Going it alone.............

[Spooksar]

90 percent of my hunting trips I go by myself. The other 10 percent with my sons. Believe me it's easier by myself. You need to follow a little common sense when you travel, don't flash money around and don't be an idiot when you deal with people. I could get into as much trouble in Grande Prairie or Edmonton as I could in Johannesburg.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

90 percent of my hunting trips I go by myself. The other 10 percent with my sons. Believe me it's easier by myself. You need to follow a little common sense when you travel, don't flash money around and don't be an idiot when you deal with people. I could get into as much trouble in Grande Prairie or Edmonton as I could in Johannesburg.

Is it true that what happens in Grande Prairie, stays in Grande Prairie, at least until the spring thaw...........

 

[Spooksar]

Not any more Grande Prairie was the crime capital on Canada last year. Not much better now.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Hello;
Just curious as to how many who have hunted Africa have "gone it alone", i.e. traveled without a companion of some sort?
When I went to Africa in 2014 I was suppose to go with a friend who likes to hunt. He then asked about bringing the wives, which I didn't have a problem with. So I asked my wife (the world traveler) and she said she would be delighted to go.......as long as she didn't have to see anything being killed.
....then my friend tells me he can't go......his wife won't let him. Not sure why (other than she is a...well, never mind). So it was just my wife and I. She had fun with the elephant back safari, touring Marakele and the predator park, had some excitement with a black mamba in camp, etc).
SO............now I would like to go back for cape buffalo and some more plains game. My friend starts with "when are we going". Then the last time I talked with him, he tells "I don't know why I'm planning on going; my wife is never going to let me go!" UGH!!!!

My wife is not really into going back......not that she didn't like going, but she has other places on her bucket list that she wants to visit: Australia, Spain, etc.

I've done trips alone here in the States: deer hunts to N.C., mule deer and antelope hunts out west, etc. No problems........but I'm just a little leery of flying half way across the globe on my own.

Anybody here hunt Africa alone? What problems, if any, did you encounter? Do you feel that you were more of a target of scam artists and thieves because of your being a single, or doesn't that make a difference?

I'm picky about who I hunt with......I don't want to just "hook up" with someone else that I don't know; did that on a duck hunt several years ago and damn near got my head blown off!!! I'm still partially deaf in my right ear thanks to that little shindig!

Just curious........with all the negativism in the papers now adays re: travel (I know there is nothing one can do re: a terrorist attack, like what happened in London the other day, but it still weighs heavily on my mind), I'm just a bit concerned.
Thanks to all for your input............................

 

[Ridge Runner]

Been there.....Done that...
I gave up on waiting. If you feel you have to wait for someone to be there to share the experience with you....you are not going to do much of anything.
I'm a loner pure and simple! "Hooking up" with someone I done know....Done that as a guide....many times...proved fruitless!!!!!! (many more explataion points).
I seldom, actually very very very rarely take even one photo of my personal experiences in the woods, BUT for those who have followed me before/after or never hearing of one of my most memorable experiences THOSE very few can atest to what "tales "I tell are remarkable true.
It is better to have "done that"," been there", than to look back and say "I could, would, should, have...".
I most often find that after the day is over, per se, those who did are envied by those, for whatever reason didn't, preferred not to join in the activity regardless it be hunting, hiking, camping, going to a movie or just plainly getting away crom the house/home.
In all the worst experiences are considered "live and learn" , good experiences become advise to those thar follow.
FEAR NOT THE UNKNOWN, BUT EMBRACE IT!! AND FOREVER ENJOY IT'S REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS, WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU ONLY MAKES YOU STRONGER AND WISER!. Poppe 1-12. U.S.Army, (retired) SO THEY SAY... I'll retire when Hell freezes over!!!!! Once a soldier ALWAYS A SOLDIER!! For those who know what I mean.
What it all boils down to is don't wait on others if you want to enjoy what life has to offer.

 

[Dinsdale]

I travel alone; I have done few hunting/vacation trips less than 3 weeks, so that in and of itself keeps people away thankfully. Not married either so there's no asking permission.

