Balanced Approach - Africa Potential Regrets

[Rare Breed]

After reading so many of our members posts along with experiencing some dear friends passing I felt compelled just to share my experience for consideration especially to those who dream of going to Africa but see it happening in the distant future.
“time is something we budget without knowing how much there is”
I have some friends who always wanted to go to Africa but said family and the rest of life had to putting it off…tragically they passed before their dream could be realized. I do not consider myself to be wealthy but I have done okay after spending a life as a business executive. Here is what I have always done when the Africa bug but me many years ago:
1. I built into my family budget trips to Africa along with kids college down to household monthly expenses.
2. This gave me a low monthly contribution to my Africa fund.
3. Before I did this I made sure the lovely Mrs. Rarebreed was on board with everything.
The above three steps enabled me to balance my family requirements without giving up my dream. While I know this sounds very simple I was amazed how many friends did not take an approach like this so never were able to achieve their dream. For the last four years it enabled me to go Africa every year. Now being semi retired given I now do contracted client work it enables every other year.
Don’t be either of the following:
1. Never budgets family and spends all money on yourself.
2. Always just budgets family and never yourself
Both the above are wrong to just me. BALANCE is what life is all about!!!!!

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

Couldnt agree more

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Excellent advice. Excellent. My late wife was not a hunter but she loved seeing the one she loved enjoy himself. She was painfully unselfish so I took pains to not take advantage. I didn't smoke (the ultimate selfish bad habit) and maybe only drank a beer or two at Christmas. No gambling or carousing with the guys. When I spent money on hunting or fishing, it was sparingly. No fancy fishing gear, guns, or ammo. Just what I needed. The only luxury in all our years of marriage was the day I showed up with a new $3K Kevlar canoe on top of the Jimmy. She had a fit. Take it back. We can't afford that! I told her we had just lost our boy. We needed to spend some time together. We can't afford to take it back. Sadly, we only made one trip with it before she was gone too.

Now I have lots of money and an empty nest. But my situation still requires balancing. Our daughter inherited the same genetic disorder that claimed her brother, her grandmother, and one of her grandmother's brothers. It would eventually have taken my wife but a car accident got her first. Life expentency after onset of symptoms averages 17 years (my son made it a month). My daughter has had symptoms for twelve years and recently had her first seizure. She also has two kids, both of whom have the disorder. So for me the balancing act continues into the bucket list years. I budget myself to spending only my pension and interest on investments. @Papa Moose thinks I'm "cheap". Or maybe I'm just a good family man?

 

[Altitude sickness]

I’m sorry to hear of losing a child and your wife.

 

[Ridge Runner]

After reading so many of our members posts along with experiencing some dear friends passing I felt compelled just to share my experience for consideration especially to those who dream of going to Africa but see it happening in the distant future.
“time is something we budget without knowing how much there is”
I have some friends who always wanted to go to Africa but said family and the rest of life had to putting it off…tragically they passed before their dream could be realized. I do not consider myself to be wealthy but I have done okay after spending a life as a business executive. Here is what I have always done when the Africa bug but me many years ago:
1. I built into my family budget trips to Africa along with kids college down to household monthly expenses.
2. This gave me a low monthly contribution to my Africa fund.
3. Before I did this I made sure the lovely Mrs. Rarebreed was on board with everything.
The above three steps enabled me to balance my family requirements without giving up my dream. While I know this sounds very simple I was amazed how many friends did not take an approach like this so never were able to achieve their dream. For the last four years it enabled me to go Africa every year. Now being semi retired given I now do contracted client work it enables every other year.
Don’t be either of the following:
1. Never budgets family and spends all money on yourself.
2. Always just budgets family and never yourself
Both the above are wrong to just me. BALANCE is what life is all about!!!!!

@Rare Breed,

Your thread, although worded for how to budget for an African Safari, should also be a lesson on how to budget for what one wants, not necessarily needs, in life. And not just for the middle age group. But more importantly for the up and coming youths of all ages, and also for those hitting their retirement years.

