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SAFRIQUE RED ALERT
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This is my first posting on Africahunting.com about SAFRIQUE‘Four of us went with Safrique to hunt in Mozambique - What should have been the holiday of a lifetime turned out to be a complete disaster. Safrique recognised this and promised to refund one of our members all his money; my brother and I our trophy fee along with half our daily rate and the last member his trophy fee. To date, we here in Ireland have received No refunds despite all the promises. We could not put all our correspondence with Safrique up on the blog in one article but intend to post everything over the coming weeks and months. Perhaps we can save some other hunter from walking into the same trap. We will post some photos in the near future of our accommodation - they make interesting viewing. We advise against using the showers or tap water in the W.C......Watch for regular updates!’
 
Posts: 14 | Registered: 22 November 2011Reply With Quote
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After receiving feedback from others re. SAFRIQUE
Thanks for your comments. Still no refunds and none of our emails have been answered. We have sent a report to SCI regarding Safrique and will be sending one to Dallas Safari Club (DSC). We are also sending a Report to AMOS (Association of Mozambique Operators) and will keep you posted of any updates!!
 
Posts: 14 | Registered: 22 November 2011Reply With Quote
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DIARY OF OUR TRIP WITH SAFRIQUE
Arrived at Maputo Quiliman
Nobody to meet us Guns and ammo confiscated. 5-30am
Native Skycaps held us to ransom and had to pay $50.00 to get rid of them.
Neil went past Customs to look at arrivals for Nick or someone from Safrique to meet us; nobody from Safrique at airport.
Neil rang Nick (7-30) a Black fellow named Dalio (arrived 30 minutes later) who spoke some English came to meet us.
He arrived without any documents, brought us to a caf at the Airport and disappeared for 3 Hours.
Neil tried to ring Nick after 2 hours sitting at the airport Nick would not answer the phone.
Eventually Dalio arrived (mid-day) with the paperwork for the guns and demanded a further $20.00 bribe for the Lady at Customs. We refused this request and then he got our guns released.
We then discovered that the flight due to leave at 13-30 for Quelimaine was delayed indefinitely. It eventually departed at 10pm. We subsequently discovered that this flight never leaves on time.
Before leaving Dalio he informed us that it would be too dangerous to travel on the river at night by boat. We were presented with a gun case and ammo case and asked to bring them from Quelimaine with us. We were charged for the extra weight and given the opportunity to pay for same before Neil informed Dalio that we would not pay the extra weight charge for Safrique guns.
Dalio advised us to book into a hotel and take the 2 hour boat trip the next morning. He let us speak to Koos and Freke in Quelimaine who also advised us to book into a hotel for the night.
Eventually we arrived in Quelimaine at 1.30AM, 12 hours late to be informed that the boat was broken and the 2 hour boat ride which we all looked forward to on the Zambezi River would now be replaced by a 7 hour road journey in the back of a pick up. This journey took most of Friday 22nd July 2011. We had to pay for our own room $55.00 no breakfast. No allowance from Safrique on daily rate.
Duly arrived in camp to be informed that there was no shotgun available for me despite Nick's assurance prior to departure.
We were shown to our Chalet. Bathroom awful and shower not working. Toilet rocking and flushing intermittently. Hot tap leaking into bucket (brought to Freke's attention, no action taken). Tiles cracked and dangerous to walk on (photos and video available). We discovered afterwards that the main sewerage from the toilet and showers etc flows into a French drain and not a septic tank, effluent seeps into the soil and into the water table from this drain. The water supply for the camp is pumped (not working) or carried by hand from a well to a reservoir and re-distributed to the camp. The water effluent from this French drain is flowing uninterrupted into the well and is being fed back into the system. This is guaranteed to cause an outbreak of Typhoid. NO MOSQUITO NETS DESPITE ASSURANCES FROM Nick they will be set up before you arrive MORE LIES. Tom has developed while at your camp a very bad rash which modern medicine has so far failed to cure. He attributes this to camp conditions.
We were invited to the range by Koos to access our ability with a rifle and treated to a drive round the hunting area. Another hunting day lost.
Dinner Chicken Curry Disappointed after asking to eat game while in camp.
Food okay and enough supplied but No. beer, No wine, No spirits except what we brought ourselves.

