Getting Our Children Involved In Africa

[Rare Breed]

Just curious, I have been fortunate and blessed to hunt Africa several times with several booked for future. I just got my 33 year old son going to Africa for his first safari with me. The excitement for both of us is unlike anything we have ever done! I am like a kid in a candy store getting him ready. My new wife thinks it’s great
What has been your experience on your child’s first safari with you?

 

[Mekaniks]

I took my son in 2016 when he was thirteen. It was one of our best trips together

 

[Tanner Lee]

As a son whose dad took him to Africa when he was 13, I will say it was the best trip I have ever done with my dad. It changed my life, in a good way and I am very thankful for getting to go to Africa.

It is vital that all of us who have been to Africa not only get our children into hunting Africa but also get others. Shane Mahoney once said, "if we become too few then we will become irrelevant." The future of African hunting is on our shoulders and the future of African wildlife is largely going to be determined by our actions.

I hope you have a great trip with your son.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Ask me in late June 2023.

Thoroughly happy for you... I am going through the same thing with my soon to be 20 year old daughter. I sincerely hope it's just a first and not an only.

 

[Inline6]

My story is the opposite, my son was the one that wanted to go. Since 2nd grade he wanted to go. When he was a few weeks from 16 he came up to me and asked if I would go to Africa with him if he saved up and paid his own way. Said if you are willing to put the work in and save your money I'll go with you.

My wife was not super excited about it, we talked and was able to reason with her. At 16 a young man needs to find his reason why. He found it, worked his ass off for 2 years saving every dollar. We went and it was a very rewarding experience.

We are now planning on going back in 2024, he will be done with college. My wife and youngest will be going this time around.

 

[DLSJR]

There is nobody I’d rather go to Africa with than my two children. I first took them in 2009, when my son was 21 and daughter 19. It was a family vacation in South Africa with a little hunting included.

In 2019, I took my son again, this time on his first Buffalo hunt, to Tanzania. It was a very tough hunt due to record rains for December, but ended with a wonderful last minute buffalo for him.

Im taking my daughter and her boyfriend in February to Kenya for two weeks (photo trip as they don’t hunt) and they’ll climb Kilimanjaro during the 3rd week, after I return home. In August, I’m taking my now 35 year old son on his 2nd buffalo hunt, to the Selous with Alan Vincent.

I don’t have any specific plans to take them beyond this year, but I know I’ll take each of them again someday in the future. Sharing Africa with my kids has created some of my life’s greatest memories. I highly recommend everyone take their kids when old enough to accompany you.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

My son's first African safari with me. I've also taken my daughter several times over the years, but she was still an infant when we went on this trip.

 

[Newboomer]

View attachment 506548
My son's first African safari with me. I've also taken my daughter several times over the years, but she was still an infant when we went on this trip.

I had planned to take my daughter and son in law to SA in 21 but covid shot that down. We talk about some and will have to see how it goes in a year or so.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I lived and worked in Lagos, Nigeria for six years. During this period, my four daughters were in college in the US. My company would pay for two flights a years for kids in college, to come visit. We took full advantage of that and had some memorable photo safaris in several other African countries (RSA, Zam, Bots, Nam). It was a life changing event for my kids. My youngest daughter is the only one that hunts, and we've done two RSA and one Nam hunt together. Have a hunt to Zam booked for 2023. Fantastic memories!

 

[jey3122]

Ask me in late June 2023.

Thoroughly happy for you... I am going through the same thing with my soon to be 20 year old daughter. I sincerely hope it's just a first and not an only.

Both of you are going to have a ball of a time my friend!!

 

[Aaron N]

Funny this was started when it was.

Just this morning at breakfast my 4 year old asked if when he was 7, and his brother is 9, can we go to South Africa to the jungle and hunt lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Apparently he’s opposed to hunting “hurbavers”.

 

[Sue Tidwell]

Just curious, I have been fortunate and blessed to hunt Africa several times with several booked for future. I just got my 33 year old son going to Africa for his first safari with me. The excitement for both of us is unlike anything we have ever done! I am like a kid in a candy store getting him ready. My new wife thinks it’s great
What has been your experience on your child’s first safari with you?

Wow, I am so excited for you. How wonderful! My husband and I also dream of taking our Grandkids to Africa someday....but we are a long ways from that. I can only imagine how excited you are. I would be like a kid in a candy store too. Enjoy every priceless moment. I'm sure this experience will create memories that will last a lifetime.

 

[Sue Tidwell]

Funny this was started when it was.

Just this morning at breakfast my 4 year old asked if when he was 7, and his brother is 9, can we go to South Africa to the jungle and hunt lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Apparently he’s opposed to hunting “hurbavers”.

I LOVE that! Especially "hurbavers". My husband and I were babysitting our grandkids today (4 and 9) and one of their favorite things to do is to go into our game room and see all the animals. We quiz them on which animals are which and make a game out of it. I pray that we can take them to Africa someday. I hope your little guys get to hunt lions, leopards, and cheetah's someday (although the last is probably out of bounds)!

