Waterbuck opinion

[Gemsbok45]

Yikes,
You’re on this forum. You have a ton of outfitters and resources to use. Don’t get bitter with Africa. You have really had a cheap learning lessontake it from me.Now cinch your belt up and ask the people here.
You can get 15-20 quality quality outfitters here! Probably more!! Do your homework on the animals you want to hunt. Go to a Cabelas or Scheels and look at some trophies.

 

[revturbo9967]

DSC & SCI aren't "local" / "accessible" for myself.
AH Forum is the most practical and resource rich 'hub' that I have.

Neither are close to me either but if you’re looking to spend 10k+ on an overseas experience, it may be worth taking the trip and speaking to outfits in person. As 375fox mentioned, many sponsors cater to a certain type of hunter.

 

[speedfire]

would need a better pictures to be sure on the age...

 

[Kharn]

Neither show is local or practical for myself either but the more safaris you go on and the more specific of an experience you are looking for the more important they become. Nothing wrong with sticking to sponsors for a first safari (honestly it’s a good idea) but saying you will never consider a non-sponsor ever is thinking small.

Search websites. Find something of interest ask about the outfitter here. And check for them on Facebook.

This is the way I figure it'll go down, the following is hypothetical.

I have booked my first African Hunt (& Visit) with ABC123 Safaris whom are sponsored on AH!

The hunt was so successful and surpassed all personal expectations that I immediately want to book another hunt when I get back home, SO I DO!

Except...

ABC123 Safaris cannot offer me the "game" that I specifically seek on my 2nd hunt...

However...

The Boss of ABC123 Safaris assures me that there is another outfitter much larger than themselves (DEF456 Safaris) whom has the game I seek but isn't sponsored on AH... The Boss of ABC123 Safaris confidently tells me that DEF456 Safaris will give me an experience to remember the same way his outfit did at ABC123 Safaris.

So I book my 2nd African Hunt with DEF456 Safaris & have as much fun (maybe more) with DEF456 Safaris! During my stay at DEF456 Safaris I am eating in the mess hall alone but am approached by one/sum fellow holidaying hunters and they ask if they can join me for my meal, we get to talking, my judgement tells me they are good people, one of the hunters mentions an outfitter called GHI789 Safaris and was wondering if I had ever been there too which I answer no only to have all the hunters perk up excitedly and repeatedly recommend GHI789 Safaris particularly for X species, at first I was curious but now they have my attention and I make a mental note.

After the meal we go our separate ways and as I do I happen to bump into my PH/Outfitter Boss and I politely ask if they have ever heard of GHI789 Safaris before? The PH/Outfitter Boss smiles broadly saying yes and if I seek out 'X' species then there is no better than GHI789 Safaris.............

I mean I could probably keep going on but this is the way I see it going down, as fantasy / accurate as it sounds.

And it all started with the Sponsored Outfitter.

 

[revturbo9967]

This is the way I figure it'll go down, the following is hypothetical.

I have booked my first African Hunt (& Visit) with ABC123 Safaris whom are sponsored on AH!

The hunt was so successful and surpassed all personal expectations that I immediately want to book another hunt when I get back home, SO I DO!

Except...

ABC123 Safaris cannot offer me the "game" that I specifically seek on my 2nd hunt...

However...

The Boss of ABC123 Safaris assures me that there is another outfitter much larger than themselves (DEF456 Safaris) whom has the game I seek but isn't sponsored on AH... The Boss of ABC123 Safaris confidently tells me that DEF456 Safaris will give me an experience to remember the same way his outfit did at ABC123 Safaris.

So I book my 2nd African Hunt with DEF456 Safaris & have as much fun (maybe more) with DEF456 Safaris! During my stay at DEF456 Safaris I am eating in the mess hall alone but am approached by one/sum fellow holidaying hunters and they ask if they can join me for my meal, we get to talking, my judgement tells me they are good people, one of the hunters mentions an outfitter called GHI789 Safaris and was wondering if I had ever been there too which I answer no only to have all the hunters perk up excitedly and repeatedly recommend GHI789 Safaris particularly for X species, at first I was curious but now they have my attention and I make a mental note.

After the meal we go our separate ways and as I do I happen to bump into my PH/Outfitter Boss and I politely ask if they have ever heard of GHI789 Safaris before? The PH/Outfitter Boss smiles broadly saying yes and if I seek out 'X' species then there is no better than GHI789 Safaris.............

I mean I could probably keep going on but this is the way I see it going down, as fantasy / accurate as it sounds.

And it all started with the Sponsored Outfitter.