I should be in Africa right now!

[PARA45]

Good thing you were not wearing these shorts.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Yeah that was a proper 80s Jim Croce mustache

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

North American hint wise I had Idaho cancel an elk hunt several years ago on me when they shut the entire unit down because of fires. Postponed a different hunt a week or two because of fires. In 2023 I bailed on a Mule Deer Hunt 2 weeks before it kicked off so I could take advantage of an end of the year left over quota hunt in Zimbabwe. We win some, we lose some

 

[Betterinthebush]

Yeah I got some interesting looks when being dropped for 2 weeks. But I had some very capable friends along. View attachment 691859View attachment 691860

Ahh.. Rusts. I know them well.

 

[TOBY458]

I thought about canceling my 2023 safari due to my dad having Alzheimer’s. I was having to be involved quite a bit with his care. Luckily my Uncle stepped up and took over while I was gone. I still worried a lot about him and my mom while I was gone, due to the logistics it would take to get home in case of an emergency. My dad passed away in April 2024, and I was able to return to Zim this year for an elephant hunt. Now my mom is getting pretty old and her mind isn’t what it used to be either. So I may have to put international trips on hold for awhile.

All that just to say I completely understand!

 

[Pablo]

I’ve had hunts canceled due to weather, fire, viruses, sketchy outfitters disappearing.

The worst was 4 weeks before my first Alaska drop camp moose hunt. I was team roping steers and my green roping horse got into the wrong lead and when making the turn. He tripped and fell on me. Skidded to a stop on my left leg. Turning my foot 180 degrees. I and everyone in the arena heard the Tibia, Fibula And ankle bones Snap.

After surgery I let my doctor know I was going to Alaska. He of course said not only no. But hell no.

Of course I went anyway. I crawled everywhere. Long story boring. I shot my moose. I cut while my buddies packed it to the raft.

Turns out sitting on a high point and calling works.

Y’all rope steers in Michigan? Whats the world coming to? Lol
I’ve had several horses fall with me over the years. You never forget them. The worst was when I was loping a horse getting ready for a sale. He tripped and went down in slow motion. I couldn’t get my right foot out of the stirrup in time, and he rolled over on my leg. Tore my meniscus. Sold that counterfeit bastage for $8500.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Yes sir we rope. Last year while Heading I caught a steer and as I was going to the horn my horse stumbled and drove his head into the dirt and he flipped on top of me.

Luckily. My buddy had just brought in a lot of fresh deep sand in that area. So he just dug a furrow with me under him. Nothing broke. But I was sore from stem to stern

I don’t think I woke him up enough before walking him in the box.

 

[PARA45]

Yes sir we rope. Last year while Heading I caught a steer and as I was going to the horn my horse stumbled and drove his head into the dirt and he flipped on top of me.

Luckily. My buddy had just brought in a lot of fresh deep sand in that area. So he just dug a furrow with me under him. Nothing broke. But I was sore from stem to stern

The exact same thing happened to me when I was like 12 years old; my cousins and I were racing on the beach in Nicaragua, riding bare back. My horse took a nosedive and literally rolled over me. Knocked the wind out of me, and not sure if it knocked me out or not. Next thing I remember my coursing are around me and I'm on the sand. My silhouette was on the sand, and luckily it was soft sand otherwise who know what could have happened. Did not break a single bone, and I believe it was due to the soft sand. The crazy sh*t we do as kids. LOL!!!!!

​

 

[Houston Bill]

A few years ago my hunt in Uganda was cancelled last minute by the PH because of an Ebola scare. I went about 5 months later. When I finally arrived in Uganda I was told by the local concession owner that the Ebola scare had been a bit exaggerated by Uganda government.

I leave for Cameroon on Sunday, have my fingers crossed that all goes well and that there are no last minute travel issues and the flights are all on time!

