Heading to SA in 4 days....last minute tips?

[Ridge Runner]

Art is Art and in the eyes of the beholder. I'm not that fond of Euro mounts because Euro mounts don't show the true majesty of an animal, photos don't either. If you have the available space I will suggest at least having your most notable animal(s) shoulder, or wall or floor pedestal mounted and Euro mount the rest.

I have all of my first time hunted animals mounted: shoulder, or smaller animals full body mounted. Note: after this trip I'll be needing to add more wall and floor space.

Only because I am hunting some of the previous species I've already hunted I will now only have the animal shoulder or wall pedestal mounted if the animal is of better quality through the hunt, horn or tusks size, or beauty of the animal.

The hides, feet, horns, and tusks, I can use to make or adorn items for use at home.

I have an exceptional taxidermist in Africa. Nothing against taxidermist here in the states as I have seen photos of their African taxidermy here on the forum and many forum members recommend them as they also do exceptional work. In the end comparing all costs taxidermy and shipping costs there is some savings having completed taxidermy done in RSA and shipped directly to your home vs because of the limited number of exceptional African animal taxidermist having the higher taxidermy and additional shipping costs and longer wait time before arriving to your home here in the US.

Just my 2¢ on taxidermy.

 

[Hunt anything]

A little off thread but out of all of the birds and animals I have mounted in my room the only negative comments so far have been about the 1/2 doz or so euros I have. 2 whitetail, baboon, feral hog, bushpig, Javalina and reedbuck.

 

[Sabre]

A little off thread but out of all of the birds and animals I have mounted in my room the only negative comments so far have been about the 1/2 doz or so euros I have. 2 whitetail, baboon, feral hog, bushpig, Javalina and reedbuck.

I can see that. I know some people who have told me they don't like the Euro mounts and prefer the shoulder mounts I have. I personally like Euro mounts somewhat equally to shoulder mounts. So, after I got quite a few shoulder mounts, I started wishing I had some more Euro mounts. And whenever I have something shoulder mounted, I am a little bummed that they had to cut the skull cap off to do it.

 

[Ridge Runner]

been over only once so have nowhere near experience many do. I had same worries you did.

I had plans to add Culls and maybe a couple cheap animals and had enough funds "Set aside" for it. We ended up shooting like 5 extra animals and one being a weird looking Kudu that guide offered for $700 when we saw it. Had to argue with the wife that she should shoot it or end up regretting it. When told PH i'll shoot it, wife changed her mind. That kudu skull looks great in our living room... I wish we had more suprise culls pop up, but put some aside incase they do. The gentlemen earlier on this thread that passed up a $600 giraffe is shining example. Also, our PH took credit cards so if you run short on cash but can afford it, pay card when get home. I dont regret shooting anything we did.

I tipped like $1200 in total. Is that good or bad, i have no idea. We had one tracker that we might of given $400 plus an ipad and a sweater he liked of mine and gave rest to PH to "distribute". Our PH was also the outfitter and his wife was the camp manager. Does that change things i dont know but will see what happens on next safari.

There are several posts on here about giving tips to your outfitter or PH to handout. Good and Questionable outfitters and PH's.

IMO, If you feel comfortable that your outfitter, outfitter/PH, PH will give your tips to the staff members as you have intended, then ok. As the outfitter, outfitter/PH, PH know if, or which members of their staff, is/are known for taking unexpected vacations when they directly receive their tip.

If you don't feel your tip will reach the intended staff then I recommend discussing your feelings with the outfitter, outfitter /PH, then decide on whether to leave tips for staff or not.

Hopefully on your next trip you will have a welcoming staff grateful for your tip from your previous visit, rather than a "ho hum" somewhat resentful staff because they didn't re

As for the amount you choose to tip: It's your choice to tip or not. Tips are a personal gratuity for services rendered and what one can comfortably afford.

IMO, You are not wrong on your tip. I'll concede to your judgement on leaving your staff tips to be later distributed by your outfitter/ PH.

 

[wesheltonj]

Take a stack of $10 and $20 bills for tips - kind of a pain but I have found it to be super handy.
As other have said - if possible, take that extra animal that happens to jump out.

$10’s. No one does anything for less than $20. And make sure your USD are crisp and new.

 

[KuduKiller]

Someone said it before. Take notes of the concessions you go to. That way you you remember what animals you took where. Soak it all in! Ask plenty of questions about the flora and fauna. You will see birds over there that you think couldn’t exist. Get up early one morning, grab a cup of joe and walk outside and listen to the cape doves as the sun rises.

Just live in the moment and relax!

Have a great trip.

 

[Stetsonham]

Enjoy the sounds of all the different birds… seems stupid but I miss it dearly every time I leave

 

[dailordasailor]

There are several posts on here about giving tips to your outfitter or PH to handout. Good and Questionable outfitters and PH's.

IMO, If you feel comfortable that your outfitter, outfitter/PH, PH will give your tips to the staff members as you have intended, then ok. As the outfitter, outfitter/PH, PH know if, or which members of their staff, is/are known for taking unexpected vacations when they directly receive their tip.

