When I mention to people I'm going to Africa next year they assume I mean a "photo" safari.

I was talking to a client today who just got back from South Africa and he was giving me all these tips and telling me how many pics he took. I didn't mention I was going to shoot animals with a rifle and not a camera.

I also find that I end up being vague about where I'm going. I think I'm looking for a few buzz words that shows the person is a hunter and not just a nature lover.

I also must admit when I hear what they are doing I look down on it a little and think of my safari as a "real" safari and theirs as more of a modern PC version of a true adventure.

Am I alone on this?

When I am asked if I am going on a photo safari, I answer as you seem to think you should.

I reply that I am going on a real safari, that I am a hunter, and that my safari will be a hunting safari.

Then, I almost invariably get this response: "With guns?"

Even from people one would otherwise think might be perceptive, intelligent and well-educated.

I don't apologize. If I am inclined to do so, I will sometimes explain.

And the next question is always "Are you hunting lions and Tigers while in Africa?" Flipping amazing.

I always answer with the response, " I am a hunter!"
The tiger question, I have even told some know it alls, " If you want to look intelligent don't open your mouth!!!"

Mike

You have to realize there actually are other people in the world and most of them are pretty good. I wish I could go on a really good photo safari. I enjoy taking pictures of animals easily as much as I enjoy hunting them with a gun and when my wife was with me we made many trips to look at and photograph animals,mostly birds in many locations. Including several trips to Hawaii and several to Belize just for that purpose. She would have totally enjoyed Africa. Don't knock it if you haven't really experienced it. The thrill is definitely there.

My first trip to Alaska I hunted, the next 20 + trips were hiking and photographic. In turn my first trip to Africa will be to hunt, my wife will photograph the trip. I am more excited about the whole trip, shooting animals will almost be secondary.

What I have a problem with is the politically correct crowd who travel to game preserves and photograph animals that constantly see humans and then criticize hunters who really hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike70560:
And the next question is always "Are you hunting lions and Tigers while in Africa?" Flipping amazing.

Yeah, ain't it??

I am about the least PC guy you'll ever meet. I despise PC and hold those who subscribe to it in contempt, so I tell them I'm going to photograph the scenery and all the animals I'm going to shoot. Of course, those of you who have clients bringing in the money to pay for your safaris have to be a bit more circumspect, I'd guess. That's understandable.

Just tell them you are going to shoot them BEFORE you take the pictures.

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
When I am asked if I am going on a photo safari, I answer as you seem to think you should.

I reply that I am going on a real safari, that I am a hunter, and that my safari will be a hunting safari.

Then, I almost invariably get this response: "With guns?"

Even from people one would otherwise think might be perceptive, intelligent and well-educated.

I don't apologize. If I am inclined to do so, I will sometimes explain.

So, if you choose to take a camera instead of a gun your trip isn't "real"? What arrogance.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Just tell them you are going to shoot them BEFORE you take the pictures.

Good point, Tony. We just "tranquilize" the animals to make them, well, tranquil. Much easier to take a picture when they are still.

quote:

Originally posted by zimbabwe:
You have to realize there actually are other people in the world and most of them are pretty good. I wish I could go on a really good photo safari. I enjoy taking pictures of animals easily as much as I enjoy hunting them with a gun and when my wife was with me we made many trips to look at and photograph animals,mostly birds in many locations. Including several trips to Hawaii and several to Belize just for that purpose. She would have totally enjoyed Africa. Don't knock it if you haven't really experienced it. The thrill is definitely there.

Yes, but these weren't "real" trips, were they???

quote:

Originally posted by Mike70560:
And the next question is always "Are you hunting lions and Tigers while in Africa?" Flipping amazing.

People in New Iberia know about Tigers??

I can understand those vegatables in Massaachusetts not knowing jack-sheet about anything....but come one!! People in South Louisiana are smarter than that!!

quote:

What to say when people think you are going on a "photo" safari

Just tell them you want to get a little closer.
Or that you want to have your picture taken WITH the animal.

quote:

Originally posted by DC300:

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
When I am asked if I am going on a photo safari, I answer as you seem to think you should.

