Beware of Nhenda Safari, The Hunt from Hell

BEWARE of Nhenda Safari (The Hunt from HELL)

My wife and I hunted with Nhenda Safari in October 2011. This was my 7th trip to Africa and my first to Mozambique. The hunt began with great expectations. However, so many things happened, it's hard to explain all in a short space. The first thing that occurred was the flight into Maputo. I made reservations with South African Air and two week before our trip I was informed that we were to fly into Tete. The original tickets were non refundable so I ate the cost of the two tickets, which were almost $5,000.00. We rebooked with South African Air and were charged the same amount. This error cost me $5,000.00 and should have rung a bell. I have emails to prove this was Nhenda Safari's error. However, Nhenda offered nothing in return for THEIR error.
When we initially spoke in February 2011, I was informed that nothing under 15 Ft.was taken. Bernard also gave me a spiel about the huge Hippo's that were taken from their area, and said a16 foot Croc had just been taken.
I have hunted Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and all over the USA including Alaska. Never have I seen such UNETHICAL ACTS as with this Safari Camp. I can certainly understand why they are not members of SCI or DSC.
I was encouraged to shoot a very young female Leopard without a CITIES permit. I was told that I could wait until I applied for a CITIES next year.
The rave reviews that you read are from one person, and we were told that he doesn't pay anything to hunt, and assume in exchange would write positive reviews for Nhenda Safaris.
I was even told I could hunt Lion. Since I had two days left, I agreed to do this.
However, I failed to ask at what price, which was a HUGE mistake on my part. We hunted two nights for two hours per night after dark with a light over bait. No Male Lions and was charged $1,000.00 per night for a total of $2,000.00.
The hunted ended with me taking a Cow Hippo and a 12.5 ft Croc. I had strong instincts that I would never receive my trophies. So the stupid thing that I did was give them a tip.
Well I guess that didn't work either. It's been almost 10 months and I have no trophies.
I was informed by Mr. VanDyk as of 07/09/12 that he had no intention of helping get my trophies back from Africa.
It is my opinion that this is an extremely poorly run camp, with unethical owners, and anyone even considering going there needs to be warned about this place. As previously stated, I am an experienced hunter, and have never written a poor review of anywhere I have hunted, but this was such a horrible experience, I want to spare anyone else from wasting their time and money with these people. This experience has cost me time, money and aggravation!

If you looking for a place to hunt, where there are no rules and you have deep pockets and expect nothing in return, this hunt is for you. Take my advice, and stay away from Nhenda Safaris!

Sory to hear about your bad Safari. Nhenda Safaris has a couple good reviews on here as well so I wonder what went wrong this time?

Sad to hear,

Welcome to AH Russ.

I just sent an email to Nhenda inviting a response to this thread.
Also a PM.
Perhaps they will do something to resolve your concern.

Russ

Welcome to AH...

Your safari is a night - mare that no one would want....

I have no intentions of going to Mozambique...with the other issues that are being printed on other web locations.

From my research there are a few good operators in Mozambique however you have to do your research and followup.

Were your PH's from south Africa by chance.

Originally Posted by James.Grage

Russ

Welcome to AH...

Your safari is a night - mare that no one would want....

I have no intentions of going to Mozambique...with the other issues that are being printed on other web locations.

From my research there are a few good operators in Mozambique however you have to do your research and followup.

Were your PH's from south Africa by chance.

I dont blame you for being cautious, Mozambique has definitely been getting more than its share of bad hunt reports lately.

The people are fishing guides on the Cahorra Bassa not hunting guides. I just didn't do my home work as I usually do. I should have learned by now if the Safari Company isn,t a member of SCI or DSC be very cautious.

Originally Posted by russmith

The people are fishing guides on the Cahorra Bassa not hunting guides. I just didn't do my home work as I usually do. I should have learned by now if the Safari Company isn,t a member of SCI or DSC be very cautious.

There have been some shady dealers that were selling hunts and were SCI members too.
It does say everything about doing homework though.
Sad news one way or the other.

Originally Posted by russmith

The people are fishing guides on the Cahorra Bassa not hunting guides. I just didn't do my home work as I usually do. I should have learned by now if the Safari Company isn,t a member of SCI or DSC be very cautious.

Where did you come across this hunt if you dont mind me asking?

I am sorry to hear. Thank you for posting your hunt report russmith!

Welcome to the forum, Russ.

Sorry about the bad experience.

Originally Posted by BRICKBURN

Welcome to AH Russ.

I just sent an email to Nhenda inviting a response to this thread.
Also a PM.
Perhaps they will do something to resolve your concern.

I got a response from Bernhard.
I do not know all the details but it appears as though the trophies are in the care of Trophy Exports Mozambique.
I wish you Good luck and hope you get your trophies.

