Two months ago, I approached my 17-year old son regarding his thoughts for an appropriate high school graduation present from his parents. His answer, though not too surprising, gave my heart that feeling that I hope we can all feel at some point in our lives: "...to Africa with you for the biggest Southern Greater Kudu walking the bush."
And so, it began...

We are booked to hunt with John Abraham's Madabula Safari's in the Venetia Concession just north of Pietersburg, RSA from June 24th through the 30th for plains game. Our PH, at my insistance, will be Graham Sales, who has been such great help to me in the past.

The excitement is electric and not a day goes by that I am not smothered with questions of every kind regarding our African adventure. We shoot regularly and he has developed the edge that will see success.

We talk of "his Kudu", bull Gemsbok, Warthog and all the various antelope that will be available in the huge DeBeers concession. Over and over I have to relate my own African adventures, each time in finer detail, as he attempts to glean as much knowledge as possible from my experiences.

Although we have enjoyed many stateside hunts together as he has grown to a tall straight young man, this is his dream, and mine, to share something very different. Lately, the chats have turned to Cape Buffalo. Calibers, rifles, bullet placement and as always, how long will it be before we tackle this incredible game animal together.

I'm hopeful that my mounts will arrive from the August 2003 hunt in time for Mark to get an eyeful. My experiences in the DeBeers concession of Rooiport, just west of Kimberly, RSA had been all that was needed to make this June a lifetime of memories for father & son.

How many of you in this forum have had the father/son safari experience and would care to share some helpful experiences?

It sounds like you guys will have a great time. I have two sons and have been fortunate enough to take each to Africa. The PH's were good w/the boys, but based on previous experience were expecting "spoiled brats", which is/was not the case. I was proud of they conducted themselves, and of the impression the they left with all whom they met. In both cases, I tried as best I could to stress the educational value of the experience, which includes learning about the different cultures, peoples, customs, problems, etc. I'm a big believer that organized sports are great, and have been involved in their soccer/baseball/football programs, but there needs to be shared experiences other then what one can get on the ball field. Of course, one does not need to go all the way to Africa for this, although there is something to be said about being on unfamiliar soil together.

The preparation and shared anticipation before the "adventure" was perhaps as rewarding as the trips themselves. In preparing for the most recent hunt we lifted and ran, went to the range, worked up loads, read, the whole thing. I of course get a lot out of this, as you will too. They see and I think appreciate the effort and sacrifices that are required to fund such a trip, and if anything it has taught them of the value of hard work and discipline. Every other day or so, one of the trips comes up in conversation. I can't think of a way to get a better return on an investment (especially if they cart me along on one of their hunts 25-years from now!). If all goes well and I can manage it, the three of us will be doing a 14-day backpack hunt next July to Africa.

I look forward to hearing more about your trip, and congratulations!

Regards,

Bill

I took two of my sons to South Africa when they were in high school. They shot about half my license and the PH was very good with them.

My youngest son wanted to go back for DG so as a college graduation present, I took him to Zimbabwe for Cape buffalo.

I wrote stories about both hunts--the first was printed in Safari Magazine, while the more recent was published in African Hunter.

Hunting in Africa is wonderful thing, but even more wonderful is watching your sons hunt. I get much greater pleasure from seeing one of my sons kill a fine trophy than I do from shooting it myself.

I do not think I would go to Africa to hunt again unless at least one of my sons were with me.

Agreed. This trip, my focus is on just enjoying his experiences and watching things happen. I'd like to take a bushbuck, but most of the fees will go to his "wish list". College is next, so this might be the last trip to RSA for a couple years...

RHS,

Sent you a PM..Taking my son to Zim and he is done with college.....Finished what you are starting....

Mike

RHS,

Sounds like a great son and a great idea. Hunting with your son instead of hunting for him. I just graduated my daughter from college and my brother and I are going this summer before the wedding expenses come. Nothing like hunting with friends and family.
Have a great trip and we will be watching for photos of super kudu!

Should be a great adventure. I am also planning on taking my daughters to RSA in July '05. Was set for '04, but unexpected expenses forced me to push out.

My girls will be too young to hunt at 7 and 12 years, but at least they can get a feel for life away from Los Angeles. My older daughter fishes deep sea with me and has caught Barracuda and hooked up yellowtail and white sea bass (although I had to take over). Will have her on a multi-day tuna trip soon. They both love to eat the fish and game that comes home, and it's my biggest hope that they both will want to hunt.

Looking forward to hearing the post hunt report.

Chuck.

