Hi,
Has anyone experienced a hunt with Wayne Jardine in Zimbabwe. ZIM Africa is owned by Rebecca Stein. These hunts are offered by Luxury Hunts.
I know the outfitter isn't registered with SOAZ (Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe) but from my understanding this is not mandatory to operate as a Hunting outfitter.
Thank you.
Excellent question, I am interested in what folks have to say. Been looking at booking a hunt through them as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by bmbclnts
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Safaris Operators Association of Zimbabwe (SOAZ)
Safaris Operators Association of Zimbabwe (SOAZ) is an organization with members that range from touring, photographic excursions to hunting safaris operators.
Safari operators in Zimbabwe are required to be registered and licenced by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority. Ask for your operator's number when booking your hunt and, if he does not have one, check his bona fides through SOAZ by emailing them at the following email address soaz@mweb.co.zw.
Operators must hold a lease or agreement on a suitable concession with an approved quota of animals. They are responsible for the official paperwork and permits connected to the hunt.
Bow and handgun hunting are permitted on an experimental basis, but require special permits. Black powder is legal provided the weapon complies with the requirements of the Third Schedule of the Firearms Act. This also applies to handguns.
Hunting operators are required by law to provide the services of a Zimbabwe Licenced Professional Hunter to accompany foreign hunters in Zimbabwe. Licensing is undertaken by the National Parks & Wildlife Authority. Professional Hunters write a Learner Examination, and are then apprenticed to a fully-licenced Professional Hunter for two years. During this time they must pass a shooting test set by the Zimbabwe Shooting Federation and obtain an Advanced First Aid Certificate.
They then attend a Proficiency Test in the field. Full Licence holders carry a plastic disc issued by the Parks Authority which shows their photograph, ID number and licence number. Learner Licence holders carry a paper licence with their details and a licence number.
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Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA)
A hunt must be organized and carried out by a safari operator that is registered and licensed with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA). Safari operator are obliged by law to employ a licensed professional guide or professional hunter to accompany hunting clients into the bush.
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Zimbabwe Professional Hunters & Guides Association (ZPHGA)
Zimbabwe Professional Hunters & Guides Association (ZPHGA) is dedicated to maintain the highest standards of professionalism amongst their members and are committed to the long term management and utilization of wildlife. However it is important to mention that Zimbabwe's hunting operators and professional hunters are not required to be members of ZPHGA to conduct hunting safaris.
DO NOT HUNT WITH WAYNE JARDINE!!!!! I cannot stress this enough. My brother and I hunted with Wayne last April in Zimbabwe and experienced THE worst customer service infused with blatant lies. Nothing that Wayne nor his US booking agent Jeff Martinell was as advertised. The properties that we hunted did not have the species or amount of game that they promoted. I never saw the species (Eland) which I specifically came to hunt. Wayne's nephew, Heath, intentionally prevented me from harvesting a nice waterbuck as well as a giraffe on my last day. The properties are not as large as they lead you to believe and you will hunt the same spots day after day. Additionally, all of the Cape Buffalo are virtually tame and will let you get within 10 yards of them. Wayne still tried to charge me for each animal in the package even though my brother or I never even saw 75 percent of the species advertised in the package. It is a complete rip off. DO NOT CHOOSE WAYNE JARDINE!!!!! Please call me if you would like more details. I would be more than happy to elaborate on my terrible experience. Stuart 770-855-4525
Please post a hunt report, if you haven't already. I would like to hear both sides of the story. But if they aren't registered with SOAZ, it is very possible you correct style.
And I only say the above comments because of some other hunting reports, I have read...heck I posted a really negative one...and my animals are still missing from that trip. So anything can happen. There are some really good sales people out there.
I read this post last weekend, I wanted to give everyone a chance to read it again. I wish Style had posted a hunt report.
Just back a week ago . Hunted Elephant with Wayne Jardine. Great hunt He and his staff worked very hard . Preston Mease
Quote:
Originally Posted by bmbclnts
I went and checked the outfitters section out and no one has filed a report on a safari with them...
I guess you will have to check around...ask them for some references...good and poor...
Please post a hunting report, if you have a little time.Quote:
Originally Posted by preston
Thank you enysse...i did not do a search to see if i could find the name...Quote:
Originally Posted by enysse
I hunted w/ Rebecca several years ago. This was less than 30 days after the unfortunate death of Scott Stein and I don't believe that Wayne was affiliated at that time. Since then, I believe Wayne and Rebecca have linked themselves but Wayne did not have a good reputation back then and I've heard nothing to change this opinion. I can't say anything good about them nor can I say anything bad. The PH I hunted with on that trip was Thimbani Zulu and I'd hunt with him again anytime, anywhere.
