Can anyone recommend one of these three outfits?

[codofish]

I just got back from the SCI conventions where I was looking for a leopard hunt. I met many and was most impressed with African Maximum Safaris (Jacq Senekal), Trophy Game Safaris (Tino Erasmus), and Pete Frick Safaris. Any feedback, positive or negative is appreciated.

 

[Philip Glass]

Hope you enjoyed SCI!

 

[Tusker]

IMO you are doing the wrong research or beginning the planning from the wrong starting point.
You are hiring a SA guy that already has its SA operation to hunt in an alternative country?
For me makes absolutely no sense.
There are several outfitters and operator on the forum from countries that already have the operation.
The SA guy will sell you what ever is more convenient for him, no necessarily for you.
Decide first the country you want to go and the do a research on the outfitters and operators from that country.

 

[codofish]

Hope you enjoyed SCI!

Hope you enjoyed SCI!

SCI was great. It is like Disneyland for hunters.

​

 

[Jason Miller]

I just got back from the SCI conventions where I was looking for a leopard hunt. I met many and was most impressed with African Maximum Safaris (Jacq Senekal), Trophy Game Safaris (Tino Erasmus), and Pete Frick Safaris. Any feedback, positive or negative is appreciated.

Which country are you wanting to hunt in?

 

[Dinsdale]

If you mean Pete Fick from Zimbabwe, he hunts BVC and I know 2 people with multiple safari experiences who have done hunts with him and speak highly of him.

I think there are only a few ph's working on BVC and all have terrific reputations.

 

[codofish]

IMO you are doing the wrong research or beginning the planning from the wrong starting point.
You are hiring a SA guy that already has its SA operation to hunt in an alternative country?
For me makes absolutely no sense.
There are several outfitters and operator on the forum from countries that already have the operation.
The SA guy will sell you what ever is more convenient for him, no necessarily for you.
Decide first the country you want to go and the do a research on the outfitters and operators from that country.

??? Pete Fick (I mis-spelled his name in the title) is based in Zimbabwe. Many outfitters on this forum operate in multiple countries so I am not concerned with that as long as they do a good job with it. I have hunted SA twice and want to hunt a different country, they all appeal to me. The quality of the PH is more important to me than the country.

 

[codofish]

If you mean Pete Fick from Zimbabwe, he hunts BVC and I know 2 people with multiple safari experiences who have done hunts with him and speak highly of him.

I think there are only a few ph's working on BVC and all have terrific reputations.

Yes, that is him. The hunt is in the BVC. Thanks for the feedback.

Do you know if the BVC is a good place to hunt in general?

 

[spike.t]

The quality of the PH is more important to me than the country

Mmmmm to me bit of a strange statement....so the country isn't important......just remember you can't operate in zim as a ph if you aren't Zimbabwean.....and to be blunt some phs/outfitters that operate in countries different from where they are from cause issues.....not all but some.....not going any deeper into this issue....

 

[375Fox]

What was it about them you were most impressed with? When hunting a concession area the concession and success rates need to be the top priority over the outfitter/PH. I generally would not hunt with a South African outside South Africa unless they made that the focus of their business. A South African PH primarily doing ranch hunts then doing 2 or 3 hunts a year in Zimbabwe or Mozambique is just a visitor to that area. Given your choices I’d definitely hunt through Pete Fick simply because he’s a Zimbabwe outfitter operating in Zimbabwe. If you chose to hunt with the other two I’d ask a lot of questions about the areas they hunt, who they hunt through, and how many clients they take there each year and for how many years. There are some South Africans offering good hunts through legitimate operators on quality areas but there are also many marketing marginal hunts on areas difficult to sell. Make the concessions they hunt and success rates your top priority choosing an outfitter on a concession area.

 

[375Fox]

Yes, that is him. The hunt is in the BVC. Thanks for the feedback.

Do you know if the BVC is a good place to hunt in general?

By nearly all accounts the BVC is an amazing area to hunt. For leopard specifically though I’d ask success rates and if the conservancy allows hunting at night to compare to other areas.

 

[Dinsdale]

Yes, that is him. The hunt is in the BVC. Thanks for the feedback.

Do you know if the BVC is a good place to hunt in general?

There's a recent report by a member here...

Thread 'ZIMBABWE: 45 Days Trip To Africa Part One: Bubye Valley Conservancy, Zimbabwe'

Sep 9, 2024

I'll be honest, I don't like writing hunting reports, I guess I'm too lazy.
But after being a member here for a while and reading so many, I felt like I should contribute and along the way hopefully help members who are planning similar hunts or trips.
This will be part about hunting and part about travel and because it will be long, I'll tell it in parts.
Some pics will be posted but it will not be pic heavy and mostly about story telling.
I'm no expert by any means but I made multiple trips to Africa since 1992 and I might also include some opinions on top of facts and some insights and...

