Hi Dave,

As I am the one who posted the comment you quoted I feel compelled to tell my storie. I have since travelled to two SCI conventions across the country, spoke with a number of PHs and booking agents both in person and via email and just recently booked a trip to Tanzania for DG and RSA wing shooting.

The good news is there are a lot of very good guys out there and I could not belive how eager everyone was to help. I found many people I would love to hunt with and in the end I booked with Steve Robinson of Kuduland safaris and I am very glad I did. The bad news is if it sounds to good to be true it probably is be careful whom you go with I looked for reputation then price not vice versa.

It is very easy to become overwhelmed with the search but once you find a PH and start working with them you would be very surprised how simply it really is. Steve and Susan literally took care of every part of my trip from bookings, hotel reservations, a list of every aspect of cost not only for there part but down to airport waiting lounges and porter tips, arrangements for a second safari in a different part of the country on the same trip and I will have a representative with me every step of the way. I simply told them what I wanted and they made it happen.

I am arranging my flights all but the private charters from Kuduland through Kathi Klimes at World Travel Mart Inc. and she as well as setup all the flights is taking care of insurance and has offered to help with visas along with many other parts of the trip I already had sorted out through Steve, not to mention very nice to speak with about Africa in general.

I now feel much better about the trip and have actually started enjoying the planning rather then being overwhelmed by it. I would suggest you have Steve send you his information package on ins and outs of a African safari it help me very much in the start of things.

I heard one thing over and over and it was truly the only advice I needed in retrospect. Find a good PH, booking agent etc... ask questions and trust him, better advice I could not have received.

Find yourself a PH, outfitter or booking agent you feel good about, be up front and honest in your expectations and your fears and you will find a good one will take care of more then you would have hoped and give you a realistic outline of your trip. If at any point you fell something is not to your liking simply speak up they are truly here to work for you.

Your lucky in the fact this forum has many very well know and respected honest booking agents and outfitters to lend help. Good luck on your search and have a good hunt.

James F. Nixon III