FAQ
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AccommodationCan you arrange accommodation before and after the safari if necessary? Sure, we can advise you on a number of different options of accommodation types and tours. Where can I overnight in Johannesburg? There are a number of hotel options and price ranges available at or near the airport. However our preferred recommendation would be a Guesthouse near the airport. Why do you recommend a Guest House? Simply because they are prepared to go the extra mile, make you feel welcome and offer a personalised service. Here are some of the reasons for using these facilities:
How do I make a reservation? Zulu Afrika Safaris can make all the necessary bookings and reservations for you. In fact we would recommend that you book through us as we can offer better and more up to date advice than your local travel agent. What will my accommodation be like during the hunt? It is impossible to describe a "typical" hunting camp, as they differ from province to province and game ranch to game ranch. However, bear in mind the following two points: Ask your outfitter for a full description of the camp and remember that whatever the type of camp, it has passed the inspection of the nature conservation agencies and therefore conforms to the required standard. Generally speaking though, our facilities are on a par, if not better than other hunting camps in the world. African Hunting DestinationsDoes ZAS offer hunting in any other countries in Africa? We offer hunting in Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. What sort of hunting packages are available? We have a number of exciting hunting packages available. Most of these packages offer our clients the opportunity to hunt "Big Game" but there are also plainsgame hunts available and speciality animal packages and hunts.
AirlinesWhat airlines fly to South Africa? Over 75 international airlines service South Africa from all over the world. If you are flying from America, South African Airways (SAA) is represented by United Airlines and Delta Airlines offer an alternative service. If flying from Europe, virtually all the airlines fly to South Africa and SAA also service numerous international destinations on the continent. How long does it take to fly to South Africa from America? The flight takes between 14 and 17 hours depending on your final destination and whether you are flying to America (against the wind and therefore a longer flight with a refuelling stop) or flying to South Africa. How often does SAA fly from America? SAA has daily flights from New York and Washington DC. Delta offers daily flights from Atlanta. There are daily flights from all the major cities in Europe. Whom would I recommend to book with? If you were not dealing directly with SAA or Delta, I would recommend that you contact Esplanade Tours. They also offer expert advice on all hunting and travel related issues to Africa. Tel: 800 426 5492 Website: www.esplanadetours.com What are the costs from America? At present prices for a round trip in 2011 from New York or Washington DC to Johannesburg or Cape Town are as follows:
Does a client have a choice of airlines on South African domestic flights? Yes. The choice is limited and so are your destinations. Airports CompanyWhat does this company offer? 1) Hunting rifle and baggage storage: 2) VIP Service: 3) Airport Porter Services:
AmmunitionHow much ammunition can I import into South Africa? Even though there are limitations on ammunition importation, it is unlikely that you will require more than 30 - 50 rounds. You may import 200 rounds of ammunition per calibre. Make sure that you zero your rifle at home and hopefully the rifle will still be shooting accurately when rechecked at the start of the safari. Antelope huntingHow many antelope species occur in South Africa and how do these compare with other African counties? 29 antelope in all, more than any other African country can offer: Sable; Cape Grysbuck; Lichtenstein's Hartebeest; Roan Antelope; Sharpe's Grysbuck; Waterbuck; Gemsbuck (Oryx); Grey Duiker; Black Wildebeest; Eland; Red Duiker; Blue Wildebeest; How many of these species may be hunted? 27 species may be hunted. Sharpe's Grysbuck and Lichtenstein's Hartebeest are scarce and currently the authorities issue no hunting permits. Are any of the species offered in South Africa endemic, and therefore unobtainable for hunting elsewhere in Africa? Yes! The Grey Rhebuck, Bontebok, Blesbok, Cape Grysbuck, Mountain Reedbuck, Black Wildebeest and the Cape Mountain Zebra are only found in South Africa. Would I be able to hunt most of the antelope from one base camp in any of the provinces? No, not all of the 27 possible species occur in any of the provinces. Your hunting outfitter would however be able to obtain most of these in 3 or 4 provinces. Would it be possible to hunt in all provinces on one trip? Certainly. Your hunting outfitter could arrange this and you would be able to experience diverse hunting conditions ranging from vast open plains to subtropical forests. Be prepared however for a great deal of travelling. South Africa is a large country. While South Africa might have more species to offer the hunter than other African countries, can you still get good trophy animals? If you are a trophy hunter and either a Rowland Ward or SCI devotee, these facts from 1997 should interest you. From the latest editions of trophy books of these two organisations, it is evident that the best trophy of each of the following species was hunted in South Africa. (All these species also occur in other African countries). Rowland Ward "Sportsman's Handbook": Blue Wildebeest, Grey Duiker, Steenbuck, Waterbuck, Common Reedbuck, Greater Kudu, Nyala, Lion and Cheetah. Safari Club International: Leopard, Nyala, Waterbuck, Blue Wildebeest, Red Hartebeest, Impala, Kalahari Springbuck, Klipspringer, Suni, Grey Duiker, Blue Duiker and Red Duiker. With all the talk of the 27 antelope species being available for hunting and the "Big Five" etc., will I be able to afford a hunt in South Africa? You can arrange a hunt with your outfitter for a hunt that is tailored for your trophy needs and pocket. Many outfitters provide hunts with only five or ten species or less, and cater for the hunter who is satisfied with a trophy that is a "good representative of the species", as opposed to a world record trophy. Associations
Do you have any form of association that can give a hunter more confidence about booking a safari with a specific outfitter? I am a fully licenced Outfitter and Professional Hunter Guide) and have been a member with the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA) for over 15 years. This is not a compulsory membership. I feel that it is important for the client may wish to contact PHASA for a reference and should he/she be disgruntled about any thing then he/she is able to contact this association and lodge a complaint. Such complaints about members are minimal; most of our problems are about Professional Hunters who are not members of our association.
