Well, I read all the posts to my East Cape hunting post and thought about things for a bit.

I thought about all the comments, and then I read this bongo hunt posting:

http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Numbe...n=0&page=0#Post55718

Quite frankly, I think the bongo hunt post describes a far more "authentic" African hunt than what's available today in Zimbabwe, Botswana, etc.

But what do I know?

Anyway, I'm taking my wife with me on my hunt; her idea of "roughing it" is when room service is late.



I think that we'll have a great time on the East Cape.

Safari is not about "roughing-it" to me. Work hard in the bush and then a comfortable camp at night.

If someone wants to "rough-it", then a sheep hunt on horseback comes to mind.

I was talking with my stepfather about this the other day. I would love to have the canvas tent hunt experience, with the reproduction furniture that lewis and drake sells. it is actually comfortable stuff.

Of course I would also like to spend a couple of months on the safari too. Dreams keep us going.

Red

AP - I would not take offence at the comments made on the other thread, nor would I look to defend your decision either by comparing the Eastern Cape to CAR. My first hunt in Africa, like many others on the forum, was to SA (KZN & Orange Free State). It is hard to verbalize the differences between SA as a whole and the other countries you mentioned, but there is something, and one really needs to experience both to fully appreciate this. And even then the definition of "real Africa" as available today is subjective. However - one trip is only "better" then the other dependent upon your objectives and perspectives at the time. Heck I'd love to visit the Eastern Cape and the coastline, and with the wife this might be one of the best overall destinations. As it sounds like you are booked, go on the hunt and just enjoy yourself. Next time, you can try something different if you wish.

A-P

Go for a nice first safari with your wife to a pleasant location. Then if the bug bites you and it probably will, build up.

JB, the hunter in the CAR is a great guy, and if you read some of his reports, damned tough to do so much hunting in the jungle while suffering from a serious fever.

A "real" vintage safari experience would be to book an old time long foot safari with the likes of Natasha Illum Berg. But I am SURE your wife will not be pleased!

No matter what you choose to do. Some "peanut gallery" commentator is going to tell you why it wasn't real or authentic. They may even expand on why "Their way" is better and more challenging.

Chances are they've actually never done it "their way"

Ask them for real proof and they pee their pants. The guys that don't wet themselves are worth listening too. The rest are full of it.

all the nostelga about the old tent camp hunting isn't really true either - been there done that in 100% comfort, perhaps even better than permanent camps. but hey i deserved it

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:...A "real" vintage safari experience would be to book an old time long foot safari with the likes of Natasha Illum Berg. But I am SURE your wife will not be pleased!

Well, since BobF is sleeping on the job again…

analog, since your taking the wife you might want to consider going over to an area where the Fish River enters the Indian Ocean (I'll be hunting there in June). There is a beautiful B&B ranch that offers Horseback riding, a private beach on the Ocean with a Cabana overlooking the beach, surrounded by plum tree's, and for viewing, a light house. Cape Buff and White Rhino are there. They have indigenous game (local & imported), Giraffe, Springbok, Impala, Blue Wildebeast, Zebra, Duiker, Steenbok, Bushbuck etc., Nyala and Oribi. Probably a few others I didn't see. It was under high fence due to the DG but there are other open ranches nearby that offer hunting. I took a near 16 inch Cape Bushbuck and my Nyala nearby hunting a ranch that grows Pineapples. Bush pig were evident but I never saw any during the day. The terrain is broken hillsides/ridges to very dense, steep, thorny ravines. Overlooking the Fish River Valley, the view is awesome. Two varieties of Hornbills (birds) were fussing at us for eating the Guava's they were trying to feed on. I saw Fish Eagles, Spur wing geese, ducks, coots etc. Cool place to take the wife, and within easy driving of various terrain and hunting. GH, David

I hunted the East Cape back in 2000 and had a great trip! Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown remain two of my favorite cities in Africa. The Cape scenery is breathtaking and for anyone who says it isn't real hunting... take them on a sortie for Vahl Rhebuck or brushbusting for bushpig!

Least we forget the definition of Safari is "long journey." Just getting there from halfway around the world qualifies. What you do and how you do it once there is your own business.

I've designed and set up two sporting clays operations years ago. The first one was purely a "for fun operation" tailored to attracting people who'd never tried the sport. What struck me was how the seasoned shooters were so hung up on breaking X number of targets they failed to really have fun while the "good old boys" who showed up with scratched up, pump action, full choked, 20"turkey guns and 30" duck guns had a ball. The Perrazi shooters looked at them and shook their heads in disgust but I doubt I've ever seen a bunch of guys have so much fun with firearms... and isn't THAT what your trip is about? Go, enjoy the sceanery, the atmosphere, the newness of it all and THE HUNTING for animals you've never hunted before. Hunt them the way you feel comfortable hunting them and have no regrets!


P.S. When you get back be sure and post a report. There are some of us who'd love to read it.

If you've got the time and money go for a week's game viewing somewhere like the Serengetti or Ngorongoro Crater. Good accommodation and lots of animals will will impress your wife (and you) and it is good to see the animals you're going to shoot rather than shooting the first hartebeast etc that you see.

A week in Zanzibar at the end is good too.

mike

I think I read it in "White Hunters".....
"Roughing it is for greenhorns."

Dave

L. David Keith,

Your description can't be the true Africa. It isn't anything like the descriptions of Africa portrayed by the US news media.

buffybr, Your probably right. It must have been the Lariam I began taking over the weekend that is making me hallucinate. I will go out and get a copy of the current "World events and terrible disaster that plagues us all" and watch the news tonight. That should slap me back to reality. After all, the media knows what's best for us. Sorry for day dreaming