Every individual/single/divorced/widow(er)/college/ tech school/ working high schooler/working and retired person should have 3 bank accounts:

Checking: where the bulk of the paycheck goes for bills/expenses, plus a little extra for unforeseen monthly cost increases.

Savings Account: aka "rainy day" money account for the future, ie work layoff/downsizing, unexpected illness or injury, etc.

[Name It] account: This account receives a small percentage of one's paycheck each pay period for the sole purpose of being able to realize one's dream, albeit: to obtain a form of higher education/degree, a new car, new boat, new house/real estate, marriage, African Safaris, etc. etc.

Every
Family/ couple should have at least four separate banking accounts:

A seperate His/Her's [Name It] account. Each account receives the same deposit either per pay period or by alternating pay periods. After all spouses don't always want to do what the other spouse wants.

These [Name It] accounts are last resource accounts. The very last to be used extreme emergency fund(s).

1. Because the account(s) will have the fewest amount of money compared to the checking and savings accounts.

2. The account(s) are for realizing one's dream(s)/goal(s) in life. Using the money, although rightfully and necessarily needed, is or can be a motivational crushing of one's dreams.

Just my 2 cent motivational speech on the necessity for budgeting and living within one's economic means.

EDIT: Correct that was 2 cents 12 years ago. It's a dime now. It's called inflationary rate.

 

[mark-hunter]

After reading so many of our members posts along with experiencing some dear friends passing I felt compelled just to share my experience for consideration especially to those who dream of going to Africa but see it happening in the distant future.
“time is something we budget without knowing how much there is”
I have some friends who always wanted to go to Africa but said family and the rest of life had to putting it off…tragically they passed before their dream could be realized. I do not consider myself to be wealthy but I have done okay after spending a life as a business executive. Here is what I have always done when the Africa bug but me many years ago:
1. I built into my family budget trips to Africa along with kids college down to household monthly expenses.
2. This gave me a low monthly contribution to my Africa fund.
3. Before I did this I made sure the lovely Mrs. Rarebreed was on board with everything.
The above three steps enabled me to balance my family requirements without giving up my dream. While I know this sounds very simple I was amazed how many friends did not take an approach like this so never were able to achieve their dream. For the last four years it enabled me to go Africa every year. Now being semi retired given I now do contracted client work it enables every other year.
Don’t be either of the following:
1. Never budgets family and spends all money on yourself.
2. Always just budgets family and never yourself
Both the above are wrong to just me. BALANCE is what life is all about!!!!!

Generally you are right in all points.

I would only use word "prioritizing" as a key word.

I see many hunters driving high dollar cars, but not having funds to go to Africa according to what they say.
Thats fine, but 50K car, against 8K plains game safari says all about priorities in life.

Personally I see myself as privileged and much richer with 4 safaris done under my belt ( 3xPG, and 1xDG) then those driving a higher class car for this money value difference.
But again, all these are personal choices and life priorities. To each his own. Somebody is better safari hunter, somebody is better car owner.

For the passionate safari hunter, safari is important part of private life, with family involved as you say
But in reality we are minority in our societies, and minority in our hunting community. I think that less then 1% of hunting community hunts in Africa..

 

[Puddle]

I drive a paid-for vehicle and live in a paid-for shack. My son decided he wanted to be an electrician instead of planting his butt in a college seat for the next 4 - 5 years.

Guess what the college fund is being used on?

 

[Ridge Runner]

Generally you are right in all points.

I would only use word "prioritizing" as a key word.

I see many hunters driving high dollar cars, but not having funds to go to Africa according to what they say.
Thats fine, but 50K car, against 8K plains game safari says all about priorities in life.

Personally I see myself as privileged and much richer with 4 safaris done under my belt ( 3xPG, and 1xDG) then those driving a higher class car for this money value difference.
But again, all these are personal choices and life priorities. To each his own. Somebody is better safari hunter, somebody is better car owner.

For the passionate safari hunter, safari is important part of private life, with family involved as you say
But in reality we are minority in our societies, and minority in our hunting community. I think that less then 1% of hunting community hunts in Africa..