 

[Sue Tidwell]

As a son whose dad took him to Africa when he was 13, I will say it was the best trip I have ever done with my dad. It changed my life, in a good way and I am very thankful for getting to go to Africa.

It is vital that all of us who have been to Africa not only get our children into hunting Africa but also get others. Shane Mahoney once said, "if we become too few then we will become irrelevant." The future of African hunting is on our shoulders and the future of African wildlife is largely going to be determined by our actions.

I hope you have a great trip with your son.

Africa is such a special place....and being able to share it with those you love the most has to be a wonderful experience. My husband and I have been 3 Times now but we sure hope to take our grandkids someday. And, YES, we will probably have to take their Mother too. LOL. Once you have grandkids, the actual kids are afterthoughts.

Also, I totally agree with Shane Mahoney's quote and what you had to say. I don't even hunt but I fear so much for Africa and the future of hunting. I am working HARD to help as many people as possible understand the importance of hunting in Africa.

 

[Sue Tidwell]

Ask me in late June 2023.

Thoroughly happy for you... I am going through the same thing with my soon to be 20 year old daughter. I sincerely hope it's just a first and not an only.

I don't think you have to worry. I have yet to hear of one person who went to Africa and didn't want to return and again and again. It will be such a special trip for you and your daughter. Have the best time ever ....and enjoy every second!

 

[Sue Tidwell]

My story is the opposite, my son was the one that wanted to go. Since 2nd grade he wanted to go. When he was a few weeks from 16 he came up to me and asked if I would go to Africa with him if he saved up and paid his own way. Said if you are willing to put the work in and save your money I'll go with you.

My wife was not super excited about it, we talked and was able to reason with her. At 16 a young man needs to find his reason why. He found it, worked his ass off for 2 years saving every dollar. We went and it was a very rewarding experience.

We are now planning on going back in 2024, he will be done with college. My wife and youngest will be going this time around.

Wow, what a wonderful story this is. Your son must be something special for sure. So many kids or young people these days want everything handed to them and would never put the work into accomplishing a huge goal like this. You should be very proud. I'm glad you wife and youngest will get to enjoy the next experience together. What priceless family time!

 

[sureshot375]

It’s a life changing event for any child be they 13 or 33. I hunted Africa for the first time when I was 12. Africa became a huge part of who I am. It taught me so many things.

I got married last year and became a step dad to two wonderful little girls. I took my wife and stepdaughters (8 and 10 at the time) to South Africa in July. The trip was everything I hoped it would be for them. Sharing Africa with my girls was unquestionably the highlight of travels thus far.

This photo of us on the truck will always be special to me. You can’t tell it from looking at my backside, but my heart was absolutely melting. After 2 days of traveling we had finally made it to camp and went out for a quick drive. Watching my girls experience the bush for the first time was very emotional. Seeing their face light up when they saw giraffe and impala; first time smelling the sweet smell of the grass and mooane trees, first time seeing an African sunset

The girls also had their first experiences hunting.

 

[Sue Tidwell]

It’s a life changing event for any child be they 13 or 33. I hunted Africa for the first time when I was 12. Africa became a huge part of who I am. It taught me so many things.

I got married last year and became a step dad to two wonderful little girls. I took my wife and stepdaughters (8 and 10 at the time) to South Africa in July. The trip was everything I hoped it would be for them. Sharing Africa with my girls was unquestionably the highlight of travels thus far.

This photo of us on the truck will always be special to me. You can’t tell it from looking at my backside, but my heart was absolutely melting. After 2 days of traveling we had finally made it to camp and went out for a quick drive. Watching my girls experience the bush for the first time was very emotional. Seeing their face light up when they saw giraffe and impala; first time smelling the sweet smell of the grass and mooane trees, first time seeing an African sunset

The girls also had their first experiences hunting. View attachment 506771View attachment 506772

View attachment 506770

What a wonderful post! YES, it doesn't matter what age you are when you go to Africa. I didn't make it until in my 50's and it literally changed the course of my life. I had never intended to be an author but Africa lit a fire in my gut, forcing me to share what I had learned. This experience is something your girls...and you...will NEVER forget. It is so wonderful that you took the entire family to experience something that you love so much. And, it appears you created to more African hunters. Well done! Also, congratulations on your marriage. I wish you a lifetime of happiness.

 

[Inline6]

Wow, what a wonderful story this is. Your son must be something special for sure. So many kids or young people these days want everything handed to them and would never put the work into accomplishing a huge goal like this. You should be very proud. I'm glad you wife and youngest will get to enjoy the next experience together. What priceless family time!

Thank you very much. Words can not describe. BTW I ordered your book for my wife to get her ready.

 

[Neil Molendyk]

In 2018 my youngest son joined me on our Cape Buffalo and plains game hunt in RSA, Makuya and Limpopo. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. The hunt was followed by a few short days in the Cape Town area, enjoying the sites, the wine and spending a day cage diving with the great white sharks. Picture is of day one, overlooking Kruger from the cliffs in Makuya.