Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Cape Buffalo Hunt South Africa - Willie Vermaak - Feather, Fur and Scales Safaris


Zambia is without a doubt the best country for Buffalo hunts - if you compare price, quality and success rates the Luangwa Valley is Africa's Buffalo capital!
Our hunts are all inclusive from start to finish and leave out any hidden fees or extra's - the price you see is the price you pay for a full Cape Buffalo Safari in Zambia's Luangwa Valley.

All concessions we offer are prime hunting blocks which we have personally hunted over the last 12 years with outstanding success and great trophies.

Safari Guides - Trophy Hunts - Adventures - Tours
J. Scott / Safari & Tour Coordinator
USA
Office: (855) 473-2875
Email: gpadventures@gmail.com 


African Feather, Fur & Scale Safaris cc
Willie Vermaak / Hunting Outfitter, Professional Hunter & THETA National Tourist Guide
Tel/Fax - Landline: +27(0)57 357 4656
Mobile: +27(0)73 162 8657
E-mail: bigfivehunting@gmail.com

Friday, February 11, 2011

Tips For Taking Photos On Safari in Africa

Wondering what camera to bring with you on safari in Africa? There's nothing more annoying than returning from your safari with hundreds of photos of barely distinguishable blobs of gray and brown, surrounded by grass, shrubs and trees. You will bore your friends and family, you may even bore yourself when you look through them years later. The key to shooting wildlife (with a camera of course) is to understand that they wear camouflage and move around a lot. The lighting is often bright and the roads are bumpy. If you want your safari photos to look good and reflect what you are actually seeing, follow these tips: Tips for Taking a Good Wildlife Photo on Safari
  • Camera - Bringing the right camera is of course the most important thing. A compact digital camera with a good image stabilized zoom is great for taking decent pictures quickly. Since you are usually taking shots from a vehicle and can't always get closer to the animals, a good zoom is more essential than a good camera with a lousy zoom. For better quality, it's good to go to with a Digital SLR.
  • Beanbag - A beanbag or bag of rice is the perfect thing to rest your camera on when in a safari vehicle. The more you zoom, the more sensitive your camera is to slight shakes and bumps so it pays to keep it steady.
  • Focus - Be patient and wait for the animal to move into more open terrain or do something interesting like yawn. Focus on the eyes of the animal you are taking a picture of. If you really know what you are doing, you can also make sure your aperture opening is on the highest setting, so the background is blurred, and the animal is sharp.
  • Practice - Visit your local zoo, or practice using your camera on animals in your garden or park before you go on safari. Often people buy new equipment for their African safari, so it's important to get to know it before you go.
  • Extra batteries and chargers - Don't run out of batteries halfway through a game drive! Make sure you know how long it takes to recharge and bring the right plugs for your adapters.
  • Flip camera - I brought a Flip with me to Tanzania and Rwanda. It was perfect. Small, easy to use and great to record the sounds and sights of markets, gorillas and any animal close to our safari vehicle. The zoom is not very good at all, so don't expect much from anything beyond 50 feet or so.
The best camera and all the patience in the world won't help you if you are stuck in a vehicle with too many people and cannot get a clear shot. Make sure you book a safari that takes this into consideration as well as making sure you get a good guide to actually track and find the wildlife.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Historic Elephant Announcement by Zambian Government at 2011 Safari Club International Convention

Washington, DC – Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) is pleased to announce that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will allow the import of 20 elephant hunting trophies annually from Zambia starting this 2011 hunting season. This historic announcement was made at the 2011 SCI Annual Hunters’ Convention in Reno, Nevada.
“After years of collaboration, the FWS has made the determination that sustainable hunting of elephants will contribute to the enhancement of the survival of elephants in Zambia,” said SCI Foundation President Joseph Hosmer. “As a form of sustainable-use, hunting is a key component of wildlife conservation and management worldwide. The SCI Foundation is very proud to be part of the announcement.”
A formal exchange between the FWS and the Zambian government was made on Thursday, Jan. 27 in conjunction with the SCI Foundation Department of Science-based Conservation and Research. The finding of enhancement by the FWS is a conclusion reached after many years of information sharing, including government to government meetings facilitated at the SCI Convention and the African Wildlife Consultative Forum (AWCF).
Underwritten by the SCI Foundation, the AWCF convenes African governments, world renowned wildlife biologists, professional hunter associations and leading conservation NGOs to share information and discuss current wildlife management issues.
The SCI Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization that funds and manages worldwide programs dedicated to sustainable science-based wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian services, including such programs as Sportsmen Against Hunger, Sensory Safari, Safari Care, Disabled Hunter, the American Wilderness Leadership School, Becoming an Outdoors Woman & More and Youth Education Seminars (YES) Outdoors. Visit http://www.safariguides.net/  for more.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

African Safari - 2011 Pricelist

Safari Guides - Trophy Hunts - Adventures -Tours. There is nothing in the world better than going on safari in the open lands of Africa.

