Personalized hunts

Well Ladies and Gents as some of you may know I'm planning my next trip to Africa next year and have been talking or emailing a lot of Outfitters to get Ideas on a hunt the animals on my list are Eland, Bushbuck, Caracal and Common Duiker the wife will of course be going along as an observer and will take a few animals as well. Here is what's on my mind and I would like getting your thoughts and reasons on it. A lot of the Outfitters that I've been in contact with do personalized hunts, which means for the most part you will have the hunting concession to yourself and who ever you bring with you. One of the things that I have really enjoyed is at the end of the day is when you're sitting in the lounge socializing and swapping hunting stories with other hunters from around the world. Now on a 10 or 12 day hunt and the only people that you are really going to socialize with it the owners and there staff that could get to be a little boring or is it. For those of you that have been on that kind of hunt and those of you that haven't I would like to hear what you think about it.

hi bob i have done 21 and 14 day hunts with just myself, a friend as observer and the ph, and never found it lacking in the entertainment factor sitting having a drink at the end of the day. on a 30 day hunt there were 2 of us hunting 2 observers and 2 ph`s, but there was still something new coming up even towards the end of that time. i have been on lots of other hunts i have booked for people with the same ratios,and it has never been a problem, so i wouldnt worry on 10 or 12 days, because as you know it seems to be over way too quickly anyway.

just seen your other post and i am sorry to hear the bad news about your sister in law. please pass on our condolences to the rest of your family. mike

Originally Posted by spike.t

hi bob i have done 21 and 14 day hunts with just myself, a friend as observer and the ph, and never found it lacking in the entertainment factor sitting having a drink at the end of the day. on a 30 day hunt there were 2 of us hunting 2 observers and 2 ph`s, but there was still something new coming up even towards the end of that time. i have been on lots of other hunts i have booked for people with the same ratios,and it has never been a problem, so i wouldnt worry on 10 or 12 days, because as you know it seems to be over way too quickly anyway.

just seen your other post and i am sorry to hear the bad news about your sister in law. please pass on our condolences to the rest of your family. mike

Thanks Spike I will pass it on.
and you are very right about it being over way to quick thats why every time I go back another couple of days are added on.

Hey Bob,
Why don't you just request whether you would like the camp for yourself, or if you would like to be in the company of other hunters. Surely the outfitters that you have spoken to must be able to oblige.

Take Care,
Marius

Bob

Your setting is all coming down to weather you and your PH are getting along...

Early in the Safari you have a lot of chatter and if you do not see eye to eye as the safari goes along you will find little to talk about...so other PH's and hunters are a plus at that time...

Early in the process one on one chat with your PH forms a bond and can be a great experience if you are getting along. On the other hand if you are not getting along and after 3 days you are ready to go and never come back...

As mentioned above set your expectations early with your PH...

That is interesting...i've never really looked at it that way. I have always hunted with my brother or alone. The last three safaris have just been me and the PH in camp. I can see the value of having others in camp though. For entertainment, hunting reports from the field daily, etc. I can tell you that going alone is still very enjoyable.

Originally Posted by James.Grage

Bob

Your setting is all coming down to weather you and your PH are getting along...

Early in the Safari you have a lot of chatter and if you do not see eye to eye as the safari goes along you will find little to talk about...so other PH's and hunters are a plus at that time...

Early in the process one on one chat with your PH forms a bond and can be a great experience if you are getting along. On the other hand if you are not getting along and after 3 days you are ready to go and never come back...

As mentioned above set your expectations early with your PH...

Thanks James some very good points. On my last 2 safaris I found that after spending 8-10 hours aday with your PH for two or three days you kind of run out of things to talk about even though My PH and I really get along good if you didn't take anything for the last day or so then it starts coming down to eating, drink a beer and we'll try again tomorrow helps to have other hunters an PH's in camp to hear what went right and what didn't.

I can also see where it would be nice if your the only hunter in camp no one driving through your area by accident like they did on my wifes Zebra stalk on our last hunt. Its just I've never tried a personalized hunt before and would like to hear the plus and minus of the deal.

Hello Gentlemen!
My wife and I have done 5 trips with one with just us in camp for 7 days then a German husband/wife for 3 days. Got along fine both ways. We did 10 days in SA just by ourselves and the outfitter/PH and family. Had a great time. In fact, I cooked American style hamburgers and french fries over an open fire in the boma for everyone (14 in total), just for fun, as they didn't know what that was and they were flabergasted that their client would want to do that. It had never happened before. Great time was had by all. We have done 3 trips with 2 to 4 other good friends and there was never a "dead" time during or after the hunt. Other PHs families came by for drinks or dinner, the PHs family was there, etc. It's always been fun no matter which way we have gone. It's all in how YOU approach the days and evenings. If you're there just to shoot animals then maybe you might have a problem but, if you're there to take in the entire experience- you'll find a way to have fun. We do, always.
We do however, make it a rule to talk with our PH long before the trip and booking to get a feeling of how we will get along. I always make friends attend DSC BEFORE they book so they can talk to the PHs and get comfortable before booking. Knowing you from here on the forum, I don't think you'll have any problems:-)

Originally Posted by Cliffy

Hello Gentlemen!
My wife and I have done 5 trips with one with just us in camp for 7 days then a German husband/wife for 3 days. Got along fine both ways. We did 10 days in SA just by ourselves and the outfitter/PH and family. Had a great time. In fact, I cooked American style hamburgers and french fries over an open fire in the boma for everyone (14 in total), just for fun, as they didn't know what that was and they were flabergasted that their client would want to do that. It had never happened before. Great time was had by all. We have done 3 trips with 2 to 4 other good friends and there was never a "dead" time during or after the hunt. Other PHs families came by for drinks or dinner, the PHs family was there, etc. It's always been fun no matter which way we have gone. It's all in how YOU approach the days and evenings. If you're there just to shoot animals then maybe you might have a problem but, if you're there to take in the entire experience- you'll find a way to have fun. We do, always.
We do however, make it a rule to talk with our PH long before the trip and booking to get a feeling of how we will get along. I always make friends attend DSC BEFORE they book so they can talk to the PHs and get comfortable before booking. Knowing you from here on the forum, I don't think you'll have any problems:-)

Thanks Cliffy fact of the matter is I'm a gabber jaws when it comes to talking about hunting and I love to listen to other hunters stories but I'm sure the Owner/PH will have a ton of them to share so now I guess I need to make up my mind as what theWife and I really want as the price difference for a personalized hunt vs a hunt in a camp shared with other hunters isn't enough to even worry about.

Cliffy talking about DSC are planning on being there this year if so we'll meet up and have a cold one.

On one hunt I was the only hunter, on another we were two, the other two, four hunters plus family.

I enjoyed every one of them.

Bob

Have your safari Filmed and that adds another person around the campfire...A great plus on some good takes and some not so good.

Check i to out..

I too love to jaw about hunting around the fire but I have been on 2 safaris as you mentioned. One with the wife and one by myself and thoroughly enjoyed both. There is something to be said about having the whole place to yourself.

Bob We'll be there for most of the event. We can set time when it gets closer Glad to meet you there.