I typically pick outfitters who cater to one group at a time but have made an exception or two for the right hunt. The camp thing has never really added anything to a trip, and in one case made me swear never to repeat that mistake again (big camp with multiple hunters, measuring contest and not of the animals).

Rented vehicles driven alone most trips; didn't need to in Spain and one trip to SA and Zim. I have not felt I was any more or less a target in any situation being solo.

 

[brettp]

I'm headed over alone next month for a 16 day DG hunt in Namibia. It will be my first time alone after hunting the world with my dad. Sadly, he's just not up to it this time. Gladly, I'm going with a PH who's a friend that I've hunted with before. Not looking forward to the travel alone or not having my dad, but very happy to be going. I've decided to have a cameraman on the hunt so that I can preserve the memories to share with others (especially my dad and kids) when I get back.

 

[Ragman]

I've done 90% of my hunting here at home by myself, including week long hunts in the bush. Enjoyed my time alone. However I wouldn't have gone to Africa alone on my first trip...too uneducated and inexperienced. I went with a group organized by my taxidermist and it was good. We all had our own PH.
On the other hand, none of my close friends that I hunt with, or my Dad (who is my favourite hunting partner) will commit to an international hunt. I went on my first solo hunt out of the country when I went to Texas last year to hunt with @gizmo. I had a great time and gizmo was great company.
For my next Africa hunt I am really hoping my better half decides to come with me ask would love to see her experience Africa. But if she can't, I feel much more confident to make the journey on my own. It's just the travel and layovers that will suck.

 

[Philip Glass]

Hello;
Just curious as to how many who have hunted Africa have "gone it alone", i.e. traveled without a companion of some sort?
When I went to Africa in 2014 I was suppose to go with a friend who likes to hunt. He then asked about bringing the wives, which I didn't have a problem with. So I asked my wife (the world traveler) and she said she would be delighted to go.......as long as she didn't have to see anything being killed.
....then my friend tells me he can't go......his wife won't let him. Not sure why (other than she is a...well, never mind). So it was just my wife and I. She had fun with the elephant back safari, touring Marakele and the predator park, had some excitement with a black mamba in camp, etc).
SO............now I would like to go back for cape buffalo and some more plains game. My friend starts with "when are we going". Then the last time I talked with him, he tells "I don't know why I'm planning on going; my wife is never going to let me go!" UGH!!!!

My wife is not really into going back......not that she didn't like going, but she has other places on her bucket list that she wants to visit: Australia, Spain, etc.

I've done trips alone here in the States: deer hunts to N.C., mule deer and antelope hunts out west, etc. No problems........but I'm just a little leery of flying half way across the globe on my own.

Anybody here hunt Africa alone? What problems, if any, did you encounter? Do you feel that you were more of a target of scam artists and thieves because of your being a single, or doesn't that make a difference?

I'm picky about who I hunt with......I don't want to just "hook up" with someone else that I don't know; did that on a duck hunt several years ago and damn near got my head blown off!!! I'm still partially deaf in my right ear thanks to that little shindig!

Just curious........with all the negativism in the papers now adays re: travel (I know there is nothing one can do re: a terrorist attack, like what happened in London the other day, but it still weighs heavily on my mind), I'm just a bit concerned.
Thanks to all for your input............................

Mr. 16 gauge,
I've hunted with others here and in africa. I took my oldest son with me in 2011 to Namibia. Most all of my adventures whether hunting or visiting sheep farms around the world have been done solo. All of my big DG hunts it was just me. I did have the Trophy film crew with me on two Safaris and that was fun. I enjoy traveling alone and hunting alone. It doesn't bother me. I'm driven to go and do and yes my wife was really concerned when I went to Kyrgyzstan and Zimbabwe but she supported and trusted me in all these endeavors. I believe if you want to go do something as crazy as DG Safaris you just have to go and not wait for some flaky buddy to commit. You can't spend your life asking your wife's permission for everything (oops now I'm in trouble!).
A Safari is a personal journey and does not necessarily have to be shared.
Regards
Philip

