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Travel insurance: I looked into it but too many strings and my health was good so it didn't appeal to me. Most don't like it because of the multiple conditions attached. Read the terms for yourself. This is an expensive hunt and for some it may be a good deal depending on your circumstances.
2. Know your guide (professional hunter aka PH) this is the most important rule I can give you for hunting Africa. The PH will be the one to protect you both at the airport and in the bush from the less than ethical. The booking agent's reputation or that of the outfitter will not help you track a wounded animal or select a trophy from a herd. The part of the hunt which makes hunting fun will be directed by the PH. Know your PH as most outfitters will hire guides to take you hunting rather than take you themselves.
3. Measure your house and plan where or what you will do with the trophy before you go so that you don't bring home too many heads mounted or heavy capes that won't be used. Consider hides as upholstry and horns for art and furniture such as lamps or candle holders to name a few. Also, pedestal mounts are easy to place and move around a house. Shipping the salted hides is expenseve so map your house.
4. ENDANGERED SPECIES: If your hunting safari includes a specie on the CITIES treaty you must obtain a permit from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. www.fws.gov and then click permits. Elephant and Leopard are the most common ones that need a permit. (I say any animal in my cross hairs is endangered).
5. References are only so good as anyone can get a friend to stand up for them. Yet they are important to assure that your deposit won't disappear and that you will get picked up at the airport.
6. Customs requires that you register your firearm before leaving the USA so do it or you will be delayed on the way back into the USA. They won't bother you on the way out.
7. Rifle rental is an option. I did it both ways. In 1996 I shot 31 animals and was happy to use my own rifle. In 1999 I leased a rifle from the PH who was a gun dealer and was even happier. (Caution as veteran hunters indicate that rental rifles are usually second rate.) The permits are not hard to get when in a foreign country like RSA, it's the carrying of luggage and guns that is the problem. Check early with your airline as to restrictions considering the recent terrorist events. Have the rifle registered with customs long before your trip.
8. Ammo must be very hard. I am a believer in Swift A frame expecially for Buffalo and larger plains game. Barnes X are said to be good but I have no experience. Take an extra box of Swift A frame 375 H&H as a gift for your PH and he will be very happy as it is expensive in RSA. Check with your airlines concerning ammo in your luggage.
20 FEBRUARY
2009
10. Clothes: I take 3 days of clothes as laundry is usually supplied daily. Pick clothing for comfort and for your photographic needs. Also consider a wide hat which will help keep the back of the neck covered as well as shirts with collars. Take sun screen even if you have long sleeved shirts. The nights do get cold as you will be hunting in their winter but afternoons are hot. In the mornings its close to freezing at times so dress in layers.
11. Knife you ask? No I wouldn't take one. You are paying someone to do that stuff for you. But a pen knife is handy. Be careful about taking a knife on a plane considering the recent terrorist scares.
12. Medications should be taken with even though everything is available in RSA . You need 2 hepatitis shots 6 months apart (DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF HEPATITIS) and malaria pills even in the winter months as malaria can spread by human contact. Check to see if your hunting area has malaria resistant to drugs and tell your doctor so you can use the 2 medication method for prevention. .
I also take along a 10 day bottle of "cipro" (Levaquin or Tequin may be as good and can be taken one time per day but costs a lot per tablet. Use the powerful antibiotic in case of infection, or diarrhea . See your doctor about what to take for diarrhea. I use pepto bismol type tablets and have enough to cover the trip along with an immodium type med all in pill form. No liquids..
Iowa Sportsmen Federation
OWNER AND OPERATOR
African Scent Safaris - Willem Botha
PO Box 12321
Brandwag, Bloemfontein, 9324
Republic of South Africa
Tel: +27 51 446 2728
Fax: +27 51 444 3589
Mobile: +27 82 557 5169
E-mail: African Scent Safaris: webotha@icon.co.za
webotha@icon.co.za
WILLEM BOTHA PHOTO PAGE CLICK HERE.
