Planning your Perfect Safari part 3

So you have decided on the Outfitter or Safari company that you will go on Safari with and you have all their information about their company and what they have to offer. Now depending on what time of the year you are going you need to find out some extra details which we have provided below from personal experience.

1) What to pack: HUNTERS CLOTHING SUGGESTIONS

• Dark khaki and hunters green colored clothing is recommended for all hunters, including hats
• 2 good pairs of hunting boots (preferably waterproof)
• We suggest including a rain jacket and peel-off layers of clothing due to varying temperatures during the day
• Temperatures range from 0º to 30º Celsius depending on the time of year
• Protective eye and ear wear are recommended for shooting and a good sunscreen while in the fields
• Binoculars with a sling
• Soft gun bag to protect your gun while on the move
• Thin shooting gloves to protect hands while loading and firing.
• A good shooting vest or belt-attachable shell bag-optional
• Gun cleaning equipment (barrel brush & lubricant) to clean guns daily. Available at Umdende Hunting Safaris
• An alarm for early morning shoots and a small flashlight is suggested or use your Smartphone
• Confirm with your Outfitter if waders or knee-boots are required for Wing shooting. Not required with Umdende Hunting Safaris
• Most Outfitters have no dress code; casual, comfortable clothing is recommended by Umdende Hunting Safaris
• Camera or Smartphone to capture Africa’s brilliant color

2) Do they offer extra activities or tours:

Find out if your Safari Company offers any tours in the same area you are hunting and what the travel times are.  This allows the non-hunters or observers the chance to explore should they not join the hunts, or on a rest day that everyone can enjoy!  Certain tours need to be booked in advance and are non-refundable should you cancel.

Below are examples of the tours available with Umdende Hunting Safaris, depending on the areas you are hunting

• Cheetah Sanctuary / Rehab centre Interaction – Interact with Cheetah, Serval, African Wild Cat and Caracal. This is a one in a lifetime experience!
• Elephant Interaction  - Interact with these magnificent creatures up close and personal
• Zulu Cultural Village gives an amazing insight into how the Zulu’s live, the details of their culture and how they differ to the other tribes in South Africa
  
• Horseback riding between wild animals in a reserve
• Guided walk in a Big 5 game reserve
• Guided game drive in a Big 5 game reserve
• Battlefields tours- experience the South African history of the Anglo-Zulu War – Isandlawana and Rorke’s Drift

3) Malaria and medications:

One of the main concerns when travelling to new areas around Africa is Malaria.  Please consult with your Outfitter or Safari company if they are located in a Malaria zone, if so you will need to see you family doctor and ask them what medications they recommend and how long before departure you need to start your course. 98% of Umdende Hunting Safaris hunting areas are Malaria free. We do suggest packing a few headache, flu and stomach tablets, just in case.

4) Paying for extras in South Africa:

South Africa’s official currency is the Rand (ZAR). Foreign currencies and travellers cheques can be exchanged / used in most big cities, however in smaller towns this can be a time consuming process as not all banks cater for forex and travellers cheques.  Foreign personal cheques are not accepted.  We highly recommend exchanging a small amount of your currency into Rands (ZAR) at your departure airport for curio purchases.  Visa, MasterCard, AMEX and Diners are widely accepted in larger cities and certain towns and can incur a service levy of 3%-5%. Please make sure you inform your bank PRIOR TO DEPARTURE that you will be traveling and using your card.  14 % VAT (current South African TAX) is applicable on most items purchased, daily rates, and non-exported trophies taken / wounded. It is important to discuss with your Outfitter or Safari Company how they prefer your extras to be settled on completion of your safari.  Nobody enjoys carrying cash with them, but your hunting area may be too remote to allow for card payments or the Outfitter may not have this facility available. 

5) Contacting your loved ones: As we all know your loved ones need to know that you are safely at your destination and all went well with the flight etc. Ask your Outfitter or Safari company if they have WiFi available at their lodges so you are be able to send and receive any urgent emails and of course send a message to your family. Some lodges do charge for this service. 80% of Umdende's lodges have WiFi purely because of location. If possible a hotspot can be created for emergency purposes. Make sure you have activated your international roaming with your mobile service provider if you would like to make calls while on Safari.

