Serious Safety Concerns for South Africa Hunt

[Philip Glass]

Yes the stories are true. I've heard some that give me nightmares. My friend's elderly parents were killed in their home in Cape Town a few years ago. Does this mean I'll never visit Cape Town? Of course not.
I remember years ago when Ebola was spreading in central Africa my aunt advising me not to go to "Africa". You see the absurdity?
President Trump has very rightly brought all this to light. He always has a plan.
Those of us who have traveled extensively around the world know that when you are with a hunting outfitter you are in the safest hands possible.
These fears that are circulating are simply unfounded. Talk to your outfitter and tell him your concerns and go on safari!

 

[HookMeUpII]

This is the third thread in just last few days. It’s safe for hunting. The country has its problems though. An old couple with a farm presents an easy target for criminals. There unfortunately remains a lot of racial animosity on both sides as an added driver for crime. As a hunter with a PH you have nothing to worry about. A resident has a very different set of concerns. The situation has been the same for years.

A

Thread 'Is south africa reasonably safe?'

May 24, 2025

We will be going to South Africa for the very first time. We are flying into Johannesburg and ph is driving us to Limpopo province. Since booking the trip it seems like a lot in the news. I have been doing research and lots of reading. I dont know if things are getting worse or I just never really paid attention. We will have grandchildren with us is our main concern. It is so hard to tell bs from legit information anymore. Trump is either bringing something to the world's attention or stirring the pot? Any info good or bad from people who have hunted and spent time in SA or live in SA...

• ar15teacher
• Replies: 54
• Forum: Hunting Africa

• 

M

Thread 'Is South Africa still safe to hunt?'

May 27, 2025

A buddy and I are set to go on our first hunting safari this upcoming July in South Africa. We'll be flying into Johannesburg. We have a VIP meet/greet escort with the Afton House where we'll stay the night. We fly out the next morning into Kimberly where we'll be picked up by the outfitter and driven to their property on the outskirts of Aliwal North. The return is the same vice versa. My friend has grown very concerned over the news here in the States about white genocide and farmers being targeted and other crime. I don't believe most of it, but he's considering cancelling over it. I'm...

• mainjoshua
• Replies: 50
• Forum: Before & after the hunt

• 

I think this about covers it.

Camp full of hunters with high powered rifles = Probably not the best target.

Farm with an elderly couple by themselves = What is being targeted.

 

[Lancaster]

For comparison: in some 'most dangerous cities' list New Orleans is about level with Cape Town/Jo'burg so it's a bit like saying: are you happy to fly to New Orleans, be collected by a guy probably carrying a pistol and driven a hundred miles or more into rural Louisiana, I'm guessing the answer is yes.

I should add I have driven all over South Africa with my wife and children on numerous occasions and visit there for work annually. I have never had any issues

 

[Altitude sickness]

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[Hunting Hitman]

Stay home…more open Safari time for my friends, family, and me.

HH

 

[crackerman]

I’m guess you haven’t travelled internationally a lot, If you have I apologize.

Your worry is valid but extremely low. I just went in April and I had the same worries somewhat but found it to be very similar to other places I’ve been. Don’t go places that feel sketchy and trust your guide aka PH. Tourists bring cash and even bad guys have legit business to keep going. They don’t want to scare off people who spend big and then go away.

When we were out It was extremely obvious that we were a hunting truck and despite my best efforts I’m sure I screamed tourist hunter. I could tell all the locals knew I was.

Same vibes I have gotten in Mexico, Taiwan, and Jamaica. While a little overcharging, petty pickpocketing, or harassment happens I’ve always felt everyone from the cops to really hardcore crims known not to ruin tourist destinations. That’s not to minimize that violence can find you anywhere but I felt safer in my week in South Africa then I did in downtown LA skid row or on the US border in Texas for solo business trips.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed to anyone

 

[bowjijohn]

Stay home…more open Safari time for my friends, family, and me.

