When did you first go on safari in Africa?

How many years until your second and how many times since?

Have you seen any changes in the meantime? To the country, the environment, the animals?

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:
When did you first go on safari in Africa?

How many years until your second and how many times since?

Have you seen any changes in the meantime? To the country, the environment, the animals?

1st time in africa; RSA, 1988.

2nd time; Zim and Botswana, 1998

3rd time; Namibia, 2000

4th time; in 2002/2003, 1 year driving thru Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, RSA, Botswana, and Namibia.

5th time; Zim, 2005

The biggest change was between the first and last time in RSA. It was better off before, and is now going to hell. In not too many years it'll be like Zim, but worse. IMO.

1st time to Zim in '85

2nd time to Zim '86

3rd to 17th time to RSA/ Namibia 89-05

Changes:
Zim has gone steadly down hill thanks to Bob.

RSA is heading there, but not nearly as fast, "yet".

Namibia now starting to go down too.

Animals? Plenty. Places to hunt- plenty.

Cost of hunting, prices rose slowly until 2 years ago, now climbing fast due to exchange rate and fuel costs.

Will I go back? Yes, every year if I can.

1st in 1998 - Zimbabwe - Omay for Buffalo and Lowveld for plains game.

2nd in 2001 - Mozambique - Coutada 10 for buffalo and sable.

3rd in 2003 - RSA for plains game. TZN, LU2 in the Selous Reserve for buffalo and plains game.

4th - Leaving tomorrow (9-18-05) for a return to LU2 in the Selous Reserve for Buffalo and plains game. My second trip to heaven.

Then I may be able to draw some comparisons as both hunts in TZN will take place at the same time of year.

Bull1

Equatorial Guinea 1992
RSA and Botswana 2003
Namibia 2004
Wedding expenses hijacked the 2005
Repeating Namibia in 2006

My conclusions are very limited due my poor experience, but I will say that anyone going hunting into the african tropical jungle must be very prepared, both mentally and phisically, it's not for everyone.

RSA, I find it much more developed, nice country and nice people, too much developed for someone dreaming with the "african experience" as we dreamed, but a very nice place to go, depending areas and species it can be a VERY challenging hunt or a "walk in the park".

Botswana, I only hunted the Tuli Block, again very nice place to hunt.

Namibia..? what can I say...I just fell in love with her since the very first moment I get out of the plane. The VERY best option for a budget hunt without loosing that "african experience".

If God allowed me to go next year again, I will be able to tell you of any changes, but I hope to find it exactly the same it was two years ago...

Hope to make money enough someday to make an "upgrade" and visit Tanzania...

L

1st time Zim in 2000, things were giong to shit real fast, I saw more poachers and squatters than game animals!!!!

2nd time I went to Tanzania in 2002. What a diffrence! I did not know Africa could be so great. 16 days hunting, Buff, Hippo, crocodile, hyena , warthogg, zebra, kudu, waterbuck and then up north for thompsons and grants. Safe and wild country with very little BS.

I am going back to Tanzania in 2007 for Elephant and leopard, buffalo and hopefully a sable and eland.

I will NEVER waste my time and money in Zim again.

Nitro, Good question. My first time was in 95 to Zimbabwe 2nd and 3rd times were to SA in 2001 and 2004. If there is still a Zimbabwe in 07, I'm going back there.

I have been on two safaris and going in July of 06 for third..They are in different countries..

First safari 02 RSA Eastern Cape...Plains game

Second 04 Zimbabwe bull ele and nyati...

Third 06 Tanzania...Selous for the buff hunt I won on AR and I purchased an additional 5 days to make it a 21 day safari...

Mike

I have been very lucky in my hunting career to have made nine safaris to Africa beginning in Zimbabwe in 1994.

In 1994, I traveled to the Lemco in the lowveldt and hunted leopard/buff and plainsgame with PH John Greeff.

I made it back five years later and hunted Namibia in 1999 for plainsgame with Makadi Safaris with Diethelm Metzger.

In 2000, I hunted the East Cape of South Africa with Frontier Safaris for plainsgame and had the unique experience of having a tracker gored by a buffalo on that hunt. (interesting story but too long too recount here)

In 2001, I traveled to the Thabazimbi area to hunt with Numzaan Safaris and Stef Swanepoel for seven days and then moved to Kwa-Zulu Natal for five days to hunt nyala and red duiker.

