Web page advise for Baobab Game Ranch

[driehoek]

Hi every one
could you look at our webpage and give us some advise as to how to improve it.What we should add and what should go out, what is a no no and what is a must.
Would appreciate your input.
Margie

 

[richteb]

Baobab, I think your website is excellent and would leave it as is. Possibly update photos each season as I like to trophys taken recently and ones that a few years old.

The other information I like to see on websites is some bio on the PHs that are possibly going to be guiding me. Sort of helps to get a feel for their personality.

 

[Code4]

Margie,

Nice to see a fellow trained medical professional on the forum . I work in the outback of Australia and I'm sure we get to see the same obscure and bizare patient presentations you have had to deal with. (No DG victims over here though).

I like your web site too. I think you could post a list of yearly or 6 monthly fees.

I think there are two aspects to consider in promoting your business. What you can do and what you should NOT do. You look like a family run 'farm stay' operation. If this is what you are then I would promote that more. I know I prefer to 'hunt with the locals' than buy a manufactured package. Others of course don't. If you want the big dollar spenders then your price structure and facilitys should represent that. Whatever you do, please do not embellish or miss represent what you offer. It is a big mistake a lot of operators make and does not lead to return clients.

Thank you for letting me give my suggestions.

 

[driehoek]

Thanks ever so much for the feed back. I will post the bios of the 2 PH that do the hunts. One is my husband. There is a bit of info on him and the other is our son. So as you see it is a family run operation. I some times go out if they need me, but that is not often. I usually do the sightseeing tours or Photo safaris.
Thanks ever so much for your input.

 

[driehoek]

thanks

Thanks everr so much for you input.
At the moment Iam working nights at the clinic. Yes we do a great deal of diffent cases.
The rainy season starting soon then there is quite a bit of work.
We do up date the photos after every hunt if the client agrees to having his photo on the web. I have had so much bad experience with posting prices on the web that Iam a bit shy doing it.
Thanks for the tip. We believe in offering the client the best we can. Our trophy quality is tops! We are not the "Hilton" but we offer good,quality service and the clients are happy.
I did hotel training before I went into medicine.One thing I learned if you go too big then you lose the sinceress and quality of the service you offer.This we want to avoid by all costs!
Most return, if not every year then every second year. As our son has joined us we are wanting to expand a bit.We have had big dollar spender and they were so happy, because they could just relax and be a normal person, that they are returning!
I hope you understand what Iam trying to say.

 

[Cliffy]

Your web site seems fine. I'd like to zoom in and see larger pictures of the accomodations, dinning room, etc but over all it's fine. I too would want to see some pricing info included. I don't know what you went through to make you shy of posting pricing but I for one always look at that too see if a particular operation is even in my ball park for affordability. I'm off on my 5th trip to Africa next april with Jamy Traut (whom I hunted with 4 yrs ago) but I did look at his pricing before I got too far into considering him back then. An old saying says that "the memory lingers long after the price is forgotten" but pricing, at least at first is a consideration for most. Most first timers from the USA need to be VERY sure that they feel comfortable with you before they book. Promote what you have at what you are good at faithfully being honest. References on the web site (with commentary) are something I look at, too. I have used the Dallas Safari Club show as my primary contact point where I have a chance to converse with those I will be hunting with. I can tell fairly quickly if I'm "comfortable" with them in a face to face conversation. You have a place that I'd consider in the future so keep on improving and more will hunt with you.

 

[timbear]

I like your website a lot. Being bilingual, though (German by birth but living in Australia), I found the German version's language a bit too "flowery". That, of course, is a very personal perception, and may not be shared at all by others. I would appreciate a price list, myself. Overall, the site made me want to seriously consider hunting with you, so it is doing it's job. Now it is just a question of finding the time and money...

 

[TOM]

I would like to see a price list personally and some pictures of accommodations.