What is PHASA? PHASA is the official mouthpiece of South Africa's professional hunting fraternity. Listed below are the association's objectives: What other associations and qualifications do you have? I am also a fully licensed registered tourist guide with Tourism KZN and Field Guide with FGASA, the Field Guides Association of South Africa. BankingWhat are the normal banking hours? Weekdays from 09h00 - 15h30 and Saturdays from 08h30 - 11h30. Are their banking facilities at the airport? All the International Airports (Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban) have banking facilities, which are open for most of the day. Do you have any other suggestions regarding money transactions while abroad? Can you change money at a hotel? Yes in most cases. However, I would suggest that you do not change money at these institutions if at all possible; normally these places charge a very high commission for this service. "Big Five"
Does this mean you can hunt the "Big Five"? Yes. South Africa is the only country where you can hunt the "Big Five" i.e. Elephant, White Rhino, Lion, Leopard and Buffalo, a limited number of permits for these species being available each year. Where could I hunt the "Big Five"? Only in Mpumalanga, North-West Province and the Limpopo Province will you be find all of the "Big Five" being offered on a limited permit system. Other provinces do offer individual species of the "Big Five". With all the talk of the 27 antelope species being available for hunting and the "Big Five" etc., will I be able to afford a hunt in South Africa? You can arrange a hunt with your outfitter for a hunt that is tailored for your trophy needs and pocket. Many outfitters provide hunts with only five or ten species or less, and cater for the hunter who is satisfied with a trophy that is a "good representative of the species", as opposed to a world record trophy. How long in advance must I book a "Big Game" safari or "Cat" hunt? Well, it all depends in which country you want to hunt and what you want to hunt. Lion hunts are the most sought after and difficult to book. In Tanzania for instance, all Lion hunts are normally sold out 2 years in advance. Although the concessions are huge, only one Lion is issued on quota each year for most of the concessions.
Bird huntingWhat about bird hunting in South Africa? Is it worthwhile bringing a shotgun to shoot the occasional bird while on a hunting trip, or could I go on a bird-only safari? You could do either. South Africa has a wide variety of game birds, some 14 huntable species of ducks, 2 geese, 10 partridge (francolin) species, 2 pheasant-sized birds (Guinea fowl), pigeons, doves and quail. Good bird hunting can be arranged from June to September.Shooting over dogs, shooting driven birds and using decoys are all permissible forms of bird hunting in South Africa. BookingsHow do I make a booking? All Zulu Afrika clients are kindly requested to supply our office with as much information as possible to help us plan your safari and any additional tours. This will not only save time and money but also provide us with the relevant details and information to respond to your requests promptly.
