Well, I think I am ready.
I leave for Zimbabwe for a 30 day hunt this Sunday Feb. 26th.
Taking the same riflews as my 2004 hunt, my 450 No2 and my Scoped 9,3x74R. Instead of my 4" S&W 44 Mag I am taking my Freedom Arms 475 Linebaugh, 6" bbl. It is now scoped, to ease passage through SA. I shot it today with the scope [see post in handgun hunting], but I plan to muse iron sights for the big stuff.
I think I have all my ducks in a row. I have all pertinate paperwork in triplicate.
I have a Hangun Hunting Permit from Zimbabwe.
I talked on the [sat] phone to my PH 2 days ago who just had a client bring a "hunting" revolver through SA with NO problems.
I have a "little" walking around money.
I am in my 3rd week of Larium.
All my other meds are packed.
Clothes and equipment is good to go.

As a plus, the Judge will be on the same plane out of Atlanta, so I have a friend to visit with.

I do not worry too much about flying on the Airbus as I am of slight frame....
I just hate to drink that blended Scotch on the way over.

Heck I would cling to the wing, if that was the only way to get there.

Good luck Tony, and have fun!

Or as we say here in Norway; "Skitt Jakt!"

I hope you take lots of pictures for us to see when you return.

Have a wonderful trip and bring us some great trophy photos!

Good luck and have a safe trip.

Thanks Erik.
I am going to have Ian Lewis of www.safarivideos.com video this safari. He videoed my Zim 2004 trip. I will NEVER go to Africa with out having him do a video. Not only is his filming great he is an asset to have in camp and in the bush. He has become a good friend, as has the PH on this trip Dale Des Fountain.
The 3 of us get along very well [I have been on one 21 day safari with Ian, and both of them have been shooting with me on my deer lease on 2 different occasions] so it should be a great hunt with a lot of good humour.
The plan os to hunt the DEKA, go to the OMAY and then go to the SAVE. So I will get to see quite a bit of Zimbabwe.
Should be a real adventure.

Go get em brother. Leave some for me. Give Judge my regards. Keep the sun at your back and the wind in your face.

Here's one for you -



kwaheri rafiki

Kindly say hi to Ian for me? Thanks. He's the best safari companion I've ever had. - Nick

Good luck,from down here in New Zealand

Wish you well, Go get em

Weidman's Heil. Have a good hunt and enjoy. Kudude

PS: Take plenty of pictures and lots of notes!

Have a safe journey and a wonderful trip!

Tell the Judge hello and bring us back some tales of your adventure...a few pics would also be nice!!!!!!!!!

Hey Tony go get um! Talk to you when you get back about that bear hunt in in B.C.!

Pop a good tusker for me! Good luck buddy!

Tony,

Since you are a movie, TV star...Saw you on national TV...I hope you have a great time and a lifetime of memories of this hunt...
I hope you will still associate with us common folk..

Keep your powder dry...

Mike

All our best, Tony. Hope you have the hunt of a lifetime! Lee.

I don't need to tell you to have a good time beacuse I know you will have a great one. Just have a safe trip and bring back some great stories and pictures!

Have a grand time ... enjoy and be safe. "Knock'm Dead" as the saying goes ;>

Say "Hi" to the Judge for us. Wish him well too.

Tony,
Have a great "retirement" hunt! Can't wait to see the video.

Tony's first hunt was the best hunting video I've ever seen! A work of art and video proof that even in the face of elephant charges, he still managed to put all his spent cases in his pocket!

Have a great time.....BTW...is J&B a blended scotch?......

Very best of luck and all best wishes,

JPK

This is great Tony. What a trip. Be safe.

Blended Scotch is better than none at all. Just a little more than 24 hours and a wake-up!

I can think of no better guy with which to travel than Tony. My only problem is that I only have one elephant on license and he has twelve!

