For those who went alone

[gillettehunter]

I have done both. For me some company is nice, but not required. I foisted myself on @LivingTheDream in Zambia last year. We had booked 1X1 and wound up 2X1. We got to participate in each others kills and had a great time together. If your with a jerk it would be unpleasant...
You alone makes it so you can do as you please and that has some strong benefits too. Either way enjoy your hunt.
Bruce

 

[Hank2211]

@Pheroze, I've done both - with friends and with my son on one occasion. I enjoy hunting with others, but it's been almost impossible to get people to go where I've needed to go to get the animals I've wanted. It's one thing to convince others to hunt South Africa or Namibia, but Ethiopia, Cameroon, Benin, etc. are quite different. So I've learned to go solo, although almost always with a PH I already knew. And while hunting solo is different, it's no less enjoyable (or difficult, as the case may be!).

I wouldn't hesitate to go solo. Another adventure.

 

[sierraone]

I have hunted with my son and alone in Africa, and will return alone in September. This is in no way an issue for me.

P.S. I would have to know you really well to plan a hunt together 8000 miles from home!

 

[JKS]

My first safari (July of 2021) will be alone. I actually prefer traveling alone as I can do whatever I want, whenever I want, however I want

 

[Goose Cracker]

I've gone solo both times I've been to Africa. There were others in camp for part of the time on the first trip, and that was fun - a great group of guys from Fargo, ND. I taught them what a "gar hole" was.

But for my trip in 2019 I was the only person in camp for 12 days and it was awesome. Loved it. But it can be fun to take a morning or afternoon and just ride along with someone else who's hunting. Takes all the pressure off, and hanging back and observing has taught me a lot - about how others interact with the PH, how the PH interacts with them, and how the hunt is different than what I like to do. I'm trying to plan a hunt with a few AHers in 2021 and perhaps 2022.

I've did a Saskatchewan whitetail hunt with my younger son in Nov. I'd hunt with one of my sons on every trip if possible. Love those guys. I've also done four DIY public land WY antelope/mulie hunts with my brother, dad, and best friend. A couple of those were awesome, a couple of the trips not so much. Pretty sure I won't do that again.

As @Red Leg and @Philip Glass have said, when I've hunted with others I'm generally the tour guide and am responsible for most/all of the arrangements. That *can* be fun, but you'd better like those folks a lot and have the right attitude going into the trip.

I also travel for work a lot and the majority of that time I'm traveling alone. I'm pretty comfortable in my own skin.

 

[Cam Moon]

My first trip I ended up going alone, but only because I hadn't found someone to join me. I was going with a friend to Kruger on a Photographic Safari and then leaving to hunt afterwards. I didn't think I'd enjoy it much just by myself, so I reached out to some friends to go but they either didn't have enough interest, enough money, or enough time! It turns out that I had a great time by myself! So much so that I went by myself again 6 months later!
I have a hunting buddy that's wanted to come, but the timing hasn't worked. I ended up getting a group package for this April (planned around his schedule), but now we have had a couple drop out and I'm desperately trying to find people to join up! One thing for sure is that it's much more simple if you only need to plan for yourself!
Whatever way you go, as with everything in life, just make the best of it and I'm sure you'll have a great time!!

 

[K-man]

All but one of my overseas trips have been solo. The one exception was Spain with my wife. It worked out well, but I couldn't focus just on hunting as I was making sure she was doing well and enjoying herself too. Having her along made me "stop and smell the roses" just a bit more too. If and when I take a trip with another hunter just make sure your hunting "styles" mesh well. Nothing worse than someone who can't get out of bed in the mornings or just isn't having a good time or someone who is full of B.S. in camp. It is nice to be solo when another person is in camp, give you time to get to know someone new.

 

[Ryan]

It's just a personal preference thing. Personally from my experience I prefer to hunt alone or with at most one other. I've done two hunts in Namibia with friends along, one in South Africa on my own and another planned on my own. The ones with friends were cool, but looking back I far preferred being on my own. It's simpler planning and I only have to worry about one persons preferences and travel plans, which I've gotten burned on in the past.

