How old were you when you went on your first hunt in Africa and what did you hunt/kill?

I always hoped that I would go before I turned 30 but that doesn't look like it's going to happen. I'm eyeing 2007 for my first hunt but I haven't decided what and where I want to hunt.

Rattlesnaker
No real age requirements, as long as you can handle the weapon you're using.Email me I'll try to sooth your fears.

39 years old. We went to Namibia. Please see our photos.

Good luck and enjoy planning your hunt
It's at least half the fun

Oh, yeah, be sure to ask Will "which" rifle and "which" bullets are the best

I went to the Central African Empire (now Republic) when I was 25 years old as a Peace Corps Volunteer. We weren't supposed to have any firearms. I had to borrow a 300 WinMag from a missionary and shot some Kob. Not exactly big game hunting on a grand scale but the bush was as wild as it gets and I developed a passion which has never left me. I have done more hunting with locals in the 5 African countries I have lived in than with PH's on guided hunts. But as I get older, and since I no longer live in Africa, going wih PH is a lot less trouble and more of a vacation.

Going to Namibia for my first plains game hunt this Aug. Will be 37 a week after I return.

First time to Africa, I was 17. I stayed with my uncle for a month in Ciaro... Not much hunting but lots of culture for sure. Will be going on my first plains game hunt in September, less than 10 years later I get to return! My wife will only be 25 for her "first" trip!!! Can't wait.

Heading to Namibia in May on my first trip. I will turn 47 years old the first day hunting.

When I started dreamimg of going different places to hunt I was 9 or 10 years old. 3 animals/places I wanted to achieve in my life.

One- shoot a Caribou (I've taken 16 so far)

Two- shoot a bear, (I have 12 again so far)

Three- I wanted to see Africa, I just wanted to go there once to see it, that's all just one time, I would have been satisfied. ( I'm leaving on my 6th safari in less then I month, and I'm more excited then when I went the first time. At this rate I'll be in a rubber room by the time I hit 10 safaris!

I went on my 1st safari to Zimbabwe when I was 44.... First critter - - A Civet the 3rd day, ended up with 10 trophies on that trip!


Hikerbum!!! Happy Birthday in Namibia!!!!!

Rattlesnaker,

IMO you can generally never be too young or too old to go to africa!

I was 19 the first time I was in africa, as I had to fly home from RSA after sailing across the Indian ocean with 2 other guys. I spent almost a month there, but didn't get a chance ot go hunting. Then 10 years later I convinced my wife to go to Zimbabwe and Botswana on our honeymoon. 2 weeks of "photo-safari" and a week of plainsgame hunting in Zim. 2 years later, we went to Namibia and again split the trip into 2 weeks of looking around and 1 week of plainsgame hunting. This trip convinced us that we wanted to see more. So in 2002 we rigged our Land Rover Defender and drove from Norway to RSa for a year (see www.dunia.no ). A year of living in a tent wasn't enough, so I'm off to Zim this summer for tuskless ele cow.

I think it is safe to say that once one gets bitten by the "Africa bug", it's hard to stop wanting to return!

I took my son last year for his HS graduation present, he was 18 I was 43. We had the standard plains game hunt in SA. It was a special trip fpr us both..............JJ

I'll be just shy of 48 when I go this Summer, and even then it wouldn't be possible without the kindness and generosity of many, many wonderful people here at AR. Otherwise, I'd probably be a LOT older than that by the time I ever made it on my own.

Russ

33-ZIMBABWE-2004-Couldn't afford it but worth every penny and penny to come. If you have the desire, dont wait Go!

I went last June to RSA at age 28. Really the only reason I was able to go was I won a scholarship to present a portion of my Ph.D. dissertation at a meeting in Durban. Needless to say, once I knew I was going I had to spend an extra week hunting. Took general plains game: 1 blue wildebeest, 1 impala, 1 nyala and 2 warthogs.

I'm already saving my money for a return trip!

I was 63 and took Leopard,Kudu,Impala,Giraffe(was caught in snare). Went to Zimbabwe and have been 7 more times and taken almost everything except Lion. Would like to go at least once more even if only for plains game.

I was 56, and hunted in RSA and Zimbabwe in 2004. I took 2 Impala, Blue and Black Wildebeest, a Zebra, a Blesbock, a Kudu, and a Cape Buffalo. I used a CZ 375 for everything, and had a terrific time. But then again, I booked through Ray Atkinson, and hunted with Pierr'e Van Tonder. Success is to be expected with that combo.

