Information
All you need to know
Area
Umzingeli Safaris operates from Grahamstown, also referred to as the “City of Saints”, and has a rich cultural history dating back more than 200 years. The Eastern Cape is well known for its biodiversity and the opportunity to view the “Big 7”. It has unique and diverse landscapes, offering supreme hunting areas ranging from high mountains, deep valleys and rolling hills to open grasslands and coastal forests. This unique combination of landscapes provides for a different hunting experience each day with an abundance of wildlife including Plains- and Dangerous Game Hunting.
Climate
The Eastern Cape provides for comfortable hunting conditions, with a warm and temperate climate. Our summers are warm, with temperatures throughout the day ranging from 27°C to 37°C (70 - 90°F), and the hottest days are often recorded in February. Throughout the winter months of May to September, the temperatures are moderate to cool. Although our wet season ranges from October to April, rainfall occurs throughout the year, with an average of 670mm.
Accommodation
All our packages include accommodation and our lodges offer a signature 5 star experience.
The lodges are just a two hour drive from Port Elizabeth International Airport, situated approximately 40km from Grahamstown.
The main lodge offers a modern, open-plan entertainment area that includes a lounge, dining area, entertainment room, self-help bar with an outdoor lounge, a swimming pool and boma fire pit, with a 180 degree view of the lush natural bush.
Flanking the lodge are six large en-suite rooms, with private entrances and deck with picturesque views, and are equipped with a television, mini fridge and coffee station, a safe and aircon/ heating facilities.
Our alternative lodge offers a rustic African experience, surrounded by magnificent views cradled among ridgelines, with the natural bush right at your doorstep. This lodge is equipped with an open plan entertainment area, including dining room and bar, a pool table, lounge and television area, leading out to the large deck with picnic area and swimming pool. The spacious en-suite rooms are equipped with open plan wardrobes, a writing desk, a safe, fans/heaters and with a wooden deck is sure to provide you with breath taking sunrises!
Our lodges offers exceptional hospitality standards with a relaxed, country vibe. Laundry is done daily and electricity outlets (220/230 Volts 50HZ) are available in the rooms. The menu is packed with authentic South African cuisine, with a “braai” being the all-time favourite. Included in your stay are three meals a day, bottled water, beverages, wine and beer/ malt. Hard liquor is available on request.
Hunting & Rifle Hire
We accommodate rifle, bow and handgun hunting, each experience tailor made to your comfort level.
Rifle hunting is done by method of spot, walk and stalk, and shots range from 200m – 500m (about 300 yards), depending on the terrain and species, and is done from shooting sticks. Once a suitable animal is identified, your professional hunter will guide you in shot placement and distance to enable a perfect shot. Should an animal be wounded, we have expert trackers and blood hounds on hand to retrieve your animal.
Bow hunting is either done by method of spot, walk and stalk or hunting from a blind. When hunting from a blind your average shot would be taken at 25 meters (30 yards), and walk and stalk up to 50m (50 – 60 yards). Your professional hunter will assist you with shot placement and distance.
Hunted animals are retrieved, skinned and prepared by our skinning staff and ready for collection by your taxidermist. The carcass is cleaned and the best cuts prepared and served at our lodges. The remainder of the carcass either goes to a local butchery, or donated to our hard working staff and rural communities. Nothing ever goes to waste.
Semi- automatic and automatic firearms are prohibited by law. The minimum requirements for Plains Game hunting is 7mm or larger. A .300WinMag is a good all-rounder but you might also consider a 30-06, .270 or a .243 for smaller game. For Dangerous Game a .375 H&H or larger caliber is recommended. If you are reluctant to travel with a firearm, we have the following calibers available for hire, and ammunition is charged extra:
.243
.308
.300WinMag
.416, for Dangerous Game.
Travel
Umzingeli Safaris is situated in the Malaria-free Eastern Cape province of South Africa, therefor you do not need any special vaccinations prior to your safari. However, due to recent events, you will need a Visa upon entering South Africa, which you can apply for before your trip. Please confirm this with your travel agent.
When travelling, you will need to book an international flight from your nearest airport to Johannnesburg (JNB), O.R Tambo International Airport (ORT), and from Johannesburg a connecting flight to Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ). If you are traveling from the United States, specifically Dallas or Atlanta, you will have to stay overnight in Johannesburg and fly out the next morning to Port Elizabeth. We recommend using a travel agent to assist you in making these arrangements. Your Professional Hunter/Guide will greet you at Port Elizabeth airport and drive you to our lodge through the stunning countryside, where your dream safari will begin. All our packages include road transport during your safari. At the end of your safari, your guide will take you back to the airport, assist you with checking in, ready for departure.
