Are these outfitter issues unusual?

So who was the outfitter? I ask because I have booked for 2013 and hope that it is not who I booked with. You can PM me if you do not want it public. I am very concerned as I will only be able to go once due to very limited retirement income. I am cashing in my 401K to do this and want a positive expierence before, during and after for my daughter and myself.

Wow, thanks for the update. I hope you get you animals.

It Really Baffles me that outfitters can be sooo slack and unreliable, esp in such a competative market, had he just looked after your needs as he should have done,then im willing to bet you would be hunting with him this season and many seasons hereafter.It really boggles me.
well im glad that you eventually have your trophies (some of them) and i truely hope that when you look at them hanging on your wall you remember them for the great experience you had in HUNTING them and not the bitter after tast that the outfitter left in your mouths, the animals deserve that.

Im glad to hear you have re-booked in Africa.
have a safe exciting and adventure filled time

Im glad your 1st batch has made it. Hang in there #2 may be along soon as well, maybe you have made enough noise.

I too would like the outfitters name. We have heard the buyer beware story, but do not know who to beware of. At this point to avoid this outfit I have to rule out every outfit in Zim just to be sure.

Save us from your fate and let us know. We will then have to make up our own minds if it is worth it.

Wow it seems whenever I hear about troubles with a safari Zim seems to be there in some form or another. My outfitter in Namibia said he switched to another dip and ship company because he received complaints about damaged trophies with the old company. We went in late May and the shipping company has contacted me that they are ready to ship. We did have the taxidermist tan the backskins. I feel this is pretty quick. I did have alittle communication problem with my outfitter but it was mostly because my e-mail address confused him. He thought some of the letters were numbers. I did notice that my taxidermist here in Kansas was cheaper then the one in Namibia for shoulder mounts and about the same price for tanning the backskins but I may also save on the backskins because they should weigh less.

I just wanted to give an update to our trip to Zim last year since we've had a lot of people ask about it. It seems that we won't be seeing the trophies from that hunt (I had an elephant). It seems the concession owners didn't deposit the money in the bank but instead used it themselves. We assumed that our outfitter would get the required paperwork before he left the country (or at the time he gave them the money for that matter). We assumed wrong. Our outfitter ceased any communication with us after we returned home. Officials are "looking into it" but we aren't holding our breath.

Originally Posted by JamieD

I just wanted to give an update to our trip to Zim last year since we've had a lot of people ask about it. It seems that we won't be seeing the trophies from that hunt (I had an elephant). It seems the concession owners didn't deposit the money in the bank but instead used it themselves. We assumed that our outfitter would get the required paperwork before he left the country (or at the time he gave them the money for that matter). We assumed wrong. Our outfitter ceased any communication with us after we returned home. Officials are "looking into it" but we aren't holding our breath.

This is the second outfitter that is providing this kind of service to you.
Are you the unluckiest guy in the world or what?

That is terrible.

Actually it was the same outfitter as the first year that's why we finally let him go and didn't use him on our trip this year!

Originally Posted by JamieD

I just wanted to give an update to our trip to Zim last year since we've had a lot of people ask about it. It seems that we won't be seeing the trophies from that hunt (I had an elephant). It seems the concession owners didn't deposit the money in the bank but instead used it themselves. We assumed that our outfitter would get the required paperwork before he left the country (or at the time he gave them the money for that matter). We assumed wrong. Our outfitter ceased any communication with us after we returned home. Officials are "looking into it" but we aren't holding our breath.

JamieD Really sorry to hear such bad news hope you was able to get lots of pics for the memories.

Originally Posted by JamieD

Actually it was the same outfitter as the first year that's why we finally let him go and didn't use him on our trip this year!

Glad I just made a mistake on the details.

Very sad news for you...

Hi VonJager,

Please do not paint us all with the same brush. Firstly you must realize that the original outfitter who booked this hunt is not a Zim guy. And by the sounds of it he is from South Africa and booked with someone in Zim . At the end of the day it would be interesting to know who the S.A outfitter is as well as who he booked with in Zim and if the outfit in Zim is a member of ZPHGA .

These kind of things happen not just in Africa either, there is no need to just say avoid all of Zim since not all of Zim is as what you may percieve and niether is Namibia or South Africa or any other African country for that matter. There are still very good reputable outfits in all these country's that do a great service to the hunting faternity.

Originally Posted by NYAMAZANA SAFARIS

These kind of things happen not just in Africa either, there is no need to just say avoid all of Zim since not all of Zim is as what you may percieve and niether is Namibia or South Africa or any other African country for that matter. There are still very good reputable outfits in all these country's that do a great service to the hunting faternity.

Well put. I agree 100%.

Originally Posted by NYAMAZANA SAFARIS

............... At the end of the day it would be interesting to know who the S.A outfitter is as well as who he booked with in Zim and if the outfit in Zim is a member of ZPHGA .
...........

Wayne it would be interesting to see but the likelihood of the outfitter being in any proximity to the ZPHGA is not very high.

Originally Posted by NYAMAZANA SAFARIS

There are still very good reputable outfits in ........that do a great service to the hunting faternity.

The good ones are there you just have to work harder to find them amongst the "new operators" and new "partners".