Dear friends at accurate reloading,

I thank you all for your loyal support over the last 15 years.
We have met and made so many wonderful friends. You feel like part of our family.

We have assisted thousands of hunters at the ORT International Airport (Johannesburg) and accommodated thousands of you every year. We also assisted many of you who missed connecting flights and experience problems with lost/misplaced firearms and luggage.


We worked with many travel agents, outfitters, booking agents and Tour companies. Never had any problems nor did anyone complain to us. .

In October 2009 Gracy Travel send a person to look at places to use for their clients and they stopped using Afton. No reason was given. For many years Gracy Travel and Afton worked very well together, you know how Afton played a role in assisting and supporting Debbie and her agents. We did the same for other travel agents. We wish Debbie well. She has been using another Guest House for more than a year.

Want to confirm that it is still business as usual at the Afton Guest House. The place was never on the market (For sale or for lease), although we had a number off offers to purchase over the years.

We are unaware that the person who made the last offer distributed business cards without our permission and want to reassure you that WE DID NOT SELL AFTON AND IT’S NOT FOR SALE.

I am also glad to tell you that my health is improving every day. Thanks to every one who prayed for me, all the guys who send letters get well cards, e-mails, books, CD’s DVD’s Salmon fish from Alaska and Nuts from Hawaii! Hector from Customs visited me twice during my illness, stayed a number of days and told me some wonderful Hunting and safari stories. He hunted almost all over the world and he still phones me every day!

Many thanks to our great friends who accommodated us in the US during our visits. In 2008 Hector and Marcy showed us the Awesome Great Grand Canyon. Something we will never forget!

We are looking forward to see you again this season and ensure you of our best attention at all times.

Louis, Annelise and the Afton Team.

Louis and Annelise;
Great news for sure. I'm sure all will agree that we are glad to hear this information and hear that Louis is doing better. We know how much of a struggle this has been for you. Best wishes and best of luck.

Louis: Thanks for the update! It's good to hear that your health is improving each day. Give my best to your wonderful wife and to everyone at Afton House.

Hello Louis,

So glad to hear you are improving daily. I will be staying with you again this coming April and on any future trips, no matter what guest house Gracy is using. See you in April.

Cheers,

Mike Cooper

Thanks for the update. I know I enjoyed my stay with Afton House last August. I was hoping that one day I could get my wife to come with me.

Louis and Annelise,

first, how grand it to hear you are getting better each day. For all of us that is wonderful news.

On a selfish note, I will be making my first trip hunting in SA, and the trip absolutely would be less than complete without a night or more's stay at the world famous Afton House. I am glad it is not going to change hands in the near future.

Looking forward to meeting the two of you, and a stay at the most famous hotel in all of Africa.

Regards, and best wishes

Rich

Louis..

Very glad to hear you are doing better.

I really enjoyed the three times I stayed at Afton House.

The services were excellent.

Louis,
We are going to be staying with you in late July. Kathi Klimes will set it up with you. I'm really looking forward to it. I heard you guys cook up one hell of a steak. :-)
Chuck

Louis,

We have stayed with you nice folks on our last three trips to Africa. You have always made us feel comfortable and secure, the steak dinner is great and your breakfasts are special as well.

When you add in your help with luggage and firearms it helps make even O.R. Tambo sufferable. You have become a tradition with us . Thanks for being there.

Warm regards,

Adrian Parham

Hello Louis & Annelise!

I'm glad to hear you are doing better!!

My wife and I always enjoy our stay there. You have treated us the best and looked after us. We will always stay with you at the Afton!!!

Sincerely,
Jack

Louis,

I am very pleased to hear that you health is improving and that Afton will not be going to anyone else. I will have the pleasure of working with you for the first time in just 4 days when I fly out Johannesburg. Annelise and Tina were a fantastic help in getting my gun permits taken care of and provided a great deal of help for a first-time African safari hunter. I have already told other prospective hunters how friendly and easy your permit service was to use. Best wishes in your recovery and again, I look forward to meeting you in person.

Luis

Hello Louis. Perhaps I can shed some light. You may remember me, or not. We had reservations confirmed with you personally in Jone 07, Confirmed again 48 hours before arrival. Upon arrival you seemed to never have heard of us and only "found" a room after we sat down to make an immediate internet posting of our poor service. After that , our stay was fine. I figured it was just bad luck. Again in 2009 I made reservations personally with Annelise. Confirmed by email 24 hours of arrival. I can furnish you copies of the emails. No one met us, and you had not heard of us upon arrival. We went on to stay at a wildlife park just to have a place to sleep. Our outfitter, who you know very well, was speechless. Twice seems more than bad luck don't you think. We complained to no one, and have no interest in Gracey Travel. I post this just to keep the record straight. Maybe I'll try you again this year. Third times a charm they say.