SOUTH AFRICA HUNT PACKAGES – 2011

Game offered in these Hunting Packages is for plains game antelope in the Free State and KwaZulu Natal provinces of South Africa, providing excellent hunt holidays.
Hunts conducted by African hunting guides, legally licensed and accredited with PHASA.
Prices quoted for 1 Professional Hunter (PH) guiding 1 hunter (1x1), OR, 1 Professional Hunter (PH) guiding 2 hunters (2x1).

SOUTH AFRICA
PACKAGE 1
Plains game package, hunt antelope, 7 hunting days/8 nights.
US $ 4 950 – 2x1
US $ 5 250 – 1x1,
Location: Northwestern Freestate province, in district of Hoopstad town, +- 5-and a half hours drive from Johannesburg, Oliver Tambo International airport, alternatively 2 hours drive from Bloemfontein airport. 2 000ha (4 900acres) Northern Cape type bushveld terrain, large camelthorn trees, shrubs and grass savannah. Similar to 3* accommodation with en-suite facilities.

1 Black wildebeest
1 Blesbok (common)
1 Springbok (common).
1 Warthog
1 Steenbuck OR 1 Duiker

Other game species like Kudu, Gemsbok (Oryx),Red Hartebeest, Nyala, Tsessebe, Zebra, Ostrich, Blesbuck (white), Impala, Eland, Nyala, Sable , White rhino, Cape Buffalo on property. Other species such as Springbuck (white) and (black) available about 1-and a half hours drive away.

Non hunting observer/companion – US $ 200 per person, per day.

PACKAGE 2
Hunt plains game antelope + game bird shooting, 7 hunting days/8 nights, excl. shotgun ammo.
US $ 3 200 – 2x1
US $ 3 600 – 1x1.
This combination package is ideal for a group of 4 hunters/guns
Location: Bird hunts in northern and central parts of Freestate province over cultivated farmland where grains (sunflower, corn, alfalfa and wheat) are grown.
Location: Hunting in northwestern Freestate province, in district of Hoopstad town, +- 5-and a half hours drive from Johannesburg, Oliver Tambo International airport, alternatively 2 hours drive from Bloemfontein airport. 2 000ha (4 900acres) Northern Cape type bushveld terrain, large camelthorn trees, shrubs and grass savannah. 3* Accomodation with en-suite facilities.

3 Day bird shoots + 4 days hunting plains game. Bird hunts season is from 1 May – through to end August.
1 Day pigeon shooting.
1 Day Upland birds, Guinea fowl/Francolin
1 Day Waterfowl
Remaining 4 days hunting of:
1 Blesbok (common).
1 Impala per hunter.
1 Springbok (common) per hunter.

Non hunting observer/companion – US $ 200 per person, per day.


PACKAGE 3
Plains game antelope package, hunt antelope, 10 hunting days/11 nights.
US $ 4 650 – 2x1.
US $ 4 950 – 1x1.
Good Oryx or Gemsbuck hunting. Location: Northwestern Freestate provinces, in district of Hoopstad town, +-5-and a half hours drive from Johannesburg, Oliver Tambo International airport or alternatively 2 hours from Bloemfontein airport. 2 000ha (4 900acres) Northern Cape type bushveld terrain, large camelthorn trees, shrubs and grass savannah. Similar to 3* accommodation with en-suite facilities.

1 Gemsbok OR 1 Red Hartebeest.
1 Blesbok (common).
1 Impala per hunter.
1 Springbok (common) per hunter.
1 Warthog per hunter OR 1 Duiker OR 1 Steenbuck per hunter.
Other game species like Kudu, Gemsbok (Oryx),Red Hartebeest, Nyala, Tsessebe, Zebra, Ostrich, Blesbuck (white), Impala, Eland, Nyala, Sable , White rhino, Cape Buffalo on property. Other species such as Springbuck (white) and (black) available about 1-and a half hours drive away.

Non hunting observer/companion – US $ 200 per person, per day.

PACKAGE 4
Plains game antelope package, hunt antelope, 7 hunting days/8 nights.
US $ 7 950 – 2x1.
US $ 7 550 – 1x1.
Location: Northern KwaZulu Natal province, 30 000ha ( 74 250 acres), hunting 7 000ha (17 325 acres) of northern section, next to Lake Jozini 12 000ha (29 700 acres) of lake.+- 5 hours drive from Johannesburg Oliver Tambo International airport or 2 hours drive away from coastal town of Richards bay airport. Densely grown, steep hills, valleys, creeks and some open plains. Large trees, thorn shrubs and grass terrain. Typical “bushveld”. Accommodation in bush lodge. En-suite rooms.

1 Nyala bull or 1 Kudu bull
1 Blue wildebeest bull
1 Impala
1 Mountain reedbuck
1 Warthog

I x Afternoon Sunset “booze –cruise” boat ride on Lake Jozini.

