-
- Species
- Whitetails
- Big Game
- Small Game
- Birds
- Special Methods
- Bow Hunting
-
- Species
- Bass
- Trout
- More Freshwater
- Saltwater
- Special Methods
- Fly Fishing
Print
Email
Share
F&S Adventure: City Girl On African Safari
F&S Adventure: City Girl On African Safari
It was our 10th wedding anniversary, and my husband, Jock Grundy, and I wanted to go somewhere warm. But the thing is, we get bored lying on the beach all day. Friends had honeymooned in Cape Town and along South Africa’s Garden Route and recommended it highly. We liked the idea. But if I were going all the way to Africa, after nine years of working at Field & Stream and reading about grand adventures and the excitement of the chase, I could not visit that continent without going on a hunt.
I went straight to the expert: David E. Petzal. Did he think it was possible for a native New Yorker to go on a safari? I mean, I’m such a subway strap-hanger that I don’t even have a driver’s license. My only rifle shooting experience was with a .22-caliber rifle at a local range, where hipsters try out the “exotic” sport in a Manhattan basement.
Dave’s eyes lit up. He knew just the man to guide me: Clive Perkins, the owner of Sportsman’s Safaris in South Africa. Dave had hunted with Clive and knew he would take excellent care of me. And Dave had seen me shoot sporting clays and trap. With practice, he thought I could be a good rifle shot.
Photo by Jock Grundy
Advertisement
RELATED PHOTOS
ADVERTISEMENT
Today on Field & Stream
Visit Our Sister Sites at Bonnier Corporation
| Enthusiast | Kiteboarding | QUAD | SKI | Skiing | Scuba Diving | Sport Diver | TransWorld Ride BMX | TransWorld Business | TransWorld Motocross | TransWorld SKATEboarding, | TransWorld SNOWboarding | TransWorld SURF | WakeBoarding | WaterSki | Warren Miller Entertainment | WindSurfing |
|---|---|
| Travel | Caribbean Travel & Life | Destination Weddings & Honeymoon | Islands | Meeting Traveler | Resorts & Great Hotels |
| Lifestyle & Shelter | Florida Travel & Life | Garden Design | Home Ft. Lauderdale | Home Miami |
| Luxury | SNOW | Spa |
| Marine | Boating Life | Cruising World | Fly Fishing in Salt Waters | Power Cruising | Marlin | Motor Boating | Sailing World | Salt Water Sportsman | Sport Fishing | Yachting | NewBoats.com | UsedBoats.com | YachtBroker.com |
| Outdoor | Field & Stream | Outdoor Life | SHOT Business |
| Parenting | Babytalk | Parenting |
| Science | Popular Science | Science Illustrated |
| Saveur | Saveur |
| Working Mother Media | Working Mother |
| Entertainment / Events | World Entertainment Services | World Sports & Marketing |
FieldandStream.com is part of the Bonnier Outdoor Group Network
Copyright © 2009 Bonnier Corp. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Photo Gallery Comments (23)
Donna...
Great! Just great! Good for you...
Thanks for telling the tale.
I just love it when it all comes together!!
Way to go GIRL!!!!!
OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We all miss sometimes, but not all of us have the guts to write about it. I enjoyed your story immensely because it was the real story, warts and all. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Holy Shiznit that is a hell of a kill
Donna that was an awesome article! It really reminded me of Horn of the Hunter by Rourke. Excellent, Good Job!
This was indeed an excellent piece! Kudos!
Great story Donna, congrats on the trophies as well. Harvesting sure is rewarding, but missing is more educating.
Hey Petzal, if I'm going to Africa can I get some free shooting lessons too?
Thanks for the kind words, all. Especially the comparison to Horn of the Hunter! It was an amazing experience, and I was happy to tell the story.
Well done, Donna! Hearing stories like this is as entertaining (or moreso) than hearing some of the other "professionals" tell of their exploits. For them, it is just another safari. For you, it is much as it would be for the rest of us - a first-time and perhaps once-in-a-lifetime experience. Thanks again for a great article and congrats on the harvests and hunt!
I've always admired sportswomen. A huntress can equal a hunter any day if she is so inclined. My wife often hunted with me until she sustained a severe back injury. Great job Donna keep us up to date regarding your next hunt.
I'd like to add a few words here--for any of you who are dreaming of one day going on an African safari and need some ammunition to persuade a nonhunting spouse to come along. Jock and I found that South Africa has so much to offer besides great hunting:
We went on to visit cosmopolitan Cape Town and the spectacular Cape of Good Hope, and to drive the Garden Route along the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean. We ate marvelous food and drank the country’s terrific wines, rode a zip line high up in the tree canopy, hiked a treacherous trail beside the Indian Ocean, saw an African penguin colony, and watched southern right whales breach from shore. We will treasure the journey forever.
Donna: I envy your trip and hunt. How about getting me a Job with F&S and get them to Co-sponser me forsuch a thrilling experience. As i've said many times, the kill is not always the thrill. I've eaten many tags, but the hunt was a success. Tell us what gun, caliber, ammo you used and the game you killed. Shoot-um-straight and often. PS my wife if 56 yrs always goes with me to the Rockies and is the bet spotter one could ask for. She may ( I bought her a Marlin XL7 in 270) to hunt w-tails for the fist time this season. I've added wt to reduce rcoil, so think she will do well. Please let us all hear of your next hunt.
