James

Welcome to NitroExpress.com. I hope you enjoy your visits here and join in.

Not to beat about the bush I believe it will be difficult to get work in the African safari field but not impossible. South Africa has almost as many registered PHs as international clients per annum. So there is a LOT of competition.

I wouldn't be worrying too much about the right rifle and calibre especially a big-bore. The animals that justify a big-bore are usually out of the financial reach of a PH for sport hunting. If you did get a season's work and got paid nothing, you would hope to at least get a warthog and/or impala out of it. Maybe if you were lucky cull hunting.

I would consider the following courses of action if I wanted to pursue a career in African Professional Hunting or at least joining a camp for a period of time.

The best course of action would be to investigate any personal connections you may have, your family, business associates, your father's friends or associates, neighbours etc.

Perhaps an acquaintance visits Africa for safaris a lot and is a valued client and may be able to provide a reference. A shared name always opens a lot of doors.

Write to a lot of Outfitters and offer your services, labour, skills etc. For free! Professional Hunters get paid very little anyway so until you are established I would not expect much in the way of remuneration. You would be paying your own transport/air fare costs as well.

Remember you will also be competing with black Africans who seem to often work for not much more than tips, some meat occasionally, rough accomodation and maize meal. While on accomodation sometimes it is worth taking note of the accomodation the staff, including guides and PHs sometimes have to put up with. It is NOT the same comfortable standard as the clients in most cases.

Skills - medical, first-aid, mechanical, cooking, language translation, taxidermy etc would all be things to mention if you have them. Perhaps consider paying for and attending a PH course in South Africa or a similar course. Shakari, a member of NitroExpress.com, offers such a course and also some very competitive hunting to accompany the course. Attendance and passing one of these shows a lot of committment.

I hunted in South Africa last year and the camp manager was a PH. He was a excellent 5 star trained chef and a good camp manager. He left the hotel business as he wanted to be a PH and hoped to get an "in" as a camp manager.

Learning enough of the local native langunages is probably very important.

Health - excellent, fit and strong would be good.

Personality and social skills is extremely important. All good PHs I have met are friendly and socialable. Getting on with people and especially clients is essential.

Another way some people get into the industry is via the tour side. They start off as tour guides and workers. Learning the ropes, animals, languages and if they are lucky get noticed and given a chance. There are a number of tour companies from Europe and the USA who employ their nationals - eg overland tour companies, white water rafting companies etc.

Just some ideas for you to consider. One other way to get ahead in any field is to make sales. If you can bring a sufficient amount of sales revenues with you, you will no doubt be seriously considered.

Don't be daunted if this is your ambition. Americans, Europeans and Australians have got into the field working from the bottom. Some get there by buying into companies or concessions. Others have done it the lucky and hard way. So if you want it give it a good try and keep at it, picking up as many skills as you can as you go.

Good luck and have fun getting there.