Indiana Jones and Hal Graff share two things in common: a love of adventure and a fear of snakes. Never mind lions and tigers. Graff, of Bloomington, was clear when he e-mailed outfitters in South Africa the timing of his safari had to be when the odds of encountering snakes were low.

"That was one of the very first questions I asked," chuckled Graff, an agent with Outdoor Connection, an international travel agency that caters to an active tourist clientele, including hunters and anglers. "I'm deathly afraid of snakes, and I checked with my outfitters and said if they had snakes, no way am I coming."

Africa was never high on Graff's list of places to visit anyway. But he decided to go after some thought.

He wanted to be able to speak from first-hand experience if someone appeared interested in a trip to the Dark Continent.

What Graff found was a natural wonderland filled with game to capture on film, or to hunt in accordance with strict South African hunting regulations.

"There is so much game there you can't believe it," said Graff, 61. "When you're hunting, you never know what could be around the next corner. It could be anything."

Graff, who also teaches business courses for online colleges, wound up downing eight varieties of antelope. Three were trophy-sized. He also took a Grand Slam of three different kinds of springbok. He didn't want to shoot larger animals like wildebeests because they look too much like domestic cows. Zebras were out of bounds because they look too much like horses, which he loves. He also wasn't interested in what African hunters call the "big five" - lion, African buffalo, leopard, elephant and rhino.

"Everyone has their preferences," he said. "I thought I should start out with the traditional stuff … and not get eaten alive."

Going from an African novice to an informed explorer and hunter wasn't easy. With the exception of two times afield, the only other hunts he's been on targeted waterfowl. The others were a turkey hunt in Missouri and a wild boar hunt in the south.

Graff did three things to prepare himself for his mid-2008 trip.

First, he watched several DVDs of African hunts to develop a sense of what to expect and how hunters on safaris handled challenges. One fact he noticed was that too many rush their shots. No need for that in Africa most of the time. Shots are from long range. Careful, quiet stalking or moving quickly to get in front of a moving herd generally allows plenty of time to set up and be precise.

He also bought a BB gun with a scope to practice firing techniques. He spent hours in his garage last winter learning how to hold his breath and squeeze a trigger so he didn't pull his shots. He wanted to respect the animals and make sure his kills were clean.

Lastly, he e-mailed outfitters associated with Outdoor Connection to ask a wide range of questions.

He flew from Chicago to Washington, D.C., then 15 non-stop hours to Johannesburg and then to Port Elizabeth on the Indian Ocean. Guides from Two Rivers Outfitters met him. They drove by Jeep on rough roads to the lodge, a rehabbed 100-year-old farmhouse located not so many hours from people, but seemingly in the mist of nowhere. A new modern lodge is under construction.

"That area of Africa, there is nothing much there. It is totally open," Graff said.

The South African government requires outfitters to fence their land. But the hunts remain fair chase given the vast distances involved. The stalk for just one of the antelope covered three miles, he said.

"A lot of the properties are 150,000 acres," he said.

Several groups were at the lodge at the same time. Their host was Brian Seady, a world-class marksman who helped Graff fine tune his technique.

Each group hunted with their own personal guide. Graff's was Anton Greeff. At 21, he already was an experienced hunter, having grown up in the region. Greef drove the vehicle. A skinner and a tracker rode on an elevated bench on the top of the truck bed where they could see game moving on the horizon.

The area consisted of rolling hills. Cover varied from scrub bush to thick vegetation.

"Some days we were as high as 3,000 feet," he said. "Others we were down low."

Graff made the decision to rent a gun there to avoid the hassles and paperwork necessary to travel with one. His .30-06 caliber rifle cost $100 for the week, including ammunition.

Hunts are generally sold in packages. Travelers choose from a lineup of available game. The usual minimum is four animals. Hunts also can be custom-tailored to what someone wants. Graff chose four antelope, including two large ones and two smaller ones, over the five days. The trip was so successful he had his original set of permits filled in the first two days, leaving three days to go.

"The outfitter said I was fortunate to get them all. I had one of those trips no one deserves," he said.

He added four other antelope to the total.

He also saw a variety of other animals ranging from giraffes, cheetahs and elephants - but no snakes. Best time to go is during May, June and July. Hunting is not done October through February during the African summer.

Graff expects higher airfares from spiraling fuel costs to price some travelers out of the market. But, today, an African safari, whether to hunt or shoot photos, can be done on a budget at a price comparable to an elk hunt in America's Southwest, he said. Airfare was about $2,400 to South Africa. A hunt for four animals raises the cost to about $8,000. Taxidermy is extra, and not cheap.

"For the adventure, it is a very reasonable hunt. I enjoyed every aspect. It was very addictive," he said.

Contact Graff and Outdoor Connection at (309) 829-6141 or visit www.outdoor-connection.com.