In 2002, I was back in South Africa and hunted next to the Balule Reserve near Krueger Park for buffalo and plainsgame with Hunt's for Africa and PH Brad Rolston who often posts here.

In 2003, I hunted the Kimberly area with Russell Lovemore's Hunts for Africa for plainsgame and in November, I hunted with Ridge Taylor in Masailand for 10 days for buffalo.

2004 I was back to Zimbabwe to hunt with Buzz Charlton for elephant in the Zambezi Valley, specifically Dande South.

And this June it was back to Zim with Buzz for a hunt in the Save Valley! (check out Hunt Reports for a blow-by-blow)

Next year is numer 10 and I have booked with Chifuti Safaris and Andy Dawson for leopard and buff in the Sapi, the good Lord willing.

The biggest changes I have seen are the wanton destruction of the flora and fauna in Zimbabwe brought on by the Mugabe regime. It is truly sad because of all the countries I've hunted, Zimbabwe had it all and it was affordable for the average hunter!

Other changes have been increased hunter traffic to Africa since I have been traveling there. It's been good and bad, bringing much needed foreign currency to a continent desperate for it. But huge lines and major hassles in the RSA dealing with it because of the draconian gun laws there.

But the hunting is still excellent by all measures in most of Africa and it is still a bargain compared to the USA where a sheep hunt costs major $$$$ now. I find Africa an intriguing destination with a combination of exotic locales, unique cultures, friendly people and fantastic hunting! I guess it is why I keep going back and will continue to!

Let's see...the Selous, western Africa, Benin and/or Burkina Faso...Mozambique...Botswana...

6 Safaris (so far! ) Started in 1999

1st - - Zimbabwe 1999 - - 12 day Plains Game took 11 animals

2nd - - Zimbabwe 2001 - - 12 day Hippo/Plains Game took 11 animals

3rd - - Zimbabwe 2002 - - 16 day Leopard/Plains Game took 35 animals, (17 were Impala Rams for Leopard bait)

4th - - Zimbabwe 2003 - - 15 day Cape Buffalo/Plains Game took 18 animals

5th - - Zimbabwe 2004 - - 21 day Elephant/Lion I wasn't the hunter for those, I videoed it. I did take 8 animals

6th - - Zimbabwe 2005 - - 13 day Leopard/Giraffe Took 25 animals

Planning a trip for next year 2006, can't wait!

All of my Safari's have been with Buffalo Range Safaris, Brent Leesmay has been my PH on 99% of them.

First in 1997 to Zimbabwe and then for next 7 years to Zimbabwe. 8 straight years of truely great experiences. Hope to save up and go at least once more. The political climate has changed of course but I have personally found the hunting as good the last year as the first. I've hunted from Doma to the Bubye river to Matetsi and found them all to be spectacular. All in all I've spent 45 weeks in Zimbabwe in those years. I Consider it a second home and that makes me miss going this year that much more.

1st..2001..Chad..work safari, missionary work

2nd..2003..RSA..plains game

3rd..2004..buffalo & zebra

4th.. 2005..elephant...............Bob

Buffalo Bob,

I see that you did work in Chad in 2001. Where were you based, and how did you like the country? It's an intersting country IMO, although far from the easiest to get around in...

ErikD,
The work was performed at Moundo, southern Chad about 30 miles from the CAR border. We built self suffient houses(sat phones,solar power, diesel gen., and water storage tower) for the missionaries. In Moundo the gov't controls the water and electric and they turn it on and off at will.

The country is very dry, hot and with a continues flow of sand in the air, the worse conditions I have ever worked under but the journey was one of my best memories.......Bob

Nitro,

Like most people who work for a living, I will go as often as I can get enough money saved in the old bank account to cover it!

I made my first Safari in '93, after telling my wife that this would be my only Safari, and the trip of a lifetime. It seems that I unintentionally lied, because I went back in '95, and I try to get back every 2 or 3 years as funds allow.

There's still a lot of old timers out there that we haven't heard from yet. Come on ladies and gents. Pony up to the table with your numbers so I have something to be jelous of.

First was Limpopo Province in 1997 for a general plains game hunt.

Second was in 2002, hunting in KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo, and the Klaserie just east of Kruger.

