Africa At Last

[Datchew]

Some of you are excellent writers.
My strengths lie elsewhere.... At least that's the theory I'm told and so I'll keep looking for them.

This will be mostly pics, comments, musings, and possibly some bitching and moaning (when and if appropriate) to eventually resemble my own bastardized version of a trip report.

There's nothing like having timely updates, and this will be nothing like having timely updates as I have business in a couple other countries before stepping foot on African soil.

I don't need to name the countries as they come only loosely into this adventure but I can tell you they speak French and the queens (king's now right?) English but with extra vowels and wot wot.

I like to start most journeys with Tolkien, Chesterton, Lewis or Herriot.
This one, Jimmy got the pull.
He's good company with breakfast and a little Tito's and tonic after the San Antonio construction traffic.

Primary gear is ready and stowed with the nice airlines people.
The rest is business clothes (monkey suit) clean undies, toothbrush, books, backpack, and a credit card.

Cheers!

 

[Mekaniks]

Great! Looking forward to following along

 

[DieJager]

Nice. Will follow this thread. Nice to have the perfect shot mini edition with you, habit that I also have. Is always with me when travelling to Africa. Enjoy and wmh!

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Excellent choice in Herriot. Love his books. Hope you have safe travels and a successful hunt.

 

[Hank2211]

Did I miss where in Africa you were going?!

 

[Philip Glass]

Have a great safari!

 

[miket1]

Will be following, good luck!

 

[Novice Huntress]

Safe travels, have a great trip, enjoy every morning and look forward to what the day will bring on your Safari.

 

[7mmFan]

safe travels and looking forward to it!

 

[Datchew]

@Hank2211 - Joberg. then up in the madikwe area.

Paris is lovely this time of year for a stopover if your sitting outside in shorts drinking wine and watching the scenery, both the stationary and non-stationary.
(forget the baguette? Don't worry they'll remind you. )

But if you're working instead, you get to sweat out 2 suits at the air show.

Still, a little sightseeing of the haunts is always fun.

The French don't seem to have embraced HVAC as much as I'd like, but I always forgive them when I get to the food.

Then, under the pond to London via my favorite way to travel, Eurostar.

It's crazy that you can be enjoying a gin n tonic (you know... to get your anti-malaria quinine juices flowing) while rolling under the channel at 180 mph and yet the Paris trains can't get the HVAC scene together.
C'est la vie.

Pop up a couple hours later in London for a few days work.
Stage one in the can.

 

[Datchew]

I'll keep the tourism stuff to a dull roar but my daughter graduated this spring so she got to fly over to London for the weekend for a reward.

We celebrated with her having a meat pasty from Paddington station, and some pub fish n chips and her first hand-pulled bitter as well as a few touristy visits. Good times.

Mind you, this is loosely supposed to resemble a hunting thread (eventually) so here's a hunting bit.

I'm not a lion hunter but I've read some heated threads about different types of lion hunts so I found this one a bit funny.

650 BC Ninevah (as made famous by one prophet named Jonah) is the date on this piece of art.

The king had boys release lions from cages and then climb into protective cages to escape becoming a snack (Imagine having that job.)
Bodyguards also were employed to protect the king and to prevent the lions from escaping so I guess this wasn't a legit free range hunt.
I'm sure sportsmen had opinions on the matter even back then.

My opinions, however, are on the kings beard. Just look at that thing!! I bet it could stop a 9mm bullet!

 

[Datchew]

I promise this isn't a Rick Steve's thread. I'm finally flying out of CDG tomorrow evening to JNB. Starting to get excited.

But permit me one last plug for a favorite place and local food.

Dropped over to Vilnius Lithuania to see some dear old friends.
A great low-key old Eastern Europe city.
Beautiful architecture that reminds me of Budapest. Amazing summer weather if you're grateful to escape the Texas hear.
Lots of old old churches and Soviet architecture and even some Soviet era art.

You have to be a bit of a history bug and maybe a little romantic to like it. It's got a mix of old, run-down, and new.
A bit of classic herring and vodka for a starter then my favorite cold beet soup. (It's not for everyone.)

Gorgeous weather.

We found my favorite old bakery.
I'm going to be too fat to hunt at this rate.

 

[Happy Myles]

Your first safari. How great.

 

[SETH RINGER]

Some of you are excellent writers.
My strengths lie elsewhere.... At least that's the theory I'm told and so I'll keep looking for them.

This will be mostly pics, comments, musings, and possibly some bitching and moaning (when and if appropriate) to eventually resemble my own bastardized version of a trip report.

There's nothing like having timely updates, and this will be nothing like having timely updates as I have business in a couple other countries before stepping foot on African soil.

I don't need to name the countries as they come only loosely into this adventure but I can tell you they speak French and the queens (king's now right?) English but with extra vowels and wot wot.

I like to start most journeys with Tolkien, Chesterton, Lewis or Herriot.
This one, Jimmy got the pull.
He's good company with breakfast and a little Tito's and tonic after the San Antonio construction traffic.


View attachment 692412

Primary gear is ready and stowed with the nice airlines people.
The rest is business clothes (monkey suit) clean undies, toothbrush, books, backpack, and a credit card.

Cheers!View attachment 692413

I COULD EAT THAT BREAKFAST EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK AND "ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL" IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE READ.

 

[Whit]

Fantastic choice of reading list. Admire the sophistication. You, sir, qualify indeed, as a gentleman and a scholar.

 

[MAdcox]

Great reading choices. I have read and re-read all of Herriot's books multiple times. And I love the original TV series.
Have a blast on your fist trip to Africa. Looking forward to following along with you.

 

[Nyati]

Had the cold beet soup in Poland and enjoyed it.

Those pastries look delicious .

Wish you the best on your hunt !

 

[Datchew]

You guys are too kind .

This is my first thank you to all of the folks here that give copious amounts of knowledge and advice on the travel process.

I used Gracy travel as my trip was interwoven with a few other countries for my day job and they've been great.

But also the guidance on packing ammo separately, types of locks, paperwork and rules and regs. Also very nice to have the confidence pills known as tiles that let you track your bag locations. Excellent bit of kit.

Too many of you to list but I'll call out @Philip Glass who made a video covering the pelican case types for rifle and ammo, basic gear shakedown, and the whole thing. Thank you all.

My goodies all got here and customs stuff was easy peasey mac n cheesey but after 3 countries and a couple suits plus Africa gear, that's 2 full suitcases and a rifle case. Not as light as I prefer but there it is.

I WhatsApp'd my outfitter and told him I had enough luggage and gear to challenge a diva so don't bring the Prius to pick me up!!
He laughed and said "but I just washed it! Ok, I guess I'll bring the land cruiser."

After loading my junk, I watched the guys tetris about 200lbs of groceries into the truck and then wiggle their way into the back somehow for a 3 hour ride out to the site.

Dinner was lovely. Had a good shower to recover my humanity, and then a good chat with a couple gin n tonics by the fire under a gorgeous sky.

Quote of the day "Rifles are appropriate and welcome in the dining hall."

 

[PARA45]

Oh my, what a wonderful way to start a safari. A little bit of tourism on the way, with some fine food, and then a safari. Just wow!!! If I didn't know better, I'd say you are a pampered Primadona. Keep it coming, I'm enjoying your report, and your writing style.