 

[broncolcj]

Hello;
Just curious as to how many who have hunted Africa have "gone it alone", i.e. traveled without a companion of some sort?
When I went to Africa in 2014 I was suppose to go with a friend who likes to hunt. He then asked about bringing the wives, which I didn't have a problem with. So I asked my wife (the world traveler) and she said she would be delighted to go.......as long as she didn't have to see anything being killed.
....then my friend tells me he can't go......his wife won't let him. Not sure why (other than she is a...well, never mind). So it was just my wife and I. She had fun with the elephant back safari, touring Marakele and the predator park, had some excitement with a black mamba in camp, etc).
SO............now I would like to go back for cape buffalo and some more plains game. My friend starts with "when are we going". Then the last time I talked with him, he tells "I don't know why I'm planning on going; my wife is never going to let me go!" UGH!!!!

My wife is not really into going back......not that she didn't like going, but she has other places on her bucket list that she wants to visit: Australia, Spain, etc.

I've done trips alone here in the States: deer hunts to N.C., mule deer and antelope hunts out west, etc. No problems........but I'm just a little leery of flying half way across the globe on my own.

Anybody here hunt Africa alone? What problems, if any, did you encounter? Do you feel that you were more of a target of scam artists and thieves because of your being a single, or doesn't that make a difference?

I'm picky about who I hunt with......I don't want to just "hook up" with someone else that I don't know; did that on a duck hunt several years ago and damn near got my head blown off!!! I'm still partially deaf in my right ear thanks to that little shindig!

Just curious........with all the negativism in the papers now adays re: travel (I know there is nothing one can do re: a terrorist attack, like what happened in London the other day, but it still weighs heavily on my mind), I'm just a bit concerned.
Thanks to all for your input............................

I've done it a few times. It works out pretty well for me not having to worry about sharing a PH.

 

[WildRose]

Hello;
Just curious as to how many who have hunted Africa have "gone it alone", i.e. traveled without a companion of some sort?
When I went to Africa in 2014 I was suppose to go with a friend who likes to hunt. He then asked about bringing the wives, which I didn't have a problem with. So I asked my wife (the world traveler) and she said she would be delighted to go.......as long as she didn't have to see anything being killed.
....then my friend tells me he can't go......his wife won't let him. Not sure why (other than she is a...well, never mind). So it was just my wife and I. She had fun with the elephant back safari, touring Marakele and the predator park, had some excitement with a black mamba in camp, etc).
SO............now I would like to go back for cape buffalo and some more plains game. My friend starts with "when are we going". Then the last time I talked with him, he tells "I don't know why I'm planning on going; my wife is never going to let me go!" UGH!!!!

My wife is not really into going back......not that she didn't like going, but she has other places on her bucket list that she wants to visit: Australia, Spain, etc.

I've done trips alone here in the States: deer hunts to N.C., mule deer and antelope hunts out west, etc. No problems........but I'm just a little leery of flying half way across the globe on my own.

Anybody here hunt Africa alone? What problems, if any, did you encounter? Do you feel that you were more of a target of scam artists and thieves because of your being a single, or doesn't that make a difference?

I'm picky about who I hunt with......I don't want to just "hook up" with someone else that I don't know; did that on a duck hunt several years ago and damn near got my head blown off!!! I'm still partially deaf in my right ear thanks to that little shindig!

Just curious........with all the negativism in the papers now adays re: travel (I know there is nothing one can do re: a terrorist attack, like what happened in London the other day, but it still weighs heavily on my mind), I'm just a bit concerned.
Thanks to all for your input............................

I would not go and plan to travel alone. On my trip to RSA I went alone but already had longtime friends there who arranged the entire 25 days for me.

I stayed most of the time with one family but when Francois had to work at his real job he handed me off to one friend or another.

That made the trip one of the absolute best experiences of my life even more than the game taken.

If you have arrangements with an outfitter they can have someone at the airport to meet you, help you through customs and to deal with the SAP's getting the firearms through and that is invaluable.

