Oh, yeah, and I forgot to add:

Your wife will never complain about having to choose or cook dinner, since you will generally eat whatever you have killed recently and a nice person in camp will do all the cooking.

Your wife will never complain about not having any clothes or having to do any laundry, since she will get along nicely with three changes of clothing and another nice person in camp will do all the laundry.

Plus, if your wife is like mine, she will man the cameras and take all the photographs (even though I will claim all the best ones are mine--see above re: what she has to put up with).

And there are NO CHILDREN! At least not in my camp! Don't get me started . . . .

But if you bring someone else`s wife and unfortunately so they (your wife and her husband) see the pictures of the couple in the catalog , well then its probably a good idea to bring your wife to Africa next time . If she hasnt robbed you for everything you got and planned a "The short happy life of YOU" with the ph.

sorry about the off topic, but my third cousin is the Norwegian minister for health ,sp i speak and write a bit too
much bs....

I will put my fiance' up against a lot of so called "hunters" to share a campfire with.

Reasons for taking my fiance'.

1. Last summer she hiked over 450 miles without complaints in desert mountainous country.
2. She was studying insects, and missed getting struck by a snakes 2 times.
3. She can shoot better than a lot of my male friends.
4. She looks a hell of a lot better than my male friends.
5. She Complains LESS than some of my male friends.

Besides killing a few pheasants I would not consider her a bonifide hunter. But she likes the outdoors. She loves taking pictures of animals and landscapes. And in a pinch, she can shoot a .375 H&H.

Oh she can fish too.

Russ,

Are you and your wife having marriage problems?

Or does she max out the credit cards when you go to africa.

At least tell us why you won't take the wife.

Number 11 .Having to put up with her bitching after you have just provided an ''All expenses paid'' overseas 3 weeks holiday which didnt cost her one cent ! been there done that Never Again !!!!!!!

I agree, I think taking one's wife and girlfriend on a safari is bound to result in trouble and an upset safari.

Unless they are both friendly and know each other really well.

For another reason to leave the beloved at home please refer back to the romance on safari thread!!

Seriously, this is a tough one. There are certain things I like to do with my girlfriend and certain things I like to do with the guys. Saturday morning golf..definitely guys only, Sunday afternoon golf...enjoy the mixed company. As for hunting, this has always been a guy thing for me, but I suppose I could be convinced otherwise (as in my 12 year old daughter giving me hell about not taking her to RSA two years ago every time I talk to her)!

Have any of you ever condsidered the option of having your wife along for only part of the safari? Could that be the best of both?

I guess I like my fiance'. Maybe some of you don't like your wives.

And I agree, bringing both the wife and girlfriend would lead to troubles.

quote:

Originally posted by Spring:
Have any of you ever condsidered the option of having your wife along for only part of the safari? Could that be the best of both?

On our couples-trip, the wives spent 10 days with us and then went home leaving the guys on their own for another week. It was the best of both worlds for us. After the experiencing the luxury Okavango camp, our wives would have been a bit disappointed in the desert camp we went to next. Sending the girls back on their own is a better option when there are multiple girls (our case) rather than sending your wife home alone.

quote:

Originally posted by sierrabravo45:
Russ,

Are you and your wife having marriage problems?

Or does she max out the credit cards when you go to africa.

At least tell us why you won't take the wife.

No and no.

I have taken my wife and young son hunting here in OR, we use a tent trailer so it's not that rough, but she doesn't really enjoy sitting in camp all day. It's usually cold, not much to do etc. And I feel obliged to make a short morning hunt, spend most of the day in camp, then hunt again in the evening. That's not really my style, when I hunt I like to put in the time and sometimes spike camp overnight. And recently she has preferred to stay home when I go hunting.

I have not taken her to Africa other than once we went to SA on a tourist trip, no hunting. She enjoyed it and that has satisfied her curiosity pretty much.

Now as to your question about Africa, in addition to the ten generic reasons I have already listed, I will add some personal reasons:

1. Someone has to take care of the farm.
2. Someone has to take care of the business.
3. She has never expressed a strong desire to accompany me. She has no interest in hunting, and is not anti so I don't feel the need to convert her.
4. Our marriage is secure so she doesn't feel the need to hang onto me everywhere I go.
5. Our finances are such that I don't feel guilty spending money on independent vacations/activities, and she doesn't resent it. We have an understanding regarding this, right from the get-go (I call it the "honey, can I have $10 to go to Pizza Hut with Fred" syndrome...too many men end up with it).
6. I don't go on Niemann Marcus safaris or tarmac safaris. I prefer a rustic camp and I like to hunt hard, on foot.

Having said all that, our son is getting to the age where he is going to start hunting, if he has any of my genes in him. We'll see if he has it in him locally first. If he does, then he will be coming to Africa with me in a few years' time and Mommy will probably tag along, at least for the first trip. But that will be his hunt, not mine.

