| Have you dreamed for years of making a to trip | | | | numerous times and learned the ropes. That being |
| to Africa, the famed Dark Continent, to hunt? So, | | | | said, I can offer a few tips to get you thinking in |
| you have finally worked up the courage and | | | | the right direction. |
| saved up the money to make the trip. Now | | | | Let's start with what species you want to hunt. |
| what? There are a lot of things to consider | | | | This will often be based on your budget. |
| before traveling half way around the world and | | | | Disregarding the cost of the plane ticket, which will |
| hunting with someone you have never met. You | | | | determined by where you live, you can spend |
| will be making a substantial investment in the trip | | | | from several thousand on a hunt to over one |
| and the mainreturn on your investment will be | | | | hundred thousand, depending on your species of |
| your memories. You want them to be the best | | | | choice. To makeyour trip the most enjoyable, I |
| they could possibly be. So where do you start? | | | | feel it is important to pick one species as your |
| Here are some tips to get you started that will | | | | primary goal. On a first safari, a great choice |
| go a long ways towards making your hunting | | | | would be a kudu, or if you're a little more |
| safari a success. | | | | adventuresome, a Cape Buffalo. Something that is |
| Africa is a huge country. Although you cannot | | | | fairly common, but still a great representative |
| hunt in all of the countries in Africa, there a | | | | species of Africa. You should not plan your |
| numerous countries where hunting is available. The | | | | firstsafari around a lion that you may spend the |
| countries open to hunting can change at any time | | | | full duration of your safari searching to find and |
| and you would be amazed by how often they | | | | end up unsuccessful. Pick a species you have a |
| change. Within those countries, there are also | | | | good chance of getting, and once you learn the |
| many different types of habitat. From deserts | | | | ropes, then choose the more difficult, specialized |
| and savanna, mountains and swamps, to jungle, | | | | species. Africa gets in your blood, so don't try to |
| and about everything in between. How do I decide | | | | do it all thefirst trip. The remaining animals you get |
| then? | | | | will just be icing on the cake and you won't pass |
| There are a lot of books on planning a safari that | | | | up a beautiful bushbuck because you were looking |
| have been written in the past fifty years. The | | | | for only a lion. |
| problem is, Africa is ever-changing, and that | | | | You will quickly learn there is a big difference |
| makes many of the books outdated several | | | | when you put one of the big five on the list, |
| years after they hit the press. One strategy | | | | when it comes to cost. The big five are Cape |
| would be to find the latest book written on | | | | buffalo, leopard, lion, elephant, and rhino. Other |
| planning a safari and rely on it, which is a good | | | | than buffalo, these are specialized hunts that are |
| starting point, but you would still need to take the | | | | very difficult for a first safari. When you look at |
| time to read it. There is a faster way. Thanks to | | | | the cost of a good plains game hunt where you |
| the power of technology, you can now gain a | | | | can kill seven or eight species for theprice of a |
| huge amount of knowledge about hunting in Africa | | | | quality elk hunt in the US, you can see the value |
| while sitting on your couch watching the television. | | | | of Africa. Once you begin to research it, you will |
| There are now quite a few dvds on African | | | | realize there are more species than one will ever |
| hunting, African safaris, rifles, etc., but among | | | | be able to hunt on the African Continent, so now |
| them, there are a few that provide the | | | | is the time to get started. |
| knowledge to create an excellent African | | | | Don't let the planning process stop you from |
| Experience. Craig Boddington, Mark Buchanan, and | | | | taking your first safari. There are plenty of |
| Jim Shockey all have excellent videos on African | | | | hunting videos that can assist you in making your |
| hunting. These are worth their weight in gold. You | | | | trip a successful one and give you the bug to |
| can learn from hunters who have been to Africa | | | | return again and again. |