Airport Pickup fees

[Guster]

Just curious is considered wrong to negotiate the cost of being picked & dropped off at the airport. My thoughts are you paying a large sum of money for the hunt already, so why should this also be charged?

 

[billc]

Your free to negotiate any fees or cost. Some don't charge this fee others will waive it if it is a big enough safari. This is a fee that bugs a lot of people and I know guys who will not book unless it is waived or move on to someone who does not charge it.
If you add your safari up with all cost and compare to the another you may see why they charge or not. Some use low day fees but then charge you for more services. Sometimes in the end the trip will cost the same as your other quotes. Just make sure you always ask any outfitter for all cost from airport pick up till returned to airport.

 

[James.Grage]

Hi Guster,

Concerning, Airport pick up and drop off fees.

Your choices include:
1. Airplane ~ Some times you have the ability to charter a ground hop (airplane) to get to camp
2. Vehicle ~ you are given a choice of a land ride (vehicle) to camp
3. Rental vehicle ~ You rent a vehicle and drive to the hunting camp.
4. Boat ~ You charter a boat to take you to camp
5. Combination of the above

Most PH are not getting rich on anyone hunter and their goal is make a modest profit and to not lose money.

The following were one way trip and an equal amount of time for my return trip.
At one of my hunting camp locations it was a 4.5 hour drive and a round trip was a full tank of fuel for the vehicle.
At another hunting camp it was a hour flight Plus a 2 hour drive to camp.
At another it was a 3 hour drive to camp.

The airline charter was $5,000. I could have went with the option of the 10 to 12 hour drive for about 150 miles, however i was still looking at about $1,000 (one way) for the vehicle and driver.

I could have used the airline charter option on the 4.5 hour drive as well and landed right in the hunting area about a mile from camp.

Fuel Price was $11.85 Rand per Liter on my last trip in 2014 and a vehicle fill up was right at $1,400 Rand or $140 USD. So when a PH is asking for $150 for pick up and another $150 for drop off, that about covers his fuel expense.

Look at it this way, if you think the pickup and drop off expense is to great, hire a vehicle and driver to take you to camp and see what your cost will be. Now i am going to go out on a limb here and say that i think the PH pick up and drop off expense is going to be way less expensive.

 

[jeff]

It makes a big difference if you're hunting South Africa and Namibia as opposed to Zim or Moz or other far out destinations I have never been charged pickup fees in SA and Namibia.

 

[CAustin]

I have never paid to be picked up at OR Tambo.

 

[K-man]

The other advantage to your P.H. picking you up is he is there to translate, negotiate the gun/visa/etc, and the same on the return trip. Nice to have him in your corner. Plus you can pick up any missing supplies, ammo, etc.

 

[billc]

I think a few are missing his main point. He is wondering why some charge for this service and others don't. Not asking about boats and planes or any other way of getting to camp. No need to ask 5 question to give him the answer on this at all.

He is new and looks to be someone who does not want to ask for to much and see if he is being fair on what his is asking.

The simple answer is yes you have the right to ask as it is your money. The outfitter then makes the choice if he can or can not waive the fee and still make money. After you get the answer then you decide if your ok with that. No harm at all in asking why they charge or if they can do something about it.

 

[James.Grage]

Just curious is considered wrong to negotiate the cost of being picked & dropped off at the airport. My thoughts are you paying a large sum of money for the hunt already, so why should this also be charged?

You have not indicated what country that you are considering or will be hunting.

You indicated that you are paying a large sum of money, i took that as you may be hunting in one of the following countries: Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe (some locations) and or possible the strip in Namibia. All could require, air, boat and or vehicle time and or a combination of two or three.

If the Airport pick up fee is a bummer for you look for a outfitter or PH that does not charge for that service. They are out there.

As a few have indicated some outfitters in Namibia and South Africa do not charge to the airport pickup or drop off, I suggest that you look for one of these outfits if the cost is an issue.