We were each paired with a P.H. and rallied fourth full of excitement.
Very quickly it became apparent that riding on a hilux over these roads would be slow torture.
James had mentioned burning grass we soon discovered why as visibility was Nil no burning had being done at all prior to our arrival. Meanwhile Clive was being told that it would be difficult to shoot Croc without the boat. Hippo was being dismissed for him as it did not state on his license that he had booked to shoot Hippo.
We tracked a small herd of BUFFALO in the afternoon. We could not see them because the grass was too long. Eventually they spooked. We left them alone for half an hour to settle again and then repeated the same exercise 2 3 times more. This set up a pattern for the week.
Dinner again disappointing Spaghetti Bolognese. NO beer, no wine, and no spirits except what we brought with us.

Monday Began to really get suspicious. Followed yesterday's pattern. After a long discussion Koos agreed that we did not have to pay to shoot meat for the camp. We shot a Bush Buck.
Dinner again disappointing Steak. No game. (WHY AM I BEING CHARGED FOR CAMP MEAT?)

Neil One shot at Buff.
Day's pattern was changed today.
We spent the whole day driving in 10ft tall grass and saw absolutely nothing.
Dugout supposed to be organised for morning for Clive. We light big fires all day.
Dinner Bush meat delicious.
Bush meat sandwiches for lunch tomorrow great.

Current joke Next Americans Hunters will be very pleased we came before them and burned all the long grass.
Asked about boat Koos to check status - looking good, computer box en-route.

Wednesday repeat of Tuesday.
No dugout for Clive. Now obvious to us that he had been taken for a ride.
Tom sat on top of jeep for change. Koos nearly turned the jeep over Very dangerous.
Asked to insure boat would be ready for Saturday computer box en-route.

Thursday Now desperate as we all feel we have been conned. Clive in bad form. Neil asked Koos to confirm flight times and tickets for Saturday/Sunday. NICK assured him everything checked/confirmed.
Eventually found Buff. Tracked for 2 hours and found Neil and James and Clive ahead of us on same Buff. James's approach very different to Koos. We offered to withdraw as the other hunters were before us. Koos said no as there may have been more than one bull in the herd. We bravely marched on secure in the knowledge that we were on a fool's errand. Informed that boat would not be available for Saturday.
Assured again that all flights and ticket reservations were confirmed by Nick.

Friday Everyone resigned to not getting Buffalo, but determined to go out trying. We got on a small herd and eventually got our first sighting of Buff No shot.
Shot Bush Buck in desperation.
You now expect me to pay a trophy fee of $900 for what in effect was camp meat.
Clive by this stage had conceded defeat and stayed in camp.
We saw a snake black and yellow in colour.
I asked for a band aid to discover that we had no first aid kit.
Asked Koos why the Trackers all wore bright blue uniforms.

Saturday Set out for Quelimaine by road not boat! Arrived to discover no tickets confirmed and flight delayed until 11-00pm.
No panic as flight from Maputo to Lisbon had been cancelled how had Nick confirmed our tickets?
Koos had left the airport.
Neil rang Nick he got Koos to return to the airport and eventually we got a flight to Maputo.
Nick agreed to meet us at the airport and book us into the Southern Sun Hotel. Then he informed us that someone from the Southern Sun Hotel would be at the airport to meet us with a van to take us all to the Hotel and that he would meet us at the airport the following morning and help us to get flights organised All lies.

Maputo Airport Sunday 9AM Book new tickets through Johannesburg to London starting cost ?1,750 but eventually set at ?1,100

Arrive London 6.45AM Monday and booked flight to Dublin via Aer Lingus cost ?280

Please factor in the following and you may start to appreciate how I feel about Safrique.

