Leaving your hunt up to dumb luck is insane.
You can increase your chances of having a good safari exponentially by doing your home work.
Learn what to ask. Ask the questions; Lots and lots of questions.
People are going to say check references.
Good thought, but you minimize the usefulness of this review if you do not ask questions or don't know what to ask.
I asked for references from the place I was considering for my very first hunt. I got them and contacted them all.
Because this operation was very small it did not have a long list of people to contact that had hunted in the last year. (Which is a factor when you choose a small outfit) Is this a bad thing? No, just something you have to consider.
The references were also not hunting the same species I was. A happy Leopard hunter from three years ago does not provide much substance for a plains game hunter, beyond the fact that the outfit did what they promised to do.
This was really what I was after. Did the outfitter do what they said they would do. No false promises, no misdirection, etc.
I read one online review that had used the "concession" of this outfitter, not actually hunted with him. They got their Eland. The report was truthful and informative without slamming the farm. It stated that the accommodation was basic. It had a couple of photos, so I knew what my outfitter looked like and part of the farm house.
It confirmed it was basic and there was game present and the hunter got what he was promised.
I wanted to hunt alone for one week on a low fence, small family operation that did not cater to large numbers of hunters that had Kudu, Oryx and Warthog possibly Eland in their native habitat.
I stated from the outset that I wanted SCI Gold or better. The Outfitter knew I was a trophy hunter from the start.
He sent trail cam pictures and those just confirmed there was game present of the size I was looking for.
Note: I had a back up plan and more places to hunt on my first trip. Therefore, I could be picky about size and I could walk away without shooting anything.
I set all these criteria out by doing endless amounts of research and homework. (Lots of it right here on AH) That's me.
The reality:
In a week long hunt I saw TWO good Bull Kudu, ONE Oryx and lots of trophy Warthogs and ONE herd of Eland Bulls. (Lots of females, etc.) Where I hunted was not a "target rich environment.
My first trophy in Africa was a free range Gold Medal Eland bull. In fact, the herd of Eland I hunted was and is actually the largest free ranging herd anywhere. NGARANGOMBE Conservancy Namibia.
I passed on the first Kudu bull I ever saw in my life. I attempted to get the second bull but he outsmarted us and was watching us during the stalk and I refused to shoot him in the butt as he ran away. I officially love Kudu hunting.
I shot the only Oryx I saw. It happened to be a Male and was also Rowland Ward.
Lucky beyond belief.
The outfitter was very concerned that I did not get my Kudu Bull. I reassured him that I was quite pleased with my hunt and experience. It was what I expected.
I learned:
That trail cam pictures can be taken any time of year.
Weather patterns change from year to year. (Coldest year in memory, including snow.)
Kudu, Oryx and Eland can migrate off a property.
Rabies can reduce huntable populations. I did expect to see more Kudu and Oryx.
Thick bush in Africa is just as tough to hunt as thick bush at home. (worse with thorns)
I can sit in a stand (Never believed I could)
You can successfully stalk, Eland, Kudu and Oryx.
Eland, at least mine, are tough as hell.
Money does drive decision making (switching concessions, etc.)
Small operations can be great places to hunt.
Basic, is basic.
A hunt can be booked by email and internet research and come out fine.
(I only spoke to the outfitters wife once on the telephone before I arrived).
Trust goes both ways. (Small deposit and final payment after I left for home.)
I have noted several individuals, some more experienced folks, discounting wholesale any hunt reports from first timers because the rookies have nothing to compare the hunt to. I think this is rather cynical, but not completely devoid of merit.
Does that immediate post hunt euphoria tend to cloud the judgement somewhat? I think it must. After all, who is heading to Africa to do an objective review. A review is not our goal.
The first time hunter report is valuable to first time hunters. Who else can provide that novel perspective? No one.
On that note, I almost laughed myself silly when I saw the latest pretence of trustworthiness with "Visited and Verified." Really? Someone paid for advertising and the ad confirms what? This is not a review. It's like a superficial star rating from a local tourism board.
I would trust a current first time hunter report long before this.
The hunt reports that do not present any substance, although providing some entertainment value are akin to the visited and verified label. You can determine from that type of report that the hunter was present, the outfitter exists and they recommend them.
Everyone is not a budding novelist, nor do they have to be, but some substantive material about the experience, beyond "the food was great".
The best method to start gaining advantage in your planning is to read as many reports as you can and sift through and find the facts. That will provide you with a basis to analyze the outfitter against your needs. (Pay back your fellow hunter by posting your reports)
Something else to consider:
You have been exposed to Hunting Magazines, National Geographic (magazines and shows), specific Hunting Shows, books, TV shows, Movies, hunting forums, etc. that promote "the dream".
That you have been watching and fantasizing about this for many years, if not decades, sets you up to want to get there and just do it.
To save yourself the sorrow, this is the point at which you have to wrestle with yourself and make yourself do the homework before you book.
Impulse buying a trip to Africa is STUPID!!!
