HUNTING REPORT

Dear E-Mail Extra ,



If you are about to board a plane for a safari to Tanzania with Usangu Safaris, you should know that we have just received a rash of disturbing reports about their camp conditions. Six returning hunters have contacted us about problems with their hunts. Two more have just called our offices from camp by satellite phone asking us to warn other hunters. They say Usangu's camps are short on everything from vehicles… to food… to tents… to PH's… to fuel.

Returning hunters, as well as those we spoke with by satellite phone, report being stranded in camp for days due to lack of fuel and a shortage of vehicles. The two hunters we spoke with by satellite phone, said they had just pooled their money and sent two PH's to the nearest village to purchase eggs, flour and other basic staples, along with fuel.

Several returning hunters told us there were upwards of 11 hunters plus observers in their camp. We have also received reports of hunters being told the concessions they booked are unavailable unless they pay additional fees of $15,000 to $18,000. Some camps, we are hearing, lack camp managers. All the hunters who have checked in report a paucity of game.

We tried repeatedly to reach Usangu Safari's US representative Bill Fronterhouse about these reports, but had not received a return call or e-mail from him as this was written. However, we did hear from his wife, Beverly Fronterhouse, who told us this morning that she was "trying to obtain clarification of the situation from Zahir Mulla." She promised a follow-up call when she had new information. We also tried unsuccessfully to reach Usangu Safaris directly at all of the e-mail addresses we have for the company. We had not received any kind of reply as this went to press.

[]

[] On another matter in Tanzania, we are pleased to report that Game Frontiers of Tanzania, Ltd., is not implementing new game fees this year after all. We have that directly from Sheni Lalji, Managing Director of Game Frontiers, Ltd. "There is no client who has been told to pay new fees imposed for now," he just informed us by e-mail.

In our previous e-mail bulletin, you'll recall, we told you a Hunting Report subscriber has called us, saying his agent for a safari with Game Frontiers, Ltd. had demanded he pay the new game fees or not come on safari at all, in which case his failure to come would be treated as a cancellation, resulting in the forfeiture of all fees paid. The new information from Lalji clearly indicates that what appeared to be a disturbing development was simply a miscommunication between the agent, the client and the company. Given the confusing situation this year in Tanzania, a miscommunication of this sort is not surprising. No negative inference about Game Frontiers, Ltd. should be taken from this incident.

Has anyone heard anything further on this?

quote:

Originally posted by JVinAK:
Has anyone heard anything further on this?

If this was accurate one would expect some follow-up. If not, lots of explaining is needed.

I heard similar stories last year from my PH who had hunted for Usangu. This apparently is not the first time clients have had to dish out cash to pay for food and fuel. I heard the identical story last year.

I initially was booking last year's hunt with Usangu. Luckily, they doubled the Buffalo fee on me before I had signed anything and I got even luckier when someone pointed me toward Wendell Reich.

I have hunted 5 years in a row with Usangu Safaris. I have taken 4 Lion, 1 Elephant, 2 Leopard, 1 hippo 3 Sable and 6 Buffalo.
I hunted this year with usangu and have first hand knowledge,"not I heard" of what has happened this year. I only mention these animals because I have seen no shortage of game.
No one last year had to chip in and buy food and Fuel. That is just not true. I was there.
This year Usangu had some problems. Zahir Mulla underestimated what it took to open a third camp and keep everything running smoothly. In mid August they did have problems obtaining fuel as there local source ran out and they did run out of some food Items. No hunters had to pool their money to buy anything as our group of 4 left thousands of dollars in tips. We took 3 Lions and two hunters that hunted just after us each took a Lion. It was very wet this year do to late rains and the grass was very high making it very difficult to find game, but we managed to take 5 Lions in 4 weeks. I have already signed up to hunt with them next year.
Unless you have first hand knowledge wait until the Hunting Report prints Usangu's rebutal.
CHEERS

All I know is that my guy was in camp when it happened. I have no reason to question his veracity.

It would truly take a disturbed individual to call Miami from a satellite phone and make up that kind of story.

There is a very negative report filed with the hunting report.

5 lion in 4 weeks and you personally have shot 4 in 5 years? What is the quota in that area?

Anytime there is a "rash" of bad reports, something bad is happening.