Other game species like Cape Buffalo, Hippo, White rhino, Crocs, Kudu, Waterbuck, Nyala, Zebra, Giraffe, Mountain Reedbuck, Ostrich, Red Duiker and Bushpig on property.

Non-hunting observer US $ 200 per person per day, excl. additional activities such as boat rides, game drives, white rhino tracking.

NAMIBIA HUNT PACKAGE - 2011
PACKAGE NAM

Plains game antelope package, hunt antelope, 8 hunting days/9 nights.
US $ 7 150 – 2x1.
US $ 7 480 – 1x1.
Good area for Oryx hunting as well as zebra hunts for Hartmann zebra. Damara Dik-dik also available in this area, for the serious trophy collector. Namibia also is of course the single best country in the world today for cheetah hunts. Location: North-western Namibia, south of Etosha Park, about 30km south-east of town of Kamanjab. 11 000ha (27 225) open (not game fenced) area, although cattle fences are in place. Beautiful rock outcrops with camelthorn trees, grass plains. Ideal hunting country. Non-luxurious, comfortable accommodation with separate bathroom/toilet to be shared.

1 Kudu bull (southern/greater) or 1 Hartmann’s zebra
1 Gemsbok/Oryx (southern) or 1 Red hartebeest
1 Springbuck (common)
1 Warthog
1 Steenbuck OR Duiker (common)

Non hunting observer/companion – US $ 200 per person, per day.

COMBINATION PACKAGES & ADD ONS
In combination with the above packages, other activities are on offer as add on to give a superb, all encountering African experience offering diverse, truly customized itineraries. Contact us for further information.

Bird Hunts in South Africa:
Unlimited Dove and Pigeon shooting from mid February till mid June, average 650 shots per gun per day.
Waterfowl - species (ducks and geese, 4 species) bag limit 10 birds per gun per day.
Upland terrestrial bird species. Guinea fowl and francolin. (3x francolin species over dogs), bag limit 10 birds per gun per day.

We also are a registered tour company with accredited (THETA), licensed, and registered provincial and national Tourist Guides that can guide you on wildlife photographic and cultural sightseeing safari tours. Add on days for photographic trips to nearby provincial parks such as Sandveld Freestate Provincial Park and National Parks (SANParks) like Golden Gate and Mokala in the Free State and Northern Cape. When in KwaZulu Natal parks like Hluhluwe/Umfolozi and Itala can be visited as add on. Apart from parks nearby the Hunting Package areas, other SANParks like Kruger National, Addo and Kgalakgadi Transfrontier can also be catered for. When in Namibia, Etosha is a popular ad on sightseeing trip. Cultural tours, for example the Anglo Boer War Women’s museum in Bloemfontein, the diamond history of Kimberley and its “Big Hole” and other places of cultural/historical significance. See price list.

Price excludes:
- international airfare, domestic flights and air charters
- any alcohol
- rental of rifles (available if needed, enquire about calibers) and ammunition
- hotel accommodations prior to and after hunt
- any add on like for ex. sightseeing or trips away from hunting property
- single supplement (non sharing) accommodation
- use of Internet/Satellite phones
- airport pick up and return in Namibia
- CITES permits, where applicable
Price includes:
- guidance by legally licensed and (PHASA) registered Professional Hunter (PH) in South Africa and (NAPHA) in case of Namibia
- (THETA) qualified tourist guides when on photographic safari
- necessary hunting licenses in South Africa, Mozambique and Namibia
- daily meals
- bottled mineral water and soft drinks
- meet and pick up collection and return to airport by road (This service,”-airport pick up and return”-ONLY applicable to hunt packages in South Africa. Namibia is excluded from this)
- accommodations
- vehicle and necessary fuel
- camp personnel
- daily laundry of clothes
- field preparation of animals and delivery of trophies to a local taxidermist –
- all the compulsory governmental Value Added Taxes (VAT) as applicable in the different countries.


Hunting Safaris Include
Hunting Plains Game-Antelope
Hunting Plains Game-Non Antelope
Hunting Big Game - Dangerous Game
Hunting Exotic Game
Additional Information
Game Hunting Methods
Hunting Locations For Hunting Safaris
Hunting Map - African Hunting Safaris
Accommodation & Facilities For Hunting Safaris
When is best time to hunt?
Safari Trophy Hunting Packages & Pricing

Reservations can be made by calling J. Scott To make reservations or if you have questions, please call (855) 473-2875.


You will often have exclusive use of the lodges that we stay at.

Thank you for visiting Safari Guides - Trophy Hunts - Adventures & Tours . We hope that you will fulfill your dream for the safari and adventure of a lifetime by booking with us. We look forward to hosting you on your ultimate Safari, Trophy Hunt, Adventure & Tour!