Or copy and paste: http://geocities.datacellar.net/marlon3320/willembotha.html
UPDATE JAN 01, 2009: Letter from Mr. Botha with a fantastic hunt special:
Eland
Gemsbuck
Zebra
Redhartebees
Bluewildebees
Blackwildebees
Impala
Mountainreedbuck
Blesbuck
Springbuck
with 7 hunting days all inclusive $6990!
The price list for 2009 can be seen at the following address:
www.africanscentsafaris.com
Here you will also find the price list as well as other info and photos.
Packages can be put together according to the client's needs. webotha@icon.co.za
Update February 21, 2009 Rhino hunts available for 2009 only.
Dwesa Nature Reserve - Transkei
First and last opportunity to hunt in this Reserve next to the coast.
22" Very Old Bull (App 40 years) SCI 85
21" SCI 62
23.5" SCI 77
24" SCI 79
26" SCI 82
* Rhinos weren’t allowed to be darted thus, horn sizes are a conservative estimate and cannot be guaranteed. Prices for Rhino kill range from $50 to 60,000 US Dollar.
Meat remains property of the reserve. 50% Deposit is required to confirm hunt.
If you want to go on a real Rhino hunt - This is it! This will be a real hunt, and not a "come and dart a rhino on a farm" outing. This 3900 hectare reserve has indigenous forests in certain parts, Rhinos will be tracked and are free roaming. If we are lucky we will find them on the first day but we must allow 7 days. Weather on the coast also plays a major role. Hunting Area is 2.5 Hour drive
from East London Charter available (Helicopter) P.O.R
7 day package for Hunter and Outfitter/PH and inclusive of the following:
Eastern Cape PH supplied by us , Luxurious Accommodation , (Bush camp accommodation on reserve can also be used if preferred) , Meals , Skinners, Vehicles Including Rhino Transportation, Airport Transfer , Observers $200/day, Luxurriiouss Accccommodattiion ,All-inclusive hunting package .
Mr. botha is a non drinker and non smoker who guides the hunt himself. He is extremely honest and seeks to please his clients. I believe that he will be at the airport to pick you up and if the hunt is cancelled you will get your contractual refund. He is a PHASA member which is a must for a RSA guide. He is also a gun dealer and can supply excellent rifles. He can pick a trophy out of a herd and track effectively.
14. Trophy size: Shoot for SCI record book. If you want a Roland Ward you better talk to your PH as it will take longer and cost more. I have the idea that it is best to try for a respectable animal and hope you come onto a big one. I took a blesbok of Roland Ward size and was very happy. This is not the norm though.
15. Buffalo: I, like most, thought that the Roland Ward measurement was everything for a buffalo. I now have a better attitude as do most who have shot a Buffalo and am of the opinion that a hard boss is everything. Research this one yourself. Shot placement is best made by putting the vertical cross hair on the front leg. See this web page: http://geocities.datacellar.net/duda22au/shotplacement.html
16. Crime: Petty theft is rampant in the metro areas but in the bush its safe. Your ph should take precautions. Also don't judge a criminal by the color of the skin as the best criminals are fair complected.
17. Cost: This depends on the exchange rate as well as who you hunt with. The US dollar is weak right now so don't expect any deals.It also depends on what you want. I had a lot of people say ranch hunting is not a real hunt. Well they are wrong to the n'th degree. It is fair chase and unless you have a million bucks it's the only way to go for those with an average income. It's hard to corner an animal in a 20 or so square mile pasture!
Plains game should run about 350 to 450 usd per day with a Kudu costing about 1,000 to 1,750 usd. This is what I generally found. Many outfitters will offer packages or cut the daily only to raise the trophy fee. Dont rely on cost alone but as always price does not indicate quality or lack there of. Botha had very low prices and I received top notch hunt with one Roland Ward trophy. what more do you want.? ALWAYS ASK FOR A PACKAGED HUNT AS A DISCOUNT MAY APPLY.