Saeed:

Without your forum, we would never have met, become friends and learned that by coincidence we'll find ourselves on the same plane on our treck. Thanks again.. from Tony and me and all the folks who have learned so much here and have made friends for life.

I'm taking my Searcy .470 for its last elephant hunt (with me). I'm having a .450/.400 built and the Searcy is already promised to another Africaphile who was kind enough to let it bark one more time in my old hands.

As of this morning, I thought that a sinus infection, job duties and a pile of other stuff was going to make me cancel my trip, but it all came together about 4:00 p.m. today. I had to knock on the door of the bank to get inside after closing to get my traveler's checks. That was just too close for comfort, but thanks to some high-powered antibotics, a case that settled this afternoon and some wonderful children that I have... I'm going elephant hunting again. I only have one thought and that's WOOOOOOPPPPEEEE!

Tony and I will be thinking of all you guys who can't make it this year (or who have to wait a few months). I'll try to remember every thorn, snake, bug and adventure and recount them here when I get back.

Wish me and Tony good luck, kind folks.

Judge,
Have a safe trip and good luck in your hunting. Bryan

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
Have a great time.....BTW...is J&B a blended scotch?......

Yep.

Have a great time.

JudgeG,

12 to 1 makes us all feel inadequate!

Best of luck!

JPK

Judge,
Go get 'em! I'm glad it all worked out.

JudgeG:

Have a great trip and good luck with the hunt!

Will be waiting for your pics and recap of the adventure...

Tony

Good luck on your safari and hope the twelve elephants turn into a 'baker's dozen'.

Good luck Tony and Judge G. There could be some great stories to come out of this one.

Sounds like an epic adventure Tony - have a great and safe hunt!

Gentlemen, have a great hunt and tempt us with your stories upon return!

Have a great hunt! I hope we can seem some charging ele action on film!

quote:

Originally posted by JudgeG:


I'll try to remember every thorn, snake, bug and adventure and recount them here when I get back.

Ernest, I am sure you will just make up what you don't remember!

Regardless, have a good safari.

Bwanaphile:

I missed you in Dallas. I wonder why you didn't take the invitation to make such a remark personally (or, at your choice, have a drink and talk like gentlemen about whatever obsesses you to snipe at me from behind a keyboard.)

I sincerely hope you find what is so sorely lacking in your life.

Have a good day. This time tomorrow I'll be on my way to Africa doing what you just dream about. I'll not obsess about your character while in Zim, I assure you.

Tony and JudgeG:

God speed on a safe journey and hunt. I wish the both of you many memorable moments and I look forward with baited breath your trip reports.

Tony, can't wait to see your video! Your last one was TOP NOTCH!!!!!



Cheers,

Tony, Now thats the way to kick off retirement

JUdge as always best of luck..

Looking foreward to after action reports

All I can say is I'm jealous....

Have a great safari!!!!

D. Nelson

Gentlemen, and Lady Ann, thanks for the well wishes. I am really looking forward to this trip. It is my second Safari to Zimbabwe.
I have been on Safari with my videographer Ian before, and have spent a fair amount of time with my PH Dale Des Fountain.
Ian and Dale are friends from Harare in Zim, the 3 of get along great so it should be fun.
After all the whole point of hunting is to have fun, with a little of adventure thrown in.

Judge, see you soon.

Judge looks like some cowards crawled out...

Have great hunt...


Mike

Last night in America....
My bags are packed... I am "hanging out" on AR and Nitro Express.... Drinking Single Malt Scotch... Laphroiag, 10 Years Old, Cask Strength. My Lovely wife is preparing my last meal... Lobster Tails...
Retirement is good. It just does not get any better than this.

However I must add, that every night after my retirement, since my wife is still working I have cooked dinner. I like to cook if I have the time. So she is treating me to Lobster before I leave for Zimbabwe.

As I said LIFE is GOOD.

Tony, I hope you have enough ammo for all of those elephants and that you get ALL 12 OF THEM. What a great hunt you have cooming up.

Hog Killer