Pro Safaris Africa

04/04/2018

Not our normal season to be getting into the swing of the hunting season, but an adventurous client and tenatious PH( Brian Van Blerk) and his team were rewarded with exceptional specimens for their efforts out of our Chishakwe camp in the Save.

05/03/2018

Thank you 'Rifa' for a challenging but truly life-enriching 10 years as your students, guardians and kin. Hopefully you will invite us back for a visit some time soon.

As we wish the new concessionnaire every success in their venture in Rifa, we now take a big step back and contemplate new adventures in other magical wilderness preserves, both in and around Zimbabwe, with all the friends we have made through Rifa.

While we do this - enjoy with us as we reminisce....

Louis Cliff Bruce Frik Spike Adam Marc Tanya Liesel Leanne Sharleen Corneli and to all the staff and everyone else too numerous to mention - well done on a great 10 years!

02/03/2018

Brilliant!!!!

02/03/2018

For 10 years we did everything we could to stem the rampant tide of poaching sweeping the entire Zambezi Valley. Let us hope that the new concession holder has even half the passion we had for ALL the wildlife in Rifa. Salut to those who put their life and livelihood on the line for wildlife.

01/03/2018

The rot has started - today we learn of one of the largest hunting operators in Tanzania finally saying "enough is enough". Eric Pasanisi has handed back all his areas to government as it is impossible to continue funding anti poaching management in his vast areas in the face of anti-hunting influenced bans on lion and elephant to the US.

The Antis will consider this a victory and will be none-the wiser to the consequences of their actions because there will be no-one on the ground to document the inevitable slaughter of all the wildlife that no longer has protection.

A sad day indeed.

28/02/2018

We experienced first hand the scourge of the elephant poachers in Rifa over the latter years of our operation there. Completely disheartening and frustrating at this time of year.

Our rains have finally arrived and brought with them much needed relief to the bush and wildlife in Zimbabwe. And the promise of staving off an imposing drought.

This is a magical time. A time when many of our herbivores bear their young to the delight of the predators, a profusion of migrant birds follow the food explosions and gathering thunderclouds offer mind altering sunsets.

Affectionately referred to as "The Green Season" the months from December to March are typically a quiet time for most of our members and the safari industry in general. Wildlife disperses from their restrictive concentrations around waterholes with the proliferation of water and flush of food. Accessibility to the wilderness becomes difficult and the constant threat of being drenched is a deterrent to most tourists.

However for those brave enough to weather the odd storm and are not only looking for the mega herds of the dry season - our green season has endless wonders to offer under the guidance of the ZPHGA professionals with accessible camps.

One of the unfortunate downsides to our rainy season is an upsurge in poaching - and in particular elephant poaching. Difficulty in detecting poacher activity in vast areas of seemingly impenetrable bush - due to a decrease in navigable roads, and no safaris on the ground as a result, is a real problem at this time of year.

We salute all our members engaged in the difficult task of countering this in their areas of operation in extremely trying conditions.

(Pictures trickling in from members of whats happening around Zimbabwe's wildernesses at this time of year, will be added here as we get them)

26/02/2018

26/02/2018

26/02/2018

26/02/2018

28/05/2017

It's with deepest regret that we have to inform our friends and past hunters with Prosaf, that Esau our tracker, driver and skinner passed away early today after he lost the battle with Malaria. Our sincerest sympathies to his family.

26/01/2017

Hi. A reminder that Louis will be at the show in Calgary this weekend. He would love to see you if you are in the area.

13/01/2017

Anyone in the area, a reminder that Louis will be at the show in Houston, Booth No. 418. He would be thrilled to see you!

01/01/2017

Last week our anti poaching team in a joint operation with Zimparks had a contact with Elephant poachers at night. One poacher was killed. A shotgun and a bag of .303 rounds were recovered. 4 poachers fled with main firearm.
Well done to the Rifa anti-poaching team and Parks Rangers and all security personal involved in the follow up.

30/12/2016

Compliments of the Season to friends far and wide, we hope your festive season has been fabulous so far! This weekend Louis will journey to the USA to attend the following shows – Dallas, ZPHGA, Booth No. A22 – Houston, Pro Safaris Africa, Booth No. 418, level 1 – Calgary Canada, Pro Safaris Africa – SCI, World Wide Hunts, Booth No. 2943. Louis is looking forward to catching up with old friends and making new ones!

12/12/2016

An unsuccessful contact with poachers over the weekend by our main PH Spike and our anti poaching team. However the poachers fled the area and left behind all their equipment and some valuable Intel. Well done to our team. Another example of hunters being an nuisance to poaching activity!

25/11/2016

After receiving a tip off from our network of informers in Zambia, our anti- poaching unit laid down an ambush at the extraction point last night. The poachers walked into the ambush but after gunshots fired, managed to escape. However this seems like a failed op, it does send a clear message that Rifa is under protection. Well done to our team.

23/07/2016

We have fantastic special on hunts for end of the year. Get in touch with us if you are interested.

25/06/2016

Anti- poaching exercises cost a huge amount of money and effort. In Rifa Safari area we had some very positive results after continued hard work by all. One elephant poacher was shot and killed, one wounded and a .458 recovered with ammunition and 3 tusks. The tusks were old tusks that were pick-ups. So they failed to kill any elephant on this poaching trip. Well done to our RAPP (Rifa anti poaching program), and ZPWMA for the continued hard work. A good day indeed.

01/02/2016

Louis and Norman are looking forward to catching up with friends at SCI in a few days. They will be at booth No. 2733, World Wide Hunts.

19/01/2016

The rain season is prime poaching season and although everyone is doing there best, the odds are stacked against those of us fighting this fight.

