On the hunt
In all my travels, I try my best to do some research into the area I've booked to hunt, to familiarize myself with the history of the area, and sometimes I've found myself in the tracks of famous hunters. Not just a country, but specific areas which have been immortalized in the writings of many famous hunters, both professional and amateur. In my opinion, hunting is, among its many qualities, an inexorable tie to the past, and a ceremonial means of honoring and celebrating those who came before us.
While the era of exploration is certainly over, those books written about the early era of safari, where foot safaris headed off into the blue with no set idea of when they'd return, are still popular sellers. In this day and age - where I can be on African soil within 24 hours of leaving my front door - it almost seems impossible that folks would spend weeks on a boat, with seemingly innumerable stops, to arrive in East Africa, but just a century ago that was the norm. It took a different level of dedication to make that trek, and while I absolutely adore the convenience of modern air travelmany more - grace my favorite bookcase full of Africana. To stand, with rifle in hand, where some of the famous people have stood, is an amazing experience for me.
