SOUTH AFRICA: Unnerving Situation With Rhinocon Anton Bakker

[BRICKBURN]

That sucks!
Ask for your money back from Theo, as promised.
There are plenty of Rhino that can be hunted.
I'll PM you a contact that can provide a White Rhino hunt

 

[Wheels]

I hope so too, it's rather scary as I'm a young dad and bush pilot in northern Canada, chasing the Big Five dream. It's a loss that would forever change what I achieve in Africa, and being the most expensive of the Five I sold all my toys and went to get it out of the way. I really hope it's simple problems but as things come to light it doesn't appear that way.

I feel for you man. My fingers are crossed for you.

 

[Royal27]

That sucks!
Ask for your money back from Theo, as promised.
There are plenty of Rhino that can be hunted.
I'll PM you a contact that can provide a White Rhino hunt

This - I'd want my money back as quickly as possible. I know I don't know much, but so, e thing just doesn't smell right here and there is obviously more going on than you can share.

There will be others hunts and I really hope you come out of this one unscathed.

 

[enysse]

I agree with Brickburn, demand your money back. They know better and really it's the right thing to do at this point.

 

[Bsums]

I agree with Brickburn, demand your money back. They know better and really it's the right thing to do at this point.

Yeah I would definitely not want to deal with Bakker. I don't understand why a "agent" would be this unresponsive and problem causing unless something fishy is going on. Did your original agent give you a reason on why the booking was switched to Bakker?

 

[gizmo]

I agree. There are plenty of rhino hunts out there. This guy sounds pretty shady.

 

[huntermn15]

I wish you luck in this endeavor. But as stated above, do not wait and demand your money back. The sooner you end this the better.

 

[Sable123]

We have an investigative journalism TV program here in SA called Carte Blanche that would just love to get their hands on this guy and dig a little deeper, my only worry is the negative spin it would put on the hunting industry as a whole. Unfortunately with all that is happening at the moment with the rhino there is ALOT of people out there that are trying to make a quick buck on these beautiful animals before they either become extinct or made illegal to hunt out right. One just has to read the book Killing For Profit to see how many people are exploiting the rhino's situation.
I do wish you all the very best of luck Angus in retrieving your hard earned money, seems to me the hunt is on a sour note before it has even started. Best to cut loses.
It was interesting what @BRICKBURN posted about Mr Bekker waiting on his Outfitter license, I know it was a while back, but it may help to lodge a complaint with the local Environmental Department that issued his license. I am sure they would not be happy with this situation and also cross check to see if he is a member of PHASA.

Good luck, kind regards
Jono

 

[BnC 04]

Curious what the outcome was Angus? Hope it all turned out in your favor.

 

[BRICKBURN]

An update on positive progress would be nice. ???

 

[Ardent]

No good news yet guys, the lawyers are about to get involved.

 

[Wheels]

No good news yet guys, the lawyers are about to get involved.

Sorry to hear about that. Hope the money or some assets are still around. Good luck in getting it back.

 

[flatwater bill]

Ardent..................I sincerely hope you get your hunt and the only problem is one of communication. Even so, there is a lesson here for both agents and hunters. Lack of communication with already booked hunters does not inspire confidence. It leads to pointed inquiries that can at times become contentious. PH's and agents advertising hunts on this website would do well to answer ALL questions by hunters and prospective hunters promptly. I have PM'd advertisers on this and other websites who have never responded to a question. I figure that sets the tone for future dealings, and will not consider any interaction with them. Even if the hunt was already sold, prompt communique sets a good tone for a future sale. In this case of yours, your booking agent and hunter may have had a spat over agent fees that lead to this....if so, they are both partially liable. Your agent may be bonded, and if so have something to lose. If someone turns out to be a crook, having it on this website cant hurt..........but once again............I hope you get to hunt your rhino.....still.....like Brickburn I can't help thinking of that name "Rhino Con" I hope there is not a message there..................FWB

 

[Ado]

Really awful situation... Hope you get it sorted...

Ado

 

[Ardent]

It's not looking up, briefly Mr. Bakker made promises of a refund and even called to say he'd be sending a legal refund contract, now about a month later and silence (though he is reading my messages sent to him, getting read receipts) I've just about lost hope. His partner in this business is Coenraad Van Wyk, listed as the PH and Director, who has told me to stop messaging him after I found him on Facebook. I'm done playing nice unfortunately and far too late at that, this is a complete rip off occurring.

Turns out "Rhinocon" and Mr. Bakker and Mr. Wyk have approximately $16,000US of my money, the rest is with the agent. A refund contract was promised after I demanded one signed by a lawyer, with penalties of $500 a day after Feb, 15th (apparently they need to sell the Rhino). Sounded not exactly reasonable but was better than nothing, a month ago. Mr. Bakker also sated he was keeping $4,000US approx of mine to cover unspecified costs, I demanded an itemized list of what these were as he has done absolutely nothing for me and made me cancel my flights, and the two trips (my Cameroon trip was to piggyback this one, in order to have all the time off in one trip, I can't break it up with my job and family life). I'm furious and it's well past time to begin legal action in South Africa. Should anyone here know a South African lawyer familiar with hunting I'd appreciate the referral, I'll also look through SCI. I have a lawyer I've worked with in South Africa but they are not familiar with hunting.

http://www.rhinocon815.co.za/?page_id=106

Here is Coenraad's Facebook,

https://www.facebook.com/coenraad123

And Anton Bakker's,

https://www.facebook.com/anton.bakker1?fref=ts

 

[Ardent]

The lawyer through which "Rhinocon" communicated to my agent is,

J. J. BADENHORST & ASSOCIATES ATTORNEYS PRACTICE NO. 14837

10 BERT CLOSE, HELDERKRUIN

ROODEPOORT, 1724

 

[Ardent]

Some of this information will be superfluous however I might as well share everything I have as others are being ripped off here as well, and you never know what is useful to them.

 

[BRICKBURN]

..........His partner in this business is Coenraad Van Wyk, listed as the PH and Director, who has told me to stop messaging him after I found him on Facebook. ...........

What's the FB link to this guy?
I'd like to ask him a few questions on the AH member behalf. Perhaps a few more people can ask some questions and let him know he is not anonymous!!!!!

 

[BRICKBURN]

This is a FB Group that OUTS sly PH's and Outfitters, Customers and Landowners
https://www.facebook.com/groups/229207073772108/

Another place to report your story.

 

[CAustin]

I do hope the lawyers can help you in this matter!