Well, given some of the responses on this thread I thought I should rather stay out of this but seeing you asked here goes...
I am surprised by the choice of name for this particular "safari company". I am surprised that someone would use a name very similar to that of his neighbor (who is a registered Outfitter and who has legally registered the name of his safari company) to start marketing safaris on his own behalf... Don't know that I'd be too happy if my neighbor started marketing himself as Chris Troskie Hunting Safaris knowing full and well that this is very similar to the legally registered name of my company... In the same sense I don't know if Buzz Charlton would be happy if I started marketing
Charlton McCallum Safaris South Africa or
Charlton McCallum African Safaris for that matter?
I am surprised that the same person would run a website stating that they have years of experience in the safari industry when truth reveals that he is neither a registered Outfitter nor a Professional Hunter. Quite frankly; I am at a loss to understand how anyone can gain "years of experience in the safari industry" if he has never been registered as Hunting Outfitter, never passed a PH Course and never acted as a PH...
I am surprised that the same person portrayed himself over here on AH and also on his website as a Hunting Outfitter. On the face of things and by his own admission this was a lie.
And I am surprised to see how many folks are sticking up for the same person - because he seems to be a "good guy".
I am also surprised to see how those who have spoken out against all of this are being crucified...
To reply to some other comments...
A PH Course is not about being taught "not to sell cheap hunts", although you are typically advised to keep your prices market related... There are reasons for this - more than one - but I will try to stay on topic and refrain from elaborating.... Cheap hunts don't work in the long run - as simple as that. And by this I am not implying that the individual in question was selling "cheap hunts" (although I think that $3,800 for a Springbok Slam is kinda "cheap" but then again - $10,000 for a proper Cape Buffalo Hunt is kinda cheap as well so I'm to blame too in this regard...)
One of the primary subjects taught during a PH Course is that of the relevant Game Laws for the Province that you want to register in. This is crucially important as - if you want to conduct a hunt legally - you need to know the Game Laws (or "Ordinances" as they are called over here). This is one of the reasons why foreign hunters need to be accompanied by a PH when they hunt and one of the reasons why hunts must be booked via licensed Outfitters (who typically have also passed their PH Exams and are up to date with legislation)... During the same course, students are taught that only licensed Outfitters may market themselves and their hunting opportunities to foreigners according to the Law... This is not a PHASA Law nor is it a PH/Outfitters' Law. This is the Law if our Country.
Unfortunately many South Africans don't even know the Ordinances applicable to their own Provinces. Many still think that a letter of permission from the Landowner is sufficient for them to legally hunt on a property and many do not know that special licenses or permits are required to hunt certain species of game.
So in the end... YES - it is about $$$ but not $$$ in the way that some have portrayed it.
The "above board" Outfitters (and I'd like to include myself in this category) who have commented on this thread did not necessarily do so because they feel threatened by others who offer lower rates OR because they are after the money...
The question that you have to ask yourself is whether you want to incur the $$$ of travelling to another country, spend $$$ there, later find out that your hunt was conducted illegally and then be told that you cannot get your trophies back because of it?
replies were concise and to the point and addressed the legality of the matter, the fact as Chris stated above that it was played down by many members came as quite a surprise.