Hey 1115, where is those "trophy" photos you talked about last week?

I was 38 on my first safari and turned older while there. I spent 6 weeks between Namibia and South Africa on that journey. My first animal was a kudu in Namibia. First trophy in South Africa was an eland. I think I took 16 animals on that trip.

I now plan to spend all of my birthdays somewhere in Africa (I've only missed one time in the last four). I will be hunting leopard during this year's turning of age.

Lord willing,I will be going March 30-2006 to SA for 7 day Plains Game,I have already sent deposit in.
This is my first trip I will be 43 in Feb-06 going.Going with Madubula Safaris and using a 475 linebaugh or 41 GNR.
Have been wanting to go since I was 8-10 yrs old.
Will be looking for Nyala,Kudu,maybe Eland,warthog, wildebeast.
Not sure about the area yet might be Venetia but could be Rooiport (sp) area.

Sean

Went to Zim in 1994 when I was 44. Been back four times and am planning something for 2006. Seemed everybody else was in their sixties then. I felt like the youngster. Didnt realize that Russ Broom was probably ten years younger than I was.

I went to Namibia in 2002 for the first time at age 51. I booked it on a bit of a lark, only a couple of months in advance, as I hadn't bought the mystique of darkest Africa in the literature. I had already hunted all over the US, Canada and Alaska, birds in Argentina and Uruguay, Red stag and birds in Scotland, England and Ireland a few times over.

I successfully hunted (2) springbok, kudu, gemsbok, blesbok, blue wildebeest, steenbok, warthog and zebra. Three animals went Rowland Ward.

So now I know. Namibia isn't dark after all. There is no jungle there, only high desert plains. In fact, it's quite bright under the most enormous blue sky. But it gave me enough of an experience to know that the continent called Africa truly is magical, and I will go back as soon as I can, to other countries, and other parts of it as well. Like the East Africa of the literature.

I was 44 years young, and went to Namibia. I'll be 58 this October. Next month I'll be making my 7th trip to Africa. I thought my 1st trip to Africa would be my one and only "trip of a lifetime". Oh how wrong I was. Africa is in my blood, and I love it.

Africa oh Africa...Made my first trip 52 years old... to RSA in 02 shot plains game...second trip in 04 and fulfilled a life long dream 39 inch buf and a bull ele at 30 feet with 30lb tusks...Was as close as 20 feet from eles...

Mike

Let's see. I listened to my hunting partner's tales of RSA for 2 years. Went to Namibia last summer at age 53. Just one time, had to do it, just one time, see if I like it....... Will take the wife on her stateside trip of a lifetime this month, and then I'm cleared for buffalo next year? Paid for my trophy export and started saving for the next trip the day I got back. Managed to shoot 13 animals in 15 days, most Gold Medal, 5 Rowland Ward, and one Top 10 SCI (Springbok). Hope I live to be a hundred, and go back many times!

My first trip was when I was 51 and I've been back 8 more times. Always too busy, what a mistake. It will change your life. Hunt the "glamour" animals as soon as possible. They're only going up. I could have done a 14 day lion, buff and plains game for $14000 first time. Price a lion today!

41 years old next may when my wife and I head to Namibia for 16 days. We are already looking ahead to 08/09 for a DG hunt..

John

Went on a bear hunt at 29 to Manitoba and I went last July to RSA at 31 and my father went at 53. We took a variety of plains game including kudu, eland, bleu wildebeest, warthog, impala, springbok, red hartebeest, gemsbok, and zebra. 14 animals between the two of us. It was expensive and the shipping/taxidermy costs as much as the hunt but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I will be going back to Africa in the years to come. But for next year we are going to try South America for Red Stag, Puma, blackbuck and wild boar. I doubt it will live up to RSA, but I am still paying my taxidermist off this year, and I think this will be a great hunt at a reasonable cost.

I say go now while you can! You are never gaurenteed a later. I doubt anyone ever looks back on a great experience like Africa and regrets spending the money.

Well I started selling hunts after my first hunt april 2003.

I've been back in the RSA 4 times since and may or may not be in zim in May.

hunted mupungalanga,free state, eastern cape.

Hunted successfully

impala,kudu, blesbok,blue wildebeest,red hartebeest,ostrich,duiker,baboon

everyday i stay away, i miss the hunting in africa ,more.tm