Third was in 2004, accompanying a group of first-timers I organized, videotaping their hunt, but taking a short detour to Zambia at the front end to hunt a sable.

Lots of place name changes from the Afrikaans and English to the native languages. I didn't visit the cities, so can't comment on that. Lots more game ranches, of course, but otherwise the bushveld was much the same.

quote:

Hope to make enough money someday to make an "upgrade" and visit Tanzania.

I see post like this from time to time and their comical. Make enough money to go every year to Africa and spend several thousand dollars and then say you cant afford Tanzania.
I believe if you can afford to go every year for 4 or 5 years you can probably afford Tanzania.

Jarrod,
I was payed for my Equatorial Guinea trip because I worked there for a while, I was im charge of a cacao plantation.

For my RSA hunt I earned for several years, become good friend with the PH and he invited me to visit a friend of him and we hunted in the Tuli Block of Botswana impalas and blue wildebeest for cents because they where going to start culling them.

Then I went to Namibia invited by my good friend and AR member Richard Powell who has an arrengement with a farmer there so I don't pay daily rates and the trophy fees are quite low, you cant imagine how similars southamericans and white africans can be, good relationship equals lower prices than the international ones.

Thanks God Richard don't get bored of my company yet and he has invited me again....

I have been lucky to hunt kudus, warthogs, impalas, gemsboks, giraffe, zebra, steinbok, etc

So yes, I hope to make some money someday and be able to go for the big boys in Tanzania, if you find it comical what can I say...???

L

My first trip of nine weeks to Africa did not unfortunately include hunting. I travelled overland through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe in 1988.

I met a local in Lusaka who offered to take me after buffalo, lion and hippo at an insanely cheap price, which was to me then expensive. I seriously looked at it but never did it as it would have been hard (impossible) to get the trophies out. Now I would be over there yesterday for the equivalent deal today, recovering any trophies or not.

I set the goal to be back within five years to hunt.

In 1994 I honeymooned with my wife in Zimbabwe for five weeks and drove all over the country and saw most of its sights including canoeing on the Zambezi in Zambia, the Great Zimbabwe ruins, Matatpos Park, Hwange Park including staying in isolated little self-run cottages, Victoria Falls and white water rafting the rapids a second time.

Spent one week on a plains game safari taking eland, kudu, wildebeest, zebra, warthog, impala and duiker. Also had the opportunity to join in helicopter wild game capture operations which was great fun.

I set the goal to be back within five years.

Then in 2002 I visited a PH friend in South Africa and we hunted bushbuck and impala in the Northern Province. Tried for hartebeest for several days but never got a shot off. Missed a kudu.

Then flew to Vic Falls to hunt cape buffalo in the Gwayi Valley. Took a waterbuck, zebra, chobe bushbuck and impala, but the hunt was interrupted by a warvet invasion and the owner was thrown off his property.

Spent several days at a photo resort on the Zambezi which was nice and then the PH resumed the hunt on a HHK concession in Matetsi. Took a old cape buffalo, another zebra and never found a sable I was after.

My hope is to hunt a couple cow elephant next year in the Zambezi Valley, finances willing.

***

How have things changed?

Zimbabwe is my only basis for comparison. In 1988 Zimbabwe was developed compared to Zambia, Malawi, and Tanzania. But it had a hard edge still underneath, probably as the black killings (Ndebele) had only finished a couple years earlier.

In 1994 the place had a prosperous air. People were happy and busy. Business was good. Harare was booming. Safaris were doing well. Tourists were everywhere and it was safe. This was so even though Zimbabwe was experiencing a very bad drought.

In 2002 the place in comparison is a "ghost-country". No tourists, empty hotels and resorts. Sad hawkers. Empty shops. Even Vic Falls was empty and did not feel completely safe. Poaching was far more rife than previously.

Safety? South Africa and Jo'burg felt worse than Zim.

2006? It will be interesting to compare again, South Africa and Zim. I am sure the hunting with good outfitters will still be first class. I would love to see Tanzania again as I have been told the 17 years have quite changed the place as well. Selous in 2007 perhaps? If I win a lottery.

2000 my first hunt at age 38 in RSA for plainsgame.

2001 was to hunt buff in Zim, but war vets cause me to move to Mozabique. Took a buff and hippo. Hunted with John Harris from this site and Don Heath for African Hunter magazine.