Important: What are the other booking conditions? Zulu Afrika Safaris reserves the right to change any terms, conditions and prices without notice. Rates at the time of the hunt will apply. Books & MagazinesWhat hunting and reference books do you recommend that clients read to improve their general all round knowledge of hunting in SA? There is an endless amount of books available on hunting in Africa. I will only recommend a few books containing some good general information about hunting and some facts about the animals you may encounter. Listed below are some of my favourite books with the publisher's details:
What African hunting magazines are available in South Africa? There are a number of sporting, hunting, fishing and outdoor magazines available and most bookstores, grocery stores and magazine outlets. The most popular locally printed magazines are Magnum and The complete fly fisherman. Listed below are some of the recommended magazines:
BowsWhat about a bow? No importation documentation is required for anyone hunting with a bow. Can you hunt in South Africa with a bow? As the game laws differ in each province, check with your outfitter before signing up for a hunt. If you hunt with a bow you will find that a number of the provinces permit bow hunting. Where this form of hunting is legal, restrictions may be imposed on the species of animal to be hunted and the standard of the equipment. Car HireCan you hire a car at the airport? We have a number of car hire companies operating in South Africa. All the information you require can be found on the Internet. To hire a car, the car hire company requires your credit card details, passport details and details of your international driver's license. What are driving conditions generally like in the country? We drive on the left-hand side of the road, so if you are not used to this it will take a little time to get used too. All the major routes and highways are tarred. Some roads are in disrepair and have bad potholes, so drive cautiously. I would advise anyone travelling in the country to buy a good road atlas or bring a GPS(purchase SA road programme) and make sure you get to your destination before dark. If you are concerned about your safety or breaking down, I would suggest you hire a mobile phone at the airport as the mobile phone service providers cover most of our major roads. What is the road signage like? Due to government policy on road signage, we do have adequate signage but it could be much better. Ask a local for directions before leaving for your next destination. CarnivoresWhich of the larger carnivores can be hunted in South Africa? Leopard, Lion, Spotted and Brown Hyaena, as well as a variety of smaller carnivores. CarnivoresCan you arrange air charters if required? There are a number of professionally run charter businesses that will meet you at Johannesburg International Airport and fly you to any destination in Africa. In some instances, the charter flight prices are very competitive with the commercial airlines and they offer a friendlier door-to-door service. Quotes available on request. Are charter flights available? Yes, these can be arranged and as with all the flights are not included in any of the daily rates or packages. ClothingWhat clothing do I require for my safari? Comfortable footwear and hats are most important. Note that dark khaki and olive green or black cotton clothing is the best for hunting. The clothing should be of a neutral bush colour, i.e. drab green or dark khaki. Avoid any bright blue colours. Camouflage clothing is permitted in South Africa but prohibited in the rest of Africa. A full kit list will be forwarded after booking safari. What else should you bring? We recommend that you bring your own ammunition, lightweight binoculars and a good camera. Some rain may occur even during the dry season, so bring some form of lightweight rain gear. Can you buy clothing and toiletries? In South Africa our concessions are situated fairly close to shopping facilities where you can purchase any toiletries you forgot or need to replenish. However, this is not always the case in other African countries. Conservation LevyWhat is the conservation levy? This is a voluntary levy that professional hunter's will bring to their client's attention. This is a form of fundraising for the PHASA Conservation Trust Fund, which will be used by PHASA to promote hunting in South Africa or in the fight against gun control. How much is the recommended levy? At present the recommendation is $10 per trophy. Any additional donations would be appreciated. A certificate of appreciation from PHASA will be posted to all donors. Daily RatesWhat do the Daily Rates include?
What do the Daily Rates exclude?
Fair ChaseDo you believe in the principals of fair chase hunting? I do not hunt "Canned animals." I believe that if the animal can run away and escape from you so that you have to start tracking all over again, that the animal has a fair chance of escaping. FirearmsCan a hunter bring his/her own firearms into the country? Yes. This is a very easy procedure but you must comply with all the airline and customs regulations and formalities. What are the standard FAA regulations for passengers travelling from the USA to South Africa (SA) with accompanying firearms? The standard FAA regulations are:
What is South African Airways policy? SAA regulations do not allow firearms, ammunition and/or other harmful articles to be carried in the passenger cabin of an SAA aircraft. A written declaration must be completed at the time of check-in stating that all unloaded firearms/ammunition or other lethal weapons being checked in as hold baggage is locked and the articles are safe for transportation. What does U.S. Customs require? An U.S. citizen may temporarily export not more than three non-automatic firearms from the USA. These must be with the U.S. citizen's baggage. They must be for that person's exclusive use and not for re-export, transfer of ownership or permanent export. What do the South African Customs require? SA Customs requires that all firearms and ammunition be declared to Customs on arrival in South Africa. The following regulations should be carefully noted and compiled with, as steps will be taken against violators. Identity and Flight Details Other Supporting Documents:
For the latest and up to date information you can log onto the following website: www.saps.org.za How many firearms can a hunter bring into the country?
