MOZAMBIQUE: Disappointing Hunt Booked With Hunt It All

[Christina Nyczepir]

Advertiseing and then selling something not available appears all too common in this industry. It happens world wide and is a fatal mistake by product sellers.

It is also one of the reasons I never use a booking agent and go direct with the PH.

I'm afraid I have to disagree with you. I won't hunt Africa without going through a U.S. Booking Agent. But with this qualifier....they have to be people I know personally or very highly recommended in the hunting industry....and have been in the business many years. I want that agent to be familiar with as many of the possible scams that can go on. And I feel its very foolish for African Outfitters to promote their business here in the States using someone that has just happened to hunt a few times in Africa and now feels that that somehow qualifies them to become a Hunting Agent. I know that makes it tough for new, up-and-coming Outfitters because good Agents will stay with the Outfits they have worked with for many years and can trust. I personally pay for peace of mind.

I appreciate posts like this one. Word of mouth advertising is still THE most powerful form of advertising out there. Also....report the cons to ALL the appropriate hunting organizations possible....especially where they may try to promote their businesses. (i.e. PHASA; DSC; SCI; NRA, etc.)

 

[Neil-PH]

I had forgotten about this forum, and only out of curiosity at googling MOZ UNLIMITED, did I bump into it again, and voila, this thread popped up !! I was one of the PH's contracted for the season.

What a shambolic organisation. Before I even met Terry I told him, via satellite phone, that this area could NOT be hunted commercially for a number of years, as game numbers were just not there. I was shocked when we received our hunts for the season, showing a number of Lion and Buffalo.

I read an earlier thread whereby a question was raised as to why the PH didn't tell the clients and not take them hunting. Well, to answer that, I most certainly did.....at the airport in Lichinga. I diplomatically told the guys they had a choice of either getting back on the plane and sorting the problem out with the owners OR they could join us in camp and shoot Sable, Eland, and perhaps Bushpig. I also mentioned that funds were sporadically made available to us, so catering often became a nightmare. I, at least, was honest with them and never hid a thing with respect to their expectations.

I did have ugly shouting matches with Terry, none more-so than the day he flew in to Lichinga, whilst clients were in camp. I had my suitcases packed as was ready to fly home and put as much distance between him and myself as was humanly possible. He convinced me to rethink my thoughts as things would turn around for the better. How wrong I was.

The area DID overlap other hunting blocks, and the odd skirmish between opposing PH's did occur. We would hunt the areas specified on maps given to us by Terry and the local Maua councillors, and were continually being told we had the right to the entire mapped area. To this day I maintain we hunted where we were told we could. The problems came about through mis-communication between Ministry of Agriculture and The Wildlife Department, two separate entities, one dishing out Coutada's and the other in charge of local districts. Suffice to say it was a mess, and designated areas were given to different operators without the two entities elaborating with each other. It came to light way after my departure that MOZ UNLIMITED SAFARIS were in fact only entitled to a small 10000 hectare piece of land. As a PH with over 25 years standing, I would never have involved myself with this crowd had I been privy to the truth, both, about the partners and the bullshit about the area.

I pride myself on an honest open relationship in all facets of life and consider a man's integrity as his passport to life itself.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Niel, thank you for the input.
Kak all the way around for hunters and PH's.

 

[Neil-PH]

Its become such a cut-throat industry, a far cry from the 1980's, nonetheless, an industry so reliant on honesty and integrity.

 

[siml]

Neil, I won't blame the PH's on the ground for not being sure of the area, but the so called owners knew far too well they were hunting in my area. The camp is roughly 24 kilometer into my area. The 10 000 hectare block is on my western boundary, there is a slight overlap. If you read my previous response you will understand. The confussion is between Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Tourism.

 

[Gordonuk]

I am sorry to hear about your hunt. I have hunter is SA for the last 10 years.
Some operators have been fine, some well have been not so good, and other have been poor.
My issue is what you can do about poor outfitters.

 

[BRICKBURN]

……………...
My issue is what you can do about poor outfitters.

Write about it, spread the word, report illegal activities, complain to association bodies, etc.
The more people that are made aware the less they are likely to be successful and will be out of business.
At worst there will be a reduction in business or other hunters will be educated about what to look for.

 

[siml]

For what it's worth... I corresponded with an outfitter in South Africa who responded once to this thread and was involved with these guys at first, but bailed out when they learned what they were up to.

