SOUTH AFRICA: KoringKoppie Hunting Safaris *Warning* Stay Away

No PH/Owner I've ever hunted with would have classified that waterbuck as a trophy, but a cull at a deep discount. I killed a similar specimen on my third hunt, for a hundred dollar cull price. He first asked me, told me the price, I agreed and killed it. I Kept the hide, had a skull mount for S&G. The OP's PH should have told him it was a cull and NOT a trophy. That's 100% the PH's responsibility..

An extra 2¢, These donation hunts should be done away with. The ones that go south give Africa hunting, especially RSA, a bad name. I'm surprised the FTC doesn't step in and ban them, since most are quasi bait and switch affairs.
 
No PH/Owner I've ever hunted with would have classified that waterbuck as a trophy, but a cull at a deep discount. I killed a similar specimen on my third hunt, for a hundred dollar cull price. He first asked me, told me the price, I agreed and killed it. I Kept the hide, had a skull mount for S&G. The OP's PH should have told him it was a cull and NOT a trophy. That's 100% the PH's responsibility..

An extra 2¢, These donation hunts should be done away with. The ones that go south give Africa hunting, especially RSA, a bad name. I'm surprised the FTC doesn't step in and ban them, since most are quasi bait and switch affairs.

See my post above. My experience is very different than what you describe.
 
My hats off to you for enduring a nightmare of issues. I personally would have relocated to town and stayed in a hotel for the remainder of my stay vs some of the thing you have endured.
I also don't understand the auction hunts as most have a separate trophy fee list that are super inflated to offset cost of said hunt on their end. I have looked at a few over the years and just never pulled the trigger on one for fear of this right here happening. There are some that are looking for a bargain and that's only way they can afford to hunt Africa but Outfitter has to have that mindset not everyone is rich and unlimited budget but that is a discussion that happens prior to the hunt so there are no surprises for either party.
I too have had a Outfitter rub me the wrong way and I walked away from a $5000 deposit which in anyones book alot of coin to leave on the table but I be damned if I'm gonna give him another cent even if I walk away, mine was due to COVID but the heartburn is there and I won't tolerate a crook.
Sorry you had to go through it but we live and learn cheaper is not always better.
 
I am glad to hear that PHASA is initiating a hearing. The outfitter appears to have a lot to answer for.


I just went back and read the first post again. I have to say that both the PH and the hunter have a lot to answer for in killing the first giraffe. I don’t care what kind of pressure you feel you are under, you do not have to sit in the back of a truck and pop a giraffe at 40 yards in a breeding pen. If you pull the trigger you own it.
 
I re-read the post. I may be referring to the reedbuck, the paragraph is difficult to follow. Regardless, the point is the same. Badly done by the Outfitter and the Hunter.
 
See my post above. My experience is very different than what you describe.
I read it and glad it worked out for you. If one is willing and able to spend more for a hunt, I get it. It may start out cheap but in the end it's probably more costly than a package or a la carte hunt. From all the ink on here and other sites about auction hunts, yours were probably exceptions to the rule.

Edit: Thinking back to two local SCI banquets I attended, I remember my 24 time Africa hunter and mentor and former local SCI president, told me never bid on an auction hunt, it'll cost you more.
Nine hunts, I have followed that advice. YMMV.
 
I read it and glad it worked out for you. If one is willing and able to spend more for a hunt, I get it. It may start out cheap but in the end it's probably more costly than a package or a la carte hunt. From all the ink on here and other sites about auction hunts, yours were probably exceptions to the rule.

Edit: Thinking back to two local SCI banquets I attended, I remember my 24 time Africa hunter and mentor and former local SCI president, told me never bid on an auction hunt, it'll cost you more.
Nine hunts, I have followed that advice. YMMV.

I’ve only done the two, so very small data set. A normal trip to Africa for me is into the bush and tracking buffalo. I don’t buy those hunts at auction.
 
My husband and I went to Korringe Koppe Safari last year and we had the best time ever. The people were the best and I would consider them all friends now. That includes Jacque and his brother Frans! I have to say that I do not hunt but was a spectator and took many pictures and they were so considerate. Our food was the best food and I wasn't expecting it to be so good. There was always food in the kitchen if you were hungry. Oh course were were up early and the kitchen was open for us to grab anything that we wanted or needed. Breakfast was after we got back from the first outing and was excellent! We had sack lunches as we went out in the blinds and didn't go back for a while, they were also excellent. We went with the attitudes that we didn't know what to expect and were quite surprised and happy with everything. To say you did not get a trophy animal, we did, I feel like it was up to you if you shot at one or not. I also get that they prefer a box and arrow over a gun and my husband shot with a bow and arrow out of the blinds but used his gun when walking. It was all perfect. He got everything he wanted and then added some. I found this family to be one of the most accommodating families. To post what you have posted sounds like you are upset with yourself for missing shots or picking the wrong animal to shoot at. I would go back in a heartbeat.
Sheila DeYoung
 
