MOZAMBIQUE: Has Anyone Hunted With Roche Safaris?

[Safari1]

Don’t know what anyone ever saw in Roche!

 

[sureshot375]

I really surprised no members on here have the tea on what supposedly has transpired.

 

[Safari1]

The big question is why is he occupying a jail cell?

For good reason it sounds like.

 

[Huntforever]

Any update on what happened on this subject??

 

[Safari1]

Any update on what happened on this subject??

Hopefully the hunting industry never hears from him again.

 

[Huntforever]

Why was he arrested?

 

[Quest#1]

Taking game without permits and hiding them was the word/ a brief press release while i was in moz recently. Definitely more was talked about with ph’s and outfits but ill just provide what the press release said.

 

[Huntforever]

I’m so glad I didn’t end up going with him on that auction hunt!!

 

[xbr897]

I had the misfortune of hunting at Roche about a year ago. The hunt was organized with an outfitter I was familiar with in SA and they had partnered with Roche. Before my hunt, I had tried to do my research and seeing them as Boddington recommended gave me confidence in hunting there. Both myself and the hunter after me had horrible experience though. I firmly believe my SA based outfitter was also tricked and swindled by Roche just like Boddington was. My SA Outfitter cut ties with Roche shortly after my hunt and the experience there.

On my hunt, the only Land Cruiser, or truck of any kind, at camp had a breakdown. It had break downs and was repaired multiple times during the hunt. With that and other camp issues, it was clear that Roche was not taking care of his vehicles, his camp, or his people. From Roche's camp manager, there was extreme pressure to shoot anything that was seen, even if it was not a good animal or not something I was interested in. My focus was buffalo and ideally a leopard. The trackers did not want to track anything, they just wanted to drive around to find something. Thankfully my PH from SA forced them to get on tracks on a buff one day and we were able to get him by end of day. But, the rest of the hunt was a mess. Without a vehicle, we couldn't take anything for bait, hang baits, or check on baits. Out of 10 hunting days, only 3 had us driving the vehicle back to camp. Many days we had to just walk from camp to try and find anything interesting while repairs were worked on the vehicle. Even when the cruiser was 'repaired', it maybe lasted a day and then broke again. I insisted we head back to the airport a day early, hiring a 'taxi' instead of using the land cruiser, as the only flights out were every few days and I did not want to be stuck there any longer. Overall, there is no way I would have hunted with Roche again. The SA outfitter was extremely apologetic and offered me another 10 day hunt at their cost to make up for the experience.

A few months later I happened to see and talk with Roche in Salt Lake City, as he was not on site during my hunt and issues. He focused just on talking down the SA outfitter and trying to sell me on booking direct with him and his wife. In talking, it was very clear they prioritized the money, not the clients or hunting experience. I'm glad they are off Boddington's recommendation, just wish it happened much earlier so that I didn't waste time and money hunting there.

 

[Huntforever]

I also meet him at the Salt Lake Show after winning one of his auctions. Things went downhill from there. He tried to sell me a bow hunt for a lion and elephant with my bow which is illegal and after speaking with other outfitters i realized this was a bad situation.