The Hunting Blog

Game farms growing as pillar of tourism economy

russelsprt — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:47:58 +0000

GAME farming and hunting is becoming an increasingly important pillar in the economic development of the country, with an enormous capacity to improve the social, economic and cultural life of local communities, a study says.

According to Prof Melville Saayman, a specialist in t ourism e conomics, management and development at North West University, the study’s results have dismissed myths about the perceived negative effects of game farming, the quality of its jobs and its input to the economy as compared to conventional livestock farming.

About 20,5-million hectares (17%) of South African land are used for wildlife ranching and conservation, compared to 72,6-million hectares (59%) for commercial agriculture. About 200000 South Africans take part in hunting as a recreational activity.

In a survey that measured the contribution of the industry in provincial economies using the Northern Cape as a case study, provincial government and private sector investment in the development and promotion of the industry resulted in game and hunting farming being valued at R774,3m, according to 2007-08 figures.

With regard to the employment benefits in the Northern Cape, the survey sample indicates that hunting establishments employ about 5180 workers.

In terms of direct employment, 2486 (48%) are coloured, 2176 (42%) are black and 518 (10%) white, of which 134 are active professional hunters, while 67 are active hunting operators.

The province has at least two active black hunting operators and 15 active black professional hunters.

The average farm size in the Northern Cape on which hunting is conducted is 6145ha, w hile hunting establishments have been operational on average for 16 years, dating back to the first democratic election .

The Northern Cape hunting fraternity provides a bed capacity of 11972 beds, with the average bed occupancy rate standing at 48% a year. This is about 10% lower than the South African norm. However, the study highlights the fact that hunting is seasonal.

Prof Saayman says the figures show that provinces and the national Department of Tourism need to “promote the industry aggressively”. “It is a job creator and an active contributor to rural development,” he says.

Asked about the tension between stock farmers and game farmers due to suspicion that game animals are carriers of disease detrimental to cows, sheep and goats, Prof Saayman says the two can coexist and in most instances animals can even be mingled without one kind exposing the other to any danger.

He says there is sufficient evidence and knowledge to properly manage animals such as blue and black wildebeest, which have to be separated from domesticated stock.

Animals such as the kudu, springbok and antelope have co- existed for hundreds of years alongside farming stock.

Most hunting for biltong is carried out in Limpopo (37%), followed by the Northern Cape (15%) and North West (14%). Of the animals most frequently hunted, springbok top the list, followed by impala, blesbok , kudu and warthog.

Other provinces being studied include Limpopo and the Free State, where the industry has been gaining momentum.

Results are expected later this year.

In the technical report on the state of the wildlife-hunting and safari industry in the Waterberg district in Limpopo, Theo Venter of the South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association says there is limited infrastructure available in the country to certify game meat according to the Red Meat Safety Act.

Game farmers are proposing investment in infrastructure to provide proper certification and processing services to the sector on a bigger scale.

He says less than 5% of the total game population is estimated to be of trophy hunting quality, despite the high demand for trophy animals.

“A trophy animal refers primarily to mature males of an appropriate quality, of which there are only so many.”

“This is a constraint on the future growth of the sector as it is bound by the total size of the industry’s game population,” Mr Venter says.

Government needs to promote the industry .… It is a job creator and contributor to rural development

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Becoming a Professional Hunter

