No Sharing With Other Hunting Groups - HTK Safaris

[HTK Safaris]

No Sharing With Other Hunting Groups

Experience the ultimate in hunting luxury with exclusive use of our private hunting camp.
Imagine having our entire facility, concession, expert guides and trackers, all to yourself, without sharing with other hunting groups.
Whether you are seeking solitude or quality time with friends and family, our private camp experience guarantees an unforgettable hunting escape.

-Ideal for families and couples
-Tailored hunting experiences to suit your needs
-High-end amenities and services
-Undivided attention from our expert guides

One of the main reasons we take only one hunting party at a time is to create a sense of exclusivity and privacy for our clients.
This allows us to provide a higher level of service and attention to detail, ensuring that each hunt is a memorable and rewarding experience for everyone involved.
We believe that hunting should be a rewarding and educational experience that allows clients to connect with nature and appreciate the beauty of Africa.

Agree/Disagree???

 

[375Fox]

It depends. I’d generally prefer not to share a camp, but I’d also say it’s not the only deciding factor. The quality of areas the outfitter has access to will always be the primary consideration to me. After that I’m looking if the outfitter provides a consistent experience to clients. Speaking just about South Africa, If a small outfitter/PH has consistent access to the same quality properties year after year and only takes one group or client a time I view that as a big positive, but the hunting area has to come first. If that takes a midsized outfitter handling a couple clients at a time to have consistent access to properties I’m willing to make that trade off. However, I’d be unwilling to hunt with some of the large volume operators in South Africa because I think they have too many variables in their operation week to week to provide a consistent experience to clients. So my answer on exclusivity is it’s nice but choosing an outfitter depends on a lot of factors.

 

[HTK Safaris]

Good day sir @375Fox , thank you for your response. I definitely agree with your point of view. Concession comes first and there will always be a good mid away about sharing camps with other people. The reason for the thread was based the experienced of one of my clients last year. He said he hunted a place where they had almost 25 hunters in camp and he lost about 3 hunting days because he was sent to do some sight-seeing to make space for some of the other clients to hunt the area. Which in my opinion is totally not acceptable.

 

[mark-hunter]

One of the main reasons we take only one hunting party at a time is to create a sense of exclusivity and privacy for our clients.
This allows us to provide a higher level of service and attention to detail, ensuring that each hunt is a memorable and rewarding experience for everyone involved.
We believe that hunting should be a rewarding and educational experience that allows clients to connect with nature and appreciate the beauty of Africa.

Agree/Disagree???

Generally I agree.

Under the condition, that maximum size of one hunting party is defined.
Hunting party of 4 or 5 or 10 hunters?
Enough licensed PH for the largest possible party hunting 1:1?

Quality of hunting areas has been commented by 375fox, no need for me to add a comment on that.

 

[HTK Safaris]

Generally I agree.

Under the condition, that maximum size of one hunting party is defined.
Hunting party of 4 or 5 or 10 hunters?
Enough licensed PH for the largest possible party hunting 1:1?

Quality of hunting areas has been commented by 375fox, no need for me to add a comment on that.

That's true. Totally agree.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

i hear you Brendan

we also host only 1 group at a time and believe it gives a better experience
if its a group of 3 or more hunters together, they get exclusivity
if i have single hunter in camp then i may bring in another hunter but i will always notify the client that booked first and ask if he wants the camp to himself or if he is ok with sharing the camp
i have had overlaps with different hunters from different parts of the world and its always been enjoyable for all parties concerned

regards

 

[HTK Safaris]

i hear you Brendan

we also host only 1 group at a time and believe it gives a better experience
if its a group of 3 or more hunters together, they get exclusivity
if i have single hunter in camp then i may bring in another hunter but i will always notify the client that booked first and ask if he wants the camp to himself or if he is ok with sharing the camp
i have had overlaps with different hunters from different parts of the world and its always been enjoyable for all parties concerned

regards

HI @Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS thank you for the response. It really great to get everyone's opinion on how they do it and how they prefer their safari. We have bow groups up to 8 people and some times only only hunter in camp. Both ways are always great.