I hunted with Zim Africa a long time ago (2000)- i think Wayne was in camp then working for Sean and Basil Steyn. I was fortunate to hunt with Gary Hopkins, and Tristan Peacock. I also met Brian van Blerk while there. These guy's were all great, and I would hunt with any one of them again.
As far as the rest of the "professional hunters" that were there, they were less than impressive. Those guy's were shooting very small trophies, and either were feeding there clients a load of BS, or really didn't know any better. Back then Sean and Rebecca were recently married, and Sean seemed to be one of the up and comers in the Zim hunting community. They had some great PH's, and a great lodge. Sondelani,where they were basing their hunts was a beautiful facility. The different properties we hunted left nothing to be desired. Since Sean's untimely death, however, their has been more negative reports than positive in regards to Zim Africa. I have watched the reports on them since that was a special trip for me, but i wouldn't return.
I look at all the good guy's and ph's (Hopkins, Van Blerk, Peacock, and Adam Clements) that worked with them, and have left and have to wonder why. There have been some shifty booking agents in the last few years, and luxury hunts has some less than favorable stories as well.
If I were really interested in hunting Zim, look at some of the guys in the Save (Mokore, Shangaan hunters). I have never talked to Mark Young, but I do know Adam Clements from Safari Trackers, so i would try them first. They still have some great plains game hunts in the Save if that is what you are looking for.
Welcome to AH, hawkhunts! And thanks for your hunting report!
I went on a 10 day / 10 animal plains game package hunt with Zim Africa in June. We were to hunt with Wayne Jardine, however Wayne was busy on a buffalo hunt & we were provided with Dave Amyot as a PH. I suppose the main down side to this hunt for me was I was told by the booking agent, Jeff Martinell ,the hunt would be free range. The hunt was conducted on Sondelani game ranch. Sondelani game ranch is not the size it use to be, with about 3/4 of the original property reclaimed.
The accomodation, food, service was excellent & Dave Amyot worked hard in providing us with a fair chase, tough 10 day hunt. Both myself & my hunting companion only achieved 5 of the 10 plains game on the package, although all animals on the package were seen - some were immature, female, or did not offer a shot.
I would not recommend a packaged hunt, but suggest a daily rate with a trophy fee per animal the way to go. That way you can be more oportunistic on taking various game encountered.
We did meet Wayne when he returned to Sondelani with the client he had taken buffalo hunting. Wayne seemed a likeable character & I had no issues with him. The fellow that Wayne took buffalo hunting confirmed that he had a successful hunt with Wayne, however he had been delayed by Wayne in Bulawayo & spent the first 24 hours of his 7 day hunt sitting in the office of Zim Africa. It was explained to me that Wayne worked at his own pace, but was successful in putting clients on animals.
This was my second African plains game hunt & would recommend Zim Africa / Sondelani as a fair chase game ranch hunt.
10 day hunt, only half the animals killed, PHs swapped, should have been free range, 3/4 of the ranch reclaimed which I take as settled by locals, and Wayne held up his client for 1/7 of his hunt and you recommend hunting these guys. Seems the bar is set pretty low.
Ditto Mike!
I suppose I dont set the bar to high when travelling to third world countries - I learnt years ago this just leads to disappointment & frustration. I tend to go with the flow & realize that things don't always go to schedule in Africa, like they should back home. My hunting mate & I discussed prior to leaving ,that if we only bagged half of the plains game on offer it would still be a successful trip. I blame the free range description of the hunt on Jeff Martinell- the booking agent, rather on Zim Africa.
Dave Amyot was an excellent PH, going above & beyond expectations. He was a wealth of knowledge on both animal & plant species. The 2 on 1 , 10 day package hunt that my mate & myself had booked, was turned into a 1 on 1 hunt as Dave organised another PH, Tracker & scout so we could hunt separately & thus improve our chances. This was done at no extra charge.
Zim Africa hunts are on the cheaper end of the scale . I believe if you avoid the package hunts & go for a daily rate & trophy fee that they offer a good value fair chase plains game hunt on Sondaleni game ranch, with exceptional accommodation & camp service.
I would be inclined to blame the booking agent for the Ph switch as well unless I had talked to the Ph and aranged to hunt with him .
I can understand the PH change, this happens. Before my June trip to Zim I asked my booking agent if I would have the principal PH and he said yes. I also asked the PH himself and he said no as he would be off with another client in another area. But I knew before I went and so it wasnt a problem. I just dont like surprises.
I think each of us has different goals...when it comes to hunting Africa. Mine are the same as sestoppelman and Mike...I don't like to put it with unnecessarey BS when spending my hard earned dollars on hunting. My bar might be high...but it's my vacation and my hunting trip that I saved up for too.
Thanks for the hunting report finnwolf64!