The stress of preparing for a safari

[ChrisPy]

I see there are some stressed people prepping for there safari, they can't be the only ones to feel the pressure.
Last year I took the family on safari every thing went smooth NOT. To start 3-4 months out time to get permits for the guns, first attempt Internet kicked me out, 3 days to comedown try again got further this time still didn't work. Wife comes to the rescue 3 days later still did not work, stress level high, try again 3 days later same thing. Time to phone some one, send some fax all good stress gone life is good now just have to wait to go on safari. Decided to go to a heavier bullet for my son's 300wm there made to shoot 180gr bullet, can not get them to group try different powder different bullet. Some thing about going on a safari makes the stress level go up by 10. One month to go reading everything I can find to read. Oh look something on flying into RSA, kids need a birth certificate that has father name and mother with her maiden name on it. I know we don't have that ( another freak out). Down to the government agency, paper work should be here in 10 days. Back to the gun still not happy. Parents are up for a visit, leaving to day, I'm on the phone with the gun smith trying to decide if I should sent the gun with them down south, they want to leave but I need to go to the range one more time. Sent the gun south. The gun smith recrowned the barrel,cleaned and gave it the once over. Got the gun back, still no good going back to 165gr. Every thing is good to go it Monday I just have to contain the excitement till Thursday. Now there is a forest fire and they just shut the Alaska highway down, this is Wednesday we leave tomorrow and have a 4 hour drive to get to the airport. The highway was open at 10am we left town at noon.
When I get off the airplane all are luggage is there the guns are here, I'm tired nothing matters I AM IN AFRICA!!!!

 

[CAustin]

That's right! When the reality hits you that your in Africa all is well

 

[Philip Glass]

Totally agree! However Africahunting.com helps calm the nerves and gives you an audience that sympathizes with you. We have been there and YES you are in Africa.
Regards,
Philip

 

[petrusg]

Im sure you are not the only one that experiences this... At least when you are in Africa you can just sit back and relax.

 

[cpr0312]

Many of us experience some of these issues, agree with the 3 comments above, once your there....Its AWESOME!

 

[JimP]

Once you arrive in your final destination you will find out that your blood pressure has returned to normal and everything looks brighter.

I too are a worrier. I have found that on any hunting trip of this magnitude that I will start planning as soon as I know that I am going to go. I will also try and get as many things taken care of at least 6 months before I leave that I can. That way as problems creep up I can deal with them and not have to worry about other problems. Last year when the exporting and importing of your personal rifles showed its ugly face I started to work on it and the nice thing is that I didn't have anything else to have to work on. Even getting to the airport which for me is a 3 hour drive I usually plan to spend the night before in a neighboring hotel. A lot of them offer free parking during your trip if you stay one night and it is nice to be able to get somewhere and relax for the night before that long flight.

 

[siml]

Wake up in the morning, sip your coffee listening to the African bush coming alive, watching the most beautiful sunrises. Relax. Enjoy your safari, it's not a competition it's a priviledge to experience and memories to take to the bank.

 

[Pheroze]

Man you hit the nail on the head! Booked my safari and then my senior colleague decides it is time I buy him out! Holy crap, spend the next six months dealing with that and all the safari planning and managing expectations of nonhunting family members and learning reloading and learning to shoot better and getting fit and then there are the permits and then the fact one child is under 18 and then.....

Ahhhhhhhhh

So, when I turn up in South Africa without my ammo and only one boot, I am going to sit out side and savour that coffee and laugh! Laugh like a lunatic! And then they are going to pack me up and put me in a very comfortable padded room. There I will meet nice people who will give me mood altering cocktails all day long. And then, there will be peace.

Remember me fondly my friends.

 

[Pheroze]

I all seriousness, Marius and Kim at KMG have been awesome to deal with and have taken a lot of the stress out of planning. Henry at Rifle Permits has been great. And, of course, the people here on AH are always there to help. So, even with this crazy situation at my work I have not found the process too bad. It really is manageable. Honest.

 

[Scott Slough]

It is clear that over-obsessing is a common affliction ... but stepping on African soil is the common cure! Soak it in and take lots of picks to support that hunting report.

