Newb to African hunting won a trip.?

[Jacobo2012]

Good afternoon, I recently won an auction hunt with numzaan safaris, I have never been and am
Wanting to go experience AH. Has anyone gone with numzaan? I’m still in the stages of trying to get with our local rep to work out details and see how everything actually works before scheduling. Anyone have any experiences with this outfitter? And the hunting in Limpopo?

 

[Mekaniks]

to AH.
Lots of good information around here. Dont be afraid to ask questions as you start planning

I have not hunted with Numzaan but have talked to several people that have and they were happy.
I am sure there are some folks around here that have hunted with them.

 

[wesheltonj]

I know they donate a lot of hunts. The trophy fees look to be a little on the high side. But $900 for a Baboon and $900 for a jackal is outrageous expensive. Most places those are free unless specifically targeting them.

 

[375Fox]

If you search and select titles only for “Numzaan” it will bring up several reports.

There is some information in this thread that would benefit you. Winning a trip is usually more of a marketing strategy than any cost savings. I’d try and narrow down what you are looking for in a trip before you settle on Numzaan. The cost is likely the same whether you “win” a trip or pay for it. The difference is one option the outfitter tells you what you get. The other you can tell the outfitter what you want and select what is best for you.

J

Thread 'Just won a 10 day trip Need Advice'

Feb 17, 2025

Just this past weekend I won a 10 day 2 animal safari with Hercules Safaris. I am beyond excited. This was something I was planning on doing in the next 5 years but it looks likes my plans are moving forward faster than I expected. This is my first post on here but I have been reading for quite sometime. Now that the dream is starting to become reality I have so many questions and so much to learn quickly. I am still waiting on the information they are sending regarding dates and arrangements. I am hoping to get some feedback from you guys/gals on some of my first questions. Thank you for...

• jb1069
• Replies: 120
• Forum: Introductions & greets

• 

 

[rookhawk]

Winning a safari is like when your kid tells you they "won a seat" at a tier-1 university. Sounds great for the winner at first, but neither wins are free.

I don't know anything about the safari operator in question but a $900 baboon is a scam hunt in my opinion, its why I hate when people "win" safaris. A baboon is typically free on a wild free-range hunt and it might cost $50 behind a fenced operation. That's just insane price gouging. What we've learned is that the scams either have fair-priced trophy fees and nickel-and-dime you on daily rates and transport fees, OR as the case here, your daily rates may be cheap/free but you're paying 10x fair market value for every animal hunted. The net result is you're probably going to be paying elephant/lion/leopard wilderness dangerous game safari prices for a rather pedestrian hunt behind a fence.

Caveat emptor.

 

[Rare Breed]

I was extremely lucky on my raffle won Rhino dart hunt with @wintershoek Safaris. It truly was free and I opted to take four cull animals and one trophy with no pressure felt for anything more. The key is to ask what did you win…meaning I am guessing day rates and 2-3 animals free. Confirm this. Then ask for a price list for all other animals. Don’t hesitate to ask for a cull animal cost list given this is your first trip to Africa…the cull hunt will be the exact experience of a trophy hunt for far less

 

[K-man]

Hello and welcome!
If you really want help from our members, please post a screenshot of the details of your "win" with names and contact numbers redacted, of course. Then you won't get a thousand different scenarios of how it should or could work, and we can tell you where the numbers lie. Will save a LOT of time and unnecessary questions. Good luck with your hunt and enjoy Africa!

 

[Mountaineous]

I just returned from a trip with Numzaan a few days ago. We had a fantastic time and were well taken care of. We were on a ranch of around 7000 acres in the Limpopo. It had mountains and lots of terrain, so it felt bigger. Especially with the brush and grass being as thick as it currently is. Our PH was great and went out of his way to get my 6 year old his first big game animals (a springbok and blesbok). We did go to a smaller ranch that was a little flatter and more open for my son to hunt his animals, which was more conducive to someone his age being successful. Our accommodations and food were also excellent, and better than I expected.

 

[Mountaineous]

Here is a sunset pic looking down from the upper lodge onto the property we were staying on and hunting.

 

[375er]

I just returned from a trip with Numzaan a few days ago. We had a fantastic time and were well taken care of. We were on a ranch of around 7000 acres in the Limpopo. It had mountains and lots of terrain, so it felt bigger. Especially with the brush and grass being as thick as it currently is. Our PH was great and went out of his way to get my 6 year old his first big game animals (a springbok and blesbok). We did go to a smaller ranch that was a little flatter and more open for my son to hunt his animals, which was more conducive to someone his age being successful. Our accommodations and food were also excellent, and better than I expected.

