Rough it while you hunt it!

[S.W. Smith]

Personally, when I go to Africa I don't want my experience to be hunting during the day just to return to a lodge each night, or to sit in a climate controlled blind all day. I want to be out in the country, in nature, and earn my animal. The adventure is a big part of what hunting is for me.

 

[siml]

Climate controlled blind.....sounds just like our blinds.....cold, hot and f.....hot! oh with tetse and mopani's.

 

[KVS]

Some great feedback thanks everyone. Now all we need is a guinea pig to try this style of hunt on...any takers? No really, send me a PM.

Iv always felt that a concept such as this would give the client a real sense of "earning their quarry", not that they dont any other way of hunting but this will surely get them close to how would of been way back when. Most lodges offer 5 stars....this could offer 5 billion stars!!

@TMS Fly camps and being on the move has always been fascinating to me and I think a great experience. Im sure you guys have it down to an art form.

Hunting in Africa should be made available to all and cater for all.

 

[JimP]

I have to admit that I really don't mind roughing it and never have. But I have come to love my hot shower at least every couple of days.

Even on my grizzly hunt in British Colombia they had a hot shower in the sleeping cabin. All it consisted of was a 3 gallon galvanized bucket with a shower head soldiered onto it with a on/off ball valve inside a fiberglass shower stall. You heated up the water on the stove and then dumped it into the shower bucket and proceeded to take a short shower. After a long day hiking and glassing that shower was about the best that there was.

 

[ChasingHemingway]

Sounds like a lot of fun for me, not so much for my wife and hunting buddy

At the same time I have to say it is awesome to come back to camp and sleep in a comfortable bed, take a hot shower, and enjoy some of the other great amenities. I would entertain a combination between the two versus being on a 14-21 day purely roughing it. We may do as we hunt the Kalahari and Limpopo - roughing in the Kalahari. Love the the thought and experience.

dt

 

[bluey]

You can rough it but most people still like a hot shower and running toilet...would you class this as roughing it...View attachment 47354

looks a bit like a scene from gilligans island .....
looks like a great place to have a campfire after a hunt.

@Mekaniks , you spot about location, the view is brilliant, but 20 yards from camp is a under water river, which cools the camp down in the evenings. The thatched chalets are for the ph's anView attachment 47370 d myself, there are luxury tents for the clients.

ya lost me when the clients don't get to sleep with the soothing smell of a thatched roof.

Don't joke about the hot tub!!! We actually had one until last year in camp, unfortunately the rats got hold of it in the off season.

Jono, going back to your original post, we also use fly camps, sometimes it will take 4 hours just to get to some hunting areas, but from experience 2 nights max, then clients want comfort.

on say a 10 or 12 day hunt simon,
how many of these would a client expect to spend out in the boonies, backpack hunting ?

 

[thi9elsp]

After Ann and I were stuck up on the mountain in New Zealand back in April for 3 days in a two person tent and gale force winds/rain. I like the chalet with thatched roof idea myself.

 

[bluey]

jono ,I love your idea , it borders on what my thoughts of a safari is .minus the oxen wagons and 20 porters .......
will be watching this thread to see what sort of adventure you will be offering .
it would be great with the only thing spoiling the peace would be lugging the meat back to a cool room .

 

[bluey]

After Ann and I were stuck up on the mountain in New Zealand back in April for 3 days in a two person tent and gale force winds/rain. I like the chalet with thatched roof idea myself.

only 3 days stuck to the side of a hill in kiwi land , bloko you time the season perfectly ......

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Nowadays, roughing it is a slow internet connection. I don't mind going without a hot shower if the hunting is in cooler or cold weather where you don't sweat. But in the warmer to hot climate, a daily shower is nice. Go to Montana, Canada or Alaska if you want to rough it. Go to Africa to be spoiled and treated better than you deserve.

