Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Need help with a trip.

I turned in my retirement notice last week and my mother gave me a sizable amount toward a trip to Africa. The catch is, my mom would like my wife to accompany me if possible. It would not be a problem as a ranch hunt for plains game seems perfect for my wife's level of comfort but at my age this may be my one shot at Buffalo which is my dream. My wife knows this and says that is what I should do as this is my dream trip and not hers.

My wife likes the outdoors and has done a fair bit of camping in her younger days but is not as thrilled with camp cots and air mattresses these days. She enjoys walks and the like but not sure if she wishes to walk several miles a day for a week or so. Something to do around camp other than read would be nice.

I guess my question is: can anyone suggest an agent to contact that can help us make a choice or recommend an outfitter? Also, any personal experiences with a non-hunting companion and what they found to do when not in the field would be appreciated.

Needless to say, I am clueless at this point and any suggestions on where to go, what to bring, see, look for, or expect would be appreciated. Thanks for any help.

Wood: Definitely take your wife. Fly Delta ATL - JNB. Spend the night at City Lodge at the JNB airport. Next morning fly JNB to Victoria Falls. Have Steve Turner with Travel With Guns do an escort through South Africa Police in JNB customs. He can also get your airline tickets to Vic Falls. He is a lot of help if airlines lose you firearm. Happened to me to me my first trip. Stay at Ilala Lodge for a few days to get over jet lag and let your gun catch up. In Vic Falls do evening booze cruise, tea at Victoria Falls Hotel veranda, see Falls, shop for light weight stuff, etc. Allows you to acclimate to Africa. Charter flight to Gache Gache safari area on Lake Kariba to hunt buffalo with Corris Ferreira Track-A -Hunt Safaris. While you are hunting your wife can fish for tiger fish with Carl or sight see and photo safari from boat. Corris has a very good re pore with natives in his Campfire Area so your wife can see life in an Africa village. The chef (not cook) serves 5 star meals. No cots or air mattresses. Your own chalet with real bed, hot running water and flush toilet. Bring deflated soccer balls with pump and inflation needles, candy and school supplies for village kids. After hunt drive to Bulawayo so you can see countryside. Corris will take you to a flea market in Bulawayo to buy stone sculptures and other souvenirs. Fly Bulawayo - JNB - ATL home.

Yessir, contact John McAdams at biggamehuntingadventures.com a nice knowledgeable man that can get the ball rolling for you and your wife, I just got back from my second trip over with them, Wife went with me this trip, and she'll be with me on the rest of them too, according to her.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll check them out. Even though this has been on my bucket list since a teenager, I placed it pretty low after I got married as I doubted my wife would want to sleep out once she hit the mid-50s. As a result, I am pretty sure what to pack and expect for me but no idea how to get there or even know enough to know what questions to ask to get started. Luckily, I am looking at 2019 at the very earliest and 2020 being more likely.

It's a piece of cake Woodmaster, calling Mr. McAdams will get all questions quickly answered, he'll even send you the saps 520 and homeland security forms to fill out and get your weapons approved for export, another call by you to 'travels with guns' for their services as well as airline tickets and travel insurance and you're set on GO!

You Damn well better take your wife!!!

I took mine back in 2014 and she followed me around for 2 weeks and loved it !!!

Call Wade Derby of Cross Hair Consulting and he will put you and your wife on game and in a comfortable place you will not regret.

PM me.

Africa, like it is to many others, is a dream of mine. I'm lucky that my wife hunts. She's taken a few deer, and goes out small game with me some. But her attention span is usually two days max. When the kids are grown, I hope to do something similar. A combo hunt/Vacation for her.

-Jake

This. We did a family trip, three sons and my wife, in 2012 and had a great time.

http://www.mokoresafaris.com/zim_areas.html SENGWA RESEARCH AREA

http://www.somerbysafaris.com/

Drom and Sune' at Somerby exceeded my every dream and expectation- the entire trip was incredible

I also had a great trip to Zimbabwe last fall with these folks. Buffalo and plains game. Also booked through Wade Derby.

http://www.lowveldhunter.com/index.html

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll try to get the ball rolling this week. As green as I am, I will need to start early as I am sure I will miss a lot and hopefully think of it later.

My wife had never even been camping before, and I took her to Zim and we got married there. She had a blast. I think you’d be hard pressed to find a reputable operator with camps that your wife wouldn’t enjoy.

I don’t know what your budget is, but I’d look at the Bubye Valley Conservancy in Zim. Camps and quality of game is spectacular. Pricey, but worth it. You’ll probably see 4 of the Big 5 every day. Brent Hein, George Hallamore and John Sharp all offer hunts there.

One other option would be a free range hunt in South Africa. Dave Davenport of Leopards Valley Safari has some good hunts and is a great guy.

I would try to go through Namibia as SA was just issued a travel warning by the US....Frankfort to Windhoek should work..Crime in SA is through the roof.

Hahahahaha.....really? Seems like the US media know more than the locals. News to me.

If you're still open to ideas, contact Ryan Wilson at milkycreeksafariswilsoncombat.com. He can help get things sorted out and help you book a trip if you want. He's been 20+ times and is going again real soon. You'll love it out there!