Sounds like trouble to me.

The Lion quota is 8 to 10 depending on the year.
If you go to their Website you can view the game taken each year.
5 of us are going back next year if the Lion trophy fee is reasonable,
There are two sides to every story. Before passing judgement on any company it would be nice to know both sides and not judge anyone on just hearsay. CHEERS

There are definitely 2 sides to stories (we just discovered that about an Alaska guide on these forums) but at least 8 clients are complaining.

You seem available by email. You should get Bill to respond here or to the Hunt Report.

Sounds like you like to hunt lions. Expensive habit.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I just received the following email on this subject.

============

Saeed,

You may wish to post this information on the African forum relating to Usangu Safaris:

Dear Barbara,



I have read the news release you have posted on hunting report. I have been in the field hunting with clients for over a month, and I just returned. Therefore, I was unable to respond to this information any earlier. My response to your post is as follows:





If you are about to board a plane for a safari to Tanzania with Usangu Safaris, you should know that we have just received a rash of disturbing reports about their camp conditions. Six returning hunters have contacted us about problems with their hunts. Two more have just called our offices from camp by satellite phone asking us to warn other hunters. They say Usangu's camps are short on everything from vehicles… to food… to tents… to PH's… to fuel.

We had some overlap of clients in camps due to some clients refusing to go to their assigned camps. However, each client was accommodated and had a tent. Two vehicles had mechanical problems that needed to be repaired. Clients were advised to stay in Dar for couple of days until the vehicles were repaired as there was no extra vehicle in camp. The clients refused to stay in Dar and demanded to fly to camp knowing there would be no vehicle for them. When they arrived in camp, they were told there was no vehicle as advised earlier. There was also a shortage of one PH, which would have been freed in four days. I told the clients that they will hunt on 2X1 for two to three days, and their schedule will be back to normal to hunt on 2X2 after four days. They would also get credit for days they hunted 2X1. Two clients came to see me in the next camp, and I told them of the same situation, and I advised them that the solution of vehicles will be solved within couple of days. They agreed to wait for the extra days as they would credit on the missed days. I was later told that the clients decided to leave the next day different from what we agreed on.



Food etc: The main camp was given food supply that will last nearly the entire season. It is to my surprise to hear reports that main camp has no food, where less than a month ago they had plenty of stock. I have checked with the camp, and all PHs said that food was always available for clients.

Returning hunters, as well as those we spoke with by satellite phone, report being stranded in camp for days due to lack of fuel and a shortage of vehicles. The two hunters we spoke with by satellite phone, said they had just pooled their money and sent two PH's to the nearest village to purchase eggs, flour and other basic staples, along with fuel.

Since I was gone for over a month, the office personnel handled fuel supply. I am still finding information as to why there was delay in fuel supply. I returned today, and the fuel issue is now resolved. Some of these issues could have been easily handled by the PHs who were with clients. However, they failed to take the initiative to solve several of these issues on behalf of the clients and/or the company.

Several returning hunters told us there were upwards of 11 hunters plus observers in their camp. We have also received reports of hunters being told the concessions they booked are unavailable unless they pay additional fees of $15,000 to $18,000. Some camps, we are hearing, lack camp managers. All the hunters who have checked in report a paucity of game.


There were clients who wanted to hunt northern species in the Masailand. Due to the Tanzania government proposed increased fees, the area that I reserved to hunt for the clients demanded $15,000 extra per client to hunt to cover the $50,000 block fee increase. We informed the clients of this situation as it was out of our control. As a result, we advised them to finish all of the hunting days in Usangu concessions. Some clients have been given 5 days of daily rate credit for the days that were scheduled in the north. As you are aware, the government has not fully rescinded their decision of fee increases. Many operators are charging extra fees to cover the increased fees in the event the government will not rescind its decision. Until we receive official notification from the government, I expect concession holders may continue to charge fees based upon the current Government ruling. Usangu Safaris has chosen not to charge clients any extra fees to hunt in our concessions no matter what the final decision of the Tanzanian Government; however, we cannot control the decisions of other operators. I have advised all the clients to hunt in the Usangu concessions to avoid extra charges.