Trophy Exports Mozambique
Trophy Exports Mozambique
Leeann Tambling email: troexpt@mweb.co.zw

Denise Crichton
Spherical Freight Services
e-mail: info@sphericalfreight.co.za


Bernhard does not want to enter the debate as noted below. So I will just copy the response.

"Hi Wayne

I believe the post come from this Gentlemen

Please read on the bottom and make your own assumption

I do not want to get involved in a debate

Thanks for your e-mail

Best Regards
Bernhard"

"From: Bernhard [mailto:nhenda.safaris@gmail.com]
Sent: 09 July 2012 07:28 AM
To: 'Russ Smith'
Cc: 'Leeann Tambling'
Subject: RE: Fwd: RE: PAYMENT RECEIVED

Dear Mr Smith

As far as I am concern did Leeann answer all your e-mails

I can go to bed every night with peace of mind that I do not own people money......

Thank you we did enjoy the $1000.00 TIP that you paid me for "the Africa I've never experienced a hunt like this one and sure hope I never do again" hunt. I still do not understand that you and your lovely wife left camp all smiles. You paid me the Safaris owner a tip, the PH that you said was the worst ever a huge tip, you even tip the staff.........you left with the words: "I am coming back for my Lion" I must say I was shocked when I received your e-mail two months later telling me that you will not pay your account with all the excuses. As per your invitation we already made our plans with our kids to come and visit you in America and to visit Dollywood.

Russel I do not need your money that is why I sent your trophies without full payment. On the one side did I feel sorry for you......

You can not expect me to help you now after all the things you have said and until you paid my account, IN FACT I DO NOT WANT YOUR MONEY please do not contact me again and I will also not answer your e-mails so do not waist your time, your e-mail will be blocked as of today !

As long as you pay Leeann in time will you get your trophies !

Best Regards
Bernhard"

Not having been there I will make no comment on the hunt.

However it took 12 months to receive my trophies from Mozambique after my hunt with Mokore. They used Leeann and Denise also. I felt Trophy Exports and Spherical drug their feet some, however we (myself, Mokore, Leeann, and Denise) stayed in contact.

My advice would be to email Leeann and Denise for status updates. Things really move slow in Mozambique sometimes.

Brickburn,

Good post to help resolve the trophy issue.

Originally Posted by Diamondhitch

Sory to hear about your bad Safari. Nhenda Safaris has a couple good reviews on here as well so I wonder what went wrong this time?

The answer to your question about the couple of good reviews is that if you will notice the majority of good reviews are from one person, and I was told by Mr. VanDyk that he let this gentleman hunt for free in the camp. I would give good reviews for free hunting also!

Thanks. I have attempted to contact LeeAnn and Denise both, and have received NO replies, unless we go through Nhenda Safaris, and they have been of no help whatsoever. I can no longer contact Nhenda Safaris for assistance, as he has blocked me from his email contact. This has been his way of dealing with the situation from the beginning. After he got my money, he offered no assistance.

In writing this review, I hope to help others and prevent their frustration and stress in relating what I have gone through. It really is sad when you plan, pay for, and trust to have a good hunting experience, and unfortunately get hooked up with unscrupulous PHs. As I said, I am experienced and have traveled all over the world, and have never dealt with such dishonesty in the hunting realm,

I am not surprised that Mr. VanDyk does not wish to engage in a debate, when he knows that what he did in regards to my hunt was unethical and dishonest. He is right in that I was nice while there, tipped him and his staff, and was pleasant and agreeable, despite my misgivings, in the hopes that I would receive my trophies undamaged and in a timely manner. My misgivings began with the misinformation given me on the initial flight arrangements, then increased exponentially when I was asked if I wanted to shoot a leopard WITHOUT a CITIES permit. I was told by Mr. VanDyk that I could obtain the permit next year and the leopard would be shipped then. In all Mr. VanDyk's advertisements, he specifically says they do not shoot crocodiles under 15 feet. The one I was told to shoot was 12.5 feet long. I had two days left and was strongly encouraged by Mr. VanDyk to hunt lion. My mistake was in not asking the cost. We hunted two nights over bait with lights, two hours per night, and I was charged $2,000. The PH sent with me was inexperienced, and we saw no male lions. Mr. VanDyk is LYING. He has been paid in full. This is just another example of his deceitfulness. He will apparently say anything to make a person look bad who is simply telling the truth about a horrendous experience.

Thanks. I am only writing this in hopes that others will not experience what I did. Hunting Africa should be exciting and happy. All my other experiences have been so. Good luck!!

Thanks...my mistake was not researching this particular safari camp as I normally do. I am usually very meticulous in my research, but slacked on this one, and it cost me big time!

You are absolutely right. Research and reviews are the best policy. I am hoping to spare others my bad experience.