We also have overlaps here and there but always try and confirm with the clients first. Usually they are Ok with it and those evenings around the camp fire is always great.

 

[buck wild]

I was in a camp once with 15 hunters. All went as a "group" put together by one person, but we didn't all know each. It was the worst experience I've had hunting. I will never do that again. If I go with a group, it will be 5 or less, and now I prefer to be alone (with my wife). I wouldn't mind one other hunter in camp depending on size of properties etc.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

I will be going alone next April and told my PH/ Safari Operator I would not have issue with another person in camp so I will meet one hunter he has hunted with before

 

[K-man]

My spouse never goes to a remote trip with me so I am alone most camps. A few times I have shared a camp which is nice for conversation etc. a few times the other guest has been jealous or brings out a tape measure. Or sometimes they drink to excess. Then things can get a bit quiet. So generally it’s a good thing but you can’t predict how it’s going to go.

 

[375Fox]

The reason for the thread was based the experienced of one of my clients last year. He said he hunted a place where they had almost 25 hunters in camp and he lost about 3 hunting days because he was sent to do some sight-seeing to make space for some of the other clients to hunt the area. Which in my opinion is totally not acceptable.

That type of operation is completely unacceptable to me. I can guess which one it is. That’s why I wrote an outfitter that provides a consistent experience is one of my top considerations. If an outfitter only does one group or a few clients at a time with a consistent group of PHs and properties the experience will be consistent from week to week. If an outfitter runs a volume operation and goes 10 to 25 to 40 based on the week. They won’t know their PHs, staff, clients, or properties well and it leads to an inconsistent experience depending on the week because so many variables.

 

[Mekaniks]

I have had it both ways, and I think there is merit either way.

I believe it It really depends on the outfitter, the accommodations, the hunting areas and most importantly the clients expectations....

 

[BryceM]

Depends. I have no interest in going with a large group, especially a made-up group strung together to get the planner a free safari. On most of my trips I've only hunted with people I know (2-4 total). I've shared camp a few times with people that weren't really my cup of tea. It can make for a long week. On other occasions it's been a chance to make new friends and meet some really fantastic people.

The place that we usually visit in the Kalahari is a family operation run by fabulous people. I wouldn't hesitate a minute to share camp with someone they've vetted. The bravado, tape measure, competition club really isn't for me.

 

[Tanks]

I am of the opinion that no other hunters should be in the camp with me. If there is another hunter then one needs to make accommodations for their hunting area and vice versa. I'd rather not be restricted on the area that can be hunted.

 

[grand veneur]

It depends on what you are hunting in Africa. I only hunt big game in Africa so I have never experienced any problems with a camp full of people. During the elephant hunts I was always alone in the camp and during the buffalo hunts there were sometime only a few other hunters at times, but they often hunted only PG so we did not interfere with each other. Too many people, especially if there are know-ones or family groups, would also bother me, but I can hardly imagine something like that on a good organized big game hunt. A few people in the camp, especially if they are hunters like me who mainly go alone, don't bother me, on the contrary, there are people to talk to in the evenings.

 

[grand veneur]

In Burkina Faso there were at times several hunters in the camp, but that was due to the booking system because calling and registering that you would come in 2 to 3 weeks was only what you need to do by the native outfitter for booking. The majority of us french hunters knew each other from previous hunts, so there were no problems, also during the buffalo hunts. The hunting area was big and we shared it. It was never a problem, even if we occasionally met us in the area. We then exchanged information and planned further action again. I am not aware that a hunter was unsuccessful for this reason.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I travel solo, so I have no problem per se with sharing camp with others, as long as there aren't any obnoxious individuals or family member(s). And the number in camp doesn’t exceeds 8 to 10 others.

Sharing camp makes for good conversations after the day's or night's hunt. Meeting follow Americans in camp that are hunting some of the same animals I am hunting, or have hunted, but mainly different species that may or may not interest me for future hunts makes good conversations. Although I'm more interested to hear their hunt experiences on species I haven't hunted. I am also interested in meeting foreign hunters to learn about the animals, if any, and how they hunt, what it takes for a foreigner, if possible, to hunt in their respective home countries.

