Going it alone.....

[Mr. 16 gauge]

How many of you go hunting in Africa by yourself? Seems that most folks are going with family/friends.

I've only been once, but my wife went along..............she doesn't hunt, but loves to travel and she got to see and do some "touristy" things.

I would like to go back, but I have few friends who hunt and none of them want to spend the money on a trip to Africa. My wife is working on her "bucket list" and she wants to go to other countries (Australia, China, etc) and so she isn't interested in going back.

As I get older and have more health issues, I'm just wondering if I should be concerned or if I am making a big deal out of nothing. There always seems to be a problem that pops up and sometimes two heads can be better than one.

Just looking for experiences...........both pro and con.

Thanks...........

 

[JimP]

I have the same problem but found groups of hunters going over.

Depending on your time frame I'd suggest sending a message to Phillip Glass on the forum here. He is putting a group together for 2027 I believe to hunt at Frontier Safaries

 

[Rem280]

Went by myself. All my friends could not go because (insert reason here). Made friends there and had an amazing time. YOLO

 

[Red Leg]

I have done all but two trips to Africa alone. Two were with my son which were great, but otherwise, I actually prefer traveling alone. If I am hunting with a former outfitter or PH then it is great to renew friendships, and I enjoy making new ones. Most hunts in Europe are a combination short hunting expedition and then a longer holiday with my spouse.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I travel solo; got tired of last minute excuses by friends backing out.

The only con I have is not being able to share alike memories around a campfire.

The pro are numerous: (here are a just few)

Travel at will
Hunt at will
Can instantly adjust itinerary while traveling.
Not having to wait for others to commit or cancel
No lost hunting time or other adventures


Life is to short to wait on others.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

How many of you go hunting in Africa by yourself? Seems that most folks are going with family/friends.

I've only been once, but my wife went along..............she doesn't hunt, but loves to travel and she got to see and do some "touristy" things.

I would like to go back, but I have few friends who hunt and none of them want to spend the money on a trip to Africa. My wife is working on her "bucket list" and she wants to go to other countries (Australia, China, etc) and so she isn't interested in going back.

As I get older and have more health issues, I'm just wondering if I should be concerned or if I am making a big deal out of nothing. There always seems to be a problem that pops up and sometimes two heads can be better than one.

Just looking for experiences...........both pro and con.

Thanks...........

I went by myself on my first safari. I enjoyed it tremendously. It was a great adventure and traveling alone gave me a great sense of freedom. The PH went with me up to see Vic Falls as he was between clients and we had a good time. My wife went with me when I went back. We spent 4 days touring Jo'burg, Vic Falls and Chobe National Park. That was also a good time and my wife could see some if the animals that I would be hunting. That was also a good time, but different. I felt a little bit obligated to entertain my wife and worry about whether she was having a good time. So I have done it both ways and enjoyed both. I never have traveled to Africa with another hunter and really wouldn't be concerned about it either way. You're freer when you travel alone , but you have company and someone to assist with any issues that may come up while traveling if you go with someone else.

So I would say don't worry about it. If you've u decide on another safari make a plan and go. Plan on going alone, but if someone else wants to go along that works too, just alter your plan a little. Just go while you can.

 

[bohannon]

Went by myself. All my friends could not go because (insert reason here). Made friends there and had an amazing time. YOLO

This was my experience as well.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I have done 6 trips. Two trips I had friends along and seemed ok, but was like there was competition. Who got the biggest?
I have had more fun by myself on the other 4 trips than with friends. I plan my trips now as solo trips, so all I have to worry about is me. I have health issues and have had to seek medical while there. A good PH always has a plan if you need medical. That's what I purchase Global Rescue and additional medical coverage for.

 

[rookhawk]

How many of you go hunting in Africa by yourself? Seems that most folks are going with family/friends.

I've only been once, but my wife went along..............she doesn't hunt, but loves to travel and she got to see and do some "touristy" things.

