Am planning a late 2007/early 2008 21-day buff/leopard/PG hunt 2x1 with my 21 YO son. This will be my third trip to Africa, my son's second (he wants a leopard and numerous other PG). I am looking at a goal of 2, possibly 3 buff, time permitting.

The plan is for my 1x1 buff hunt to coincide with his 1x1 leopard hunt (+/- first 10-days), and the remaining time to be spent together in a possible 3rd concession for PG. This may change based on preference.

So, giving consideration for current events here regarding the consequences of verbal "contracts" based on trust and for those of you with numerous PG/DG hunts under your belts, my question is:

Should I have the outfitter/PH put all concessions (possibly 3, if our plans pan out: buff/leopard/PG) in writing with no option for any changes in areas/concessions/ranches in an effort to protect ourselves??

This is an obvious sizeable investment and may be the only opportunity for such a father/son event, given the way life can separate family members.

Just a thought I had. Would appreciate any insights...

quote:

Originally posted by RHSim:

Should I have the outfitter/PH put all concessions (possibly 3, if our plans pan out: buff/leopard/PG) in writing with no option for any changes in areas/concessions/ranches in an effort to protect ourselves??

The pitfall with that is if local conditions (poaching, fire, overgrazing, etc.) actually warrant an area change. I would want a clause that no area change may take place without prior notice to, and written consent of, the client.

George

I agree with George. A no change clause could work against you in the case of unforseen circumstances such as George suggested. We just moved a client from one area to another on short notice because we discovered that the extra quota he wanted was avaialble in another location.

Mark

George/Mark,

Agreed. "No area change may take place without prior notice to, and written consent of, the client" And I would add: and the reasons for the change.

I have writen government contracts for the purchase of high dollar volume procurements for the last 20+ years. I know the value of the well written word when the sh*t hits the fan. Even among friends, verbal contracts can and do vanish into thin air when everybody reaches for their wallet.

Thanks for your help with this.

How about "no change without the client's consent". It's pretty easy to send an email and suggest switching areas. I would also specify the PH, again with the no change without consent clause (barring illness or personal emergency of the PH).

But more important is selecting a safari co. that has access to a concession which has the game you want to hunt during the dates you want to hunt it. Perhaps the most important is dealing with a safari company known for integrity.

What does an outfitter's contract with the concession owner look like? Does it make sense to ask to see it, with specific money agreements, excised, of course, as that isn't our business.

Jaywalker

RHSim
Another point, stay in regular contact with the ph/outfitter and make all the correspondance part of the contract. When something is written nobody can deny it. All telephone conversations should be followed up with a written report. That way both parties are protected.

unless your contract is with a firm holding your money in your homeland it is about as worthless as shit!You want to drop $50K with a 3rd world company you best have first hand knowledge of the operation first.
Just try to get a case to court in most of Africa in a timely fashion. The company I work for has all but given up trying to recoup funds from contractsa gone south over there, as it is cheaper in the long run to just write it off as a loss.
Hire a reputable company with a long established track record.

500g/Jaco,

That's why I like the e-mail trail so much when dealing with any contract. It's all there, undeniable, easily retrieved, copied and filed. Not completely foolproof, but very easy to work with and reply to...unfortuneately, it can abused and not 100% reliable in transmission, but nothing is...

Looks like I was lucky with my first two Africa trips, I'll be more throrough in planning this next one. The regular contact suggestion would be a must to keep that warm and fuzzy feeling alive and well.

Gentleman,

When talking about contracts with concession holders and recovering damages etc. overseas you might want to consider that these things become irrelevant when booking with a US based company that holds the concession. Your money never leaves the States and if there is a problem you could even go directly to the office and confront the owner if you need to. Heck he might even be your PH.

Something to consider when being careful in selecting a safari company.

Mark

Mark that's exactly what I was saying but keep in mind not all AR mewmbers live in the USA.
i personally will never make any type of arrangement with an over seas company without booking thru a USA based firm. One that I insist in writing holds my money here in the states until I sign to release it.
sure you'll find some over seas companies that won't work ity like that but that is their loss not mine. We live in an age with too many unfulfilled promises, the era of handshake deals is as dead as Hemingway's Africa .