RHS

I have taken my twin sons hunting and fishing with me for years, but in June of 2000 we went to RSA for a plains game hunt and had a great time. The most enjoyment, of course, was having them there to share such a wonderful experience. They were 31 at the time so I set up a PH for them and one for myself and this worked out well as they had a PH about their same age and really enjoyed each other. We had a running, friendly competition to see who could take the biggest horns but it really didn't matter as we all took nice animals and shared experiences that you had to be there to believe, We had a hippo charge into camp while we were around the campfire one evening chased by 9 lions and us only armed with a sundowner. By the time that happened, however, we were conditioned to seeing lions in the bush as we were hunting so the boys and I, instead of being afraid, found it very interesting, we did of course round up a couple of rifles just in case. The hippo jumped into an old pool and the lions hung around awhile until we climbed into a hunting vehicle with spotlights and went to get a closer look. Not unlike blue water fishing but on a grander scale, you never know what is going to happen next. One of my sons caught the "fever" of African hunting as much as I and is going back with me to Zimbabwe for buffalo this June and I know we will have another great time.

Best of luck to you and your son the experience will be one like none other.

CFA

Dear Dad,
You and your son are in for the time of your lives. My 21 year old son and I hunted Venitia in June/July of 2003. My son hunted with Graham Sales and I hunted with John Abaham. We both had exceptional hunts taking lion, kudu, wildebeaste, etc. I had Savage Moon do a video of the hunt. I'll be happy to send you a copy if I can get it back. Let me know on a private post with your address. The video has some nice footage of the camp and terrain.
Good hunting.
Mufasa

I raised two sons and one daughter in the hunting fields and now as most here know I am working on my 12 year old grandson...He has shot several deer, and this year he shot his first Bison, and that was some kind of an exciting hunt in the middle of an Idaho blizzard, but it worked out..

As some will recall I sold my famous double rifle "Sweethang" to buy him a good team roping horse...and that worked out well and this weekend he won the number 4 roping at the big Elko Ruby Mountain finals, and won a beatiful buckle...and he has one a bunch of other stuff along the way..He is roping with men not with boys...He and I are pards..He loves to hunt...I'm mighty proud of him.

These kids are what its all about, take them hunting and support their chosen activities, give them a belief in God and country, and they won't be out on the street smoking dope...and when they grow up they won't be taking the 10 comandments out of our courthouses, burning our flags, and cussing our presidents...

Like DasMafia, I'm on the reverse side of this equation. My dad (and his father) was the driving force in my love of the outdoors and of hunting. He and I have hunted a lot of NA game together over the years, but financial constraints kept us to relative "plainness." Since he and my mom helped put me through college, and I now have that "good job" that all graduates aspire to, I'm taking HIM to Africa to say thanks for (what I think is) the excellent job of raising me and creating in me that spark that all outdoorsmen possess. I've been hoping and dreaming that I could do something like this since I graduated in 1997, and this June it will become reality when we set off for Namibia to hunt plains game with Vaughan Fulton.

Now the spark has become a flame, and my Dad is already starting on the planning stages of our next adventure - a trip to the North Country that will include our wives. I suppose after that it will be my turn again... Maybe Cape Buffalo?

My brother is the one who introduced me to hunting. Neither my Father nor Grandfather hunted, but David was an avid hunter who had hunted extensively in Africa. I finally let him talk me into a hunt in Botswana in 1998, so my big game hunting avocation began at age 48. I only had one hunt with my brother, as he died from cancer a year later. In 2001 I took my sons, then 20 and 23, back to the same camp in Botswana. I'm going back next year and will go back again and again but I will never have a hunt that I will treasure as much as those two. On the other hand, David has a grandson and some day so will I.

Having grown up in the field & hunting, with most of the adventures (esp the early ones) at the planing of my father. It was my privilidge to take him along as my partner on my 1st Safari in 01. I couldn't imagine sharing this experiance, or any one else that would have enjoyed it as much as him. He was a little reluctant at first, but decide he's go along to 'see' Africa, & maybe shoot an animal or 2. But during the planing, & knowing his love for hunting I convinced him to go as full hunting partner. He & I are both glad he did. Even though we only hunted togeather 1 day, we got twice the experiance each night as we would share the stories of the days adventure. I have no sons as of now, but am planning to take my daughters over when they graduate, and will get to enjoy sharing this with them. Hopefull my dad will join us once again. Actually one of my daughters would regularly help me with learning the African antelope, of which I could Identify very few before this Safari was a reality, and at age 5 she could readily Identify 20 antelope.
So we've allready shared some of the planning.

M77

Did you equip hime with a 45-70? If not too bad.

RHS,

Here's a link to my October 03 hunt with my son in South Africa.

http://www.accuratereloading.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB1&Number=98011