Is it currently safe to take a Limpopo safari?

[Erny]

Yes but the review was a post and ghost never to be seen again.

 

[Royal27]

They cropped up before and got a glowing report:
Post in thread 'SOUTH AFRICA: Has Anyone Hunted With Ngwarati Safaris?'
https://www.africahunting.com/threa...unted-with-ngwarati-safaris.55699/post-695867

You notice that glowing report was from a member who joined that day to give the glowing report and hasn't visited AH since ?

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Yes but the review was a post and ghost never to be seen again.

Hmmm, this whole story is not looking good.

 

[Hunter4752001]

Never a good sign if the Sheriff is auctioning your property on behalf of a bank.

Property ON Auction in Umkomaas, Umkomaas | SA Sheriff

Property for Sale at a Sheriff Auction in Umkomaas, Umkomaas. Brought to you by SA Sheriff

www.sasheriff.co.za

 

[fourfive8]

These type stories keep popping up over and over, year after year!. Usually same scenario. "I won an auction or made a whiz bang DEAL!!!" Then something goes south. Then a "one of" poster comes on and writes a glowing review of the PH or outfitter in question.

Go enjoy your trip that is a go and run from this outfit as fast as you can!! Hope you can get any deposit back you may have paid. If not and if it is a relatively small amount, just walk away from it and call it the price of education. As @Kevin Peacocke posted, even if you go with this outfit, bad blood has already been created and the tension will not make for an enjoyable trip.

 

[DWB]

Look, the reality is Covid is causing havoc in some of the smaller communities and it might very well be that where he intended on taking you the operation has come to a stand still. Many local hunters' hunts are being affected by it as well where farmers either cancel due to covid or because someone in the group suddenly got it.

Add to that a year without income for some PHes followed by another year of limited income and uncertainty with clients having to pull out on short notice etc, not everyone could manage it.

But in a situation like that, just be truthful.

PS the threat of 23 August did make mainstream news

New plan to bring South Africa to its knees on Monday 23 August

Instigators behind the violence and unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng have a new plan to attack the police and military to steal firearms and ammunition, a new report alleges.

mybroadband.co.za

But as I say, I think it's a bluff.... well I hope so

 

[Jörg Krüger]

Look, the reality is Covid is causing havoc in some of the smaller communities and it might very well be that where he intended on taking you the operation has come to a stand still. Many local hunters' hunts are being affected by it as well where farmers either cancel due to covid or because someone in the group suddenly got it.

Add to that a year without income for some PHes followed by another year of limited income and uncertainty with clients having to pull out on short notice etc, not everyone could manage it.

But in a situation like that, just be truthful.

PS the threat of 23 August did make mainstream news

New plan to bring South Africa to its knees on Monday 23 August

Instigators behind the violence and unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng have a new plan to attack the police and military to steal firearms and ammunition, a new report alleges.

mybroadband.co.za

But as I say, I think it's a bluff.... well I hope so

I agree with the Covid part, but calling sabotage at a power station and rioting (Which is simply not true) reasons not to come..... Lets call this what it is and not beat around the bush. It's a scam. As sad as it it is, but it happens and I absolutely hate that this shit happening in a otherwise good community. I have been cought once with a scammer(builder) and believe me I hate these people. I wish them the worst of luck + a bad case of Covid to the max extreem.

 

[Frederik]

I'm sure there are a lot of outfitters on this forum that can help you out with extra hunting days or just chat to your outfitter that you have booked with to add some more.

His excuses are scetchy but as a business owner to pronounce difficulty in his business might get all his booked clients who are paying normal rates to cancel. Being honest in his first comms would have been the way to go.

The explosion at the power Station was an accident due to imcompentence Limpopo is not ZUMA country come and have fun, the oufitter who you booked your second hunt with needs it.

 

[Red Leg]

@BRICKBURN has offered you the very best suggestion. It will take you twenty seconds to write the email and burns no bridges if there are legitimate issues.

