I don't think that the PH necessarily needs to know anything about the client in advance, other than information about age, gender, and general health. The PH will find out everything else that he needs to know about the client in the bush!

The client needs to be in good physical condition, at least as good as he can be in. He needs to get a handle on any substance abuse problems he might have well before the safari. If he wants to stay perpetually drunk around the fire every night, he shouldn't go. If the client wants to just bounce around in the rig everyday, have the PH and trackers spot all of the game for him and he only plans to truly participate in the program when someone presses his button and tells him to when shoot, he shouldn't go.

The client should also do his homework, learn about the animals, the people, and the country in advance, put in plenty of practice time at the range, put in some practice time behind the camera, read books on Africana, etc., etc.

The client should buy the best possible rifles that he can possibly afford that are chambered for standard factory cartridges -- he should invest in the best possible ammunition as well -- then thoroughly test and put in PLENTY of practice time with same. Leave the tight-chambered beanfield rifles with 6.5-20x 50 mm scopes and ANYTHING that doesn't feed properly -- as in 100% perfect all the time -- as well as all wildcats -- at home.

As a practical matter, for an expensive safari on the other side of the world, the client shouldn't step over a dollar to pick up a dime and cut corners on any of his clothing, guns and ammunition, evacuation/health/gun insurance, optical/photographic equipment, or medications. The client doesn't need a lot of equipment for a safari, but what he does need have should all be the best that he can possibly afford.

Also, no matter how long a safari the client is booked for, he should take as much trophy fee money as he possibly can. Airfare costs the same no matter how many days the safari is, and those safari days cost the same no matter what. So the client should take as many animals as he possibly can while he's there and make the utmost use of his time. No one is ever quite, 100 % sure of if or when he'll be able to go back, so any African hunter should shoot as much game of trophy quality as he can NOW.

Strike while the iron's hot!

AD