Ever read "Safari" by Elmer Keith?

[GARANDNUT]

I read this great book when I was 11 maybe 12. It is one of those books that for me was very influential. All I wanted to do after reading that book was hunt in Africa just like Keith did. I had forgotten about that book until recently and my desire to hunt the dark continent has returned. Silly me though the kind of hunt Keith went on probably does not exist now and if it does it is probably out of my price range--certainly the battery Keith used on that hunt is.

[10 Bears]

Yep, I read it, many years ago.
That style of "African Safari" is long gone.

"Baboon" can probably update you on today's style and prices.

[Desert Rat]

Most places in Africa, about the only hunting to be done is hunting for a way out of the country. If Keith or any of the old timers came back today, they wouldn't recognize Africa.

[ErikD]

Garandnut, I too read that book many years ago. It's packed together with a bunch of similar books, awaiting a bookshelf I need to build.

Although that exact style of hunting is not common anymore, it is still possible to do if you have the money. With that said, there is a lot of great hunting to be done in many African countries. The important thing is to know where and with whom. In most cases, you can get more of the old time genuine feel if you go to more remote areas. It also depends on what you want to hunt. Of the 22 African countries I've spent time in, it was no problem to hunt in the majority of them.

I know a lot of guys here are sceptical when it comes to Africa (and Africans, understandably), but I am pretty sure that most of them would find it more fun to hunt there than they might think.

[Desert Rat]

Most of us have never been within 1,000 miles of Africa, Erik. (Me included) So, in all fairness our testimony must be greatly discounted, if not discarded entirely.

The few guys around like you and Baboon, who have been there and done that, are the experts for sure.

The only obvious thing I think is anyone going to the "Dark Continent" had better be damn careful which countries they select.

[10 Bears]

I reckon you don't recommend Ethopia, Nigeria or muzzy controlled 4th world societies?

[Sanders]

I haven't read that one, yet. Am currently reading the copy of "Sixguns" that I recently obtained.

[Desert Rat]

Originally Posted by 10 Bears

I reckon you don't recommend Ethopia, Nigeria or muzzy controlled 4th world societies?

Depends what you're looking for, 10B. Somalia is offering some "extended vacations" in their country just now. But they're kinda like the Roach Motel. You can check in but you can't check out.

[ErikD]

Originally Posted by 10 Bears

I reckon you don't recommend Ethopia, Nigeria or muzzy controlled 4th world societies?

Actually, Ethiopia isn't all that bad. The people are a bit more annoying than what you generally find in many nearby countries, but security is in fact less of an issue.

There is actually a fair bit of trophy hunting done in Ethiopia, but it is unfortunately expensive.

Nigeria is not on the list, and there isn't much to hunt in the northern muzzy controlled desert countries. However, the hunting is good and accessible in the southern parts of west Africa, not to mention from Uganda and southwards on the east side of the continent.

Of the countries I've been to that have what I would call decent hunting opportunities, I can mention Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia. Some are notoriously more expensive than others though, so it depends on what you want, and what your budget is. There are hunting possibilities in some of other countries that I've spent time in, but they wouldn't be recommended due to either the scarcity of game or the less than optimal security situations...

[Desert Rat]

Money would be no object for me, Erik.

[ErikD]

DR, I've only hunted in a few of the African countries I've been to, but I must admit that if I had the money, I'd hunt more down there.