I reply that I am going on a real safari, that I am a hunter, and that my safari will be a hunting safari.

Then, I almost invariably get this response: "With guns?"

Even from people one would otherwise think might be perceptive, intelligent and well-educated.

I don't apologize. If I am inclined to do so, I will sometimes explain.

So, if you choose to take a camera instead of a gun your trip isn't "real"? What arrogance.

By George, I think she's got it!

"The game, when slain, stays mainly in the plain."

[Note: Edited for rhyming and metric improvements, which is the poet's prerogative!]

By George, she's got it!

A couple of years ago before I went on my first trip I had mentioned to a co-worker that I was going on a Safari. He thought I was going on a photo Safari. When I told him it was a hunting Safari he said "wow man that's a lot of bad Karma". I responded by informing him that the meat would be distributed to the local people and that I saw it as being “Karma neutralâ€.

just tell them that you are going after some "still life" shots

"You're going to SHOOT THEM?"
"Well, it sure makes it easier to get them to the dinner table."

I just guess I am lucky, when I tell clients I am going on safari they don't ask if I will be shooting the animials because all they have to do is look at the 50+ mounts in my office. Seriously safari means trip so be it what it may be. I do agree to most people it means a trip to Africa.

Here's a funny one you could use.

"I'm going on a organic recycling safari"

Having been on several of both types of safaris, I find it relatively easy to say that I am going trophy hunting. I love to explain the greater pleasure of walking in the bush among potentially dangerous animals, the requirement to track and stalk if you want to get close (as opposed to driving up next to them in the mini-van), the behaviour of the animals if you manage to approach undetected, etc, etc. I always encourage people who go on a photo safari to organize themselves to be able to go on a walking safari with a park ranger (armed) so that they can get a little of the "real" safari experience.

I tell them I am going on a Mission Trip to feed the hungry. I supply them meat everyday.

These silly people buy that line everytime.

Webster's dictionary:

"the caravan and equipment of a hunting expedition especially in eastern Africa; also : such a hunting expedition"


nuff said,

Chuck

sometimes a simple UHH is sufficient

quote:

Originally posted by DC300:

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
When I am asked if I am going on a photo safari, I answer as you seem to think you should.

I reply that I am going on a real safari, that I am a hunter, and that my safari will be a hunting safari.

Then, I almost invariably get this response: "With guns?"

Even from people one would otherwise think might be perceptive, intelligent and well-educated.

I don't apologize. If I am inclined to do so, I will sometimes explain.

So, if you choose to take a camera instead of a gun your trip isn't "real"? What arrogance.

To me, after hearing stories of the animals walking up to the car, not behaving as they would in the wild, people talking about wanting to pet the animals, staying in a 5 star hotel, asking the guides to get the animals to pose etc I have come to the conclusion that no that is not a REAL safari. I have already gone on that ride at Disney World.

Now if someone went into the bush with a guide with a rifle, then that is different.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike70560:
And the next question is always "Are you hunting lions and Tigers while in Africa?" Flipping amazing.

It is funny you say that! The client who just got back and said that he didn't see any cats but mentioned he talked to a guy who just got back from Kruger where he saw lions, TIGERS etc.

I said "he sure as hell didn't see any tigers"!

Reading this topic has been inspirational. I've got new lines to use now.

Well if you happened to be an interior designer from Southern Cal and one of your best clients had asked the question you might have been wise to punt..
But honestly it appears from your website that you are involved already in the hunting world on a business level,, I honestly would just square up and tell them the truth.

"No, I am going on a hunting safari"

End of story..

quote:

Originally posted by bucko:
Well if you happened to be an interior designer from Southern Cal and one of your best clients had asked the question you might have been wise to punt..
But honestly it appears from your website that you are involved already in the hunting world on a business level,, I honestly would just square up and tell them the truth.

"No, I am going on a hunting safari"

End of story..

