Do Not Use Safari Specialty Importers

randallhebert said:

The quote i just got is half the price that SSI quoted me

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Ya that’s what made me switch. They just use cargo tours to clear your shipment, then SSI puts whatever margin they feel like on top…

You Can just skip them and call cargo tours haha

@randallhebert , who did you get a quote from?

randallhebert said:

The quote i just got is half the price that SSI quoted me

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It's too bad, Wyatt had a good thing going and he obviously blew it...I wonder what happened?

My Leopard hunt was in 2021

Ok, I used them last year to get my Greater Krueger safari back with no issues or complaints, this is making me nervous now since I am importing a lion, elephant, and rhino this year. I already have Jerad Dabney getting me permits do I have anything to worry about? I have WAY TOO MUCH MONEY invested in this safari for it to get lost etc. Any help would be appreciated.

Hunt anything said:

@randallhebert , who did you get a quote from?

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Zingela to coopersmith in Houston

rafter3 said:

Ok, I used them last year to get my Greater Krueger safari back with no issues or complaints, this is making me nervous now since I am importing a lion, elephant, and rhino this year. I already have Jerad Dabney getting me permits do I have anything to worry about? I have WAY TOO MUCH MONEY invested in this safari for it to get lost etc. Any help would be appreciated.

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It’s your import permits that are the main issue here. If Jerad is getting those for you, then you are good. Who you use once those permits are obtained is up to you. You can use any import agent at that point. Out of principle for me, I would not use Wyatt, and go with someone else. I’d just go straight to Cargo Tours and cut out the middle man, which is Wyatt.

I am still waiting on getting my stuff from Zimbabwe but it’s progressing. I am using Genus to get the stuff home. I was told by the shipper in Zim that they were shipping the stuff to South Africa earlier this week and then from there it comes to the USA. I am not sure why it had to go that route, but maybe someone who knows more about shipping from zim can chime in there. I can give a more thorough review of Genus after I finally get my stuff and also how well it goes once it hits the USA.

Mike B. said:

It’s your import permits that are the main issue here. If Jerad is getting those for you, then you are good. Who you use once those permits are obtained is up to you. You can use any import agent at that point. Out of principle for me, I would not use Wyatt, and go with someone else. I’d just go straight to Cargo Tours and cut out the middle man, which is Wyatt.

I am still waiting on getting my stuff from Zimbabwe but it’s progressing. I am using Genus to get the stuff home. I was told by the shipper in Zim that they were shipping the stuff to South Africa earlier this week and then from there it comes to the USA. I am not sure why it had to go that route, but maybe someone who knows more about shipping from zim can chime in there. I can give a more thorough review of Genus after I finally get my stuff and also how well it goes once it hits the USA.

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Interesting. I’m also using Genus to get some trophies from Zim. They haven’t given me a routing yet but I’ll be interested to see if it’s the same.

This is pure speculation but I was wondering if it had to do with using a carrier that would ship an elephant and that is the closest place that can do that?

rafter3 said:

Ok, I used them last year to get my Greater Krueger safari back with no issues or complaints, this is making me nervous now since I am importing a lion, elephant, and rhino this year. I already have Jerad Dabney getting me permits do I have anything to worry about? I have WAY TOO MUCH MONEY invested in this safari for it to get lost etc. Any help would be appreciated.

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If you used him in the past and were happy you should have nothing to worry about. The hold up is/was 100% tied to the USFWS Permits on specific Cites Animals which you have Jerad Dabney doing.

I have an elephant, buffalo, leopard and PG that just landed in JFK. Two separate hunts that were combined into a single shipment, largely due to Jerads quick permits and Wyatt staying on Collette’s in Zim keeping them aware of the clock countdown.

As @Mike B. mentioned they shipped Zim to RSA to the USA. Highly possible it was/is my shipment he was talking to them about. It was both quicker and cheaper for me to go that route than wait on a slot direct from Zim.