 

[Field28]

A few years ago my hunt in Uganda was cancelled last minute by the PH because of an Ebola scare. I went about 5 months later. When I finally arrived in Uganda I was told by the local concession owner that the Ebola scare had been a bit exaggerated by Uganda government.

I leave for Cameroon on Sunday, have my fingers crossed that all goes well and that there are no last minute travel issues and the flights are all on time!

Have a great time in Cameroon! Is Bongo on the agenda?

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

A few years ago my hunt in Uganda was cancelled last minute by the PH because of an Ebola scare. I went about 5 months later. When I finally arrived in Uganda I was told by the local concession owner that the Ebola scare had been a bit exaggerated by Uganda government.

I leave for Cameroon on Sunday, have my fingers crossed that all goes well and that there are no last minute travel issues and the flights are all on time!

Good luck and get that Bongo!

 

[Muskox]

Not Africa but one week before my planned Manitoba bear hunting trip in mid May I got a call that the outfitters hunting area was 80% plus burned over by one of the wildfires and the Provincial government had closed all access to the area. I told the outfitter, I've hunted with him several times in the past, that I considered this a Force Majure type event and that he owed me nothing.

Really nice gesture.

That guy probably had a lot of financial wounds to lick with that deal that no insurance company would fix.

 

[DieJager]

Yeah I got some interesting looks when being dropped for 2 weeks. But I had some very capable friends along.

With that mustache nothing could stop you.

 

[Houston Bill]

Have a great time in Cameroon! Is Bongo on the agenda?

Yes, primary animal on the list is Bongo, it has been on the bucket list for a while. I also hope to get sitatunga, and a few of the duikers from that area.

 

[Philip Glass]

I feel your pain! I had a group set to go to Namibia in May. I had to back out due to the SCI DC meeting and my new responsibility there. It leaves you wishing for Africa even more than we do normally!
Next year! Can't wait

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

So, as I write this I should've just finished up lunch at The Rat and Parrot in Grahamstown and be heading into the bush to chase a Kudu, instead I am Stateside running a job site.

I should've started hunting in Eastern Cape on the 7th. With elderly parents and stepparrents having multiple health problems arrise at the same time I decided that this was not the time to be a couple of travel days away. Lost some deposit money, that's not a huge deal.
Trying to have the attitude that next years trip will be all that more special.

Anyone else had to cancel within a month or two before flying over? Curious to hear?

@Field28
Family always comes first.
Bob

 

[Sabre]

I had two hunts booked in Canada that were supposed to happen right after they closed the border for Covid, they were booked 1-2 years before. Then the borders were still closed in many locations a year later when I had two different (previously booked) hunts booked for the next year in other locations around the world. Then a year after that I had a Mt. Lion hunt booked and they hadn't gotten any snow in the area. So the outfitter and I talked just a couple days before and decided to roll that over to the next year. So I had a good 3-4 year stretch where a lot of hunts got rolled/cancelled.

It never feels great, that's for sure. I don't know that I enjoyed it more when I finally got to do all those hunts, I imagine I would have enjoyed it just as much doing it the scheduled years. But it did give me a lot of things to look forward to when they all finally came through.

 

[MarkB]

The Covid BS had me postpone a year, then another then the SA announcement on CBL had me advance a year and say hell lets go.

On the opposite end I have stayed in Africa unexpectedly twice after safaris. 05 PH and I returned to Vic Falls hotel for my flight to SA only to find that SAA was on strike, all airlines had stopped flying, was given room at Vic Falls hotel, all meals, touristy things on SAA, was awesome, finally 12 days later a plane took us to Joberg. I unexpectedly did a TV interview on the strike for the 6 PM news, that got me a free hotel, food, $400 at the casino and first class flights home after another 12 days. Love SAA.

Lastly in 2021 a positive Covid test after a 21 day hunt followed by another 18 day self drive tour garnered me 14 days in the Airport Hotel followed by another 14 trying to get out of Africa.

I do think staying longer after expected end far exceeds cancelling prior to safari. All time spent in Africa is amazing.

MB