I just re-read that big long thread about why more guys don't hunt Africa. I can relate to a bunch of the posts there, and I have a couple tips for those who have decided to make a comittment to saving for the trip:

1) Find someone to go with. It will help you to keep the enthusiasm high. If you don't already have a buddy, look for someone at the range or at an SCI chapter meeting. Once you find somebody you feel comfortable with. do it.

Like working out at the gym, it's too easy to back out, slack off or blow it off. You don't want to let down your friend. Besides this is something you'll want to share with someone.

2) Do your research. Find the outfitter you are going to use, the area you are going to go to, and get a wriiten estimate for every single expense and round it up 10%.

3) Pick a date and make a deposit. Once you've made the simple gesture of writing a $500 check, you might as well strap your butt in the seat and get ready for take off. It's done, in ink and your safari becomes reality.

4) Open your safari account and use direct deposit. I set up a Sharebuilder account, and have a regular deposit sent in every pay period. The money sits in a money market account, and while relatively easy to access, it takes a couple days to wire money or request a check, which will help curtail unncessary withdrawl of funds or spontaneous purchases.

5) start planning and tell every body and their brother you are going and when.

6) When you get back, leave the account open so you can go again in a year or two.

***This plan has made my safari a reality. Hope it works for those of you who think you can't do it.

Mark, your approach is very similar to my own. The biggest thing that helped make my safari a reality was getting rid of the $500/month payment on the flashy pickup I really didn't need. After that, there's plenty of money to start that savings account.

After you have been there once, you will realize, that a new pickup is a waste, and new carpeting for the house can wait too.

Maybe even talk you wife into having only one more baby instead of two or three.

Everything you do will soon equate to trophy fees:

New set of tires= a Wart Hog or Impala

Carpeting= A Kudu and a Wildebeest +

Truck Payment = A Gemsbok everymonth

Going out to eat on Saturday night = 1/2 a Springbok

And the list goes on.

Terry, you are correct. In fact, I've already started equating the price of something here to trophy fees there - and I haven't even been yet!

Sure would like a new gun safe, whoops, that's a kudu.

New pickup seat ('cuz I drive a clunker now), nope, that's blesbok.

The list goes on and on. Seems like every day I'm equating something to a trophy fee. Of course my wife is hankering for an antelope hunt here in NM, so things get related to that now. Wish I could get new tires, oh wait, we need to get that antelope tag. Funny how things are when you're obsess... I mean dedicated.

Before i went to Africa I used to think "I�ll never be able to afford an elephant...maybe a buff but probably not". I�m now planning the buff for -05, plinsgame for -04, and maybe that elephant before I�m fifty (six years to go). I don�t know where I�ll find the cash but I will.

I drive a Mercedes...from -82 that has 348 thousand km�s on the meter. �t�s full of rust, the doorlocks are all shot and it�s ugly as hell.

New car: Elephant, buffalo, sable (cars cost a lot in Scandinavia, we pay 50 000$ for a flashy pickup).

I�ll be driving that rustbucket for a couple more years...

Hi Everybody, Thanks I needed that! I was all pumpedup about going and then I started adding up the unexpected totals and was getting a little discouraged. $300 for a Tuffpak, a gazillion dollars for taxidermy/shipping, Etc. It was starting to seem hopeless again. You guys gave me some more inspiration that I needed. I'm on my way to the bank to open a separate "Safari Account"! Better than my dresser drawer.
Thanks Joe

You can do the hunt and don't have to do all taxidermy. There is no reason you are required to have mounts or rugs. My hunting partner and his dad went to the Big A several times in the past and during the last few 3 or 4, they elected to leave their trophies behind and took lots of pictures to preserve their experiences and memories of the hunt.

Gentlemen

don't buy new cars, you loose a few animals by just driving it of the car dealers lot

Get secondhand ones and haggle like hell. A friend of mine putted all the money he would have spent of ciggarettes, gambeling and eating out every weekend, paying a girlfriend expence account. It gives him A good Safari every year and a better health

Good luck
/ JOHAN

/ JOHAN

Ahhh, the revelation on what is worthwhile in life. At one time, I HAD to have a new car every two or three years (step-father had been a car dealer in Michigan). Now have stopped and looked at what I have, what I need, and what I would like to do. Have a caribou hunt planned for September in Quebec, antelope in CO in October, elk in November, second elk in December, and deer...all this year. Two year=Africa

Mark,

That's got to be the most sensible advice I've ever seen on the forum.......... thanks