From African Geographic Magazine:

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/g...hino-poacher.html#cr

"Clayton Fletcher of Sandhurst Safaris in North West province and Gert Saaiman of Saaiman Hunting Safaris were arrested in police stings. Hours after Fletcher's arrest, almost R1-million (US$135 500) in cash and 12 unlicensed firearms were found in his home."

"Others that have been implicated and charged are Piet Swart Jnr, a game farmer and lion breeder from Kroonstad, Andre van Deventer, a professional hunter for Gert Saaiman and the younger brother of the convicted brothers, and Johan le Grange, a private investigator based in a farming district outside Pretoria."

"All these people are due to face charges later this year under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, as well as a range of other charges that fall under various provincial ordinances."

~Alan

I wonder if this is the same "Sandhurst Safaris" that often advertises in the SCI magazine with pictures of MGM styled lions.

Yes, Sandhurst Safaris, the one and only. Here are some people to contact... if you are looking for a recommendation:

http://sandhurstsafaris.com/references/#

Lately, with so many of their top safari donaters landing in jail, on such a monotonously regular basis lately, SCI may have to change their motto to "First for Profit", since "First for Hunters" no longer appears to me to accurately reflect their mission.

BTW, 'the brothers' mentioned above were Gideon van Deventer and his brother, Nicolaas van Deventer. As we say here in the States, they turned 'States Evidence' against the others in a plea bargain deal for a reduced sentence.

~Alan

quote:

Originally posted by Alan Bunn:
Yes, Sandhurst Safaris, the one and only. Here are some people to contact... if you are looking for a recommendation:

http://sandhurstsafaris.com/references/#

Lately, with so many of their top safari donaters landing in jail, on such a monotonously regular basis lately, SCI may have to change their motto to "First for Profit", since "First for Hunters" no longer appears to me to accurately reflect their mission.

BTW, 'the brothers' mentioned above were Gideon van Deventer and his brother, Nicolaas van Deventer. As we say here in the States, they turned 'States Evidence' against the others in a plea bargain deal for a reduced sentence.

~Alan

Alan, First let me say I have never hunted with these guys, and my name is NOT on the list. I also don't know any of these guys.
I would say there is a real good chance Most to these guys you published had no idea the people they were hunting with are crooks. You seem to be saying these are crooks too???
I just don't understand that position.

I hope SCI kicks these guys to the curb

Were these guys a "known problem" or is this a new development? I know they advertised the MGM type lions and as such were suspect of hunting pen raised lions but this is the first I heard of poaching. I would not have hunted with them because of the lion issue but this is new to me. It dosnt mean I wasnt just out of the loop and hadnt heard it. It is unusuall to not have heard some rumblings especially here.

Nope, not saying that the clients were crooks. I'm sure Fletcher and Saaiman were too clever to let any clients know they were poaching rhino horns.

I did not recognize any of the names on the reference list. However, I was hoping that someone else might...

~Alan

Mike,

Sent you a PM

Saimman hosed a couple of friends on mine on a trip to Moz last year. I also believe Boddington may have hunted with him a couple of years ago. I could be wrong.

Saimman has been around a long time. I talked to him about 16 years ago at the convention. I was considering a rhino hunt with my son. I didn't go. Maybe that was a good thing.