Help, I won a partially covered hunt (Nzou Hunting Safaris) in South Africa

[Philip Glass]

First of all where did you buy this hunt? This makes a big difference. None of us have heard of them.
I have been on one good donated safari and one bad one so the odds are not good for having a great first trip to Africa this way.
Ive had people completely dump their donated safari they bought and change plans after seeing the real costs and logistics. The packages and offers here on AH may cost you less.

 

[Dinsdale]

The fact that there is nothing on this forum about them and nothing on the web other than a very simple website sends up big red flags to me from the start.

Have to say the simple website is not as much a issue with me as the name of the PH isn't there. Just a vague client reference to "AB" in a quote.

That's a red flag for me as this is how poor outfits keep reinventing themselves with different business names and contact addresses. There's 2 that I know of that have done this frequently to avoid lousy reviews and shady dealings that a search would yield with their own names used.

If you don't want to personally put a name to your outfit it doesn't give me a feeling of confidence and I just move on.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

As everyone has said, you need to see the trophy price list. This is often on the outfitter's website but not always. Trophy fees are always changing for various reasons and many operators don't have the IT experience or time to keep changing their website whenever fees change. The trophy fee list will tell the tale. And yes, I'm thinking they will expect four hunters not one hunter and three tourists.

These package giveaways usually include a list of animals. I find this deal a bit suspicious because it doesn't list animals. Also finding your own way to the lodge from Joberg airport is downright weird ... and maybe hazardous! Every outfitter I've encountered or investigated specifies meeting clients and transport from the airport. For me this is a HUGE red flag. Reminds me of an AH member who was recently scammed by a woman outfitter in Mozambique. He showed up at the airport and no one there to pick him up. She had evaporated and he was stuck a couple of days trying to get a flight home.

I would also suggest contacting Professional Hunters Association of South Africa and see if they can tell you anything about this outfitter. How long have they been with the association, who are the PHs, their ages, etc.

Don't bother asking about fencing. That is pretty much a given in South Africa. Size of the properties matters more in my opinion.

 

[wesheltonj]

I looked at their website. If you are hunting in the Northwest Province that might be a great hunt, some large properties there. However, they are looking for 4 hunters tells me they are trying to make up the daily rates in Trophy Fees.

 

[Hogpatrol]

My 2¢, Anytime I view a website for RSA that has no prices and says "We tailor your hunt", I know it's out of my pay grade. Beside that, agree with others. You need three more hunters who are willing to take off two weeks and spend a pile of money, not knowing what to expect. More 2¢, "Run, Forrest, Run".

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

All the preceeding posts offer sage advice.
Don't worry, your situation is something we see on AH forum several times a year.

If I may offer additional guidance. Your wife and children come first. Does this PH/outfitter realize this?
This is not nitpicking. If you take a non-hunting wife with you the outfitter needs to cater to her happiness otherwise YOU will be miserable!

My wife accompanied me on a couple of hunts. One outfitter she will go back to happily and I will list that hunt report below. The other you don't want to hear her opinion!

Any Professional Hunter and outfitter needs to do these three things:
1. Be a very good hunter/guide
2. Run a very good business. This is what you asked about.
3. Have people skills. This is extra important with a wife as an observer. Adding children to a hunt multiplies this. Be careful!!!

If your gut tells you to walk away, offload this hunt and eat the money spent as a cost of gaining wisdom.

In South Africa, almost all outfitters figure in airport pickup and drop off into the cost of the hunt.
You outfitter did not. DANGER WILL ROBINSON! said robot...

Here is a two-phase hunt report of an outfitter I highly for catering to wives and families, and getting for a client hunter getting a square deal!:

A. PH taking me to hunt CBL lionesses in the Kalahari Desert

Thread 'SOUTH AFRICA: Kalahari Lionesses Hunt With Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS'

Oct 23, 2022

Expectations, we all have them. How often are ALL of one’s expectations fulfilled? For me, this was the case in my second hunt with Stuart Williams’ Tally Ho Safaris. Granted, my expectations were realistic based on much research and having hunted with Tally Ho a year prior. My wife tells me that I overthink everything. To that I respond, thinking is my superpower. I plan for the worst and hope for the best!