Before you ask anyone about waving the transfer fee, do your research and narrow your destination field down to a few and then call or e-mail all of them about the particulars that you are looking to do.

What ever you do, the playing of one PH against another is unsporting in my opinion. Ask for there best deal and then make your choice.

 

[jeff]

I asked one PH in Moz. why they charged $500 to drop off the trophies to the taxidermist, it seemed high but when he said it was 1200 kilometers and a rough road for two days it seemed like a bargain.

 

[BRICKBURN]

I asked one PH in Moz. why they charged $500 to drop off the trophies to the taxidermist, it seemed high but when he said it was 1200 kilometers and a rough road for two days it seemed like a bargain.

Relative concept for sure.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Just curious is considered wrong to negotiate the cost of being picked & dropped off at the airport.

"Wrong", no. Ask about the charge and ensure you understand it and compare apples to apples.

......... so why should this also be charged?

"Large sum" is a relative matter.
Short answer: Because it costs money to transport you. Time, money, etc.

Outfitters can include the charge i.e.. in an arrival day fee, higher day rates and no fee directly associated with transport, etc.

Do the math based on the facts.

eg. free pick up and a Duiker trophy fee of $4000.00 OR $350.00 pick up and a $300.00 Duiker trophy fee. Hope you enjoy your "free" pick up.

 

[Royal27]

Just curious is considered wrong to negotiate the cost of being picked & dropped off at the airport. My thoughts are you paying a large sum of money for the hunt already, so why should this also be charged?

As others have said this is relative.
Here is an analogy for you. Go look at a new $50k car. Bet you almost anything you'll see that as part of the price they charge a transfer/transport fee.

Bottom line, everything is negotiable and the important thing is the TOTAL cost And that you know that cost before you go.

 

[jeff]

I don't think it is wrong to negotiate any aspect of your safari as it is a business contract even though it is for fun. But after the deposit is paid do not try and weasel out more than what was agreed upon. I have had offers once I arrived with other specials and good deals but they were offered not requested or whined out of someone.

 

[billc]

I don't think it is wrong to negotiate any aspect of your safari as it is a business contract even though it is for fun. But after the deposit is paid do not try and weasel out more than what was agreed upon. I have had offers once I arrived with other specials and good deals but they were offered not requested or whined out of someone.

That is so true and if you work with the outfitter some great offers come up once your there. I believe some outfitters go out of there way for clients once there over and hunting to make the trips even better then one could ever think. Get the best deal you can with on pushing for to much and good things happen to good people when over there.

 

[Rob404]

I didn't pay for pick up or drop off, I think My PH was just coming back from hunting another area and had dropped his last group off at Tambo and picked me up the same day,,the return trip was the Same as his wifes mother was returning to Austria.
I must say CT Safaris does not have a pick-up or drop fee, we also did travel to different areas to hunt, and went out to dinner and lunch and I wanted to visit DeWildt spend a day at a Game reserve and Ride an Elephant all the fees for this was in the Package that Chris and Sabina worked up for me.
Even the Hassle with the ticket counter with return Ammunition was handled by CT,,I think I remember buying a round of drinks at the airport while waiting for my flight a few more Windhoaks before the the long trip back to the states

 

[Guster]

Thanks fellas.....

 

[Divernhunter]

I selected an outfitter that did not charge for pick up or drop off. They just did it and used the time before getting us to do business in town. They also do not charge for the pick up or drop off day. So a 10 day hunt is 10 full days of hunting not 8 like many others. You need 12 days for a 10 day hunt. They were not as high priced on their daily fees or animal fees as many others and had a large property to hunt(spot and stalk all day long) with quality animals. We had 8 book animals on a "budget hunt". The outfit they use for dip and pack(or Tax) was in line with others also. They provided an excellent(fantastic) experience far above what we expected.

They were not 8-12 hrs away from the airport nor did we need a small plane to get to camp. They were about 1.75 hours away from PE.