It is worth noting that officials in Zambia are taking a close look at hunting records to see who is being listed as the PH of record on safaris. Seems there is some suspicion that South Africans and others are conducting safaris in Zambia without following the rules that require a registered Zambian PH to be present. A non-Zambian can accompany a client, of course, and provide advice and companionship, but he cannot legally conduct the safari. He cannot even legally carry a firearm unless he makes application to become a registered PH and pays an annual fee of $6,000. Some big name PHs are apparently under suspicion. If you have any doubts about a safari you have booked to Zambia, the person to contact is Simon Burgess (sibur@zamnet.zm).
On another matter, the hunting industry in Zambia is under pressure from a surprising front - namely, the strengthening of the local currency, the Kwacha. It has apparently gone from 4,600 K to the dollar last September to only 3,200 K to the dollar as of last month. That has put a squeeze on safari hunting profits, and will most likely lead to price increases in the future. To give you an idea of the pain operators are experiencing, gasoline in downtown Lusaka at press time was selling for $1.60 per liter. That's over $6 a gallon, and that's without figuring in the costs involved in transporting it to the bush. Ouch...!
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