Hello. Been a while since I posted.
We have a hunt booked in 2027 with White Lion Safaris (won a Safari raffle). VERY happy with this choice based on everything I’ve researched and in emailing with them.
Some info, then a question….
- I fully intend to do more than one trip to Africa for more hunting.
- I know a lot of people do repeat trips with the same outfitter because of how well their first trip went, and that may very well be where I land.
- For outfitter choices, there’s also word of mouth from family, friends, taxidermists.
- The question: For someone who wants to gather info on a “best” outfitter by area to hunt with, is there such a thing as some sort of an “X stars” rating or a site that rates outfitters?
There isn't a specific rating system or site you can look at. Far too many outfitters to consider. I have no way to really verify but I've herd the number thrown around a couple times that in South Africa alone there are close to 7000 Outfitters and 4-5 times that number of licensed PH's. How many are active is probably less. A country like Zimbabwe you're probably looking at 75-100ish Registered Outfitters and significantly less active 50-65 (my guess).
One way to get an idea of good outfitters is to look at some of the "Endorsed Outfitters". I know Craig Boddington has this and believe Jim Shockey has done this in the past. I personally take some of the other "hunting celebrities" with a grain of salt when they suggest someone or something because they're just slinging stuff for whoever gives them the best deal or contract. Look at how many have switched bands.
You can also look at who's been given SCI and DSC Outfitter or PH of the year awards. These are very prestigious and a good indication of who's on the top level. Typically these will also be the same outfitters your regular and top end hunters are booking with. Think guys that spend 30-150 days a year hunting in Africa, ones that hunt multiple Dangerous Game species each year or each safari.
I take this with a grain of salt, but you can also look at social media. Sometimes certain outfitters have a big social media presence and get a lot of attention. I sometimes think some of these guys are struggling and this is another form of advertising for them, especially if they're promoting hunting with certain "celebrities". My personal favorite outfitter is one with no social media, or web presence who's just word of mouth and referral business.
You also might want to look at who's hunting the area, or species you want to hunt. I take this more into account, and try to hunt species where they're naturally occurring and endemic rather than introduced. There are some PH's/Outfitters who are known for chasing specific animals; think leopard guys, lion guys, elephant guys, someone like Buzz with CMS who's known for not only elephants but tuskless at that. If you're just talking the common plains game species it's not as big a deal. This is where area is important. This is where you can also weigh the idea of Wild Africa against the idea of hunting in Africa. There are some great options in South Africa that are free range, or so large they're essentially free range. Crusader Safaris and Coenraad Vermaak are two that come to mind.
Just remember what's important to me, or someone else, might not be as important to you. The last way, and IMO best way is to talk to the outfitters/PH's and their references. WhatsApp, Email, and trade shows like DSC and SCI have made this much easier.
My recommendations
1) Make a list of what species are important to you (this will change many times as you hunt)
2) Make a list of any areas you really want to try and hunt
3) Decide if you care about hunting species in areas where they've been introduced or where they naturally occurred
4) Determine your budget - some countries will be naturally more expensive because of government fees (Tanzania for instance)
5) Book your trip and go hunt
