SOUTH AFRICA: KoringKoppie Hunting Safaris *Warning* Stay Away

[Zambezi]

On the back of Mtn Infantry's post (which has a lot of merit) and the OP's report which I "feel" is an accurate report of the hunt I think the following is pertinent:

When you are in someone else's backyard they have the upper hand. One lone hunter and his girlfriend against 2 sullen and aggressive men is not a situation where you can always feel like you can simply say "no"... the PH displayed enough aggression and indifference that the OP was trying to make the best of a hostile situation. To the point that he wasn't even sure he'd get a ride back to civilization. It was enough of a shit show that passing on the penned reedbuck probably would have escalated the already hostile situation. It sounds like this is a shitty mom and pop operation with a less than healthy population of animals to offer their clients.

Secondly, to all the PH / outfitters out there, you are not only selling a list of animals to kill you are selling a once in a lifetime EXPERIENCE. That includes the killing but also every single thing that goes with it. From the very first email/call to waving the hunter goodbye. In fact often more if you are arranging or involved with the packing and taxidermy etc etc.

This outfit failed in both regards. Absolutely failed. To the point where once again RSA is being slandered as a shitty shooting pen destination and that Limpopo hunting is "all the same"

So unless the PH/outfitter comes up with earth shattering new evidence, I'd say he has let the paying customer down, himself down and pretty much the hunting fraternity in RSA. I could unpick and unpack every failure of this operation but we all know how shoddy it is because we all know (and experienced) how it is supposed to be done.

 

[Creigh]

Unbelievable. I've come across some difficult PHs but nothing like this. I've also had disputes on pricing after the fact, those are never nice. I know it's not always possible but having your own rifle is a massive win. Hired rifles, especially from a working farm is a 50/50 affair. You never know if it's beat up or even zero'd after it's bounced around in the back of a truck. If I had a hunt coming up I would have told you to get on a plane and get here. Man, this is a bad look.

 

[Hogpatrol]

In my experience, those animals are all culls.

 

[FlyGuy]

It’s unfortunate this type was hunt is associated with PHASA. Doesn’t sound like outfitter knows what being a professional is.

PHASA is far from the organisation it used to be.

 

[Hunt anything]

In my experience, those animals are all culls.

The warthog was definitely old looking and wasn’t going to get any better. the impala could go either way, some people like the diamond shape but I prefer a goal post look with parallel or flared out tips. A trophy is always in the eye of the beholder. JMO again.

 

[WAB]

It sounds like you have a very bad hunt and were trying to make the best of it from your point of view. I’ve been on a hunt where the outfitter was preoccupied with other things and it impacted the hunt.

I personally wouldn’t mind hearing the PH/Outfitters side of the story. As with everything there are two sides. I’m not saying your side isn’t correct or that you were the nightmare client with unrealistic expectations they could never make happy, just that everyone has their own version and then there’s the truth that generally lies somewhere in between. From your photos I’m not super impressed with the trophy quality or hunting from the truck in the breeding pen. I’m not someone who’s going to just “go along” because I think it’ll ruin the rest of the hunt. I’ve had to speak up to an outfitter or two and had no issues. Communication is key, and if I’m not happy about something they can’t fix it unless they know.

The yelling ….. unprofessional/wrong. Sounds like everyone was pretty emotionally charged. I think the outfitter was upset because he was of the mindset you pulled the trigger and you should’ve known on the waterbuck. I think he had a different view on the giraffe and his views/ethics were different than your views. Not saying either of your views/ethics are wrong. Seems like you felt a little pressured on the reedbuck and some other species and weren’t happy with some other facets of the hunt which might’ve tarnished some parts of your hunt/experience. I’ll reiterate, his handling of it was wrong even if he thought you were wrong, two wrongs don’t make a right.

I agree with you on the observer portion. Did you ever express this to him?

I wouldn’t have liked other stuff taking priority over my hunt, sometimes things can’t be avoided, other times they can.

There were a few comments you made Pre-Hunt that raised a few flags with me. I’ve done several auction hunts including some in Africa. I try to go into auction hunts with a lower expectation or standard and generally the standard I have for full priced hunts met or exceeded. Ive had one bad auction hunt but the hunting itself was actually pretty good.


I differ from a few people on a couple things and this is where I’d like the outfitters side ….

1) I understand not liking the idea of the PH finishing your giraffe, BUT I also understand not wanting an animal to suffer longer than it needs. Your PH had seen you shoot previously, Giraffe can be extremely tough animals to kill specially when wounded and maybe he was forced to make a decision, maybe he was being spiteful, maybe it was his rule. I’ve heard some horror stories about wounded giraffes and the goat ropes that ensue chasing them. He might’ve been trying to avoid this, I wasn’t there so I’m not going to armchair quarterback his decision. Head shooting it and ruining the skull when he was already down I 100% think crossed the line. A PH knows the anatomy and could’ve put another insurance shot in him elsewhere.

