Just a cautionary note after reading a few recent horror stories on deposits paid and hunts disappearing.
The African hunting industry has a number of ways to book and pay for a hunt. You can book and pay through a Booking Agent, directly with a PH, or directly with a concession holder or landowner. All three are entirely different animals especially should something go sideways.
A lot of PHs are marketing hunts that do not have any real skin in the game in regards to owning hunting farms and/or concessions. They entice a hunter to hunt with them, but at the end of the day, they in turn have agreements with landowners or concession holders. You sign an agreement with a PH assuming they have everything 100% accounted for with the hunting farm/concession. This is all well and good unless deposits are paid and hunts don't materialize. As many PHs are living hand to mouth, deposits can be spent long before the hunt happens. This leaves the client and PH in a very difficult position.
Same situation can happen with concession holders. Suddenly the government decides to shutdown a concession just before hunting is to begin. This leaves the client struggling to either negotiate their refund (hopefully their deposit hasn't been spent) or have enough confidence to postpone their hunt until the following year.
Booking with an agent also has a potential downside. Many are far removed from the transaction and are basically independent agents working for a commission. While they can be very helpful for first timers, they are largely powerless to intervene for the client should something not go according to plan. In my opinion, they are more likely to side with the PH/landower as they represent their future business. Lose a client, no big deal. Lose access to hunts, that's the end of your business.
So as a client, make sure you ask all the right questions; even the uncomfortable one's. Be careful with deposits and make sure you fully understand the contractual side of the hunt. But know that if something does go wrong, you are a US citizen trying to get your funds back from a foreign entity - not an easy process.
And always remember TIA; $hit happens... a lot.
