January 2017

Forward by Edmond Rouillard (outfitter):

Dear friends, I trust you are all well. Although a bit late, may I use this opportunity to wish you all the best for 2017. 

We had fantastic rains late last year after the worst drought in 108 years in many regions of South Africa. Since then very little – and besides being “hot-az-hell” the world around here is screaming for more rain. 

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1. Our 2017 SCI Las Vegas and USA plans. 

2. 2016 season hunting recap as well as one of our personnel that was killed by a buff last week.

3. Info on the future of lion and leopard hunting. (read the letter to Mr Leopard!)

4. The latest sad state of affairs on rhino poaching.  

5. Elephant, rhino, buffalo, sable, roan and plains game deals we have going for this year.

6. Latest gallery pictures.. more on our website www.harloosafaris.co.za Check it out!

Enjoy!

Yours Sincerely

Edmond Rouillard (outfitter)

2. Recap on the Harloo Safaris 2016 season and a worker killed by a buffalo bull

Our safari season was well beyond our wildest expectations! The safaris were a success, the turnover fantastic and probably of the best years we have ever had!

Close to 19 buff were taken, most of which were very good trophies. We ran a special on our “narrower” older bulls due to the drought and they sold very well. Especially to European clients.

The rhino market has been quieter than usual, and off course no leopard or lion were taken due to the permit issues. Besides the plains game, we took a fair amount of sable and hippo as well. We are upbeat about our 2017 schedule and the year looks promising. 

The ongoing drought has made a huge impact in South Africa. Some reserves I know of, are down to 46 out of 167 buffalo,  28 out of 148 wildebeest etc. There was just absolutely nothing to eat. Kruger Park lost hundreds of hippo. It was just terrible, and of course feeding (if you could get some) was incredibly expensive. In neighbouring Kingdom of Swaziland over 70 000 cattle died!

Many different species of trees that are known to be well over 100 years old have died – and many of them. Big Lakes went totally dry! But, as all things in life, nothing lasts forever. And it’s already looking much better. But we need more rain!

Our new manager Niel Uys has made a huge positive difference since joining us at Harloo Safaris.

The Camps, kitchens and gardens were upgraded, a new shooting range was built, and the scouts quarters have also received a good upgrade with new rooms, better ablutions as well as social areas added. He has also made a lot of headway with anti poaching. Snares, axes and shotguns have been confiscated, many dogs shot and poachers have been arrested. His passion and knowledge for bowhunting is obvious, and he has given our bow facilities a lot of attention as well. 

Last week we had a very unfortunate incident where a worker (29) was killed by a buff bull. He was part of a “invasive bush control management” team. He wondered into an area after hours where they worked earlier that day to fetch stuff he forgot there that morning. By the looks of it, he surprised an old dugga bull on the way there and was subsequently very badly mauled. His machete was found approximately 14 feet above the ground in a tree branch. Our sincere condolences to his family.

3. The future of lion and leopard hunting

Leopard permits have now for the second season running not been issued in South Africa. 

The future of lion hunting over here also looks bleak.

There has been a lot of activity on this front between government, outfitters and even PHASA (our professional hunter association)

It has caused a lot of bitterness, infighting, splits and mistrust between parties.

It is a sad state of affairs, especially with leopard as I personally know of cats that have been eliminated (snares, poisoning) due to damage caused to valuable game

 Just goes to show again. If something does not have value, it won’t be looked after. 

Dear Mr. Leopard,

The news about a zero quota for Leopard this year and last year is the most short sighted and irresponsible decision ever taken, and sadly taken without the consent of us Private Landowners who provide you with a safe place to live in.

This decision leaves your species without any value to most of us (excluding the few reserves accommodating tourists) and no incentive for the Private Landowner to continue with our free meals and boarding arrangement.

All we wanted was one, preferably an old male member from your family, to sacrifice its life in order to pay only part of your substantial food bill.

What is more reasonable than that?

The Buffalo calf you took the other day was an expensive meal and not part of our arrangement, but we will not hold that against you.

As you Mr Leopard cannot speak for yourself, we will make sure the Authorities take note of your predicament and realise the short sightedness of their actions, before we decide as a last resort to either send you to heaven or to a State reserve where we will at least share your board and lodging with all the tax payers in the country.

Despite all the proof that laws are not going to save your species, this is now on private land, only your value to us will safeguard your future.

Sincerely

Mr. Private Landowner

(written by K. Landman)

4. Rhino Poaching:

The graph below says it all. 

162 killed in our state of Zululand alone of which there were 7 killed in private parks, and 155 in state parks.