Buffalo: Well there is a big difference based on size. A 38 inch or so will run about 12,000 usd all inclusive for 3 days. The bigger buffalo you book the more the ticket.
18. Join the www.safariclub.org to get their magazines and to get into a local chapter to get more information.
19. HUNT NOW: With the stock market disaster the time is right to buy a reasonably priced hunt with little competiton from other hunters. Go this year as it will never get better. 2002 was the last great year to book a reasonably priced hunt and travel comfortably and safely due to 911. This is another chance to repeat 2002. South Africa has none of this third world violence and is yet stable. Zimbabwe is not safe in 2009 and has not impoved since 2003 so South Africa is still the number one destination. Go this year before everyody else makes up for the stock market loss and gos in 2010. Borrow the money if you must, just go this year. I'm telling you that 2010 will be packed with hunters and all will want to go to South Africa. My predictions on 2002 were 100% correct. I believe that I am right about 2009 being the best year ever. With global gun bans on the horizon and animal rights activists on the rampage the future of hunting is less than optomistic. Hunt this year as gun owner apathy and the Obama gun haters will give way to more gun and hunting restrictions. Join the www.nra.org to protect your rights. I practice what I preach as a Life Patron member of the NRA. (VOTE TO PRESERVE THE SECOND AMENDMENT)
20. Customs brokers for your trophys? I dont know, I always feel I have been screwed by the shippers and the taxidermists too. But if your go to Zimbabwe use Safariland Taxidermy in Bul.
The brokers have done their job but also led me astray both times on shipping. DON'T YOU BELIEVE THEM WHEN THEY SAY THAT ONLY ONE CITY EXISTS WHERE A PORT OF ENTRY CAN COLLECT YOUR TROPHIES. GET THE SHIPMENT AS CLOSE TO HOME AS POSSIBLE BY AIR FRIEGHT. ALWAYS AND I MEAN ALWAYS GET COMPETATIVE BIDS ON SHIPPING COSTS. DON'T TRUST YOUR IMPORT BROKER TO PROTECT YOU ON THIS. IT'S YOUR MONEY AND ONLY YOU CAN PROTECT IT.
In 1996 I was told by an import broker that the only city that I could bring my shipment into was New York and that I would need to go land freight from there. Such advice lost me some $500 or so as I could have had the freight brought into a closer city and picked it up from the airport myself. I also didn't get any competitive bids on freight so I have no idea how bad I did on that one. Plus to add insult to injury the 640# crate was to be delivered to my door but the carrier called from the terminal and said that they had no truck to deliver and I had to pick it up. Now I know better as my shipment for 2000 was brought to my door with a lift gate truck. These folks can be really unscrupulous about doing their job.
In 2000 I had been advised by the import broker to use a shipper in RSA who quoted $1300 usd for the freight to Chicago. I was told that this was a good deal and that no one would probably beat it. I got a bid from Tracker International CC for $1100 and they made money off me on that $200 lower bid. So an import broker could have cost me an extra $200 in $2000. Tracker contact is Adrian Kretzschmar cargoint@netactive.co.za for the most personalized service you could hope to find from a shipper. Try to give him your business.
Broker fees. Now this is still up in the air. I had a letter from the broker in June 99 stating that the fee was $175 all inclusive. I was charged an extra $25 for terminal charges and $30.48 for airport transfer. This is all contrary to a letter of a year earlier. The broker indicates this is due to delays at the airport and that such is appropriate. The competition charges about $300 for the Import Brokering. So the $175 or $250 is still reasonable as long as they dont lead you astray.
Charges break down as follows after your crate lands in the USA:
1. $25. Terminal and Service charges.
2. $30.48 Airport Transfer.
3. $100. Customs Entry Services charged by broker.
4. $55. Fish and Wildlife entry.
