Africa 2026

[Vince]

I feel really fortunate to have been able to hunt here.
Of everything I’ve had frustrations, luck, blessings, and aggravation. It’s been a smorgasbord of emotions all crammed into twelve days.
I missed two Warthogs yesterday. Good stalks and easy shots that I should have made. I was so mad at myself. I forgot to aim small. I was shooting at the shoulder when I should have been shooting at an individual hair on the shoulder.
Realistically I don’t have five more years but I’m figuring out how I can come back again as fast as I can. I’m thinking March or April. Maybe Namibia as I got South Africa under my belt.
If I don’t get back over it will be because I’m physically unable. I’ve slowed down considerably. My regret is that I didn’t come sooner. I’m encouraging everyone to come over and hunt as fast as they can. Don’t put it off because tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. I’ll never get the Cape Buffalo or Brown Bear I dreamt about but I can get some African trophies of Plains Game.
I’m blessed. I got to live a life of many of my dreams. I’ve been a Cowboy, ranch and rodeo, rode some really good horses, seen things most will never see, talked with people and had friends ranging from paupers to millionaires. I’ve walked prison yards and garnered respect from the inmates and I’m proud to say I’ve lived a life that I can look at myself in the mirror when I shave.
It hasn’t always been easy, or fun, but I’m too dumb to quit. I can honestly say that I’ve been blessed.

Vince

 

[Wolfshead]

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences!
I’ll never make it to Africa, but I’ve enjoyed both your adventures.
The pictures and stories helped make if feel like we were along for the ride.
Thanks Men!

 

[Vince]

WARTHOG DOWN !!!

Final half day hunt and stalked to 70 Yards and got the bigger of the two I missed yesterday.

One shot and a twenty yard run and down and declared DOA.

 

[NYDAN]

Congratulations on many fine trophies.

 

[RememberBaker]

I’ve really enjoyed this thread. Maybe I need to stop thinking I’ll never get there and start thinking about how I can make it happen. I’m going to mention it to my wife and see if she wants to see some Africa.
My late uncles M70 300 H&H or my great grandfathers 30 Newton……

 

[Firebird24]

the safari culture really caters to hunters AND their spouses. Most places offer side trips or activities for the visiting non hunter. My wife doesn’t hunt but enjoyed the pool and touring nearby towns and especially game parks with lions and elephants etc The park we visited even had a spa where she got a massage.
Laundry done every night, comfortable room cleaned every day and good food and drinks always available. It really can be wonderful for a spouse just to get away and be pampered.

 

[salmonchaser]

WARTHOG DOWN !!!

Final half day hunt and stalked to 70 Yards and got the bigger of the two I missed yesterday.

One shot and a twenty yard run and down and declared DOA.

Outstanding Vince. Way to get back on the horse.

 

[salmonchaser]

I’ve really enjoyed this thread. Maybe I need to stop thinking I’ll never get there and start thinking about how I can make it happen. I’m going to mention it to my wife and see if she wants to see some Africa.
My late uncles M70 300 H&H or my great grandfathers 30 Newton……

WARTHOG DOWN !!!

Final half day hunt and stalked to 70 Yards and got the bigger of the two I missed yesterday.

One shot and a twenty yard run and down and declared DOA.

That is a really fine hog, guessing 10 inch tusks. I would have shot him in a heartbeat. Excellent.

 

[salmonchaser]

I’ve really enjoyed this thread. Maybe I need to stop thinking I’ll never get there and start thinking about how I can make it happen. I’m going to mention it to my wife and see if she wants to see some Africa.
My late uncles M70 300 H&H or my great grandfathers 30 Newton……

I use to think it was an impossible dream as well. Like Vince I now wish I would have found a way earlier in life. The PHs I’ve met are just like most of us, they appreciate someone who worked hard to get there, approach the day with enthusiasm and see it as a great adventure. They will treat you well. The entire industry in South Africa and Namibia really is the result of American dollars. These ranches recognize they could be out of business in two years if they don’t manage the animals they have correctly or they can produce hundreds if not thousands of successful hunts every year for twenty years or more, you must do your homework. The hunts reported on this year would be a good place to Start.
I have often heard guys say they are not interested in Africa because of the high fences. There are certainly relatively small operations that bring animals in for hunts. Probably a good number that you may have a fence in view at some point during a hunt and there are some where you may have hunted hard all day in tough country and not been aware of a high fence. Im seeing more free range hunts advertised as well. Home work! I chose this outfit because its free range, and suffered the obvious problem the game we were after seemed to know what the property line was. On this last trip I was afforded the opportunity to hunt some properties the outfitter is evaluating either as leases or out right purchases. (He currently has right at one million acres spread between 4 ranches) Several times my PH and I had a successful morning and then went to one of the new places just to check it out. Mark had driven on a couple of these places but hadn’t hunted them yet. We added another 6 to 8 miles to our day and made some great discoveries. A couple of them were approaching 10 to 20K acres of high fence that I was only aware of the fence when we went onto the property and perhaps at the end of a four mile hike in tough ground seeing the other property line through binoculars. Plenty of places for game to hide in large high fence operations.
Some of the outfits will spend a lot of your money on accommodations, the whole five star thing. Others offer more pedestrian accommodations. We appreciated our money being spent on plenty of land to hunt, good wholesome food, Laundry and cleaning every day is nice but it is certainly closer to remodeled clean and tidy bunk house cabins than five star.
References, starting here you will get five different outfits to look at from this year alone. Do check them out and do ask for the names and numbers of guys who had a bad trip. What helped me was learning the first game taken with the PRC cartridges was on the same ground I was hunting. The first African game taken with eldx and sst came from this place. Hornady has a couple of weeks booked out every year and most importantly, Cole Hauser- that rip van winkle guy from the Yellowstone series, hunts here.
Don.
Any of you all, reach out if your better half has questions Catherine loved the adventure and she has worked on every continent except Antarctica. This is one of her favorite adventures bar none.

 

[Vince]

What Don, aka: Salmonchaser, said.
Anybody reading this feel free to reach out if you have questions. I’m coming back for sure if I’m still vertical and able.
I’m wanting another Kudu and Gemsbok. Plus there’s a couple animals I want to add. I stayed in a tent. Laundry was done as needed. I had a space heater in the cabin tent and the shower was a stucco building attached to the tent. The food was outstanding!
The place I hunted was smaller. Only 55,000 acres total and I didn’t see it all. I also added five days and hunted every day with a couple afternoons to take in a cat, lions, cheetahs, and leopards and an elephant preserve.
Next time I’ll bring my rifle. I was going to lay over in Paris for a day and visit my Uncle’s grave in Epinal, France but Delta changed my flight with less than a week’s notice.

Vince