ASH adventures express our condolences to all who have lost loved ones and friends to the Covid Pandemic. We discuss the effects of Covid on the wildlife of Southern Africa and the people who depend on the natural world for their livelihood.
The covid pandemic had an incredibly negative financial impact on all involved in African hunting - not least the species pursued. Outfitters and professional hunters were denied their livelihood for almost two years. A significant portion of the revenue lost contributes to conservation in Southern Africa. Few people realize this, but hunting is the largest monetary contributor to the protection of animals in South Africa and Namibia.
Be that as it may, it is water under the bridge, a catastrophe suffered during our time on earth - not unique in human history. It is time to focus on the present and the future.
As with all dark clouds, there is a silver lining as far as hunting is concerned. Trophy quality is better in many areas due to the absence of hunting. Large males have not been pursued and are less skittish than would typically be the case.
Unfortunately, some new global challenges emerged in 2022, which add insult to injury after the Covid Pandemic. The two most worrying are the war in Ukraine and inflation, which seems to have gotten out of hand in most countries worldwide. All the hardship of the last few years has taken its toll. Many people want to get away from it all for a while to recharge.
Few places on earth offer an escape quite like the African Wilderness. In remote areas of pristine natural beauty, countless adventures can be savored that will take your thoughts off the prevalent troubles in the world.
In the bushveld, you can sit around a campfire, reminiscing about the day's hunt, with only the stars above and the sounds of the crackling fire and Africa's nighttime chorus of animals, birds, and frogs to create a sense of tranquility. In the Free State, your could scout for herds of game on the plains below. Usually from a perch on one of the many hills that dot these vast open plains. Or you can sit with a cup of coffee, watching the bush come alive at sunrise after the nervousness of night. The memorable experiences offered by the wild places of Africa have an indelible calming influence on the soul.
The 2022 two-season has seen hunters return to Africa, but in lower numbers than usual. All signs currently point to 2023 being a much better season, with requests and bookings increasing. Of course, the final tally will only be in once all the annual hunting shows and events of early 2023 have passed.
Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope that sense will prevail in the world. The wildlife and people of Africa look forward to hosting you on incredible hunting adventures for many years.
