We did a family safari to South Africa in May 2012. We being me, my wife Kimber and my two sons, Wesley & Charlie, ages 6 & 4. In late 2013, we were in the planning stages of a return trip when we got some devastating news. In early 2011 Kimber had been diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. A double mastectomy and an aggressive regimen of chemotherapy put her into remission and by October life had returned to normal. In September of 2013, a follow up PET Scan revealed the cancer had returned and had metastasized to her liver, bones, and lungs. Chemotherapy again followed by hormone therapy and trial drugs. The treatments killed the cancer in her bones and liver but it could never get a handle on the metastases in her lungs. My wife passed away on April 18, Good Friday, 2014. My world was upside down. For reasons you will understand from then and a long time after I had no desire to go to Africa again.
But God works in mysterious ways. At a Super Bowl party this year, my buddy Darryl said that he and his two oldest sons, who are the same age as my two, were going to the Limpopo in late summer. He invited us to come along. Of course he said this in front of our kids and they went wild. Darryl’s brother in law, Johan, is a PH and has a ranch outside of Alldays. We had hunted with him on our family safari in 2012 and had a great trip. I was non-committal at first but over the course of a couple months my sons wore me down and I relented. So I let Darryl know and then Johan and I talked and worked out a package and we were set. As time got closer, I got more excited and the fire was re-kindled.
My oldest son Wesley, now 10, is a seasoned hunter. He shot his first deer at age 8 and has shot 4 others since plus a huge amount of small game. Other than me being in the stand with him, all were totally unassisted and he is flat out deadly with his 260 Remington. Charlie, now 7, is not as big a hunter as his brother but he loves wildlife and being outdoors. He prefers chasing birds and squirrels to big game, so this would be his first hunt for the big stuff.

We borrowed Johan's old .22 and with Wesley 'guiding", Charlie put a hurting on some birds at a waterhole one evening.


Wesley took this nice Duiker with a 100+ yard shot from on top of a Kopjie


Charlie with his 1st big game animal, on old Impala with some nice character to his horn!


Wesley took a nice impala as well!


Wesley with his big prize, a nice old black faced Wildebeest


I got to hunt some too!

Here is the boys and I with my Nyala


Not sure who is uglier, me or the pig!


I took a great Hartmann's Zebra in Namibia in 2010 but my Aunt wanted a zebra rug, so I took this Burchell's zebra for her!


And I took a nice Wildebeest


We had a wonderful trip overall, even though the weather was cold and windy for much of the time and the hunting was tough because of it. Johan was a wonderul host and he and his appie Luan, were great to hunt with! My sons are now bitten with the Africa bug and are already thinking about trophies for the next trip!

Great job, Dad! I'm sure that this will be one of memories that your boys carry for the rest of their lives.

My condolences about the passing of your wife, but you were blessed with two sons and now you have a lifetime to enjoy them beside you. Congrats on your hunt, I wish you many more. Kind regards, David

I also want to pass on my condolences on the loss of your wife. I am sure it can seem daunting to carry on without her. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

However, it is heartwarming to see you with your sons. What a great photo of you and the boys together enjoying your safari in Africa. You are doing a super job of raising them to appreciate the outdoors and hunting tradition.

Fine trophies and lifetime memories. Well done.

I agree with Frank, David and Russell! Best wishes! Congratulations!

Family hunts are awesome. Your boy's old impala is a trophy to remember for the rest of his life!

Well done.

quote:

Originally posted by bwanamrm:
I also want to pass on my condolences on the loss of your wife. I am sure it can seem daunting to carry on without her. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

However, it is heartwarming to see you with your sons. What a great photo of you and the boys together enjoying your safari in Africa. You are doing a super job of raising them to appreciate the outdoors and hunting tradition.

Fine trophies and lifetime memories. Well done.

______________________________________________

+1 for the sentiments above. Thank you for sharing!

JCHB

Well done!!!

I can't even imagine what you've been through, so sorry to hear about your wife. God bless you for loving your sons this way and thanks for the report and pictures.

Good job, I don't think I have the words to express what I felt when I read your story.

Awesome report. I too have two sons, and my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer six years ago. Luckily, she caught it early enough, and after a lumpectomy and radiation treatments, she has been in remission ever since. My boys are about your age (both in their 40's) but I hope to take one of my grandsons to Africa some day.

Well done, life doesn't always seem ,"fair" but it must go on and you sir and moving in a very nice way.
Great report on a father son hunt.

Great hunt! One they will remember the rest of their days I am sure!

Great hunt....
Can't wait to take my little boy and my little girl to Africa
What a great experience

Thanks for posting this Adam. I'm trying to get Andrew interested in going with me, but he is all about football and wrestling now that he is in high school. Awesome hunt report!

Its heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.

You cant deny the smile on there faces, no matter what they will always have that.

You may have just experienced one of your life's greatest times.

I would have given anything to have been able to take my father on a safari, or to have my son interested in one.

Thanks for the pictures and the story. Your family is lucky indeed to have you.

BH63