After Conifer's post about whether a safari is real hunting or not, I'd be curious if anyone was disappointed after their first safari, or whether they were dying to go back.

I was disappointed in the service I got but absolutely enthralled with Zimbabwe and couldn't wait to get back.

The worst part of it was you only get to do your 1st safari once and I got screwed....the best part was my 2nd safari could only be described as just about perfect.

I went back. I am going back for a third time. Nuff sed.

The only disappointment I felt was that I wished I could have gone at 15 instead of 55. Back then I was dying to go hunting anywhere, couldn't get it out of my mind for a month before the season, and that was only mule deer hunting.

Africa was neat, but I can take it or leave it. Hunting Canada or Alaska is a bigger deal to me. Sure, I want to go buffalo hunting next year, but then I doubt I'll ever go back to Africa.

My first safari was wonderful. While waiting for my return flight in DAR, I was planning my next trip.

I had an absolutely great first safari. My hunting partner bitched moaned and complained most of the time however on the plane ride back to the states he was discussing our next trip. We went back two years later and I'll return again if my back ever allows.

My hunt was awesome. My wife went with me, we hunted RSA. Hunted as hard as I have ever hunted for 10 days. Was treated royally! Tented accommodations were great, the food was delicious.

The PH I hunted with Claude Kleynhans and his wife Jill are still close friends, as if they were extended family.

A good hunt takes planning and lots of preparation. There are bad hunts. The best way to avoid those is to go with a good recommendation. Check things out, ask lots of questions and keep asking them.
If you have a desire to go, then try to fulfill your dreams!

Don't let the ranting of someone who has never been to Africa dissuade you from at least looking into a hunt. It will be the finest time of your life!

Just my opine!

My first safari was great. I have never what I would call a really bad hunt. My worst hunt was wonderful!

I just got from my first one a month ago tomorrow. I would get on the first flight out tomorrow to go back, if I could. It was better than I had ever imagined, and a lot of that is because of the members on this site. You all did good because I had the time of my life!

My first hunting safari was only a seven day plains game safari in Southern Zimbabwe (but in the good "old" days) of 1994. But a seven day safari isn't too bad in the middle of your honeymoon!

The PH was a crazy lunatic, a true wild man in more ways than one. There was a mini range war going on between the neighbouring properties, helicopter game capture ops where we joined in, good hunting and good game animals. Managed to stalk a leopard but never caught up to him.

Then afterwards white water rafting on the Zambezi, a canoe trip on the Zambezi opposite Mana Pools where we were the only couple, plus lots of self-touring for five weeks.

It was very disappointing. To go home.

My first safari was great.I just returned from safari number 3 with Ntshonalanga Safaris.No disappointment here

My first safari this year. A tripof a life time for me and my wife. going back soon.

Sprig

My first safari was absolutely terrific and the reason that I've been back seven times. Kinna like sex, the worst I ever had was great. The last hunt I was on was unique, beset with its peculiar problems; however, it was as if God was having His laugh with me. No showers, but the hunting was absolutely great. You gotta love it when all is said and done. Kudude

I had a very big disappointment with my first safari.

Not being able to remember the first 4 or 5 days! I was so amazed with the country, the critters, and the hunt. There was so much "new" stuff to take in, I just couldn't remember everything, believe me, I wanted to remember every step I took, every little critter I came across, every minute! I made a very good friend on that first trip, my PH, Brent Leesmay, he's be there on every safari now.

I now write in a journal, every safari I go on is well documented, that first safari was incredible, what I remember of it, took about 1,600 photo's so that was a big help.

I always told myself I would do a trip to Africa one day, just one. I wanted to see it once and I'd be happy.

I'm getting ready to book my 7th safari in 8 years!!!! With the same safari company, "Buffalo Range Safaris" in Zimbabwe

Why? Do I look dissapointed?



-Steve

My first safari has changed my life in ways that I never would have imagined.

In 2003 I went to the DSC show looking for an Alaskan moose hunt. While there I bought dream hunt raffle tickets and ended up winning a 10 day safari. My son and two brothers went with me and we had a terrific time.

I am now booked next year for buffalo in Zimbabwe and am beginning research on Tanzania for 2006 or 2007. My wife has also agreed to go back with the whole family when my son graduates from high school in 2010.

I am sure that I will make it to Alaska some day, but right now Africa has me in her grip.

I was not disappointed in my first safari. I was elated, booking a second safari with the same outfitter.

However, knowing what I know now, it was not the best of safaris (nor was the second safari).

It is a common problem with many first-timers. Not realizing what you don't know. My advice, do something different on your second safari. Go to a different country with a different outfitter - no matter how great a time you had on your first safari.

Regards,

Terry

My first safari was just this year. I planned one safari and had a very differnt one. This is a great credit to the outfitter and the PH since my wishes evolved as I was actually on the safari and they adapted on the fly.

I was a bit disapointed with, yet still enjoyed, the plains game. I atribute this to my experiences earlier in the safari with buff and elephant, particularly elephant. For me, hunting anything else just seemed like killing time, though in a very enjoyable way.