 

[lofty]

I do plenty of bush camping in Australia regardless of weather, and I just think that what I consider a "traditional" African Safari is all about camping in the bush, and doing it the way people like Robert Ruark and legendary PH Harry Selby did it. Things have become too damn tame, we actually have car fridges these days so a cold beer at the end of the day and a good fire would be the way to go. I'm thinking at least a two week trip? That may horrify a few though.
JD

 

[Pheroze]

I love the idea but it is tempered with caution. I know many here are very experienced outdoorsmen. But, Africa is different from what I know. I have been caught in a thunder storm while sailing to the USA, lost while moose hunting and watched a friend slide across a glacier while hiking through the Alps in Europe ( he was fine and just had to hike a loooong way back). These events remind me that mother nature always has a lesson waiting for the newbie. My father grew up in India and has stories of how quick and dangerous the night can be! I think the uninitiated like myself would benefit from some sort of orientation before a multiday adventure. Or, pitch the tent within a reasonable distance from the safety of the lodge.

I love the concept and I am very intrigued! I just think you should tailor the outdoor experience to your client's real world experience. I think both of you would have a better time.

 

[matt85]

id be interested in this kind of hunt! every year I hunt deer from a small one man tent about 50-100 miles from the nearest city. Africa would be very different, my hunting is done at temperatures around -15C to -6C with freezing rain and snow being a constant worry. in Africa you would have to deal with heat, poisonous critters, and thorns in the night. last time I was in Africa it was around 40C during the day and around 4C at night/morning. this would make for difficult camping conditions since wide temperature shifts can be tough for the body to deal with!

I can tell you having lived in a moderate to cold climate for most of my life made dealing with African heat a challenge (lots of water was needed!). however with the proper planning and equipment a hunt like this could be VERY rewarding and a unique experience you will remember for the rest of your life.

-matt

 

[bluey]

gday lofty , welcome to AH , enjoy the site ......

 

[enysse]

I'd do it only if I was saving money, otherwise I'll take the lodge or whatever else the accommodations are. I still enjoy comfort on a vacation.

 

[Pondoro]

At 53 I dont mind it a little comfy, but if the hunting is good I can rough it..

 

[enysse]

I think Alaska, NWT, Yukon and the BC would be worth it.

 

[buchnerl]

Good idea Jono, @Kingsview_safaris with a little bit of thought I am sure this could be done. Maybe even think to have some remote camps put up or as they are known in the Eastern Cape as Explorer Camps.

Having day rates cheaper in "Explorer like camps" than in traditional lodge style accommodations might be attractive to certain hunters and definitely appeal to those that would rather save on accommodation but hunt an additional animal with the savings they get with the choice of accommodation and or class.

Some pictures I have gathered over time:

 

[buchnerl]

 

[KVS]

Thanks everyone for your input. Keep the suggestions coming.
So far this is what I have gathered from the feedback:

- This type of hunting needs to be client specific, i.e. marketed at the right people, for those who really do want to rough it and not just looking for a cheap safari.
- Hot shower, open fire and cold beer is essential. Doesn't matter how its done as long as its there.
- Around 8 - 10 days
- Safety is paramount and access to clean drinkable water
- You shoot it, you eat it.
- I don't want this to be viewed as a "cheap safari" but instead as an experience. At the end of the day its a hunting safari and certain standards will be met such as trophy management and handling, access to game, location is important, a day or two should be set a side to allow for laundry and a real clean up before the client departs back home etc...

Here is some of my questions back to you:

Would it be realistic for a client to book say a 6 day roughing it safari and expect to harvest 8 plains game species?
Would someone interested in this be open to hiking through areas that are not for hunting but do have spectacular scenery? Or will it be pure hiking for hunting?
Pack your own gear or arrive at designated spots as per the photos Loodt posted? I ask this because for logistical purposes it would make things a lot easier.

doing it the way people like Robert Ruark and legendary PH Harry Selby did it. Things have become too damn tame, we actually have car fridges these days so a cold beer at the end of the day and a good fire would be the way to go. I'm thinking at least a two week trip? That may horrify a few though.
JD

@lofty Welcome to AH and thanks for the input. I was lucky enough to meet Mr Selby and his son Mark and sat around the fire listening to their stories. My goodness, they lived through some incredible adventures.