The Ebola thread has got me thinking - what is the appropriate risk in Dangerous Game Africa Safari. This is beyond just the hunting aspect.

For me things that would be unacceptable risk are

(1) Safety - any kind of terrorist risk while in camp or transit to camp. If there is significant poaching, it is not violent activity - poachers are not shooting people/hunters ect with ak47s. Snares okay poachers with AK47 not. I would put pandemics in this category.

(2) Legal risk - I don't want to end up in an African jail or be subject to Lacey Act.

(3) Operational risk - I want the hunting outfitter/PH to be professional. Observe basic gun safety, food and transport services are adequate.

(4) Prudent hunting services by the professional hunter and his staff.

(5) Fair dealing in the financial aspects of the hunt.

Quality outfitters and booking agents mitigate most of these risk.

But at the end of the day an African Safari is a very expensive vacation and a purely discretionary activity. Also as client you will be signing a waiver that results in this activity being a self insured discretionary vacation.

Mike

Since my wife pretty much goes wherever I go, I will not go somewhere that puts her in any undue danger.

Read Tom Mirand's story about hunting in Mozambique in August Bowhunter. He had a medical emergency and needed treatment in SA. Only way to get there was driving. Their vehicle was stopped and became part of a convoy with military in each vehicle. He came under fire and was nearly shot and an officer in the back of their truck was killed. This happened at the Save River bridge. An RPG was also shot at them. This story lowered Moz in my bucket list.
I think this would be classified as risk.

Great topic Mike.

I've done 33 African safaris on 22 or 23 trips over to Africa. In those, I have had a few things happen that frankly frightened me. In Zambia, a poorly shot lion, ending up in a charge, stopped at 12 feet by Alister Norton and myself. Acceptable risk, since it was poor shooting and wounding stuff comes with the territory.

CAR; running into Sudanese Elephant Poachers in the bush, armed with AK47s'. acceptable risk, they seemed really no threat.

CAR; Joseph Kony and the LRA taking 3 UN hostages 60K from camp, while I was there. Unacceptable risk

Camp staff riot in Zambia, unacceptable risk.

Bolivia, didn't realize there was no diplomatic mission between Bolivia and the USA, rookie error. picked bad outfitter that had me in Cocaine territory, most of the time. Cartels with machine guns all over the jungle. Unacceptable risk.

Prop strike in a cub in Alaska. SHIT!!!!

I see sport hunting as a hobby or as Mike puts it, a vacation. I don't see it as something I am willing to risk my life or that of another member of the hunting party protecting me.

Food safety, great observation. Only eat cooked food. I have been in several camps where I was the only person not sick with food borne illness.

I also agree that a credible booking agent will be sure everything, or everything within his power is handled professionally.

Political instability, most places, if you can just get to camp, you're pretty safe.

I dearly want to go back to CAR to look for a really exceptional LDE with Christophe Morio. It will need to wait till there is stability for several years.

I see that Emirates, as well as other African Airlines have suspended flights to certain African countries because of Ebola.

back before uncle bob we'd have a soldier as well as a game scout in back of the truck. would run into rebel patrols maybe once a day & we'd just take to the bush for a few minutes
in ak we tipped the super cub on its prop once. had to take it off and straighten it out with a couple rocks. never even thought of it being dangerous. maybe it was but it sure was alot safer than the jungle in nam

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
back before uncle bob we'd have a soldier as well as a game scout in back of the truck. would run into rebel patrols maybe once a day & we'd just take to the bush for a few minutes
in ak we tipped the super cub on its prop once. had to take it off and straighten it out with a couple rocks. never even thought of it being dangerous. maybe it was but it sure was alot safer than the jungle in nam

+1 - but butchloc relative to combat in the jungles of Vietnam everything is safer short of the shores of Iwo Jima.

Mike

Normandy was hell for our fellows too...

Just driving to work presents some hazards that aren't avoidable. While I don't have a death wish, everything we do has an associated "risk" to go along with it. Put your affairs in order and don't overthink it. Go and have a good time. If you encounter poachers or rebels, represent yourself well, you have a loaded gun!

quote:

Originally posted by pagosawingnut:
If you encounter poachers or rebels, represent yourself well, you have a loaded gun!

Rick - this line is a classic !!!!

Mike