2) Waterbuck …. You saw it multiple times, if you didn’t look at the horns that’s on YOU. You pulled the trigger. You were trusting your PH on whether or not he was mature, but your PH can’t know if you’ll be happy with him. Seeing the other photos and looking a little closer he does look a little more mature than I first thought from your hanging picture. Your PH can’t read your mind on what shape you like. He could’ve overheard you make the comment about not liking ugly or odd horns if he wasn’t doing his firewood, or he might not have overheard it if he wasn’t on the phone because the comment wasn’t made to him. YOU’RE the hunter, YOU’RE responsible for communicating what YOU want and for not pulling the trigger unless YOU’RE happy with the animal. You said you’re a duck hunter mainly, do you just shoot any bird out of a flock or do you ID them first? What if you’re hunting and you’ve already got your 1 duck down for a species like a Black Duck or Pintail that has a smaller bag limit than the overall bag limit. Do you just shoot at a mixed flock or pick a specific bird out? Ground shrinkage is real, if we all could not pay a trophy fee or crab walk backwards after pulling the trigger outfitters would go bankrupt. It’d happen left and right. Guys would call trophies a cull to them. It sounds like your PH did work hard to get you that animal. It sounds like they made you out to be the bad guy to the other hunter as shown by his comment. As I said there are two sides to every story but IMO you’re ending something’s life it’s on you to make sure that reason is justified, which in this case is being happy with the trophy shape, not size.

3) Reedbuck … no one held a gun to your head forcing you to pull the trigger. If you didn’t want something from a breeding pen or a truck speak up. Tell the PH thanks, but if we can’t hunt on foot let’s spend more time looking for Black Springbok, or the Waterbuck. I don’t know a single PH or Outfitter who’d be mad about not wanting to shoot from the truck and you caving probably helped impact what he thought of you as a hunter even though he had a hand in it.

These are all my opinions with some speculation until we get the outfitter/PH’s story. I think many of your frustrations are valid. I know we all leave outfitter reviews but has anyone ever wondered what outfitters would review us as to other outfitters as a hunter? I’ve seen an outfitter tell another outfitter not to book a client because of their experience with them. Just a thought of mine that I think about when I’m hunting.

I’m truly sorry your hunt went the way it did and you weren’t happy with the experience or end result. I sincerely hope it doesn’t prevent your girlfriend from wanting to join you in Africa again.

There is no excuse for the behavior of this outfitter, and it is exactly correct to call him out based on what has been shared.

However, you are responsible
every time you pull the trigger. Only you can decide to shoot, or not to shoot. The OP was put in some very difficult situations, regardless once the trigger breaks, the shooter owns the consequences exacted by the bullet.

 

[375Fox]

The warthog was definitely old looking and wasn’t going to get any better. the impala could go either way, some people like the diamond shape but I prefer a goal post look with parallel or flared out tips. A trophy is always in the eye of the beholder. JMO again.

That warthog is a very young boar. I thought it was a sow initially the warts are so small and tusks so thin.

 

[ceophasa]

PHASA is aware and regrets the incident. Tonie de Bruin assisted and mediated discussions between said parties. The course of action available was communicated to the affected parties. Should there be any additional information required you can reach out to the PHASA office or myself.

Jess de Klerk
ceo@phasa.co.za

 

[Hunt anything]

That warthog is a very young boar. I thought it was a sow initially the warts are so small and tusks so thin.

All of the young warthog I’ve seen didn’t seem to have the scabby look but where I’ve seen most of them was in the well watered Zambezi delta and had better body conditions. Agreed the tusks are pretty damn thin.

 

[Mekaniks]

PHASA is aware and regrets the incident. Tonie de Bruin assisted and mediated discussions between said parties. The course of action available was communicated to the affected parties. Should there be any additional information required you can reach out to the PHASA office or myself.

Jess de Klerk
ceo@phasa.co.za

This appears to be a step in the right direction…..
@Moe324 can you confirm this?

 

[trperk1]

I noticed Koringkoppie Safaris isn't listed on the PHASA websites list of outfitters??

 

[Kelly G]

Sounds like "Koringkoppie Safaris" is a bad whore and PHASA was the pimp.

 

[BryceM]

I guess I’ve been pretty lucky on my trips. None of this would have worked for me.

Hope you can salvage some good trophies at least. Maybe, maybe not. I use them to remind me of the good times on the hunt. There might not be much good to remember from this show.

I would REALLY like to hear the other side too. Not accusing anyone of anything, but two perspectives are more informative than one.

 

[LimbNoMo]

PHASA is aware and regrets the incident. Tonie de Bruin assisted and mediated discussions between said parties. The course of action available was communicated to the affected parties. Should there be any additional information required you can reach out to the PHASA office or myself.

Jess de Klerk
ceo@phasa.co.za

I find it impressive that the CEO of PHASA made an account and addressed the issue.

 

[pilar]

PHASA is aware and regrets the incident. Tonie de Bruin assisted and mediated discussions between said parties. The course of action available was communicated to the affected parties. Should there be any additional information required you can reach out to the PHASA office or myself.