If you don't feel your tip will reach the intended staff then I recommend discussing your feelings with the outfitter, outfitter /PH, then decide on whether to leave tips for staff or not.

Hopefully on your next trip you will have a welcoming staff grateful for your tip from your previous visit, rather than a "ho hum" somewhat resentful staff because they didn't re

As for the amount you choose to tip: It's your choice to tip or not. Tips are a personal gratuity for services rendered and what one can comfortably afford.

IMO, You are not wrong on your tip. I'll concede to your judgement on leaving your staff tips to be later distributed by your outfitter/ PH.

I had read about the sketchy PHs on here prior to going. That said i never actually saw our camp staff besides the cook and couldnt find the cook before we left. I 100% trusted our PH/wife but you do never know. Also PH told me night before we left "get with the tracker if you plan to tip him as he's leaving before sunrise for a hunt" which made me feel like he was honest.

I will say i dont plan to hunt with same PH again so if they stiffed their staff, i'll never know. Was great place but i felt like i saw everything i was going to see in my 7 days so next time will be different concession. Part of the adventure for me is seeing new things.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Whatever you do, don't post on any social media that you are about to leave the country for an extended time period. There are roving gangs of illegals that will rob your house while you are away. Just ask any NFL player on a road trip for an away game.

 

[thriller]

if you don’t like instant coffee you may need to pack your own depending on your outfitter

 

[Hunt anything]

if you don’t like instant coffee you may need to pack your own depending on your outfitter

This actually converted me to tea! Plus my wife started drinking that crap at home.

 

[KIH]

A bit late, but ain't a film crew and a 1+ hour film professionally made the ultimate trophy to remember the trip?

 

[Hunt anything]

I have videos, picture albums, 8X10s on the walls and mounted trophies in the house. I watch the video one or two times a year, look at the photo albums once every two months or so but I sit and look t the mounts almost daily. All are enjoyable.

 

[Trappernewt]

A bit late, but ain't a film crew and a 1+ hour film professionally made the ultimate trophy to remember the trip?

I thought about it but had no idea where to even start the process.

 

[375Fox]

Don’t overthink it. I’d prioritize taking additional animals over the taxidermy. I’ve gotten a lot more mounted than I wish I would have now. The photo means a lot more to me than most mounts years later. A euro mount would have allowed me to put more towards hunting on future trips. Bushbuck and warthog are two common animals I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hunting. If you see a huge trophy after already taking one remember you can usually take 2. It’s not like North America where you only hold 1 tag.

The most important item to pack has honestly become chapstick for me. That can be the difference of being miserable or focusing on the hunt. I also don’t understand the suggestion of small bills. Most places in South Africa take credit cards. If you want to tip farm hands that ride with you for the day changing out some USD for Rand with PH to hand to them is better than USD they don’t have a good way to exchange. Small USD bills carry a lot more value in places like Zimbabwe that operate on USD than South Africa. Also something you might not think of, make sure you use credit card without foreign transaction fees or you’ll be paying an extra 3%.

 

[Trappernewt]

Don’t overthink it. I’d prioritize taking additional animals over the taxidermy. I’ve gotten a lot more mounted than I wish I would have now. The photo means a lot more to me than most mounts years later. A euro mount would have allowed me to put more towards hunting on future trips. Bushbuck and warthog are two common animals I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hunting. If you see a huge trophy after already taking one remember you can usually take 2. It’s not like North America where you only hold 1 tag.

The most important item to pack has honestly become chapstick for me. That can be the difference of being miserable or focusing on the hunt. I also don’t understand the suggestion of small bills. Most places in South Africa take credit cards. If you want to tip farm hands that ride with you for the day changing out some USD for Rand with PH to hand to them is better than USD they don’t have a good way to exchange. Small USD bills carry a lot more value in places like Zimbabwe that operate on USD than South Africa. Also something you might not think of, make sure you use credit card without foreign transaction fees or you’ll be paying an extra 3%.

I learned the ChapStick (and nasal spray) lesson the hard way on my first New Mexico elk hunt. Its now in my carryon for every trip I take! Thanks for the tip on the foreign transaction fees!

 

[MarkB]

if you don’t like instant coffee you may need to pack your own depending on your outfitter

That's all I drink at home. No Name brand at that. Guy's got to save for the next trip over. But really it is the coffee I drink. But do love that McD stuff.

MB

 

[Sabre]

I thought about it but had no idea where to even start the process.

In regards to the professional filming of the hunt.

The thing that keeps me from doing this, although I really like the idea is the price. On a 10 day trip you could be looking at $7,000 or more for the film. I think it is really cool, and if you have that extra money to spend and it is enough value for you to do it, I love it. I love seeing when people post their videos on here. However, for me, I can't help but think about the other animals I could have hunted for that money.

 

[Hunt anything]

My wife films and then we turn it over to our tech savvy son in law to edit add some stabilization and clean up the sound. It’s not “Tracks Across Africa” but it’s pretty good.

 

[Jared640]

Chapstick and nasal spray. Idk about this time of year i usually go in August and the air is very dry.