 

[BigGame]

In my younger days I would lean on this outfitter almost mafia style offering no quarter. After years of banging my hard head, I've learned that he is telling you something but not directly. You may not want to find out what he is hiding... It would be best to move to another outfitter. (quickly) I would keep my flights and work hard to find another reputable outfitter and book a hunt for those dates. There is always another who would be willing to provide you with a hunt of a lifetime. Also, thank the outfitter for his communication, express your disappointment, and explain to him that you'll be notifying the folks who organized this hunt of the outcome of your conversation. Go enjoy Africa and don't let him spoil your opportunity! Finding time has always been the only reason that has kept me from returning year after year. Good luck!

 

[Jörg Krüger]

Seing that this was a "free hunt" and all alarm bells are ringing , I find it actually noble of the outfitter to warn. I might not have been right with my previous aggressive post but I would not plan to buy my airplane tickets

 

[R.M.C.]

Ummm..... If the banks taking your land, its gonna be tough to "strong arm" the guy into taking you on a hunt. Sounds like its not happening either way. I wouldn't wanna hunt somewhere I was totally unwelcome.

 

[fourfive8]

Out of curiosity I did a basic search of this outfit on the net. Alarm bells started ringing from the get go. Huge footprint on the net- meaning a lot of promotion across various venues. Deals, auctions, references, lots of pics, overcooked descriptions…. and so on. A clue maybe?

 

[Erny]

Send the email that Brickburn suggested....As others have said start looking for another outfitter immediately or get with the other one you have booked and extend the number of days with him if possible. There are a lot of outfitters in the Limpopo area that are desperate for clients. You should have no problems finding another.

On another note......I stopped buying hunts at charity auctions years ago. You may have learned the hard way like I did. Treat this as a learning experience and move on.

 

[JimP]

The last hunt that I won at a Sportsman's Show, I ended up reporting the outfitter to the Attorney General in Colorado and within a couple of months he was completely out of business. He was running a typical bait and switch. You won the hunt but that was it. You had to supply your own food and lodging among other things that a outfitter would supply.

I have yet to hear of a hunt that was won at a auction or given away as a prize being legitimate.

 

[Royal27]

I have yet to hear of a hunt that was won at a auction or given away as a prize being legitimate.

I wouldn't go that far.

I've known clients that have had great auction hunts and respected outfitters who offer them. The problems usually occur when due diligence is not performed beforehand and clients assume that because the offer is through "Organization X" that the outfitter has been vetted when they absolutely 100% are NOT vetted.

 

[WAB]

I wouldn't go that far.

I've known clients that have had great auction hunts and respected outfitters who offer them. The problems usually occur when due diligence is not performed beforehand and clients assume that because the offer is through "Organization X" that the outfitter has been vetted when they absolutely 100% are NOT vetted.

Agreed, we bought two hunts that we put in front and behind our 2019 Dande buffalo hunt. We paid a sum total of $1,800 for 13 hunting days inclusive of lodging/trophy fees/etc.. One was in Limpopo, the other Otavi, Namibia. I am not much of a PG hunter, but I must say that these were both excellent hunts.

 

[Missourihunter]

This is just one more problem with a hunt that was won at __________ you fill in the blank area with any group or organization that you want

Send the email that Brickburn suggested....As others have said start looking for another outfitter immediately or get with the other one you have booked and extend the number of days with him if possible. There are a lot of outfitters in the Limpopo area that are desperate for clients. You should have no problems finding another.

On another note......I stopped buying hunts at charity auctions years ago. You may have learned the hard way like I did. Treat this as a learning experience and move on.

This is the first time I have been burned buying one on an auction. I have had four very good hunts that I bought at charity aUnctions. This however is the first African hunt I bought at an auction and my first African hunt.

 

[Missourihunter]

I wouldn't go that far.

I've known clients that have had great auction hunts and respected outfitters who offer them. The problems usually occur when due diligence is not performed beforehand and clients assume that because the offer is through "Organization X" that the outfitter has been vetted when they absolutely 100% are NOT vetted.

The problem for me was he had what seemed to be a good internet presence when I bought the hunt in 2020 before covid hit.

 

[Royal27]

The problem for me was he had what seemed to be a good internet presence when I bought the hunt in 2020 before covid hit.

And a presence doesn't mean diddly.....

That was my exact point on vetting. Can't assume an outfitter is good because they advertise etc, no matter where they advertise.

Appreciate you sharing. It is how others learn!