I am finding the shipping of 7 trophies through multiple countries and then here a real financial pain. First safari so a big learning curve. I spent way more than double as I picked up an extra buffalo tag in country and never really thought about all the extra game I shot. The shipping and packing from Mozambique plus taxidermy would be another really great safari in total cost. Learned for next time. M3taco has some good advise. Too late for me this time but next time I will be taking a lot less home and do more hunting

I just never found hunting lion to be boring. You spend days hunting buff, zebra, waterbuck, puku, bushbuck all for bait and early and late afternoons in the blind for 20 minutes or so. Was really an exciting time and, yes, it was my first safari. If you think it can be boring check out my 2008 Tanzania lion hunt post. A day (or night)in a leopard or lion blind beats any freaking day at work. You are in Africa for crying out loud.


Dutch

PM me your email ID & I'll send you all my plan & research info. I have quite a detailed spreadsheet with several pages of info. You can add to that anyway you want. Yes the planning is actually great fun & adds to the excitement & anticipation.

I just ignore the idiots who make fun of inexperienced or newbe hunters. 95% of the people on AR are very helpful & supportive.

quote:

Originally posted by Powertrip:
Thanks Naki, and good luck on yours!

When I went on my first African hunt, I was just out of college, and had decided that was my graduation gift to me. I saved some and ended up borrowing the rest, and quit my job to go. Brought back taxidermy that time, but haven't since. Don't have the space for it, and as noted, can add up to about the cost of another hunt. If you can live with really good pictures, do that. I just returned from a hunt in RSA, took a young guy along for him to hunt, as with school and all, wouldn't be able to hunt here, and here, at least as much as going to RSA for 2 weeks. We did hunting and site seeing, and he had a ball. Got 5 animals, though not what we initially had on the ticket.

We took a lot of pictures, and I'm giving him a set of about a dozen enlargements. He might get some taxidermy too, eventually, but will take till next summer to get the hides, etc. back (I had them tanned there, as then could all go in one box, etc., and ended up not costing any more to do it that way, than just the head and horns and capes, etc). It will be next summer before they're shipped. His mom not big on him having the heads, etc in HER house, so we'll get one done, and sneak it in, lol, and when she gets used to that one, will do another, lo.

Funny how things so different for different folks. I've always wanted a Buff, because they look bad, and can be hard to hunt, with a lot of effort involved, and can be lead soaker uppers and dangerous. Cats, I've never had any desire for. See them as "Onna us" and while I find them regal and pretty, have no desire to hunt them. Nor bear, or tigers, etc. but that's me.

As noted in my last note. get hold of Kevin Thomas. He has YEARS of experience in Zim, was born there, and does DG hunts, as well as PG hunts. To me, PG are Africa. They are the most and so many different ones, and need, in a lot of cases, some real, stalking, etc. to get.

Go to www.ktssafaris.com, and ask him for information on the cat hunts, etc.

Trip,
If you're still reading this thread, here's my $.02. In 1992, I put a 2nd mortgage on my house, borrowed $10,000, and headed for Zambia for cape buffalo--the only DG I could afford on my "one-and-only" African safari. 2 trips later, with at least 2 more planned, that buff still stares at me from the dining room wall, reminding me daily of what I ultimately learned. It's not about the game taken, it's about the experience of Africa, an addiction with no cure. Honor the experience, honor the animals, pay a few dues first. See if you can handle the proper shooting under field conditions. See if Africa appeals to your soul. A lion(ess) or leopard needs to be given proper respect after death with proper taxidermy. Start with a PG hunt. Don't worry about future trips. If "le mal d'Afrique" grabs you, you WILL find a way to return for the cat(s) of your dreams.