I would like to go back, but I have few friends who hunt and none of them want to spend the money on a trip to Africa. My wife is working on her "bucket list" and she wants to go to other countries (Australia, China, etc) and so she isn't interested in going back.

As I get older and have more health issues, I'm just wondering if I should be concerned or if I am making a big deal out of nothing. There always seems to be a problem that pops up and sometimes two heads can be better than one.

Just looking for experiences...........both pro and con.

Thanks...........

I went alone my first 8ish trips. Then I started bringing one of my sons.

I recommend going alone strongly on your first safari.

Pro’s:

You aren’t lonely anyway, you get to spend a lot of time at camp with the staff, operator, and PH. You actually get to forge meaningful friendships when you have that 1:1 time.

You won’t be prone to jealousy, nobody shot something bigger than you.

The whole camp is invested in you, your triumphs, your tribulations. A group camp is melancholy with everyone in a different emotional state due to the various ups and downs happening simultaneously.

When problems happen, everyone is working for you. In a group, somebody else’s cruiser, or toilet, or firearm, or stuck vehicle ends up becoming your distraction as everyone diverts from hunting for you to helping for the other. (Vice versa of course, it goes both ways)

When you are struck by the beauty of a moment, it’s selfishly yours to cherish. The southern cross shines bright, or a tear forms in your eye as you stand next to an elephant, these are spiritual moments and they belong to you and your emotions.

Con’s:

Nightlife revelry isn’t profound. Drinking all night like a Frat boy has its place, and often times at our ages we haven’t done it in about 20 years. Having a blockbuster day in the field can lead to a memorable party with dear friends from back home.

It’s a really long flight. If you’re an extrovert, you can only read so many books and watch so many Netflix documentaries on snail husbandry until you just want to order a round of bourbons and talk with your buddies next to you on the plane. (Although I have drank bourbon on the plane standing for two hours in the aisles chatting with other safari hunters I just met which was great fun)

We are all dying someday. The person you skipped taking may be the person you never get to hunt with again. Kids are growing up too, when a kid graduates highschool they have consumed 95% of the days of contact with a parent they will have for the rest of their lives. You probably should have brought a child.

 

[375Fox]

Most international hunts I’ve done myself. I’ve also done several with my Dad. There are a few hunters I’d really like to share a camp with but generally it’s easier to go alone and more enjoyable. No excuses, conflicting schedules, or different priorities that can make something that should be fun frustrating. I think hunting with another hunter who has similar goals for the hunt would be good especially around fire in evening, but I think the large group hunts present more negatives than advantages.

 

[Rare Breed]

How many of you go hunting in Africa by yourself? Seems that most folks are going with family/friends.

I've only been once, but my wife went along..............she doesn't hunt, but loves to travel and she got to see and do some "touristy" things.

I would like to go back, but I have few friends who hunt and none of them want to spend the money on a trip to Africa. My wife is working on her "bucket list" and she wants to go to other countries (Australia, China, etc) and so she isn't interested in going back.

As I get older and have more health issues, I'm just wondering if I should be concerned or if I am making a big deal out of nothing. There always seems to be a problem that pops up and sometimes two heads can be better than one.

Just looking for experiences...........both pro and con.

Thanks...........

In all my safaris I have only gone with a group of friends once. While I love my friends and loved the hunt going by myself is no problem at all for me.

 

[Hunt anything]

My first trip was by myself, that’s how I wanted it . I didn’t want to have to worry if a companion was having a good time.

Second trip was with a good buddy and my wife, this was planned by my buddy and his health has now turned and this was his last trip to Africa so I feel blessed to have been able to experience it with him and my wife fell in love with Africa and we have our 4th trip planned together for next year. My daughter and son in law or going with us next year so it should be interesting.

But if I can ever swing strip to west Africa for bongo or LDE I will probably try to do that one by myself, the conditions may be to tough for her.