HH

Hardly

The less folk that contribute to conservation, the less wildlife remains against the pressures of farming and population expansion

 

[bowjijohn]

Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed to anyone

I’m 67

I agree absolutely with this sentiment

It is exactly how i felt (and still do) as a young man

As an old man I recognise my frailty in a modern scrap

(Scrap? - English colloquialism for a fight)

J

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I’m 67

I agree absolutely with this sentiment

It is exactly how i felt (and still do) as a young man

As an old man I recognise my frailty in a modern scrap

(Scrap? - English colloquialism for a fight)

J

Things like firearms and pepper spray can help compensate for aging frailty.

In South Africa the bad guys know the safari operators and clients are loaded for bear (an American colloquialism for armed and dangerous). Yes, armored car robberies are almost a daily occurrence but the reward is much more lucrative if the thieves succeed. Attacking a safari operator is not likely to draw much cash and the risk of getting shot is pretty high (those little Jack Russell blood tracking dogs are excellent alarm system at night).

For a while in RSA there was a problem with being identified on the road as a foreign hunter (i.e. safari logo on the truck and client dressed like Stewart Granger): the cops were pulling safari trucks over and demanding "tips." Poor bastards weren't getting paid and they had families to feed. I understand a "cooperated" and rapid response put a quick end to this practice (not sure who responded or how but I suspect not the government which can't effectively wipe its ass properly).

 

[LRose_TX]

I was just in South Africa for a 10 day hunt 2 weeks ago. I can tell you that all the places we went to and even around the town & stores were fine. Yes, our PH was with us the entire time and made sure we were not messed with at all. We did NOT see anything like what you described in your post. The Outfitters & PHs know the safe places to take you and will not put you in any danger. They want you to have the best trip and make good memories, not bad experiences. I never felt we were in a place that we needed to get out of there or the people we saw were out to get us. To be clear - it is not America. You will see some things that are not common for us, but you will be safe at all times.

Go and enjoy your trip that you have planned and waited for !! It is a beautiful place and you will not want to leave.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Reminds me of a time we had a family in camp. It was a father, who had hunted with us twice before. On his third trip, he decided to bring his wife and three children.
My Professional Hunter decided to walk a game trail that offered openings to look at the opposite ridge, great for Duiker and Bushbuck and even Kudu. The wife, youngest son and daughter had decided to stay behind, with my Professional Hunter taking the dad and son.
Once they completed the trail, the PH, who speaks the native tongue fluently, decided to call the tracker on the radio to bring the truck closer to where they were waiting.
Wife in the back thought they were being kidnapped. Started scratching around quietly in the back of the vehicle, found a screwdriver and was going to let the tracker have it in the neck if the party wasn't around the next corner. They were. Almost lost a very good team that day.....

 

[ActionBob]

Reminds me of a time we had a family in camp. It was a father, who had hunted with us twice before. On his third trip, he decided to bring his wife and three children.
My Professional Hunter decided to walk a game trail that offered openings to look at the opposite ridge, great for Duiker and Bushbuck and even Kudu. The wife, youngest son and daughter had decided to stay behind, with my Professional Hunter taking the dad and son.
Once they completed the trail, the PH, who speaks the native tongue fluently, decided to call the tracker on the radio to bring the truck closer to where they were waiting.
Wife in the back thought they were being kidnapped. Started scratching around quietly in the back of the vehicle, found a screwdriver and was going to let the tracker have it in the neck if the party wasn't around the next corner. They were. Almost lost a very good team that day.....

A good general briefing of how things can be expected to go might have alleviated the wife's anxiety.

 

[bowjijohn]

Things like firearms and pepper spray can help compensate for aging frailty.

In South Africa the bad guys know the safari operators and clients are loaded for bear (an American colloquialism for armed and dangerous). Yes, armored car robberies are almost a daily occurrence but the reward is much more lucrative if the thieves succeed. Attacking a safari operator is not likely to draw much cash and the risk of getting shot is pretty high (those little Jack Russell blood tracking dogs are excellent alarm system at night).

