ZIMBABWE: SOUTH AFRICA: NAMIBIA: An Epic Retirement Party!

[Rick Cox]

OK so I'm going to have to wait till I'm not at work to read this article, but the little I have browsed looks great! Congratulations to both you and your wife on some nice trophies!
I have ask though: how was the drought situation in Namibia? It seems that in the North near Etosha it is grim. Animals dying left and right. From what I'm hearing there may not be any left in some areas. But your photos show grass, not just sand or dirt.... What town were you nearest to?

 

[cls]

Great way to start off your retirement, going to be hard to too this, will be watching to see what's next.....

 

[AZDAVE]

First congratz to you and your wife on some fantastic trophy's and thank you for sharing some of your life's adventures and taking all of us along for the ride.
I did a 3 week safari for my retirement last year. It was my second retirement, you have me thinking that the 3rd time is the charm So maybe I can get a job as a Walmart greeter for a couple weeks and retire again That being said my wife retires in two years so I am starting the planning for a trip for her, and you gave me some great ideas.

 

[kevin masters]

That was an awesome adventure! And sharing it with family is incredible!
congratulations!!!

 

[Royal27]

Way to go Sue!

Great trip Bill. Can't wait to hear about the plans for the next one. And, I just want to retire for the first time.

 

[WAB]

OK so I'm going to have to wait till I'm not at work to read this article, but the little I have browsed looks great! Congratulations to both you and your wife on some nice trophies!
I have ask though: how was the drought situation in Namibia? It seems that in the North near Etosha it is grim. Animals dying left and right. From what I'm hearing there may not be any left in some areas. But your photos show grass, not just sand or dirt.... What town were you nearest to?

The drought is tough. However the area we were hunting near Otavi had had sufficient rain to maintain decent grass. The animals were I
In Excellent condition.

 

[WAB]

One of the best beers I have ever had!!! Hoping to find it in Zim myself in a few weeks!

Let me know if you find it in Zim. I’ve never found it outside Zambia! And I agree, best beer I’ve had in Africa!

 

[spike.t]

That would have been awesome! Perhaps you could have spared a couple of bottles of Mosi! I look for it everywhere but have never found it outside of Zambia.

Yeah could have provided some cold ones....not sure if you can get it outside of Zambia.... But could be wrong. Any idea how far up river you went?

 

[WAB]

Yeah could have provided some cold ones....not sure if you can get it outside of Zambia.... But could be wrong. Any idea how far up river you went?

We did t go too far as apparently you cross into a park that you need a permit to enter? You probably know a lot more about it than I do! It sure would have been fun to hook up for a cold one!

 

[Edge]

Bill and Sue, thank you for sharing the retirement party! Congratulations and really enjoyed the story, has me thinking about my retirement party...Mozambique or Zambia or ....coming back to earth now. Still have a handful of years to go.

 

[sierraone]

Great hunt report.....but tell me again.....how many hunts were included in this retirement party?

 

[spike.t]

We did t go too far as apparently you cross into a park that you need a permit to enter? You probably know a lot more about it than I do! It sure would have been fun to hook up for a cold one!

Ok....do you know if you went past the red cliffs and than through a part where the river narrows right down flowing between two high rock outcroppings..?

 

[WAB]

Ok....do you know if you went past the red cliffs and than through a part where the river narrows right down flowing between two high rock outcroppings..?

It seems like we did, we were definitely in some big hills. Is that where you were? I didn’t see anyone on the bank waving cold bottles of Mosi at me, which I’m sure you would have done!

 

[spike.t]

It seems like we did, we were definitely in some big hills. Is that where you were? I didn’t see anyone on the bank waving cold bottles of Mosi at me, which I’m sure you would have done!

Our place there is just below the mpata gorge . The Nat park our side starts just up in the gorge...if you got to the narrow part we bout 5+ mins up river from there ...the village just below the narrow part is called kavalamamja ...so you were pretty close to a mosi.........we were probably on the river at the same time.....but we were sampling some cold ones......

 

[Shootist43]

WAB, just read the thread from beginning to end. WOW!! what a great hunt and BTW by far the best retirement party I've heard of yet. Thanks for taking us along.

 

[WAB]

Our place there is just below the mpata gorge . The Nat park our side starts just up in the gorge...if you got to the narrow part we bout 5+ mins up river from there ...the village just below the narrow part is called kavalamamja ...so you were pretty close to a mosi.........we were probably on the river at the same time.....but we were sampling some cold ones......

Crap, we were above that village and I could have had a Mosi!!! Well, we’ll just have to do it again...

 

[spike.t]

Crap, we were above that village and I could have had a Mosi!!! Well, we’ll just have to do it again...

For sure....if you went up bit further but turned before park you went past the lodge.....or very close...

 

[Matt_WY]

You definitely retired in style!

 

[BeeMaa]

You definitely retired in style!

Yeah, except he didn't.
Seem like failing at retirement is becoming a full time job.

I was scheduled to retire for the third time on July 1st. Having failed at retirement twice before, I thought that scheduling five weeks on safari would ensure that the event took place. Imagine my surprise when my company asked me to stay on until November 1st even with 5 weeks off in Africa! I guess if someone wants to pay for your retirement party you may as well let them!

 

[WAB]

Yeah, except he didn't.
Seem like failing at retirement is becoming a full time job.

LOL, you got me there. Nov 1 is locked down now. Nice of them to pay me during my retirement party though!