The background is that I hunted with Stuart and his PH Rudi Nel for four days last year enroute to a Zimbabwe elephant hunt. I came back to Tally Ho because they did everything right...

• Mark A Ouellette
• Replies: 14
• Forum: Hunting reports Africa

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B. Family hunt at Tally Ho Safaris in Limpopo with wife, and sister in law and hunband and kids.

Thread 'SOUTH AFRICA: Cull Hunt With Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS - October 2022'

Oct 23, 2022

Cull Hunt at @Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS – October 2022

I had arrived in SA on Sunday evening. We traveled to the Kalahari on Monday, hunted lionesses on Tuesday thru Thursday morning, and drove to Limpopo the remainder of Thursday. (See the thread Kalahari Lionesses with Tally Ho Safaris) The next seven days at Tally Ho would be a cull hunt for critters that Stuart had too many of. I had my trophies in the two lionesses. No self-imposed pressure now, just hunting for the pleasure of it.

Friday morning at Tally Ho, I verified my 375 and 458 were sighted in at 100...

• Mark A Ouellette
• Replies: 11
• Forum: Hunting reports Africa

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So far I've hunted with three different PH outfitters in South Africa and Zimbabwe. @Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS is the only one for who I write splended things.

There are of course other outfitters that may be as good as Tally Ho. I hope that all AH sponsors are! Read the Hunting reports Africa forum and see if you find PH's that you want to talk to about a hunt.

Hunting reports Africa

www.africahunting.com

Here are a few first hunter packages that are listed in the AH Deals and Offers forums:

Deals & offers

Hunts offered or wanted.

www.africahunting.com

Thread 'First Time To Africa Plains Game Hunt With EXECUTIVE HUNT AFRICA!!'

Dec 21, 2024

This is an exiting hunting package for the hunter who visits South Africa in 2025 for the first time - although available for EVERYONE!

This will take place in the Molopo, Kalahari from our newly erected tented camp - also an introduction to our new, exciting hunting area!
You will stay excusively at camp and experience nature as close as you can get!

10 day Safari:
8 x hunting days
2 x travel days

Animals:
1 x Impala
1 x Blesbuck
1 x Springbuck
1 x Duiker
1 x Bue Wildebeest
1 x Zebra
1 x Gemsbuck
1 x Jackal night hunt - FREE!

TOTAL cost of package: US$7990 all incl. with no hidden...

• EXECUTIVE HUNT AFRICA
• executive hunt africa free hunting gemsbuck hunting hunting kalahari impala luxurious tented camp north west province plains game hunt springbuck zebra hunting
• Replies: 1
• Forum: Deals & offers

• 

Thread 'Exclusive Beginners Trophy Hunting Package With TROPHY DESTINATIONS'

Monday at 12:39 AM

Exclusive Beginners Trophy Hunt Package - $2,500!



Join us for an unforgettable hunting adventure in the breath-taking Karoo of South Africa!



This package includes:

• 1 Trophy Common Springbuck

• 1 Trophy Common Blesbuck

• 1 Trophy Common Impala

• 5 Full Days of Hunting

• 1 Arrival Day & 1 Departure Day

1x1 $2,500
2x1 $2,000

Hunting Area Highlights:

Experience the thrill of the hunt just 3 hours south of Bloemfontein on a sprawling 70,000+ acre low-fence, free-range farm. This vast expanse of pristine South African wilderness offers...

• TROPHY DESTINATIONS
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Deals & offers

• 

Thread 'Starter Plains Game Hunt Package With HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS US$3,000'

Jul 30, 2023

Here with is our special Starter Plains game Package for AH

These hunts will take place on our main hunting area, using the Wild Goose luxury lodge near Schweizer-Reneke as base camp (about 4,5 Hours from Johannesburg).

Included in the hunt:

- 6 nights 5 full hunting days

- 1 x Blesbok Trophy

- 1 x Springbok trophy

- 1 x Impala Trophy

- 1 x Blue Wildebees Trophy

- 1 x Free night time Jackal and porcupine hunt

- 1 x Free female cull animal - Blesbok female/Sprinbuck female/warthog female (species will be determent by time of year and availability)

- 1 x full day or half...

• HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
• Replies: 115
• Forum: Deals & offers

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[spike.t]

When bidding or booking a hunt regardless of location. The client should also inquire as to the number of hunting days to total days of their trip.