2002 hunted RSA with my father. He made 9 one shot kills and I killed 10 animals.

2003 in Zim and RSA. Hunted with my stepfather, good friend Johnnie Hamilton who is an outfitter in the US. John Harris and Don Heath were also on this hunt. I hunted elephant and didn't get one, my stepdad took a good assortment of plains game and Johnnie got his leopard and some plains game also. I did manage to kill a tseseebe and common reed buck and shot at and missed a nice mountain reed buck in the Free State and had a great time shooting francolin, water fowl and rockies with John and his son Colin.

2005 in Zim with my brother for PAC elephant near Magunge. Hunted with PH Henry Prinsloo and our own Ganyana. Had a wonderful hunt even if it was a bit of a physical challenge at times and got to see Vic Falls for a couple of days.

Zimbabwe has changed a great deal in 4 years. More sadness in the faces of the whites and desparation in their activities and conversations. The invaded farms were heart breaking and a total waste from what I saw as most of them didn't even have squatters or subsistance farming on them. Harare was dirtier and more run down each year and food and fuel have became increasingly more difficult to locate and purchase. Basic services such as city water and electricity were constantley interrutped and the national airline is a frightful experience to fly. Zimbabwe became a rapidly declining 3rd world country in 4 years. Many honest men no longer feel compelled to follow the rules as their government has set the example of how to live from day to day, week to week, month to month and maybe, if you can hook or crook enough, year to year.

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:
When did you first go on safari in Africa?

How many years until your second and how many times since?

Have you seen any changes in the meantime? To the country, the environment, the animals?

quote:

Originally posted by mikeh416Rigby:
There's still a lot of old timers out there that we haven't heard from yet. Come on ladies and gents. Pony up to the table with your numbers so I have something to be jelous of.

I'm sure a lot of us would be interested to hear when and why Saeed, Ray (and the other oldtimers) started their african hunting careers.

Was it reading books on african hunting that planted the seed, or perhaps family members that had been to africa before?

I know that for me, it was just kind of by chance, as I happend to end up in RSA back in 1988 (after sailing across from Australia) and had to wait several weeks before my flight home. The time spent there then planted african the seed that was later to occupy my mind to the degree it does today. Hopefully this seed will also be planted in my childrens hearts and minds when they're old enough to join my wife and I hunting and travelling in africa.

My first hunt was Botswana, Okavango Delta for Buffalo and Plainsgame in 1988. 10 days - 6 alone, 4 with my brother

My second hunt was Botswana, Okavango Delta for plainsgame. - 2001 - plainsgame - 7 days with my 2 sons.

My third hunt was this summer, Botswana, plainsgame 4 days in the Okavango Delta and 6 days on Clive Eaton's ranch near Ghanzi. This time we were a group of 7, with 3 who hunted. We also spent 3 days in Vic Falls.

As you can see, I love the Okavango Delta. The beauty and variety of game is magical. I suppose I'll hunt somewhere else sometime, but I'm already planning to go back for another Buffalo. My PH for almost all of the hunting has been Glen Munger. I've booked with Mark Kyriacou and Clive Eaton.

As regards changes. The Botswana Government continues to remove species from the trophy list and reduce quota. Speculation is that in 5 or so years only Elephant will be on quota in the Delta. In 1998 there were quite a few consessions in the Delta where you could hunt plainsgame, now I believe there are only 3.
At the same time I have seen a rise in game farming. Botswana seems to be going in the direction of RSA, if you want plainsgame you may have to hunt on private land.
Maun has gotten bigger and has more paved roads.
There is a paved road between Maun and Ghanzi and electricity is spreading out from both Maun and Ghanzi.
The PHs have GPS units as do the bush planes. Everyone still drives Toyotas.

btt

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:
When did you first go on safari in Africa?

How many years until your second and how many times since?

Have you seen any changes in the meantime? To the country, the environment, the animals?

Is it only a handfull of AR members that have actually been to Africa?

quote:

Originally posted by ErikD:
Is it only a handfull of AR members that have actually been to Africa?

I can only answer one of the three. I made my first (and only so far) trip to Namibia this year. So, no help on the other questions.