I just got a very cordial back channel from Annelise and all is well with my situation. Thanks Annelise and thanks JudgeG. I'm sure we'll try Afton House again soon.

quote:

Originally posted by JCross:
Hello Louis. Perhaps I can shed some light. You may remember me, or not. We had reservations confirmed with you personally in Jone 07, Confirmed again 48 hours before arrival. Upon arrival you seemed to never have heard of us and only "found" a room after we sat down to make an immediate internet posting of our poor service. After that , our stay was fine. I figured it was just bad luck. Again in 2009 I made reservations personally with Annelise. Confirmed by email 24 hours of arrival. I can furnish you copies of the emails. No one met us, and you had not heard of us upon arrival. We went on to stay at a wildlife park just to have a place to sleep. Our outfitter, who you know very well, was speechless. Twice seems more than bad luck don't you think. We complained to no one, and have no interest in Gracey Travel. I post this just to keep the record straight. Maybe I'll try you again this year. Third times a charm they say.

JCross, bit once, shame on them. Bit twice (and now a third time? ), shame on YOU!! There's PLENTY of other options out there to use. Especially in a city the size of Joburg. I speak from experience on this one.


Good luck, Cross.

Who is jcross?

Well known here, no doubt. Tons of credibility based on sharing his experiences with the AR forum over the last two and a half years.
It is well to balance the thousands of people over the past several decades who have had nothing but glowing reports of Afton House and real "street cred" with someone who never thought to warn any of us about the deplorable service issues at Afton House. Or anything else, except he recommends "Doc Martens" for hunting wear. For those of you who do not have relatives with "Gothic" children, they are the black combat book looking things that the safety pin as jewelry kids wear. I especially like the patent leather models.

Really...

Rich

...on the conversation of "cred" and experience, tell us again Rich how many times you've personally stayed there at Afton seeing how much cred and experience hold so much water here...

Here we go again. I guess "stuff" can happen, but with the number of long time folks here who have used Afton House with nothing but glowing reports, I have to question a newbie who jumps right in and start throwing more "stuff"

Idaho Sharpshooter has a legitimate question.

Rich, did you have the winning bid?

I'm not saying it didn't happen. Hell, I'm in the service business and to say I've never screwed up would be a damned lie. However I do find it funny after being a member here for almost nine years that this is the first negative post I've ever seen about Afton House. My experience with them has been nothing short of amazing.

Mike

Scotty Boy,

not yet, coming in April. There are a few things in the world that men, as opposed to boys; can learn are pleasant VS unpleasant without having to experience them firsthand before voicing an opinion.
Let me suggest a few to you:

1. taking cocaine, heroin, LSD, etc: it will not be necessary for you to personally experiment to be able to comment on the fact that that is NOT GOOD for you.

2. I have not taken any game with my Searcy .470 NE personally. I am going to work on the experience of others that it adequate for even large plains game.

3. No matter how many times Elton John's "civil partner" punks him (and vice versa) those two guys are not going be able to get each other pregnant.

4. No matter what the obaminator does the next two and a half years, the NRA is NOT going to endorse him for re-election in 2012.

5. Last but not least, I believe I can safely book a room at the Afton House thru my PH and be assured of a totally positive experience there.

Are we cross...?

Rich

After reading through the drivel ISS posted, we finally got to the fact that indeed you do NOT have any firsthand experience. It would have been alot easier just to come out and say it.

Secondly, with the mentality that you have here about someone having to have a super high post count to have any validity on here, you must be the All Mighty Himself here on AR with the number of posts we all lay witness to by you on a daily basis. Along with that same mentality, I do believe that Harry Selby is a sometime guest on this site, with a low post count I might add. Care to question him as well on subjects of an African nature?

JCross mentioned that he stayed with Afton TWICE, you NONE. I'll take his word for it as to what happened to him in his firsthand experiences with Afton and then take that into consideration. You have nothing to offer in this subject matter.

BTW folks, I have no beef with Afton.. I was merely suggesting to Cross that there are PLENTY of other options available to him in a city of that size. What I do have a problem with is our very own ISS.. But we all know that.. no news there.

Biding my time till Reno Jan. 2011, Rich. Hope you are taking your metamucil regularly (Rich says he's gonna whoop my ass at the show next year and I called his bluff). A little over 10 months and counting..

Apologies to the rest of you.. Back to the Afton for sale saga...

Louis,

Glad you are doing better. We stayed at the Afton last October and the service and the steak were just fine.

Sorry you were not up to visitors at that time. Hopefuly I will be back through there soon.

Best wishes,

Hartley Kittle

I am so glad Louis is doing better.

Jim and I always, ALWAYS make it a point to stay with Louis and Annelise at the Afton House.

We'll be back there to Jo'burg before too long.

