Hi,
Could someone tell me about the safety of traveling in Africa as a single woman. I'm planning a plains game hunt, a leopard if possible. Hopefully next year or the year after. Any advice would be nice. Thanks.

I should think you would be just fine. You will be picked up at the airport by the PH and dropped off in the same way. You will never be a lone female.

Have fun planning that hunt.

Karen,

I am going to echo Richard on this, but some outfitters have more experience "hunting women" -- in the sense of taking them hunting.

My friend Nikki has done a lot of hunting on her own. If you are interested, I can pass your email along to her. She guides, and has been working on getting qualified as a PH.

I know another woman who qualified as a PH, but she is living in the US now and is not hunting actively now.

jim dodd

Use your head, don't be in places you don't belong and have your PH meet you and put you back on the plane home..No problems...

Keep in mind that there are a lot of women in Zimbabwe, they live there, go to the store, shop, go to church, take the kids to school and live very normal lives every day...they do not live in fear and they do not want to move.

Things have really settled down there from all accounts, and I am in touch almost daily with a number of safari companies and friends who farm there...

Have a good Safari and enjoy yourself while you can. Life is too short to deprive oneself of the good life..

I suppose I am somewhat of a fatalist, but also a survivor.. I don't concern myself with things I have no control over. I would also rather deal with the situation than fear...

George Hoffmans daughter is a PH I believe she is active, but not sure...

Thanks guys, I appreciate the advice

A female PH ? Oh cool, now you've done it I'll have to hunt with one of them just out of solidarity. Is there one who does Leopard and Cape Buffalo ? Seriously, what a neat experience that would be.

Patty Cawood is a PH and owns a 10,000 acre game farm in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

She is semi-retired but her able assistant, Michele McCormack, will handle booking details, and Patty's son Chris will guide you.

Their camp is just fantastic--East African tented style, unless you wimp out and want to stay in the main house with pool and other amenities.

Fly into Port Elizabeth and Michele will "collect" you, drive you the 3 hours to the ranch, and turn you over to Patty & Chris. At that point you will begin having the time of your life.

Would be a good location for a group of women hunters to go.

If you want more details, e-mail me.

I traveled and hunted for 4 weeks through RSA last year with absolutely no problems by myself. Got plans for 6 or 7 weeks again this year. Everyone in Africa was very nice.

I've also gone to Canada bear hunting and caribou hunting by myself, the Canadians are very nice too.

I've never had a guide or a PH that wasn't anything but professional. Just always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you.

So go for it and have a great time.

BTW, George Caswell at Champlin in Oklahoma is very good at fitting rifles for women hunters going to Africa and making sure that they are comfortable with the recoil etc. For a DGR rifle for women, he prefers the 404. If you could spend a day with George, he would see to it that you had a rifle you are comfortable with, fits you and you can shoot well.

CC,
I just came back from a hunt in the Eastern Cape, and this is a lovely area in which to hunt. RSA is a good country in which to break the ice with African hunting with less culture shock than some of the countries could present.

Just like here, situational awareness is the key to your safety. Your ph/outfitter will take care of you from plane to plane if all you do is hunt (and will take you on tour too for a price.) There are folks like Trail Finders in Cape Town that will pick you up at the plane, deliver you to your hotel or B&B, take you on a tour of the cape and deliver you to the airport. Airport to Hotel is about $35, and all day tour ending at airport is about $75.

I just came back from a solo safari with a ph and outfitter I've hunted with before so it was not too bad being alone, but if you can arrange it, go with a friend or family member. It is great to share the experience with someone. Ku-dude

Go do it, have a great time. Wish there were more like you.
Women are missing out on one of the best adventures in life.
There are nice people everywhere in the world just like there are plenty of horses butts anywhere.
If your safari company is worth a damn they will make sure of your safety and that you have a quality hunt.
Good luck and post photos!

I'm not concerned about the hunt itself. I'd like to sightsee a bit afterwards, go to Kruger and a few other places. I do wonder about traveling in those countries after leaving the outfitter. It's better to be educated and aware than not. I'd just prefer to avoid becoming a blonde statistic.
I'm a do-it herselfer anyways so I'll probably be alone. Like Mr. Atkinson says life is too short to deprive oneself of the good life. I'll take that advice.
Primitive or rough isn't a problem, hunting for me here is generally the backcountry with a backpack, my rifle and the dog. The wilder the better.