6) Taxidermy: Immediately after each hunt, your Outfitter should tag and prepare your Trophies in salt according to the manner in which you wish to have your Trophies mounted, this drying process takes 2-3 weeks.  All animals you have taken must be recorded on your Professional Hunters Register and the necessary licences and permits signed for prior to departure home.  This paperwork can take some time so calculate this into your airport departure times. Once the Outfitter receives full payment your Trophies are delivered to the Outfitters Taxidermist.  Should you have a preferred Taxidermist the Outfitter may charge for delivery. Please confirm with your guide before or while on Safari what the procedure will be and if they will inform you once your trophies have been dropped off. Should you require your trophies to be mounted by your own taxidermist in your country, by South African law, they will first need to be dipped and packed by an accredited agent in South Africa. The dipping, packing and mounting of your trophies is for your own account. Umdende Hunting Safaris assists every client in the process of communication between the Hunter and Taxidermist to ensure the smooth arrival of your Trophies back home. Taxidermy and delivery is a lengthy process so please be patient, it will be worth the wait!

7) Safari Completed: It has been an amazing few days and you have had a once in lifetime experience with your Outfitter or Safari Company, now it's time to settle the bill.  Depending on the Safari Company, you can pay via credit card, wire transfer or cash. Check your bill against your Safari Contract Agreement and prior agreed charges, and that all your animals and extras are included on the bill.  You don't want to get home and find extras have been put on that you did not know about. Gratuities are also highly appreciated in the hunting industry so please keep in mind the whole Team that made your dreams come true!
Next is show and tell when you get home, as we are sure your family and friends want to know about your Safari!

8) Firearm and ammunition recommendations......stay tuned for part 4 of Planning your Perfect Safari....!!

We look forward to seeing you soon and

Making your Wildest Dreams come True!!

Planning your Perfect Safari part two

As promised we have gone into more detail about

Planning Your Perfect Safari

1) Create a List of what you want to see and do:
First things first, if you cannot think of what you would like to do or hunt but you know what Country you want to go to, Google is your friend! If you like to Bird hunt, google Bird Hunting in South Africa and have a look at the different Outfitters that offer top class Bird Hunting. Contact them, ask them to send you a pricelist or packages that they offer, or as Umdende Hunting Safaris does, we offer tailor made Bird Hunting packages to suit your needs. The same applies to Plains Game and Dangerous Game hunting.

2) Choosing the right Safari Company or Outfitter for you:
Once you have some idea of what different Outfitters and Safari Companies offer, we suggest choosing the one you feel the most comfortable with, the company that responds the quickest and has all the information on hand. This shows that they are passionate about their way of hunting and looking after you as their client. Request a list of references and look at their reviews - always a good idea to get first-hand information from past clients. Check the Outfitters credentials, for example are they still licensed, are they affiliated to any organisations like SCI, PHASA or DSC,then you know they are in this passionate about their business and it's not just a weekend hobby.

3) Timing:  
Find out from your Outfitter or Safari company when the best time of year is: This is crucial as different hunting regions around the world have different hunting seasons. This includes the South African Bird Hunting season (Watch out for Umdende Hunting Safaris blog regarding these dates.) In South Africa our hottest months are from late November through to mid -February, this is also our rainy season and breeding time of species, so our suggestion of the best time to visit South Africa is between mid-February and early November. Please keep in mind that should touring Cape Town be an add on with your Safari, that the rainy season there is May /June

4) What Species are you looking for: 
Deciding on the animals you would like to harvest, especially for first time hunters, there are a variety of Plains Game animals and Dangerous game animals available in South Africa. Check with your Outfitter if any permits are needed, how big the area is, is the lodge on the hunting area or will you need to travel daily to hunt, photos of the lodge, will there be other guests at the lodge (please note that this is normal unless the lodge is booked out exclusivity by the Outfitter.) Different species are located in different areas throughout South Africa, so your Safari may consist of some travel time. 

5) Inclusions and exclusions of your package :
Ask the Outfitter or Safari Company about their general Inclusions and Exclusions and what your package includes and excludes, for example does your package include permits, trophy fees, accommodation, meals, drinks, conservation levies etc. This is a crucial step so you are not surprised when you get your final bill at the end of your Safari. A Safari Contract Agreement between the client and Outfitter helps to make a joint decision between both parties involved and a clear understanding on all costs.

Watch this space for the next part of Planning your Perfect Safari,

where we will discuss what equipment to pack, tours and extra activities and much much more......

Clayton, Debbie, Liam and Camilla

Our Family looks forward to seeing you in Africa and

Making your Wildest dreams come true!

Gun Safety on Safari

Umdende Hunting Safaris takes excellent care of all their clients and friends whilst on Safari,  that is why we enforce strict Firearm safety rules while on Safari.

You will be briefed by your Professional Hunter on an ethical code of conduct whilst hunting, please respect this. Please find all the safety rules and guidelines below:

1 ) Do not shoot unless you are instructed to do so by your Professional Hunter, and you  have a clear view, i.e. dogs, other hunters, helper’s positions etc.

