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There is something about an African safari that makes everyone who goes on one an expert on all things Africa from that time on. – climate, geology, politics, ethnology, anthropology, ecology and natural history. And in particular everyone who has ever gone on safari is an expert on all African game and what rifles and cartridges should be used on it. It is by no means unusual for these one safari experts to sit down when they get home and write books on the subject. Both Ernest Hemingway and Robert Ruark did so. I have seen several others. If you want all the answers about Africa and African hunting you’ll find them there. These answers are absolutely pat because the minds of the authors were not gummed up with surplus knowledge. My wife, who completed her sixth safari in 1969, says it is a shame to go to Africa more than once because at the end of the first safari everyone knows everything and subsequent safaris simply puzzle and confuse the expert and make him doubt his own omnipotence. I agree with her. In 1953 I hunted for a couple of months from central Tanzania to the Northern Frontier District of Kenya. When I came back I knew not only about the countries where I had hunted but all about African countries where I had not hunted. Since then I have been on safaris in northern Tanzania, in southern Tanzania, Chad, Mozambique, Angola, Botswana and Zambia. I have learned that Africa is a very large continent with different conditions, different climates, and a bewildering variety of people and animals. I should never have gone back after that first trip. I know the quote well but can't for the life of me remember who or where it came from. | ||
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I don't know who wrote it but it sure sounds a lot about some of the armchair cowboys/ quarterbacks we have on this site some times.  the list of people who know what there talking about when it come's to things African is a lot shorter than the list of those how have flown in to a camp spent a few day or a couple wks. flown back out and thing they know everything about everything. especially when it comes to governments and mind sets of the local. much lease they way things really work or don't work in Africa. | |||
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Dr. Livingstone I presume.........  Formerly "Nganga" | |||
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+11111  Naganga | |||
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Maybe they wore a scarf too. ------------------------------- Will / Once you've been amongst them, there is no such thing as too much gun. --------------------------------------- and, God Bless John Wayne. NRA Benefactor, GOA, NAGR _________________________ "Elephant and Elephant Guns" $99 shipped. “Hunting Africa's Dangerous Game" $20 shipped. red.dirt.elephant@gmail.com _________________________ If anything be of note, let it be he was once an elephant hunter, hoping to wind up where elephant hunters go. | |||
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something a friend of mine said in Kenya one time. Those who have not lived here don't know and you can't tell them because they would not believe you if you did. He was speaking of the tourist and social workers who think they can fix Africa | |||
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I thought that was a damn Iguana around his neck And Steve, does that mean you don't like chapter 2? Formerly "Nganga" | |||
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I actually see a different issue at hand... To me everybody wants to think that not only are they an expert on Africa but that Africa is so different. Because someone is going to hunt Africa, they now need special... shirts cartridge holders back packs ...they even think about hunting in sandals, can you imagine a US hunter showing up on warm weather deer hunt in sandals in CA or TX? Also, the laws of physics do not apply to Africa. Some how the same 180 grn hornady interlock from a 30-06 that has killed 1000s of elk, moose, mountain goat, and big horn sheep is no longer adequate to kill the same sized African antelope. Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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I would have guessed, Shakari.  | |||
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if Steve wrote it it would say fuck about 43 times  | |||
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Hmmm... one of the old gun writers? And one that hunted with his wife. Jack O'Conner perchance? On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died. If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch... Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son! - Rudyard Kipling Life grows grim without senseless indulgence. | |||
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Maybe just have a big quilting bee, serve tea, and all hold hands, and weep, and cry, and explore each others deepest feelings. Maybe a seance will uncover the truth. And see if anyone around the table doesn't have a twitter account, or if anyone has balls. ------------------------------- Will / Once you've been amongst them, there is no such thing as too much gun. --------------------------------------- and, God Bless John Wayne. NRA Benefactor, GOA, NAGR _________________________ "Elephant and Elephant Guns" $99 shipped. “Hunting Africa's Dangerous Game" $20 shipped. red.dirt.elephant@gmail.com _________________________ If anything be of note, let it be he was once an elephant hunter, hoping to wind up where elephant hunters go. | |||
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O'Connor hunted all of the countries mentioned above. However, he always called Tanzania "Tanganyika," even after they declared independence. Perhaps later in life he changed. O'Connor did hunt in Zambia in 1969 and did bring his wife. It sure sounds like him. He wrote quite a bit about his wife in his writing. | |||
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But did he have Shakari's permission to do so???  Steve Formerly "Nganga" | |||
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Mike, This is because african antelopes are stronger than similar mammals on other parts of the earth, you MUST hunt them with a Mauser type action in 375 H&H....with less than that they don't die..... L | |||
