Why Not Africa??

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AfricanAddiction

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Just curious why you think more people don't go to Africa? Is it fear? Cost? Perception?

Africa is my happy place. I cannot spend enough time there. I have some friends that would not even go if the safari was free.

I think most of it is perceived cost as opposed to actual cost.

I don't think many people realize you can to Africa shoot 10 animals and still be a lot cheaper than a Dall Sheep hunt.

Thoughts??
 
Some do not want to fly that far or just scared to travel that far to another country.

Also a big reason is not being able to bring back any meat.So many don't have room to mount all the heads and think it is a waste to just go hunt and have nothing at the end.

Some have no idea how good the lodging is or food for that matter. How it blows away your avg elk or deer camp for both of those.

I will be taking my 6th trip over and I normally do to place and 20 to 25 days each trip. I am going while it is still great hunting and safe yet. Times are changing so who knows how many more trips I will make.

I have taken new guys over all but 1 trip and all have been blown away how fun and safe it is. Some go back others take what they want and see no need for return trip.
 
I agree. Not sure why people are intimidated by the flight but they are.

I feel 1000 times safer in Africa than Mexico. I don't feel at all safe their. I have felt safe in Africa in all three countries i have been.

I guess i never consider the meat angle as it is just not a priority for me but i can see how it would be for others.

I have definitely run out of space in the trophy room but it has not stopped me and i cannot wait to go back next year. I have not been able to schedule or pull off a trip of over 10 hunting days. Just won't viable for my work schedule.

I have taken new people every trip i have been on and same as you. Some cannot wait to get back and others are indifferent and most likely will never go back. To each their own.

for me, i cannot get back soon enough.......
 
I agree it is safe but hard to tell others how safe they will feel.

The biggest thing I have heard is about the meat staying there. I think a lot of us do not realize how many guys still hunt and want something other then horns for the money they spend.

I agree about getting back and hope to next year again.
 
I think it's a combination of factors. For some, it's the long flights. For others, it's not realizing how affordable a nice safari can be. For some, I guess it's the meat, but as far as I'm concerned, that's a cop out. They can enjoy meat while there and none of it goes to waste. Somebody is going to eat all of it.

Africa is still grand, but it's not going to last forever. I've got hunts booked for this year (coming up soon) and 2019. I'm also in the planning stages of a 2020 hunt. I plan to hunt Africa as much as I can, while we still can.
 
Can you imagine how expensive it would be if you had to pay to ship the meat back to the U.S.?! Shipping the trophies back is ridiculously expensive as it is, and I think it's often the factor that takes a reasonably priced trip and pushes it over the cliff.
 
The cost of the flight and the cost of bringing the trophies home is what I hear from folks that have gone once. Myself I have went three times and will go at least three more (provided my health remains) I just love Africa
 
I hear more complaints about the length of the flight rather than the cost of the flight. When it's so easy to earn the miles to get free flights, I don't know why anyone pays for them anyway. Can't bring back trophies with frequent flyer miles, though...
 
I can understand the cost of shipping the trophies home. It is not cheap. I learned my lesson after the first trip. I also learned not to mount everything. I don't need six Impala shoulder mounts.

The cost of the flight makes me shake my head. Plan and watch. Alaska and Canada trips are not much cheaper when a bush flight is added in.

Just counting the days until I go back..........
 
Nothing says you have to bring back trophies. Take lots of photos, much cheaper and takes up less wall space..LOL.

Have not brought any thing back my last 2 trips.

Shipping costs have gotten way out of line.

from the "Heartland of Wyoming"
 
>Nothing says you have to bring
>back trophies. Take lots
>of photos, much cheaper
>and takes up less wall
>space..LOL.
>
>Have not brought any thing back
>my last 2 trips.
>
>Shipping costs have gotten way out
>of line.
>
>from the "Heartland of Wyoming"

You're right about that, Dan. But, when taking something like Sitatunga, I just have to bring it back, so I'm having my stuff from this hunt shipped home. Other than an eland, everything will be pretty small... sitatunga, bushbuck, puku, oribi, nothing that requires a very big crate, other than an eland. Of course, I probably won't mount anything except the sitatunga.
 
