PH Profiles

Ray Townsend

Fully Qualified Professional Hunter, Ray Townsend formed Chapungu Safaris in ZIMBABWE in 1991. Chapungu Safaris Africa has grown over the years and Ray has built up an excellent reputation along with a great client base, as well as huge experience in hunting both BIG GAME species and plains game species. Some years ago, Ray linked up with South African PH, Jacques Hartzenberg and together they are now achieving great things under the name CHAPUNGU SAFARIS AFRICA, operational in both Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa.

The concept of broadening the wildlife arena for their clients was an exciting one, and they saw it as an important step for the future of the industry. Ray has outstanding Pro-Hunters, Ryan Cliffe and Warren Thorne working permanently for him as well as a number of other exceptional PH’s who freelance in the busy months. Due to a service history of excellence, Chapungu Safaris Africa is renowned for attracting clients from the top end of the market. Repeat business and word of mouth has become their most effective marketing tool, and Ray & Jacques welcome many of their clients back on a regular basis with a genuine feeling of camaraderie. Ray and his team are proud to work under African skies, and to introduce visitors to the enchantment of the African bush... it is a lifetime experience that our clients don’t forget!

Jacques Hartzenberg

PH and Outfitter Jacques Hartzenberg started hunting at a young age. In 1996, he started Big Game Hunting under the wing of Ray Townsend. In addition to his own farm in the Eastern Cape, he is part of a joint venture on a 150000 acre reserve in the Northern Cape's unspoilt beauty.

Warren Thorne

Warren Thorne was born and bred in Centenary, Northern Zimbabwe.  Having grown up on a farm, Warren enjoyed the outdoors and hunted from a young age.  Warren qualified as a Professional hunter and Guide in 2006 after a 3 year apprenticeship with Chapungu Safaris.  He has extensive BIG GAME and plains game hunting experience.

Warren is also experienced in conducting photographic and fishing safaris as well as bird shooting and mangement of camps.

He is a very hard working hunter that produces excellent results. Warren  won the prestigious Best Hunter On Proficiency Award at his final exam.

Ryan Cliffe

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, in Mutare on the Mozambique border, Ryan spent his childhood gathering knowledge and experience on the African bush, wildlife and hunting.

Ryan joined the safari industry in 1998 and qualified as a Professional Hunter and Guide in 2003, after a 5 year apprenticeship. During this time, Ryan gained invaluable experience working for several different outfitters, by conducting photographic, birding, backpacking, canoeing and hunting safaris, as well as building and managing numerous camps.

Additionally Ryan is licensed to use darting drugs and equipment for game capture and translocation, and is fluent in the local African language: Shona.

Ryan has hunted and guided in Matusadona, Mana Pools, the Lower Zambezi River (canoeing), Chimanimani, Hwange, Matetsi, Chewore – Mkwichi, Muzarabani, Doma, Rengwe, Charara and on numerous private game ranches. Since fully qualified in 2003, Ryan joined and has been conducting safaris for Chapungu Safaris.

Riaan Lourens

Riaan Lourens was born in the sunny Lowveld area of South Africa but grew up in the Bushveld parts where his passion and love for nature and hunting started.  Riaan is an active hunter himself and trophy hunting been part of his passion sins he hunted his first duiker at the age of 6 years.  He is a sportsman by heart and a well known athlete and rugby player at the university where he graduated. Riaan is most comfortable when he can be part of nature, his active hobbies like wing shooting and fishing reflects that.

Riaan started his Professional hunting career in 2003 after completing his BTEC Game farm management diploma at the Tshwane University of Technology and successfully finished his Professional hunter’s course at the Sutherland hunting academy.  Africa hunting don’t came without certain environmental challenges witch Riaan seems to overcame with ease, he has hunted in African countries like Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and the Zambezi valley in Zimbabwe. One of his great ambitions and dreams came true when he hunted his own first buffalo in Zambia.

Under the wing of well known Outfitter and Professional Hunter Jacques Hartzenberg, Riaan gained top class big game hunting experience and qualified for dangerous game professional hunter permits soon after.  The special relationship between Jacques and Riaan developed into a business relationship and Riaan is a full time Chapungu Safaris Professional Hunter.

Eugene Alberts

Eugene was born in the city of Pretoria South Africa in 1960. He grew up on a farm in the Orange Free State province, it was here that his love for the nature and hunting began. On this farm he shot his first Steenbuck when he was only six years old and he was always first in line to shoot at anything. At the age of 12 he and his parents moved to the city of Pretoria where he finished his school years. He played several sports like: rugby, cricket, golf and squash. But it was the outdoor sports of fishing and hunting that stole his heart. Eugene started bow hunting at the age of 15 and has bagged all kinds of trophy's with rifle and bow. After he matriculated he completed his degree in travel and tourism, game farm management and game ranging up to FGASA Level 2. He started of as a game ranger in the Kruger National Park where he learned all there is to learn about dangerous and non-dangerous animals. He completed his Professional Hunters course in 2003. A few years later he was taken under the wing of professional hunter and outfitter Jacques Hartzenberg and has since been working for Chapungu Safaris. It was here that Eugene received his dangerous game licence and has done numerous hunts on elephant, buffalo, lion and rhino.

Tanda Lolwana