Hi Gunslinger, thanks for the kind words. I just want to say that I paid for the hunt myself and it was worth it!
Great story. One day I wish to go hunting in Africa, what an adventure that would be! Glad you had a good time!
gunslinger, i liked your thought that the kill is not always the thrill. i have been hunting for about ten years and have also "eaten a lot of tags" but i have memories of hunting with my dad, grandfather, and uncles that will last forever and are worth way more than bringing something home every time.
Donna
Thank you for sharing your trip with all of us. I truly felt as though I were there to share your experience. I've never been to New York( I'm a real
hick)but I guess I've got a sister there now. You really did see a side of life and death that so many today refuse to even consider.
Donna
Thank you for sharing your trip with all of us. I truly felt as though I were there to share your experience. I've never been to New York( I'm a real
hick)but I guess I've got a sister there now. You really did see a side of life and death that so many today refuse to even consider.
Donna
Thank you for sharing your trip with all of us. I truly felt as though I were there to share your experience. I've never been to New York( I'm a real
hick)but I guess I've got a sister there now. You really did see a side of life and death that so many today refuse to even consider.
YOU GET BACK IN THE KITCHEN WOMAN!
Donna that is a wonderful experience you had......
One day I dream of hunting in the Safari before I die....
Thank you so much for sharing that story with us!!!!
How much did you pay for your trip?
I'm thinking about doing it on 2010......
Post a Comment
Well done, Donna! Hearing stories like this is as entertaining (or moreso) than hearing some of the other "professionals" tell of their exploits. For them, it is just another safari. For you, it is much as it would be for the rest of us - a first-time and perhaps once-in-a-lifetime experience. Thanks again for a great article and congrats on the harvests and hunt!
I'd like to add a few words here--for any of you who are dreaming of one day going on an African safari and need some ammunition to persuade a nonhunting spouse to come along. Jock and I found that South Africa has so much to offer besides great hunting:
We went on to visit cosmopolitan Cape Town and the spectacular Cape of Good Hope, and to drive the Garden Route along the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean. We ate marvelous food and drank the country’s terrific wines, rode a zip line high up in the tree canopy, hiked a treacherous trail beside the Indian Ocean, saw an African penguin colony, and watched southern right whales breach from shore. We will treasure the journey forever.
Donna: I envy your trip and hunt. How about getting me a Job with F&S and get them to Co-sponser me forsuch a thrilling experience. As i've said many times, the kill is not always the thrill. I've eaten many tags, but the hunt was a success. Tell us what gun, caliber, ammo you used and the game you killed. Shoot-um-straight and often. PS my wife if 56 yrs always goes with me to the Rockies and is the bet spotter one could ask for. She may ( I bought her a Marlin XL7 in 270) to hunt w-tails for the fist time this season. I've added wt to reduce rcoil, so think she will do well. Please let us all hear of your next hunt.
Donna...
Great! Just great! Good for you...
Thanks for telling the tale.
We all miss sometimes, but not all of us have the guts to write about it. I enjoyed your story immensely because it was the real story, warts and all. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Holy Shiznit that is a hell of a kill
Donna that was an awesome article! It really reminded me of Horn of the Hunter by Rourke. Excellent, Good Job!
This was indeed an excellent piece! Kudos!
Great story Donna, congrats on the trophies as well. Harvesting sure is rewarding, but missing is more educating.
Hey Petzal, if I'm going to Africa can I get some free shooting lessons too?
Thanks for the kind words, all. Especially the comparison to Horn of the Hunter! It was an amazing experience, and I was happy to tell the story.
I've always admired sportswomen. A huntress can equal a hunter any day if she is so inclined. My wife often hunted with me until she sustained a severe back injury. Great job Donna keep us up to date regarding your next hunt.
Hi Gunslinger, thanks for the kind words. I just want to say that I paid for the hunt myself and it was worth it!
Great story. One day I wish to go hunting in Africa, what an adventure that would be! Glad you had a good time!
gunslinger, i liked your thought that the kill is not always the thrill. i have been hunting for about ten years and have also "eaten a lot of tags" but i have memories of hunting with my dad, grandfather, and uncles that will last forever and are worth way more than bringing something home every time.
Donna
Thank you for sharing your trip with all of us. I truly felt as though I were there to share your experience. I've never been to New York( I'm a real
hick)but I guess I've got a sister there now. You really did see a side of life and death that so many today refuse to even consider.
Donna
Thank you for sharing your trip with all of us. I truly felt as though I were there to share your experience. I've never been to New York( I'm a real
hick)but I guess I've got a sister there now. You really did see a side of life and death that so many today refuse to even consider.
Donna that is a wonderful experience you had......
One day I dream of hunting in the Safari before I die....
Thank you so much for sharing that story with us!!!!
I'm thinking about doing it on 2010......
I just love it when it all comes together!!
Way to go GIRL!!!!!
OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Donna
Thank you for sharing your trip with all of us. I truly felt as though I were there to share your experience. I've never been to New York( I'm a real
hick)but I guess I've got a sister there now. You really did see a side of life and death that so many today refuse to even consider.
YOU GET BACK IN THE KITCHEN WOMAN!
How much did you pay for your trip?
Post a Comment