What hunting methods are used?
Walk and stalk hunting: Slowly walking with the sun on your back and the wind in your face while using the bush as your cover.
Spot and stalk hunting: Sitting down against a hillside while glassing the side of the mountain above and the riverbeds, Karoo plains or bush below. If animals are spotted, the stalk is planned and executed from there.
Blind hunting: Normally involves the building of a blind and putting bait out close to the blind to attract animals. Different bait is used for different species and only a few species can be effectively hunted this way.
Hunting with dogs: A pack of well trained dogs are used for the hunting of species like caracal and bushpigs . Exciting, but requires a high fitness level.
What is the situation when an animal is wounded?
Clients are liable to pay in full for wounded animals.
What health risks are involved?
The Eastern Cape of South Africa is a malaria free environment. Although there is no real need for any vaccinations or inoculations, one cannot go wrong by taking a Hepatitis A and B vaccine and make sure ones Tetanus vaccine are up to date.
It would also be recommended to go for a full medical check up before the hunt commence.
Warmer weather combined with high rainfall may sometimes cause high tick populations. Insect repellant is used very effectively to neutralize this problem when it does occur. Sunburn and dehydration, caused by our sometimes harsh African sun, can be prevented by using sunscreen regularly and wearing a hat in the daytime.
Most of the vegetation consist of thorns with various shapes and sizes. Clients should always keep this in mind while in the process of stalking animals.
What is the food like?
We are very fortunate to have the services of a great cook and kitchen staff. Normally either game meat, chicken, beef, lamb or pork are included at the dinner meal. An outside evening ‘braai’ on an open fire, consisting of the back straps, tender loins or fillet steaks from some of the animals that were hunted, cannot be topped.
Hunting starts at first light and therefore we have a quick breakfast in the form of : coffee, rusks, toasted bread, cheese, yoghurt, fruit and orange juice before we leave. When we return back from the morning hunt we have a sit down cooked meal.
It is important to disclose your food preferences ahead of time . We want you to have a great hunt, but on a full stomach!
How safe is South Africa?
Just like any other country in the world, South Africa has areas where the crime rates are high and other areas where crime is virtually unheard of. Crime rates are normally much higher in big cities than in the rural areas, when it is calculated pro-rata to the population difference. It would be wise, however, always to be cautious and careful. We at Mayogi Safaris will make sure that you don’t visit dangerous areas during your stay with us. We would also advise you where and when not to go if you are doing a sightseeing trip after the hunt. Our clients’ safety is top priority!
What happens to the meat of the animals?
The meat stays the property of Mayogi Safaris and, in some instances, the property of the landowners on whose land one is hunting. The meat gets processed and sold at the Mayogi Game Stall. Some of the meat is donated to charity organizations. We use the prime cuts of some species to prepare lovely meals for our guests.
Is there electricity?
We have electricity and the power supply is 220/240 volt 50 cycle.
Do we need to give tips and to whom?
The norm is to give your professional hunter, tracker and the kitchen a tip. A 10% to 15% gratuity is normally adequate. At the end of the day, tipping is entirely up to the client.
What type of vegetation and terrain can we expect?
The Eastern Cape’s variety in the terrain and vegetation within a relatively small radius makes it one of the most interesting and exciting places in the world to hunt.
Our area is situated in the hart of the Valley Bushveld and consists of dense scrub bush that brakes up in less denser areas surrounding small grassy openings .This lush vegetation are mostly found in the hill country at the foot of the mountains. The canyons between these hills flow down in open patches of Karoo and grass plains.
Akasia trees grow dense on the sides of these canyons. Although very thick vegetation cover the sides of the mountains , hip high scrub and grass between the rocks makes out most of the top part. In the denser parts species like bushbuck, bushpig, nyala, kudu, duiker, impala and grysbuck are found. Mountain reedbuck, baboon, vaal rhebuck and klipspringer are found on top of the mountains. Hunting for blesbuck, black and blue wildebeest, red hartebeest and springbuck are normally on the open plain areas.
What Travel Documents do I need?
PASSPORT
Every passenger(including children and infants) need a valid passport to clear immigration at the Port.
NO PHOTOCOPIES ARE ACCEPTED.
New travel regulations relating to travel with children
Following the announcement of Regulations put into place by the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding travelling with children in and out of South Africa, please take urgent note of the below summary in regard to documentation required when travelling with children under 18 years.
In addition to the relevant passports for all passengers travelling, passengers must produce the below when travelling with Children Under 18 years
- Both parents travelling with child (ren) under the age of 18 years have to produce a full/unabridged birth certificate for the child (both parents’ details must be on the birth certificate).
- One parent travelling with child (ren) must, in addition to the unabridged birth certificate, provide a letter of consent from other parent in the form of an affidavit or custody agreement confirming permission to travel with child (ren).
- One parent travelling with child (ren) and other parent passed away must, in addition to the unabridged birth certificate, produce death certificate of deceased parent.
- Guardians travelling with child (ren) must, in addition to the unabridged birth certificate, provide a letter of consent provide affidavits from parents giving permission for child (ren) to travel.
- Original unabridged birth certificates only will be accepted (no copies or certified copies will be accepted)
Note: For some destinations passports are required to be valid for 6 months after your return from your holiday please check with the relevant Embassy
AN INVITATION LETTER FROM MAYOGI please contact our Mayogi office at mayogioffice@gmail.com
IF YOU DECIDE TO BRING YOUR OWN RIFLE, YOU NEED TO FILL IN THIS SAPS 520 APPLICATION FORM.
This link will direct you to all the information you need.
https://www.saps.gov.za/services/flash/firearms/importation.php