And sadly, most wish/bucket list African Safari hunters: young, middle age, and retirees, still believe hunting Africa is a "rich man's" sport; that it cost 10's and/or 100's of thousands of dollars to hunt Africa. And 1 or 2 $10,000.00+ out of the box or semi custom rifle(s), each shooting $8.00 to $15.00/cartridge ammo.

We as hunters who travel to Africa to hunt must responsibly educate: financially, how easy or cost comparatively hunting Africa is less costly than a week at the beach or going on an elk hunt 10+ years of failed draws later.

Those extra quota hunt points purchased, the quota hunt non refundable, or partially refundable fees spent for one animal. Cost more than a 7-10 day, 3-10 species hunt in South Africa. Or a 7 day, 3 animal species hunt in other lower Africa countries, ie. Zim, Zam, Nami, Bos, or Tans.

But this isn't just about hunting Africa. It is an a cross the board hunting, shooting sports, archery, fishing sports problem. Fact is that fewer and fewer of the younger generations are becoming less interested in actually being outdoors and learning about being outdoors. Their interest are more about being attached to their gamers and playing "G.I. Joe, wannabe a sniper" or some sort of fictional AI or cartoon character gamer hero badass.

Regarding hunter retention. (Rhetorical Question, and on face value rude, crude, and socially unacceptable, but please hear me out).

Maybe some member(s) have kept score for one reason or other and can share how many middle age/young 30+ to 50+ year olds; youngsters according to those of us now in our 50+, 60+,70+ age groups. Have regardless of cause, passed away this year, last year, the year before last and how many of the younger generations, the late teen to late 20 year olds, have stepped up to continue the centuries old traditions of what hunting and being in the outdoors is all about?.

IMO, this lack of interest is unacceptable and to not put forth an honest individual effort to educate the up and coming. We, the elders and peers of these next generations are to blame. Because we failed and faultered in our responsibilities to pass down our heritage.

All I'm saying, and proverbially preaching to the choir, we are not so slowly loosing our hunting heritage. We are loosing the heritage to rightfully hunt and expand in leaps and bonds our heritage to hunting and the shooting sports by not encouraging America's youth to participate and learn why and what true hunting is all about.

 

[mark-hunter]

Maybe some member(s) have kept score for one reason or other and can share how many middle age/young 30+ to 50+ year olds; youngsters according to those of us now in our 50+, 60+,70+ age groups. Have regardless of cause, passed away this year, last year, the year before last and how many of the younger generations, the late teen to late 20 year olds, have stepped up to continue the centuries old traditions of what hunting and being in the outdoors is all about?.

There is European and American perspective.
In Europe, most hunters will start not earlier then 35, often in their forties.
Because, to start hunting you need course and certification for a hunter and then you need funds to buy equipment, and then to actually start hunting. (Average age in my hunting club is 57.4)

In America, every rural household has a rifle. When the rifle is in the house, a young man can start earlier. Many forum members killed their first deer, in early teens. This is not typical for a European.

But financing of hunt, in North America, or Europe, is something that really comes at later age, when the family situation stabilizes.

And then, of coure, there is Z generation, and Tik Tok generation, not interested in great outdoors activities.

I have brought into hunting community, maybe ten of my friends. With my pure influence on them. One of them went on safari with me. But even with that, they were financially stable to enter this activity, only in their age of early forties.

Recently, in my country national hunting federation started a new program.
They introduced online hunting examination for cheap money. (cca 80 USD).
With this, they planned to increase number of hunters, and lower average age in hunting community. Bring the young hunters in.

On paper, the project is successful. Increase of hunters numbers in 2 years is about 10% and continues to increase in numbers.
However, the real effect is yet to be seen.
Hunting certificate gives fairly easy way (shall issue) to legally buy a firearm (of any type) and many pursue this way in order to get a firearm (which is more difficult to get through sport or selfedefence licensing process),
So, it does not mean they will be actual practical hunters. This is yet to be seen.