Which are the most popular and suitable rifles used on safari? It should be noted that despite the proliferation of rifle calibres and bullet types, two carefully chosen rifles (perhaps even one), which have an adequate range of bullet weights and velocities available, should in most instances suffice. For example, it is not unknown for hunters to shoot everything from Elephants to Steenbuck with a .375Magnum, using solids, softs or jacketed bullets. Obviously, the choice of rifle will depend on what you intend hunting and in what kind of terrain and habitat. Open terrain requires a high velocity, light grain bullet and it is the total opposite when hunting in bushveld, where a bullet is easily deflected by unseen brush. What rifles do you use for back up and hunting? I hunt mostly in thornveld country where you will experience the problem of hunting in brush. Normally the shots are only 75 -125 yards, so ideally I should be using a .220gr bullet in my 30-06. However, I hunt with 180gr bullet and use my rifle in all types of terrain and habitats. For dangerous game I use a .458 Winchester Magnum. Which other rifles are suitable? Other popular calibres are 7 mm Remington Magnum, .300 calibres and 8-9mm Mausers. For small animals a .243 or .270 are recommended. Which is the calibre that you least recommended? My personal experience has been that clients using a Weatherby (Wound-a-beast) .300 with a 180gr bullet in the bushveld area are more likely than any other calibre to wound their trophies. Can a hunter use an automatic rifle or shotgun? Some of the African countries do not allow automatic weapons to be imported into the country. My advice would be to avoid the any automatic weapon. What about pump-action rifles and shotguns? This also varies from country to country. For instance, a plug must be inserted into a shotgun when hunting in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. What about handguns? Handguns can be imported into South Africa under the same conditions as rifles. However in some African countries handguns are banned. If you travel on any domestic flights in South Africa you will be require to pay a service charge for the transportation of a handgun. Rifles are excluded. FishingWhat kind of saltwater fishing and facilities does South Africa have to offer? There are a number of different saltwater fishing opportunities available, from saltwater fly-fishing, rock and surf, as well as deep-sea game fishing charters. I am particularly interested in game fishing and would like to know what type of fish may be caught and when is the best season? Species Information What kind of boat and equipment is supplied? The days fishing will include all tackle, fuel bait, food and refreshments. We operate with a fully rigged boat. This may not be a large as some of the boats, the reason for this being that we launch from through the surf. How much will a days fishing cost? Bill, game and shark fishing charters costs include charter of the boat, rods, equipment and crew. Broadbill Swordfish fishing takes place at night and you will spend the whole night out at sea. Prices are available on request. Can one also Scuba Dive at Sodwana Bay? This is the county's premier scuba diving destination. Charters and all equipment are available from the dive operators. You must have proof that you are a qualified diver. All equipment can be hired. Do you have any Trout fishing available at your camps? Yes. At the one lodge in the Eastern Cape and in the Newcastle area where up to 8 lb. Trout have been caught. Do you have any other fresh water fishing available? There are a number of other freshwater fish that may be caught, namely Barbel (a type of Catfish), Carp, Bass, Bream or Tilapia to mention but a few. Fishing for Yellowfish with light tackle can also be great fun. What is a Tiger fish? This must be one of Africa's most exciting and challenging fish to catch. Also known as a "River Dog," this is a tremendous fighting fish. You will only be appreciated the skill and sport involved once you have managed to land one of these fish. Can you arrange a Tiger fishing trip and what do I require? Boats and all tackle can be hired. Each boat has a skipper who is familiar with the fishing conditions and is also a professional guide. Live bait, food and refreshments are included with the day's charter. What are the costs involved? Besides the normal daily rates, the charter of a boat, tackle, skipper and live bait will be charged as extras. Prices are available on request. Game RanchesIs all hunting in South Africa done on privately owned land game ranches with fences around the ranch? No. Hunting is also available on both privately owned game ranches as well as controlled hunting areas on state land. The majority of hunting, however, takes place on privately owned game ranches. These vary in size from approximately 4000 acres (1666 ha) to 150 000 acres (62 500 ha). The animals range free within the game ranch and "fair chase" hunting is not only possible, but is promoted. We offer hunting on state land, private ranches and on open cattle ranches that are not high fenced. Hunt DurationWhat is the shortest duration safari that ZAS offers? This is the 3-day Nyala Safari or a