The team: Christophe Beau and our professional hunters

The team

A small, seasoned team of bush guides, administrators and friends on four continents, with one aim: you just enjoy hunting, we take care of the rest.

Our story

Turquoise Horizon c.c. was born in September 1994. We were then specialised in hunting expeditions as well as sport fishing and shark-diving trips in South Africa, Madagascar, Gabon and Kenya. Now we concentrate on our biggest passion of all: hunting.

We take clients on tailor-made “Grand Safaris” to discover the wild of yesteryear, through the most outstanding scenery and wildlife Africa has to offer.

“Safari” is certainly the best-known Swahili word in the world. It means journey or travel, but before all, it symbolises the vast African plains, the adventure and the big African game.

Grand Safari was the obvious name in the mind of Christophe Beau, owner of Turquoise Horizon c.c., for the emblem under which your most beautiful African adventures and expeditions would be organised and guided. Our team of bush guides will introduce you to mother Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope to the Masai steppes, with the greatest passion.

1968
Born in France
Christophe Beau grows up with a passion for African game.
1988
French Marines
Joins the French marine infantry and spends more than a year in Senegal. He has not left Africa since.
1992
Selous buffalo
Our main Tanzanian PH, Peter Dafner, begins a 100% success rate on Cape buffalo in the Selous.
1994
Turquoise Horizon c.c. is born
In September, Christophe settles in South Africa and founds the company with hunting, sport-fishing and shark-diving expeditions across South Africa, Madagascar, Gabon and Kenya.
1998
PHASA full member
Becomes a full member of the Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa, later a registered dangerous-game PH and hunting contractor in the Eastern Cape.
Today
Hunting, our biggest passion
We concentrate on the thing we love most, taking clients on tailor-made “Grand Safaris” to discover the wild of yesteryear.

Founder & principal, professional hunter

Eastern Cape, South Africa

Born in France in 1968, Christophe developed a great passion for African game from a very young age. He joined the French military (marines) in 1988 and spent over a year in Senegal. He has not left Africa since, settling in South Africa in 1994.

Christophe is a qualified professional hunter in South Africa, Mozambique and Tanzania, a full member of PHASA (the Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa), and a Master Measurer for both SCI (Safari Club International) and Rowland Ward. Since 1994 he has guided in most of southern Africa — South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda — which, added to his early knowledge of West Africa, makes him one of the great specialists in his field.

He is also a qualified diver who organised shark-diving expeditions for professional photographers, and between 1995 and today he has organised and led expeditions for European and American television, including Thalassa, Ushuaia with Nicolas Hulot, and Deep Ocean Odyssey with Jean-Michel Cousteau and his son Fabien. He has contributed to the European hunting channel Seasons, the French hunting press and, recently, Extreme Outer Limits TV on the American Sportsman Channel with Bob and Chris Beck.

Bookings & administration

Karine

Karine has been part of the Grand Safari team for over twelve years. She is responsible for all the admin and will help you apply for the temporary import permit for your gun on every safari in South Africa. She follows up on your booking and will sometimes meet you at the airport on your arrival in East London.

Credentials

Grand Safari is a team of bush guides with solid African hunting experience. All have guided foreign hunters for many years and know what clients expect. All are qualified big-game professional hunters who can guide you to the most dangerous game Africa has to offer.

PHASAFull member since 1998. Registered dangerous-game professional hunter and hunting contractor in the Eastern Cape.
SCIOfficial Measurer and Master Measurer for Safari Club International.
Rowland WardOfficial measurer for Rowland Ward’s Records of Big Game, “The Book”.
ACPMember of the Association des Chasseurs Professionnels.
SAPSRegistered with the South African Police Service for firearms, so rental rifles from .22 to .458 LOTT can be provided.

Rowland Ward

It is well over a century since the first book of horn measurements was published. Rowland Ward began a record of trophies with Horn Measurements and Weights of the Great Game of the World in 1892, and “The Book”, as Rowland Ward’s Records of Big Game is known, remains the universally accepted objective source of what a trophy animal really is.

Safari Club International

SCI is a leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide, with members in more than 100 countries.

Christophe is an official measurer for both SCI and Rowland Ward, so if you want to register any of your trophies, their official measurements are just a formality away with Grand Safari.

Logistics

All Grand Safari hunting vehicles are 4×4 pick-ups designed for off-road use: mainly double cabs in South Africa for your comfort during transfers, and single cabs in the Tanzanian bush for extra packing space in the back. We use other vehicles for excursions, photographic safaris and some transfers.

Communication is by radio on a private frequency, cellular phone, and satellite phone when needed. Rental firearms and limited bush clothing can be arranged in advance.

Turquoise Horizon c.c., trading as Grand Safari, is registered with the South African Police Service for firearms. That means we can rent hunting rifles from .22 up to .458 LOTT, though it is always recommended to hunt with your own.

Firearms & permits

Our agents

Their motto sums it up: you just enjoy hunting, we take care of the rest. Each knows our safaris first-hand and can fine-tune every part of your journey from your own door.

Canada · Calgary
Garry McLellan
Agent for Western & Central Canada
Garry was born and raised in the Eastern Cape, in the little coastal town of Port Alfred, where he fished and hunted with his grandfathers from as long as he can remember. He moved to Canada in 1999, where he runs his own successful business.
Based in Calgary, Garry is Grand Safari’s link for the whole of Western and Central Canada. Travelling regularly to southern Africa himself, he can fine-tune every logistic aspect of your next safari from your doorstep.
Argentina · Buenos Aires
Roberto “Rupert” Rodriguez Prado
Agent for South America
Born in Argentina in 1957 and a biologist since 1984, Rupert assists hunters who speak English, Spanish, Italian and German. He represents Grand Safari in South America, accompanying groups of hunters throughout their safari.
He is also a very good hunter with a passion for fauna, flora, anthropology and native art, which makes the safari more interesting for everyone who travels with him.
Spain
Gustavo de Agustín
Agent for Spain
Since he can remember, Gustavo has been hunting and thinking about game, his great passion. His dream came true when he joined the Grand Safari team, first travelling in the summer of 2004 with Christophe Beau to a few African countries. The two have shared a strong friendship ever since.
Gustavo will happily answer all your questions and guide you through the options to find the best one for you, as each hunter is unique.
Russia · Moscow region
Sergey Tyutchev
Agent for Russia
Sergey was born in the village of Oktyabrsk on the Iya river bank in Russia, where he began hunting at ten with his father, older brother and brother-in-law. Today he is a renowned professional hunter operating in several areas of Russia and the owner of Eventus, created in 2009, offering fishing, hunting and adventure safaris in and around Russia.
Based in the Moscow region, he is the perfect contact for fine-tuning all your travel requirements from Russia to any Grand Safari destination.