I would like to hunt Africa, but I could not justify leaving my family at home while I went. I'm one of those dads that doesn't like to do things without my boys. I would feel selfish going by myself. The only way I could go is if they were to go with me. The youngest is 10 and the older boy is 15. They have both passed their hunter safety programs to hunt in the US. The questions are:
Can they hunt in Africa?
Which countries?
Any limitations on game hunted?
Last; any outfitters offer family group rates?
maybe a 2 &1/2X1 type of deal? plus mom as an observer.

I'm not aware of any age limitations as long as the PH approves.

Lots of guys here take their kids and families with them. Maybe Bill C. will post here to your topic. His boys have been with him at least twice and DG is always taken. There are many others that have done the same.

Took my first son to Africa when he was eleven.

Using a 243 Win and a 308 Win, he took wildebeest, impala, reedbuck, warthog, duiker, etc. Only one shot per animal.

While on the hunt, my son had an opportunity to track buffalo. Got to within 10 yards of them in the tall grass. Two PHs were present.

My son had a great time.

.

Dad,
You have to make that decision. 99 per cent of the time all goes well on a dangerous game hunt and there are no problems. YOU AS THE FATHER of those boys must decide what risk you will allow them to take. If you can live with the small chance of something going wrong go for it. Just because you can does not make it right. You have to be able to justify it in your heart if something goes wrong.

A lot of folks have taken their young children to Africa with no problems. Most were on PG hunts so no danger with DG so far. Do a search and you'll find the info you need. From the posts, the PH's have no problem with youngsters shooting something so they feel that they've participated in the hunt. As mentioned, ask your PH.

BTW, go to the "find" button at the top of the page and you'll have many options as to how you can do your search.

You specifically mention Dangerous Game.

I wouldn't take a 10 year old child into the bush after buffalo, leopard etc.

As far as I know there is no age restriction for hunting in any country in Africa. It would have to be up the discretion of the PH as to who hunts what on his concession. Any truly responsible PH would have to consider the maturity and skill level of the hunter, along with the game to be hunted.

There is excitement enough in hunting game other than the Dangerous Five or Six to enflame the hearts of youngsters. The slinking and shy caracal can suddenly become a deadly adversary capable of bringing down game 5 times its size. A warthog can deal lethal slashes with its curved tusks and they will not always retreat from you. The beautiful horns of kudu, bushbucks, and oryxes have been responsible for the injury and even deaths of large predators and humans. A seemingly submissive prey can suddenly turn on you in a heartbeat.

Another thing to consider is that if you shoot and wound an animal and it is not recovered you will pay for it anyway and a Dangerous Game animal does not come cheap (the minimum trophy fee for a leopard that I have seen offered is $2500, not including the daily rates). Yet another consideration is the cost of travel. Children 12 years and older pay full airfare. My trips to Africa have not been cheap.

Shop around online and contact a few of the outfitters to see if they can accomodate your youngsters and if they have had the experience with children hunting. Some PHs may not be as tolerant with young people as they would be with adults. Also consider their facilities and see if it would adequately provide for the safety, security, and comfort of you and your family.

To answer your last question - ETEMBA HUNT AND SAFARIS can and has accomodated families on their concession, including mine, and I would give them consideration when choosing your safari outfitter.

I'm glad that you're going to take your children on safari. It is an experience that will forever be etched in their minds and hearts, and yours.

Namibiahunter
http://namibiahunter.angelfire.com

My only reservation is that if you show them the best at such a young age, what is there to look forward to?

My son celebrated his 13th and 16th birthday on safari on Botswana.He shot plains game and was with me while I shot several buffalo. He is now 27 and is still talking about these trips. I know we both will never forget the wonderful times we enjoyed...by all means include you sons..

I've been thinking about the same, tho my kids are very young, 5 & 8, but will obviously be at least one year older. I've found that some companies in the south provide activities for non hunting wives and kids. These are fixed lodges and the diversions are usually spa stuff for the wife and sightseeing for the wife and kids. Essentially its's a photo safari for them.

I agree that things can go just as wrong on a PG hunt as on a DG hunt maybe even more so. Many PG outfits might not have much if any experience in dealing with a suprise from a DG animal.

I don't think I'd take my kids on any kind of extensive stalk until they were much older and then only if they had true interest in doing so and had the basic skills needed in place, namely rifle handling under stress.

I'm not sure I'd take them into a trad tent camp either.