• Doubleplay
• Replies: 36
• Forum: Hunting reports Africa

• 
• 

 

[WyoBull]

We hunted Cape Buffalo and Crocodile with Jacque at Africa Maximum Safaris in [emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]. My buddy also shot several PG animals on the same trip as well.
We had a good experience and our PH’s were excellent.
We stayed at his lodge (Family farm) which is about / hours NE of Joberg.
What are you wanting to hunt? What are your expectations from a lodging/food perspective?

 

[Bandera]

I just got back from the SCI conventions where I was looking for a leopard hunt. I met many and was most impressed with African Maximum Safaris (Jacq Senekal), Trophy Game Safaris (Tino Erasmus), and Pete Frick Safaris. Any feedback, positive or negative is appreciated.

I am booked with Africa Maximum Safaris for a Buffalo hunt in June.
I have a party of 11 going.
2 hunting buffalo, myself included.
4 observers.
5 hunting plains game.
I booked with AMS last year when at the SCI show. This year some the guys and their wife’s went and we meet with Jacq and met some of the PH’s
A lot of questions asked, a lot positive answers.
I asked about incidents where a client may have gotten tossed or gored by a Buffalo, he answered the question straight up also explained that the clients had gone against the advice of using expanding bullets, Barnes and the like and used solids.
Nobody was severely injured. One rifle was destroyed, stock broke in half, scope crushed.
The other buffalo shot with solids was never recovered.
The AMS Safari looks to very a very comfortable lodge, which is nice. That means my wife will go along and share in the adventure.
In 23 she said she would go and observe for one or two stalks. After the first stalk she was right in the thick of it.
Would I like to do tent safari? Sure, but if staying in a nice lodge means she would go, the sign me up for comfy Safari.

Any ways we are looking forward to an exciting and successful hunt.

 

[WyoBull]

I am booked with Africa Maximum Safaris for a Buffalo hunt in June.
I have a party of 11 going.
2 hunting buffalo, myself included.
4 observers.
5 hunting plains game.
I booked with AMS last year when at the SCI show. This year some the guys and their wife’s went and we meet with Jacq and met some of the PH’s
A lot of questions asked, a lot positive answers.
I asked about incidents where a client may have gotten tossed or gored by a Buffalo, he answered the question straight up also explained that the clients had gone against the advice of using expanding bullets, Barnes and the like and used solids.
Nobody was severely injured. One rifle was destroyed, stock broke in half, scope crushed.
The other buffalo shot with solids was never recovered.
The AMS Safari looks to very a very comfortable lodge, which is nice. That means my wife will go along and share in the adventure.
In 23 she said she would go and observe for one or two stalks. After the first stalk she was right in the thick of it.
Would I like to do tent safari? Sure, but if staying in a nice lodge means she would go, the sign me up for comfy Safari.

Any ways we are looking forward to an exciting and successful hunt.

@Bandera, do you remember the names of the PH’s you talked with from AMS?

 

[codofish]

Mmmmm to me bit of a strange statement....so the country isn't important......just remember you can't operate in zim as a ph if you aren't Zimbabwean.....and to be blunt some phs/outfitters that operate in countries different from where they are from cause issues.....not all but some.....not going any deeper into this issue....

I didn't intend to say the country isn't important, just not as important as the quality of the PH. Actually, you are correct, the country isn't important to me. I am equally intrigued by all of the African countries.

I have taken 22 animals from my two trips to South Africa so I want to try a different country. I just sold my business and retired so maybe I can get around to hunting all of Africa.....

 

[matt vejar]

Pete Fick has been hunting in Zim a long time. Check several references who hunted with him last year. I believe you will like what you find out.

 

[codofish]

What was it about them you were most impressed with? When hunting a concession area the concession and success rates need to be the top priority over the outfitter/PH. I generally would not hunt with a South African outside South Africa unless they made that the focus of their business. A South African PH primarily doing ranch hunts then doing 2 or 3 hunts a year in Zimbabwe or Mozambique is just a visitor to that area. Given your choices I’d definitely hunt through Pete Fick simply because he’s a Zimbabwe outfitter operating in Zimbabwe. If you chose to hunt with the other two I’d ask a lot of questions about the areas they hunt, who they hunt through, and how many clients they take there each year and for how many years. There are some South Africans offering good hunts through legitimate operators on quality areas but there are also many marketing marginal hunts on areas difficult to sell. Make the concessions they hunt and success rates your top priority choosing an outfitter on a concession area.

What was I most impressed with? I guess these three guys struck me as real. I thought they were sincere and honest.

 

[codofish]

We hunted Cape Buffalo and Crocodile with Jacque at Africa Maximum Safaris in [emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]. My buddy also shot several PG animals on the same trip as well.
We had a good experience and our PH’s were excellent.
We stayed at his lodge (Family farm) which is about / hours NE of Joberg.
What are you wanting to hunt? What are your expectations from a lodging/food perspective?

I want to hunt leopard.

As long as I have a hunk of meat I am good. Fresh game meat on the BBQ is always a winner.

I am flexible on lodging and have stayed at everything from 5 star lodges while fly fishing in Alaska to tents while elk hunting in Colorado.

 

[CZDiesel]

Pete Fick is a legend in the PH community!