Charl van Rooyen- an outfitter with integrity

26 April 2016, 01:08

I met Charl at the 2015 SCI convention. We talked at length about a small cat hunt. I didn't book for a variety of reasons which had nothing to do with Charl.

I saw Charl at SCI in 2016. Charl and his soon to be wife joined a large group of people that Mary Lynn & I took to a show. We discussed hunting and possible trips. It ended with me booking a rhino hunt with Charl. The hunt was for a specific rhino with an ill temper. I told Charl that I wanted a hunt NOT an execution. He understood and I sent him a $30,000 deposit. At this point, I am not sure I signed a contract.

Some time went by and I booked flight against Charl's wishes. One of the flights I wanted only had 1 seat left. I sent the info to Charl and it did not take long for me to realize there was a problem. To sum it up quickly, due to poaching, the rhino has been darted, the horn removed and it was moved to a different location which was quite small. Too small to make me happy. I discussed with Charl. I cancelled.

Well, I was very nervous whether I would ever see my $30,000 again. I just got notification that it is being wired to my account. This has been a bright spot in an otherwise dismal day.

Charl is an honest man which was my assessment of him after talking to him for 5 minutes.

Thank you Charl. You have just guaranteed that you have plenty of future hunts with me.

26 April 2016, 01:15

Use Enough Gun

Charl is indeed a stand up guy. I too, can attest to that.

26 April 2016, 01:21

boarkiller

Met him at SCI year ago and I will be hunting bushpig with his outfit early June which I booked thru Tim Herald
Looking forward to it as I have yet to take a shot at bushpig in last several trips ( due to hunting other game )
Hopefully pigs will cooperate :-)

" Until the day breaks and the nights shadows flee away " Big ivory for my pillow and 2.5% of Neanderthal DNA flowing thru my veins.
When I'm ready to go, pack a bag of gunpowder up my ass and strike a fire to my pecker, until I squeal like a boar.
Yours truly , Milan The Boarkiller - World according to Milan
PS I have big boar on my floor...but it ain't dead, just scared to move...

Man should be happy and in good humor until the day he dies...
Only fools hope to live forever
“ Hávamál”

26 April 2016, 01:29

mbogobutch

A reputable outfitter,most of them are. Thanks for the info Larry, and good on you Charl for doing business the way it should be done. Best to both of you!

26 April 2016, 01:34

Beretta682E

quote:
Originally posted by larryshores:
I met Charl at the 2015 SCI convention. We talked at length about a small cat hunt. I didn't book for a variety of reasons which had nothing to do with Charl.

I saw Charl at SCI in 2016. Charl and his soon to be wife joined a large group of people that Mary Lynn & I took to a show. We discussed hunting and possible trips. It ended with me booking a rhino hunt with Charl. The hunt was for a specific rhino with an ill temper. I told Charl that I wanted a hunt NOT an execution. He understood and I sent him a $30,000 deposit. At this point, I am not sure I signed a contract.

Some time went by and I booked flight against Charl's wishes. One of the flights I wanted only had 1 seat left. I sent the info to Charl and it did not take long for me to realize there was a problem. To sum it up quickly, due to poaching, the rhino has been darted, the horn removed and it was moved to a different location which was quite small. Too small to make me happy. I discussed with Charl. I cancelled.

Well, I was very nervous whether I would ever see my $30,000 again. I just got notification that it is being wired to my account. This has been a bright spot in an otherwise dismal day.

Charl is an honest man which was my assessment of him after talking to him for 5 minutes.

Thank you Charl. You have just guaranteed that you have plenty of future hunts with me.

+1

I might have to look at hunting bush pig with Charl.

Mike

26 April 2016, 01:43

dogcat

Good news!!!!

26 April 2016, 03:06

doubleboy

Gotta chime in....

Hunted buff in Moz with Charl last September. Took a 42"er the right way and early !

Great hunter & Guide, handled the business side of it like a gentleman.

What more can I say.

26 April 2016, 03:20

boarkiller

quote:
Originally posted by Beretta682E:
quote:
Originally posted by larryshores:
I met Charl at the 2015 SCI convention. We talked at length about a small cat hunt. I didn't book for a variety of reasons which had nothing to do with Charl.

I saw Charl at SCI in 2016. Charl and his soon to be wife joined a large group of people that Mary Lynn & I took to a show. We discussed hunting and possible trips. It ended with me booking a rhino hunt with Charl. The hunt was for a specific rhino with an ill temper. I told Charl that I wanted a hunt NOT an execution. He understood and I sent him a $30,000 deposit. At this point, I am not sure I signed a contract.

