Please ... stop quoting RSA law as indicative of the continent as a whole.
Pedant! (That is you being called a name, by the way.)
I am under no illusions about the geography of the African continent, nor am I misleading anyone.
Don't mislead readers into thinking a PH is a cure-all, or that being without a PH anywhere is "illegal." .......
The RSA provinical laws are not indicative of a continent. However, they are most certainly indicative of the laws in destinations for the VAST MAJORITY of hunters who go to Africa. Namibia included. (You go look up the stats.)
If you want to hunt without a PH in any province in South Africa, you are quite free to do so.
Buy a farm, put critters on it and hunt your butt off. No PH required.
The same in Namibia. (This is an excellent plan for a first time hunter on a budget, as you save a lot on day rates and trophy fees. This is only suggested for those who did not pass grade three arithmetic.)
.............unqualified statements that hunting without a PH escort is "illegal," while true in RSA, is NOT universally true everywhere.
A Master Guide may be short of a PH, (a technicality of the law). However he/she is licensed under the LAW in that country to guide "clients".
A "client" can not hunt on their own in Namibia
nor can a client hunt on their own in: Benin, Burkina Faso, Congo Brazzaville, CAR, Cameroon, DRC, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, Malawi, Angola, Kenya.
....... and how many African countries offer reciprocity with such a license. That would be equally if not more educational.
Onward and upward for your edification. About reciprocal arrangements for PH licenses. There are few. Turf protection and trade restriction across international borders and indeed internal boundaries is rife.
- In my understanding: Mozambique and Tanzania recognize RSA licensure.
- Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, CAR, Congo Brazzaville and Uganda are likely candidates for reciprocity. Certainly if you are hired by a local outfitter.
- Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, not bloody likely. Turf protection. Neither are the lauded Zim PH licenses recognized in RSA.
- No where in North America or Europe will recognize any of them. Non Resident aliens can hunt on their own in very few places. I think Sweden might be free wheeling enough to allow it.
Similarly, educate readers about the "difficulties" in obtaining an RSA PH license, ........
Anyone thinking it is a breeze to pass the PH course in RSA, please do spend the two weeks and invest your time and energy. The majority do not pass. (If you really feel smart, do it in Afrikaans.) Of those that do pass, very few go on to finding a placement in the industry.
How many Outfitters trust their hard won clients to some wet ink certificate?
Do you wonder why the Zimbabwe has a different program? Do you think it restricts access to the industry? More qualified? Whatever.
All those trackers that have never gone past grade three know more than the PH's ever will and there are plenty of good PH's that freely admit it.
No sh&t!
..sorry, just couldn't let that one go. No disrespect to your fellow hunter, I am sure he regretted the decision.