The OP has stated a 10 day hunting trip. Is it 10 hunting days or 8 or 9 hunting days plus the arrival and departing days?

Some outfitters offer x number of days. Included in this number are the client's arrival and/or departure days, reducing the actual number of hunting days. Some outfitters offer x number of days but do not include arrival and/or departure days.

Case in point:

Outfitter A: I am booked with one outfitter for 7 days total. Five hunting days/nights. The daily rate is for 6 nights as there is no charge for departure day.

Outfitter B: Another outfitter I am booked with is for 12 days total. Daily rate fees are for 10 hunting days. No daily rates for arrival or departure days.

Next is hunt cancelation or postponement; At what if any costs?.

Some outfitters may allow a client to postpone their dates under circumstances as long as the hunt is booked within the same year without the client forfeiting their deposit or other penalty.

Some outfitters may refund only a portion of the client's deposit or payment.

Then there are outfitters such as my Outfitter B that will work with a client at no penalty to reschedule a client's hunt or offers a 100% full refund up to the time the client boards the plane to Africa.

All I can say is outfitter B must be pumping a lot of hunters through if he is going to give you a 100% refund up to when you about to get on the plane....I have already spent a lot of money on supplies fuel etc for the hunt by then...am sure he is in SA.....I only charge for hunting days....and would never offer a hunt to be sold to any of these organisations....but hunters x4....means 4 people hunting as he wants to maximise his takings.....but up to him how he works it with you....and also I have seen on here where people with x4 hunters can't actually find any of their friends..associates who want to join them.....as said to be blunt you should have done a bit more thinking before bidding....especially as from what I understand you have said in your original post ....this is a significant spend for you ....so do your sums....and also as said if it's going to cause you issues...walk away and swallow it rather than ending up stressed and in the shit.....

 

[sureshot375]

I found this posted on Facebook. It has some information that might help someone here figure out who these people are. I’ve never heard of them, which doesn’t mean much.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

@Blaine0023 to follow-up my previous comments and everyone else’s I’ve been on multiple donated/auction hunts in Africa. I’ve had good and bad donated/auction hunts. Blindly bidding on and going on ann Auction Hunt won from DSC is what really got me bit by the African bug.

IMO the key to a good auction hunt is doing research prior to the auction/donation and speaking to the outfitter. Speak to the organization and see who’s been on the hunt, and what other hunts they’ve done as comparisons. Someone who’s only ever hunted Africa with a single outfitter or in a single country might have a great experience but doesn’t have a comparison to see if they’re missing something elsewhere. The national SCI & DSC shows tend to have a more reputable list of donors offering hunts, and many are given in exchange for their booth space or advertising. Some of the local chapters and other organizations/events that get held around the country are where I think a lot of the issues arise. Those organizations mean well, but I feel the money raised at the auction takes precedence, and a lot of time the board members don’t have the same experience or knowledge on African hunting and outfitters.

Dont let all the comments deter you. Do some research, PM a couple of members and get their opinions once you’ve done some research, and have some pricing in hand. Everyone on AH wants you to have the time of your life and fall in love with Africa the way they did. You only ever get 1 First Safari.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I found this posted on Facebook. It has some information that might help someone here figure out who these people are. I’ve never heard of them, which doesn’t mean much.

View attachment 655413

I was thinking that four hunters could negotiate pickup at Tambo by outfitter and offer to pay daily PH rate for one hunter. That would be fair enough. However, $500 seems a bit high. Most daily rates are in the neighborhood of $300.

 

[wesheltonj]

Using Google maps, the office appear to be the outfitters/PH house.

 

[375Fox]

I was thinking that four hunters could negotiate pickup at Tambo by outfitter and offer to pay daily PH rate for one hunter. That would be fair enough. However, $500 seems a bit high. Most daily rates are in the neighborhood of $300.

$500 is a very standard pick up charge if there is one.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Using Google maps, the office appear to be the outfitters/PH house.

In town right?

 

[mdwest]

$18000 value placed on accomidation/PH services/airport drop off, etc..etc.. seems very high for RSA unless we're talking a 5 star type lodge with exquisite meals served, etc..etc.. or perhaps a DG specific safari..

Thats essentially $450 per day, per person...

