My son and I leave for Namibia 13 Aug. I have waited 55 years to make this trip ever since getting a book on africa at age 12.

I want to thank the AR members for all the info posted her over these last years. We will be hunting with Vaughn Fulton due to the posts of many of you and especially one by Vaughn himself.

Vaughn said" we should remember that one cannot take away the experience of a hunt because the measurements were not up to scratch or the age was questionable as the animal has been killed and you cannot bring it back to life."

The words of a gentleman...as i have found the members here to be.

Again, thanks to all here who have helped fuel my excitment and imagination.

SFC E7 (retired)

Have Fun and Shoot straight.

Seloushunter

Good luck and have fun. You will have a great hunt.

Relax and enjoy. You'll be going back.

Best of luck to you and your son, enjoy.

Have a great hunt, I can still remember the excitement prior to my first trip to Africa, and I must warn you that it will never leave you.

Remember to bring back some photos for us.

Regards
Aziz

Good luck guys. have fun and enjoy

Have a great trip. I am sure it won't be your last.

Please say hello to my good friend from June and Bob Clark.

I am happy that you will finally realize a 55 year old dream.

465H&H

Have the time of your LIVES!!!!

You folks will never be the same!!!

In 2004, I was the son that took his then-54-year old dad on a safari with Vaughan. Take it from us, you'll love the experience. It will be over way too quickly, leaving you scrambling for the means to return. It's a rare day that I don't dream of going on safari with my dad again. Of course, that dream's biggest competition are those that star my children, who I hope grow to cherish this outdoor lifestyle and take their old man on a dream hunt.

You're about to have one of the greatest experiences of your life. Be sure to take good photography equipment and use it often. The memories you'll have with great photos will be priceless.

Aziz put it well when he said:
"I can still remember the excitement prior to my first trip to Africa, and I must warn you that it will never leave you."
He is so right, the memories you'll build will be with you always. ENJOY!

Here is the good news,,, you are going to have the time of your life,,,,,,now for the bad,,,,, you will be addicted for the rest of your life,,,,, and that is the good news,, you will be going back!

SPF, The only thing I can say to you is too enjoy every minute of your time in Africa... There is nothing better then a father and son hunting to gether... I can speak from experience...

The best ,

Mike

have the time of your life,and enjoy yourselves

when you get the chance to look across the fire light at the man you raised as your son
take a moment and look again.....
there's the reward
the rest is "surroundings".....
best of luck to you and your son

Hope you enjoy your safari as much as my son and I did last year on ours.
Jeff

I'm envious. You will never forget your first safari.

Good luck and good hunting. You are going on an adventure, enjoy it.

Hey, SFC (or, we would say, "Gunny"), I'm jealous! I was never able to get my Dad to go to Africa with me. He was a WWII carrier-based pilot (F6F Hellcat). After the war he swore he would never again fly over blue water . . . and he never did. We had many great hunts together, but at the very end one of the last things he told me was that he was sorry he hadn't gone to Africa. I'm sorry, too. You and your son will have the time of your lives, and I'm sure you will go again! Good hunting, Craig

SFC,
Good luck and good hunting.

Craig,
Good to see you back on the Forum. There are many of us who missed your contributions.

Geoff

From one SFC to another, I'm extremely envious! Congrats to both of you. I put my deposit down a year ago for Namibia (1st safari), but have to keep postponing due to deployments. I can't wait for the full report. Best of luck on an amazing experience, and take lots of pictures.

SFC and Mike O' (and Craig too),

Thank You for your service to our country. Many of us realize that it because of you all doing what you do for our military, that the rest of us are able to do what we do everday. You have my, and I'm sure, most other memebers gratitude. Thank you gentlemen!

You will be changed, both forever and for the better. Go, go again, go often. Memorize the sights and smells. Treat every African minute as if were your last. There is no grander place in this world. I've only been home 35 days and I miss her desperately. You will too. You'll see.

Good Hunting.

Wow your first trip and to have your son with you.
You are in for a real treat.

Good luck and good hunting!!!

Have a great hunt together. Make sure he enjoys it more than you do, and it will be a dream of his to take you back later. Our hunts together have forged bonds which will never be broken.

My first trip in 2004 was by myself, and while enjoyable, it would have been better with my son. They were able to go the next year, but I could not accompany them, so I had to enjoy their photos and stories..

We are still trying to put the hunt together for us both, and we will get it done someday!

Good luck Chief. It took me 50 years to do my first hunt.

Ex MM-1(SS)

I envy your going with your son, SFC. One of mine promised as a kid that he would take me hunting in Africa. He'd still like to go but, an engineering student, hasn't got any money. I've finally decided that, nudging 58, I can't wait any longer and am going to Mozambique in Early September. I'd love to be taking both boys with me but the budget wouldn't stretch that far.

All the best for your trip.
- Paul

Have a great hunt and enjoy your time!

Brett

Congratulations on making the trip. And a warning. I went over for the first time at 48 to "get it out of my system." I discovered that's not how it works. I wish I'd started younger.
Best of luck to you and your son.

55 years is a long time to have to wait for anything. Congratulations and I know you and "jr" will enjoy it. What is your first name? I will research where your area is---my son and I are going to Namibia as well, but we're headed out Monday.

Good Luck-

Well, I'm having difficulty sitting still, far, far more anxious than waiting for the green light on my first jump!...all because our tickets arrived from Kathi!!!!!!!

11 days and counting...and yes, going with my son is the biggest thrill of all. He was military and now a police sergeant and a father could not be any prouder of their son than I am of him.

D@#* I sure hate the waiting, a guy can only pack and repack so many times

Surely do appreciate your good wishes gentlemen,
Thank you,

HEY GUY,

You're just gonna have to grin and bear it!

First time is ALWAYS both the best and worst. I do remember it very fondly. So far I've been back twice since ... and it was different, but wonderful too.

When you've been through all the stuff and the packing is really done, watch the old "Under Wild Skies" episodes and study "The Perfect Shot."

Get some sleep and look forward to a wonderful time!