You knew perfectly well that the airline from Maputo to Quelimaine never runs to schedule yet you failed to inform us prior to booking. You were well aware that the grass had not been burned and nothing short of a miracle would get us a Buffalo. A dry toilet would have been far safer and preferable to the system in use at your camp. You are well aware that the roads throughout your area are in a shocking state even by African standards they need to be ploughed (plough in camp, no tractor strong enough to pull it).

Your Agent Nick told us complete lies from start to finish and made promises by email and telephone that he never intended to keep. He never had any intention of meeting us at any stage as he knew exactly what to expect from us. You never had any intention of supplying a shotgun for me despite his assurance that I did not need to bring the shotgun barrels for my .577. You made no effort to supply game for the table despite email specifically telling you that we wished to eat game while in Africa.

You left your P.H's to face the music. Without James' help we would have been in a dreadful state.
He emailed his wife who was in South Africa. She researched on computer and established that we could fly Maputo to Johannesburg and Johannesburg to London. Phone calls to Nick both from Neil and Koos proved useless. He told us that no-one would talk to him on the phone at the airport and that he was going to the airport directly to help us and would be in touch. That was the last we heard from him.

I have waited to get your response to Neil's correspondence before deciding on a course of action. Among other actions being considered by me will be a letter to the following:-

Texas Outdoorsman Magazine
Texas Trophy Hunters Association
Texas Outdoors Journal
Texas Hunting Today
Texas Sporting Journal
African Hunter Magazine
African Sporting Gazette Magazine
African Expedition Magazine
AfricaHunting.com
African Hunting Gazette
Outdoor Life Magazine
Petersen's Hunting
Sports Afield Magazine
North American Hunter Magazine
Better Business Bureau (US)

In the circumstances I find your email insulting in the extreme. Your questionnaire does not allow adequate space to express my disappointment in Safrique and my disgust at the condition we lived in at your camp. You may limit the damage to Safrique by refunding our trophy fees in full and half our daily rate by return.

Yours sincerely,


George & Tom O Malley
 
Posts: 14 | Registered: 22 November 2011Reply With Quote
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Wow, surprised it has taken this long for word about Safrique to get out. popcorn
 
Posts: 5199 | Registered: 30 July 2007Reply With Quote
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SAFRIQUE'S RESPONSE TO OUR DIARY EMAIL
Dear George and Tom,

Firstly I would like to echo Matt's sentiments that we are deeply regretful that your trip did not live up the expectations that you had for hunting wild Africa. Secondly Safrique believes in the product that it promotes and delivers here in Mozambique, and you'll see a quote taken directly from a client that was in camp the day after you left who's opinions after leaving camp were in stark contrast to the sentiments that you conveyed.

The itinerary provided by Neil stated a 5:55 am arrival time, GMT +2 (Mozambique local time). I called and spoke to Delio at 6:07 am to confirm that he was waiting at the airport for your arrival. He confirmed that he was there and making his way behind customs to meet you. At 6:43 Neil called me stating that he had not found Delio yet, and I again phoned Delio immediately who by then had made contact with you at 6:45 am. For some reason the officials at the airport wouldn't let him behind the security check point which is why he was late getting back to you. I apologize that this was the case, but Delio is our office manager and speaks English fluently. Further taken from your context, and I'm quoting, using the phrase A Black fellow named Dalio who spoke some English came to meet us, is offensive and has racial undertones that we do personally take offense to. He left to collect the weapon for your PH as the office was not yet opened when you arrived since the hour was early, and did as was instructed to show you to the caf in the airport to wait. He also disputes the claim of asking you for monies to pay a bribe, however officials always do try to illicit bribes from us, but we never pay these menial amounts or ask clients to do so.

Unfortunately airlines are out of our control and we have little ability to handle updates or changes as this is done most often by travel agents or in your party's case directly by clients. For the PH firearm that we checked onto the plane with you Delio also disputes having asked you to pay for that since he was sent with specific instructions to pay the fee with a company check which he in fact did use to pay for it.