5. $15. Messanger services.
6. $??? Shipping cost to your home from port of entry.
21. Get your warthog mounted over there as there are restrictions on bringing in the pigs. Also get the Zebra hide made into a rug as it cuts down on the salt weight of the salt cured and formalic acid tanned hides. I don't recommend you have trophies mounted in a foreign country as I didn't do it in 96 and did in 99 with not so perfect results.I am not willing to suggest overseas taxidermy due to the lack of control and inability to return the product if not satisfied.. My 1999 (arrived in 2000) trophies turned out REALLY GOOD AND REALLY BAD WITH errors in application of varnish and a crack in an ear with some blue powder weeping from the crack. HOWEVER THE BLESBOK WAS BOTCHED WITH ONE BUG EYE AND A NOSE OUT OF PLACE. So what do i do? I can send it back but will incurr cost and delay. I'm on my own with this!
It took 12 months for the trophies to arrive home for my 1999 hunt all due to the taxidermist. Compare this to 1996 which took just 2 months to get my crate back from Zimbabwe. The difference is in the Taxidermist and the time of the year you hunt.
The cost was no great deal on overseas taxidermy yet it did save just a few bucks. For example the Cape Buffalo cost $725 (1999 price) for Taxidermy and if I had brought back just the hide and horns it would cost $185 for raw preparation and treatment alone. All other costs are about the same for import. No discounts on mounted or just the raw product. So calculate the prep costs of your hides and subtract it from the Taxidermy cost to see the real cost savings of taxidermy overseas. Then have a shipper estimate the shipping costs. The estimate pre mounting was pretty close on my shipment.
. The problem with taxidermy work in a foreign country is as follows:
1. The shipping cost is huge due to the need to crate a large volume. I had 3 mounts sent back from RSA in 1999 arrived in 2000 some 12 months after the hunt. The crate was just a shade under 350 pounds with volume of 3x4x5 feet appx. for a Cape Buffalo, Gemsbok, and a tiney little Blesbok. Compare that to 11 hides and horns including a mounted Warthog, tanned Zebra hide and a full Giraffe skin still in salt which weighed in at 640 pounds in a similarsize crate for the 1996 trip.
2. There is no way to return work that is not to your approval.
3. The cost of shipping and fees for the mounted animals usually makes up for the cost savings.
4. The really cheap taxidermists can't generally be trusted so the big savings are not good if you get a bad mount.
5. The taxidermist in the USA will be better able to coach you on how the mount should look and what pose you can use. I had no imput into my mounts for the South African trip and am disappointed in myself at not having made a better decision on a pedestal mount. If you do have work done overseas be sure that you can communicate effectively so that you have imput into what you want done with your trophy. You have many choices in how your mount is prepared.
22. Long distance telephone service: Contact your long distance provider and see if you can subscribe to the overseas program where you pay a flat fee and then get deeply discounted calls. For example I can pay 39 cents a minute to South africa for a fee of about $5.00 per month. It pays back real quick.
QUESTIONS: EMAIL ME AT marlon3320 at yahoo.com IF YOU ARE GOING HUNTING AND REALLY NEED MORE FREE ADVICE.
CONCLUSION
TRAVEL LIGHT, HAVE FUN, DONT WORRY, TAKE SLEEP AIDS FOR THE FLIGHTS, BOOK FLIGHT EARLY TO GET EXTRA LEG ROOM SEATS..Booking early may no longer help with the security provisions due to the 911 disaster.
ZIMBABWE BY LINCOLN HUGHES
A riviting novel combining African big game hunting with post-revolutionary activity in Zimbabwe. Exciting and fun reading by a veteran African hunter. Available on Amazon.
SEVENTH PSALM BY JONATHAN BRUCE
An action thriller based on the lives of real people and actul events in the modern day war on terror. This book is captivatiing. Once you start reading you won't want to put it down. Written by guys who have been there and done that. Available on Amazon.
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