They can/will also ensure you're taken care of with respect to all your transportation and you'll never find yourself in a situation that could end up going badly.

f you need some recommendations let me know I have friends who are outfitters and PH's all over the southern part of the continent that will make it an experience you'll never forget.

The only problem I've had since is an all consuming desire to get back.

 

[Cable68]

I've gone 3 times, and have gone alone every time. I'd have no problem traveling with a friend, but we'd have to have set up a 2x2 hunt, or even a bigger group, but the only way I'd only share a PH would be with a family member.

 

[WildRose]

To clarify, I actually enjoy traveling alone until I get in country. I've had some marvelous conversations along the way and during layovers.

In country, unless you know the country I think it's best to let your outfitter take care of getting you from the airport, to the hunt and help you then on the return.

If you don't know the people, the language, the customs and exactly where you're going you just look like a tourist and that puts a target on your back at a minimum for people looking to take advantage of you.

I'll say this though, after meeting hundreds of them I never met an Afrikaner I wasn't immediately comfortable or with whom I didn't always feel safe and very well taken care of.

There are good and bad people everywhere, it just makes sense to travel among them in good company.

 

[norfolk shooter]

Last year I went to Africa on my own and for the first time. I too was with pawprint safaris. No problems if anything I think I had less issues than if my wife/partner came with me (I call her wife/partner as we have been together for 11 years but aren't married)

 

[JTT]

I just got a call from my PH/owner/outfitter Iliwa Safaris and it looks like it is a go for a trip starting May12 until June this year. That is if I can put together all the plane tickets, gun forms, travel/accident insurance as well as get firearms and myself ready in time. It will be 10 days of hunting and then sightseeing. I thought it was postponed but it looks like a go now.
I do not see Lori(Travel Express) advertising here. Is she still one? I need to contact her tomorrow.

Anyone want to tag along on the hunt? It is a great outfitter/owner/PH with large properties.

Lori at Travel Express is still here. Contact her, you won't regret it. She will make your list very easy.

 

[Divernhunter]

I found my stuff from our 2013 trip and contacted her. I now have my tickets/insurance and all is set. Now to do the rifle permits and get my stuff ready

 

[David Middleton]

Go with a PH or group of PHs who are good company and know you want to learn and experience everything they have! I had a blast with everyone including trackers skinners the cook. Just go have fun and instead of spending time with someone you can hang out with in US go learn as much as you can from the people over there and you will probably have a better time.

 

[IA Monsterbuck]

This is an interesting thread. I am traveling alone for my first safari later this summer.

I have a very good friend who I wish were going also but he just doesn't have the time or financial means to go.

We have hunted together for close to 25 years, hunting together around home as well as doing several DIY hunts here in the states and a couple of guided bear hunts in Canada. We bust each others balls but we both know we will ALWAYS have each others back.

I booked my hunt a month ago and still have not told him I am going. I have no doubt he will be happy to hear about it and won't harbor any resentment but I still feel bad that he won't be able to go and experience it.

That said I have always wanted to hunt in Africa and have been enthralled reading books by Capstick and others about their adventures there. But I know that I don't have a single friend who would put down the money and actually do it so I had to decide if I was going to live dreaming for tomorrow or go experience things on my own. I decided that with only one life to live I don't want to be held back, and so I'm off on my own.

I hope to meet some interesting people and make new friends and plan on soaking up every bit of this adventure of a lifetime.

 

[BWH]

I have done 2 hunts in RSA..... Alone. Several in the states. I am perfectly content with it. I find it to be more about "me"...... my hunt, my animals, my speed, my time, etc. Other than the contingencies of travel, outfitter & weather.

That is not to say I would not like to go with others. I just didn't want regrets, or to blame others if i felt I got robbed of time. I say this not to be selfish. As i assure I am not. It's just theses once in a lifetime experiences, you don't want to feel cheated.

 

[BWH]

BTW..... I would love to take my wife.... &/or all 4 of us (2 kids). However, for now.... maybe forever, it is outside the realm of possibility.