 

[putter97127]

I went by myself for my one and only trip to RSA and had a blast. There were supposed to be a group of us going together including my wife. As tends to happen in life, things fell apart and my wife agreed to let me go solo. I had a blast. I would of loved to share the experience with my wife. But I think more people would of taken away from the experience. I usually hunt alone or with 1 other person at home.... More than that and suddenly you are on some one else's schedule

 

[WISafariHunter]

My first Safari was a solo adventure. It was a trying experience at times dealing with details mishaps and the unknowns of a first timer but allowed me to absorb every part of the trip. Going solo I feel like I was able to learn and get closer to the PH and camp staff. Every day is its own adventure; if you are going alone be sure to bring a journal to write down the details so you can share all the small stuff once you are home. A week in Africa felt like it had the memories, and hunting equivalent of 2 weeks stateside.

Next trip is planned with my father which I am equally excited for. Life long memories to share. I don’t think you can go wrong.

 

[Scott CWO]

I enjoy it either way but prefer some company while traveling and in camp. If anyone wants to go to Zambia in 2022, send me a PM. It is also nice to split the charter costs. I would enjoy seeing what animals someone else brings back to camp. I hunt hard but am not competitive.

 

[Vic]

I went on two hunting trips to Namibia and one to South Africa alone. I had a blast on all three trips. I was able to hunt the way I wanted to without compromising. I was also able to take side-trips for sightseeing without having to account for someone else’s hunting.

I’m sure it would be fun going with friends, but I think you would have just as much fun by yourself. Hunting in Africa is the best in the World. You will enjoy it either way.

 

[Tanks]

I have hunted with my daughter in the past but last several trips have been alone. This August I am hunting alone and girlfriend will fly in and join me for 3 days at Victoria Falls after the hunt.

If I were to hunt with someone it would still have to be 1x1 and share time at the camp before and after the hunt.

I want to do a Tanzania hunt next year or in 2022 and would not mind company to share charter costs etc. with though we'd have to do it 1x1 still.

 

[Tra3]

I’ve spent multiple years living and traveling outside of the USA. Most was alone, but since I’ve been married we generally travel together.
I used to hunt alone but have slowly built a hunting party of close friends who like to join in an adventure. Now that my son has started hunting, I really like it when he can be there.
I wouldn’t hesitate to travel and hunt alone, but I now prefer company.
It also provides witness corroboration for the unique moments.
As the leader of hunting party I do most of the planning and coordination. It is a burden that is appreciated by the others.

Taking a novice or less experienced hunter into the field is a true gift. Before planning a hunt it is good to question if you are up for the energy required to provide that gift, or if you are looking for a more solitary adventure.

At this stage I life I like hunting with others.

 

[WAB]

Funny, I’ve spent seasons taking so many friends hunting that I’ve realized I’ve put tremendous pressure on myself to produce for them. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy it. However, as the season winds down I love to spend a few days completely on my own. One year I finished the season in Alaska running down the coast without another human in sight. It was awesome!

 

[CoElkHunter]

Great thread Pheroze! When I hunt elk here in Colorado, we have a group that camp, eat , etc., together. But after we leave camp, I prefer to hunt alone in the same general area. We're still only one half to one mile from each other, but I find the solitude of hunting by myself very peaceful and thought provoking. None of these guys I hunt with have any desire to hunt in Africa, so I guess It'll be a solo, peaceful, thought provoking African hunt when I eventually make it there!

 

[Cam Moon]

@CoElkHunter That's how I like to hunt too! And for the same reasons.

 

[gizmo]

I’ve done both and enjoyed both. I have to admit though that I often find myself in one of those moments where I am overtaken by the moment and wish that my family was with me. For me, more often than not, if I am by myself it was a financial decision. Sometimes though I enjoy being by myself somewhere as it gives me an opportunity to get my sh$t together without distraction.

 

[Timbo]

If you went alone to hunt, did that add or subtract from your safari? My vision of another hunt was with my boys. Now I am looking at going alone, and the thought of not sharing the experience is a little disappointing. But, I am wondering if the solo trip turned out to be a blessing.