Due to the fact that the airline had changed the scheduling of your flight to Quelimane I'm aware that spending the night in Quelimane became a necessity. Per the pre-safari letter we advised of the cost and that we would arrange reservations if need be. I also specifically told Neil that if the flight was on schedule Thursday that we could possibly make camp that evening, but if there were delays it would be the following morning, so we'd be sure that rooms were available which they were. Also per your contract Safrique does not provide costs of hotels before or after the hunt. As you pointed out we were aware that the boat had broken down on its way to pick you up, and due to this we were instead going to drive out. Again the hotel in Quelimane was discussed and confirmed with Neil via email.

I did mention that there would be a shotgun in camp, which there normally is. However this was never pre-negotiated nor were we charging for this service and was meant to be a personal favour since you asked. You didn't book this with the expectation of there being any upland game bird hunting. However I do apologize for making mention of this and it not being available. I simply was providing assistance and answering afterthought questions through email correspondence as you and your party readied for the trip.

I do apologize that nets were not hung, but we did have them and could have provided that while you were there if mention would have been made to the PH's. The chalets are screened to keep insects out, which they do, and spray is provided to kill any that might be let in. Koos also specifically assured me that if there was a problem with the hot water no mention of it was made to him or brought to his attention. Your assessment of the plumbing is incorrect as the toilets are let into septic tanks dug behind each chalet. The waist does not simply flow directly into the well and the reason for water being brackish is due to the fact that there is no fresh water because of the high water table from the flow of the Zambezi Delta into the ocean. We advise the ground water is brackish and this is why we provide fresh bottled water for drinking, brushing your teeth etc., we have never had another client complain about this nor get sick.

We do serve game after species have been taken, again I advised to Neil in an email that, I will definitely serve you game that you shoot. Once Koos realized that hunting would be slow and tough he offered to let you shoot a couple non-trophy animals to be used as camp meat. This was done as you mentioned at no charge. However we don't charge people for eating camp meat as you made mention, and we do serve it as it is available. Again my email states that you would get to enjoy the game meat you shot. Unfortunately also being the first hunt there wasn't any stockpiled and we technically aren't even allowed to shoot non-trophy animals, so Koos favor was made at our and his risk.

I apologize that the beer and wine for your stay was held up because of the breakdown the truck had. We did all that was in our power to get it repaired and out to camp as quickly as possible. Unfortunately breakdowns happen, but this is our problem and we obviously understand your frustration with this.

The long grass still present in the area is due to abnormally late rains which made burning impossible before you arrived. I do understand that this hindered your chances of being successful. Koos had spent the prior two weeks trying to start significant burning to no avail. Matt, who Neil contacted and booked with advised him originally to not schedule until after August 1st, however Neil insisted on booking for the last week of July. We are at the mercy of the weather.

Hippo were absolutely available to Clive, and Koos and James both spoke to me about pursuing them for Clive, however the location that they were in proved difficult to track through. Your statement that Hippo was being dismissed for him as it did not state on his license that he had booked to shoot Hippo? is also false and we did pursue them, they were in the area, and we never made that statement. However we have been in contact with Clive directly and have come to an agreement with him personally.

With regard to your outbound flights I personally called LAM to confirm times and they told me that the flight was on schedule. We do check and try to anticipate any changes, but cannot help delays. Your international flight schedule change/scheduling of TAP is obviously also out of our hands, and again I personally went to the airport to try and find a representative which was not available, and made sure rooms were available and had transportation to the Southern Sun organized and pre-paid. The fact that the driver did not show up or left I apologize for.

Again I am sorry that your experience didn't live up to what you thought you'd experience in wild Africa, and again Safrique strongly believes in the product we offer in Mozambique, and the following is a direct quote from the clients that left our camp in Mahimba immediately after you, Neil and Clive.


Nick,
 
Posts: 14 | Registered: 22 November 2011Reply With Quote
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'YET ANOTHER EMAIL FROM NICK @ SAFRIQUE PROMISING PAYMENT'
We do not wish this matter to drag on any longer and want to resolve this amicably and timely for all involved therefore agree, to refund you the requested 50% of your and Tom's daily rate along with your buffalo trophy fees. However if you do wish to receive your bushbuck trophy we must charge you for this. Please advise as how you would like us to proceed on that issue. Please also provide me with full wire details of where we should send the refund to.