Some time went by and I booked flight against Charl's wishes. One of the flights I wanted only had 1 seat left. I sent the info to Charl and it did not take long for me to realize there was a problem. To sum it up quickly, due to poaching, the rhino has been darted, the horn removed and it was moved to a different location which was quite small. Too small to make me happy. I discussed with Charl. I cancelled.

Well, I was very nervous whether I would ever see my $30,000 again. I just got notification that it is being wired to my account. This has been a bright spot in an otherwise dismal day.

Charl is an honest man which was my assessment of him after talking to him for 5 minutes.

Thank you Charl. You have just guaranteed that you have plenty of future hunts with me.

+1

I might have to look at hunting bush pig with Charl.

Mike

You do that Mike
Seen few over the years but never in good enough shooting situations and I have never been comfortable in throwing lead after moving bush

26 April 2016, 03:30

MARK H. YOUNG

Charl is a good guy and a no bullshit operator.

Mark

26 April 2016, 03:49

Blank

+1 A stand-up guy.

I originally met him on-line after winning his annual hunt donation here on AR. I took a close friend along with me, and it was wonderful. Both Charl and Erika are a great pair of friends to associate with, and I enjoyed my 2013 hunt with them immensely. They will continue to prosper, not by slick advertising but thru positive word-of-mouth referrals like these.

26 April 2016, 05:05

Safari2

quote:
Originally posted by doubleboy:
Gotta chime in....

Hunted buff in Moz with Charl last September. Took a 42"er the right way and early !

Great hunter & Guide, handled the business side of it like a gentleman.

What more can I say.

Doubleboy I would like to hear more about your hunt. Did you hunt in Charls communal area near Mahimba?

26 April 2016, 05:05

Todd Williams

26 April 2016, 06:31

Stealth

It's always good to hear a story about a stand-up outfitter. Well done, Charl!

26 April 2016, 07:23

Saeed

quote:
Originally posted by larryshores:
I met Charl at the 2015 SCI convention. We talked at length about a small cat hunt. I didn't book for a variety of reasons which had nothing to do with Charl.

I saw Charl at SCI in 2016. Charl and his soon to be wife joined a large group of people that Mary Lynn & I took to a show. We discussed hunting and possible trips. It ended with me booking a rhino hunt with Charl. The hunt was for a specific rhino with an ill temper. I told Charl that I wanted a hunt NOT an execution. He understood and I sent him a $30,000 deposit. At this point, I am not sure I signed a contract.

Some time went by and I booked flight against Charl's wishes. One of the flights I wanted only had 1 seat left. I sent the info to Charl and it did not take long for me to realize there was a problem. To sum it up quickly, due to poaching, the rhino has been darted, the horn removed and it was moved to a different location which was quite small. Too small to make me happy. I discussed with Charl. I cancelled.

Well, I was very nervous whether I would ever see my $30,000 again. I just got notification that it is being wired to my account. This has been a bright spot in an otherwise dismal day.

Charl is an honest man which was my assessment of him after talking to him for 5 minutes.

Thank you Charl. You have just guaranteed that you have plenty of future hunts with me.

This is the sort of story we all like to hear.

26 April 2016, 14:24

JudgeG

I may have been the first (or close?) A.R. member to hunt with Charl maybe ten years ago. I could have told you Larry.... he's going to do what's right! A good man.

26 April 2016, 22:46

Bwana Bunduki

That proper refund will garner him more positive support and goodwill than a 100 hunt reports.

Jeff

26 April 2016, 23:30

boarkiller

Absolutely Jeff
I hope he only gets good, friendly, down to earth clients

26 April 2016, 23:41

Labman

I hope Mr. Bushwack sees this post. Way to go Charl.

27 April 2016, 00:21

fairgame

As expected from a reputable operator.

27 April 2016, 01:38

Tim Herald

Charl is a very honest outfitter and a very high quality man as a whole. He has become a close family friend, he took great care of my family in Africa, came up and hunted in Botswana with me a few days last year, has been to KY to stay at my home, and I work with him professionally, but above all consider him a very close friend. He is no BS- honest and up front...

27 April 2016, 02:40

infinito

This truly humbles me. Thanks to all for the kind words.

Charl van Rooyen
Owner
Infinito Travel Group
www.infinito-safaris.com
charl@infinito-safaris.com
Cell: +27 78 444 7661
Tel: +27 13 262 4077
Fax:+27 13 262 3845
Hereford Street 28A
Groblersdal
0470
Limpopo
R.S.A.

