How far in advance do you usually place a deposite for a PG hunt. Also how far in advance should one purchase tickets?

Thanks, John

Book as soon as you know when and what you want to hunt. I went to Dallas to buy a hunt for Buffalo. I looked at sevral very good plans and decided to look a little further when I went to SCI in Reno. All of the hunts including the one that Ray Atkinson was offering were all sold out! We were shut out, all the hunts were gone during my window of opportunity. Fortunately, we were able to be at SCI the first day and early, so we did book a hunt for this year. It wasn't exactly what were looking for but close enough. Those that arrived later in the week found the pickins a bit slim. Book carefully, Book quickly and get references or deal with those whose reputation is above reproach.

personally, I book a hunt as soon as I know when, where, what, and with whom I want to hunt. I like to lock in the dates I want early. As for airline tickets, within a month or two ahead of when I need to leave.

If you have your heart set on something book. On the other hand if you can chance it you might be able to pick up a last minute hunt as often advertised on this board.

So far I´ve booked a year in advance and been happy with that.

John,

I think airline tickets can be reserved 330 days in advance (don't acutally purchase them until you have to, so you can change them if needed without paying a fee). A travel agent will know the exact rules.

As to a plains game safari, at least 1 year in advance if you want to go during the prime part of the season (June, July and August). You should be looking to book now for 2006.

Dangerous game hunts were almost sold out for 2005 and much of 2006 at the Dallas Safari Show this January (the first show of the season).

Regards,

Terry

The advice of "book as soon as you are sure, and reserve, but do not yet buy, airline tickets" is sound.

How soon after starting to plan, i.e. you have decided that you WANT TO AND ARE GOING, to go can you be sure of your choice? It really depends on how much work you put into planning, and how "unusual" the package that you actually want is. Any good hunting outfitter can assist you with all aspects of the planning and preparation in a few weeks at most, that is provided you reply promptly to his e-mailed questions. So if you start planning now, Andrew McLaren Safaris would very well have a detailed, even for a complex custom package, hunt arranged fully by at the latest end March. This means that you will have all the costs, itinerary, list of things to bring, preliminary taxidermy quotes and everything fully detailed, contracts signed, and you can start hunting in early May, a good time for PG hunting in South Africa.

Enjoy the planning. Do yourself a favor and have a looklook at www.mclarensafaris.com/ and select the planning section.

The earlier the better. It gives you the chance to prepare properly for the trip and get to know your outfitter. A lot of small things can be sorted out using emails and you and the outfitter get well aquinted. I had a Oz group last year, we sent 100 mails between us, by the time they arrived we could not wait to meet each other, we almost knew everything off each other. It made the trip great because we all knew where we stood.

My advice book early and comunicate a lot with your outfitter, you solve small things and you allready starts building a relationship.

You need help contact me, I am more than willing to help you plan a hassle free trip

Jaco, it is heaven when it works like that. Alas, not all outfitters have either the time or the inclination to communicate - in particular via e-mail. But when it happens like you describe, it sure makes the planning and waiting phase a lot more enjoyable.
- mike

You should book a year ahead of time if you want a certain date..I will not book you a hunt sooner than one year ahead, as too much can happen in a couple to three or four years.

If your open to dates then 6 months ahead is usually easy to do around here.

Be sure what the deposit return policy is and be sure that they will carry your deposit over at least one year...

Our policy is flexible and we will carry you over a year or maybe two with a legitamate reason, or refund up to about 120 days, or even at the last minute in some cases, we do this on a case to case basis and the final decision is ours...One person who posts here had to have an operation at the last minute, so we just refunded him his deposit. BTW, He was so kind as to send me a custom made ultra light fly rod, that I simply cherish..It is something that I would have never bought, but will never part with...

Mike,
I fully agree with what you say. That is why I try to keep my operation small enough so that I can manage it on my own, with the help of my family and give a lot of attention to my clients. What I enjoy the most is the friendships that develop. I hope I can keep my operation this way.