 

[edward]

on our first to africa my wife actually thought we would wind up in a big black pot with vegetables floating around us,but she strapped them on and we had a great time.that one and only trip turned into 5 trips.at 77 we will go back again if the bullshit about trophies ever gets back to normal.i might need a four wheel drive walker by then but who cares,well be back in africa.

 

[johnnyblues]

Enjoy enjoy enjoy is all you need to do. I never imagined I would ever hunt in Africa, well last year I hunted in Namibia, and this year I did a mini safari/ vacation in South Africa. Next year God willing I'll be back there to hunt Black Death. The stress level at least for me never seems to subside and I think that's part of the fun.

 

[edward]

Enjoy enjoy enjoy is all you need to do. I never imagined I would ever hunt in Africa, well last year I hunted in Namibia, and this year I did a mini safari/ vacation in South Africa. Next year God willing I'll be back there to hunt Black Death. The stress level at least for me never seems to subside and I think that's part of the fun.

johnny,its not stress,its excitement.

 

[RolandtheHeadless]

What a timely post.

I'm undergoing pre-Africa stress right now, as I'm leaving for the Dark Continent in about thirty hours. A million things I need to pack or do before I leave and what if I forget something what if it's something that really screws me not to have and oh my god do we really have three check-ins, not counting the gun case? And how am I ever going to survive two days of flights just to get there, oh why did I ever sign on to this mad venture anyway?

 

[edward]

this will be the smartest thing youll ever do.and the most enjoyable.

 

[Scott Slough]

What a timely post.

I'm undergoing pre-Africa stress right now, as I'm leaving for the Dark Continent in about thirty hours. A million things I need to pack or do before I leave and what if I forget something what if it's something that really screws me not to have and oh my god do we really have three check-ins, not counting the gun case? And how am I ever going to survive two days of flights just to get there, oh why did I ever sign on to this mad venture anyway?

We ALL KNOW why you signed and are jealous as hell! Adrenaline will get you through the flights over and exhaustion will get you through the flights home!

 

[Divernhunter]

The rifle shoots 165gr bullets well. Hell that is all you need. If it shoots Nosler Partition or better yet Swift A-Frames all the better.
If you forget to pack minor items such as tooth paste, socks, shirt and such you can buy them in Africa. Just do not forget your firearms, ammo, gun permit, passport---and hard candy for the trackers and staff.

 

[mdwest]

you guys find safari prepping stressful?

I'm in the middle of prepping for my wife and I to go on our first safari now.. and find all of the prep work interesting and exciting.. its not causing me any stress at all.. quite the opposite really..

Granted I've got a couple of million air miles under my belt, and have spent a significant amount of time (work related) all over the African continent.. so I'm pretty comfortable with international travel and with Africa in general already..

but figuring out "my rifles vs. rental rifles", and if "my rifles", how does that work?.. and "which boots are best suited, and when should I buy them, and how much break in time do they need?".. or "do I really need to bring a knife? if so, which one?", etc..etc.. I'm finding to be a lot of fun..

I'm spending time here reading threads.. watching occasional youtube videos.. reading magazines.. attending DSC meetings.. etc..etc.. and absorbing as much information as I can.. then making decisions as they are required.. and having a ball in the process (this week, after already deciding I was going to rent rifles, I'm back asking myself if I wouldn't prefer to bring my own.. and if I'm going to bring my own.. should it be my 7mm WSM, my .308, or the .375H&H?...)...

 

[BRICKBURN]

you guys find safari prepping stressful?
........
Granted I've got a couple of million air miles under my belt, and have spent a significant amount of time (work related) all over the African continent.. so I'm pretty comfortable with international travel and with Africa in general already.. ....

This experience kinda helps. Folks that are complete first timers are dealing with a few more unknowns.

Glad you are having fun prepping for your trip.

 

[ChrisPy]

Yes there is lots excitement when preparing for a safari. There is lots of stress, some from out side sources some self induced. This is just part of getting ready for a safari, everything X10. On the second week in May I took my son grizzly hunting for 5 day, the morning we were leaving was when we got groceries and fuel, no stress just another hunt. I would trade all the stress to go to Africa again in a hart beat. It is good to see other people go through the same thing, sometimes it feels like I'm the only one.