"For the Infinite adventure"

Plains Game
Dangerous Game
Bucket List Specialists
Wing-Shooting
In House Taxidermy Studio
In House Dip and Pack Facility
In House Shipping Service
Non-Hunting Tours and Safaris
Flight bookings

"I promise every hunter visiting us our personal attention from the moment we meet you, until your trophies hang on your wall. Our all inclusive service chain means you work with one person (me) taking responsibility during the whole process. Affordable and reputable Hunting Safaris is our game! With a our all inclusive door to door service, who else do you want to have fun with?"

South Africa
Tanzania
Uganda

27 April 2016, 03:25

Biebs

Charl, I still think Erika needs a good pair of eyeglasses :-)

27 April 2016, 05:17

Beretta682E

quote:
Originally posted by Biebs:
Charl, I still think Erika needs a good pair of eyeglasses :-)

Yes - please order Mrs Biebs special glasses that turns Biebs into Robert Redford

Mike

27 April 2016, 05:37

larryshores

You guys crack me up!

27 April 2016, 07:39

bwana cecil

Hey Larry
As a dear old friend of long standing, how about loaning me 30 grand?

27 April 2016, 08:11

lavaca

I've never met Charl, but his reputation precedes him. From everything I've heard, this would be what I expected.

27 April 2016, 09:09

Beretta682E

quote:
Originally posted by Bwana Bunduki:
That proper refund will garner him more positive support and goodwill than a 100 hunt reports.

Jeff

+1

If I hunt South Africa and I want to hunt bush pig - Charl thru his acts has served as his own best reference.

Mike

27 April 2016, 19:51

Zuli

With Mr. Van Rooyen’s new found integrity perhaps he might consider repayment of an overdue, undisputed, loan of some 550,000 rand made to him legally, and in good faith by a respected long-term English client, at a time when he was in financial difficulties – which does not appear to be the case today. This is currently the subject of legal action in the Pretoria Court. I suspect that everyone on this forum praising Mr. Van Rooyen’s integrity is American.

27 April 2016, 21:51

Bwana Bunduki

And who might you be slinger of shit?

Jeff

27 April 2016, 22:20

fairgame

That's the trouble with social media.

27 April 2016, 23:43

infinito

A new member stirring. This business matter is indeed disputed by me in court. The loan amount in dispute is in a lawyers trust account pending the outcome of the court case, which you will not know about as you are only part to one side of the facts.

I will not entertain this conversation on my personal life further.

28 April 2016, 00:28

Use Enough Gun

28 April 2016, 04:12

bwana cecil

As it stands, several men that I consider to be good men have stated that their dealings with Charl were above board & no one had posted any negatives on him that I am aware of.
Now a new anonymous poster says otherwise.
I think I will take the word of Larry Shores & the others who have had direct dealings with Charl at their word.
Just because someone is being sued does not make them guilty!

28 April 2016, 20:04

drummondlindsey

Nice to hear about the honest guys!

28 April 2016, 20:26

BuffHunter63

There is no better marketing venue for a safari outfitter than a hunting forum. There, most posters tell it like it is, good or bad, and Mr. van Rooyen, seems like one of the best.

BH63

28 April 2016, 22:11

1BigDeer

Not having the experience of most of the contributors to this forum I was very concerned about the details of my upcoming "bucket list" and buffalo hunt with Charl but he and Erika have been very patient and gracious with me. Long story short I just made all the arrangements for my friend to join me on what will also be his first buffalo. We leave in just over 60 days and the excitement and anticipation is almost overwhelming! It would have not happened if not for Charl and Erika being the complete professionals that they are. Now, can anyone speed up the calendar?!

29 April 2016, 01:09

Use Enough Gun

1BigDeer: If you have any questions regarding your 'Bucket List' hunt PM me. I did mine a few years ago with Charl and did a story in his brochure on my 'Bucket List' hunt. I had the time of my life.

One of the best hunts in the 13 that I have done in Africa.

30 April 2016, 19:00

Jefffive

Well, let's see. Many well-respected members of AR vouch for him, every interaction out of hundreds here on AR seem positive, hunt reports are positive but an anonymous poster who apparently signed up specifically to talk shit says something something...

Hard to know what to think.

30 April 2016, 19:42

DCS Member

And then I see him on the Facebook doing good things for the kids over there... Kudos and I want to hunt with him soon.

30 April 2016, 20:12

larryshores

quote:
Originally posted by Jefffive:
Well, let's see. Many well-respected members of AR vouch for him, every interaction out of hundreds here on AR seem positive, hunt reports are positive but an anonymous poster who apparently signed up specifically to talk shit says something something...

Hard to know what to think.

I agree with you.

This seems designed to hurt Charl. Now, if money was owed, hurting Charl is counter productive to your attempt to be repaid.