About Us

Learn about our

Hunting Heritage

An exclusive Safari with the Umdende Team is like no other.

Filled with laughter, fun, great food and most important, good ethical hunting exploring the unique and amazing hunting areas our great country has to offer. A member of my passionate and expert team will always accompany you on your Safari, from pick-up at the airport to drop off, ensuring a safe and trouble free adventure, together.

The Comins Family

Clayton, Owner, Outfitter And Dangerous Game Professional Hunter

Together with his wife Debbie, and children Liam and Camilla; they have a passion for hunting and conservation that goes back generations and we look forward to sharing these experiences with you on Safari.

Theo

Professional Hunter

Theo has been hunting all his life and has been hunting professionally for about 10 years. Theo is a fantastic driver, fun to be around and is a passionate hunter!

Esma

Admin And Logistics Manager

Esma shares the same passion for the outdoors as the rest of Umdende’s Team. Being meticulous in the Umdende office, she will organise your Safari down to the finest detail, ensuring all your Safari requests are arranged prior to arrival.

Rudolph

Dangerous Game Professional Hunter

Rudolph is very experienced and has been a PH for more than 10 years. He is a successful houndsman, and has been running his own pack of hounds for Bushpigs since 2003. To chase a pig with Rudolph is a life changing experience not to be missed.

Beaters

Bird Beaters

Our Bird Beaters will amaze you with their Team-work! The excitement, enthusiasm and singing-celebrations they share with you during your hunt, just adds the cherry on the top of your Safari.

Trackers & Skinners

Behind The Scenes

Our Trackers, Skinners, Lodge Staff and often ‘behind the scenes’ Staff are the backbone of our Team, seeing to every attention to detail.

Hunting Dogs

Working friends

Working Friends

We use well trained Labradors for retrieving. German shorthaired Pointers to flush upland birds and experienced hounds are used for Bushpigs and to tree small cats.

Dark Continent Video Productions

Videographer

Dark Continent Video Productions has a Team of Professional videographers who will capture your memories on video. One will never forget Africa, but to share your experiences via video, is priceless.

The parents of Clayton Comins’ (Owner and Outfitter) started their own Bird Hunting business in South Africa, many years ago, Game Bird Safaris. Trevor (Clayton’s Dad) spent many years as a child in the wilds of Africa living and speaking the Zulu culture. His early days were spent in the mountains with his fellow Zulu friends and his prized ‘katty’ (sling-shot), he then quickly upgraded to an air rifle and became a true marksman. The days hunt would be cooked over an open fire and celebrated with Zulu Praise songs, these songs Trevor still sings to his Grandchildren. Trevor went on to work for the local Natal Parks Board, now Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. He was actively involved with the first Rhino capture in Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Park. Trevor spent his days walking in the Bushveld guiding and monitoring the Reserves and learning about conservation. It was here that Trevor gained invaluable knowledge about our Wildlife and dealing with International guests. Colette Comins (Claytons’ Mom) raised 3 children in these Reserves, in between the wild animals being at her back door and them pulling her washing off the lines. Trevor and Colette then took the leap away from the norm of offering Dangerous game and Plains game hunting, to open the first Bird Hunting operation in South Africa. Colette took her Professional Hunters (P.H.) licence, making her the first lady P.H. in South Africa. The Comins family lives by the motto – We Hunt to Fish…. And they still do, spending their working days hunting and their playing days fishing all over Africa. And this is where it all started.

Clayton and his siblings, Camilla and Jason, grew up in much the same way as their Dad Trevor did. Sling-shot in hand, fishing rod in the other, and disappearing into the mountains till well after sunset to hunt, fish, play and of course cause some trouble. Being a farm-boy, Clayton had no passion for the city life, fancy degrees or the need for any material possessions – he just wanted to hunt and fish. So after completing school he joined his Dad to help run their successful bird hunting operation Game Bird Safaris, and never left. Clayton married his high-school sweetheart and best friend Debbie in a traditional Zulu-style wedding on his parent’s farm. Debbie supports Clayton all the way and when she gets out of the office she also enjoys a bit of hunting. During this time Clayton also started and managed a Game Farm, gaining the best knowledge of both hunting worlds – Game Conservation and Bird Conservation. With this combined knowledge he took over from his Dad, now retired and fishing, and this gave birth to Clayton and Debbie’s business – Umdende Hunting Safaris (Umdende is the Zulu name for a unique Red Leaf Rock Fig Tree found in our area).

Clayton and Debbie’s business Umdende Hunting Safaris is an example of a business that has been created by family support, a long history of hunting, a passion and love for nature, and an excellent Team of staff. Their two children are Liam (his Zulu name is Siphandla which is a ‘Zulu wedding band’) and Camilla (her Zulu name is Mbali meaning ‘Flower’)… by the way Clayton’s Zulu name is Magangane meaning ‘the naughty one’. Liam and Camilla are the third generation of our hunting family, and by the looks of things….they are following directly behind Gampie (Trevor) and Dad (Clayton) with their passion for the outdoors, animals, conservation and hunting…. Stay tuned as the next chapter unfolds and we look forward to sharing these experiences with our clients and friends from around the world!