In 2015 alone 1338 were killed in South Africa

Since 2008 nearly 6000!

At approx. $30 000 to $40000 a piece that means a lot of money.

It is so bad now that reserves and ranches do not want to risk keeping them.

5. Fantastic elephant, buffalo, sable and other deals on offer:

(Especially if you have interest in completing your Big 5)

ELEPHANT:

•    Trophy fee for elephant bull.

•    Exportable ivory to the USA 

•    Daily rates as per brochure $430 pppd, min 7 days.

•    In Zululand – area approx 40 000 acres.

•    Size: in the region of 10 to 25 pounds.

•    Price: $1550 per pound ivory. Cleaned and weighed after the hunt. 

•    Expect realistically 15 to 20 pound - big adult bulls. 

•    Permits, license fees, field staff all included, no hidden fees. 

•    So you could spend as little as $18 000 to bag your elephant bull!

•    Regular price up to $100 000 in South Africa for 40 – 60 pound bulls and very scarce.

•    First come basis. Limited numbers available. 

•    Usual stuff what is in or excluded. 

RHINO BULL: (1 AVAILABLE)

•    Trophy fee for big mature old rhino bull.

•    Exportable horns to the USA 

•    Daily rates as per brochure $430 pppd, min 4 days.

•    In Zululand 

•    Size: in the region of 25” to 26” inches front horn.

•    Price: $42 000. 

•    Permits, license fees, field staff all included, no hidden fees. 

•    Regular price $60 000 up to $75 000 for a rhino this size.

•    First come basis. 

•    Usual stuff what is in or excluded. 

CAPE BUFFALO FROM 40” TO 43” SPECIAL A:

•    Trophy fee for old, hard bossed dugga bull up to 43” spread. 

•    All in for $12 500 

•    Including 3 nights for one hunter, permits, license fees and field staff all included, no hidden fees. 

•    Regular price up to $17 000 in South Africa 

•    First come basis. Limited numbers available. 

•    Usual stuff what is in or included below. 

•    15% discount. 

CAPE BUFFALO UP TO < 40” SPECIAL B:

 •    Trophy fee for old, hard bossed dugga bull up to <40” spread! 

•    All in for $9 900 

•    Including 3 nights for one hunter, permits, license fees and field staff all included, no hidden fees. 

•    First come basis. Limited numbers available. 

•    25 % discount. 

BUFFALO SPECIAL UP TO 37” SPECIAL C

1.    Trophy fee for old, hard bossed thick necked dugga bull up to 37” spread - and tough to hunt! 

2.    All in for $7 500 

3.    Including 3 nights for one hunter, permits, license fees and field staff all included, no hidden fees. 

4.    First come basis. Limited numbers available. 

5.    35% discount. 

SABLE:

•    Trophy fee for black mature Sable bull up to 40” 

•    All in for $6 700. 

•    Trophy fee for black mature Sable bull up to 42” 

•    All in for $7 800. Regular price $9 500 and up. 

•    Plus daily rate as per brochure 

•    Permits, license fees, field staff all included, no hidden fees. 

•    First come basis. Limited numbers available. 

ROAN:

1.    Trophy fee for mature Roan bull up to 27” 

2.    All in for $6 700. 

3.    Trophy fee for mature Roan bull up bigger than 27” 

4.    All in for $7 800. Regular price $9 500 and up. 

5.    Plus daily rate as per brochure 

6.    Permits, license fees, field staff all included, no hidden fees. 

7.    First come basis. Limited numbers available. 

NYALA:

•    Trophy fee for nyala bull (expect 26” to 29” realistically) 

•    All in for $1990. Regular price around $3 000 and up 

•    Plus daily rate as per brochure 

•    Permits, license fees, field staff all included, no hidden fees. 

NB!! PLAINS GAME SPECIAL FOR THE 2017 SEASON

Choose any 6 species or 6 animals in total: Grey Duiker, Warthog , Impala, Blesbuck, Wildebeest, Zebra, Kudu and Nyala 

Daily rate for 2 hunters, 2:1 hunt, 10 days, 9 nights in camp. 

Grand Total for all above worth approx. $14 000. 

2016 Special price is $8 990 for the lot, daily rates and trophy fees included. 

This amounts to nearly 35% discount! 

Please note some species are more expensive e.g. Nyala which makes the package pricier. It's important to compare apples when looking at a package, and not the amount or number of animals included! Nyala generally sell for $2300 each and up, so for one Nyala up to 6 "cheaper" species can be added to make it look good.