Our Customers say:

In booking with, visiting, traveling and hunting with Jason and Michelle van Aarde of Tomkinson African Safaris during September 2009, I have come to know them very well. Michelle is a good business manager, gracious hostess and fine human being. Jason is an honest, talented professional hunter who takes his responsibilities very seriously. During my 14-day hunt in northern Mozambique, he and his gifted tracker took me up to good examples of all species on my licence. Government documents and food and health considerations were seen to so well that all my worries about Africa came to nothing. Jason was a good communicator and camp companion and his staff kept a tidy camp, keeping most of the old-fashioned safari traditions. His fees were competitive, with no hidden charges, and his preferred taxidermy/shipping connections got my vote, too. I have no reservation in recommending Jason and Michelle's operation to the hunter who wishes to maximize chances under fair-chase conditions.
Yours Sincerely

Paul Miles
Victoria, Australia

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Tomkinson African Safari Guides:

Tony Tomkinson

After Serving for 18 years as a Game Ranger in the Game Parks of Zululand, South Africa, Tony established his own Safari company in 1986. A Wildlife Management Graduate who received a Rotary International Fellowship Award for postgraduate work in Wildlife Ecology and Public Relations at Colorado State University, USA.

As author of far-reaching research on bow hunting in Africa, he is regarded as an authority in this field. In 1995 he was awarded the Professional Hunter of the Year Award. He is fluent in the Zulu and Afrikaans languages and has a deep understanding of South African Culture and local history specifically Anglo Boer and Zulu Wars.

Having been raised in the wine country of the Cape, he has a good knowledge of South African wines and viticulture. Tony is a qualified Ocean Yacht and powerboat Captain who pioneered deep sea fly fishing on the east coast of South Africa.

Jason van Aarde

Fifth generation Big Game Hunter, Jason’s great, great grandfathers were ivory hunters in Southern Africa, one of his most prized possessions is the double rife, owned and used by his great grandfather. Born and raised on a farm in the Eastern Free State, Jason began accompanying his father on family hunts into Northern Zululand at age three and began his career in the hunting industry at age eighteen. Once qualified, Jason headed the project for the Relocation of Elephant, Buffalo and Rhino Herds in the Pongola Game Reserve and subsequently having a vast amount of knowledge and experience with these species which has come to great use in his latter career as a big game hunter in Northern Mozambique, Botswana, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Jason joined our team as professional hunter in 1999. A passionate dangerous game hunter who shot his first elephant at the tender age of nineteen, Jason now conducts a mixture of big game, plains game and wingshooting hunts in most of the Southern Africa counties.

He is an active member of PHASA (Professional Hunters Association of South Africa) Big Bore Association and Free State Professional Hunting Association.

Jason is passionate about "antique weapons " and personally hunts with Traditional Long Bow and Black Powder, Muzzle Loader or Breach Loader rifles If the thrill of the hunt, and the excitement of the chase is more important than just the killing, Jason is the type of Professional Hunter you want to guide you on your African Safari.

Willie Vermaak

Graduated in 1986 with a 4 year Bachelors degree in Communication from the University of Potchefstroom and afterwards joined the military as a career soldier. Left the armed services in 1991 with rank of captain after our ill fated "bushwar" came to an end in Namibia.

In 1992 I qualified as a Professional Hunter and started freelancing. I completed FGASA "Field Guides Association of Southern Africa" courses and training, registered as a National Tourist Guide NQF 4 through THETA and added that to my love of hunting. I have done overland safari trips from South Africa through Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and southern Mozambique. I have successfully hunted in South Africa, Namibia and Mozambique. During the last 9 years I have built up an enduring and treasured friendship with Jason and Michelle van Aarde and conducted a large number of their wing shooting safaris for them as well as some plains and dangerous game hunts, bird shooting is a very firm favourite. The sight of dogs coursing fields and getting into a point is one of the most beautiful sights I know.

I believe that the hunt experience, surroundings and nature at large must be emphasized and remembered.

Michelle Tomkinson – van Aarde

Born and raised in the Game Parks of Zululand, Michelle has been involved in the tourism and hunting industry all her life and professionally for the past 18 years. She shares the love of South African Culture and Wildlife with her father Tony Tomkinson, well known Professional Hunter and Guide. In addition she is responsible for Gundog Training.

Since becoming wife to Jason and mother to Gordon, Michelle no longer co-guides, but she will organize and orchestrate your African experience with you, assist with the importation of your firearms and communicate with you the progress of your safari.

Barbara Tomkinson

As secretary of Tomkinson African Wingshooting, Barbara is responsible for the logistics and catering arrangements of the safaris. Having owned a Durban restaurant she is an accomplished chef and bush camp cook. She is in the process of writing a recipe book of dishes served on safari due to client demand.