He said exactly what has been stated here, that Cunliff was selling hunts for animals that did not exist in the concession. He said that area of Mozambique has been plagued with poachers, as Sergei stated he and his group witnessed, and that the plains game is virtually gone. In his opinion, hunting should be banned for about five years in that area to allow the game to recover. But this also would require strong enforcement, which doesn't seem to be a strong suit of the Mozambique Government. He stated it was as the PHs told the clients, that area right now is really only good for elephant, bushpigs and perhaps a couple other species, but that cape buffalo are nowhere in that area. You have to go several hundred miles north. He said he put too much trust into these guys and that he and his fellow African partner found themselves in a bad situation.

He said he and his partner bailed out of their partnership with Cunliff and his plumber friend as soon as they found he was booking such hunts and not heading their warnings against doing so. He said they lost their investment -- a fair amount of money up front to them (for what I'm not sure) -- but got out with their reputations in tact. In our string of private correpondance, the guy came across as very credible, and what he said, as a PH in Africa, corresponded with what Sergei was saying.

And like others have said herein, the fact that Mr. Cunliff won't bother to respond is just another nail in the coffin as far as I'm concerned. He's bailed out of the business and apparently doesn't care what people think. Well, guilty or not, the proponderance of the evidence herein lies with the disappointed client and former business partner. If he doesn't care what people think, then I don't think people ought to place much credibility with him or consider doing business with him. It's just a matter of consideration. were he still in business, the risk/benefit analysis would tell me avoid him. The fact that he's bailed out of the business without comment tells me he did his thing and bailed when it did work out. In my book, that's not the way to deal with a situation.

Anyway, just my two cents.

To top if off, was illegally hunting on another operators concession.

 

[CAustin]

Wow what a bad situation. Don't think I want to go to that country. Everything I hear about travel there indicates problems.

 

[Bobpuckett]

Wow what a bad situation. Don't think I want to go to that country. Everything I hear about travel there indicates problems.

Thats what the researching is about, we have several PH's and Outfitters right here on AH that I would gladly hunt Moz with anytime the only problem I have is with the ivory it can't be imported to the USA but they have Monster Crocs, and some damn good leopard areas.

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

CAustin, I understand your sentiment but have to side with Bob here we operate full time in Moz and SA, I for one do not sell buff in Moz as our area does not have adequate numbers...

Interestingly enough we are issued with quota on both areas but I know what is doable and not, we have enough of the other "wanted" species.

I truly believe that dishonest people will never change and that they prowl in all walks of life and all levels of industry from Hunting - insurance - medical field - wedding planners

My best always

 

[Buff-Buster]

+2 I'm with Jaco and Bob. Mozambique is a great country to hunt in. You just have to pick a trusted outfitter. They are no different than any of the other countries, there are good outfits and there are bad ones. A couple to trust are Jaco and also Grant Taylor with Mashambanzou. A good place to start would be to vet them out here on AH.

Hey Jaco - (Gonna hijack the thread a little) How about an update on that new little girl of yours? Hope she and momma are doing well. Are you bring the family over with you during the convention season?

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

Ha my friend they are doing very well, I have not had as much time with Lienke as I would have liked but that's the nature if the beast

Mom (Lindy) older sis (Carli) have had the best I have about a week to do some serious catch up work though!

As for the US, I'll have to have a chat with my bank manager.... (Lindy)!!!
Thanks for asking

My best always my friend

 

[Bobpuckett]

Hey Wes let's not leave out Spamer rumor has it Jacques has some good connects in Mos for Leopard and I hear he and his little Lady have one on the way. I guess J is going to have to add a new page "How to raise rugrats in Africa"

 

[Buff-Buster]

Hey Wes let's not leave out Spamer rumor has it Jacques has some good connects in Mos for Leopard and I hear he and his little Lady have one on the way. I guess J is going to have to add a new page "How to raise rugrats in Africa"

Ha! I guess we all know what Jaco and Jacques do when they finally get back home from the bush!!...lol

 

[Bobpuckett]

Ha! I guess we all know what Jaco and Jacques do when they finally get back home from the bush!!...lol

LOL what hit the bush?

 

[Buff-Buster]

LOL what hit the bush?

I'm not gonna go there....lol

 

[siml]

Does anyone know the outcome of the court case?