I must admit to being quite surprised by the responses to this post. You rarely see women in hunting camps in the USA, but judging from the posts here, the majority of AR members have wives that can't get enough safari. Or perhaps it's the vocal minority thing. As I said at the outset, I have NO problem with women who are there to hunt, with or without husbands/boyfriends. Newlyweds I can also understand...still in that bonding phase, but risky move if she hates it. But aside from those two situations, I just don't understand the need to tag along on a real safari, esp. a DG safari. Perhaps safaris have become too tame, with luxury lodges, activities for spouses, facilities en-suite.....what's next, a health-hydro/safari hybrid?

And I find it really strange that some folks reaction to this post is to say they will never book a safari with me. That's OK...small minded, vindictive people with no sense of humor are always a PITA to work with.

Luckily my wife has absolutely NO desire to go with me to Africa. I've been married 26 years, so a little "alone" time is good for both of us.

Russ,

I think what some of the guys are saying is that their situation is like mine. When Sadie and I go on safari it is "Our safari"and not mine that she is tagging along on. She genuinely wants to be there and my safari is all the better for it. I consider this to be ideal but it won't work for everyone.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
I consider this to be ideal but it won't work for everyone.

Mark

I think this is the truth dependent upon everyone's specific situation. Different strokes for different folks.

I've only been to Africa once and I went alone. Matter of fact, Russ was my booking agent and I wouldn't hesitate to use his services again. However, my fiance will probably accompany me on my next trip and it will more then likely be her first and last trip for various reasons. First, she doesn't like to hunt and she DOESN'T want to see the animal die. She has been with me several times deer, turkey and squirrel hunting but after the first time I shot a doe with her along for the trip, I saw a different look in her eye. I've taken her with me since; however, we usually just watch the deer go by, yet if that ole big boy were to walk by I would have to tell her to close her eyes. (Besides, she really has a hard time sitting still for extended periods of time!) What she really enjoys is me going by myself and then returning in the evenings to hear of my recent adventure. Plus, she absolutely loves wild game meat. We have wild game probably 2-4 times per week. Not to mention the pounds of jerky I make on a consitent basis. I would imagine she'll like going to Africa and seeing the numerous different sights, smells, people, etc. Yet, she has expressed more interest into going back to Europe and visiting there, which will probably be the next trip after my return to Africa.

In the end, she understands my love for hunting and I understand her wish not wanting to participate in hunting. However, she'll damn sure heat a gun barrel up in a hurry and loves to shoot.

quote:

Originally posted by sierrabravo45:
I guess I like my fiance'. Maybe some of you don't like your wives.

That may change once she becomes your wife!!

If anyone enjoys hunting with their spouse I think that is great, but when I go on a hunt I want to be away from my daily life and a little break from family life does wonders for me. It has nothing to do with a lack of affection but I do need some time to myself.

Regards
Aziz

All kidding aside (and Russ, I did take this post as a little inoffensive jibing at the expense of the fairer sex) -- it really is an intensely personal choice that works for some couples and would be a disaster, I am sure, for others.

My wife is on one end of the spectrum. She is tough as nails and fascinated with safari life and hunting, with as much love for it as I have, but with no desire to hunt herself. She is so hard core that she is usually in on the kills and photographs and films us as we skin, eviscerate and butcher the game. My wife is perfect for me!

And I realized as I read this thread that it is also a big factor with us that we are both generally so busy that we don't see enough of each other from day to day. So a safari is a welcome chance to reconnect.

Other women, and other couples, find themselves at other places on that spectrum, and some, I am sure, are all the way at the other end. They have a different dynamic and assuming it works for them, who is anyone to second guess them?

I'd better stop now or I'll be taking Dr. Phil's job.

My wife spent 21 days in the Selous with me. We had a great time and we are going back to do it again in 2007. She shot a buffalo, hippo and hartebeest. On one of her days off (when she stayed in camp) she killed a poisonus snake (Boomslang) in front of our tent and then curled it up in front of our tent and acted scared. She didn't care for the scorpions in the shower - we had to do a shower check each night. And after 3 days she kind of got used to no aircondtioning. We still talk about Africa, we've been twice and I will take her as long as she wants to go.

Russ I agree with you. Aziz also.

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanahile:

quote:

Originally posted by sierrabravo45:
I guess I like my fiance'. Maybe some of you don't like your wives.

That may change once she becomes your wife!!

I GUARANTEE it will!!!!

I´ve taken the whole family twice (and my inlaws once but that might have been a mistake...) and we enjoyed ourselves a lot.

But if your wife is the "prissy" (I think that´s the right word?) and you kids are spoiled brats then leave them at home.

From the interesting posts above it appears there are quite different opinions on this - here is mine:

I have (and will again next week) take Irene on non-dangerous game hunts and on the baiting shoots or plains game portions of a safari that includes both dangerous and plains game.

She loves it and loves Africa even more than I. She shoots small calibers but not big bores due to her battle with cancer.

Although she would go if asked, I would not intentionally take her where there is even a slight chance of getting into a charge by dangerous game.

I also would not take a young child that could not yet shoot well enough with a large caliber to defend themself into a dangerous game situation.

I do realize there are risks at any time and nearly any place on a safari. An observer could get snake-bit or gored by a Gemsbok on what seems the least dangerous portion of a hunt. That is always a risk but it is much less of a risk in my opinion at least.