russelsprt — Mon, 24 May 2010 09:25:22 +0000

When I first told my (then) wife I wanted to qualify as a Professional Hunter, she looked at me aghast and yelled, “you wanna be a WHAT! Are you mad?” When I attended my PH training course and examination, the sentiment was repeated……. but thankfully, this time, in humour!
We get many e-mails from young men and the occasional young lady asking us how they get a job in the industry. Some erroneously see it as a ‘glamour’ job, some are genuine hunters and some simply need psychiatric help. Sometimes sorting the wheat from the chaff isn’t easy, so I usually tend to give as much advice as I can and then it’s up to them if they choose to pursue the matter.
Getting started in the industry isn’t easy for anyone, but it’s not impossible. After all, if an Englishman like me can do it, then anyone can. Two of the hardest challenges you’ll be faced with is getting your initial training and then getting your first few seasons’ experience, especially with dangerous game. I was lucky in that my first few years experience was in a more relaxed generation and I was the luckiest SOB in the world to meet and become friends with the late Mr Vivian Good. Viv was not only a great PH, he was also a good man who gave unstintingly of his advice, hospitality and friendship. When I first went along to get my official training and sit my first PH exams, I struck lucky yet again by attending the Goss Professional Hunting Academy in Kwa Zulu Natal, run by Ian Goss. Ian is a tough, ‘old school’ taskmaster, but he gives a superb standard of training and strict examination. Even today, when I tell someone I passed with Ian Goss, they’ll often comment something like, ‘hell, you must be good then!’
One of the most valuable things Ian gave to me was his parting advice as I drove off with my very first PH licence tucked in my pocket. He told me, “Steve, don’t for a moment think that I’ve made you into a good Professional Hunter. I haven’t, but I have put you on the road to becoming one, and as you take your first steps down that road, you’ll learn something new every day.” Nearly 20 years later, that statement still rings as true today as it was then. I’m still learning new things about the business on a daily basis and I doubt I’ll ever be able to thank Ian enough for all his help, friendship and support he’s given me over the years.
The South African Professional Hunting academies, although occasionally criticised by some, are a very good way for the novice to start his PH training and get his first licence, but remember, if you’re not a South African resident, you are forbidden to sit the exams, which means that although you’ll have completed the training, there is no possible way you can actually gain the PH licence.
Don’t even consider attending one of these academies unless you have at least a reasonably good knowledge of the basics such as rifles, ballistics and a general knowledge of the common mammals in general and hunting in particular. If you turn up not knowing a kudu from 30.06, you’ll be wasting your money and everyone’s time and you may very well get kicked out on your ass!
It should be noted that at the time of writing this article, South Africa is currently considering revising the Professional Hunter training and examination system, and if this happens, the course will become considerably longer, more expensive and harder to complete. The proposed syllabus currently looks like it’ll comprise of something like 150+ unit standards and each unit standard will equate to a day’s work or study.
Another option if you are unable or reluctant to attend one of the South African PH training academies, or even if you do attend the course. Your next step will be to begin looking for your first seasons work.
If you live in South Africa and want to restrict yourself to that country, then it’s fairly straight forward, all you have to do is join PHASA and put an advert in the magazine and hope that something comes up. If you’re from overseas, then it’s a bit more difficult. My advice would be to get on the internet and start researching for good quality hunting companies that might pique your interest and operate in the countries you’d like to work in. Then you get yourself organised with a good quality, professional CV/resume and start sending it to the companies of your choice and asking for work. Remember that even if you offer to work for nothing but keep and tips, and you may well have to, it still costs the safari company a great deal of money to keep you in camp and train you, so if you and your application needs to be of the highest possible standard. If it’s not, then forget it until you can make yourself more desirable to any potential employers. I’ve never forgotten one bloody idiot that wrote to me many years ago telling me that just because he had a masters degree in medieval history, had been chairman of his university clay pigeon club for a year and lived on a farm in the shires, he was ideally suited for me to employ him as a Professional Hunter. Quite why, I could never fathom – he hadn’t even ever fired a rifle and knew zero about even the basics of Africa or the African hunting industry…….. Needless to say, he didn’t get a job, but he did give me a laugh!
If you’re lucky enough to break into the safari industry, and some do manage to do it, you can expect your first season or two to be spent doing some of the more mundane tasks such as road and camp building and vehicle maintenance. You’d better make sure you make a good job of everything you do. Stuff something up and you just might be out of a job the next day. After all, a safari company simply can’t afford vehicle breakdowns in the middle of the bush for instance. – The good news is that if you get it right, you’ll be taking the first steps down the road to a great career.
Working as a PH is a great job, but don’t expect it to ever make you rich. If you want to make serious money, go get a job as a lawyer or a banker or something, sure it’s not as much fun as working as a PH, but you’ll probably make enough money to come on safari on a regular basis. If you feel you can forego the money in exchange for the lifestyle of a Professional Hunter, then I’d encourage you to go for it. I did, and I’ve never regretted it. My bank manager and my ex-wife might have done, but I never have……..
Steve ‘Shakari’ Robinson
During his almost three decades of working in the African hunting industry, Steve has hunted professionally in six African countries and has a wealth of experience with dangerous game.

