I am about to redesign the website for my hunting and turism operation, although it is not based in Africa, I think there are more African safari company website out there than any other kind, so I would like to ask this comunity.

So, which hunting company/advertisment, in your opinion is the "best"?

By that I mean, easiest to use, most appealing and inviting.

What kind of layout do you prefer?

What do you want to see on a website? Pics of past success must be up there, what about hunting areas?

What information is important to have on the website?

Please include a link to the websites you mention and point out any features you particulraly like about them, I want to try to get a feel for what is good and what is not in a website designed for hunters.

I thank you all very much in advance for any help you can provide.

I don't have any in mind right off, but I want to see the following...

prices/packages

updated photos of trophies, camps, and hunting areas

description of hunting areas

description and "bio" of PH's

I just absolutely hate it when no prices are there - at least a generalized day rate and trophy fee page should be there. I have seen a lot of good websites that were missing this essential piece to give you a baseline of what things will cost...JMHO

Have a look at Buzz Charlton's website. www.cmsafaris.com

In my opinion it is one of the best out there. It has everything you need to know when booking a safari, prices/packages, updated trophy photos, hunt reports, hunting areas and a lot more.

Mike

I'm with Tim. I hate websites that don't put in pricing. Matter of fact, I dismiss them right off, if they don't.

I also hate websites that put their print on dark colored, or pictured backgrounds. Maybe its my old eyes, but they are darned hard to read.

Mad Dog

+1 for CM Safaris. I like the news letter, hunt reports, gallery and I discovered AR via their site! Maybe one day I'll be able to scrape up enough USD to go and bowhunt one of their buff!
JCHB

quote:

Have a look at Buzz Charlton's website. www.cmsafaris.com

In my opinion it is one of the best out there. It has everything you need to know when booking a safari, prices/packages, updated trophy photos, hunt reports, hunting areas and a lot more.

Prices and Specials are from 2009. No Update !

Seloushunter

Do not use any music. No continuous video. Up to date prices and accurate descriptions of "reasonable expectations".

I like this one www.tanzaniabiggame.com

Their photo gallery and area description is what I like.

This one is not bad either www.hhksafaris.com

Pierre` van Tonder's site www.pvt.co.za

Mike

Research says that you need to keep it simple and easily legible without patterned backgrounds.

Pic are good but not so many as to cause slow loading.

Don't waffle and give info in short punchy sentences/statements.

Keep all your key info above the fold.... which means the bit the viewer sees without having to scroll down.

Remember the vast majority of visitors read around 30% of the page and scan over the rest.

Give ALL relevent info but try not to wax lyrical because it puts people off.

I have not looked at an awful lot of websites, but I like Chifuti Safaris website. I found it very helpful in planning my safari to Zimbabwe.

Jeff

www.kambakusafaris.com and www.safaritrackers.com aren't bad.

I only go with people I've met or with people I know have gone with. I've been with these guys twice and am saving up to go again. http://www.bahati.co.za/adventures/Home.html

www.cmsafaris.com

Plus One!!!

They have produced two awesome videos from clients hunts. NO! Mark Sullivan hi-jinks here, just real people who can shoot taking game cleanly. Our own MJines has hunted with them enough that one more year and he will have enough video footage for his own video to sell to help finance future hunts.

Rich
I hunted Buffalo with them and am saving for a PAC Elephant/Cape Buffalo hunt in 2012

Hi Mbogo

Thanks for that - We normaly pride ourselves in having a very up to date website- JFYI though the 2009 prices are the same as 2010 but will change it Monday morning and add new specials! Cheers Buzz

I've always liked Tanzania Game Tracker Safari's. I watched their video a hundred times before hunting with them.

Theck out www.matswanesafaris.com nice homepage!!

Thanks for the replies folks.

Here is a link to a website that I want to loosely base mine around, minus the music, and with slightly bigger pics. I would have it open up farther so the sentral menu becomes most of the screen.
I want to have access to all the links from the one page without having to scroll and the ability to jump from one thing to another without having to go back to the main menu each time.

It is an Italian website for blinds, but that is irrelvant, what do you think of this kind of menu?

http://www.labottegadelsole.net/

Of course I wouldn't not use any music, I hate music on websites, and this one is particularly annoying.