Another thing is, new generation often has no idea how to use the gun. The quality of education is decreased to absurd

At the start, pricing is definitely prohibitive for a young man.
At my place, average starting salary is cca 1200 EUR. Monthly appartment rent starts at 400 EUR.
For young man to start, and get basic equipment, as per my calculation it takes at least 5000 EUR, and this is only for low budget equipment.
(rifle, scope, shotgun, night vision scope for boar hunting, binocular, shoes, boots, clothes, minor equipment)

So, if starting a family impossible to start hunting at early age.

 

[Ridge Runner]

There is European and American perspective.
In Europe, most hunters will start not earlier then 35, often in their forties.
Because, to start hunting you need course and certification for a hunter and then you need funds to buy equipment, and then to actually start hunting. (Average age in my hunting club is 57.4)

In America, every rural household has a rifle. When the rifle is in the house, a young man can start earlier. Many forum members killed their first deer, in early teens. This is not typical for a European.

But financing of hunt, in North America, or Europe, is something that really comes at later age, when the family situation stabilizes.

And then, of coure, there is Z generation, and Tik Tok generation, not interested in great outdoors activities.

I have brought into hunting community, maybe ten of my friends. With my pure influence on them. One of them went on safari with me. But even with that, they were financially stable to enter this activity, only in their age of early forties.

Recently, in my country national hunting federation started a new program.
They introduced online hunting examination for cheap money. (cca 80 USD).
With this, they planned to increase number of hunters, and lower average age in hunting community. Bring the young hunters in.

On paper, the project is successful. Increase of hunters numbers in 2 years is about 10% and continues to increase in numbers.
However, the real effect is yet to be seen.
Hunting certificate gives fairly easy way (shall issue) to legally buy a firearm (of any type) and many pursue this way in order to get a firearm (which is more difficult to get through sport or selfedefence licensing process),
So, it does not mean they will be actual practical hunters. This is yet to be seen.

Another thing is, new generation often has no idea how to use the gun. The quality of education is decreased to absurd

At the start, pricing is definitely prohibitive for a young man.
At my place, average starting salary is cca 1200 EUR. Monthly appartment rent starts at 400 EUR.
For young man to start, and get basic equipment, as per my calculation it takes at least 5000 EUR, and this is only for low budget equipment.
(rifle, scope, shotgun, night vision scope for boar hunting, binocular, shoes, boots, clothes, minor equipment)

So, if starting a family impossible to start hunting at early age.

And this is even more frustrating. Sadly because your mentoring group is in their later 50, 60, possibly early 70 years of age, then trying to mentor the next generations which are most likely already in their post mid 40 years of age.

The only envy I have with Europeans, you don't have these dreaded AR platforms to contend with. For the most part European firearms are still respectable traditional wood and steel proper designed hunting firearms.

Where here in the US, with some very few exceptions; If it's not "pot metal and poly, with "hi cap" mags", high speed, flat shooting, good out to 1000+ yards, the firearm in an antique and of little interest, but to the "dinosaur"/geriatric generation.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

There’s a reason why we’re such good friends. You really know how to strike a good balance in life, Rare Breed.

I am very much the same as you. I have never deprived myself from my passion for hunting & Africa. But have never compromised with my children either (as you already know, I was/am a single father).

 

[mark-hunter]

The only envy I have with Europeans, you don't have these dreaded AR platforms to contend with. For the most part European firearms are still respectable traditional wood and steel proper designed hunting firearms.

Dear Hunter Habib, I am afraid, you are slightly leaning to be wrong.
In many countries in EU ar15 and ar10 are legal.

In Croatia, till year 2018 semiautomatic rifles that "resemble" automatic rifles were banned.
By that time, we could legally own rifles such as SKS, Dragunov, or any other type of semi auto, but not ar15, ar10 or ak47 in semi auto configurations.

The law changed in 2018, and this clause was removed.
Now we can own any type of semi auto rifle in any caliber.
The only legal limitation related to hunting is the magazine to be limited to 2 rounds (plus 1 in chamber). Sport rifles are limited to 10 round mag capacity.

As a result many people buy ar10 and ar15 type of rifles. They can be registred for sport or for hunting.