Yesterday there was another contact in the Zambezi valley,19 tusks recovered and 4 poachers escaped! That's 10 elephant slaughtered in the past week. I've just attended a hunting show in Toronto Canada where anti-Hunter's had a demonstration outside and due to this the Press was there. I took 2 TV and 1 radio interview but unfortunately our facts were not broadcast. Only the emotionally motivated view of a 18yr old that organized the demonstration. So here is the hard reality.
Anti- poaching is funded solely by the hunting operator. Donations are minimal as the public starts to get donor fatigue and the reality is Hunter's expect the operator to do this out of funds paid for his/her safari. Very few Hunter's will donate significantly over and above their safari fee. Non Hunter's and Anti's donate even less if not at all. Their donations are spent on legislation changes!
In Zimbabwe Elephant quotas are set at 0,5% of population. Meaning 0,5% harvested Elephant must pay for the protection of the other 99,5%. This is simply not possible as Poaching is never ending. So we operators make sure all animals contribute to the anti-poaching fund. Most animal off take is set at around 2% -2,5% . So 2% helps protect the other 98%. This includes Lion. Lion is by far our highest priced animal and contributes significantly the most to this fund. However USFWS has now suspended the importation of Lion hunted legally and sustainably, from Zimbabwe into the USA. Following the suspension on Elephant in 2014. This taking away all funds for the protection of our elephants and other animals.
A poacher can cover 100,000 acres at his leisure. We would need to employ 50 people to cut that 100,000 acres into 2000acre sectors in order to be able to find him. A costly exercise.
A poacher is indiscriminate. He kills 100% if he could. He kills males, females or caves. Anything with a tusk. He kills those without tusks in order to not follow that track ever again. He cuts out the tusk and leaves the rest only to find the next pray. He is relentless and needs little funding. Only an incentive.

Yet the the incentive to protect these animals is attacked by the very people that claim to want to protect the Elephant.
The anti-Hunter's, the "Stop Trophy hunting" groups, airlines banning transportation of legally hunted animals and now the USFWS.
This is tiring and demoralizing. At the end of the day, the animals and our Elephant MUST survive, but no-one will sacrifice the well being of his own family for the African elephant. Operators can not continue to fund anti poaching out of their own pockets as the funds and incentives continue to dwindle. At some point he/she will give up and that point has been brought forward by some bad decisions.
I ask those of you who took the time to read this, to help where you can, do what you can and most importantly, educate where you can.

08/01/2016

Louis with the SOAZ award for the Outfitter with the Most Consistent Excellence in 2015, in Zimbabwe. This is the second year in a row that Pro Safaris has won this award.

08/01/2016

Dear Friends, near and far.
Louis, Frik and the Pro Safaris Africa team wish you a warm welcome to 2016, and hope that this year will bring you health, laughter and happy hunting.

Louis arrived in the US on the 6th January, and he is reachable on his mobile, +1 616 443 7267. He would love to hear from you so please feel free to give him a call. Or……. you could visit us at one of the following shows –

DSC, 7-10 January, Magic Safari Lodges, Booth No. 1504.

African Hunting Events, Toronto, 16 & 17 January, Pro Safaris Africa.

SCI, 3-6 February, World Wide Hunts, Booth No. 2733.

We are very excited about 2016 and look forward to catching with old friends and making new ones.

15/10/2015

We would like to report on the story of Orbit the elephant poaching porter we caught last week. He was in court today in Kariba and got sentenced to 12 years in a Zimbabwean jail even though he is Zambian. Some things in Zimbabwe still work and we believe his elephant poaching days are over.

11/10/2015

Parks Rangers had a contact with 12 poachers in Mana Pools a week ago. No poachers were shot or arrested but 14 elephant tusks were Recovered. 3 days later the Rifa anti poaching unit, employed by Hunter's, arrested a poacher (Orbit) on an island on the Zambezi 500m downstream from the Gorge. Turns out he was one of the porters for the poachers in Mana Pools. During interrogation he said him and 2 other porters had split away and decided to head back to safety in Zambia. After the 2nd day one guy had collapsed from dehydration and exhaustion. He left the 2 guys and continued. When we caught Orbit (photo attached) he was exhausted and done. He had walked 70km in 3 days in 40celsius heat with no water or food. He was 100meters away from freedom. We received some valuable Intel from Orbit but they shot 7 elephant Bulls in 5 days in mana pools and where intending on staying for 14 days. He was caught in a hunting block by Hunter's funds in an area that is not suitable for photographic safaris. Yet hunters had a positive impact on a world heritage site 70km away.

03/10/2015

Keith Spalding Just posted:

"Simple, make the poacher the prey @ the same value as the ivory. The greedy bastards would shoot each other".

Here lies the problem. The poacher on the ground is receiving $500 p.kg. so this bull is as small as they get. So let's say they got10kg. That's $5000. In this case your bounty suggestion is feasible. However let's say they shoot the average bull of 24kg for 2 tusks. So that's $12000 bounty to be matched. It's very hard for the operator to come up with that bounty time and again. Plus you would have to pay more than that to really get the incentive to work.
Unfortunately the majority of the outspoken public do nothing but talk. Funding is non existent contrary to popular believe.

02/10/2015

Rangers on deployment heard a gunshot around midnight. After investigating, they found 3 poachers busy chopping the ivory from a young Bull Elephant killed. They opened fire at these poachers but failed to hit anyone. A firearm and the Ivory was recovered. The Rangers will receive an incentive from sport hunting proceeds for the firearm recovered. Hunters presence in wildlife areas can be an important deterrent for poachers.