When traveling with minors, under the age of 18, you will need an unabridged birth certificate. In addition to the birth certificate, and in the case of only one parent being present or guardianship, a written consent form or affidavit from the other parent or parents needs to be provided, as well as their respective identification documents and contact details.
When traveling with firearms, currently only South African Airlines accommodate transport of rifles between O.R Tambo and Port Elizabeth International Airport, please make sure your connecting flight is booked on a South African Airlines plane. Please ensure that all your flights, International and Domestic, will accommodate your rifles and ammunition before embarking on your journey, and make sure to read their small print.
We can arrange for a courier company that will courier your firearms from Johannesburg airport to the lodge. However this might affect the time available to hunt. As an alternative you can hire one of our firearms, cutting out the hassle of the paperwork and worries when traveling with a rifle. When traveling with a bow you need to declare it at the check in counter and is considered as oversized luggage, no forms are needed.
Taxidermy
When hunting with Umzingeli Safaris your trophies are prepared for collection by your taxidermist. Animals are skinned; hides, skulls and tusks are tagged and preserved by method of salting. Once you have completed your hunt, your taxidermist may collect your trophies.
Trophies are shipped from South Africa either "dip & packed" or "mounted". The taxidermist will apply for the necessary documentation and permits (CITES or TOPS) for export, and will assist you in choosing a reputable shipping company, as general cargo carriers are not up to date with requirements and regulations for hunting trophies.
We always recommend that your taxidermy work be done in South Africa as local taxidermists exhibit the necessary skills and knowledge to work with African trophy animals. If you do not have a taxidermist, we can make arrangements for you.
Most South African taxidermist offer the following mounting options and services:
Dip & Pack
European mounts (skull mounts)
Shoulder mount
Half mount
Wall pedestal
Floor pedestal
Full body mount
Rug mounts
A few things to keep in mind when having taxidermy work done in South Africa:
The type of mount for each species; this will affect the way we skin your animal.
By law, your trophies must remain in South Africa for a minimum of 90 days before shipping, and your taxidermist will apply for the necessary permits and paperwork required for transport.
Regulations by most countries only allow products of one client per crate. Should you be a hunting party of two or more, each client will have his own shipping crate.
Dip & pack products are not allowed to be shipped with processed/ mounted products.
A deposit payment will ensure a place in the production line. The taxidermist will only start working on your trophies once a deposit has been received.
Your trophies will not be shipped unless a final payment has been made on your account.
Your shipping cost is calculated by volume and not by weight. Your taxidermist will pack your trophies in the smallest possible crate, helping make your shipping more affordable.
Do not hesitate to ask us should you need any recommendations on South African taxidermists that will take the utmost care in preparing museum quality products, thus preserving the memory of your safari.
Finances & Payments
The official currency used in South Africa is the South African Rand (R), and formal businesses accept most debit and credit cards.
All our packages and prices are quoted in US dollar ($), and VAT is included in the price.
A $500 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your dates, and is done by electronic funds transfer (EFT). For our reference we also require your confirmed flight details and a copy of your passport.
Final Payment is to be made on the last day of your safari, prior to departure, and will include your package price, any extra trophies, wounded animals and additional costs such as tours or merchandise. The final payment may be in South African Rand, US Dollar or via EFT. Please note, your taxidermy and shipping costs are extra and need to be paid to the South African taxidermists of your choice.
Cancellations must be done 3 months prior to your selected safari dates, and your $500 non-refundable deposit will be forfeited. Full payments may be rescheduled within 12 months from original safari dates, wherein prices are subject to change.
All package prices include:
All road transport from arrival to departure at airport;
All accommodation during your safari, including meals, beverages and laundry & room services;
The services of an experienced and licensed professional hunter or guide;
Services of trackers, skinners and all ground staff;
Your South African hunting licence;
Trophies fees as determined by your package option;
Field preparation of your trophies.
Fees excluded from your package:
Airfare;
Rifle hire and ammunition;
Trophy, tour and activity fees not included in your package – extra or wounded animals;
Personal effects such as curios, speciality food & hard liquor or merchandise;
Taxidermy work and shipping fees;
Gratuities to your Professional Hunter/guide and other staff.
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