There is sharing then there is sharing the property, or a concession. It's one thing for an outfitter to have 1 or 2 hunters hunting the same property for different animals, but TIA. Let's say one hunter is hunting blesbok and the other hunter is hunting Impala. The blesbok hunter and PH spot a super nice impala and the blesbok hunter wants it as an add-on or the opposite the impala hunter and PH spot a super nice blesbok and the impala hunter wants it as an add-on either way there's going to be a messy situation.

And then there is sharing a property, actual situation that could have gone side ways had the couple and I had not developed a prior friendly relationship. The couple's PH has exclusive hunting rights to a concession for blesbok. The wife was after a common blesbok. My PH made a deal with the couple's PH earlier, that provided me with a nice white blesbok. The wife see the white blesbok and wants to upgrade from common to white blesbok. The couple's PH was able to avoid a problem because their PH whom I was also friends with, smilingly confided in the couple that was my blesbok. It made for good humor that night. The next morning my PH and I successly hunted that white blesbok, the only shootable white blesbok in the group.

The outfitter I hunt with, the lodge is more of a meeting area. The PHs although they can hunt certain species on the lodge property, they have their own contracted hunting concessions they hunt so really there isn’t a sharing per se of hunting areas. At night after the day's hunts everyone meets back at the lodge for dinner, good conversations, and drinks.

My 2 cents: I'm neither for or against sharing a camp with others. Or at least until I know those I'm sharing camp with.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

An experienced and reputable outfitter will make certain everything is squared away and most everyone's needs are met and I appreciate that. You can't control everything, especially the nature of people... It helps if the outfitter has multiple concessions and access. I appreciate my outfitters exclusive use of large properties they are contracted to hunt outside of their own property.

I've been in camp alone and that's great, been solo and had other hunters show up, and that's good too. I've brought up to 7 friends with me and had the camp to ourselves, but went our separate ways due to circumstance. I went to Waterberg for a Buff and then another area for a waterbuck. Another bow hunter in our group went to a separate camp for a few days, and the others stayed at the main camp and concessions to hunt and do other activities from there. We all got back together 1/2 way through our scheduled safaris, caught up on hunt stories, and spent the remaining time together.

At this point my list of animals are different than others that may be in camp for their first time, so I'm not generally hunting "competitively" with them. I enjoy hearing stories of the first timers getting a nice Kudu, because I already have 2... My night hunting for pigs, small cats, badger, hippo, and/or Tiny Ten hunting is very well planned and coordinated and does not usually conflict with other hunter's agenda or burden either of us.

 

[Tanks]

...

At this point my list of animals are different than others that may be in camp for their first time, so I'm not generally hunting "competitively" with them. I enjoy hearing stories of the first timers getting a nice Kudu, because I already have 2... My night hunting for pigs, small cats, badger, hippo, and/or Tiny Ten hunting is very well planned and coordinated and does not usually conflict with other hunter's agenda or burden either of us.

Not sure about night hunting (unless multiple people), but during the day multiple people are still competing with you in the sense that they have to be in a different hunting area for safety if nothing else.

 

[Sabre]

That's a difficult thing about making camp exclusive to one hunting group. Many people traveling to Africa are going alone or going with a small group of 1-3 people. So, I think a decent number of operations would have a hard time only having 1 or 2 people take up 7-10 days at a camp exclusively.

Also, other people in camp can make or break an experience for sure. But you never really know until you meet the other hunters. Some of my best times hunting ended up being while traveling alone and meeting really great people in hunting camps. The flip side is, I've also had the experience of being in camps with a**holes that can make the whole camp frustrated and annoyed.

I think to me, the most important thing would be that the operator caps the number of hunters to a number that is comfortable for their operation, and makes sure their PH have good people skills. It becomes really obvious when there are too many hunters in camp for what the operation is capable of, and to me, that is the worst case scenario for sharing camp with others. I don't want to pay for a guided hunt and end up lower priority because someone got greedy and overbooked.