineering companies had about 150 employees before I sold it. I offered an extra week of vacation to anyone that took all of their vacation contiguously as I had read a study that stated people were much more productive if they took vacation time all at once. Hardly anyone took me up on it, barely 30%.

Gotta be a lot less aggravating for management to do work scheduling if vacation time is contiguous, especially if everyone was on board. At the plant we had to bid for vacation time. Made it very difficult to win contiguous weeks unless a twenty year veteran. Not so hard for me though. I hated hunting opening week. Too many idiots in the woods. Preferred early to mid November when some snow was on the ground. Between season opener and Thanksgiving was usually easy for even a newbie to bid on.