For a while in RSA there was a problem with being identified on the road as a foreign hunter (i.e. safari logo on the truck and client dressed like Stewart Granger): the cops were pulling safari trucks over and demanding "tips." Poor bastards weren't getting paid and they had families to feed. I understand a "cooperated" and rapid response put a quick end to this practice (not sure who responded or how but I suspect not the government which can't effectively wipe its ass properly).

QRF is what our friends and neighbours put together on the farms of the NE of Zim in the mid 70s

Top cover on farmer convoys, whilst driving in to town (or the biscope ((cinema)) )was my role as a young lad in 4 Indep

Later, as a young trouper in RLI, life became a little less innocent

 

[ActionBob]

Yes the stories are true. I've heard some that give me nightmares. My friend's elderly parents were killed in their home in Cape Town a few years ago. Does this mean I'll never visit Cape Town? Of course not.
I remember years ago when Ebola was spreading in central Africa my aunt advising me not to go to "Africa". You see the absurdity?
President Trump has very rightly brought all this to light. He always has a plan.
Those of us who have traveled extensively around the world know that when you are with a hunting outfitter you are in the safest hands possible.
These fears that are circulating are simply unfounded. Talk to your outfitter and tell him your concerns and go on safari!

I was heading to Zimbabwe when Ebola was in West Africa and a patient was in Dallas with Ebola. My youngest brother was telling me how crazy I was to go to Africa, which he was lumping together as one country.... I explained that he was in the same country and about 1000 miles from a case of ebola and I would be 6000 miles from it with several international borders in between.

People just don't know how much they don't know

 

[Don458]

It seems an oxymoron that people would book a hunting safari to a country where buffalo, lions, and leopards roam yet be anxious about "safety."

DG cannot coordinate an ambush, seek you out during travel from one location to the other or Torture you while holding you for ransom. Bad analogy. I would personally prefer hand to claw combat than being held hostage.

 

[bowjijohn]

DG cannot coordinate an ambush, seek you out during travel from one location to the other or Torture you while holding you for ransom. Bad analogy. I would personally prefer hand to claw combat than being held hostage.

I think I concur

DG hunting is a dangerous pastime skewed to the advantage of the tourist hunter

Sadly it is little more than expensive titillation

Combat against a pier adversary is not in the least entertaining

As many on here will know

 

[Ontario Hunter]

An interesting story to put things into RSA perspective. My second safari we had a long drive to a remote very large property in the Eastern Cape mountains to hunt kudu. On the way we drove through an old colonial town center. It was very early in the morning and effectively a ghost town. Still well kept whitewashed nineteenth century buildings. Coming back after dark we were driving past long lines of local people on the side of the road heading to town several miles before we got there. Once in town it was like a riot ... a happy one. Streets were jammed and the truck had to ease its way through. My PH and I may have been the only white faces in the mob. But everyone was smiling broadly and waving at us. Too bad I couldn't communicate with them. I would not have felt the least threatened if I'd stepped out of the vehicle. I turned to my PH: "What the hell is this about? A holiday?" He chuckled: "Well, sorta. It's Friday, the day the ATM is filled." He went on to explain the ATMS are filled only one day a week and usually delivery is in convoy. That way the probability of hijacking on the road is reduced. Also everyone knows the machine will be drained by morning so useless to try tearing it off the wall after that. Also, everyone knows if the machines are wrecked, it could be months before they're fixed. So locals watch them like a hawk. Sure enough, there was a quarter mile long lineup for the ATM in centre of town. My PH did security work during the off season but NOT armored car. Mostly because he didn't want to have to shoot people. He could handle himself in a dangerous situation but didn't want to go looking for it. He had a family. He didn't want to ruin someone else's family.

It's a different situation in RSA. But part of the lure of traveling on holiday is to experience different environments.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

Hardly

The less folk that contribute to conservation, the less wildlife remains against the pressures of farming and population expansion

Sorry my sarcastic comment was not as apparent as I had hoped. By all means everyone should go and enjoy the incredible hunting in Africa.

HH

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

A good general briefing of how things can be expected to go might have alleviated the wife's anxiety.

I will say the sky is blue and you will find a way Bob. Never change....sigh