Thank you for your time.

Regards,

Nick Schirripa

Safrique Limitada
 
Posts: 14 | Registered: 22 November 2011Reply With Quote
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ATTENTION ALL.... - Those of you who have been following this thread will notice how Safrique have jumped to claim the high moral ground (racism etc). We will presently post photos of the trackers etc sharing my pipe with me (enough said)........Still no monies returned despite promises.
Safrique have stopped ALL communications with us.

Regards,

George
 
Posts: 14 | Registered: 22 November 2011Reply With Quote
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REPLY TO WD RACER - MEMBER OF AFRICAHUNTING.COM
We are delighted that your hunt was a success. I note your comment that after a couple of days driving round you were ready to go home; try it for 8-9 days.
We are all very experienced hunters. One of our members had previously taken all plains game - 2 buffalo, elephant, leopard etc on previous safari and knew what to expect.
I have hunted all over Europe and North Africa. We can all read sign as good as most people. After 2 days we asked our PH; if we were going to get a buffalo - he replied that he was going to try his very hardest for us. We knew immediately that our chances were slim and none (cancel slim). He did try his very hardest for us. From our report you will see that we spent all our time in the long grass knowing full well the danger we were placing ourselves in; try that sometime for a rush.
We are not mega wealthy entrepreneurs - three of our group work in construction. One member had received a donation from his wife for his birthday, had saved for 2 years and borrowed the difference. We all work hard to get the money for what should have been the trip of a lifetime. Safrique told us nothing but lies and now we cannot get our money refunded from them.
Again let me state my joy that your hunt was successful. Just because the scorpion did not sting you too badly does not mean that others won't fare as we have.

Caviat Emptor
 
Posts: 14 | Registered: 22 November 2011Reply With Quote
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quote:
Further taken from your context, and I'm quoting, using the phrase A Black fellow named Dalio who spoke some English came to meet us, is offensive and has racial undertones that we do personally take offense to.

You gotta be kidding me.... popcorn
 
Posts: 5199 | Registered: 30 July 2007Reply With Quote
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Yup. Ridiculous.
 
Posts: 12134 | Location: Orlando, FL | Registered: 26 January 2006Reply With Quote
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Absolutely unacceptable excuse for a hunt
 
Posts: 2270 | Location: Zimbabwe | Registered: 28 February 2007Reply With Quote
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Amazing what a catchy name and some flashy marketing can get you.
 
Posts: 5199 | Registered: 30 July 2007Reply With Quote
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Another train wreck.


~Ann





 
Posts: 19652 | Location: The LOST Nation | Registered: 27 March 2001Reply With Quote
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sure do wish you luck on getting any sort of a refund. one thing learned is that when dealing with charlatans, promises are not to be believed
 
Posts: 13466 | Location: faribault mn | Registered: 16 November 2004Reply With Quote
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Not refuting, denying, encouraging, discouraging, agreeing, disagreeing, but when I hunted the Selous in late August 2006 we arrived on a year when the rains lasted unusually long. We were inundated with TALL grass the same way. It was a VERY tough hunt. We did a lot of burning, but the grass had only litterally tried enough to burn the open hill tops and flat areas. The lower areas were still too damp and green to burn. Unfortunately my booking agent was third class and didn't tell us that grass could be a huge problem and why. Anyway if you were in fact told not to book then as the grass could make hunting tough and you had a tough hunt because of the grass that's not the outfitters fault. If you had a tough hunt because the area had few animals or the area was poached out. Yeah that's the outfitters fault.....unless they told you that up front. As for the other stuff sounds pretty bad. For the "racial comment" I'll agree that's pretty absurd. Talk about looking for a problem. Good luck on getting your refund!