minimum 3-day tailor made safari. We will always consider a shorter safari if it is financially viable and the client must realise that the longer you give yourself to hunt, the more likely the chances are of shooting a decent trophy. How many days are required to be booked to hunt any of the "Big 5". It varies from concession to concession. The following will serve as a guideline: Hunt LocationCan you give me a brief description of the various hunting areas? I primarily hunt in five regions of the country as I have found that this gives me enough diversity to be able to hunt all the species available in the country. A brief summary of each region will give you a basic idea of what to expect. Eastern Cape Base: Grahamstown / Bedford / Takastad/Alexandria/Port Alfred - This area offers the richest variety of game in South Africa. This area also offers some of the country's finest bird shooting. Nearest Airport: Port Elizabeth - Approximately 2 hours drive from the hunting areas. Accommodation: Traditional farmhouses, game lodges and hunting camps. Temperature: The winter nights can be very cold (25 - 45 F / -4 - 7 C) with snow and frost. Hunting in the mountains during the day can be exceptionally cold (40 - 65 F / 5 - 18 C) and windy. Health: Malaria free. Activities/Tours: Sightseeing tours to the Garden Route and the Addo Elephant National Park. Horse riding and fishing. Recommended hunting season: March to December. Hoedspruit - Limpopo Province Base: Hoedspruit - Known as the Lowveld, this region is the original "Big 5" hunting area of South Africa. Nearest Airport: Hoedspruit - Approximately 20 minutes drive from the camp. Accommodation:Thatched safari camp. Temperature: Cold nights, with temperatures reaching (40 - 50 F / 5 - 10 C) in the early morning. The days can get warm (65 - 85 F / 18 - 30 C). Health: Low risk malaria area. Activities/Tours: Game viewing in the nearby Kruger National Park. You can also visit the Cheetah Breeding Centre and Animal Rehabilitation Centre. Horse riding, rafting, boat trips and game viewing. Recommended hunting season: June to September KwaZulu-Natal Base: Dundee/Newcastle - These new hunting areas are producing some of the country's best trophies. The new South African record Kudu was taken in this region. Nearest airport: Johannesburg - Approximately 3 hours drive from the hunting camps. Accommodation: Refurbished ranch style homesteads, guesthouses and hunting camps. Temperature: The winter nights can be cold (32 - 45 F / 0 - 7 C) when staying in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains but much warmer (45 - 55 F / 7 - 12C) when hunting in the Dundee area. Day temperatures range from cool to warm (55 - 80 F/12- 27 C). Occasional frost and even snowfalls may occur. Health: Malaria free. Activities/Tours: Shopping and sightseeing tours along the Midlands Meander and Drakensberg Mountain Meander, Anglo/Boer and Anglo/Zulu Battlefield tours. Horse riding and game viewing at a "Big 5" game reserve. Recommended hunting season: March to October. Limpopo Province (Northern Province) Base: Vaalwater - This is the heart of the country's game ranching industry. Nearest Airport: Johannesburg - Approximately 2 hours drive from the lodge. Accommodation:Thatched hunting lodge. Temperature: Cold nights (40 - 55 F / 5 - 12 C) with frost in the early morning. The days can get warm (55 - 75 F / 12 - 24 C) with little chance of rain. Health: Malaria free. Activities/Tours: Sun City and the Lost City, the country's premier resort and casino. Curio and jewellery shopping. Horse riding and game viewing. Recommended hunting season: April to October. Northern Cape Base: Kimberley - Offers some of the country's finest desert hunting Nearest Airport: Kimberley - Approximately 1 hours drive from the lodge. Accommodation:Guests stay in a comfortable game lodge. Temperature: Cold nights (23 - 47 F / -50 - 8 C). The days can get warm (55 - 75 F / 12 - 24 C). Typical desert conditions prevail, warm days and cold nights. Health: Malaria free. Activities/Tours: The "Big Hole" and reconstructed diamond mining town and museum. Other places of interest are the natural history museum and rock art paintings dating back many years. Game viewing. Recommended hunting season: March to November. Zululand Base: Pongola- Our hunting concessions are nestled between four National Parks. This region has consistently produced the world's biggest Nyala trophies. Nearest airport: Johannesburg- Approximately 4 hours drive. Accommodation: Thatch and natural stone game lodge. Temperature: The winter nights are cool (45 - 60 F / 7 - 15 C) and the days are usually lovely and warm (65 - 80 F / 18 - 27 C). The odd cold front at this time of the year can cause light rain and windy conditions. Health: Now malaria free area. Activities/Tours: Game viewing in open vehicles for the "Big Five" Hluhluwe / Umfolozi National Park, Zulu cultural tours and scenic boat rides. Deep sea fishing in the Indian Ocean, Tiger Fishing, Curio shopping, Tiger fishing and horse riding. Recommended hunting season: April to October. InsuranceDo you have any form of public liability and insurance cover? Yes. I am covered for the following:
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