Problems with Impala African Safaris and Pasat Safaris
Congratulations!
You have decided to go on an African safari in Zimbabwe. A most amazing place. But also a lawless and
desperate place at times. I am here to share with you a story of my own failings in planning a 2008 safari in
Zimbabwe in the hopes that you do not follow in my footsteps.
Perhaps you have met a booking agent through Safari Club International or the Dallas Safari Club. Both are
excellent resources but you still need to be careful.
US Based Booking Agent
Arnold Payne
Impala African Safaris
Phoenix, Arizona (AZ)
I first met Arnold Payne, the owner of Impala African Safaris, in the spring of 2007 at the Phoenix
Sportsman's Exposition (Expo). It was time for my first African safari and I was formulating my plan and
collecting names. Over the next year I decided to go for Cape Buffalo and in my research Zimbabwe kept
appearing as the place to go. Arnold Payne is a native of Zimbabwe who now lives in Phoenix. I have had
good success booking with small outfits in the past and he seemed legitimate so we began serious talks later
that year. At the time he was primarily representing and booking for a well known Professional Hunter. The
PH was once named as the Safari Club International Professional Hunter of the Year. I was sold and put in
my deposit to hunt two buffalo in the Zambezi Valley of northern Zimbabwe.
During 2008 Zimbabwe was dealing with election year violence and the reports of beatings and killings gave
me significant pause. In addition, Arnold Payne was also facing challenges in getting our Professional Hunter
to commit. The PH was spending a lot of time in South Africa and would have preferred that I go there
instead but there was no Cape Buffalo quota in the area. Reluctantly I agreed to move my hunt from the
legendary Zambezi Valley down to the southwestern part of Zimbabwe. Not an area really known for buffalo
but based on the PH's recommendation I agreed. Again we have difficulty getting a firm commitment on
scheduling and Arnold suggests we look at another PH he is now representing, Col. Watson Tshipa from
Pasat Safaris.
Zimbabwe Professional Hunter
Col. Watson Tshipa
Pasat Safaris
aka Zimbabwe Safaris
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
No professional hunter in camp?
My professional hunter Col. Watson Tshipa was not in camp when I arrived in September 2008. The story in
camp was that he had been detained in the bush unexpectedly but he was due anytime so not to worry. So I
hunted with his son, fresh out of the anti-poaching unit. His role, when his father wasn't absent, was to drive
the truck. The buffalo hunting was terrible. The plains game was great. On day nine Col. Tshipa finally
arrived. We did have one excellent day of buffalo hunting and even located a bull that I would have shot if
only we had been able to close the distance.
No paperwork to ship trophies?
In January 2009 I received notice that my trophies were out of the bush and safely delivered to Taxidermy
Enterprises in Bulawayo for dip and pack. Many thanks to my shipper Coppersmith for having made the
communication. Taxidermy Enterprises has been very good about providing updates. But basically Col.
Watson Tshipa is unresponsive to their requests. They are stuck if he won't take care of the necessary
paperwork.
Arnold Payne with Impala African Safaris tells me that he has remained in contact with Col. Watson Tshipa
but no movement on the paperwork. Recently Arnold left me a voice-mail expressing frustration with Mr.
Tshipa and stating that he is no longer booking clients with Pasat due to all the troubles they have had.
On my own I contacted Safari Club International (SCI) who promptly connected me with their person
dedicated to problems with African affairs. A meeting was set in Reno at the convention to meet with officials
from Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife. Upon their return to Zimbabwe an investigation was launched and Col.
Watson Tshipa had his PH licence suspended until these matters were brought to resolution. Even after this
action Col. Tshipa still failed to supply the taxidermist with the money I had left with him for this purpose. This
time Zimbabwe Parks was swift and Watson Tshipa promptly paid up.
Legal judgement against Arnold Payne and Impala African Safaris
Arnold Payne from Impala African Safaris and I met in court recently. I have been pursuing a lawsuit for
breach of contract against Impala African Safaris. The Judge ruled in my favor and awarded a cash judgment.
The spirit of the lawsuit focused on the fact that our contract specifically detailed that a fully licensed
Professional Hunter would be available during my dangerous game hunt. And I paid a significant premium on
the daily rate in order to hunt dangerous game. With no fully licensed PH in camp I could not legally hunt
dangerous game. So the Judge ruled that the premium paid to hunt dangerous game should be refunded.
The investigator from Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife was extremely helpful. They even provided a letter detailing
that they found Col. Watson Tshipa in error for being absent during my hunt and suspended his license until
he satisfactory completed the paperwork necessary to legally export my plains game trophies. The letter also
detailed that Mhlaseli Tshipa Ncube was working under a learners permit and could legally lead the plains
game portion of the hunt. In an ironic twist, Arnold Payne from Impala African Safaris secured this letter and
introduced it as evidence during the trial.
So I have gotten some justice and hope to receive payment for the cash judgment soon. Although it will never
fully right the wrong I do feel some vindication in bringing the shady business practices of both Col. Watson
Tshipa and Arnold Payne to light. As far as I know, Col. Watson Tshipa is still doing business in Zimbabwe as
Pasat Safaris (aka Zimbabwe Safari Company) and Arnold Payne is still doing business in the U.S. as Impala
African Safaris.
To all of you who have emailed or called with similar complaints against Impala African Safaris I can only send
you my regrets. I know that he can be very difficult to deal with and I can only wish you the best in dealing
with him from afar. His website lists that he will be at the Dallas Safari Club, Houston Safari Club and Safari
Club International. Be sure to stop by his booth and say hello.
