Here is a reproduction of the game taken (with rifle) by T.R. and son Kermit on their 1909 African Safari. If you'd like to see the article from which it was lifted go to http://www.vox.com/2015/7/29/9...ore-roosevelt-safari

Interesting that Teddy didn't get the big Five, but Kermit did.

No bongo, kudu or sable for Teddy either.


Kermit seems to have had the 'better' safari IMO, even though he pulled the trigger 1/3 or so less often.


ETA
Cool list, thx for posting.
TR's African Game Trails is an enjoyable book IMO for those that haven't read it.

I was at first a bit surprised that TR took no "koodoo". But the kudu, which is probably the most popular antelope with current African hunters, is a denizen of Southern Africa. TR was hunting mostly what is now Kenya and Uganda, so I suspect that KR's "koodoo" was the Lesser Kudu, not the Southern Greater Kudu. As I understand it, the Lesser Kudu isn't even that closely related to the Greater Kudu.

By the way, Kermit Roosevelt, Jr. (TR Grandson), Kim Roosevelt (TR Great-grandson), and Johnathon Roosevelt (TR Great-grandson) did a safari of their own in 1960 which partially attempted to follow the path of the TR 1909-1910 safari. One of them (Johnathan, I believe) wrote a book about it titled "Sentimental Safari". I read it many, many years ago.

He shot 13 rhino, 8 elephant, 6 buffalo and 8 lions.

Maybe leopards were not of interest. Or he had no patience for them.

13 rhino is 13 more than all but a very few safari hunters.

The man is national treasure I would personally not care how many he killed.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:

By the way, Kermit Roosevelt, Jr. (TR Grandson), Kim Roosevelt (TR Great-grandson), and Johnathon Roosevelt (TR Great-grandson) did a safari of their own in 1960 which partially attempted to follow the path of the TR 1909-1910 safari. One of them (Johnathan, I believe) wrote a book about it titled "Sentimental Safari". I read it many, many years ago.

As a Roosevelt aside,

His great grandson, Tweed, recreated TR's Brazilian expedition of the "River of Doubt" (later renamed Rio Roosevelt) in 1992.
I heard him speak on it later.

Cool stuff.

Wow! Thanks Stonecreek for posting! I was just born a 100 years too late.

I am assuming Roosevelt hunted Kenya?

I took that book with me when I went to Zim in 2013, light reading for the airplane.

Worth remembering that this was a collecting trip for the Smithsonian as much as a hunting trip.

I was told by the author one of the better biographies on Theodore Roosevelt that Mr. Roosevelt disliked being called "Teddy."

Bill Quimby

African game Trails to me is a must own book.
This safari and his subsequent book literally started it all in terms of the worldwide attention and fascination with safari.
I have several first editions of it

Stonecreek:

Thanks for posting. I acquired my first copy of African Game Trails when I was 8 years old and I was addicted to Africa from that point forward. The number of lion and rhino is incredible from our perspective over a hundred years later.

The number of buffalo is noteworthy for another reason. Look at how very few buffalo they killed on a very lengthy safari. This was shortly after the rinderpest outbreak that devastated the buffalo in East Africa.

The list was probably prepared by Carl E. Akeley, the taxidermist who accompanied Roosevelt. Akeley later wrote "In Brightest Africa", ca 1936. Akeley invented the practice of using mannikins (Yes, they spell it that way.) instead of stuffing the mounts with straw, rags, etc. He did the big elephant diorama in the entry of the NY Museum of Natural History, and many of the other dioramas there. Don't miss it if you are passing through.

Akeley made several collecting trips to Africa, though he disliked hunting. He was accompanied by his wife, who very courageously saved his life on one trip. The book is a good read. Out of print, but available.

Brice,

thx for the Akeley book mention.

Just ordered a copy off abebooks.

Should be worth $8 shipped!

How much would this safaris cost today?

quote:

Originally posted by Ackley Improved User:
How much would this safaris cost today?

I think the hard part would be figuring out how many days would be required to have a reasonable shot at that bag?

http://www.theodore-roosevelt.com/trafrica.html

Expedition Costs
$50,000 from Smithsonian Museum appeal
$25,000 from Theodore Roosevelt
$25,000 from Andrew Carnegie

2005 equivalent = appx. $1.8 million dollars


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quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
Here is a reproduction of the game taken (with rifle) by T.R. and son Kermit on their 1909 African Safari. If you'd like to see the article from which it was lifted go to http://www.vox.com/2015/7/29/9...ore-roosevelt-safari

It's interesting to me that of all the animals on this list, it was a Roan that almost killed Kermit.


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quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
I am assuming Roosevelt hunted Kenya?

Doc,

This trip started in British East Africa, led into the Belgian Congo, through the Nile, and ended in Khartoum.


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A safari to last a life time. Saeed just may catch up with 'um though.