Not considering Africa anymore

[bakerb]

It’s always possible. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. You talk about shots. . . I haven’t taken any special shots. That’s dependent on where you go. I don’t think anything is required for South Africa. I didn’t take shots for Botswana, and actually discontinued the recommended malarial prophylaxis as I had a skin reaction on day 2.

You don’t HAVE to do taxidermy. Euro mounts are very cool, and the way I’ve been going for a few years now.

The other thing is that a lot of the costs can be spread out. I’ve booked at least 2 African trips 2 years out. Deposit paid, then payments made before hand. Then flights were before the hunt. Shipping and taxidermy of trophies comes well after the hunt. So the hunt may cost $10,000 total, but you can spread that cost out over a period of time.

If you want to hunt more at home there’s always a way. Public land deer, turkey, coyotes, etc.

 

[thi9elsp]

Share as much or as little that’s your choice and I respect that. Also understand that we as a community are never trying to force hunting Africa down someone’s throat. Rather our enthusiasm bubbles over into encouragement.

I agree that the non-hunt costs can add up quickly. The day rates and trophies are just one portion. When one adds airfare, traveling with firearms, hotels before/after, dip/pack, shipping, taxidermy a reasonable plainsgame hunt can become out of reach.

Please stay active with us, keep the dream alive and who knows what the future may hold.

 

[One Day...]

First African Safari $3,000

As previously mentioned, Considering Africa, Plains Games (PG) hunts in South Africa or Namibia can be quite "reasonable". THERE IS NO WAY you need to spend $15k on your first safari. Here are a few tips...

1) Flights. get a Delta American Express card. Pay everything with it, pay it off every month, it will cost you nothing. Within a year (or maybe 2) you will likely have enough points to fly for free. Flying Atlanta / Johannesburg roundtrip will take typically 180,000 points, plus whatever connecting flight you may need to/from Atlanta.
Total cost $0

2) Hunt. If all you are looking for is the experience, which IS the best part, and good framed pictures replace trophies on your wall, it is possible to book a 5 days hunt for "cull" animals (generally females, whose population needs to be kept in check too, but also deformed animals, wounded animals, etc.) for less than $3,000.

Here are real 2025 numbers:

5 x daily fee $350 = $1,750​

Impala $80​

Black Wildebeest $200​

Blue Wildebeest $200​

Red Hartebeest $200​

Springbuck $80​

Blesbuck $80​

------------------------------​

Sub total $2,600​

Tip 10% of hunt cost $260​

Total $2,900​

3) Equipment. Whatever you use to hunt deer in New England is perfectly fine for PG.
Cost $0

3) Grand total ~$3,000

DO NOT think that a cull hunt means a cheap hunt. You will be hosted in the same facilities, enjoy the same amenities, hunt with the same PHs, and enjoy the same experience. It is just that instead of looking for the best animals, you will be looking for the worst, that need to be taken out of the gene pool. Think of it the way many European hunters do: selective hunting, or one could say: reverse trophy hunting. Believe me, it can be fascinating too, and you would be amazed how many of us multi-timers with a good head of about everything on the wall do it.

By the way, this is how I did my first safari, when we still had 5 kids in college simultaneously, and every dollar was accounted for and it worked

It even led to the choice of my screen name: "One Day..." I will go to Africa.

If you want details, please PM me I will be happy to help.

 

[Sarg]

What happened was he a Robot ?

You guys were very supportive, well done !

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

What happened was he a Robot ?

Not a robot, requested just now to have his member's account deleted.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Consider bird hunting. No need to worry about taxidermy, lots more shooting, no vaccinations, long layovers in airports, messing around with customs, etc. And I think you would find shooting at moving targets MUCH more rewarding. And then there's the dog(s). Get a Lab. They come trained right out of the chute ... and there simply is no other chick magnet that can compare. Hunting with a dog beats anything else. I have hunted big game for sixty years and have a house full of antlers and horns, including plains game and dangerous game, but my most sacred memories are bird hunting with my dogs. Hands down. Watch them get birdy, then a cackling rooster suddenly jumps up glowing like a Tokyo billboard in the afternoon sun. And the best part is it's relatively cheap. A Lab pup with good parents can still be had for a grand or even a lot less if you do some shopping. A dog will last ten years or more in the field and add so much to your life when not hunting. You can pick up a serviceable shotgun very cheap (contrary to myth, an expensive over and under is not necessary for bird hunting). Ammo won't break the bank either. I stay in Montana bird hunting at least six weeks every fall. Formerly I stayed in a motel but now keep a small camper there. Motels can still be had for $65 a night, believe it or not. License for nonres is still around $135 I think (I get a special package deal as former resident). I'm sure you could hunt for a week for $1K. Tons of public land and if you avoid the first week or two of the season, very little competition. Anyway, if you're looking for a way to get your feet wet hunting, bird hunting is the way to go. Such a great way that you may never look back at big game.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Chick magnet!

 

[3chunter]

I might be in This guys shoes when I get my final shipping bill this week…..

Sike. But seriously shipping dip and pack back is getting ridiculously expensive and you still have to get them mounted yet.

