Sticky situation with outfitter - advice appreciated

[Gordonuk]

Hi
If you have doubts don’t go?
Find another outfitter.
We have just last week cancelled a hunt, going out 1st July 22. I lost all trust with the outfitter, this would have been my third hunt with the him.

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

Concerning price increases. Last year we paid $4,500.00 for elephant permits. We passed that savings onto the clients. This year we are being charged $8,500.00. Fortunately we did not have any hunts sold prior to receiving our new price. I assume something like this happened to your small, but most probably very honest operator.

I think you and your operator really need to discuss your concerns and listen to his. Possibly you can reach a comprise that both of you can live with.

 

[mark-hunter]

If your "springbok" trophy fee is 500 usd, pay additional 75% and go hunting. Its peanuts.
If that animal is 5000, then its not peanuts then go for two hour hike, and hunt where is more economic.

Wake up 2 hours early, to compensate for drive. You go to africa for hunt, not for beauty sleep.

I wanted to hunt in kalahari, my 2nd safari. It was 4 hours away from our camp. So, we started around 3 am, and were hunting at 07.00 lt, as usual.

 

[Zambezi]

Discuss paying an increase of around 50/60% increase on the Sable. That way the landowner increase is not felt by the small operator/ph and it lowers the price for you BUT also see if he is willing to work a deal on other animals that you might take as well. e.g. $400 for animal X as opposed to $500 as this will protect some of your buffer as well.

To cancel a hunt at this late stage will probably mean that you lose some or all of your deposit and you'd be on the search again for another hunt which might not be value for money as now you'd be paying 2022 prices not Jan 2021.

The PH will have more wiggle room with animals he owns as opposed to the Sable the landowner owns.

Good luck.

 

[Philip Glass]

Hi all!

I´ve ended up in a sticky situation and would gladly receive some advice. I´ll keep all identifiable info out not to discredit this outfitter prematurely.

I do believe some background is necessary. I have a lower income level than many on this forum and in 2014 I decided that I wanted to hunt a certain prime animal in Africa. I´ve made many tough sacrifices along the way and saved hard. My initial plan was to go in 2024, but I have been saving enough to go already in 2022.

Having worked for this for years I had a good idea of what I wanted and I found an offer from a smaller outfitter where the owner, let´s call him Bob, is also the PH. One client at a time in camp, just what I want. I checked him up online, contacted everyone I could find on any forum that had hunted with him and not a single negative word from anyone, rather the opposite, only words of praise and recommendations to go with this guy. So, in Jan 2020 I signed the deal. In the deal for this prime animal, there was also a possibility to add on a specific animal at a special price, let´s call it a springbuck (which it of course isn´t). I confirmed that I´d like to take up the offer on the "springbuck" long before this season kicked in. Hunt is taking place in a few months in South Africa (not mentioning the province). The price for the springbuck deal is in the contract, and the "springbuck" is a number 2 on my bucket list and hence an important part of why I signed the deal originally.

It´s now getting closer to the hunt date and I got an email that the prices of "springbucks" have gone up, and unfortunately the price would now be 75% higher than the price in the contract. I questioned this and got a response that it can still be taken for the original price, but that requires a 2hr hike each direction to a distant area where he owns his own "springbucks". This would mean that a significant part of the hunt would be spent in transportation, albeit on foot (also one of the reasons for choosing this outfit was that all concessions were reachable within max 30 min driving, with the main intended one in 15 min). Another consequence is that unless I pay the higher trophy fee, I´ll NOT be able to take a "springbuck" if we stumble upon one while hunting the prime animal. Considering my budget I don´t have a lot o spare days so this could significantly reduce my odds on the "springbuck".

From a true legal aspect I do believe that I have a strong position, but that´s not all in this case. Me and Bob are supposed to hunt together and spend a lot of time in the bush. If I come there and we have differences already from the start, I´m quite convinced that this experience that I´ve dreamt of and worked hard for, for 8 years won´t be what I expected. On the other hand, the beans are already spilled and the trust Bob has gained from me (which was quite substantially) has already taken a significant dent.

Any advice on how to act are highly appreciated.

I understand you are on a tight budget and looking to have the dream hunt. You have booked with a typical guy who owns very little and drives you from ranch to ranch hunting this and that. He is a small timer who is at the mercy of the landowners who set the game prices. Sadly you have not chosen a reputation outfitter for your dream hunt. I would get your money back and try again.
You should look at reputation outfitters like Frontier Safaris. In business since the 1980’s, 75,000 EC ranch, and prices that don’t change once you book. Their 10 day/12 animal package at $6400 can’t be beat and will fulfill your dreams of a real safari to SA.
Regards,
Philip

 

[Philip Glass]

A 2 hour hike wouldn't stop me from shooting a cull animal, much less a trophy I actually wanted.

Exactly!

 

[Fredrik]

Again thanks for all advice, some of them giving me angles to reflect that I had not done myself. I´ve reach out for some clarifications and I´ll take it from there.

I also want to meet some concerns raised here. "Bob" has been a PH since the 90-s and has been running his own operation for 10-15 years. he has a good reputation, albeit not as famous as e. g. Frontier Safaris. He owns a substantial piece of land himself but yes, of course he also uses other concessions but so does most outfitters to some degree.