There are certainly lodges in RSA that charge those sort of rates (and are worth every penny to the people that frequent them).. but most of them are very well established and very well known I think..

None of this means I would automatically waive off this hunt... If youve already got accomidation covered for your party, great.. thats a cost you dont have to worry about...

But it would make me want to look very hard at the trophy price list to make sure that its not also inflated.. or to confirm whatever the going rate is for whatever animals Im interested in is "worth it" (I might be willing to pay a premium if I knew for example this particular place had rowland ward quality kudu or SCI gold nyala available... or if I knew I'd be hunting on a really large property... but Im not personally going to be interested in paying an inflated rate for "good representation of the species" on a small to medium sized piece of property where the experience is more of a "shoot" than a "hunt"...

For me.. if I were in the situation that the OP is in.. I think it would be worth a call to the outfitter just to feel out what I thought about things.. If I thought there was going to be a high pressure sale situation where Im going to be pushed to buy a lot of animals Im not interested in or cant afford.. or if I got wind of any sort of unprofessionalism, I'd probably hit the pause button....

But... if the guy on the other end of the phone seems reasonable and honest.. and is willing to let me hunt what I want and what I can afford, and was just trying to get someone onto the property to hunt and also do a good thing by donating an auction hunt.. then why not go and enjoy yourself?

If budget is a major concern, maybe ask about an opportunity to do some culls, or inquire about a "beginner" package and consider hunting some affordable animals like impala, blesbok, warthog, etc.. If the outfitter is open to this, then frankly getting 10 days of accomidation covered for you and 3 hunting buddies could be the deal of the century..

 

[leslie hetrick]

i have hunted africa 6 times since 2013, due to having a very good friend( knew his parents before he was born) who is married to a african women and have hunted mostly on privite ranches with him and i would never go on a won hunt no matter who was selling it, but thats just me. i never had any problems at all and have taken many animals on the hunts.

 

[375Fox]

i have hunted africa 6 times since 2013, due to having a very good friend( knew his parents before he was born) who is married to a african women and have hunted mostly on privite ranches with him and i would never go on a won hunt no matter who was selling it, but thats just me. i never had any problems at all and have taken many animals on the hunts.

It’s also technically illegal for a nonresident to hunt without a PH and outfitter. Most people don’t have the option you described.

 

[mdwest]

FWIW Ive done quite a few "auction" hunts (maybe a dozen at this point?).. two of them were "ok" experiences... I wouldnt particularly seek those outfitters out again, but we did have a nice time, were treated ok, etc.. only one of those hunts did we have an outfitter push really hard for us to "buy" more than what was won.. and even then they were polite about it.. you could tell they were very concerned about revenue though (this was coming right off the tail end of covid, and this particular country shut down for 2 full seasons before letting international hunters back in).. and we were more than happy to oblige (we had saved and planned on buying an additional animal or two since it was unlikely this would be a destination we would return to later)...

all the rest of the auction hunts we've been involved in have been exceptional.. and all of them were excellent bargains (we typically bid very low on several hunts at DSC every year and target things that we dont think will get a whole lot of attention or bidding... we're not very picky and are just as happy winning a deer hunt in Ireland as a dove hunt in Argentina as a duck hunt in Peru, etc.. we just enjoy traveling and hunting.. so whatever we win is just fine with us)...

As such, we'll continue to bid on auction hunts every year... I know not everyone is a big fan.. but they have worked out really well for us over and over again..

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I was thinking that four hunters could negotiate pickup at Tambo by outfitter and offer to pay daily PH rate for one hunter. That would be fair enough. However, $500 seems a bit high. Most daily rates are in the neighborhood of $300.

The pick-up rate likely depends on the distance to and from the airport. You're accounting for RT cost of Fuel, Tolls, Parking Fees, and the Drive's Time.

$500 is what I've seen many times for Jburg and $300 for a RT transfer to and from a more local airport like Polokwane, Kimberly, Hoedspruit, etc

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I found this posted on Facebook. It has some information that might help someone here figure out who these people are. I’ve never heard of them, which doesn’t mean much.

View attachment 655413

It looks like it might be a newer company, there's 3 or 4 recent Donations, and raffles that have happened this month.

 

[eshift]

how did you come about "winning" this trip? auction? sportsman's dinner?