National sport shooting organization followed the suit, and adapted semi auto rifle competition rules to allow new rifles to be used for competitions. PCC rifles (pistol caliber carbines in 9x19) are very popular in dynamic sport shooting as well (IPSC, IDPA)

I must say, I have never seen ar10 or ar15 in a hunt. But it is only a matter of time before I do.
I have seen some hunters use SKS, and m76, as they have been legal since earlier times.

(M76: Yugo DMR sniper rifle, similar to Dragunov, but on AK47 system chambered in 8x57: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zastava_M76 ).

I am sure some newly certified hunters will use those new platforms for hunt with increasing frequency.

I have an AR15, 223 rem, registered for sport.

However, European tradition and code of ethics, are not overwhelming in accepting this type of rifles,, but they are slowly getting their way to hunting with new generation.

 

[Wade J VanGinkel]

About 20 years ago a friend passed without doing any of the things he always planned to do. I made the decision at that moment that I will not be laying on my death bed saying I wish I had... if I can I will that's my motto now.
I don't make a lot of money. I've worked in a grocery store almost my entire life. I use 3 bank accounts as mentioned. 2 separate banks.
I live in a room the size of some people's cars. Lol
I don't have a car payment and some even laugh at what I drive. I don't care. I tell people I refuse to go to work to pay for what I drive to work.
My kids are grown but I try to include them or my now 3 grandsons on random trips when possible.
I started with DIY hunts in different states then a few paid trips to Texas for aoudad and such.
Now at 56 I've hunted or fished in a dozen states and several countries. Next up is Greenland muskox in February then South Africa in 2026 again.
It cracks me up when co workers tell me that it must be nice to travel like I do. They just don't have the money. Then jump in their 60k car to head home. Most are paying 1k per month with insurance just to drive around.
My priorities are just different

 

[CBH Australia]

Excellent advice. Excellent. My late wife was not a hunter but she loved seeing the one she loved enjoy himself. She was painfully unselfish so I took pains to not take advantage. I didn't smoke (the ultimate selfish bad habit) and maybe only drank a beer or two at Christmas. No gambling or carousing with the guys. When I spent money on hunting or fishing, it was sparingly. No fancy fishing gear, guns, or ammo. Just what I needed.

So for me the balancing act continues into the bucket list years. I budget myself to spending only my pension and interest on investments. @Papa Moose thinks I'm "cheap". Or maybe I'm just a good family man?

No not “cheap”

You know the value of money and life. You have lived within your means to provide for family first and if you make a ripe old age with good health you might be able to enjoy what you do have.

We all have a limit on earning capacity using what brains we were gifted or the skills we have or the choices or sacrifices made to do the best we can with what we know. In hindsight we might have missed opportunities to learn more or find an opportunity for financial gain but we choose to take the safe bet and work within our comfort zone or capability.

Being cheap (aka tight) is just knowing we are comfortable in our lane knowing our limits for risk and financial security with the occasional indulgence if you wish.

 

[ActionBob]

Excellent post!

I started 529 funds for my kids and explained to them that I expected them to have a part time job through college. Small contributions to a 529 really add up over time. One did not work during school but he really focused on school taking extra classes and had significant personal savings built up before attending school. And he owned a house at 19... long story but he got a deal during the Obama first time home buyer program in 2009... not to mention he got a hell of a deal buying in 2009 right in the midst of the financial meltdown.

I think the point about personal vehicles is very relevant. Contribute to your investments, take reasonable risk but don't be foolish.

Control the personal vehicle expenses, kids college, bad habits.... And nearly any American can afford to hunt Africa.

If your kids are living away from home during school, consider buying a house. Have them rent out the extra space. Then sell it hopefully for a profit. Or continue to rent it out although that may be riskier without a vested interest living there. Speaking of which, make a deal with your kid to share some profits on that house so they learn responsibility and business. Make it cost them if damages occur... My middle son lived in his house during college for 1/3rd of the utility bills. April and October in Minnesota that was $15 out of pocket. He also netted a pretty good profit when he sold it. His renters paid the mortgage. Insurance, taxes and most of the electric bill. But that kid is so tight he squeaks when he walks He even rented out the garage and parked his car on the street.