That isn't my site, I met the creator at G&H and he told me about it. I have no connections to the hunting shooting world on a business level.

I don't let people get confussed... I tell them I'm going hunting when I got to Africa. No need to say its a 'safari' because to me there really is no such thing anymore. Real or wanabe... Teddy Roosevelt went on Safari, the rest of us go to a dude ranch or on a camping trip with someone who knows whats going on. IMO the only 'real' safari left would be a self guided trip. Meaning... you book everything, show up find a tracker, buy supplies etc. Ya know a true expidition. Not sure how flying in to some place and haveing posh accomodations and great food equates to an 'expidition'...

I work with a lot of non hunters here in Baltimore, and find that 95% of them are intersted in my adventures.

The thing thats always funny, is they inevitably ask what animals I shot (or caught). The ONLY animals that any of them know with regular consistency are, warthog, zebra and wildebeest, and of course the big 5, but when it comes to plains game animals. Not a clue. I'll bet the average person couldnt' name 10 African animals.

Another funny thing is that I'll bet 8 out of 10 times they'll ask if I hunted an elephant.

Everyone was blown away at the size the eland I shot last week, not so much by the horns but by the body. Not a single one of them (about 20 so far) had ever heard of the largest antelope in Africa either.

Most all ask what I did with them, I said it goes to feed the hungry, and that I had the hides tanned to make things out of.

Give them what they want. We work Hunting and Travel Shows to make a buck. My first Leopard was on my wifes Photo safari LOL

When I tell people how much a hunted elephant helps the people and local economy and share a bit about how animals have to contribute to the system or they lose their value, that seems to really settle things for the most part. They still don't want to participate but they seem to understand.

I am with Mrlexma on this one. There is something about the photo safari that leaves a funny feeling.

It is kind of like kissing your cousin, sure, it's fun, but there is just something wrong with it. Something just doesn't feel right about it.

quote:

Originally posted by Wendell Reich:
It is kind of like kissing your cousin, sure, it's fun, but there is just something wrong with it. Something just doesn't feel right about it.

Hey Carefull Wendell,

I'm married to cousin (no kidding). You're right, it is fun, one kiss and I was hooked. Why go out for hamburgers when you can stay in the family and have steak?

quote:

Originally posted by Wendell Reich:
It is kind of like kissing your cousin, sure, it's fun, but there is just something wrong with it. Something just doesn't feel right about it.

Did his moustache tickle you?

quote:

Originally posted by adrook:
Why go out for hamburgers when you can stay in the family and have steak?

That gets the award for most disturbing line of the week.

quote:

Originally posted by Lhook7:
Did his moustache tickle you?

No Yukon, this is the most disturbing.

But consider the source!

We just got back last month. When told people we were going to South Africa everybody here in the Bible belt asks if we are going on a mission trip. Nope, we said we are going to tour Kruger Park for three days and then go hunting. End of discussion.

I get similar questions. When I say I am going to Africa it sometimes takes them a second to figure out I might not mean taking pictures becuase I am an avid photgrapher. I respond the exact same way I do when people ask me if I hunt when they see my screen saver or a hunting or rifle mag on my credenza. (yes I hunt just about everything).
I tell people I have a big list and hope to shoot them all. They usually ask if you can still hunt Elephants and Lion and I give them a quick tutorial on how jumbos wreak havoc on the ecosystem and how the paid hunting has helped numbers compared to countries closed to hunting.
I prefer to make sure people know I am a hunter....I am fairly far up the corporate ladder and like to dispel the notion here in PA that hunting is a sport of redneck beer swilling fellas....I prefer the legions of PA hunters I know to the non hunters by a large margin.

Just tell them that your camera is a CZ 550 and has a Zeiss lens on it. Great for action shots - it really freezes them.

Namibiahunter

quote:

Just tell them that your camera is a CZ 550 and has a Zeiss lens on it. Great for action shots - it really freezes them

Great, but no further explanation and no availability in answering questions on it.