43 and been 5 times. Twice to RSA, twice to Zim and once to Mozambique. I borrow the money and pay it off each year between trips.That way if I get mashed the creditors have to stand in line the get the money back.

Perry

quote:

Originally posted by 577NitroExpress:
I turned 30 last month and my son just turned one a week ago. I have not been on a safari yet.

Right now I work hard, my wife and I fund every type of retirement account we have to the legal max (401k, Roth IRA, Life Insurance and annunity) and the extra money goes into a taxable investment account, a 529 account for my son's college costs and a life insurance policy with a growing cash value in his name.

A safari for me is a long time away. But I figure if I work hard, made sound financial decisions, I will be able to go on bigger and better safaris when I'm older and have more money.

I would like my first safari to be for plains games when my son, now one, is about 12 and old enough to hunt. That will be the hunt of a life time for me.

BEst money you will ever spend is hunting with your son. I took both of mine to RSA and Zim - best money I ever earned and spent. The youngest was 14 on the first hunt.

Just turned 18 a few weeks ago, and as you would probably guess, I have yet to go on safari.

I have been learning all I can about Africa since I first read Death in the Long Grass a few years ago. I'm still very young and don't have any considerable funds to speak of, but I know that I will visit Africa multiple times, there is no that I can simply put it off.

I really love the way most of you guys look at life, instead of just talking about the main topics discussed on most other boards, I've found that posters here have a lot more to say about life itself, and things more important than just hunting.

That said, I'm hoping to go to Africa in the next 10 years, and my dream hunt is a Chasse Libre hunt for Lord Derby Eland, something I can hopefully do in my youth.

I am 3 months shy of 36, or about 1/2 as old as RAY! By the time I am his age, I probably won't be able to spell Canuck either.

I am extremely fortunate to have hunted RSA 2x (2002 and 2005). I plan to hunt Tanzania in Sept 2006 with Don G, for 2 cape buff each (booked with Adam Clements in the Selous).

My family has a history of kicking off early. I plan to scratch as much of life's do-list off as early as possible, as you never know how many tomorrows you get.

Cheers,
Canuck

I am 44. I just got back from my first safari in June with jjhack. It was absolutely the best time of my life. I thought I would only go once but by the third day I was already planning when I could go back. I started a savings account in my credit union just for Africa. I figured I would probably go back in about three years but something came by I could not pass up and it looks like I am going on another hunt in March.

I wasn't going to respond but I see my age group needs the support. I'll be 58 in 31 days. Went to RSA and Botswana last year, am working on rescheduling the hunt I'm supposed to be on right now for December, and have already booked Namibia for next Aug/Sept.
Like so many others, I went last year "to get it out of my system".

Dave

29, first trip was in May to Zim, I was 28. I will be in Africa many more times before I depart this here rock (good Lord willing and the creek don't rise).

I am 63 years old and dam proud of each and every year, especially the next one. I have hunted extensively in North America and have made one fantastic hunt to Tanzania for Buffalo and plains game. I like it all and wonder if I reload to shoot more, shoot to reload more, or hunt to validate the shooting or reloading. I started a poor hunter with iron sights on a 30-30 and now can shoot anything I want, after you guys put the bug in my ear. One thing for sure I enjoy talking to you nuts, idiots, or whatever we are every day. I learn more here than I ever dreamed possible at one venue, and thank Saeed each day for sponsoring this conglomeration of knowledge and fun. Good shooting.

...first trip to Africa was in 1988, and I was 50 years of age. April 2005, I made my eighteeth trip.

One trip to SA; one to Zambia, and sixteen to Zimbabwe. As many others on AR have stated, if you really want to go, there many avenues for acheiving your goal. In my case, I had saved for several years to make a trip to Alaska for a brown bear. A friend of mine suggested I join him on a safari in Africa. My response was, "I can't afford it!" However, after figuring the cost of ten days in Alaska for one bear, (about $10,000) I went to Zim on a 2x1 hunt, and shot eleven animals, (including leopard) and was in-country for eighteen days. All costs, including airfare was $11,432. Less expensive than a brown bear, I'd say.

If you want to go bad enough, trust me, you will find a way. My suggestion is go now, don't wait!

Oh, one other thing; I still have NO brown bear. It seems I will never have enough $$$ to do Alaska, and Africa. Obviously, it is patently apparent where my hunting $$$ are being spent.