I've had those thoughts that what I'm doing may be selfish, using up alot of the family's money that could be spent on another type of vacation for all. Also the thought of exposing my kids to Africa and all that that entails in culture and and nature. But I've found that all these things that we want for our kids can be had at a much later age with no detriment to the final outcome. In fact older teenagers and very young adults may be in a better position to understand and appreciate what hunting safari is. Otherwise the comfy photo safari is perfect for childhood development and experience.

quote:

Originally posted by Hammer:
Took my first son to Africa when he was eleven.

Using a 243 Win and a 308 Win, he took wildebeest, impala, reedbuck, warthog, duiker, etc. Only one shot per animal.

While on the hunt, my son had an opportunity to track buffalo. Got to within 10 yards of them in the tall grass. Two PHs were present.

My son had a great time.

.

That is what I am looking to let them experience. Hunt some PG and stalk some DG. They are both mature for their ages, both intellectually and physically so I have complete confidence in their ability to follow direction and tgeir ability to react properly if something does go wrong.

As others that have also stated, I think the impressions, experiences, and memories are priceless. Why make them wait 10 or 20 more years to go? Too many parents don't take advantage of the opportunity to take their children on these types of adventures. I know too many parents that regret not having gone on such adventures with their children. I don't want to be one that falls into that category. You only get one chance to raise them and have these adventures with them.

I guided several young boys from 12 years old and all performed well some after a bit of training with the rifle ,by the way my son who shots a ruger 1022 since 3 years old now 11 shoots every type of rifle now up to 375hyh without problem ,he always aids me in my safaris,and in summer he daily hunts ducks with his remington 1187 12gauge ,he performed well in wild boar .puma,alligator and cebues hunts so i believe if you train your youngs physically and in shooting techniques they can outperform an adult easily ,i recommend the SAFARI PREP COURSE AT GUNSITE .Juan

quote:

Originally posted by xgrunt:
Dad,
You have to make that decision. 99 per cent of the time all goes well on a dangerous game hunt and there are no problems. YOU AS THE FATHER of those boys must decide what risk you will allow them to take. If you can live with the small chance of something going wrong go for it. Just because you can does not make it right. You have to be able to justify it in your heart if something goes wrong.

As I typed my OP, I knew this type of comment would be posted in response. Life is full of potential dangers and risks. Do we choose to keep them indoors until they are 21 so they don't get hit by a car? Or struck by lightning? Or attacked by a child molester? No. We teach them about the dangers and we teach them how to react when confronted by danger.

.


Two African PHs who I would highly recommend for such a hunt are

Johan Calitz -- Botswana (Okavanga Delta)

Danie van Graan - Nelspruit, South Africa


.

The youngest client I have guided on elephant and Buffalo was 9 - and I did not fire a back up shot on either animal. Kid was well diciplined and keen - no additional danger for me or him.

Butch Coaton who hunts for ingwe sfaris has taken a fair number of youngsters under 12 out, including one 9 year old (Eugine Yap's son) who took the big five (white rhino in SA not here in zim).

Diciplined and keen enough to listen to the PH and do what they are told - when they are told. Many are- some are not - same goes for adult clients but if he is under 18, then you cannot tell him to look after his own problems!

In Zim, if the child is under 12, the legal gardian must be present. Ie you need to tag along officially and cannot send him off (with a rifle) with one PH whilst you go looking for game with another.

No age limit on any of my hunts, but we suggest that 12 years old is about the limit, but that depends on the child, and some are capable at an earlier age while others are not capable at at 18 years old...

The parent should be very careful and approach this with a realistic, adult point of view as to the capabilities of his children otherwise the results can be awful for the parent and the child...

Just use your good judgment and be honest with yourself...Be sure the child has hunted in the USA and if he has the hunting wish, and performs well in the States, then he probably will do fine in Africa at any reasonable age..

I worry more about the parents than the child, as many want their children to hunt and the child really would be someplace else.

Like it or not, this is good advise.

Very well put, Ray. Thank you.

YOU AS THE FATHER, of those boys have to decide what level of risk you will allow them to take.

quote:

Originally posted by xgrunt:
YOU AS THE FATHER, of those boys have to decide

what level of risk you will allow them to take.

I can not support the idea of taking boys and girls on dangerous game hunts.

If I had billions of dollars I would not do it. When I had seen the young person,

[say 15 or older] perform well on a number of non dangerous game hunts, then

concluded that they could handle all that comes with facing dangerous game, that

is when I'd have him/her/them come on a dangerous game safari. Not before.