Brett


DRSS
Life Member SCI
Life Member NRA
Life Member WSF

Rhyme of the Sheep Hunter
May fordings never be too deep, And alders not too thick; May rock slides never be too steep And ridges not too slick.
And may your bullets shoot as swell As Fred Bear's arrow's flew; And may your nose work just as well As Jack O'Connor's too.
May winds be never at your tail When stalking down the steep; May bears be never on your trail When packing out your sheep.
May the hundred pounds upon you Not make you break or trip; And may the plane in which you flew Await you at the strip.
-Seth Peterson
 
Posts: 4551 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 21 February 2008Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
Another train wreck.


Ann - It gets a WHOLE lot worse, trust me!!!


Aaron Neilson
Global Hunting Resources
303-619-2872: Cell
globalhunts@aol.com
www.huntghr.com

 
Posts: 4888 | Location: Boise, Idaho | Registered: 05 March 2009Reply With Quote
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If he is not a black fellow, Is he a white fellow?

Mike


Michael Podwika... DRSS bigbores and hunting www.pvt.co.za " MAKE THE SHOT " 450#2 Famars
 
Posts: 6768 | Location: Wyoming, Pa. USA | Registered: 17 April 2003Reply With Quote
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Oh, guess who will be in attendance at DSC in 2012 booth 1035-36

We willbe able toget some answers. HaHa!!!


Mike


Michael Podwika... DRSS bigbores and hunting www.pvt.co.za " MAKE THE SHOT " 450#2 Famars
 
Posts: 6768 | Location: Wyoming, Pa. USA | Registered: 17 April 2003Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by retreever:
Oh, guess who will be in attendance at DSC in 2012 booth 1035-36

We willbe able toget some answers. HaHa!!!


Mike


Mike - That might have changed too!


Aaron Neilson
Global Hunting Resources
303-619-2872: Cell
globalhunts@aol.com
www.huntghr.com

 
Posts: 4888 | Location: Boise, Idaho | Registered: 05 March 2009Reply With Quote
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Ann - It gets a WHOLE lot worse, trust me!!!


Pity... We will all want details.


~Ann





 
Posts: 19652 | Location: The LOST Nation | Registered: 27 March 2001Reply With Quote
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promises made-dreams shattered. BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME- AND IF YOU CAN- TAKE THESE GUYS TO THE CLEANERS!!!. FWIW, i don't believe a damn thing the outfitter said. too many pat answers to too many issues. occassionaly on any hunt, things go wrong. but this is a littany of screw ups from start to finish. i have had 2 GREAT hunts in Moz with 2 different outfitters. these folks are not either one of them.


Vote Trump- Putin’s best friend…
To quote a former AND CURRENT Trumpiteer - DUMP TRUMP
 
Posts: 13620 | Location: Georgia | Registered: 28 October 2006Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
quote:
Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
Another train wreck.


Ann - It gets a WHOLE lot worse, trust me!!!


Aaron,
Was this not the area you travelled to earlier this season?
A friend of mine hunted with this company this season. I will ask him how it went.
 
Posts: 5886 | Location: Sydney,Australia  | Registered: 03 July 2005Reply With Quote
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Here is my advice.

If one wishes to book a hunt in Africa, there are many excellent outfitters and PHs.

A little research would tell you all you want to know.

I would personally avoid ANY booking agent, outfitter or PH that has had more than one recent complaint against him, and it has NOT been sorted out IMMEDIATELY and to the satisfaction of the client.

If they do not feel that they have to answer toanyone, they will not correct what is wrong with their operation.


www.accuratereloading.com
Instagram : ganyana2000
 
Posts: 69318 | Location: Dubai, UAE | Registered: 08 January 1998Reply With Quote
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Saeed +1000...in today's world, excellent outfitters aren't hard to find...due diligence is key these days! I'm so sorry to hear about this story. I've seen their hunts on auction blocks at safari events here in Texas. Glad I never bid!!!!

Sounds like Aaron knows something we don't! This has got to be good!!!





 
Posts: 732 | Location: Texas | Registered: 05 October 2009Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Oryxhunter1983:
Sounds like Aaron knows something we don't! This has got to be good!!!


