I wish to thank you for the excellent service your company provided Taylor and I on a very important experience for us. Unlike most safari goers, half of my yearly wage was spent on this long awaited adventure. We were 100% pleased.
 
Everything about the hunt was excellent for Taylor and I. Kevin was absolutely perfect for this hunt. His maturity put him on my 42 year old level, yet his youth made him cool and hip enough to be on Taylor’s 17 year old level. I told Taylor that I felt that Kevin was my age and she disagreed and said that she felt like she was dealing with someone her own age. Kevin the chameleon!
 
We worked our butts off for the Eland and Zebra and they didn’t work out. In no way was it due to lack of effort as we walked from 7:30-4p on a few days, and had a couple of missed opportunities due to bad luck. That’s hunting. And if I may quote Biggie our tracker with the big personality, “hunting is funny”. Kill trips are behind fences in S. Africa. We wanted to hunt, and hunt we did. However, it was a lump to swallow in losing that $2,500 license fee for the eland and I forgot how much for the zebra.
 
What was better about this Zambian hunt over my Zimbabwean hunt 10 years ago (which is the only experience I have to compare it to) was the abundance of wildlife. We saw over 25 different animals including 3 separate Elephant encounters, saw a male Lion, heard Lions several nights, saw a Leopard, African Hunting Dogs, a Black Mamba, Roan, and 45”+ Sable everywhere nearly as tame as cattle. This should be a “must go” destination for anyone in pursuit of sable. I’ve never been one for tape measures as the trophies in my living room are all #1’s in that room, but I think we will have to get this Sable officially measured. Kevin thinks at 49” with the good bases that it may be near top 10. Sable are in my opinion, the overall most beautiful African animal.
 
The night at Shackleton’s Zambezi lodge was a perfect way to start our trip. It is a really fine place and Mr. Howard was an excellent host. I would highly recommend this stopover en route to camp to anyone traveling by vehicle from Livingstone.
 
When I travel I find the people most intriguing. The native blacks as well as the tough whites whose situation tears at my heart all the while earning my admiration and respect. It was impossible for people like Taylor and I not to get attached to Kevin as well as the staff we spent 12 days with, and although we missed our loved ones at home, leaving was bittersweet.
 
Ms. Mary-Linda, it was a sincere pleasure to have met you. Ian, Kevin spoke no other than respectful and kind words of you. Thanks to you both for playing a big part in making this all possible. Thanks again also to Kevin for his professionalism, friendship and hard work. I hope we fulfilled our goal of being good hunters and clients and made our PH’s job as well as that of the staff, more of a pleasure than a chore. Taylor and I loved our conversations on the back of the truck with the guys covering all areas from to politics to trying to explain how we duck hunt with a retriever; to explaining what crabs and a shrimp are. Those conversations remind us that a simple life can be as happy as a life full of TV, phones, cars and money.
 
I am contributing an article of our trip to a local magazine and will send copies to Kevin when it comes into print.
 
If we can show you any hospitality when you travel to the states my family would be sincerely honored to do so.
 
I hope to be dealing with you again in 6 years when I even the sibling score with my son whom I’ll return to Africa with, God willing.
 
God bless you good people and I pray that things continue to improve there. You deserve to reap the rewards for sticking it out through the tough times. You are a tough and admirable lot.
 
Sorry I’ve gone so long.
 
Regards,
Conrad Miller
Louisiana, USA

Having just returned from the Houston Safari Club and SCI annual shows where we had the pleasure of meeting up with The African Safari Company staff I felt compelled to send you a note to once again thank you for the wonderful hunt we experienced with your company this past September in Zambia. Seeing Ian and Kevin at the shows allowed us an opportunity to revisit the highlights of our safari and reminded us of what a truly great trip we had thanks to the professional demeanor of the camp staff and especially our PH, Kevin Louw.

This was our second safari with the primary purpose being for my husband Steve to hunt lion. Although the attraction of a nice trophy is always a priority we are definitely more than just trophy hunters. Part of the significance of travel for hunting, at least for us, is to experience the culture of another country. Whether discussing politics, hunting, or good movies and books, our conversations with Kevin, the trackers, and camp staff during our long drives during the day and around the fire or over dinner in the evenings were always entertaining and informative.

I cannot say enough good things about Kevin as our PH and Guide. He is exceptionally mature and knowledgeable for his youth and we instantly felt comfortable with him. He is an aggressive and hardworking PH yet he was always conscious of the surroundings and our safety. This was especially nice for me as a non-hunter. Kevin was always quick to point out a great photo opportunity and he was patient with my questions about the wildlife and landscape. Steve had a great deal of confidence in his ability to track and assess a situation. Kevin’s understanding of game habits and patterns is exceptional. Steve commented more than once that “Kevin thinks like the animals”.

Steve took several incredible trophies during the hunt including Sable, Roan, Buffalo, and Lion. The Mulobezi Game Management area is vast and still very wild. Although game was plentiful we did not feel as if we were at all in a controlled situation. Steve welcomed the challenge of having to drive and walk fair distances while tracking. Our not always friendly encounters with elephants during the day and the sounds of lions fighting near camp at night really served to remind us of the remoteness of this camp and hunting area.

We would be happy to strongly recommend your company to anyone organizing a safari. We certainly have plans to return to Zambia one day for another hunt and if we are fortunate perhaps Kevin will be our guide. Until then we will continue to share the stories of our excellent experience with our friends at home and to remain in touch with our new friends at The African Safari Company.

Warmest Regards,
Suzanne Hixson Smith
Texas, USA