  This was by far one of the best bird shoots that i have had the privilege of being part of. Clayton to you and your team excellent job, well planned and set out. Colette and Jason the food was tops and your all round family like hospitality was out the top draw. I look forward to joining you all again soon.

Ryan De Matteis
7/09/2020

  My first safari in South Africa was with Umdende Hunting Safaris and I had an incredible experience. The accomodations and facilities were first class. Clayton and his team of PHs were professional, knowledgeable and friendly. Their knowledge of the areas we hunted and the game was excellent. The trackers were anazing in their ability to read and interpret sign. Myself and my hunting partners all took excellent trophies and I am already planning my return trip! Cheers - Jeff Eno

Jeff Eno
12/14/2018

  My first safari in South Africa was with Umdende Hunting Safaris and I had an incredible experience. The accomodations and facilities were first class. Clayton and his team of PHs were professional, knowledgeable and friendly. Their knowledge of the areas we hunted and the game was excellent. The trackers were anazing in their ability to read and interpret sign. Myself and my hunting partners all took excellent trophies and I am already planning my return trip! Cheers - Jeff Eno

Jeff Eno
3/15/2018
  What an incredible experience from the accommodation to the fishing and the exquisite food. Clayton and his team and his team made our long weekend one we will never forget. We hope to see you guys again soon!

Ashley Matheson
9/29/2020

  Awesome people and great shooting.

Mike Odell
6/20/2021

  I have just gotten back from our trip to South Africa with Umdende Hunting Safari’s. To say it was a dream trip come true is an understatement! We were a group of 10- 6 hunters and 4 non-hunting pain in the butt women. From the planning stages to the trip itself, Clayton was super accommodating and went above and beyond to make sure us girls had a great time. They organized a private safari trip to Krugar National Park for two days, boat trips, excursions for shopping, and a cat sanctuary where we were able to get up close and personal with lions and tigers. Back at camp we were spoiled rotten with wine and drinks and food preferences. The accommodations exceeded my expectations and the staff was amazing; I so very much enjoyed our evenings spent together eating and drinking and sharing stories. To Clayton, Theo, Francois, Nells, Audrey and Henk (especially for having to put up with us girls for two days in the car) thank you so so so much! I will never forget this amazing experience and really hope to see you all again. It was a PLEASURE!!!

Erin Libke
3/16/2019
  Writing this on behalf of my husband Gerry who recently return from his trip with Umdende Hunting Safaris he says it was an well organized, good time, good food awesome trip. Accomodations very comfortable and Clayton and Theo put them on lots of trophy animals and seen lots of trophy animals. A Big 5 + stars to the staff as the Hospitality was unbelievable he highly recommends them. Thanks again for a great trip!

Irene Purcell
3/24/2019

  Hands down the best bird shoot I've ever been on, Clayton and his team are professional and will not disappoint. Well done and thank you to Clayton and his team.

Roy Matheson
7/22/2019

  Wonderful people with excellent food, accommodation and experiences. This is a small, family-run operation that has a tremendous variety of travel options that are good for beginner and seasoned traveler alike. Let Umdende help you with your next trip to South Africa.

Don Clark
4/23/2018
  I was only able to hunt one day with Umdende Safaris. It was a very long day, with the whole team working very hard to make my day amazing. My wife anf I will be back to hunt with them again, but for a much longer time. We can't wait.

William Woody
2/22/2020

  Highly Recommend!!! The entire staff made my first trip to South Africa so memorable! While the guys hunted, us girls got to do a tour of Kruger National Park, as well as a few other things that the staff set up and organized for us. It was honestly amazing!! The food, people, accommodations - everything was perfect! Definitly one of my favourite trips!

Alicia Marie
3/15/2019

  I have just gotten back from our trip to South Africa with Umdende Hunting Safari’s. To say it was a dream trip come true is an understatement! We were a group of 10- 6 hunters and 4 non-hunting pain in the butt women. From the planning stages to the trip itself, Clayton was super accommodating and went above and beyond to make sure us girls had a great time. They organized a private safari trip to Krugar National Park for two days, boat trips, excursions for shopping, and a cat sanctuary where we were able to get up close and personal with lions and tigers. Back at camp we were spoiled rotten with wine and drinks and food preferences. The accommodations exceeded my expectations and the staff was amazing; I so very much enjoyed our evenings spent together eating and drinking and sharing stories. To Clayton, Theo, Francois, Nells, Audrey and Henk (especially for having to put up with us girls for two days in the car) thank you so so so much! I will never forget this amazing experience and really hope to see you all again. It was a PLEASURE!!!

Erin Libke
3/15/2019
What a professional set up, Thank you Clayton to you and your team.

Roy Matheson
9/29/2020

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