Folks - PLEASE accept my apologies for my vagueness, but I am going on advice of counsel at the moment!

Yes, I "hunted" (if you want to call it that) with Safrique Safaris - Mozambique in July 2011. Let my stance suffice with this statement.

To date, I have completed 27 African Safaris. Without question, this was the WORST, most dreadful Safari I have ever had the dis-pleasure to experience. My "Lion Hunt" was scheduled for 18 days, but after only 6 days, I was back on a plane headed home. Not getting a lion was the least of the problems!!


Aaron Neilson
Global Hunting Resources
303-619-2872: Cell
globalhunts@aol.com
www.huntghr.com

 
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quote:
To date, I have completed 27 African Safaris. Without question, this was the WORST, most dreadful Safari I have ever had the dis-pleasure to experience. My "Lion Hunt" was scheduled for 18 days, but after only 6 days, I was back on a plane headed home.


Frowner


~Ann





 
Posts: 19652 | Location: The LOST Nation | Registered: 27 March 2001Reply With Quote
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Hmmmmm........
 
Posts: 12134 | Location: Orlando, FL | Registered: 26 January 2006Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
quote:
Originally posted by Oryxhunter1983:
Sounds like Aaron knows something we don't! This has got to be good!!!


Folks - PLEASE accept my apologies for my vagueness, but I am going on advice of counsel at the moment!

Yes, I "hunted" (if you want to call it that) with Safrique Safaris - Mozambique in July 2011. Let my stance suffice with this statement.

To date, I have completed 27 African Safaris. Without question, this was the WORST, most dreadful Safari I have ever had the dis-pleasure to experience. My "Lion Hunt" was scheduled for 18 days, but after only 6 days, I was back on a plane headed home. Not getting a lion was the least of the problems!!


WOW Aaron!

If it was THAT bad, I amassuming your only keeping it under wraps because you have some legal action against them.

Remember that you might have some leverage against themwhen they come to the US for the shows.

Give them HELL!


www.accuratereloading.com
Instagram : ganyana2000
 
Posts: 69318 | Location: Dubai, UAE | Registered: 08 January 1998Reply With Quote
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Aaron,
LIGHT THEM UP!!!
 
Posts: 10441 | Location: Texas... time to secede!! | Registered: 12 February 2004Reply With Quote
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If he is keeping quiet on the advice of counsel, he should not elaborate further. At some point, presumably documents will be filed which would normally be public record. Some enterprising person might find those and post them.
 
Posts: 12134 | Location: Orlando, FL | Registered: 26 January 2006Reply With Quote
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They have a very professional website. I can see how someone can get hooked in by their operation. They probably had some hip gay guy from Cape Town design and maintain it for them.


STAY IN THE FIGHT!
 
Posts: 1849 | Location: Southern California | Registered: 25 July 2006Reply With Quote
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FWIW: In late August of 2005 my husband and I hunted out of Mahimba Camp with outfitter Sandy McDonald ProHunting. As I then posted in my hunt report, the camp was definitely not up to the standard we had had on other safaris. We went with another couple, who had booked the trip and wanted us to join them. We didn’t have any expectations, since I hadn’t done any research about the camp or outfitter.

While in camp we found out that the outfitter had not been to camp in two years (and subsequently he gave up this concession. I think there was another outfitter between McDonald and Safrique). The supplies, furnishings, and equipment were minimal at best. My husband’s bed actually fell into pieces twice before it was replaced. Our hunting vehicle had constant problems, not to mention 3 flat tires in one day. The staff made do with what they could and they tried their best with what they had to work with. And, the rusty, red shower water was just as George O’Malley said. You felt dirtier after a shower than before. We had a Boomslang at the door of our chalet….but that’s Africa Baby!

Poaching was a horrible problem. However, I did get my buffalo, sable, bushbuck, waterbuck and reedbuck. At that time there was only one herd of about 70 buffalo in the concession. The other hunter in our party also took a bull buffalo from that herd. And, yes the grass was tall and we did a lot of burning.