Paucity of Game: Due to heavy rains this year, there is plenty of water and vegetation for animals in our concessions. As a result, animal movements have been very limited. However, most of our clients have been successful in their desired species. Also, Tanzania is free range country with fair chase hunting. Therefore, animals are not fenced within an area. They migrate within an entire ecosystem that is several thousand square kilometers. All clients who have dedicated the hard work to be successful enjoyed great success.



Also, due to personal matters and health complications, Bill will not be handling any company matters for now. However, he will facilitate communications with the clients who are scheduled to arrive from September until end of October.



If you need additional details, please feel free to contact us by email, as I will be in the field.





Sincerely,





Zahir H. Mulla

CEO

P. O. Box 21189

Dar Es Salaam

Tanzania

Tel. 255-22-212-5091

Fax. 255-22-212-5092

Mobile: 255-784-394235

Still sounds like a big screwup on Usangu's part. If he is the manager, he should be managing and not out hunting.

Why would clients refuse to go to camps...make that multiple clients refusing? If they did refuse it sounds like they were trying to stay out of a mess. You couldn't handle the clients who DIDN'T refuse.

Fuel issues are now "resolved" and PH's should have handled things but didn't...and there were not enough PH's anyway according to the reply given here.

Sounds like the camps were definitely without a manager (because he was hunting) and things fell apart. Also, the US agent is not working for personal reasons or answering inquiries. Sounds like Usangu needs to get ship shape.

I guess there were 2 sides but they are pretty much saying the same things just with a different twist or spin from the safari side.

Clients refusing to go to their camps...

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
Still sounds like a big screwup on Usangu's part. If he is the manager, he should be managing and not out hunting.

Yup.

Sounds like Usangu is dead meat. I thought, from references on this site, they we're a decent local TZ outfit. The Mulla's are well known in TZ.I bought tanzanite from one of the uncles last year and got a square deal. Pure speculation but, perhaps this is related to fee situation in TZ?

Mzee,

I would sure like to see pics of the three lions...That you and friends shot...

Where does Usangu hunt in Tanzania???


Mike

And the camp staff and PH are supposed to use their tip money to buy food for the next safari clients?

This adds new meaning to the importance of tipping.

There are to many questionable circumstances to risk an investment. It would appear that a course in "Business 101" is in order.

Then a trouble free, $14k Buff hunt in Zulu land or Mpumalanga does'nt sound that bad, does it......?

I just got a qoute back from an outfit called Kubwa 5 Safaris- 1x1 7 day Buff hunt in Tanzania......$15k.

A socialist way of doing things never worked anywhere in the world.....why should it in the hunting industry in Tanzania....???

I hunted with Usangu in Sep 2006 and all the bad things that were said are true. From running out of gas and broken down vehicle to running into 19 hunters in the field while hunting buffalo. If those things aren't bad enough, I didn't see one lion or elephant, and the safari was booked for lion and elephant.
Sam

Sorry to hear about your troubles. 19 hunters in the field??? Good grief.

As to lion, I guess you should have been with the group that shot 5 in 4 weeks...or the guy who goes back every year and gets one.

As to elephant...amazing that you didn't even see one.

There were five other hunters in our camp. Two of them had male lions on their baits, but in fourteen day we didn't see one lion. I guess if didn't help that our PH Sherdel gave away our sable that we were going to use for bait. He told us that it wouldn't affect me getting a lion. Coincidently Bill Fronterhouse came to hunt lion when we left. Maybe that's why we hung baits and didn't check them.OH and did I mention Bill stole baits from another hunter that I was in camp with.
Sam

quote:

Originally posted by JBoutfishn:
There are to many questionable circumstances to risk an investment. It would appear that a course in "Business 101" is in order.

It would appear that the questionable circumstances are going far beyond questionable.

quote:

Originally posted by samir:
There were five other hunters in our camp. Two of them had male lions on their baits, but in fourteen day we didn't see one lion. I guess if didn't help that our PH Sherdel gave away our sable that we were going to use for bait. He told us that it wouldn't affect me getting a lion. Coincidently Bill Fronterhouse came to hunt lion when we left. Maybe that's why we hung baits and didn't check them.OH and did I mention Bill stole baits from another hunter that I was in camp with.
Sam

i missed your hunt report, did you post one? who is bill fronterhouse?

Bill is the booking agent that is the US rep for Usangu.