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My husband and I went to Korringe Koppe Safari last year and we had the best time ever. The people were the best and I would consider them all friends now. That includes Jacque and his brother Frans! I have to say that I do not hunt but was a spectator and took many pictures and they were so considerate. Our food was the best food and I wasn't expecting it to be so good. There was always food in the kitchen if you were hungry. Oh course were were up early and the kitchen was open for us to grab anything that we wanted or needed. Breakfast was after we got back from the first outing and was excellent! We had sack lunches as we went out in the blinds and didn't go back for a while, they were also excellent. We went with the attitudes that we didn't know what to expect and were quite surprised and happy with everything. To say you did not get a trophy animal, we did, I feel like it was up to you if you shot at one or not. I also get that they prefer a box and arrow over a gun and my husband shot with a bow and arrow out of the blinds but used his gun when walking. It was all perfect. He got everything he wanted and then added some. I found this family to be one of the most accommodating families. To post what you have posted sounds like you are upset with yourself for missing shots or picking the wrong animal to shoot at. I would go back in a heartbeat.
Sheila DeYoung
Sheila you have wasted time out of your day

Thank you for the laugh though - at this point your post is comedic :ROFLMAO: (y)

Koringkoppie**
 
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I’m thinking the OP might be 50% of the problem in this unfortunate situation
It was his choice to shoot both the reedbuck and waterbuck, after watching the video
I got a different perspective from the PH side, that conversation was fubar
 
I’m sure the outfitter is grateful the name is misspelled in title so if doesn’t appear in a google search.
Yeah , I would be POed if I got a permanent google tattoo over this !
The PH did mess up by serving up a batch of onions with the burger for lunch
Everything else seems like a miscommunication problem leading up to a clashing of personalities imo?
 
Sheila you have wasted time out of your day

Thank you for the laugh though - at this point your post is comedic :ROFLMAO: (y)

Koringkoppie**
Sorry, If I knew how to fix it I would. I actually had a great time. My husband got a Zebra, warthog, impala, and a wildebeest.
 
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I’m sure the outfitter is grateful the name is misspelled in title so if doesn’t appear in a google search.
Maybe that is why the Outfitter has not shown up to reply to the thread. So I fixed it for him.
 
I like how this thread has ...drawn out... certain personalities of members within the forum for us to see...
You’re 100% right …. Just think, almost all the respondents who’ve questioned something with this or stated something along the lines of “there’s two sides, something doesn’t seem right, you have some responsibility, you should’ve said something, you shouldn’t have shot, etc” have a fair bit of experience in Africa. I’ll freely admit I’m likely the least experienced of this group of posters having hunted with 10 different African outfitters and across 3 different African countries.

We are all just trying to offer some semblance of advice (based on our experience) to both the OP on future hunts, as well as to other hunters who might find themselves in a similar scenario.

Then again a lot of the most experienced members on AH have stopped posting as much, or are less active (mostly just viewing) on AH since their advice tends to get looked down on or they get called out for being rich and their free range wild Africa hunts as not actually hunting compared to huge fence game ranches.
 
I wanted to take a moment to share some feedback regarding our experience at Koringkoppie Safaris in 2023. Although I can’t comment on the specifics of other hunts, I felt it was important to speak on behalf of myself and my family.

Our journey began when we met Jacques at the Minnesota Pheasant Fest in the winter of 2022. At that time, I had no plans to book an African hunt. As an avid pheasant hunter in Minnesota and South Dakota, as well as a white-tail hunter in Wisconsin and an elk hunter in Montana, a trip to Africa was not on my radar. However, after visiting the Koringkoppie booth, discussing the available hunts, and learning about the various species on the property, we decided to explore the possibility. My wife had shown interest in visiting Africa as a family and after several emails with Jacques, we booked a hunt for myself and my two 13-year-old sons. My wife and 10-year-old daughter joined us as spectators for sightseeing and photos.

I hunted with a bow, while my sons used a rifle we brought from the U.S. We were successful in taking the animals we had planned: the boys each shot an impala and a warthog with the rifle, and I shot a kudu, gemsbuck, and an impala.

The accommodations were excellent, and we were consistently impressed by the hospitality from Jacques, his family, and all the staff. Our days typically began around 6:00 am with Jacques preparing coffee and a light breakfast. We enjoyed a variety of cereals, fruits, and yogurt each morning. This was sufficient for us, as we would then head out for early morning trail walks and animal stalking until around 9:00-9:30 am. We would return to camp for a hearty breakfast prepared by Jacque’s father, which typically included eggs and different sausages that varied each day.

After breakfast, I would head out to hunt, often with Jacques and one of my sons in different blinds around the property. We had sack lunches provided, but after the second day, we opted to forego them as we were full from breakfast. The late afternoons were spent stalking animals, with Jacques leading the way, and the evenings were a wonderful mix of successful hunts and excellent dinners. Jacques prepared different meats cooked over the fire, and sides prepared and brought by his mother. The meals were perfectly done, and I especially enjoyed sitting by the fire with a local beer while stargazing.

Jacques and his staff were wonderful with my wife and daughter. Whenever we took an animal, they were informed and brought out to see the animals and be part of the photos. My wife, being a photographer, appreciated the effort Jacques made to arrange drives around the property for her, my daughter, and our son that wasn’t hunting. There were endless opportunities to see wildlife.

I did notice the crew on the property cutting wood, but it didn’t bother us, and we didn’t interact with them. Having grown up in western Wisconsin, where cutting firewood is a common activity, the sound of a chainsaw in the distance was familiar and unobtrusive.

We also had the pleasure of meeting Yolanda, Jacques’s wife, and seeing her work as a taxidermist. She is very professional and took her work seriously. For us, having everything managed in one place was ideal and greatly reduced the hassle of dealing with taxidermy separately.

Overall, our experience at Koringkoppie Safaris was memorable and thoroughly enjoyable. We have booked another hunt for the summer of 2025, and my daughter who is now 12 and has taken hunter safety in the U.S., is looking forward to being part of the hunt.
 

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