Ahhh.. let me see. I hunted in the Northern Transvaal with John Coleman in 1977. Somehow managed to get a big male leopard that year. (I also hunted with Lolly Sussens for a couple of days. I returned in 1980 and with Coleman managed to get a lion .. from there I flew to South West Africa and hunted with Fritz Hein for a week or so and managed to not only get a good spring hare but most of the indigenous plains game .. plus a cheetah !

In 1989 I hunted in Chete for tuskless and buffalo with Dave Masson's outfit guided by Mike Bunce. (That was about as colourful an experience that I have had in my life. A host of really interesting folks (three or four of which died within the year .. ) Being in love with Zimbabwe ,, I returned in '92 and hunted on the Devuli Ranch in Southern Zim .Most excellent William Finnaughty. for leopard and such ... Big drought .. amazing hunting. Came back in '94 and hunted Matetsi with the young Gary Hopkins. (These two hunts and the following were under Roger Whittal's outfit) We hunted lioness, elephant bull, buffalo cow (long story) and such. Back in '96 to hunt the Humani with the 21 year old son of Lou Hallamore - Clive. It was a leopard hunt and the young man was great company but I don't think that he had read his dad's book. Returned in 2002 and hunted leopard with Helgaard van der Vuyver on Wildfarm Felseneck near Okahandja, Namibia. We both shot leopards as did a friend who came a few weeks later . I've never hunted with a nicer more knowledgable young man as Helgaard. Hunted for 6 weeks in both 2004 and 2005 up near Kamanjab, Namibia. Outfitter is Christie de Sousa. Lots of game .. wonderful wonderful man.

How have things changed. ??? I hunted South Africa in the Apartheid days .. with a great PH who had just moved into South Africa from Rhodesia. Not the game farming that is so common now.And I hunted an area that had not really been hunted by 'tourists' as yet. Although even then there were 'zoo lions' available. Heck, I was offered such a hunt by a big booking agent in Montana back then. (Fenced 160 acres of lion hunting with captured lions that had been cattle/people (so the young man said) killers so they were dangerous (?) )

Coleman snorted in disgust on that topic. But then he was/is the best of the best.

1989 was the most memorable hunt as back then they were killing poachers on sight (two the morning that we flew in .. with a third 'leaking oil and running for his life' .. he was winged) No one was allowed in the concession unless they were on the safari ..

Bunce was quite the chap. The last that I heard he was still in Zim .. mostly retired. His son Mitch is a successful PH from what I read.

Not much need to say how things have changed now in Zim now, of course. But if I could repeat anything it would be Chete. (I'm sure places like Chewore are also as grand)

Namibia is just great. I sleep in a tent, hunt at my leisure .. no pressure. Not mad every day at the damn government (Zim) or (like in Joburg) half expecting somebody to try and kill me for my $30 watch. I have met absolutely wonderful people (of course) in all three of those countries .. folks that have risked their lives to hunt with me .. at times.

I'll always go back .. I just find Namibia the best place for me right now ..on a school teacher's salary.

I did not start to hunt Africa until the late '90s. I have hunted 5 places in RSA, Venitia, Zulu Natal(around Lake Rizini), Rooipourt, by Kimberly, the Eastern Cape near Queenstown, the Oomkamaas Valley, near Peitermaritzburg. I have hunted Tanzania in 3 places: Lake Natron, Kisigo, and Lukwati, on two 21 day safaris, once alone and once with my two sons. I have hunted two 21 day safaris, once for 28 days, and once for 35 days. I am scheduled for rhino and elephant in 2006 in Botswana and RSA and scheduled for Tanzania again in 2007 in Maswa and the Moyowasi.

BTTT

In 5 days 15 hours and 14 minutes!

JPK

In 1988 at the age of 28 I went to Zimbabwe
and had a ten day plains game hunt with Robin and Jeanne Greaves near Bulawayo. Following the hunt we toured around Zim for four days seeing Vic Falls, Wanke and Matopos. A great trip. Unfortunately I am certain they lost their farm and from the news their son Harry will shortly lose his gold mining operation. This summer I hunted with Adam Clements in Lobo (masailand) and had a fantastic hunt (see hunt reports). I loved the hunting and enjoyed the Masai. However, I did not enjoy Arusha (crowded, dirty, and everyone was looking for tourist hand outs). Overpopulation issues will continue to threaten good game areas in all countries in Africa. But I will keep going back.

Lets see Luangwa, Zambezi valley or Selous in 2009????!!!!16-21 days???!!!!