HELP NEEDED To Find Scott van Zyl Gone Missing In Zimbabwe

Wish they could get hold of one of those military choppers with infrared. They can cruise around a couple thousand feet up with that scanner and anything alive will glow like a light bulb.

Prayers and Donation Sent

Talked to Scott's PH on the ground in Zim. Night has come again. No signs still but please continue to pray and donate if you can. His best hope is for the search to continue.

Stay strong hunter. Keep the faith.

A heads up...I donated from my phone twice - at least I thought twice but there is a pop up that then let's you put in your comment after you think you have donated. So I think that finalized the transaction....Luddite skills rock I am just so sorry for the family. I can't imagine. All my prayers and thoughts to them. Be strong.

donated,hoping for the best.

An update from an hour ago by @Salome de Villiers.


Evening everyone, i've been receiving a lot of messages asking if we have any new information. I am still waiting for a report from the search teams. What i do however know is that they are still looking for Scott. I know everyone is anxious for more information and even results at this stage but all that we can do is keep praying and hoping for the best possible outcome and not to give up hope! Thanks again for everyone's support, prayers and donations, we are doing the best we can!

An update from 40 minutes ago by @Salome de Villiers.


Feedback from the ground - a lot of hours has been spend today on the ground and in the air. The terrain is extremely difficult to negotiate. Additional help is arriving late tonight from the Zim side to help with the search and rescue. Keep praying for Scott and his family. Everything is in the Lords hands. Everything humanly possible is being done to find Scotta. We appreciate your understanding and co-operation.

DSC Frontline Foundation Rushes Emergency Funds to Continue Helicopter Search for Missing Guide
DALLAS (April 10, 2017) - A professional South African hunting guide has been missing from a hunting expedition in Zimbabwe since Friday, April 7. An extensive land and air search is underway to find Scott van Zyl but the guide has yet to be found. DSC Frontline Foundation has approved an emergency grant to support the helicopter search efforts.

Van Zyl and his tracker left their vehicle and set off on foot into a rural area. Both men split up and traveled in different directions with van Zyl never returning to the vehicle. The guide's dog returned and a cursory search of the area turned up no trace of the guide. Van Zyl reportedly left his firearm and personal items in the vehicle. Helicopter search teams spotted van Zyl's backpack on the banks of Limpopo River but the man was not found.

"The Frontline Foundation wants to do all that is possible so the search for Scott can continue," said DSC Frontline Foundation President Karl Evans. "We hold out hope that he will be found alive soon. Scott has worked with DSC members in the past and he is someone we consider a colleague and friend. Our hearts and prayers go out to Scott's wife and children in this time of uncertainty."

A friend of van Zyl who is involved with the search said they would need approximately R500,000 (US$36,000) to keep the helicopters in the air. The Heritage Protection Group, the SA Professional Hunters' Association and Limpopo's search and rescue teams are still searching for the guide.

Individuals or groups who wish to help fund the search and rescue of Scott van Zyl can either donate at this GoFundMe page or make a tax deductible directed donation by credit card to the DSC Frontline Foundation here by following the donate and support link. Donators should be sure to indicate the donation is for van Zyl.


About DSC Frontline Foundation
The DSC Frontline Foundation, a Texas non-profit corporation, was started by a group of dedicated DSC members with the support and encouragement of the Dallas Safari Club.
The Foundation has received notice that it is exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to the Foundation are deductible under Section 170 of the Code.

The Foundation Board of Directors consists of DSC members and includes people involved in the professional hunting industry as well as those who appreciate and respect the risks that professional hunters, outfitters, guides and their assistants face on a daily basis.

The mission of the DSC Frontline Foundation is to provide financial relief to professional hunters and their assistants who are killed or seriously injured in the course of providing professional hunting services or anti-poaching activities. The mission of the foundation was expanded to include a separate anti-poaching fund to provide financial relief to government employees killed in the course of providing anti-poaching activities. The individuals we seek to help are often on the frontline of hunts and therefore exposed to the dangers inherent in hunting. These same individuals are unlikely to have adequate, or any, health insurance. They are unlikely to have life insurance or disability coverage. As a result, a serious injury has the potential to be even more devastating to these individuals than to most of the rest of us. The death of a primary breadwinner could have equally dire consequences for most of the people we seek to help.



Source: Dallas Safari Club (DSC)

Have they been searching the water in the vacinity of where his pack was found?

A testament to the commendable nature of the hunting community is the immense support and donation received from all corners of the globe. As long as the search continues then Scott has a chance. He has a loving wife, daughter and son that need his safe return.

broncolcj said:

Have they been searching the water in the vacinity of where his pack was found?

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Seems I read further up that they found some of his items on the Zim side and tracks on the SA side. I may be wrong. My Uncle ha met Scott says he is one tough son of a gun.

I had the pleasure of hunting with Scott, his brother Abel (sp?) and his PH's, including Marcel in July. All are stand up guys and a great group of experienced hunters. His whole family is a pleasure to be around and visit with. My thoughts and prayers are with all of them in this trying time. May God reunite them soon.

Members of DSC please join me in making a personal donation to add to the one made by the DSC.

Prayers for him and his family. Pretty awesome seeing the hunting community help in a time of need.

Shocked by this news. There are some wondering for me according to the information posted here. If a experience nature explorer gets lost direction in field, he/she must leave a lot of sign on ground as possible as he can for himself and rescuer searcher. Why there is too much sign to be found? Why he left his back pack? but not for marking? Why a PH hiked with his back pack in bush, but firearm? Why he left his dog and dog left him when he needs direction?

Argali said:

............ Why a PH hiked with his back pack in bush, but firearm? Why he left his dog and dog left him when he needs direction?

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Scott was not acting as PH. He was running his hounds on a Leopard hunt in Zimbabwe as a very experienced Houndsman. (Licensed PH's and licensed hunters may use firearms in Zimbabwe)
Hounds don't need direction, they run the scent and you follow the baying and the GPS locator (if you have one)
He was not walking his pet dog in the bush.
Being a team, he and his tracker split up to find the quarry quicker. There are plenty of excellent teams working together to increase the chances of success for the hunter throughout Africa. I can think of many excellent examples.

I hope to hear Scott's story of the unfortunate circumstances necessitating this search when he arrives home safely.

Donation made, still hoping for a good ending here. My thoughts are with the family.

No updates yet today.... not good

Man this sucks