A Sad Story

[ozzyshane]

Louis what a stand up act Thanks Shane

[Benjy]

Wow! Great offer Louis, If Ben dosen't accept, I would be glad to!      

Benjy

[oldbohntr]

Do it, Ben.  I've been lucky to have two good experiences in RSA(although some less than great ones elsewhere).  It's obvious that Louis is one of the good guys.  I'll betcha he gives exactly what he promises and more!  

As someone else said, you may suffer further when you find out how this bunch of crooks handled your trophies.  Surely hope not!  But, it takes a long time to get everything back home and/or mounted.  Can either be the crowning glory, or just some more pain!  Sure hope yours turns out fine, and you take another trip - and that turns out to be wonderful.

[nick_the_tinkerer]

Originally posted by SHS:
HI Ben

I am very sorry to hear about your terrible experience! I do understand the fact that things do go wrong at times whilst on safari however it should never come down to this kind of an experience.

Ben it is a great shame that there are Outfitters who simply don't care it actually makes me sick to think the hard work we put in over a season to make our very grateful clients happy and then have a fellow competitor destroying the very industry that we love and have to live off.

While contacting PHASA would be the right thing to do, I would have to say they would only be able to act if this Outfit is a member of PHASA. I think it should be mandatory for South African Outfitters to join PHASA so that we might be able to weed out the bad guy's.

I would like to make a difference here even though I am not able to change your first experience of Africa I would like to try and offer you a second trip to South Africa.

This hunt would be donated at no cost to you and a fellow hunter:

7 Day Plains Game Safari for 2 Hunters

This includes:

1x Arrival Day
1x Departure Day
5x Full Hunting Day’s hunting 1 on 1 with your PH
2x Impala
1x Blue Wildebeest
1x Gemsbuck

The above rates include the following:
•   The full use of all facilities in the camp such as the swimming pool and satellite television
•   A daily laundry service is also available at no extra cost
•   Full catering: early morning coffee & rusks, brunch, snacks, dinner, all soft drinks and alcoholic beverages in moderation
•   Hunting: a fully licensed Professional Hunter, trackers, skinners, all camp staff, transport to and from blinds, picking up of trophies, field preparation of any game taken and transportation of trophies to shipping company
•    Transport by vehicle from Johannesburg International Airport

The above rates excludes the following:
•   Accommodations prior to and after safari
•   Transport by vehicle between other Hunting Provinces
•   Taxidermy work and shipping of trophies to final destination

These are not cull animals all of the animals included in this package are trophy animals.

Once again I am really saddened to read about this horrible ordeal and I sincerely hope that this would make a difference.

Best Regards
Louis van Bergen

there is a man that believes in himself and his business!

[Juan Matos]

People calling you a "walking wallet", racing each other over 120, under the influence of rum and coke, the yogurt granola breakfast, skimpy lunches, the tip talk...This trip was a disaster.  Sorry it happed to you.  

If I ever go to Africa I'll make sure to talk to Buff, TradTusker, Prairie Drifer and others who I trust to get a feel for who to book with.

[LEOPARD]

That's bad, Ben. Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience. Some great advice has been given regarding contacting PHASA and SCI.

Hope you get something out of it.

[nineworlds9]

WTH!!!!!  Man oh man, you're a better man than I, Im pretty sure I would have turned that into an international incident.  My temper couldn't have handled that total utter BS!!!  Ahh!

[hntngrl]

WOW, that was painful to even read. I went on my first African safari in June 2012 and it was the best experience of my life. I hope that you give it another shot someday because you deserve to experience the REAL African bush with an excellent outfitter. I went with Infinito Safaris (  website here ) and Charl and his crew worked so incredibly hard to make sure my safari was nothing short of incredible. The food was great. Homecooked and fresh. Big breakfasts and we ate wild game for lunch and dinner every day. The hunting was great, we saw tons of game with trophy sized animals being fairly common. Charl's operation is very professional and well organized. All staff were friendly and could speak English, they never drank to excess, and made sure we had everything we needed/wanted. They even remembered what we preferred for breakfast. For example, I like a hot breakfast with meat. Once they learned that, they made sure I had meat with my breakfast every day after that. Also, they had a full bar with local liquors. We never had to drive more than 20 minutes to our hunting spots, and it was often less than that.

If you ever do decide to hunt Africa again (and you absolutely should!!), I can get you some contact information with a friend of mine who goes every year. This friend owns an archery pro shop and you can even choose to go with him on his trip. That's what my husband and I did and it was amazing. I killed 4 animals (two of them made Roland Ward), and had three of them in the salt in the first 4 days of my hunt. My husband killed 3 animals and missed his 4th. The taxidermy should be here by November of this year. We are currently saving for our second trip there and hope to go in two years. If you have any more questions, PM me. Sorry you had to endure such a terrible experience       :(

[Gil Verwey]

I have dreamed of an African Safari all my life. I still intend to go. I can't believe the hunt you experienced.

I like being remote but would like to eat at least two meals a day. I would like to experience a remote camp and not a lodge. I would feel just as bad if they promised a remote camp and I wound up in a 5 star lodge.

This thread has cut my search for a reputable PH. I don't have to search further than Spiral Horn Safaris and Louis van Bergen. One day when I have the loot I will be booking with them.

Very sorry to hear this experience you had. I sure wouldn't let one guy ruin my dream. He wins if you do.

Gil

[Gil Verwey]

I would also like to say I admire Louis van Bergen's integrity and generosity. You rarely get to see integrity like that.

[ermont]

I just got back two weeks ago from my second great hunt in Africa. I had a great trip with another outfitter. I want to go back in two years. It will be with Spiral Horns. I applaud what you did.

[Scitty]

Hey Ben

Sorry to hear about your experience, I feel embarrassed! there are some real nasty folks out there with only their best interest at heart! parasites! I'm only reading this now as I am a newbie to both trad archery and the site. My only request would not to be put off by my beautiful country by your bad experience. I do understand the disappointment but maybe when I am more proficient and ready for a hunt you could join me here in RSA so I can show you a different side.

I'm sure I will get to know the  bow hunting scene better  as I get into it a bit more and hopefully will be able to provide you with top class info in the future.

Juan Human

[redpepper49]

Get references . Just got back from a great hunt with Kudu safaris .


every thing was what they said and more.

[Ray Hammond]

So what happened????