Greetings

[FJagr]

new to the forum and soon to be new to Africa. I've already booked for September 2012 in RSA. Now I'm just trying to absorb as much knowledge as I can. I'm going for a plains game and I'm torn between bow or rifle, or both...

I'm also trying to figure out the airfare...any recommendations on the best prices and options for the trip? I live in the Washington D.C. and would really like to catch a non-stop from D.C. to J'burg. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Anyhow, I look forward to gleaning as much knowledge as I can from those that have already learned the mistakes I'm about to make Hopefully I can avoid many of them and make this a wonderful trip.

FJagr

 

[Nyati]

Welcome to the forum, FJagr.

 

[enysse]

Welcome to AH!

 

[James.Grage]

Welcome to the
AH forum

Look up safarigal (Lori at Travel Express 800-808-4868) our resident travel agent for help on your travel plans she will search all your options and get you your best deal and to top that off her web link will walk you through the steps and assist you with your paperwork...

 

[FJagr]

Solid, thanks James

 

[BRICKBURN]

Welcome. Start soaking..
SAA has direct flights that come on sale on occasion.
Lori will help you out.

 

[Bobpuckett]

Welcome. Start soaking..
SAA has direct flights that come on sale on occasion.
Lori will help you out.

Welcome to AH!!! You've come to the right place for all the info that you need.
I agree Brickburn SAA is the way to go the wife and I flew with SAA out of Washington D.C. last year and it was a great trip. Who are you booked with and what animals are on your list.

 

[ndbwhnter]

Welcome to AH!

sazfarigal (Lori) here on AH can help you with flights or another good resource is Gracy Travel.

As far as bow vs. rifle, I hunt with both but as my handle implies, I am a little impartial to bowhunting. My best piece of advice if you do choose bowhunting, check what experience your outfitter has with bowhunters - it takes more work to get a bowhunter into range obviously.

nd

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Welcome to the forum!

Best Regards
Marius Goosen

 

[FJagr]

Who are you booked with and what animals are on your list.

Bob, I booked with Warthog Safaris...my package includes Zebra or Gemsbok, Blue Wildebeest, Impala, Warthog, and Blesbuck...plus any baboons or jackyls I see along the way if I want to shoot one.

NDBWHNTER, Warthog Safaris appears to have a very good capability for bowhunters, thus my inability to decide...I guess I can always take both and use both, or just one, depending how the spirit moves me....good thing I have 15 months to decide...

FJagr

 

[Bobpuckett]

FJagr hope you have really good luck was just checking out their website and there prices are a little steep for Limpopo but the animals in their gallery look good. Good Luck

 

[ndbwhnter]

FJagr,

If they have the experience then I say take both. Try your luck with the stick and string and if things aren't going your way by mid-week, then take out the boom stick and have some fun!

Good luck whatever you decide.

nd

 

[FJagr]

Thanks fellas, I sure am looking forward to it. I think I faired rather well with my package, but then again, I'm new to Africa so maybe not

As a package, is $4950 too much for the species I will be able to hunt? Not that it matters now and I really enjoyed meeting and speaking with Tienie in Harrisburg, PA in February...I felt very comfortable with him, his business, and everything I was able to gather....based on other package prices at the show, he was very comparable and as a person, we just clicked.

Another question fellas, how much should I plan for on the tip? Do I just tip the PH or the trackers/skinners, etc as well? I've heard many guys say they take things with them to give to the trackers (socks, knives, whatever...). As having once worked as a guide, I know that it is hard work taking care of a client and I really want them all to know I appreciate what they do for me...I do not want to slight them in any way.

Thanks guys!

 

[ndbwhnter]

Fjagr,

I would definitely plan on tipping the camp staff (skinners, trackers, cleaning staff, etc) as well as the cook. Before you do though check with your PH, because some outfitters don't want you to tip them directly. Where I went, they kept all their tips until the end of the year then distributed - they had their reasons which I felt were valid.

Also if/when I go back, I will definitely bring more clothing type stuff for my tracker. I left my tracker 2 hats, 2 pairs of gloves and 2 pairs of socks. I am 6'6" and 230 lbs and he was 5'4" and 150 lbs soaking wet, otherwise I probably would have left him much more, but none of it fit.

Also, if the trackers and skinners have kids that stay in camp or nearby, stop at a dollar store and pick up a bag of goodies for them too. You'll feel like a hero when you drop it off. My buddy did this and I wish I had.

I think this type of stuff means a lot to them too.

nd

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Fjagr,

I would definitely plan on tipping the camp staff (skinners, trackers, cleaning staff, etc) as well as the cook. Before you do though check with your PH, because some outfitters don't want you to tip them directly. Where I went, they kept all their tips until the end of the year then distributed - they had their reasons which I felt were valid.

Also if/when I go back, I will definitely bring more clothing type stuff for my tracker. I left my tracker 2 hats, 2 pairs of gloves and 2 pairs of socks. I am 6'6" and 230 lbs and he was 5'4" and 150 lbs soaking wet, otherwise I probably would have left him much more, but none of it fit.

Also, if the trackers and skinners have kids that stay in camp or nearby, stop at a dollar store and pick up a bag of goodies for them too. You'll feel like a hero when you drop it off. My buddy did this and I wish I had.

I think this type of stuff means a lot to them too.

nd

Excellent tips here! Trackers appeciate some goodies like an old pair of worn down hunting boots or an old hunting jacket. They appreciate this beyond our understanding.
Good tips nd!

Best Regards
Marius Goosen

 

[Bobpuckett]

Tipping

Now tipping is another ball game and Jerome has a good article on tipping to use as a guide line. But what I did is email the outfit that I was going to be hunting with my package was 4995.00 and I ask Greg what the tip should be, he emailed me back and said the average tip was 500 for the PH 100 for each tracker and driver and 100 for the staff to be shared that sounded good to me but I took extra just in case and I'm glad I did I have never seen people work so hard for you to enjoy yourself I doubled their tip. one other thing be sure to take some 5s 10s and 20s along for tipping at the airport and should you have to get extra help to get one of your animals out you can tip a few bucks to the guys that helped for the day. Good Luck

 

[Bobpuckett]

Excellent tips here! Trackers appeciate some goodies like an old pair of worn down hunting boots or an old hunting jacket. They appreciate this beyond our understanding.
Good tips nd!

Best Regards
Marius Goosen

Marius has made a good point those trackers love army BDU's from the army surplus store as well as army boots, I didn't know that when I went over and mailed some to them when I got back but it's better to take it over with you as luggage if you mail it to them I found out they have to pay tax on it as to it's Value.

 

[dwerner]

The most direct and easiest flight from the USA to Johannesburg is with South African Airways from JFK in NY. That flight arrives in Johannesburg in the morning at about 8;30am, while all the other direct flights arrive in the late afternoon. Then there are no flights to your destination, or you arrive very late in the evening, or you have to stay one night in a hotel in Johannesburg.

There is a lot of info on here about the various game species. You can also visit my website for info on game, habitats and rifles.