Read more on Africahunting.com
If you are considering working with either of these outfits please contact me first. My e-mail is
eric@westernexpedition.com
Regards,
Eric
You have decided to go on an African safari in Zimbabwe. A most amazing place. But also a lawless and
desperate place at times. I am here to share with you a story of my own failings in planning a 2008 safari in
Zimbabwe in the hopes that you do not follow in my footsteps.
Perhaps you have met a booking agent through Safari Club International or the Dallas Safari Club. Both are
excellent resources but you still need to be careful.
US Based Booking Agent
Arnold Payne
Impala African Safaris
Phoenix, Arizona (AZ)
I first met Arnold Payne, the owner of Impala African Safaris, in the spring of 2007 at the Phoenix
Sportsman's Exposition (Expo). It was time for my first African safari and I was formulating my plan and
collecting names. Over the next year I decided to go for Cape Buffalo and in my research Zimbabwe kept
appearing as the place to go. Arnold Payne is a native of Zimbabwe who now lives in Phoenix. I have had
good success booking with small outfits in the past and he seemed legitimate so we began serious talks later
that year. At the time he was primarily representing and booking for a well known Professional Hunter. The
PH was once named as the Safari Club International Professional Hunter of the Year. I was sold and put in
my deposit to hunt two buffalo in the Zambezi Valley of northern Zimbabwe.
During 2008 Zimbabwe was dealing with election year violence and the reports of beatings and killings gave
me significant pause. In addition, Arnold Payne was also facing challenges in getting our Professional Hunter
to commit. The PH was spending a lot of time in South Africa and would have preferred that I go there
instead but there was no Cape Buffalo quota in the area. Reluctantly I agreed to move my hunt from the
legendary Zambezi Valley down to the southwestern part of Zimbabwe. Not an area really known for buffalo
but based on the PH's recommendation I agreed. Again we have difficulty getting a firm commitment on
scheduling and Arnold suggests we look at another PH he is now representing, Col. Watson Tshipa from
Pasat Safaris.
Zimbabwe Professional Hunter
Col. Watson Tshipa
Pasat Safaris
aka Zimbabwe Safaris
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
No professional hunter in camp?
My professional hunter Col. Watson Tshipa was not in camp when I arrived in September 2008. The story in
camp was that he had been detained in the bush unexpectedly but he was due anytime so not to worry. So I
hunted with his son, fresh out of the anti-poaching unit. His role, when his father wasn't absent, was to drive
the truck. The buffalo hunting was terrible. The plains game was great. On day nine Col. Tshipa finally
arrived. We did have one excellent day of buffalo hunting and even located a bull that I would have shot if
only we had been able to close the distance.
No paperwork to ship trophies?
In January 2009 I received notice that my trophies were out of the bush and safely delivered to Taxidermy
Enterprises in Bulawayo for dip and pack. Many thanks to my shipper Coppersmith for having made the
communication. Taxidermy Enterprises has been very good about providing updates. But basically Col.
Watson Tshipa is unresponsive to their requests. They are stuck if he won't take care of the necessary
paperwork.
Arnold Payne with Impala African Safaris tells me that he has remained in contact with Col. Watson Tshipa
but no movement on the paperwork. Recently Arnold left me a voice-mail expressing frustration with Mr.
Tshipa and stating that he is no longer booking clients with Pasat due to all the troubles they have had.
On my own I contacted Safari Club International (SCI) who promptly connected me with their person
dedicated to problems with African affairs. A meeting was set in Reno at the convention to meet with officials
from Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife. Upon their return to Zimbabwe an investigation was launched and Col.
Watson Tshipa had his PH licence suspended until these matters were brought to resolution. Even after this
action Col. Tshipa still failed to supply the taxidermist with the money I had left with him for this purpose. This
time Zimbabwe Parks was swift and Watson Tshipa promptly paid up.
Legal judgement against Arnold Payne and Impala African Safaris
Arnold Payne from Impala African Safaris and I met in court recently. I have been pursuing a lawsuit for
breach of contract against Impala African Safaris. The Judge ruled in my favor and awarded a cash judgment.
The spirit of the lawsuit focused on the fact that our contract specifically detailed that a fully licensed
Professional Hunter would be available during my dangerous game hunt. And I paid a significant premium on
the daily rate in order to hunt dangerous game. With no fully licensed PH in camp I could not legally hunt
dangerous game. So the Judge ruled that the premium paid to hunt dangerous game should be refunded.
The investigator from Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife was extremely helpful. They even provided a letter detailing
that they found Col. Watson Tshipa in error for being absent during my hunt and suspended his license until
he satisfactory completed the paperwork necessary to legally export my plains game trophies. The letter also
detailed that Mhlaseli Tshipa Ncube was working under a learners permit and could legally lead the plains
game portion of the hunt. In an ironic twist, Arnold Payne from Impala African Safaris secured this letter and
introduced it as evidence during the trial.
So I have gotten some justice and hope to receive payment for the cash judgment soon. Although it will never
fully right the wrong I do feel some vindication in bringing the shady business practices of both Col. Watson
Tshipa and Arnold Payne to light. As far as I know, Col. Watson Tshipa is still doing business in Zimbabwe as
Pasat Safaris (aka Zimbabwe Safari Company) and Arnold Payne is still doing business in the U.S. as Impala
African Safaris.
To all of you who have emailed or called with similar complaints against Impala African Safaris I can only send
you my regrets. I know that he can be very difficult to deal with and I can only wish you the best in dealing
with him from afar. His website lists that he will be at the Dallas Safari Club, Houston Safari Club and Safari
Club International. Be sure to stop by his booth and say hello.
Read more on Africahunting.com
If you are considering working with either of these outfits please contact me first. My e-mail is
eric@westernexpedition.com
Regards,
Eric
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