I can corroborate Sam's summary of his September 2006 hunt fully - as I went with him. It was my 50th birthday, first safari and trip of a lifetime.

Besides being taken to a different camp without previous knowledge, delays of even getting out to camp, the transportation portion of the safari was ridiculous. The vehicles absolutely DID break down continuously. And during out two week safari it was very commonplace to get stranded and stuck - either by running out of fuel or archaic vehicles.

We only were able to get part of what we came to hunt for... with excuse after excuse. The stories from the group of doctors that were there at our camp before us (we had the opportunity of overlap!) were worse than our experiences ended up being thankfully. The only staff that was impressive to us were the gentlemen working at the camp doing the cooking and cleaning.

To add salt to the wound... we had problems upon our return - being billed for animals we did not even hunt or being billed for two cape buffalo rather than one. Not even a well thought out letter to Bill Fronterhouse (two months delayed as he was HUNTING in Tz) could really get us any satisfaction. Just a nice selection of excuses.

I guess I could honestly say that the best thing that came out of our Safari with Usangu was a birthday cake made of Elephant dung frosted and decorated by camp staff... the picture hangs of me blowing out the candles hangs proudly on my wall!

-Gilbert

-as a side note: The fall of Usangu and their service has apparently been in the past year or so (2006-2007) as they had a strong reputation prior. Who knows what happened.

The best part of Betsy's experience was a dung cake...nice! Can we see a photo of your poop cake?

Sorry to hear of your troubles. This is all inexcusable. So sorry to hear it.

There is more information on the Hunt Report

Thanks for the link. That's a lot of evidence against Usangu.

What happened to the client who posted here and gets a lion every year? He kind of disappeared after the other clients started posting.

quote:

Originally posted by yukon delta:
Thanks for the link. That's a lot of evidence against Usangu.

What happened to the client who posted here and gets a lion every year? He kind of disappeared after the other clients started posting.

Right.

Also, unless we hear something we do not already know, it is a wise decision to avoid hunting with Usangu at all costs.

Going half way across the world for a hunt one has been looking forward to for so long, and finding all these deplorable conditions is not acceptable at all.

To quote..."I hired a lawyer in Dallas to place a lien on Zahir's home there, but the bank forclosed on it before an attachment could be made. I am attempting to seek legal remedy against Zahir and Usangu through the courts of Tanzania. I know for a fact that many 2005 clients did not receive their trophies and have called the new TAWICO company asking for help. In summary, I do not expect to be willingly refunded. I will exert all pressure I can to remedy this. I am pursuing other channels as well." Zowie!

Another direct quote..."This area by the way did not yeild a decent lion all year"...Uh oh.

Another quote..."Zahir has promised at every juncture that I have tried to get my refund for the hunt he did not and could not provide. At every turn Bill Fronterhouse has been complicit in this either through his arrogance or ignorance. It is hard to know which is more well developed." Uh oh, again.

I didn't know that Jack Brittingham got part of the business..."the company was split, with the TAWICO half being sold to Jack Brittinghan by Hakim Mulla and Zahir working off of what was left." Of course, Zahir is the problem...not Brittingham.

The Hunt Report also states that Bill Fronterhouse has now resigned his position with Usangu.

Zahir Mulla was deported from the US?

For what?

There is more of this posted on Hunting Reports.

So the question is: How do we avoid this in the future? It is obvious SCI is "too little too late". It also seems apparent that the warning signs have been around for a while. Perhaps the experts can tell us what are the lessons learned? Zahir and MZEE have been fighting a rear guard action. I wonder who MZEE is?
Peter.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
I wonder who MZEE is?
Peter.

I was wondering the same thing. I did a search and found the following reference to an "Mzee." I don't know if it's the same person, and I don't have any vested interest in this issue. I just did it out of curiousity and am now even more curious.

Here is the LINK and below is the copied text with bolds added by me.

Usangu and TaWiCo are bona fide operators, who are owned by the Mulla clan of the Baluchi tribe. They started Usangu years back, and later bought TaWiCo from the government as it was a parastatal that was for sale. Rumour has it that TaWiCo is being taken over by a wealthy individual from Florida who is owed $1.4m by them!!! Usangu will remain with Mzee Hassan Mulla who started the whole business about 16 years back.