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One must absolutely, positively buy a new rifle in caliber .375H&H for a plains game safari, so that if confronted by an angry Bull Elephant or MGM Lion whilest in pursuit of the elusive Blue Duiker, one will not be under-gunned. Mike ______________ DSC DRSS (again) SCI Life NRA Life Sables Life Mzuri IPHA "To be a Marine is enough." | |||
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Don't forget soft on top / solids down Formerly "Nganga" | |||
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There you go! You've got it now!  Mike ______________ DSC DRSS (again) SCI Life NRA Life Sables Life Mzuri IPHA "To be a Marine is enough." | |||
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Ex Africa semper aliquid novi — Pliny Pliny had this figured out two thousand years ago. Those who think they "know" something about Africa really just haven't been around enough to know that the normal "rules" don't apply in all times and places. In fact, the one rule for the continent might just be unanticipated variability. | |||
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So nobody knows then? FWIW, I'm 99% sure I first read it here on AR when someone quoted it but I can't for the life of me think who wrote it..... I also get an idea it might have been O Conner but I've looked through the stuff I have here and can't find it. And it's driving me nucking futs!  Steve, Yes mate, I did read Chapt 2 and it's great..... but every time I tried to post, my server went south. Apparently the undersea cable is buggered and they're trying to fix it. I also sent you a PM about publication that obvously didn't get through so I'll try again just now. - Sorry about that! | |||
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OK, my buddy Peter found it for me. It was almost certainly Jack O Conner as he refers to Tanzania as opposed to Tanganyika and his wife being on 6 African safaris in his book 'The Hunting Rifle' on Chapter 1 page 7. He also refers to Tanzania on the pics after page 186. Thanks Pete! | |||
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driving you nuts is a short trip and use's very little petrol  I know I have done it(and I enjoyed it too) | |||
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I have been lucky, After my first trip to Africa, I was unaffected by "expertism". Quite the opposite, I realized while in Africa, what I knew about hunting and Africa amounted to nothing compared to the PH I hunted with. Everything I ever needed to know is right here. I have learned who are the experts and who are unaffected by "expertism". Great website for us the unknowing, but enchanted by Africa. Martin | |||
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375LVR  you nailed it. not bad finally some normal thinking from a yankee | |||
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I have had the benifit of living in Mississippi, and Tenn  Martin | |||
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that explains it | |||
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So what do I win? I was thinking an all expense paid trip to Uganda with trophy fees paid for Nile buff, Uganda Kob and Nile bushbuck! On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died. If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch... Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son! - Rudyard Kipling Life grows grim without senseless indulgence. | |||
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Just had it confirmed it was Jack O Conner! Thanks to Nick also. | |||
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bwanamrm It is with great pleasure that I inform you of an unannounced prize that had been set aside for the person that supplied the correct information. Now if you will send your full banking information to me via PM, I will forthwith send the $3.50 US prize. Don't limit your challenges . . . Challenge your limits | |||
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Check HERE! - about a third of the way down. You know that guy? Must be all that banging your head on the desk. | |||
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it's not the banging his head that's the problem. IT"S when Susan lets him out to play with the other boys and he seams to forget very thing he has ever known when he comes in from playing | |||
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Steve, I know I'd found it on forum but had forgotten who wrote it....... I guess it must be oldtimers disease setting in. Hooker, Mate, I reckon she'll be banging my head against the computer if I end up buying that classic SL Mercedes! Damn but I find fine classic cars and bikes sooooo very hard to resist!  | |||
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yeep old cars and bike are harder for me to resist than some women. tells a lot about what it's like to get old | |||
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Amen Bro!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ J. Lane Easter, DVM A born Texan has instilled in his system a mind-set of no retreat or no surrender. I wish everyone the world over had the dominating spirit that motivates Texans.– Billy Clayton, Speaker of the Texas House No state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born in Texas.— Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Texas in May, 1991. | |||
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Jack O'Connor DRSS | |||
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Jack O'Connor He was refencing without mentioning his rival sportswriter who did the same. | |||
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I grew up reading Willie Parker, Outlaw Gunner, Travis Morris, and other local stories. Robert Ruark grew up within 75 miles of where I have grown up. I started writing a book about many of my adventures from my childhood similar to The Ol man and the boy. I have experienced many various hunts and commercial fishing experiences that I dont think the next generation will experience. I hope to stay a few summers in Africa and add to my stories. I am doing as much reading as time permits to perfect my writing styles as I would like to record these stories in a fashion that will be worthy of non hunters reading. | |||
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