http://www.shakariconnection.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=S_Robinson

Find out more about Namibia Hunting Safaris

African Hunting Safaris Are Not All About Killing Animals, Some Of Which Are Protected

russelsprt — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:29:02 +0000

The African hunting safari will take you to some of the most primitive as well as modern places all across Africa. From the lush forests to the expansive savannahs to the tumbling waterfalls to the lofty mountains there is a land of beauty as well as magnificence that awaits you providing you with the opportunity to hunt the best magnificent trophy animals in complete safety.

No Shortage Of Choices

The choices of African hunting safaris are many and you would like the South African safari that has a very spectacular landscape that is much appreciated all across the world. The plateaus of Zimbabwe and its intertwined hills and valleys provide hunters with good gaming opportunities.

There is also Botswana with scrubby savannahs and sandy basins as well as the great Kalahari Desert to provide varied game. The last frontier in Africa is certainly Tanzania which has the Rift Valley as well as vast plains that add a different dimension to the African hunting safari. And, if you wish to go great cat hunting, then take the African hunting safari in Zambia which has flat hills as well as huge valleys that have many of these creatures waiting for you to aim at.

You can shoot with your gun, or with your camera and the African hunting safari gives you the opportunity to shoot different big game including the lion, elephant, leopard as well as antelopes, hippos, giraffes and a whole lot more. You will also find the aardwolf as well as zebra in your sights on an African hunting safari.

You will certainly love the African hunting safari as you bounce on the back of an old jeep in your search for big game including elephants, tigers, gazelles as well as rhinoceroses. Since these animals are usually not found in captivity seeing them live is a big thrill in itself. Also, African hunting safaris have undergone a sea change and they are not all about killing animals, since many of them are protected. The photographer is more welcome and the excitement is the same.

You might choose to go for a night African hunting safari so that you can catch nocturnal animals such as lions, or you may choose to go in a small group aboard a jeep, or be one amongst a large group. You may have to spend the nights in tent villages which mean that often you don’t have to venture too far out to see the animals graze. In any case, your guide would know all the watering holes as well as places where to track animals that you are interested. Check with them and they’ll most willing to give you good advice.

Source: Article Base
Africa Hunting Safaris

Africa – A Perfect Safari Holiday Destination

russelsprt — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:32:16 +0000

The land offers exotic natural scenic beauty and its inhabitants truly in their raw forms to mesmerize your traveling experience. So, if you planning a vacation to rejuvenate your senses, Africa holidays will surely charm you.

Many countries of the continent provide daring Africa safaris capable of holding your nerves including Kenya, Zambia, Namibia, Mauritius, South Africa and others. These holiday safaris give you a chance to hobnob with wild monster and feel their activities. You can also get closer and take some amazing pictures that will remain in your memory for a longer period of time.

Holiday safaris are the main tourist attraction of African nations. People willing to take safari holidays Africa can get appropriate arrangements to fix their meeting with wild beasts. If you are staying at resorts then you can contact their travel & tourism to guide you properly. They will further make you registered with holiday safaris which lead you to see giraffe, gazelle, lions and wild elephants. Imagine how you feel when you see a real lion roaring and establishing his power. The unspeakable emotions and feelings will always stay in your conscious.

African safari holidays are a full package of excitement and danger. Therefore, one should keep utmost care and precaution while planning to go on Africa safaris. Choose your place carefully and always accompany experienced people for the real fun. Do not get out of your vehicle while you are in jungle as monsters can be attacking sometimes. Maintain some distances to capture your fun moments and do not anything that can entice animals to attack you.

Africa offers you some real thrilling safari experiences that you will cherish for long. It is an ultimate vacation which gives you a challenging encounter with several powerful animals of the real jungle. Plan you Africa safari to experience mystique and heart taking encounters and save some good memories.

