I went on my first safari last year to Namibia, and if I was the only person going, I'd go back and hunt leopard. However, I want to take my wife and daughter, and they are not hunters, and would quickly get bored with game drives and that sort of activity.

I am looking for somewhere safe, clean, and with shopping and other activities fairly close by. What I hunt is secondary to them having a good time. That being said, I'd like to be able to hunt something other than what I hunted in Namibia, which was kudu, gemsbok, springbok, hyena, blue wildebeest, hartmann's zebra.

I'm guessing that this will probably put me in RSA, which is ok, assuming I'm hunting free range animals.

I look forward to your suggestions.

Mike Massey

Matetsi 3 in Zimbabwe (HHK Safaris) is only an hour from Victoria Falls. There you have shopping, stuff in the river from booze cruises to white water rafting to bungee jumping, elephant rides, walk with lions, golf, meals on the veranda at the Victoria Falls Hotel, helicopter rides, just visiting the falls, fishing and game parks that don't have tame animals.

As to what you can hunt... elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard, sable, warthog, birds and more.

My family always likes to spend three days in Vic Falls and we never get bored. Personal guides with vehicles are available or Shearwater (an adventure company) can arrange everything. I'm sure you could arrange transport to the Falls from Matetsi several days during your safari, leaving after breakfast and returning at suppertime.

How about eland, black wildebeest and leopard with an outfit near Windhoek? Maybe even lion, as told on AR with Jamy Traut. Then you can go sightseeing or shopping together. I prefer to not get more than a few feet from my wife in any of these countries. The responsible operators will advise you that theft is an all to common an occurance. It does not stop us from going but since we had that unpleasant experience we are even more careful.

My wife and I did a safari in the Limpopo area of RSA. Kruger is close by as well as lots of sightseeing and shopping. Interestingly after I had taken most of the game on my wish list my wife decided she wanted to take a bushbuck. She has hunted with me in Argentina and Tanzania since and really enjoys the experience.

Go to Blaauwkrantz. The wives and kids get really spoiled there.

Hunt Maasailand and they can tour the Crater manyara, and Serengeti etc plus if they don't like animals there is lots of Art and Tanzanite in Arusha, or cross over to Tsavo. Heck they could walk up Kili if you married an adventurer type woman. My wife loved hiking the mountains and video taping my hunt, but I married really well.

If shopping is on the list, then I think your only choice is South Africa.

Judge, thank you for your suggestion. I hadn't even considered Zim, but have always wanted to see Vic Falls. And congratulations on your wedding!

Armorer, yours is also a good idea, as I love Namibia.

Blacktailer, RSA is also good, and it would be my hope that my wife and daughter both would like to try their hands at it once they see.

LittleJoe, I'll look into that. Thanks

SG Olds, that sounds like a magnificent trip! Yes, you did marry well if she likes that.

Saeed, I'm thinking that you may be right, but hoping the Judge's or SG's ideas might sound good to the family.

Does anyone else have any suggestions?
Thanks

Also, I meant to mention that after my original post, I was pm'd by three outfitters on here that either had never offered any hunts through that section, or didn't have any responses to hunts they offered. I did not respond.
The three that made offers are:
Kelly's Africa
fvh40
Hunt the Sun
Has anyone had any experience with these outfitters?
I am thankful to Saeed for furnishing this forum, it has been entertaining and informative. It quickly becomes obvious who the outfitters are that are well thought of on here.

I had a pet frog in my shower in the Selous; droves of ants-- the safari ant kind, but I can't recall what they are called at the moment -- amazing though -- in Simanjiro; and wall spiders (and a scorpion that I stepped on) in Namibia, not to mention geckos, various other lizards, snakes and bugs; that I'm sure would have been a barrel of laughs for any kid. The wife? not so much.

What I've planned on doing -- haven't done it yet -- is to have my wife fly over (with me)ahead of the safari (she can bring another 5 Kg. of ammo)and go on a photo safari -- Vic Falls, the Mara; or just visit friends in Arusha or Dar. Then she can go home and I can hunt. If we did that, I might actually be able to shoot a plains game animal with something less than a .416; naw -- that works; I could just bring a double in addition, though.