Since SSI gave up the Cites permits (which they filed at no charge), communication has been significantly better and what it was like in 2020-2022. I’ve seen/gotten weekly email updates and follow-up on this latest shipment. IMO Wyatt got bogged down in the permit process. I think he offered the service to a few loyal customers, it got out there and quickly got out of hand. Not wanting to say “No” he took it all on without realizing the time suck it was, how unprofitable it was, and the extra workload. He started sinking and it spiraled out of control. I can’t speak to the poor communication, excuses, or other issues (only mine). Once I get this shipment, I can give you some better updates.

Russ16 said:

Interesting. I’m also using Genus to get some trophies from Zim. They haven’t given me a routing yet but I’ll be interested to see if it’s the same.

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The shipping company gives the routing not the broker. To my knowledge none of my Zimbabwe shipments went through South Africa. Both were shipped with Ethiopian through Addis.

375Fox said:

The shipping company gives the routing not the broker. To my knowledge none of my Zimbabwe shipments went through South Africa. Both were shipped with Ethiopian through Addis.

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I understand the shipping company gives the routing I was just commenting that I was using the same broker. Sorry I wasn’t clear.

375Fox said:

The shipping company gives the routing not the broker. To my knowledge none of my Zimbabwe shipments went through South Africa. Both were shipped with Ethiopian through Addis.

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Lucas at AfroPride is the one who gave me my routing and told me it’s going to South Africa first then to the states.

Mtn_Infantry said:

Lucas at AfroPride is the one who gave me my routing and told me it’s going to South Africa first then to the states.

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That’s who is handling my trophies as well. When was your hunt?

Russ16 said:

That’s who is handling my trophies as well. When was your hunt?

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Ele/Buff - Hunt #1 was Nov 2023 (had the issues) with the permit being issued last year. Chose to wait on shipping knowing I was hunting again this year and had 1 calendar year from the permit.
Ele/Leopard - Hunt #2 was April of 2026. Was waiting on some tanning of Zebra Rugs or it could’ve shipped in May 2026 when Jerad got the permit issued.

Wyatt was on the ball the entire time with the taxidermist and AfroPride getting updates on the rugs, shipping rates, etc. It would’ve saved me a bit in shipping to have had the crate go earlier in the year without the Zebra Rugs, but I’d have then had to wait for my next Zim hunt and add them to that crate.

All I can state is my experience. I was recommended SSI from Josh Harris with Huntin Fool. Had a call with Wyatt and Brad and was impressed. They did my import for my 2024 Safari and everything went very smoothly and had great communication . Pricing was what was discussed and in fair market for the crates being shipped. I went to Moz this August and will be using them again.

Mike B. said:

If Jerad is getting those for you, then you are good.

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+1 on this, you dont have much to worry about permit wise

Mtn_Infantry said:

Ele/Buff - Hunt #1 was Nov 2023 (had the issues) with the permit being issued last year. Chose to wait on shipping knowing I was hunting again this year and had 1 calendar year from the permit.
Ele/Leopard - Hunt #2 was April of 2026. Was waiting on some tanning of Zebra Rugs or it could’ve shipped in May 2026 when Jerad got the permit issued.

Wyatt was on the ball the entire time with the taxidermist and AfroPride getting updates on the rugs, shipping rates, etc. It would’ve saved me a bit in shipping to have had the crate go earlier in the year without the Zebra Rugs, but I’d have then had to wait for my next Zim hunt and add them to that crate.

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Funny just this morning I got the email from Afropride that my crate is ready to go. These are from my hunt in August. He didn’t indicate the routing though. Out of curiosity I asked him what it was going to be.

Lipsey’s just dropped a UTube video/podcast interviewing Bradley of SSI…..

Bushog said:

Lipsey’s just dropped a UTube video/podcast interviewing Bradley of SSI…..

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Haven't watched it, but I believe this is the interview mentioned:

Well, double checked.