How to become a PH in Africa?

Hi AH members! Would like to know how I can Become a Professional Hunter in Africa, take it up professionaly and make it a career. I would be very grateful for any advice.

All the best,

Monish

Hello,

I cant remember so far back when i got mine and im not sure how much the law has changed but what i can add is that it costs normally around 1000 $ to 1500 $ just for the first course which was 12 days or abit more then you do the practical and written exams. Also if im not mistaken foreigners can take PH courses in RSA ( on some kind of visa ) however they can not sit and write the exam or opperate in RSA ( so basiacally you will just have the knowledge in your head ).

Sorry but thats all i can remember , not sure if the laws have changed.

Regards Owen

Tough ask Monish... what is your background? Becoming a PH in Africa is not just a matter of coming over and making a career choice. There has to be foundations for becoming a Professional Hunter and it would be great to know more about what has evoked this desire before anyone can advise you and guide you onwards. Good luck!

Hi Ryan, thanx, for the advice, Hw r U? I have been a very keen outdoosman, had been in the company of Hunters right from my child hood, as my dad granddad all have hunted in India before the complete ban in 1980, as u know India has always been a place with amazing wildlife i have hunted in Nepal Tanzania , South Africa, Canada and Kenya .
Had been watching videos and movies on the hunting scenario from all across the globe am doing my doctorate on sporting firearms, and have been in arms business as a dealer since 7 years, but now I wish to take it up as a carrier , as u should do what u like the best and it shall be the best if you make it a profession.

Take care

Regards

monish

Hi ! Owen, Thanx for the response and the advice , I shall find about this as I am keen to do this rest of my life as it has been a passion with utmost respect to the wildlife

Thanks again

Monish

Well Monish, you are on the right track then... the rest is really up to you. If you are passionate about wildlife and the outdoors, the knowledge, technical skills and general habituation will come with exposure and experience. Did you have a particular country in mind? In Tanzania it can be fairly simple, or very bureaucratic, depending on the approach and the hurdles you come across. Nevertheless, I am willing to assist and would like to know more about you, so please email me. Cheers,

I have been a lot of times in SA - and do the hunts by myself.
I will not have any problems with guiding somebody.

But!
And it is a but with a big B!!!!

I have found out that you need to talk Afrikaans, know a lot of people, have a good knowledge about different things a client want to know about (history, shops etc.) - to be ready for a PH-job.

But maybe I`m wrong - as usual - according my wife

AND OF COURSE:::::

You have to KNOW farmers!

I beleive that many think that SA-hunts is done with a couple of years experience.

But they are wrong!!!!!

I have got a lot of offers in SA, and Zim and Moz - but I don`t accept the offers.

The offers "stinked".

And I will keep "my Johan" - as my outfitter/friend/and whom I trust!!!!!

Hi ! Sverre, Thanx buddy , yes I believe its tough to take it up lets see shall try to work matters out, have a deep keeness to get into it,

Best Wishes

Monish

Most african countries are very protectionist of their safari/hunting industries.

In SA you can do Pro Guides courses that'll have a dangerous animals / weapons element, but that does not make you a PH. You can also hunt on Private land at the owners behest, but that will not make you a PH.

The only way I know that you can become a PH, legally, when you are 16-18 to move to Africa and then become a citizen of your choice of country - then do a course if you wish but better is to strike up a relationship with a safari op/owner.

I was doing my Professional Learner Hunter/Guides in Zim (which includes a 2 year apprenticeship) but I was unable to write my learners exam because I held British Citizenship and not Zimbabwean. My colleagues (Doug, Bruce, Jim, Daryl) all wrote their exams and then worked as PHs or PGs in Zim until the farm invasions - then they bombshelled - some in the UK, some in SA, Oz and one even ended up in Alaska! Jim goes back to Zim every year to renew his PH licence but he is now working in the UK., anyway...

You'll work for a year or two doing every shit job around camp and chasing after clients 24/7. 26 days on - four days off and all for food and board and very little cash. Well that's how it went in the "good'ol days". What I'm saying is get your ass to africa, be prepared to work for nothing and somehow "organise" citizenship of your host country. SA is a bit Disney - rather go for Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe etc.

Welcome to AH Bundu , and many thanks for a sincere advice shall try and adhere to it


Thanks again

Monish

Hi Monish

From my experience:

South Africa: 12 day course gets you a licence for a certain province ( this does not mean that you may go and chase elephant although you are legally allowed to do so!!!
Botswana/Zambia/Angola/Tanzania/Mozambique/CAR/Cameroon/Uganda/Ethiopia: !You need a work and residence permit, a job offer from a reg company and you sit an exam. You pay a fee / year to retain your licence.
Zimbabwe: You need to be a citizen, then you complete a 2 year apprenticeship and write several written and a practical exam.

I may be wrong on some of the above...........

Martin
ZPHGA
SOAZ

Martin - thanks for the clarification. After my experience in Zim I didn't realise that most countries were so mickey mouse!

Thanks Martin, for the info and suggestion , I wish to take it up , working on it , lets see if I get a break through..

Monish

If you don't have residency in SA, you can attend the PH training course there but you are not allowed to sit the exams or conduct safaris because they now apply the aliens Act of 1937 or so. However, if you pick the right course, you will learn a great deal about the business.

It should be noted that (in SA) anyone from overseas who hunts as a PH without a PH licence and other paperwork, including permits from a licenced outfitter, or who hunts without a PH is breaking a whole bunch of laws and if caught everyone invollved could and probably would face jail time, big fines and confiscation of all equipment used during the hunt (including vehicles). The same penalties apply to everyone involved in the hunt, including the landowner who permitted the illegal hunt to take place on his land.

If a resident of SA attends the course and gets his PH licence, he still has to do an apprentiship and his licence will be for plains game only. If he wants to hunt dangerous game, he needs to get further logged experience as a #2 PH and when he has enough of that, he can apply to the game dept for a licence upgrade.

Hope that helps.

Now I'll give you the good news..... there are countries where it is possible for an overseas resident to become a PH and in fact, that's exactly what I did.

I'm currently working on a book about how to do this and feel free to PM or email me about it if you wish.

OK...now you've got our attention...

Steve , thanks a tonne for all the vital information, on the PH course and profession , Iam really very grate ful, yes it would certainly help.

Thanks again

Monish

Thanks Bundu , for all the info . yes I am gaining the know how from all the members.

Thanks a lot

Monish

Bundu,

If you've done some or all of the Zim learners course or some or all or an apprentiship, you will have a head start on many people.

If you are interested in the book, email me at shakari3@mweb.co.za and I'll be happy to let you know when it's available.