JLS

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by 577NitroExpress:
I turned 30 last month and my son just turned one a week ago. I have not been on a safari yet.

Right now I work hard, my wife and I fund every type of retirement account we have to the legal max (401k, Roth IRA, Life Insurance and annunity) and the extra money goes into a taxable investment account, a 529 account for my son's college costs and a life insurance policy with a growing cash value in his name.

A safari for me is a long time away. But I figure if I work hard, made sound financial decisions, I will be able to go on bigger and better safaris when I'm older and have more money.

I would like my first safari to be for plains games when my son, now one, is about 12 and old enough to hunt. That will be the hunt of a life time for me.



BEst money you will ever spend is hunting with your son. I took both of mine to RSA and Zim - best money I ever earned and spent. The youngest was 14 on the first hunt.

I can't agree with you more! I'm looking forward to that. And if my old man is still around and kicking, I'm dragging his old tail with us. He'll probably only do what he does now during deer season; talks a lot and sleeps in the woods when he is suppose to be "hunting."

43, grew up in South Africa, left nearly twenty years ago, have been on two 'proper' safaris in Zim and SA since leaving, due back to Chewore South next month, trying to reach a compromise by working four days a week to spend as much time with our 3 kids which we home school, this reduces my income by about 30-50% as being an anesthesiologist I could be chasing private work another two days of the week - 'you'll never wish on your deathbed that you spent more time in the office'. God willing there will be another safari in my future but that might have to be funded from any inheritance I receive. Charlie.

I'll be 58 next week, and made my first safari in 1993. I made my 7th safari this past May. My wife and I have no children and we both work.

I am 48, , hunted in Zimbabwe 1995, Namibia 2000, Namibia again in 2003, and Tanzania in 2004.

Will be in South Africa in May 2006.

Regards
Aziz

Am 40. Went last year for the first trip. Already booked my next trip to Namibia in 2006.

All I know is if you dont go when you can, you will never go. It's now or never, the costs go up every year.

an old tired 38,

I am 63, and have hunted Africa twice. My first was for Buff and plains game in Tanzania, my second was to the Northern Province, SA.

While I have hunted and fished all my life, it was all local until I got both children through college.

Although I am booked for an Alaskan Coastal Black Bear hunt in June of 2006, I am looking to get what I can for the booking and return to Tanzania in 2006.

35 years old. I used to live in Zambia as a kid ,but have not hunted there as an adult. (and not much as a kid either). If only I would cut back on African hunting books, magazines and videos ,I might ba able to actualy afford to hunt over there.

Turning 49 the end of the month. I'm lucky I live on the continent.

this is kinda interesting the average age here is mid life crisis time...what does that say...i dont know but it is interesting. i am 32 and i think i will do an african safari for my 40th birthday. that is an appropriate thing to do

any of you here have or are going through a mid life crisis?

as i say...no shame in getting old but there is in not having any good stories to tell

50 years old, just turned and still on active duty. Like Doc says, nothing beats the flying and placing warheads on foreheads. I might be retiring bybefore the year's out. My operational flying days are behind me now so africa's my passion. Went once when I was in my early teens with my uncle, but "for real" I've been twice and have one on the books for 08.jorge

42 went on my first african safari last year

Coming up on 72 and have been to Zim 8 times. Last couple of years I've spent 2 months there. Shot most everything Zim has except lion. Would like to go at least once more and would like to take a lioness but probably not in the cards. Really the greatest adventures of my lifetime.

25 years old. I have yet to make it Africa. Hopefully in the next few years that will change!

I'm 42 and went on my first safari to Zimbabwe 10 years ago. Been back to SA in 2001 and 2004. Hope to go back to Zimbabwe in 07, assuming its still there.

How about some advice from an old guy. I am 71. Three times in africa in the last three years.I first wanted to go in high school when I read a John Hunter book. Never got around to it even though I could have afforded it any time. Dont wait.When you get old you cant walk good any more. Tough country is out of the question.Hopefully I still have enough to shoot some buffalo in Tanzania next year.I have hunted in North America,South America and Europe a lot but there is no place like Africa. Go soon and often if you can. Politics will ruin it in a very few years. It is fading rapidly.