Also there was a complete misunderstanding, caused by a less than all there individual in the operators office about what I like to drink and what I can drink. I cannot tolerate sugary drinks. Even most fruit juices cause trouble. Several emails confirmed that there would be plenty of diet soda in camp, plus water of course and beer and I'd bring my own McCallan scotch. Once there the PH says, "so, I understand that you can't drink diet soda or beer..." At least the water went well with the scotch. And we had a delivery (I think the PH begged another camp) which saved us from rationing the beer, or fighting over it.

Small stuff in the scheme of things.

JPK

Our first safari was going to be our one and only. Now having gone four times Im planning the fifth. There is nothing like the first one .

My first was also meant to be my "one and only" safari, I´m now planning my fifth safari for March -06.

I´ve had a great time.

But I think I´ve taken what I can afford of plainsgame species (yes I´d like sitatunga, bongo, mountain nyala -in my dreams I can even afford it!) and I´d now like to move on to leopard and buffalo.

So I´ll have to start saving as that will be more expensive.

But as one thing usually leads to another I´m also toying with the idea of going to Canada for a bear hunt...

My first was a 7-day PG hunt in RSA with a dear friend and hunting buddy of many years. He is a retired teacher of 65 years, a crack shot and took large trophy game with an old Parker-Hale bolt-gun in 308 and a DA handgun in 44 Mag (SCI #8 Blue Widebeest at the time). I used a 300WM bolt-gun and a 45-70 LG. The tented camps are the only way to go, but quite cold at 23F one night. We hunted our asses off with a very long-legged PH and 2 Zulu trackers that never broke a sweat. What great memories!

My second trip last year was with my 17-yr. old HS grad son. This was HIS trip and I had bushbuck on my mind. He took 6 great animals with 8 shots from his 300WM Ruger M77 Mk.II (see my "Ocean Vessel" post) and I got my L. Bushbuck with my 45-70 brush gun and a bonus impala with his 300WM. It was such a hoot being there and watching his excitement stalking and taking each trophy. Again, great memories that he often talks about...just got our animals back and what a flood of images...his SGKudu was taken at 280 yards off sticks with one shot through the neck...a rogue solitary old male baboon was taken running offhand at 285 measured yards by Mark (my son) from an kopje 150 feet above the running bugger, what a shot! Lots of pictures and great fun...

We have a 21-day father/son trip to Namibia in the works for 2008 that includes buff (me) and leopard (Mark) and numerous PG, can't wait! No guys...I won't be taking the buff(s) with the 45-70 LG!

my first & only (so far)was certainly all right. I will go back, once more maybe twice more when I get around to it, there are lots of places in the world to hunt... Africa will always be flat but the mountains of the world get steeper every year.

Mike

I had my first safari this year in RSA. regardless of my planning the animals all changed once I got there with the only constant being the Bushbuck!! The changes were down to my indecision entirely. The take it as it comes attitude works for me.

Will I go back?

Yes is the answer. Africa is the only place I can go to get my Kudu, leapord and Buff... not to mention Nyala and all the other possibilities. You can shoot deer/sheep all over the word but there are some species that you have to be in Africa to hunt.... Bummer huh??

As a caveat though I would say that Africa, although something special has not become an all consuming passion. There are many less commercialised hunting destinations around the globe and it is not less or more beatifull than the mountains of New Zealand's south Island or the plains of Patagonia...

FB

As Rusty, my first (and so far only) trip was with Claude and Jill. Went with my wife who did not hunt and a dear friend. The accomodations were superb. There were some complications related to arrangements ... but nothing to dampen the great hunting and the wonderful memories.

Going back? In a heart beat!!!! I'd love to share a buffalo hunt with the friend.

Wish I'd started earlier and taken my sons.

I would echo T. Carr's post. At the time I thought my first hunt was good, but upon reflection and with a few more hunts under my belt the plains game hunt in RSA with a put and take stocking program is not really a SAFARI. It was more of a shoot or a killing spree. That is not always a bad thing as it can introduce a hunter to international travel, provide a hunt with few surprises and a lot of luxury, fill a trophy room and light the fire for future hunts to really wild areas of Africa. Not all of RSA is like that as I did enjoy being humbled by a mountain reedbuck in the Orange Free State during a very difficult day hunt a few years ago. This was wide open ranch with beautiful mountains surrounded by nothing more than a 3 strand barbed wire fence. I would love to go back there and hunt all the indigenous game someday.

I have a very good friend who does a bit of PHing in RSA and I would gladly go again to hunt with John, even if we shot cows in a paddock because he is a joy to spend time with as well as one of the most organized people I have ever met.

Perry

My only disappointment was coming home!

We went to Namibia for our first hunt in Africa, and it just great.

jim

My first safari turned out quite well concerning the very first day the PH turned out in the AM at 8:30 still drunk from partying with the previous clients. That could have and nearly did ruin the safari. He sobered up and turned out to be an excellent PH. We decided to continue and we ended up shooting an unexpected elephant on the second day first thing in the AM. I was in a trance from then on. We also ended up with a very nice buffalo, a great sable and several other representative trophies.