I will be there in March. Probably my 10th stay. I was there 3x last year. Never had a problem with these folks, although I did miss the restaurant outings on one trip.

We all know that Gracy works on the kickback system. They give agents a free flight if you send them 10 clients or so. I don't use them because their flights are not the cheapest. (Kickbacks are always built into the price).

Louis,

Glad to hear things are going your way Sir.

Been there twice. Both times service was just great! Hospitality was outstanding! It is good to have friends in Jo'Berg.

Jim

Boy,

must be frustrating to be over 21 and still think of yourself as a "Boy".

Most adults rely heavily on the advice and experiences of other(s) when making "first trips" somewhere new to them. Heck, I booked my first hunt in Africa based on Mjines recommendation for a PH company and area to hunt. Worked great.

All these posters telling of a truly outstanding experience staying at Afton House, one person (nobody has ever heard of) claiming to have had issues; and you.
Tagging along like a kid here in the winter grabbing a truck bumper and sliding down an icy side street on an inner tube.

How many times did you say you'd stayed at Afton House to date?

Don't disappoint me next year Boy.

Rich

Scott, surely you know the old saw about wrestling with pigs...

I had a prepaid, confirmed reservation with Afton House for airport pick-up and use of a room for a few hours on a long layover last November. No one showed up. No explanation when I got home. I've stayed with them three times in the past.

I am glad Louis is doing well. He and Annelise were helpful and gracious on my previous visits.

Idaho Sharpshooter....

Earlier you asked "who is Jcross" I'll tell you a bit about my friend... he is a country boy that grew hunting, fishing and playing baseball, football, basket ball..a warrior that served our country for thirty years, including two full combat tours in southeast asia, a man that has spent a fair amount of his time and treasure helping those less fortunate than he. He has hunted and killed big game on at least three continents. After a distingushed military career, a man that spent over ten years as a high school teacher in an inner city school.

Now to be fair, he does have a dark side...he has a penchant for killing big whitetail bucks in the worst places..the bottoms of the deepest, darkest, nastiest canyons he can find..

I know nothing about you..but I can assure you, if you are half the gentleman, hunter or humanitarian that Col. Cross is, you are a man to be reckoned with.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Boy,

must be frustrating to be over 21 and still think of yourself as a "Boy".

Most adults rely heavily on the advice and experiences of other(s) when making "first trips" somewhere new to them. Heck, I booked my first hunt in Africa based on Mjines recommendation for a PH company and area to hunt. Worked great.

All these posters telling of a truly outstanding experience staying at Afton House, one person (nobody has ever heard of) claiming to have had issues; and you.
Tagging along like a kid here in the winter grabbing a truck bumper and sliding down an icy side street on an inner tube.

How many times did you say you'd stayed at Afton House to date?

Don't disappoint me next year Boy.

Rich

Well, I'll say it one last time.. Thus far I've had to stay at Afton twice.. both times when I booked my flights through Gracy.
Again, I have no problem with Afton.. I have a problem with you. Someone who has no experience giving "advise" in each and every post I open on this site. Generally, folks look for advise fom others who have gone and done before them.

Don't worry about next year. Physical threats from a geriatric are a laughing matter. Keep taking your Calcium suppliments as to ward off the osteoporosis. You'll need it.

The boy thing is all you've ever got, ISS.. It's a nickname I've had since birth. And besides, it's good to always be young in body and spirit. Yep, 32 years old and still a good ol BOY.

I see you've LONG since abandoned that idea after seeing you in your pics.

As to not muck up this thread any longer with personals, I'll PM you Dick and you can tell me all about how you're gonna take me out and such. Its amusing.

Louis

Great to hear of your improving health!!

I've always had a perfect stay at Afton House.

Gracy Travel has left me high and dry for the last time.

I now use Steve Turner (formerly with Gracy) of Total Travel Solutions who is first class.

I wish you continued improvement and hope to see you soon.

Don

A couple of things:

Louis,

I don't know you at all but you get some excellent reviews here so you must be doing something right. I am glad to hear your health has improved and your business is going full steam ahead.

Best,

Mark

Ok! Now is it my foggy over 60 brain or was there some other Idaho elderly gentleman that often threatened to kick some guys ass over a perceived slight on the forums? I just can't get a clear rememberance. Heck! I'm just going to get bourbon. Maybe it will come back to me.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Ok! Now is it my foggy over 60 brain or was there some other Idaho elderly gentleman that often threatened to kick some guys ass over a perceived slight on the forums? I just can't get a clear rememberance. Heck! I'm just going to get bourbon. Maybe it will come back to me.

Mark

Man, I was thinking the same thing. Good thing when I visit Idaho, which was just last week and I've been there 3 times since the New Year, I don't step on anyone's tail feathers, or I might just get my ass kicked on a repeated basis!