7000 acres in Africa is postage stamp. Glad you enjoyed the hunt!

 

[Paul K]

Good afternoon, I recently won an auction hunt with numzaan safaris, I have never been and am
Wanting to go experience AH. Has anyone gone with numzaan? I’m still in the stages of trying to get with our local rep to work out details and see how everything actually works before scheduling. Anyone have any experiences with this outfitter? And the hunting in Limpopo?

I also had a similar experience at an SCI auction here in Ohio. The hunt I won was for 7 day plains game hunt with Shepe Safaris in the N.W. Province, SA. It included my wife as an observer, 7 full days hunting, trophy fees on 5 animals. I added 3 more hunting days and we took 11 trophies, my wife took 2 at the daily observer rate. I have been to Africa 3 times and will probably not be able to go back, but that safari with Cobus and Marlene Mouton of Tshepe Safaris was the most memorable and enjoyable time of our lives. I can speak from experience that there are many people out there that are out to take advantage, but they are in the minority, do not let the nay sayers dampen your excitement,enjoy your adventure.

Paul

 

[Mountaineous]

7000 acres in Africa is postage stamp. Glad you enjoyed the hunt!

Yeah, I realize that. But for a tame family trip it for the bill, and met my expectations for where we were heading. My point being that the various streams, mountains, and thick vegetation made it feel a lot bigger than a similar acreage of something more flat and open.

 

[rookhawk]

I also had a similar experience at an SCI auction here in Ohio. The hunt I won was for 7 day plains game hunt with Shepe Safaris in the N.W. Province, SA. It included my wife as an observer, 7 full days hunting, trophy fees on 5 animals. I added 3 more hunting days and we took 11 trophies, my wife took 2 at the daily observer rate. I have been to Africa 3 times and will probably not be able to go back, but that safari with Cobus and Marlene Mouton of Tshepe Safaris was the most memorable and enjoyable time of our lives. I can speak from experience that there are many people out there that are out to take advantage, but they are in thein the minority, do not let the nay sayers dampen your excitement,enjoy your adventure.

Paul

You may be right @Paul K but I'd have to ask this: If people are naive and go on a first safari that the seasoned hunters think might be disappointing, yet the customer thinks its "normal", how would the customer know that it is normal?

This is why word of mouth and expert advice becomes handy. I find that a lot of testimonials from first-timers may be misguided because they don't have a baseline to contrast it against.

I think without any exceptions, every person that I know that has hunted RSA and then has hunted wilderness areas in Zim/Zam/Bots/Moz/Tanz thereafter has had the same sentiment: "I paid way too much for way too little on my first safari".

 

[375er]

Yeah, I realize that. But for a tame family trip it for the bill, and met my expectations for where we were heading. My point being that the various streams, mountains, and thick vegetation made it feel a lot bigger than a similar acreage of something more flat and open.

Glad you enjoyed it and had a good hunt.

 

[Paul K]

I think without any exceptions, every person that I know that has hunted RSA and then has hunted wilderness areas in Zim/Zam/Bots/Moz/Tanz thereafter has had the same sentiment: "I paid way too much for way too little on my first safari"

I'm not saying not to do some serious home work, absolutely. As I did on mine, especially on my first 21 day safari with HHK in Zim. I was excited and worried at the same time and wasn't sure about anything. Did all the booking myself. Settled on HHK / Graham Hingeston and PH Lou Hallamore through word of mouth.

 

[Paul K]

Welcome to AH

 

[Jacobo2012]

 

[sureshot375]

Welcome!!!

I’ll pop in just to say I really dislike this business model.

You didn’t win anything. It’s a marketing scheme and they will get the money out of you elsewhere.

Treat is as a sign it’s time to go to Africa, and start doing your research. Book with a reputable outfitter.

 

[375Fox]

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You unfortunately didn’t win anything. They are giving you “free” daily rates as a marketing ploy, but their price list is extremely high. $500 credit doesn’t begin to offset the difference from market rates. Most outfitters in Limpopo are operating on a similar model. They hunt different landowner’s properties for the animals they need. Most aren’t exclusive access. I’d price out a few other outfitters plan for around 1 animal a day to find the outfitters you think best fit for you. $900 for a baboon is unheard of. Also plan on around $100 per animal and $1500 to ship and $1500 to clear to get your trophies home. Better to do it right from the start to get most value out of the money you spend.

 

[JimP]

If you really want to go to Africa take a look at the sponsors on the forum here, quite a few offer package deals for a number of animals with a number of days. With no hidden fees.

My last hunt was $6500 and 10 days which included 12 animals. The price has increased to just over $7000 but you cant beat it.