I was 51 when I made my first hunting trip to Africa. Unlike most here, my trip was a gamebird safari, and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I'm 60 now, and hope to make another trip to Africa, this time for big game.

Allen did it right! I'm 55 and went over the first at 49. I should have gone at 39. I had the time and money but I had two boys so I taught them to hunt and fish. They are both grown now and I've taken them to Africa twice. They both do their own hunts now so I guess I did something right. My youngest will probably complete the big 5 before I do.

Allen did it right but LV Eric really did it RIGHT! Eric's got to have more sheer tonnage under his belt than anybody under age 40 on this board.

I'm 44 and made my first trip in 1999. I started making safari plans for six years before I finally went on that first trip. I never could get comfortable with the PH or booking agent, or for whatever reason I always backed out. Finally, I met a guy who had been on 15 or more trips and he put together my first trip. My wife may never forgive him.

Actually, my wife is pretty understanding of my "problem". I have two kids, 8 and 12, who require ever increasing amounts of time and money. My next trip might be delayed until one or both can go with me. Africa would be very educational for them in many ways and I look forward to showing them some of the best and worst that Africa can deliver - not the complete worst, but enough to shake their complacent suburban nature.

I feel fortunate that I was able to get a relatively early start on African hunting. I had a health scare that made me think my wilderness hunting days were numbered. It turned out to be not so serious, but I try to live like it was.

34 and still dreaming of Africa. I had never even really thought of hunting Africa until the Army moved me to Ft Hood, TX and I saw exotics brought over from Africa on a local ranch that allowed me and a buddy to thin his pig herd down. That was the first bite. Then when I saw a Gemsbok while at Ft. Bliss, TX that was part of the White Sands Missile Range transplant project from the 60's. And the final condemning act was when I was fortunate (or cursed from my wifes perspective) luck of drawing a military only tag for Ft Bliss to hunt a Gemsbok. That was all it took. Now I am earnestly saving and planning for 2010. It will be a plains game only hunt but that will fulfill a dream that has haunted me for several years now.

I figure if I can fulfill such a major dream by the age of 40 I am doing good.

43, but I have the body of a 42-year-old.

Been to RSA twice. I still have a score to settle with a gemsbok. Can't wait to return!

38, 4 trips till now and visited 5 countries, three of them hunting.

Still dreaming with eles and lions but being a very proud coward I still don't know how I will manage to deal with them....

L

I feel sorry for you guys. I'm 64 and I choose to retire in Phalaborwa, South Africa, at less than 5 miles from the nearest hunting ranch. Life here is inexpensive and by making biltong out of the meat I can even make a small profit out of my hunting.

52 and 3 times in Africa. 2003 and 2004 in Burkina Faso, 2005 in the CAR.
In January I'll be one more time in the CAR.
2007 first a hop visiting NITROX in Australia
and then quite certain first time in Zimbabwe for pachyderm.

quote:

Originally posted by Canuck:
I plan to hunt Tanzania in Sept 2006 with Don G, for 2 cape buff each (booked with Adam Clements in the Selous).

Cheers,
Canuck

I am 53, twice to RSA so far. Plan to visit TZ with Canuck next year.

Don't let Canuck fool you, he's planning on getting his two, then shooting my last one also! I just want to put EVERYBODY on notice about his perfidious plan!

I think he takes backup shooting lessons from MS!

I'm 55, still think I'm 28 years old, have the brains of a 17 year older and act like I'm 8.

My wife will substantiate this for any requiring verification.

From reading AR for the last year - figure I'm about average for this group.



South Africa twice and Zimbabwe once. RSA scheduled two times in 2006.

quote:

I have one African hunting philosophy: Spend as many days in the bush as you possibly can per safari, and take as much trophy fee money as you can possibly afford to spend. Airfare costs the same no matter if you go for seven days or 21 days (not counting charters), and you never know if you're going to be afforded the opportunity to go back. Some opportunities you'll NEVER be able to get back, so make the most of all you can possibly enjoy.

So hunt Africa as much as you can and take as many animals as you possibly can NOW. The world is changing fast, and that "someday" safari may never happen unless you make it happen as soon as you can.........

Amen, Allen! I have the same philosophy on hunting "over there". I'm 46 and have made it 9 times in 11 years and have number 10 booked with Andy Dawson of Chifuti Safaris in Zimbabwe for June , 2006.

Gerry,
We must be relatives...

L