I've been fortunate enough to have experienced different types of safaris, where I've been accompanied by other hunters, with my family and some others where I was on my own. Here's some diverse experiences to give breadth to my response.

Going with other like-minded hunters is great, but I'd only go with those I know well. My opinion here has been formed from some God awful experiences!! On one hunt the atmosphere could have been cut with a knife - because "Hunter X" shot a monster kudu in an area where "Hunter Y" was intending to go. On another occasion, three clients kept their own company, and stayed apart from their PHs - going even so far as to hide their whiskey!! (Btw, it was crap whiskey too!!) Personally, I don't care with that atypical sort of behaviour - especially when your PH is working hard to get you close-in to your DG!! But, on that hunt my PH and I stayed well out of camp for as long as possible, just to avoid showing any "favouritism" to either faction.

Then, I've also packed up the wife and kids and have taken them with me for a DG/PG hunt. Hunting aside, this was a great trip: fishing, hunting and sightseeing all rolled into a long safari! I found it a very satisfying experience because it was 'shared' between us - and years later we can recollect particular moments, and enrich it from each of us adding their slightly differing perspective of it. Thus, this makes that trip a very enjoyable one (and a similar experience can be achieved from hunters who know each other well before the hunt begins). However, I will say from my perspective, keeping a bunch of kids together in some sort of order (and not doing a "kerplunk" into the nearest river!) was a nightmare! But as I say - it was a really great trip.

I've also done hunts on my own, and though these, too, are awesome experiences, as only having myself to worry about - thus allowing the hunter in me full reign - they are nevertheless tempered by the fact that there was no-one else with me from home, to share it with and later reminisce. So even though I can "tell" people about my experiences, I cannot "share" them, as those people were not there with me at the time. So even after you've returned from your solo hunt, your memories, too, will remain isolated.

Just my $0.02!!

 

[rnovi]

I've been to Africa three times with the same Outfitter/PH each time (Leopard's Valley Dave Davenport w/ PH Craig Done). Each of the trips was different:

1. Went with my wife and a very good hunting friend (now passed away)
2. Went with my wife
3. Went alone, but had another first-time Africa hunting couple in camp.

I've also been to Alaska three times.

1. Sitka Blacktail on Kodiak Island - myself and the PH Jake Jefferson
2. Mountain Goat in Prince William Sound - one other hunter and two PH's.
3. Black Bear/Grizzly Hunt - myself and PH Jake Jefferson

In general, I prefer hunting with others around. The conversations between hunts are more varied and I do love a female huntress in camp (my wife or otherwise). The comparison of viewpoints on the hunts are great and add a bunch of spice. "Oooooh, that one's pretty!" Or "No, my husband is terrible at gutting so I do it myself" - I was pretty much in stitches the entire time.

Having said that, the stalks are all basically done solo with the PH and Tracker. We'd see an animal to stalk, park the bakkie somewhere out of range and whichever hunting team was up scampered off, leaving the others behind. Or, in the case of Africa #3, we had two PH's and the game was we'd have breakfast together in the morning and then split out hunting all day, returning to camp for dinner and sundowners at night.

Alaska, well, I really enjoyed my quiet time in the field. Jake and I have hunted enough together that we don't need to rely on conversation. Just hanging out, glassing a mountainside was a joy. Taking a nap in the sun was great. Those hunts happened at a time in my life when I really needed the peace and tranquility.

So I guess it all depends on the type of and the need.

I have three more big hunts I'd like to do in my life - preferably in the next 10 years.

1. Sheep. Sooner than later really - I'd like to do it before my knees completely fail out on me. That would definitely be a solo hunt with PH.
2. Ibex in one of the 'Stans. I'm pretty sure that will be some kind of group hunt, certainly with the local people supporting it odds are I won't understand a single word being said.
3. Cape Buff. I'd love to do that with some other hunters...the stories should be spectacular.

Sorry, long answer...I think my preference is to hunt with others. Shared life experiences really mean something for me.