No! I wasn't really disappointed but it would have been nice to not start the safari like we did. Also I would have appreciated the big time booking agent more if he had told me the plains game area in the lowveld was fenced. I was so ignorant at the time I hadn't even thought about fences one way or the other.

I think T. Carr once again has come up with some good advise about booking your secind safari. Try something different it will give you a frame of reference and another different experience.

Mark

My first Safari was this year and I would have to say overall I was pleased but there were some dissapointments. I was just happy to be in Africa and hunting. I did learn a lot and will be better prepared and more diligent in the choices I make on the next one. One thing I did learn is that just because a lot of people recommend something or someone on this board, doesn't necessarily mean your experience will turn out as theirs did.

JD

All 11 have been great! Just being in Africa is a kick to me.

465H&H

Spent 5 weeks touring Africa a year out of college with a little hunting. Said I would get back for a proper hunt. Did a 7 day plains game hunt "to get it out of my system" last season.

Had so much fun that I am heading back in June of 05 and I am bringing 5 friends who have never been to Africa. After that, my buddy and I are going to book a buff hunt for our "do it before we are 40" adventure. So much for getting it out of my system.

Carpe Diem

My first hunt was in Botswana, a 10 day Buffalo and plainsgame hunt. Did i enjoy it? My PH and I still refer to it as the perfect hunt. I just returned from my 3rd african hunt, all in Botswana , and I am planning to go back in 2007 with my friend, Dr. Joe, after his 60th birthday.
Unlike T. Carr I have hunted 3 times in the same country, in the same camp, with the same PH, although this time I also went down to the edge of the Kalahari to experience a different type of terrain. The reason I've kept going back to the same place is that I can't conceive of a place as beautiful as the Okavango Delta. In 2007, however, I may look for a new area as cost will be a more significant factor.
My only disappointment is that I seem to have to wait 2-3 years between hunts.

TerryR

Rule # 1 is not to get all caught up in the romanticism of the Africa portrayed in some book written during and about a bygone era. I have read some accounts of the old days and can say for sure that Africa has changed since then.

My first trip to Zimbabwe was great and the hunting was what I would call "real"; 10-15 miles afoot each day looking for "Dougga-Boys". Better than anything I have experienced elswhere.

The bummer was in seeing a country on the brink of socio-economic collapse. Been to a lot of 3'rd world countries...this was the worst situation I had ever seen. No joke.

I'm hooked on Africa make no mistake about that. My PH was excellent as were the other folks in camp. But, traveling to countries in turmoil will open your eyes - For better or worse depends on how you look at it I suppose. I came out of Africa feeling lucky to live in this country. I also came away frustrated by seeing a beautiful place being trashed by poor management practices and a corrupt regime - All compounded by the fact that there was nothing I nor anybody else could do about it except watch it dissapear.

Be prepared for whatever might happen, because it will. If you are not a person with a high degree of flexibility built into your personality then you might consider hunting elswhere.

Otherwise Africa can still turn out some amazing stuff. I recommend anybody that is even thinking about going to do so and to be pretty quick about it as well.

Reality is that there are some great places left to hunt but those are disappearing every day!

Jeff

I was very pleased with my first hunting trip in africa, which was done in Zim (combined with a couple of extra weeks in Botswana doing the photo-safari thing, as it was on our honeymoon). The trip was such a success that my wife wanted to move to Botswana when we went home! And this first trip planted the seed that eventually lead us to driving thru Africa from north to south by ourselves some years later.

But, as I now know much more about hunting in Africa, and Africa in general compaired to then, I know that first hunt could have been better.

As with all things in life, we learn from experiance, and my hunts in Africa have gotten better and better each time. The first time, I trusted an agent to set up everything. Now I set up everything myself, and do a lot of research before booking. To make sure I get exactly what I want. Research is fundamental in having a successful hunt IMO.

I'm planning number six now. Each one has been better than the one bfore, mostly due to learning more. Much of that knowledge has come from this site. Have had a few bumps along the way but those too have increased my base of knowledge. The African hunting scene is so complex and diverse who could know it all? If I can get another 6 or 10 trips in then I will know something.

I booked my second one before my first one was completed. I try to get back over there every couple of years or whenever my active duty schedule allows. I'm booked for 2007 for leopard/sable and am already looking forward from that.

Mac

Had the time of my life in Namibia with Boet Nel Safaris. Can't wait to go back!

My first trip to Africa was everything I had hoped it could be. I probably should have scheduled more time for hunting, but I also wanted to visit a game park and see some sights.

I think that the best way to avoid being disappointed the first time is to ask a lot of questions of the outfitter. I went with Lochi Lochner, and probably drove him half crazy with all the questions I asked, but I certainly didn't have any misunderstandings when I got there. H was very open and up front about everything. Good communication is a key to a happy experience.

I was addicted from day one, on the only safari I planned to take. Went to the Okavango for buff and plains game..... still can't kick the addiction after 6 safaris.

I think everyone who goes is struck by it.

Best regards, D. Nelson

It was a great trip. Saw a ton of animals and was fortunate enough to harvest everything on my list. Outfitter/PH was great as was his family. Can't wait to go back!

My first safari was 10 days of bird shooting in the RSA.

Absolutely magical!