I intentionally wanted a smaller outfitter since that per definition makes every customer more important, as less customer are handled each year. You´d also get the camp by yourself which I´d prefer. My experience in the service industry is that a smaller operation gives higher attention to each customer and that´s what I´m after.

 

[WAB]

Is the two hour trek a drive or a hike? If it’s a hike and this is in RSA for a sable, something sounds very fishy indeed.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Members have given sage advice;
1. Talk to the outfitter and discuss your concerns.
2. Ask why the 75% increase? Try to take a look at the increase from their perspective.
3. Try to reach a mutually agreeable solution.
4. If you can't come to a resolution that you are happy with, it will be a "long hunt".
5. If unresolved, ask for a cancellation and refund.

There is a long thread on what to look for in an outfitter/PH. For me, I want to enjoy the hunt. That includes getting along with the PH.

You don't want your hunt to be like the last weeks of a bad marriage...

 

[dobber]

Save the second hit list animal for the next trip, enjoy the main animal hunt experience and might sneak in a critter or two.
I went for my once in a life time hunt, knowing i would likely not do it again, till i got there. Been 3 times now and want to go back again.

 

[SFRanger7GP]

Fredrik, I fully understand your concerns. No matter what is going on, happiness is a personal choice. If you don't resolve this now, it will eat at you and make your entire experience bitter. Talk openly to the PH. It is so much better to fix the problem rather than the blame. There are lots of animals in Africa that we never planned on hunting until we saw them for the first time. If one goes outside the budget, pick another and plan for the others in the future. A good Africa experience will have you coming back.

Good luck and safe hunting

 

[Fredrik]

I think Mark A Ouellette nailed it pretty well. I´ll keep you posted on the progress. I´m not looking for a blame and I am willing to work for a solution.

 

[TXhunter65]

Sticky indeed. Tough and unfortunate place to be in, there's no way I could go on the hunt. It would be all I could think about while there. I understand he's paying the landowner for the sable and the landowner increased the price. I also understand most outfitters have multiple sources for most animals they hunt, and there are numerous offers/deals he could make with the landowner or other landowners so he wouldn't have to "eat" the entire increased cost of the animal. Personally, I'd have to ask for a refund given he's chosen to change the nature of your agreement, I feel you should be able to walk with 100% refund. The difficult part is you have specific requirements, small outfitter/camp to yourself, that make it tough to cancel and rebook on short notice. “Keep in mind that a man's just as good as his word”.

 

[JHT]

How much money are you short? Perhaps some of us might help you out. Feel free to PM me.

 

[KAROO WILD Safaris]

My advice to you is to ask for a refund of your deposit and book another hunt. I say this because your relationship with your PH and outfitter is such an important part of your hunt. You have your doubts already, it's probably not going to work out well even if he agrees to honour the contract. The fact that he isn't should give you some insight into his business mindset.

 

[318AE]

Members have given sage advice;
1. Talk to the outfitter and discuss your concerns.
2. Ask why the 75% increase? Try to take a look at the increase from their perspective.
3. Try to reach a mutually agreeable solution.
4. If you can't come to a resolution that you are happy with, it will be a "long hunt".
5. If unresolved, ask for a cancellation and refund.

There is a long thread on what to look for in an outfitter/PH. For me, I want to enjoy the hunt. That includes getting along with the PH.

You don't want your hunt to be like the last weeks of a bad marriage...

Well said - If you’re not going to smile when you see Bob pick you up a the airport, then rebook with someone else. Those land cruisers can get really small when you spend hours and hours a day in one with someone, and you’re dwelling on anything like this…. It’s actually nice he is telling you now - I’ve had these surprises “upon arrival”.

 

[Mountaineer]

Today’s times are tough for all, hunter’s and outfitters alike. If your questioning the ethics of the outfitter just cancel now. If he has a solid reputation he is probably solid. Remember, the world has been through a lot over the last two years. He can’t take food off his table to allow you to take your second trophy and it may be that extreme. Remember he is giving you an option to work hard and honor the price. Be certain it is all legitimate before proceeding. Best of luck.

 

[AZDAVE]

1. Communication is the key. Call and talk to him and lay out your concerns, very logically and not an emotion driven conversation. Get his concerns. Then see if you guys can work out a comprimise that suits your both. Honesty is what you are looking for in your communications.

2. If you are physically fit to do a lot of walking. 2 hours is no problem. You will see many sights and sounds along the way that you wouldn't riding in the cruiser.

3. On the recovery at the end of the 2 hour hike to get there- ISN'T your problem, that falls on the PH and I bet he comes up with a alternate plan

 

[JimP]

On the recovery after a 2 mile hike, don't forget that he'll have at least one tracker and that springbok are not that large of a animal. Some quick work with a knife and it will just be a piece of luggage

 

[Scott CWO]

If you make An agreement with consideration at a specific price and during a specific time period. Then you have an enforceable contact

Good luck with that in a foreign country! I’m guessing the contract also allows for increases? That is common.