 

[Berettaco]

First two trips were with groups of friends. It’s always a big pain when once by one they cancel, that happened again this last safari. There was supposed to be 8 people in total and they all dropped out for various reasons and rescheduled for 2025. I decided that I would go it alone and it was a great trip. There are pros and cons - good job of listing those above, but I think going alone or with friends/family is equally fun.

 

[Tra3]

I’ve done two trips to Canada, two to England and 3 to Africa. Trip 4 in africa starts in a couple weeks.
I have only hunted alone on one trip to England. The rest were with family and friends.
I do yearly trips west and almost always have a partner or two. I appreciate the camaraderie.

This upcoming trip to Africa was originally booked as a solo trip. The. I realized that my dad is getting older and I enjoy hunting with him. My older, non-hunting sister is coming too. I hope to convert her to the hunting perspective.

The times I hunt alone in Mn or Montana or Idaho, I enjoy it, but I prefer to share the moments with a family member or friend. Getting my kids into hunting has not come without expense, but we now have lifelong stories we can share. And they want to go again!!

 

[Ryan]

I have a friend who I have hunted with a few times and fished with plenty including only one group charter. His philosophy is the chances he will be frustrated on a trip increase exponentially by the number of people in the group. I've tried doing a few group fishing trips including one with him, and I am in total agreement. Too many conflicting ideas and then people want to change things, hold out on money, etc. One partner, maybe, if the right person. Beyond that no way.

Four hunts to southern Africa. Two with others, two on my own.

The first hunt I found a screaming deal for two people, one hunting, one non. I figured out an equitable deal for each of us and found a friend who agreed. We each did our own thing and it worked out fine. Second was supposed to be with my Dad as a non hunter and he chickened out months after agreeing. I salvaged it with another friend and it worked out OK, with a couple minor hiccups. But we got flight plans confused leaving and we ended up on differing flights on the same day, which we noticed on that day. That made for a headache.

Last two hunts, all on my own. Much less hassle. I figured out what I wanted to do and did it. Didn't have to worry about everyone on the same page, expectations met, all travel lined up correctly.

To each their own, but for me, solo is the way to go.

 

[Scott CWO]

As a guide myself, I enjoy seeing others success so I have had wonderful trips with friends and also alone. My wife is not a serious hunter so she didn’t go to CAR (thank goodness) and she’s not going on my upcoming trips to Cameroon and Ethiopia. She really enjoyed Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Tanzania but I think she’s about done with Africa. We are planning to go to Europe and do some hunting and tourism combo trips in a few years. I want to hunt roe deer, red stag and maybe a brown bear in Romania.

My son and I might go to Botswana for his leopard in 2026 because I have a leopard credit there. With a young family, it’s hard for him to get away even if dad is paying for part of his trip. We shall see.

 

[Brod]

It's interesting reading all the negatives of hunting with partners or groups which I never realized. All seem logical but, I've never thought of it that way before.

Almost all of my international trips have been alone. I've spend years inviting my hunting friends who are always either short on time, money, or both. My friends who have time and money are not hunters, despite my efforts to convince them otherwise.

In a week, I'll leave for Romania for brown bear and stag and wish my son was coming.
However, in May, I'll be in Botswana without my back-out buddies, and I could care less.

 

[Scott CWO]

It's interesting reading all the negatives of hunting with partners or groups which I never realized. All seem logical but, I've never thought of it that way before.

Almost all of my international trips have been alone. I've spend years inviting my hunting friends who are always either short on time, money, or both. My friends who have time and money are not hunters, despite my efforts to convince them otherwise.

In a week, I'll leave for Romania for brown bear and stag and wish my son was coming.
However, in May, I'll be in Botswana without my back-out buddies, and I could care less.

Botswana elephant?

 

[Brod]

Botswana elephant?

I wish... just a quest for big Kudu..

 

[Wade J VanGinkel]

Unless my son can go,
I only travel alone.