I'm happy to hear your getting better Louis. I have stayed with you numerous times as have my clients. No one has ever complained about any problem(s), and you have some great steaks! Annelise has helped me many times with potential problems, the last being severe leg cramps (thanks for the Eno tablets Annelise) and we always receive excellent care with everything. I'm sure we see you again soon.
All the best,
David Keith

Let me add to my Afton House experience...

They have always always been present after I landed.

I have always stayed there 2 nights before going to Zim.

On 2 occasions when I told the SAP that I was staying with AFTON, they told me, Ah, Very Good, We Know Them Well...

Afton has taken very good care of me, taking me [and the wife on my last trip] to good shopping places, and resturants.

On my last trip with my wive booked late in the season, Afton House was all boocked up on our fitst knight. Louis arranged for us to stay with a friend of his, but Afton still took care of our evening eating arrangements.

His friend had a great Guest House, and they treated us like Royality while we were there.

On our second night we stayed at Afton, with the excellent service I was accustomed to.


Also when flying out of SA to ZIM, the "Airport People" know and respect Louis.

Making "getting on the plane" easy.

Glad to hear all is well with Afton, Louis and Annelise! I highly recommend them whether you are a seasoned traveler or for a first time safari. First class people and first class lodging.

They just seem to be "Good Folks" to do business with. I look forward to meeting them and a night's stay.

Rich

Rich you definitely are going to be for a treat! I really wasn't grande on the idea until I stayed with them. I much prefer doing the straight route and over-nighting vs going through europe, when using Joberg as a pit stop.

quote:

Originally posted by graybird:

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Ok! Now is it my foggy over 60 brain or was there some other Idaho elderly gentleman that often threatened to kick some guys ass over a perceived slight on the forums? I just can't get a clear rememberance. Heck! I'm just going to get bourbon. Maybe it will come back to me.

Mark

Man, I was thinking the same thing. Good thing when I visit Idaho, which was just last week and I've been there 3 times since the New Year, I don't step on anyone's tail feathers, or I might just get my ass kicked on a repeated basis!

hell, makes me scared to get near the state! of course, after seeing Rich at the SCI convention in Jan., his description of himself as 6'2" and 227 lbs. is a little misleading. the numbers may(??) be accurate but the distribution of the 227 lbs is not. be careful who you call out Rich, you are not the only "trained killer" who posts here. after 3 previous stays at Afton, i have nothing but praise for their operation.

You should have introduced yourself. Ain't met the man yet I would be concerned about calling out. Yet.

regards,

Rich

if i want a blast of hot air, i would stand in front of a blow dryer.

Careful Jerry, Rich may have a flashback and mistake you for VC.......(sorry, I had to pick myself up off the floor from laughing at the image of you with buck teeth and a little rice paddy hat, smoking a cigarette). By the way, I wouldn't suggest approaching anyone as obviously unstable as Rich in person.

quote by ISS:
"MJ,

99% of the members here "Can't handle the truth..." if that truth put them in harms way.

Until you walk around a corner on a di-di trail and there are enemy soldiers coming up. And you trigger the grenade launcher barrel on your M-203 and watch a couple dozen buckshot tear into them and end their dreams of having a wife and children, or maybe they have them, and now there are widows and orphans that you created, or you carry a gut-shot friend a couple hundred yards to a high clear spot so a medevac chopper can take him to an Evac Hospital where a triage medic will determine that he is a dead man who is still breathing and screaming his guts out, and order a strong sedative that will let him die in peace or just a lack of pain, tucked away in a corner of the ER room where the ones who can be saved are waiting for that triage medic to get to them and make that decision on them to get treatment or the morphine shot.

Don't talk to me about it. Until you have "injun-ed up" on an enemy sentry and put a Ka-Bar into his kidneys, because a man stuck deeply there has a momentary shock/paralysis so you can get a hand across his mouth and feel him gasping for one more breath die, as the fluid spray coats your hand so the knife handle gets slick and it takes you an extra thirty seconds to grind the last breathe of life from him with that knife, keep your character analysis to yourself.

Until you watch a friend of eighteen months or so who has survived fifty missions and two/three-man scouts deep into enemy territory have some 8-9 year old kid walk up to him and detonate a small explosive charge after sitting on his lap asking for chocolates, and then shot that kid dead; Unless you have sat with that friend's head and shoulders in your lap while he spent the last five minutes of his life trying to stuff his guts back inside, until you have felt that slimy sensation loading him into a jeep trying yourself to hold those guts in: don't you presume to consider what is going round and round in that SEAL sniper's head.

He would have given his life to safeguard you and this country, he nearly did.

Sleep well tonight, men like he and I were and still are inside stand ready to safeguard your freedom, and right to post here."