With the decision made to take my safari in 2007 the first emotion to come over me was, strangely enough, fear.  Although it didn't last long, the feeling was unmistakable.  I was never able to pinpoint the root cause of the fear, but I think it centered around all of the choices that I would have to make to get the planning underway.  What if I screw something up?  What if I get all the way to Africa and they send me home because I forgot to fill out some permit?  How am I ever going to get through the bureaucracy of getting my trophies home?

What I really wanted to do was to try to sit down and talk to someone who has done this before.  The problem though is that I don't really know anyone very well who has actually been to Africa.  I thought briefly about contacting the broker who handled my mule deer hunt for me back in 1996, but if I spent too much time talking to him I might feel obligated to book the safari through him.  I thought that this might be somewhat limiting and didn't want to commit to anything at this point.  I have nothing against this man; in fact, the mule deer hunt that he booked me for was fantastic, but I'm not sure the safaris that he offers are what I am looking for.

I wanted a trip that I could plan on my own from start to finish.  I didn't want a local hunt broker selling me a package deal that I might not be happy with.  This is, after all, the trip of a lifetime for me.  My dream hunt, something I've thought about for over twenty years.

Then I remembered a fellow on Ted Nugent's internet message forum who had actually gone to Africa with the Nuge the year before.  He had posted many pictures from his trip and of his trophies, and had come home extremely happy with his outfitter.  In reading his posts on Mr. Nugent's website over the years, he seemed to be a friendly, approachable fellow.  I posted a note on the forum asking if it would be ok for me to email him, and began waiting patiently for a reply.

The name of the man that I contacted is Pete Odland.  Pete is the founder of a charity called Hunt for a Cure, which raises money to support research into a cure for Cystic Fibrosis, a terminal disease which his young son is afflicted with.  Pete's website, http://www.huntforacure.com, talks about how he came up with the idea for forming the organization and the money that they have raised so far.  Each year they host a banquet for sportsmen in Michigan, and Pete hopes that this will eventually become a national event for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  I'd like to take time out from my own journal at this point to plead for your help on Pete's behalf.  This is a worthy cause, and if you're reading this and can support it in any way I beg you to do so. 

Pete's response was tremendous.  In a series of emails traded back and forth, he was incredibly enthusiastic about the outfitter that he had booked with, telling me all about the way the hunts are conducted and how hard the outfitter has worked to provide a first class experience for his clients.  With the kind of information Pete was giving me, there was no way I could book with anyone else.  In fact, Pete said, the outfitter would be coming to America in the next few weeks to work at some hunting shows in Texas and Michigan and to speak at Christian sportsmen's convention, and Pete would give him my number so that we could talk about putting together a safari.

The outfitter's name is Hannes Els, and he is the owner and operator of Limcroma Safaris in South Africa.

When I learned that Hannes was a Christian, I questioned Pete further about this.  Being one myself, I wanted to know a little more about his faith, and was pleased to learn that this is something that Hannes takes very seriously.  Too many people claim Christianity without living the life of the Christian.  Pete's response reassured me that Hannes was the man that I was looking for to lead my safari.

Pete and I traded a few more emails discussing Hannes's outfit, and it was this that led me to make my choice.  In fact, in a post on the Nuge board, Mr. Nugent himself said that I couldn't have made a better choice for my safari.   With recommendations like this from Pete Odland and Ted Nugent; people that I respect and admire, how could I go wrong?

It's time to contact Hannes Els and talk to him about booking a hunt with Limcroma Safaris!