| That famous hunting author, Peter Hathaway | | | | maximum benefit from your hunting adventure. |
| Capstick, to whom we in the African hunting | | | | Also consider what species you plan to hunt. |
| industry all owe so very much, wrote the | | | | Some, like cats for example require a certain |
| following: | | | | specialist expertise that usually only comes with |
| "I've never seen a job description for a | | | | age and experience, so often an older and more |
| Professional Hunter but I think the job description | | | | patient Professional Hunter may sometimes be a |
| might read something like this: | | | | better choice to guide you on these types of |
| WANTED: Young active man interested in low and | | | | hunts. Although there are exceptions to that rule. |
| infrequent pay to play bwana in remote bushveldt. | | | | Two young but absolutely superb Professional |
| Must be proven raconteur and socialite without | | | | Hunters who have learnt their trade from the |
| liver trouble, expert card player, bartender, | | | | very best are Wikus Groenewald and Cinton van |
| caterer, barbecuer, philosopher, African historian. | | | | Tonder. These two guys are amongst the very |
| Experience in sanitary engineering, local | | | | best in the business despite their tender years. |
| architecture, labour relations, navigation, medicine | | | | Unfortunately for them, some clients look at |
| and pharmacology, botany, zoology, ichthyology, | | | | Wikus and Clinton and assume that because they |
| mineralogy, entomology, butcher, taxidermist, | | | | look so young, they are inexperienced. Nothing |
| dietetics, optics, photography and radio navigation | | | | could be further from the truth. I'd go into the |
| essential. Applicant should speak at least two black | | | | thick stuff where the big 'n uglies lurk with or for |
| African languages fluently as well as one other | | | | those two guys absolutely anytime. |
| modern European tongue. A knowledge of | | | | The Professional Hunter client relationship is a |
| mechanics, driving, gunsmithing, toxicology, | | | | complex one. Most develop into a very close |
| ballistics, tracking, marksmanship, handloading, and | | | | friendship and those friendships often last for |
| experience as a bodyguard are required. | | | | many years and sometimes for life. Indeed many |
| Benefits are a twenty four hour day, unlimited | | | | of my closest friends started as clients. When this |
| fresh air, including rain, sun and dust, no medical | | | | happens, the relationship often changes to one of |
| dental or life insurance and no retirement benefits. | | | | 'hunting buddies' rather than a strictly business |
| Applicant should supply his own rifles. Vehicles on | | | | relationship. When I hunt with my buddies such as |
| a per diem basis. | | | | Peter Lang or Bruce Ferreira for example, It's |
| The duties of a Professional Hunter on safari are | | | | more like I'm having a hunting holiday rather than |
| essentially the same as those of a ship's captain | | | | conducting a hunt on a Professional basis. They in |
| and with the same responsibilities. He's everything | | | | return, hunt in a manner that I don't need to |
| from the social director to the ship's surgeon, if | | | | second guess their next move. |
| needed. He's the author of the strategy of the | | | | Professional Hunters vary enormously in age, |
| hunting plan, but also the tactician as to make | | | | experience, attitude and pretty much anything |
| each stalk. He keeps the peace among the staff, | | | | and everything else you can possibly think of. A |
| oversees the food and drink, translates and | | | | more diverse bunch of guys and girls, you'd |
| interprets, sees that the trophies are properly | | | | probably never meet. Because of this, it's |
| handled and is shooting coach, gunsmith, stand up | | | | advisable to try to choose a Professional Hunter |
| comedian and diplomat any time he is called on to | | | | that's matches your preferences. Although a good |
| be so. A Professional Hunter is perhaps best | | | | PH will watch his client to see how he's coping |
| summed up in the observation that he is the | | | | with the longer marches and unaccustomed |
| social equal of anybody while on safari, up to and | | | | exercise, a super fit young PH that is in the habit |
| including a duke." | | | | if running up mountains on a daily basis may not |
| Also from Ian Goss, Chief examiner of | | | | always be the ideal match to a 55 year old client |
| Professional Hunters, KZN..... | | | | with a waistline problem. |
| "All of the above implies and demands that every | | | | Professional Hunters are no more free of moods |
| part of your behaviour has to be highly | | | | than you are, and you need to remember that |
| professional, your skill exceptional, your integrity | | | | they work incredibly hard and have not only, to |
| and honesty of the highest standard, and your | | | | conduct your hunt, but they also need to |
| business ethics above reproach." | | | | supervise the entire hunting operation as well. So |
| Not all Professional Hunters are equal and you | | | | it's a good idea to try to give them a bit of |
| need to consider whether your own hunting | | | | personal time and not expect them to entertain |
| desires will mesh with those of your Professional | | | | you 24 hours a day. |
| hunter. I, for example, believe there's a lot more | | | | Many Professional Hunters, myself included make |
| to an African hunting safari, than just going out to | | | | it a rule never to go to bed before the client for |
| hunt and kill. I have a deep and abiding interest in | | | | safety reasons...... so another piece of advice I'd |
| the bush around me and the smaller inhabitants of | | | | offer is to try to get to bed at a reasonable |
| that bush. If you hunt with me, unless you tell me | | | | hour... especially bearing in mind that both you and |
| to shut up, I'll spend some of our time talking to | | | | he will be up well before first light the following |
| you about the trees and bush around us. I'll rattle | | | | morning..... and remember your PH will have been |
| on about medicinal qualities, scientific names and | | | | doing that all season. You might be able to afford |
| uses of trees and grasses etc. I'll talk to you | | | | to be tired and not firing on all cylinders when |
| about birds and small mammals, I'll also point out | | | | you're hunting, but remember your Professional |
| animal behaviour patterns and my interpretation | | | | Hunter cannot afford that particular luxury. Ever! |
| of them etc. More than one client has told me I'm | | | | With this mind, it's probably a good idea for you |
| really a frustrated teacher. | | | | bring a book or two or an i-pod to entertain |
| Other Professional Hunters may simply ignore the | | | | yourself on the odd occasion you might be alone. |
| bush and concentrate on the hunting and nothing | | | | Also remember that your Professional Hunter is a |
| else. So it's always a good idea to ask about | | | | professional. He's there to keep you safe, conduct |
| whom your Professional Hunter will be and what | | | | your safari, inform you and sometimes entertain |
| his interests are. If you can match your own | | | | you, but he doesn't clean your rifles etc for you. |
| interests to those of the guy who will be guiding | | | | If you want that kind of thing done for you, bring |
| your particular safari, then you'll gain the | | | | your butler. |