Myself webmaster of http://www.realafrica.co.uk, a safari holidays information directory of African safari, African safari holidays and holidays safari.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anirban_Bhattacharya

Africa Hunting Safaris | Kowas Adventure

Rifle Hunting

russelsprt — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:23:07 +0000

Rifles are great when one is hunting and they come in various sizes and brands. When one is making a purchase, they should consider rifles that are comfortable. It is best to choose a rifle which you are comfortable with. When looking through different features there are few points to keep in mind. These should include the handling aspect as you will be holding the gun for long periods of time. You should feel comfortable holding the gun.

There are rifles that are used for big games when others can be used to shoot small games. With this in mind, one should choose rifles suitable for the purpose that they want. Rifle hunting can be carried out with famous brands like the Winchester and the Remington. Its always good to try and see if you can be able to use certain rifles for different purposes like shooting lots of games.

There are many different variations and models that are used by hunter and they can range from bolt action to semi automatic and lever action rifles. Ones choice of rifle hunting should be dependent on the type and size of game that they want to kill. They can find help and instructions on using the rifles from the store attendants.

Other rifles are used as light weight bullets when others come in as heavy weight where the bullets used can be slow and large sized ones. For someone that is not good at hunting game, they should try and take some time to learn and practice on that. Rifle hunting might not be great easy and one should be patient to find the best type of rifles that they want.

Source: Ezine Articles
Africa Hunting Safaris

Africa Photographic Safaris Namibia

russelsprt — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:17:05 +0000

Namibia is one of Africa’s mysterious destinations…..

From the scorched moonscape of the Fish River Canyon in the south, to the lush waterways of the Kunene, Kavango and Zambezi rivers in the north, Namibia is an extraordinarily beautiful and varied land. With the oldest desert on earth and the treacherous Skeleton Coast, Namibia still manages to sustain an incredible variety of living things, in terrain that is as striking as it is desolated.

In the south, the ashen landscape tilts gently upward from the scarred canyon of the Orange River to reveal vast gravel plains stretching to the horizon. To the west, the Namib Desert forms a barrier between the interior and the shore of the icy Atlantic. Further inland, petrified forests (dating back 250 million years) stand next to fossil riverbeds snaking across the dry land. Prehistoric-looking trees with gnarled branches rise up out of a boulderland of black rock, and ancient welwitschia plants – seemingly half dead – lie baking in the sun.

But suddenly the landscape changes: in Sossusvlei at the southern end of the Namib-Naukluft Park, the highest dunes in the world, rise up to meet the sky, their sands reflecting the ever-changing light; in the east, the gravel plains give way to yellow and gold grasslands, merging with the gentle hills of the Kalahari, the longest continuous stretch of sand in the world.

In the north, the peaks of the Brandberg Mountains and other rocky islands, such as the Spitzkoppe, signpost one of the world’s richest collections of rock art. Here also are the desert elephants and black rhinos of Damarland, which, like the creatures of the Namib and Kalahari deserts, and other animals of the fossil riverbeds, have made special adaptations to survive the scorching desert conditions.

In the north, Namibia’s wildlife showpiece, Etosha National Park, is home to 114 mammal species, including lion, elephant, giraffe and tens of thousands of antelope. But it is the 340 species of birds, attracted by the ephemeral waters of Etosha Pan, which bring color and vibrance to this great African game reserve, stretching 350 kilometers from east to west. And further east, beyond the Hartmann Mountains of the Kunene Region, a landscape of coneshaped hills gives way to the palm trees and verdant waterways of the Kunene River. All this is the mystery and fascination of a spectacular land that belongs to the 21st century, but which still lies buried in the ancient sands of the past.

Source: Afria hunting safaris

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Going on an African Hunting Safari

russelsprt — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:13:48 +0000

Many people love the notion of going on an African hunting safari and feeling the cool African air as they cruise through the jungle. The thought of it is enough to create vacation dreams for many North Americans, yet translating those dreams to reality can be a little bit complicated. Regardless, that does not stop people from dreaming away about riding on the back of an elephant and enjoying the company of some locals before watching a lion chomp down on its prey. The adventure and majesty of Africa certainly comes alive during a wonderful safari trip.