Wish my dreams were less expensive but it is what it is. Never thought I would have hunted Africa but here it is I have been twice.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Thank you for your reply. The 10 in my case after my calculations, depending on what the bag would be comes out to more like 15 K and all the preparation work, which if you put a dollar amount on it and last time from work or what you would charge at your profession, it comes out to quite a lot more so yes 10 K on the surface but there’s only other extras getting the shots at the doctor the Taxidermy on the US side and whether or not you have enough wall space which I would never buy a whole new house just to put Taxidermy in so you see how those numbers are geometrically increasing. I left sailing to start hunting. My love. Life has taken a hit because of that , one thing you can say about sailing that you can’t say about Hunting, there were always babes on a sailboat. It’s hard to find one who is OK with Hunting. Like Clint Eastwood‘s character said in Dirty Harry “A man’s got to know his limitations”.

There are many women who are supportive of hunting (especially if you introduce them to your hobby by employing the correct approach).
I was born to one.
I had a chance to be in a relationship with one (part of me sometimes still subconsciously regrets not pursuing that but we’ve always fortunately stayed very good friends to this date since the last 53 years)

And most importantly, I raised one.

Besides, if you don’t want to hunt because it prevents you from “Getting Babes”… then hunting was never really a passion for you to begin with. Gold diggers are attracted to sail boats. Supportive women (who actually give a damn about your happiness) will not even bat an eyelid at the fact that you hunt (they may even accompany you now & then). It’s a no brainer which one is better for you in the long run. I’d much rather be a bachelor who hunts, than give up hunting to “Get Babes”.

The “Babes” who are drawn to your sail boat will also be the ones to financially sink you faster than any amount of hunting ever can. Believe me, I’d know. I was married to one. The only good thing she ever did for me, was give me my children.

 

[dchum]

That guy sounded like an idiot

Strange - the shots costing to much? lol what

 

[SoVa]

This has to be the weirdest thread I’ve seen here.

 

[WAB]

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This has to be the weirdest thread I’ve seen here.

I agree. Folks were genuinely trying to help and then he has his account deleted? Extremely odd.

 

[Mort Hill]

Not sure a safari was ever the intent with this guy. You either got it, it meaning you caught the hunting disease and it has you buy the short hairs, or you don’t. To quote give up hunting is not really an option. Having to quit hunting because of circumstances, health or other is fine. I just don’t understand losing the feeling. I don’t think it ever just up and leaves, but may go dormant or hibernate for a bit, always to wake up some day!

 

[Dinsdale]

I dont think idiot is the right term.

But there are absolutely people who seem to impose a roadblock on themselves every step of the way in life.

I’m just an average guy in the trades, I used to do very affordable float plane fly out trips up into Quebec and was always looking for a few guys on job sites who’d want to go.

I’m talking all in for 8 day less then 750 bucks; cabin,boat,food,license,flight. I’d even drive and never ask for gas money as I was going anyway.

I cant tell you how many guys dropped out with just weeks or even the night before because they didnt have the money.

What a bunch of sad sacks. Every excuse in the books.

Its why I do every trip solo; and have zero interest in even a local day fishing with anyone.

That guy sounded like an idiot

Strange - the shots costing to much? lol what

 

[trperk1]

This does show what a great group of guys we are. Look at all the great advice!

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I ran the numbers its outside of my budget. I’ll keep reading the posts here I like reading. I like learning. Good luck to all that are going I’m jealous.

I don't know how old you are, but things can change over time. Circumstances and available funds can change over time. We had been told that my wife would not be able to get pregnant and I made my first safari at 28. I loved Africa, and planned to go back. Then, as you might have guessed, we had a baby. I was happy about it, but having a child to raise and employment situations, etc. made another trip impossible. In short, life got in the way. 39 years went by but I retired and life stabilized and I did get to go back. Never give up your dreams!

 

[deewayne2003]

I agree. Folks were genuinely trying to help and then he has his account deleted? Extremely odd.

This will sound cynical, but here me out....

What we just observed was the destructive narcissists exit strategy; the perpetual victim comes out in the comments.

"I’ve been waffling quitting hunting completely lately because I don’t find the value in it anymore or any thrill." ..... Then why did you post this thread on a form for those who still do love to hunt?

"To add to that budgetary constraint I’m now facing not receiving my Social Security benefit or sharing a 30% share with Elon Musk so I’m not too happy right now worrying about my enjoyable hobbies. I’m more worried about survival." = Poor me, I have no hobbies survival is my only concern.

" which if you put a dollar amount on it and last time from work or what you would charge at your profession, it comes out to quite a lot more so yes 10 K" = My opportunity cost is so high I can't fathom it

"US side and whether or not you have enough wall space which I would never buy a whole new house just to put Taxidermy"...... But I thought you were not concerned about trophies, but the cost of importing them and where you will put them is a concern?

" My love. Life has taken a hit because of that , one thing you can say about sailing that you can’t say about Hunting, there were always babes on a sailboat."...... Ok, I've seen more money wasted on boats than any other luxury and the fact that he's blaming a lack of boating for a lack of love life is very telling. If you need a boat to get a woman then yeah you would probably be a nightmare to share a camp with.

Every member of this forum who replied to this individual offered not only sound advice but encouragement to NOT GIVE UP and kudos to every one of you for doing so; although this man was inconsolable.... Because he was looking for you to affirm his decision to give up.

 

[RR 314]

I agree. Folks were genuinely trying to help and then he has his account deleted? Extremely odd.

I just skimmed it, but puzzled about Elon Musk taking 100%, or 30% if he feels charitable, of the man’s Social Security. Perhaps Africa is not on the cards for me either.