 

[gillettehunter]

I'm in agreement with the opinions that have been given. I like to see a price list so I have an idea if I can afford to go. I worry less about accomadations and more about the quality of animals so I like seeing that 80% are gold medal. Still pic's of the place would be nice. Get some testimonials from each hunter. If I'm serious
about hunting your place then I'm going to want to be able to contact hunters that were there recently. I'm a long way from any hunting shows so I'm going to E-mail and phone references. That will make a difference. The other thing might be to see if you can increase the variety of animals that you are offering. You may not have, say an Impala on your farm, but is there one available within 150 Km of your farm. Can you make arrangements to go there. My first trip to Africa was just over 4 yrs ago and was in Namibia. We went 250 KM for my friend to shoot a Sable and I got an Impala there. Might get you a few extra hunters a year. Best of luck. Bruce

 

[driehoek]

I would like to thank every one for all the input and the time you took to look at the website. I will take your opinions to heart. I do not know whether to incorporate a guest book or have a blog.What do you think?
References are no problem to place. Ok you have convinced me about the price list.I will place it.
The size of the pictures are of the trophies or the web page? We have a very slow system in the bush and pictures are a problem, but will try to place better ones. It may take a bit of time.
We are busy building luxury safari tent with en-suite bathrooms this year. These accommodation pictures will be placed as soon as they are completed.I will place the put some pictures in the photo page of AH of the present accommodation. Baobab is different to the big outfitters as we ensure each hunting group that they will be the only hunters on the ranch during their hunt.
We have concessions within that range. Roan and Sable are a bit further away but they are able to be hunted within a day. Some times Iam said to be too honest. It is very diffcult to promote some thing which is not what it is.You have to be a damm good sales person and dishonesty does chatch up with you some where along the line. It is like saying we do not have snakes. We do but during the winter they are hibinating, so you see none. I have treeated about 10 people,in hospital, with snake bites in 25 years. All have survived!
My father-in-law(who hunted over 20 odd lions between 1920-1950) always said, the guy whom you take hunting, you some times have to trust with your life! Can you trust some one who is dishonest? It does not pay in this line of business!
How do you guys feel about it?

 

[driehoek]

Vielne Dnk fuer Dein Komentar!
Nun dass ist so eine sache mit der Sprache. Deutsch kann sehr hart sein. Ich hatte was geschrieben aber
die Jaeger hatten sehr schnell gesagt das es so nicht ginge. Ich bin sehr ehrlich und manchmal mein groessster Feind!
Time you must make as you have only got one life. Time gone is gone!
Make some time for what you love to do and the other will also fall in place!

 

[enysse]

We have concessions within that range. Roan and Sable are a bit further away but they are able to be hunted within a day. Some times Iam said to be too honest. It is very diffcult to promote some thing which is not what it is.You have to be a damm good sales person and dishonesty does chatch up with you some where along the line. It is like saying we do not have snakes. We do but during the winter they are hibinating, so you see none. I have treeated about 10 people,in hospital, with snake bites in 25 years. All have survived!
My father-in-law(who hunted over 20 odd lions between 1920-1950) always said, the guy whom you take hunting, you some times have to trust with your life! Can you trust some one who is dishonest? It does not pay in this line of business!
How do you guys feel about it?

Well there are plenty of crooks and thieves in the hunting world if you ask me. They are certainly more people in it for the money than there honestly ever should be! But Forums like this one certainly help inform and educate people that don't want to hunt with dishonest people. There a lot of great outfitters on AH. And the people participating in the AH Forums have a lot of hunting experience. A person still has to put there time in and do the research on every outfitter and make a honest assessment whether the hunt they are looking into fits there needs and wants? Are the costs too much? Is it the right hunting area? Would I be better off saving more money...for my dream hunt, than a cheaper hunt that doesn't exactly fit my every want and need? Do I want to take my wife? A hunting partner? Kids? How much do I spend on taxidermy? Does this trip fit into my work schedule? Do I have enought time to make this trip happy and successful? ETC.

I think you are doing a excellent job of promoting your hunting business on AH. By participating in the AH Forums you putting yourself out there for people to read and hear your points of view.