I think a hunter has at least a 50-50 chance of shooting their way out of a bad situation but if they were trying to protect someone else then both have lower odds and probably the non-shooter has the lowest odds of all.

Who would take her on Safari?

Here add this to your list of reasons to NOT BRING THE WIFE:

12: 21 DAY ALL EXPENSES PAID (THAT MEANS NOT ONE CENT OUT OF YOUR POCKET FROM THE TIME YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE TILL YOU GET BACK) DG HUNT WITH B. DUCKWORTH IN ZIM.
13: A NEW BLASER LUXUS SAFARI GRADE 375 H&H.
14: A NEW 2 BARREL AMERICASE AND COVER FOR SAID GUN.

This is how I thanked my hubby for taking me on a 12 day hunt(I was hunting too) in RSA for our honeymoon even though it was 7 years late .
By the way, I will be hunting the Lion, Leopard, Ele, Buff, Hippo etc.

Hunting is almost the only thing worth living for

You must be feeling the 7-year itch if you bought him a Blaser.

Scratch Scratch
No I just got tired of cleaning up the drool
I had Sam at KDF custom out one in 340 WBY mag. for me. Going Moose hunting in Wyo. this fall. Don't know whether to use the 300 win mag or the 340 WBY TBBC or Triple shocks.

quote:

Originally posted by sierrabravo45:
I guess I like my fiance'. Maybe some of you don't like your wives.

You know there is a difference between a girlfriend/fiance' and a wife don't you.

Really though, my wife is the type that isn't interested in really rustic settings for long periods of time. She has spent a lot of time at our hunting club, but she is not going with me to Alaska this fall. She is interested in a boat-based Alaskan black bear hunt because she likes fishing.

She will most likely not make my first safari, but she will be paying for it. She got to go to Vet school in exchange for sending me to Africa, and I plan on going in 2008.

BTW, I'd let Cindy Garrison take me on all the safaris she wanted to.

Speaking of Cindy, here's a few more.

where is Cindy hunting? Is she single?

OK, here is the test to see if the wife/girlfriend really enjoys hunting. You make this offer - "this is a check for $25,000 - I will use it to book you an African Safari, it is for transportation, daily rates, trophy fees, tips, and trophy shipments. OR - you can use it for a shopping spree to buy clothes, shoes, and jewelry. We will be hunting the whole time, no sight-seeing trips, shopping for souvenirs and nick-nacks, just hunting . Which do you want?"

RBHunt, My wife took the test and we leave for the Zambezi valley in August. I must say I admire Cindy's big bullets.

gunny

I'm with ya the whole way. With a choice like that Sadie would say "Is that enough to do all that we need to do?" Shoes, jewelry and clothes are not a big thing for this girl. Shopping is not a sport for all women.

Mark

Here in Australia, it is a rare woman who would go hunting. They would prefer shoe shopping

But if your wife/girlfriend WANTS to go, then by all means take her. And you have to love those women born in Afica, who can take it, the diffulties etc, with the best of male hunters.

Wish I had married one of those.........

Use Enough Gun,

Cindy is a Babe............I have had to stop and wipe up the dribble

Beautiful woman.

A envious 'roo shooter!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I need help, although my wife is a better target shot than I, she asked what bikini would be appropriate for the trip. She was concerned that in an African culture she would have to wear more than she typically does?

There was a recent report here or on NE of a PH hitting on the client's wife constantly.

It was a very recent report, and the PH was dubbed as famous.

I certainly would not stand for that, and my wife would suffer an accusation of murder. She would not tolerate it for a second.

And she is a great shot, and supports hunting. All the while being beautiful. A Southern woman, who for some unknown reason, loves me.

Cindy is cute. But she is sausage, and I come home to steak.

Fall in love with a PH? Give me a break. For those that have strayed from danger, maybe that is a reality. For those of us that have looked at death as a reality, definitely not.

If the PH is a good man, trustworthy and honest to a fault, there may be a basis for friendship. But it stops there.

Game is game, all over the world. There is little risk to ones life, unless you are hunting with Mark Sullivan (I won't let te client decide how he is going to die).

Get into a situation where you are prey. And be successful getting out of that situation. There's a man I want to shake hands with.

I have the utmost respect for African PH'S. A hell of a way to make a living. But there is nothing heroic about the trade. And with little risk of life, I might add.

I spent a lot of time on this site before I registered. Saeed has taken over 100 buff without a charge. If true, Saeed is a man's man. And I would shake his hand before I would do so to a PH. That, gentlemen, is an accomplishment. For Saeed is the epitomy of a sportsman, a hunter, and a gentleman.

Save the hero worship for heroes.

333 OKH,

You are a lucky man

SBP,

A new Blaser Luxus, very nice!

And I would take the 340WBY with TBBC

Good luck on the hunt.

Blair D Calvin,

Thanks! Yes they are sweet!
Took a little getting used to but now it is the only rifle I (now we) shoot.
That was what I was leaning towards.

How do you post pics here?

A good reason to hunt with your PH alone!