Critrchik:

In reply to your tag line.......

"Women are like fine wine. They all start out fresh, fruity and intoxicating to the mind and then turn full-bodied with age until they go all sour and vinegary and give you a headache."

Gat, yer killin me! Haha!
But seriously, I think hunting women is great. I used to gladly spend a lot of money to do it, now I think there should be a bounty on them.
Heheheheheh....
OK, I had my fun. Suit is on, hood down, ScottAir Pak is turned on, flame away gurlz!
Have a nice day!

CritrChik, you've got an email from me. I may be in Vegas in August for a week of training. I see your location is Nevada. I'd be happy to meet up with you if you are in that area.

Karen,

An English friend sent this along:

"Amanda Smit is a PH in Kwazulu Natal. I have hunted with her before and can sing her praises.

She can be contacted via me at my email address or her UK agent, tel 01844 202 812 (Lenjane Drift Safaris)

Anyway, if she is interested, I can dig out a direct email addy for her.

Cheers

Ian"

My wife and I have done hunts with tourist side trips in the package, you could do the same I am sure. We were married in the bush in South Africa, and then did a "hunty moon" (as my wife named it). Also a trip to Kruger after the hunt.

jim dodd

I have traveled to Africa twice to hunt by myself. But let's be reasonable here and safe. I wouldn't suggest to any woman to travel Africa by herself.

I like many other women had my P.H. meet me at the airport, and then also return me there. If I wasn't with my P.H. I was with other natives that either knew the land, or the surroundings. Africa isn't like anyplace you've been in the USA or Canada.

Just like here in the states there are places to stay away from, and places you definately would not travel to after dark. But if you do not have someone with you that knows otherwise, your likely to end up in the wrong place at the right time.

I have heard wonderful stories here about successful safaris, and also have heard terrible stories where people were held at gun point and some of that came from the locals. So....

Yes I agree, live life to it's fullest...leaving fear as only a small shadow in the back of your mind... but allow that fear to make you smart, not a statistic.

Later,

CC,

I am six feet of bad ugly, consider myself able to take care of myself, have been to Africa six times, and I will not travel there alone for the reasons posted above. The down side is too bad and the cost of covering my "six" is to little.

You can arrange with your hunting outfitter to arrange touring up country, and Trail Finders will provide touring for you in Cape Town. You don't need to travel alone-alone, and it is not a good idea. Ku-dude

Having a hunting partner is good because of the company, hunting 2x1 is cheaper and should things go south, you have an extra backup rifle! I'm six feet of retired Special Ops soldier and I always hunt with a partner because I want to be able to keep hunting for a looooooong time.

I just want to say that it is great to see so many ladies hunting and/or guiding, whether alone or with partners. I wish that we could coax some of our Aussie ladies out hunting but they just don't seem at all orientated that way (in fact, most of them are down-right anti-hunting).

Keep it up ladies......great stuff!

If you want to get women interested in hunting, take your wife/daughter/girl friend along, and emphasize the joys of the process. Encourage them, don't force them, and let them hunt at their pace, not your's. Help them choose equipment that fits and is comfortable for them, but let them choose, unless the choice will hamper safety or comfort, and then explain why. Attend a hunter safety coarse with them, even if you already passed one. Always remember you were a beginner once too, so be patient and bear in mind that no question is a "dumb" question. Before the hunt, explain to them that after they kill a critter, they will probably have a sad feeling of "What have I done?" at the same time as they feel the joy of success. Finally, let them know that if after trying hunting, it does not suit them, that is perfectly ok also.

Loud-n-boomer,

I agree my wife is now one of my hunting buddies.This year we are hunting 2 X 1 for buffalo and plains game. Last year she was an observer that took her first impala. The only problem has been she wants all her own equipment and does not pick out the inexpensive stuff.

For example she did not like any of the blaze orange hats at the sporting goods store so she had the furrier make her a blaze orange fox fur hat. So far I have been able to hold the line on a blaze orange sheared beaver jacket for the deer blind but who knows when that will show up.

Oh well all in a bit of fun.

BigB

[ 06-05-2002, 05:00: Message edited by: BigB ]