Well,I would like to see that the wild game auction tags are off the animals and that the tranquilizers has worn off.

SA may be too industrialized and highly populated to have a truly wild open range hunting area.

The least impressive things are when you see old cattle ranching equipment lying around the place. Remember that you are selling more than just trophies, you are selling a dream fed by years of reading literature of the old time safaris.
The first operation to offer hunting on a LARGE area with a roving tented camp (even if it only moves a few ks a day) instead of a swimming pool and thatched roof, should be swamped with requests.
Another idea is to incorporate some culling for children/spouses at a very reduced price (i.e. observer rate + rand value of meat) to encourage the family to enjoy themselves while the hunter brings in the big dollar trophies, next time the kids will want to shoot trophies too.
I know that some companies already do this, but it means a lot for a hunter to get a card/e-mail/phone call after the hunt is over to ask if they were 100% satisfied and to update them on any taxidermy/shipping info. Personal contact ensures that repeat clients are more common.

Thanks for the extra info!

All comments welcome and wanted

Boghossian--
You're the first to mention the importance of follow-up contacts. Thanks again

--Umzingeli

A few things I would add -

1. Vehicles need to work and have good tires.
2. Be sure the hunter has fixed in his mind "reasonable expectations" of the animals. Under commit and over deliver.
3. Coach the hunter as he is not the expert, the PH is. Mistakes will happen, but keep everything positive.
4. Do not promise a hassle free trip - problems come up. Deal with them and keep hassles to a minimum.
5. Emphasize having fun. Our best experience was hunting monkeys - not even on the trophy list. My sons and I just had fun chasing them.

Good luck.

Um- I would look closely at the size of the property. As the number of game farms has exploded it seems there is an inverse corolation of the hectares involved. I give a huge second to the ambiance of the tented camp, even if more modern facilities are availible. A solar system without the generator noise at night is a great touch. Good luck.

Folks, I can't say Thank-You often enough. You've been extremely helpful, and all of your comments are providing me with a lot of food for thought.

Please keep it coming.

Thanks again,
--Umzingeli

I hope that you keep records of what size trophies are taken from the farms every year. That is the most easy way of communicating with clients when they ask if there are any 'good ones' around. If you can give an idea of how many 50 inch kudu etc that are taken, the client won't come with a record book in his back pocket. Most PHs seem to rely on guesstimates of the trophies shot in the past.

Another small tip (especially for Euro hunters) is to make sure a plains game rifle is available for a cheap rate. Many people are getting sick of the hassle of transporting expensive rifles and dealing with paperwork + using up the tiny baggage allowance. A decent 308/30-06 should be in every game farm (apart from what the PH uses) to be used when rifles are dropped (saves precious hunting time) or if the kids what to give it a go.
All the best and tell us how it goes.

At the very end of the day going after this "target rich environment" of warthog - as I hold steady with my .375 on this beast across a dry river bed coming out from behind a log, as I'm about to blast the bugger - the god-damn PH's cell phone starts going off full blast! Somehow it was on speakerphone and the camp director (in Afrikaans) says when are you guys coming back - needless to say the warthog - well he buggered off and I was left with ZERO warthogs that day (except for a few Guinea Fowl).

Get rid of modern trappings - plus, a TV in camp is ridiculous. Make them unplug the damn thing!

Cell phones and sat. phones should require a minimum of blood on the ON/OFF switch to activate! Can you tell what my feelings about them are?

Thanks for the additional input everyone.

Please be sure to add anything else that you might think of.

Boghossian--
Not sure if consultants is the right word, although I suppose in essence, it incorporates what we are trying to do. It's more like an association of shared interest. If you all are interested, I'll post more information as it becomes relevant. I don't guide myself, although the Boss is/has been a PH.

The ideas I'm getting here, and places like it, is to make sure that we think of everything that's important to the Hunter.

Your comments are much appreciated, keep them coming as they occur to you.

Many Thanks
--Umzingeli