The airfare charge I hate is the $2000 RT for a 206 into camp. You and a rifle and bag of clothes. The rest of the plane is packed with stuff for the camp. OH well, it is what it is. :)

I have been much happier culling some animals for meat, rather than shooting extra trophies I did not intend to do anything with, on the last few trips. Either free or greatly reduced cost too.
 
Figure about $1,500. If you want a less expensive option, ask about ocean freighting your shipment. It'll take a lot longer, but you'll save money.
 
I wish I would have only paid $1,500. I would throw a party at that amount.

I have learned euros are so much cheaper. Easier. Simple to ship as the weight is less. Etc.
 
Ocean freight is no longer an option unless it change in the last year. Most companies were not letting trophies in with regular cargo.

There is good companys for shipping and bad ones. Way to many pay to much because they don't shop for pricing. I have crates with up to 12 shoulder mounts and life size animals in and paid 1800.00. Had friends last year get a quote of 2200 and called the guy I use and got a quote of 1200. They shipped with my guy and had stuff sent no problems.

It is like anything else that is Africa shop around and just don't use who your outfitter or taxidermist tell you to use.
 
>Ocean freight is no longer an
>option unless it change in
>the last year. Most companies
>were not letting trophies in
>with regular cargo.
>
>There is good companys for shipping
>and bad ones. Way to
>many pay to much because
>they don't shop for pricing.
>I have crates with up
>to 12 shoulder mounts and
>life size animals in and
>paid 1800.00. Had friends last
>year get a quote of
>2200 and called the guy
>I use and got a
>quote of 1200. They shipped
>with my guy and had
>stuff sent no problems.
>
>It is like anything else that
>is Africa shop around and
>just don't use who your
>outfitter or taxidermist tell you
>to use.


Good to know about ocean freight. I wasn?t aware of that change. My stuff will be flying home anyway but good to know for those trying to save every $ they can.
 
billc - could you PM me the shipper contact info you use?
I'm going to the Eastern Cape next year and am on the fence about bringing stuff back due to cost & hassle. Thanks
 
Old you get me the shipping information as well? I am in Johannesburg right now and need to find someone. Thanks in advanced
 
For some people, myself included, they just simply have no desire to shoot African species.

I love to read the stories of the old days, hunting for the Big 5 with all the hardships, danger, and excitement, and all of that, but to go to Africa and shoot plains game, some of which I can't even pronounce, just doesn't appeal to me.
 
Steve,

I just finished my fifth safari over the years and can't wait to go back. As much as I love elk and deer hunting as well as all the other North American game I've hunted, nothing compares to hunting wild country in Africa. If I could afford it, I'd hunt in Africa at least once a year for the rest of my life. I can't afford to though, but will be hunting next year with my son. Taking him for Cape Buffalo, which are such a great game animal to hunt. After that, not sure when I'll get back there but I'm thinking of several options for 2020 or 21.
 
My friends and I got the idea to go last year at the hunt expo. We spoke with several outfitters and narrowed it down to a few. The three of us were going to take our wives. Well, when we got home the sales pitch didn't go over as well as we had hoped. My wife loves to hunt. The meat is a important part of that for her. If we are not bringing the meat home we are just killing. I explained that it all gets used by the locals and we would eat plenty while we were there.

Since then my wife found out that one of her horse riding friends went and had a trip of a lifetime. She is warming up to the idea but it is going to take time to convince the wardens.
 
It's certainly "fun" but after 3 trips I doubt that I will return- at least to South Africa. I shot about every type of plains game that was available.

You ask why not Africa? First off, it is very expensive. After you factor in Dip and Pack, flights, and especially taxidermy, its not the great value that others say. Of course it is cheaper by the animal but overall, you can do a lot of domestic hunting for the price you'll most likely pay.

And, another reason is that Mule Deer hunting is not even comparable to a plains game hunt. I would much rather hunt a LE Mule deer unit that Africa.

With that said, I can guarantee you that 90% of hunters will spend significantly more than they budget. Its just a fact.

I will say that my Crocodile and Bush Pig hunt was a great time and would rank quite high among my memorable hunts.
 

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