My husband referred to the country as Mozambleak. And we vowed never to go back. We thought all camps in Moz were like this. But in 2010 another friend talked us into hunting with Mark Haldane’s Zambezi Delta Safaris in Coutada 11. We were so surprised and happy. This was the type of camp and equipment we were used to.

In 2005 to get to Mahimba we air chartered directly into camp from RSA. There was a great dirt strip right next to camp. (I wonder if it is still there as no one has made mention of it.) We made a quick stop in Quelimane for customs and immigration stuff which took only minutes. When we returned in 2010 we flew commercially into Maputo. Although our PH was there to meet us, the panhandlers were everywhere and were quite pushy and insistent on tips for everything. Our PH told them he would bring them meat when we returned. We didn’t, of course, but the same characters were there at the end of our safari wanting money. We didn’t dare let our luggage out of our sight.

I guess what I infer from all this is that, things have gotten worse at Mahimba and they weren’t great 2005. And, if you book with a good and reputable outfitter it makes all the difference. The interesting thing is that there wasn’t really that much cost difference between the two hunts. But a huge amount of quality difference in outfitters.

I’m so sorry to hear of the problems at Mahimba, but I’m certainly not surprised.

Best regards, D. Nelson
 
Posts: 2271 | Registered: 17 July 2003Reply With Quote
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For those of you that have had bad experiences with this outfitter mentioned or others please file a report with "The Hunting Report" . The convention season is just around the corner it is more important than ever to file those reports.

I searched Safrique the past 3 reports were all recommended!
report # 8421 Sept 11-26
report # 8406 Aug 30- Sept 14
report # 8405 Aug 25- Sept 5
 
Posts: 84 | Registered: 08 April 2009Reply With Quote
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That's too bad. A great young PH, Wikus Groenwald, left Pierre von Tonder's employ in Tanzania a couple years ago to get steadier work at Safarique.
 
Posts: 20175 | Location: Very NW NJ up in the Mountains | Registered: 14 June 2009Reply With Quote
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JP Kleinhans was running Mahimba for a few years before moving on. I had a great hunt there in 2008 with JP. Lots of game with nice accomodations and anti-poaching teams in place. Buffalo, reedbuck, waterbuck, sable and bushbuck were easily available. Plenty of crocs and hippo if you were willing to brave the mud and muck.

I could not discern from the original posting if this debacle was at Mahimba or elsewhere. If it was Mahimba, I am sorry to hear it has declined so rapidly. Pitty if that is the case.
 
Posts: 150 | Location: San Antonio, TX | Registered: 30 October 2006Reply With Quote
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Aaron:

I hope you are not using "DawnRoar" as your attorney! Eeker
 
Posts: 1132 | Location: Land of Lincoln | Registered: 15 June 2004Reply With Quote
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A couple buddies of mine went with them in 2009 (I think) on a donated auction hunt. They both got buffs (~36") and other game, but didn't see a whole lot. I can't think of them complaining except they sent the boat out for two more pallets of beer. Bear in mind, these were two West Texas cowboys.


I meant to be DSC Member...bad typing skills.

Marcus Cady

DRSS
 
Posts: 3460 | Location: Dallas | Registered: 19 March 2008Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by larryshores:
Some enterprising person might find those and post them.


Cool


Aaron Neilson
Global Hunting Resources
303-619-2872: Cell
globalhunts@aol.com
www.huntghr.com

 
Posts: 4888 | Location: Boise, Idaho | Registered: 05 March 2009Reply With Quote
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All I need is state and county.

After all, I was able to Heathington's legal history and all court documents in short order.
 
Posts: 12134 | Location: Orlando, FL | Registered: 26 January 2006Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by larryshores:
All I need is state and county.

After all, I was able to Heathington's legal history and all court documents in short order.


County of Denver, State of Colorado might be a good place to start. Cool


Will J. Parks, III
 
Posts: 2989 | Location: Alabama USA | Registered: 09 July 2009Reply With Quote
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