NEWS
SAFARI TO AFRICA
"Safari" is a Swahili word derived from the Arabic word "Safara" - which means "to
take a journey"
The longing to hunt in Africa will always exist in the minds and souls of hunters
from all over the world. "Safari" to Africa goes back to the days when Selous, Cornwallis,
Burchell and Theodore Roosevelt raised interest and sparked off the flow of hunters
who wanted to experience their own African Hunting Safari. They were brave men who
loved to explore the unknown and were prepared to face the hardships and dangers
involved.
Many of the old pioneer hunters kept their diaries and saved the unbelievable moments
of glory and pain for us to read. By doing so they also gave us an idea of what
Africa looked like with its roaming herds of wild animals and wide open spaces.
Theodore Roosevelt wrote: "There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of
the wilderness; the strong attraction of the silent places, of the large tropical
moon, and the splendour of the new stars; where the wanderer sees the glory of sunrise
and sunset in the wide spaces of the earth, unworn by man, and changed only by the
slow changes of the ages through time everlasting"
This was written during Roosevelt's African Safari, 1910. Enormous interest in America
was sparked off and the flow of American hunters to Africa began.
Gone are the days though that hunter can go into the African bush for six months.
The "Safari train" consisting of porters, gun bearers, pack mules and horses, skinners
and trackers, tons of equipment and stocks belong to the pas. Forever gone are the
days that the hunter could hunt great numbers of elephant, lion, leopard, eland
and kudu on horseback. If you came out of the bush alive and well, there was an
aura of romanticism about the hunter who made it in the wild.
Forever gone are those splendid days. Even Africa became more civilised (and westernised)
over the years with all the good and the bad that goes with it.
In the year 2000 we still go on safaris, but with a difference. Fencing laws, gun
laws, hunting permits and licenses, better rifles and ammo, range finders etc. comes
into play. To protect and conserve our land and animals certain measures had to
be taken and I am proud to say: In RSA and Namibia we are doing it well!
To adjust to the new rules in our game we as modern hunters accept the challenges.
Let us all hunt ethically, give the animal a fair chance. Let us hunt the old males
and utilise the income to keep our conservation efforts going. Enjoy the moments
of splendour and savour the moments of success. Let us all be thankful that we still
have the opportunity to go hunting because we in Africa were able to save our wild
animals from extinction. Let us hunt and do our job in the spirit to make sure that
our children's children will also be able to experience an "African Safari".
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