Jess de Klerk
ceo@phasa.co.za

What does the PHASA do ? Is it a governing body? Or just a association?

 

[Doug Hamilton]

On the back of Mtn Infantry's post (which has a lot of merit) and the OP's report which I "feel" is an accurate report of the hunt I think the following is pertinent:

When you are in someone else's backyard they have the upper hand. One lone hunter and his girlfriend against 2 sullen and aggressive men is not a situation where you can always feel like you can simply say "no"... the PH displayed enough aggression and indifference that the OP was trying to make the best of a hostile situation. To the point that he wasn't even sure he'd get a ride back to civilization. It was enough of a shit show that passing on the penned reedbuck probably would have escalated the already hostile situation. It sounds like this is a shitty mom and pop operation with a less than healthy population of animals to offer their clients.

Secondly, to all the PH / outfitters out there, you are not only selling a list of animals to kill you are selling a once in a lifetime EXPERIENCE. That includes the killing but also every single thing that goes with it. From the very first email/call to waving the hunter goodbye. In fact often more if you are arranging or involved with the packing and taxidermy etc etc.

This outfit failed in both regards. Absolutely failed. To the point where once again RSA is being slandered as a shitty shooting pen destination and that Limpopo hunting is "all the same"

So unless the PH/outfitter comes up with earth shattering new evidence, I'd say he has let the paying customer down, himself down and pretty much the hunting fraternity in RSA. I could unpick and unpack every failure of this operation but we all know how shoddy it is because we all know (and experienced) how it is supposed to be done.

So Zambezi, if I read this correctly, you don't think Moe324 should give Koringkoppie a five star, thumbs-up rating?

Seriously, I don't believe I have ever heard such a terrible story about any outfitter/PH/guide on any continent. Just pathetic.

 

[Rare Breed]

On the back of Mtn Infantry's post (which has a lot of merit) and the OP's report which I "feel" is an accurate report of the hunt I think the following is pertinent:

When you are in someone else's backyard they have the upper hand. One lone hunter and his girlfriend against 2 sullen and aggressive men is not a situation where you can always feel like you can simply say "no"... the PH displayed enough aggression and indifference that the OP was trying to make the best of a hostile situation. To the point that he wasn't even sure he'd get a ride back to civilization. It was enough of a shit show that passing on the penned reedbuck probably would have escalated the already hostile situation. It sounds like this is a shitty mom and pop operation with a less than healthy population of animals to offer their clients.

Secondly, to all the PH / outfitters out there, you are not only selling a list of animals to kill you are selling a once in a lifetime EXPERIENCE. That includes the killing but also every single thing that goes with it. From the very first email/call to waving the hunter goodbye. In fact often more if you are arranging or involved with the packing and taxidermy etc etc.

This outfit failed in both regards. Absolutely failed. To the point where once again RSA is being slandered as a shitty shooting pen destination and that Limpopo hunting is "all the same"

So unless the PH/outfitter comes up with earth shattering new evidence, I'd say he has let the paying customer down, himself down and pretty much the hunting fraternity in RSA. I could unpick and unpack every failure of this operation but we all know how shoddy it is because we all know (and experienced) how it is supposed to be done.

He would definitely be on my no hunt list and I would go out of my way to warn others off

 

[Mekaniks]

PHASA is aware and regrets the incident. Tonie de Bruin assisted and mediated discussions between said parties. The course of action available was communicated to the affected parties. Should there be any additional information required you can reach out to the PHASA office or myself.

Jess de Klerk
ceo@phasa.co.za

to AH Jess. We are looking forward to your input around here.

Maybe you could start a thread introducing yourself and PASHA to the AH community? Perhaps including the goals and objectives that PASHA has when providing donated hunts? And how PASHA goes about vetting the outfitters that provide those donated hunts?
I know it seems like I may be putting on the spot a bit, but in reality there are lots of folks that look at purchasing these donated hunts and it’s only fair that they should have as much information as possible when doing so….

 

[Rare Breed]

to AH Jess. We are looking forward to your input around here.

Maybe you could start a thread introducing yourself and PASHA to the AH community? Perhaps including the goals and objectives that PASHA has when providing donated hunts? And how POSHA goes about vetting the outfitters that provide those donated hunts?
I know it seems like I may be putting on the spot a bit, but in reality there are lots of folks that look at purchasing these donated hunts and it’s only fair that they should have as much information as possible when doing so….

I agree 100%. My real concern was PHASA telling the OP to work it out without calling the outfitter on the spot. For just me it has caused me to lose respect for PHASA

 

[WyoBull]

For most people, an Africa hunting safari is a very expensive trip regardless of all the talk about how much of a “value” it is to hunt Africa.
Knowing that, the outfitters need to make sure the experience is truly a once in a lifetime experience for every client. My gut, from my experience, says you will spend a minimum of $10k to hunt Africa after figuring in airfare, trophy fees, taxidermy etc. and it quickly goes up from there depending on what species you choose and where you hunt.
I hope the outfitters realize this and act accordingly. My experiences have been great but not all are.