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Checking back in and glad to see so much new added to my thread. I don't really care about our taxidermy but hope it works out for the other members of our hunting party

Thanks!

Could you walk me through the costs you incurred throughout the export, shipping, import, storage, etc. process? I'd like to prep my group on what to expect.

I imagine the difference in their willingness to honor the previously quoted prices was the nature of the booking - full price booking bought in-person directly through them at DSC versus my discount DU donated auction hunt. As mentioned numerous times previously, we had a great time and...

100%. This is exactly my take away from the negative pricing/billing experience that I had. You live and you learn. Next time things will be written, signed, and legally binding with nothing "subject to change".

The "signed" portion of our agreement was the Ducks Unlimited donated hunt for 4 people, 16 animals. That was provided as advertised. Where things got a little sketchy was the added hunters, extracurricular to the donated hunt. Here's the whole story in detail: I was provided with a "2023...

It can take quite a bit of time researching for even remotely close, usually outdated, pricing info. It was especially difficult on this hunt with just how things work on in Africa. I hope it catches on. In the case of this trip, it also adds some perspective. It's hard to be hyper-critical of...

I believe the deal was 50% deposit required on shoulder/full mounts. Paid in full for euros and flat skins.

Thank you! That day of blesbuck hunting really made the trip.

While we had a great time and I knew what I signed up for I would all want to be on larger properties, more "wild" animals, and less of a game-farm style hunt. Honestly, I don't think I could afford the type of hunt I would want from a return trip. If you add in the exorbitant costs of getting...

I hope this report helps any prospective hunters in the future. I tried to be as unbiased and honest as possible, good and bad. For context, all 6 members of my group were first timers in Africa and for 3 of them it was there first guided hunt of any kind. Let me know if anyone has any questions.

As I have done with my previous hunt reports heres a quick and dirty pricing breakdown for anyone that may be thinking about this kind of trip for themselves. Roundtrip flights from EWR to JNB were +/- $1400. The four animal package, lodging, and accommodations as described in the flyer in my...

Days 4 and 5 were more cattle pasture hunting at the lodge. My wife killed a black wildebeest. Those critters can certainly soak up some lead. For better or for worse, we got some pretty neat "management" animals. While the rest of the clients got female blesbuck or springbuck, we killed...

On day 3 we set out for blesbuck at a concession about 2 hours away. This was a large, hilly, and more densely foliated property called Botaskuilen. This farm held a healthy population of Cape Buffalo as well as the normal roster of plains game. We met up with a ranch employee named "Malcolm"...

On day two we were scheduled to hunt the cattle pasture around the lodge. Our PH Divan wanted to chase springbuck and/or blesbuck with my wife up on the gun. His theory was that the springbuck and blesbuck were the hardest to get, so best to get a few of those under our belt before moving on to...

On our first day in the field the target was springbuck. We hunted a concession, a little more than an hour away. We were greeted by the property owner were provided one of his employees was provided to help navigate the property. It was along a river just below a large dam. A neat thing about...

The overall terrain of the area we were hunting in Free State, just north of Bloemfontein, was similar to that of the Great Plains. Just beyond where row crop agriculture gives way to grassland cattle country. We utilized the property around the main lodge as well as several concessions, leased...

There's only a few options for direct flights to South Africa. We booked the United Airlines flight from Newark to Johannesburg. I came to find that these are chronically delayed both coming and going. It took a couple extra hours to get off the ground for a combination of controllable and...

On forum members advice- copied here from another forum: It all started with a phone call to my wife last July about this absurdly cheap African safari hunt that was about to sell at a Ducks Unlimited banquet. I did some quick math in my head and a surface level Google search about the...

On everyone's advice I'm in the middle of copying and pasting everything over here to make my own hunt report thread. Thanks for the push and reassurance.

Sorry, I apologize as that probably was an unnecessary stereotype of the whole forum. I should have said "a few people" seem to get dramatic about it. I am grateful for this place as there weren't many other good resources for safari research. Hoping my post turns up in the next guys search...