[Steve Franks]

Lordy, I was you, just a short time ago.

To start with I set a budget of $10,000 and it sounded like a bunch of money, till I figured out what the payments would be on that new truck, I thought I needed. Well the old one would last another year! I made payments to myself, along with the down payment and in one year, I had my money.

I met an outfitter/professional hunter at a SHOT show and emailed him for a couple of years, hosted his kids when the came to the States, and he stayed with me when he came to another SHOT show. I KNEW him, so I knew I wasn't going to get ripped off.

I got on line and went to the US State Department website and downloaded the application for a passport. I went to a local travel agency, paid $10 for the passport photos, and took the whole thing to the post office. With the fee, I gave it to the clerk and 3 weeks later had my first ever passport.

For airfares, I again went on line, but finally went straight to SouthAfrican Airlines. It cost $2002 and after I bought the ticket, the best price I found was less then $100 difference.

My biggest expense was rifle powder. My brother, his son, and I needed to get into shooting trim and I was the designated reloader. Whew, never again, but it paid off.

To end this long thread, it was $9200 door step to door step. I spent 15 days in South Africa. I shot six animals, all will make SCI, three will make Rowland Ward (I wasn't after record book animals, just an experience), shot birds, went bass fishing in Zimbabwe, spent 3 days in Kruger seeing elephants, lions, buffalo, saw the Boer and Zulu battle fields, and lived a dream I had since I was five years old and that was a long time ago.

Will I ever go again? Well that old truck, ain't so old or bad after all. It seems it'll hold together another year, so next year, we're going to Zimbabwe for a buffalo and sable hunt. Don't put it off. African politics is changing everyday and regrets is a hellova thing to die with.