Stuck with SA legislation: Tourism and Environmental affairs

Hey hunters!

I am trying to open up a hunting agency in RSA. It has come to my attention that this may not be the most viable business model for a South African person, owing to certain laws about the use of hunting agents in RSA.

I have recently spoken very briefly to an Outfitter who hi-lighted this fact. And I admit that in this case; having the knowledge of the legal framework and viability of this type of company was not on top of the list when it most certainly should have been , and I went with what I have been hearing and assuming...

Anyway, I am now on a desperate plight to gain information about the legal framework and viability of a huntig agency in RSA. I am trying to fill in the gaps, in a LEGAL and professional manner.
I will employ free-lance outfitters and stand on the proverbial side-line and watch as they do alll the necessary paperwork and anything else required to operate an outfit and ultimately the company will be an outfit and not an agency, but I will see what new info I can gather. I am NOT an Outfitter or a PH, and it seems that I will have to become one, which was my end-goal anyway, but rather now it is at the forefront of my business thinking mind along with working to get registered as a LEGAL tour operator in the meantime.

I am struggling to get the SA Tourism bodies and boards and sects to respond to specific questions.They either say something like' "Here are a list of colleges you can go to to become a tour guide, good luck" end of message! But i ask them things like "What is the legal framework for opening a hunting agency in RSA as a 'non-oufitter and hunting agent? Is this a viable business model? What rules and regulations do I have access to in RSA as a a hunting agent that agents in other countries have access to? ..." The list goes on and I ask specific and detailed questions about specific things....then they say "go here, goodbye and good luck" , and then when i get "there" they say "here are a list of colleges...." I am not trying to be a site guide or tour guide though i see the rellevance and importance of at least doing that, my problem is that the boards dont seem to want to put any effort into answering my questions or at least directing me to the "next best bet".

Does anybody have information for me about:

-what are the bodies/boards that deal with ideas such as HUNTING agents
-who are they
-what must I study (even though I have had it up to here with studying, I will do whatever is required))
-what is the legal framework for opening and operating a HUNTING agency as a 'non-outfitter' or hunting agent in RSA
-is this legal
-what can I do to make it legal ie employ my own outfitter

I know the value and importance of Outfitters and PH's thats why I will never question their imporatnce inany hunting safari. There are schools that are founded merely on professional hunting...so I am saying, I know, as a hunter of 20years myself, that I cannot do what an Outfitter does on any level without the relevant schooloing and minimum years of experience, so I need an Outfitter! Free-lance or permanent. And only after I have found out what I need to do and then do it to make my company legal and viable will I call on Outfitters who do free-lance work or want permanent employment. I will only do what I can from my side as far as what i can legally do and then the Outfitter must step in and do his part. As much as I love hunting I will not try and side-wind my way into this industry, and if it takes me years and years to do it legally then I will work for longer than that to do it legally.

Thanks

Rohan, this legislation should help :
Limpopo Environmental Management Act (Act No 7 of 2003)
http://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/saf93035.pdf


The horses mouth:
Welcome to Economic Development, Enviroment and Tourism


Have a read and then track down all the other provinces information.
The National Legislation too.

In Limpopo you must have an Outfitters license before you can even advertise any hunt to "clients".
(Anyone, please correct me if my memory has failed me already.)

Thanks,

Yes, I believe in all states in SA one must be an Outfitter to even advertise the hunts. The links you gave me are very helpful and I gave the rellevant parts a read through. I will sit down and study this whole section for the Limpopo province as I wish to start there.

Whether or not the authorities will even blink in my direction when I give them my proposal for a business is another story.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by BRICKBURN

Rohan, this legislation should help :
Limpopo Environmental Management Act (Act No 7 of 2003)
http://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/saf93035.pdf


The horses mouth:
Welcome to Economic Development, Enviroment and Tourism


Have a read and then track down all the other provinces information.
The National Legislation too.

In Limpopo you must have an Outfitters license before you can even advertise any hunt to "clients".
(Anyone, please correct me if my memory has failed me already.)

Rohan
Keep up the good work, when I hunted in South Africa last year I to thought I would like to get into this line of work but after tracking your thread I think I'll just stick to hunting the Outfits already there. Good luck with your agency in RSA.

Thanks, I need it. You should consider running your own agency from where you live, it is legal for agents to represent Outfitters from SA if they (the agents) are not based in SA as far as I know(still finding out if it is legal in SA), but as you know you wouldnt be doing the hunting work etc just advertising, consultation, and booking, and maybe a transport vessel too. Its still a great way to meet other hunters and clients from all over the world and to be involved in the industry all the time. For me always talking about it and organising things around it is very satisfying, even when I dont pull the trigger im happy to accompany people or just be in communication about their hunts. However, if you have a good job that can support your own private hunting trips then stick to that. If I could, I would hunt in a private capacity as a client and then aplly for a PH course when my rifles get cleared, do the mandatory work as PH and then apply for an Outfitters license. But I cannot do that, I must start something now, or finish an honours then masters in psychology...and im so not interested in that anymore and neither will that job allow me to hunt with relative ease.

Best regards

Originally Posted by Bobpuckett

Rohan
Keep up the good work, when I hunted in South Africa last year I to thought I would like to get into this line of work but after tracking your thread I think I'll just stick to hunting the Outfits already there. Good luck with your agency in RSA.

Rohan,
To gain your Outfitter's Licence , you will have to put the time in as a PH. Three years, as a matter of fact. After guiding for 3 years, you will have to follow certain steps through your province's nature conservation in order to gain your outfitter's licence, like show them your facilitites and that you will be able to provide a good service in the tourism and hunting industry.
The three years of guiding will give you good insight into the professional hunting industry and what is needed from your side to ensure your clients leave happy.

Best Regards
Marius Goosen