2) Ensure that your weapon is unloaded before placing it on a vehicle or climbing over a fence, unless otherwise stipulated by your Professional Hunter.

3) Every effort will be made to find wounded game, please respect this.

4) Shoot birds at the correct distance. Do not shoot ground or very low birds.

5) Your Professional Hunter will advise you on the correct shot size for specific bird species.

6) When carrying your shotgun keep it broken or pointing skywards.

7) Never point your gun at anyone.

8) When shooting birds don’t poach someone else’s bird or shoot down the line.

9) When you expect to shoot, keep your barrel pointing skyward and your safety on.

10) Break your gun when climbing over fences.

11) When shooting, ensure that you know the species that are to be hunted.

12) Do not fire through the shotgun if the barrel has become blocked during the shoot

13) Every effort must be made to find wounded birds.

Umdende Hunting Safaris uses the following imported Fiocchi or

GB shells for Bird Hunting:

Doves and Pigeons – No. 7 and 7 ½, 24 gram or 28gram

Partridge – No. 7, 28 grams

Guinea Fowl & Duck – No. 5 and

6, 34 gram

Geese – No. 3, 34 gram

                               

Good Gun Safety means Happy Hunting! See you on Safari...

Plan your perfect Safari

1) Create a list of what you want to see and do: The first step to planning a memorable African Safari is to create a “must see or do list”. Are you traveling to participate mostly in game viewing or hunting?  Or are you looking to have amazing encounters with Cheetah? Listing what you really consider your ‘Must Do’s, is a great place to start.

2) Choosing the right Safari Company or Outfitter for you: So you have a few things narrowed down, the what, where, when, and how’s… This leaves us with WHO! Who is going to help you, if anyone? There are Outfitters scattered all over the place and most are filled with detailed, first-hand knowledge of traveling and hunting in Africa! Use them! They can even help you while you are narrowing down your wish list.

3) Timing - find out from your Outfitter or Safari company when the best time of year is: There are so many timing issues to take into consideration, and all are linked back to the activities that mean the most to you. Bird Hunting Season is 31st May - 31st August and Hunting season is from March - November.

4) What areas you want to visit: Alright, so you have decided the what you would like to hunt and when you would like to come to Africa, now we need to talk about the areas your Outfitter has recommend, look up the weather in the certain area and see what the landscape is like.

5)Inclusions and exclusions of your package : While you are talking to your Outfitter , you need to ask what is included in the price. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. A few extra costs to consider are: flights to and from your host city, internal flights or transfers, are meals included, are activities all-inclusive or ala carte? A great deal can spiral out of control if you arrive in Africa and find out that every activity will cost you extra!

6) Africa here you come… You have done it! You have made the lists, consulted the professionals, and found the perfect African experience! Now all you have to do is go! Remember to take lots of photos, write down what you do every day (you will be amazed at how quickly the details will start to blur), and soak it all in! Enjoy the fruits of your labour, and relish in the now.

Stay tuned for our next Blog where we will go into Specific details on each recommendation above, advising you on the Do's and Don'ts of PLANNING YOUR PREFECT AFRICAN SAFARI

Dream come true by Richard

 

Beautiful views whilst hunting

 

To all the staff at Umdende, the farm owners where we hunted the serval & aardwolf, & the game ranch operators where we hunted the plains game: Thank you once again for spoiling my wife & I on our 7 day safari.  My 3 previous attempts to collect a serval met with no real opportunities & very few sightings.  I don't know how the first 3 days could have been any better.  8 serval sightings & 2 aardwolf.

 

 

Richard with his Aardwolf

 

Richard with his well deserved Serval

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are looking for that elusive serval, I would deffinately recommend Umdende Safaris.  Clayton & his partners will put you on the cats.  They have a great pack of hounds if that is what you prefer, weather permitting.  Or you can do night hunting.  Both ways are exciting & very productive.

 

Richard with his Black Wildebeest

Richard with his old Blesbuck

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you once again for putting my fears to rest & making my dream of collecting the serval a reality.   From my wife, Marcie:  I certainly agree with my husband!  It was an amazing adventure.  From a woman's perspective, I felt spoiled and pampered.  Everyone went out of their way to make sure my needs (and wants) were met.  I have an extraordinary love for giraffes and the fact that a special effort was made to fufill one of my dreams of seeing them up close and personal was priceless!  I have never seen my husband happier than when he shot the serval--what more could a woman ask for?  Thank you so much!!      

Richard and Marcie with Richard's Blue Wildebeest taken on the last day