What First Spurred Your Interest in Africa?

[JES Adventures]

As a kid in the 1960s, watching Marlin Perkins and his sidekick, Jim, on Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, the John Wayne movie, Hatari and the short lived TV show, Cowboy in Africa with Chuck Connors.

As an adult, I went to work in Angola for five+ years. Didn't have a lot of spare money at the time and 4 kids either in college or getting close to college, but made my first hunting safari on a cancellation PG hunt to Namibia.

Hatari, a classic. I still watch it 2-3 times a year and yearn to hunt a Black Rhino.

 

[Brent in Az]

Hatari, a classic. I still watch it 2-3 times a year and yearn to hunt a Black Rhino.

One of my favorite John Wayne movies.

 

[JES Adventures]

I used to have a Cowboy in Africa lunch box when I was a kid

Wild Kingdom was a great show.

You were a lucky kid!

 

[JES Adventures]

What did it for you? What first gave you the itch to visit the Dark Continent on safari?

For me, it was a Craig Boddington article in American Hunter when I was no older than twelve. It detailed him hunting Cape Buffalo or as he referred to them in his article, “the dagga boy”. Ever since then, the dream of hunting Africa has been on my mind.

How about you?

I love this Forum!

 

[Travis2282]

Dallas safari club show got me interested!

 

[Brent in Az]

You were a lucky kid!

I wish I still had mine. They are collectors items.

 

[JES Adventures]

Dallas safari club show got me interested!

1998 my first time at DSC, another Huge influence.

 

[CLICKBANGBANG]

One of my favorite John Wayne movies.

We had Hatari recorded off cable TV on a VHS tape. Hatari was after The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. The other side of the tape had The Longest Day, and True Grit. That sums up my childhood. Looney Toons on Saturday morning. John Wayne on Saturday night. The tape with Hatari on it was worn out many years ago. I was introduced to shooting hunting at a young age. Africa has always been a dream since back then.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Marlin Perkins and Wild Kingdom certainly had me wanting to go to Africa.

Curt Gowdy and American Sportsman is what had me wanting to learn hunting.

Seeing Hatari combined the two for sure. I see where a number of folks mentioned this movie. I had the good fortune to sit and listen to Jan Oelofse tell stories one day at the SCI convention in 2011. He was a fine gentleman and good story teller.

 

[wesheltonj]

The American Sportsmen was a great show, no "kill shots." We need more shows like that one and less "Bugger Bottom."

 

[mark-hunter]

When I was a kid, I had plastic toys - african animals, and thats how I started dreaming about hunting in Africa. My granpa was a hunter. At that time we had documentary serial "Survival" on TV, which further kept my my dream alive, as a kid.

 

[Wheels]

As a kid in the 1960s, watching Marlin Perkins and his sidekick, Jim, on Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, the John Wayne movie, Hatari and the short lived TV show, Cowboy in Africa with Chuck Connors.

As an adult, I went to work in Angola for five+ years. Didn't have a lot of spare money at the time and 4 kids either in college or getting close to college, but made my first hunting safari on a cancellation PG hunt to Namibia.

If you ever happen to be in Arusha, you might want to swing by Arusha National Park, which is the old Trapp farm where Hatari was filmed. Not sure if they are still there but there used to be signed photographs of the actors in scenes from the movie, posted around the lodge. They would also show you where certain scenes were filmed. Not sure if they do that now.

 

[Wheels]

Dang I forgot about Tarzan, part of the influence.

I watched Jane, not her sidekick.

 

[sestoppelman]

If you ever happen to be in Arusha, you might want to swing by Arusha National Park, which is the old Trapp farm where Hatari was filmed. Not sure if they are still there but there used to be signed photographs of the actors in scenes from the movie, posted around the lodge. They would also show you where certain scenes were filmed. Not sure if they do that now.

I hunted that same area when I was there in '85 on my first trip. Stayed overnight in the Mt Meru Lodge, power went out when the wife and I were there. I was walking around with flashlights with the manager and he was checking rooms. LOL! My wife was just getting out of a bathtub, completely starkers when the power came back on, just as the manager opened the door to that bathroom!!! Never forget the look on his face when turned and saw hubby, (me) just as he got an eyeful!!! Hilarious!! We had dinner there, they sat everyone there down for it. We asked for a menu, were told "no menu, meal is coming!" We did visit a small game park, zoo really, with lots of animals but I doubt it was the Trapp farm, so long ago.

 

[#1 of 13]

Purchased a rifle from someone and they asked when I was going to Africa to use it in the country it was meant for. Told him when someone invites me as I’ve never been, been back every year since. BTW my wife no longer cares for him.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I have been intrigued by hunting Africa for quite awhile. Several customers and friends had been several times. About two years ago I found AH and joined. I had been researching and saving dreaming about a hunt in the future. Well in January 2018 I won a trip on Bos en Dal’s Facebook contest!
So that pushed up my dreams to June 2018. Now have trip booked for May-June 2019 and already thinking about a 2020 hunt.
I got addicted real bad.

 

[Von S.]

Tarzan.

When I was little I though I was Tarzan.

When the nun would say good morning I would reply with " ungowa " all girls were " Jane " All males were " boy", adult males were bwanna, if I didn't like you, you got called " cheeta" and I have no idea how many dogs bit me because I tackled them and pretended I was fighting a lion and black kids had absolutely no idea why I would attack them and then they would beat up the crazy white kid in a loin cloth and sneakers who would give a Tarzan yell for help from Simba.

Simba by the way was a great big saint Bernard that an old lady owned who I would ride when he wouldn't run away when he saw me.

My days as Tarzan came to a screaching halt after a priest said good morning to me and I responded with a " Ungowa Bwanna" and when my mother swatted me in the ass I turned around and said " bad cheeta" which made me give the Tarzan call and yell for Simba to come step on cheeta.

I was five at the time and about 50 years ago my dream of Africa became a reality. If I am lucky I'LL make it back one more time.

 

[BobT]

I would say the American Sportsman probably did me in. I also read Outdoor Life, Field & Stream and Guns & Ammo. I loved the safari themed movies, The Snows of Kilimanjaro was a biggie along with Hatari .

 

[cpr0312]

Reading about Roosevelt's experiences when I was younger! As I got older, the more I watched outdoor tv, and was specifically intrigued by all the shows involving Africa!!

 

[Brent in Az]

If you ever happen to be in Arusha, you might want to swing by Arusha National Park, which is the old Trapp farm where Hatari was filmed. Not sure if they are still there but there used to be signed photographs of the actors in scenes from the movie, posted around the lodge. They would also show you where certain scenes were filmed. Not sure if they do that now.

That would be cool!