That kid actually worked at McDonald's duringhigh school and prior to college. I didn't have to co-sign for anything on the house he bought. Which qualified him for all the first time home buyer incentives at the time. And he had a credit score of 725 at 19. He needed a construction loan to do repairs and the bank said they needed me to co-sign that.... but it would have knocked out that first time home buyer provision so I deposited a sum of money in a savings account at that bank and signed that over as collateral without signing anything on the house... It worked i just had to suffer a lower interest rate for 3 months. But that was the only financial help he got on the house.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Dear Hunter Habib, I am afraid, you are slightly leaning to be wrong.
In many countries in EU ar15 and ar10 are legal.

In Croatia, till year 2018 semiautomatic rifles that "resemble" automatic rifles were banned.
By that time, we could legally own rifles such as SKS, Dragunov, or any other type of semi auto, but not ar15, ar10 or ak47 in semi auto configurations.

The law changed in 2018, and this clause was removed.
Now we can own any type of semi auto rifle in any caliber.
The only legal limitation related to hunting is the magazine to be limited to 2 rounds (plus 1 in chamber). Sport rifles are limited to 10 round mag capacity.

As a result many people buy ar10 and ar15 type of rifles. They can be registred for sport or for hunting.

National sport shooting organization followed the suit, and adapted semi auto rifle competition rules to allow new rifles to be used for competitions. PCC rifles (pistol caliber carbines in 9x19) are very popular in dynamic sport shooting as well (IPSC, IDPA)

I must say, I have never seen ar10 or ar15 in a hunt. But it is only a matter of time before I do.
I have seen some hunters use SKS, and m76, as they have been legal since earlier times.

(M76: Yugo DMR sniper rifle, similar to Dragunov, but on AK47 system chambered in 8x57: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zastava_M76 ).

I am sure some newly certified hunters will use those new platforms for hunt with increasing frequency.

I have an AR15, 223 rem, registered for sport.

However, European tradition and code of ethics, are not overwhelming in accepting this type of rifles,, but they are slowly getting their way to hunting with new generation.

Mark, you got the wrong guy. I didn't make that statement. Ridge Runner did.

 

[Hunt anything]

Great thread!
For my family we have struck to us a great balance. The kids went to the schools they wanted that we paid for. Both are now self sufficient, we still get to take short vacations if desired and a big vacation every 2-3 years.

As for my safaris, I was lucky when I took my wife to Africa in 2018, she fell in love with it and has no problem helping me plan the trips. I did sacrifice my membership in a waterfowl hunting club and put that towards the African trips. This did hurt as waterfowling is my first and greatest hunting passion. I have also given up most of my domestic hunting except deer and dove hunting around the house except a trip every year to catch up with 3 other guys that I have hunted with for over 30 years.

This is our balance and has worked pretty well on my wife’s retirement and my farmers salary. We have no mortgage or car payments and very little credit card debt.
I did start putting away money for my first safari when I was 21 and finally made it when I was 50.

 

[mark-hunter]

Mark, you got the wrong guy. I didn't make that statement. Ridge Runner did.

Correct, my mistake!

 

[PARA45]

Solid advice @Rare Breed! I've always been a planner, and when I discovered that I could hunt Africa for what an Elk hunt out West cost, I decided to do it. I opened a savings account called "Africa Safari" and anything extra, OT, etc, went into this account. After 2 1/2 years of savings, I had enough for a PG safari, and for my wife and I to go for 14 days. This was in 2012, and nothing went into a credit card. Fast forward to 2022, and I had been saving for a second safari. Unfortunately, my wife couldn't go due to her getting a new job and not having enough leave to go. I was gone for 22 days and hunted two different locations in SA. Used the extra money from her air fare, and observer fees to hunt some additional animals. Guess what, I'm heading back next year. My wife is coming with me this time, and after the hunt, we are planning on spending some time playing tourist in Cape Town and pamper my wife for being such a wonderful supporter of my passion.