I just re-read that big long thread about why more guys don't hunt Africa. I can relate to a bunch of the posts there, and I have a couple tips for those who have decided to make a comittment to saving for the trip. I just sent off my LAST payment for my Buffalo hunt in August. Tim "Shumba" Helgeson and I planned this two years ago, and it's almost here. I have kids and a mortgage, and a small business, but I still pulled it off because it is important to me. Here is how I did it:

1) Find someone to go with. It will help you to keep the enthusiasm high. If you don't already have a buddy, look for someone at the range or at an SCI chapter meeting. If they say they can't afford it, show them this post and make them do the same thing..Once you find somebody you feel comfortable with. do it.

Like working out at the gym, it's too easy to back out, slack off or blow it off. You don't want to let down your friend. Besides this is something you'll want to share with someone.

2) Do your research. Find the outfitter you are going to use, the area you are going to go to, and get a wriiten estimate for every single expense and round it up 10%.

3) Pick a date and make a deposit. Once you've made the simple gesture of writing a $500 check, you might as well strap your butt in the seat and get ready for take off. It's done, in ink and your safari becomes reality.

4) Open your safari account and use direct deposit. I set up a Sharebuilder account, and have a regular deposit sent in every pay period. The money sits in a money market account, and while relatively easy to access, it takes a couple days to wire money or request a check, which will help curtail unncessary withdrawl of funds or spontaneous purchases. Also, put in any windfalls that you would narmally piss away. You know; bonus checks, expense reimbursments, refunds, rebates, tax returns.

5) start planning and tell EVERYBODY and their brother you are going and when. Give them all the details, and use a day planner to count down the days so you can tell them EXACTLY when you will leave...You'll feel like a real putz if you have to tell them your dream fell through because you weren't disciplined enough.

6) Subscribe to African Hunter, log in daily to Accurate Reloading, and buy your safari clothes from Cabelas and start wering them NOW. Same with the boots. It will help you break everything in, and keep the interest high.

7) Find out who your PH is, and get to know them via e-mail if possible. Ask questions, and get a feel for what to expect in his own words.

8) When you get back, leave the account open so you can go again in a year or two.

***This plan has made my safari a reality. Hope it works for those of you who think you can't do it.

N'gagi,

I like your plan because it is a plan. I think a bunch of people kind of think they might want to go on safari but never really set up a target date or a financial goal. Heck! When I was working I maxed out my contribution to my retirement account knowing full well I would pull some money out in the form of a loan to go on safari. I gained more tax advantage than the interest I paid on the loan so actually I made out great. There is a way for a lot of people to do a safari but it takes some real planning.

Regards,

Mark

Yup, that's organized, all right. Me, I just worked a second job and put all the earnings into the Send Daddy to Africa fund. It's worked three times so far.

An excellent plan, I know, because that's almost exactly what I did, except I started smaller, saving, etc. for a DIY moose hunt in Alaska. When it was done, I did just what you said about leaving it open, indeed, I increased the deposit amount. That was 10+ years ago and I'm still doing it, after several deposit increases. It has led to lots of fantastic hunts around the world that would never have occurred were there not a plan. The key is DO IT. The average guy will talk about it until the day he dies, but never go. Take action to make it happen, or it won't.

I agree with everything N'gagi says. I asked the wife and daughter Alaska or Africa. It took them about 30 seconds to decide Africa. We told everybody, nobody believed us. We researched and chose an outfitter paid the deposit and started saving money.

How did we save, no cell phone, no cable tv, 10 year old truck, used car,no christmas or birthday present between wife and I, parttime work for me, very few meals out, carry lunch to work every day. You just have to want to do it and you can.

Now less than 60 days to go we decided to borrow just about all the money(interest rates so low). We have a plan for the cash we saved, Cape Buffalo for our second adventure.

It was scary at first but has honestly brought our close family even closer with all the planning, shooting, and packing.

Friends still say "are you really going", now we just look and smile!!!!

I walk around smiling like a jackass, 54 days to go!!!

Dulcinea

Gentlemen,

I had wanted to go to Africa for years, when I finally decided to approach my dad to see if he was interested. This was in 2000, and I was about 25. I really expected my Dad to tell me that Africa was for doctors, lawyers, and Texas oilmen, and that they were just teachers. Instead, he told me to do some research, find out prices, and get back to him in a month.

After a month of serious reading, internet searching, and phone calls, I had quite the presentation prepared for him showing how we could save the money in one year to go on a plains game hunt in Namibia. He agreed, so we started saving. Same kind of things as you all did...I took on a roommate in my apartment to share rent, didn't eat out, didn't buy anything extravagant. After a while, we had the money to go, we went, and it was fantastic.

The only problem now, is that it gets in your blood and is very hard to get out. I gave into the temptation and moved to Africa...

Enjoy your hunt, and also enjoy the fact that you have earned it and are paying for it the "right" way...discipline, hard work, and a good plan

N'gagi,

Thanks for the suggestions. This is probably more helpful to me than a dozen discusions of DGR calibers.


Tom
(Wife has agreed to my "Africa before I'm 40" plan, so it's time to start saving...)

Sarge, I paid off a new 1967 automobile, in 1969, and when that car was paid off, the payments never stopped going into my credit union saveings till I retired in 1996. That let me go to Alaska, Canada, and to Africa, on safari every two years till I retired! On a couple occasions, I had to add to the fund with a little overtime, at work, but most times the saveings was enough, especially, in the late sixties, and early seventies. In the early 70s you could get a 7 day buffalo hunt for $4000, 1 on 1, including trophy fee for one buffalo. Add a hippo for another $500, and zebra and/or wildebeest, for another $200 ea,a warthog $100, a Puku for another $200, and pay $5000+ tips, and airfare! Alaska, and Canada was even cheaper then! I wish I could get those prices today!

I'm following your plan almost to the letter.

When I got separated 2 years ago, I vowed that after 22 years doing for someone else, it was time to do something for myself for once. I decided that I was going to Africa by the time I was 50.

Well, I haven't booked a hunt yet, but the finances are in place for me to go next year - 5 years early!!!

The simplest thing has been the money. I just took all the extra money I was putting into my ex's retirement plan, and changed that into the "Safari Fund". It comes to me as a cheque made out to the fund, and I just send it to my financial planner every month. I don't even miss it, because it never goes into my bank account.

Now, if I could just settle on a hunt...that's gonna be the tough part.