The term “safari” simply refers to an overland journey. This term has been used to typically refer to visitors in Africa, although it has no actual geographical connotation. There is also a certain thematic element attached to the term, drawing upon visions of khaki clothing and a certain type of hat. Regardless of the stereotypical connotations of the term “safari”, the term still calls upon some adventurous notions that many people desire to discover for themselves.

The original term was a reference to the early big game hunters that frequented African. Men, typically of European descent, would head to Africa to bask in its glory and to partake in the lay of the land. During this trip, the men would gather in hunting parties and hunt down various rare animals. They would take trophies for themselves and display them on walls back home, as was the custom. It became a variable rite of passage for many men in the higher echelon of European culture, maintaining a status grip over those people for quite a few years before hunting became unfashionable.

These times often represent a brutal passage of time in the history of Africa. The notion was that Africa was a piece of property that belonged to Europe and, therefore, the animals on it also belonged to Europe. The historical significance of these safaris often carried deep-seeded notions of control and power to the extent of slavery over the continent, enabling Europeans to virtually rape and pillage the land at their leisure. To this day, that history plagues many Africans.

Now, the term “safari” refers to taking a photo safari. Instead of shooting animals with bullets and keeping the heads mounted on the hearth, people are taking pictures and putting together various photo displays of the magical animals they have seen while on safari in the beautiful continent. These photo safaris are becoming incredibly popular with people of all ages that wish to have the experience of a lifetime taking in the wilderness and grandeur of the incredible continent of Africa.

Safari parks are rather common in North America to draw upon the distinction of the African safari. This is a zoo-like tourist attraction that creates an environment where people can observe all sorts of exotic animals from a safe vantage point. The safari park is usually walked through or ridden through in a vehicle that would be driven by a guide. The guide describes the animals that are seen and offers a historical context for the park, giving tourists and guests a complete tour of the park and engaging them in knowledgeable conversation.

The game reserves in Africa tend to be a lot larger than a safari park, though. For this reason, most people still wish to head to Africa to see the magic of nature for themselves in as natural a setting as possible. Within the confines of a game reserve or a safari park, people are engaged with the pure wonder of seeing such incredible animals such as the lion or giraffe. As long as such areas are able to protect some of these animals, people will be able to participate in photo safaris for many years to come. The love of animals, exotic and domestic, may well be the greatest ally to the protection of various species threatened with extinction.

Source: Article Base
Accommodtaion in Namibia

African Safari Trips – A Taste of Wild and Romantic African Adventure

russelsprt — Mon, 18 May 2009 09:48:00 +0000

Safari is an East African tradition and means to travel or journey. An African safari is a popular trip that has been undertaken for centuries by both Africans and other nations visiting Africa. The most enduring image of safari is the British explorer in his white hat and shorts, hunting for big game in the wilds of Africa. Africa is a very popular destination due to beautiful terrain and varied wildlife. African safari began centuries ago with Arabs and Swahilis making long voyages into mainland Africa to do trade with other markets. The word became synonymous with the caravans, hunting, and the sense of adventure. The traders brought ivory, supplies and slaves. Thankfully British control put an end to the slavery. The British soon brought people from all over the world looking for Safari adventure. What really attracted them was Africa’s wildlife, which still does today. Some people wanted to observe and study the amazing African animals, while others wanted to hunt them. Needless to say, soon it became necessary to establish an ethical and legal code protecting the animal population from over hunting. Today hunting is very strictly regulated to protect the animals. Many western explorers gained massive fame and their tales of Africa started the trend that still goes on today. They told romantic stories of the freedom and beauty of Africa, as well as serious tales of the dangers that face explorers. Drought, wild animals, disease and hostile tribes are dangers that still exist today and so the modern safari will be equipped very well and with caution. A safari trip that is unprepared for disaster could run into very serious, possibly fatal, trouble. Safari trips to Africa are easy to find and book. They usually start by taking you to a lodge where there are observation decks, entertainment, bars and beds. These lodges act as a starting point for the convoys of vehicles that will take you across the land and into game territory. Just like in the past, many safaris have a native African guide who adds his knowledge of the terrain and survival skills.

Source: Ezine Articles
Africa Hunting Safaris