Cost for Me To Take The Big 5

[Rockwall205]

 

[PANTHER TRACKERS]

I fear you are correct @rookhawk !!! Lou Hallamore my ph said “craig no matter what your told, leopard is 50-50.”. That’s why i have saved him till last. While hope is eternal I know it might take several hunts to get him

Choose the Leopard specialists and get it righty the first time

Leopard hunt

 

[Rare Breed]

So excited for you my friend…you give me hope on my own leopard try!!! Looking forward to your pictures with your Rigby double !!!

 

[Rockwall205]

So excited for you my friend…you give me hope on my own leopard try!!! Looking forward to your pictures with your Rigby double !!!

Sticks at 30 .

Right barrel left barrel Hornady factory. Going to try Federal next time out .

 

[Rare Breed]

You da man!!! You shoot her extremely well! She gave me the same great regulation and I know I have transferred her into good hands who will record many great memories with her!!!!

 

[Northern Shooter]

Thanks for laying out those prices for your big 5. It really puts things into perspective.

However, other than your Lion, which years were the other 4 hunted in? I imagine prices may have increased quite a bit if they were years ago. I'm also not seeing any prices for taxidermy or export fees. I hear those can amount to the same cost of the hunt itself.

The problem I have is my Canadian dollar, really getting killed on the exchange there.

I doubt I'll do the Five but Cape Buffalo, Lion and maybe Elephant are definitely on the future menu. Hippo on land being another I'd like to take. Each of these looks to be in the 10-30k USD range.

 

[Rare Breed]

Fair points. Strictly based on my research again no taxi, tips or air you can still take a nice buff as follows: SA$9,500, Zim $13,500, Moz $16,500, Bull Elephant $17,000 Zim, Dart Rhino $6,500 SA, CBL lion $7,500, Leopard $21,000 Zim

 

[Osama Mahdi]

Thank you for the valuable information. The cost of a buffalo hunt in Zimbabwe seems quite reasonable. I’ve heard that in Mozambique, it can be around $25,000. I’d love to hear your personal perspective on buffalo hunting in South Africa versus Zimbabwe—even in a private message if you prefer to be brutally honest.

Kind regards

 

[Siennacoyote]

After being on our great site for so many years now becoming an Ambassador I thought this might be a good time to post my experience towards my vision of taking the big 5. I have gotten concerned when reading so many members say they could “never possibly get the big 5” due to cost. While I fully understand cost is in the eyes of the beholder my hope is to share you don’t have to be wealthy to obtain your goal. The following are my costs for the Big 5 without tip or air for perspective:
1. Cape Buffalo Zim $13,000
2. Rhino while the dart hunt was won at auction cost $6,000
3. Male CBL lion $6,500
4. Bull Elephant $15,000
5. Leopard $17,000 going in June 2025
Total $57,500
While this is a lot of money to me given I am not wealthy but I have done well as a senior executive it is still far less than one wild lion hunt or 60-70 pound elephant hunt
My point is set your vision then go after it as I have on your terms and no one else’s as long as it’s legal

In all seriousness if you have $57000 to hunt you are wealthy

 

[Northern Shooter]

In all seriousness if you have $57000 to hunt you are wealthy

Could also be spread out over a decade or so.

 

[ActionBob]

Could also be spread out over a decade or so.

Or a lifetime!

I was originally going to wait on leopard until I was about 70... my reasoning was that is a dangerous animal however most hunters who get mauled by one seem to live... I figured if I was old, I would not have to live with the scars and accompanying pains as long

But like almost everything if you're not looking for it, a good deal in the right area and the right circumstances comes along

 

[Oil & Dirt]

Good post, I’m following the same path roughly. The view of expensive vs cheap is subjective and I like seeing the different views. I was not a great student and never thought I’d have the chance to go on any paid hunt let alone planning my big 5. A friend and I were working for a home builder when we were young. He said “guys if you ever get the chance to go to Africa to hunt X, make sure to go”. We were so out of the same league we didn’t even recognize what the animal was he was talking about. We both laugh about it to this day.

 

[DLSJR]

I fear you are correct @rookhawk !!! Lou Hallamore my ph said “craig no matter what your told, leopard is 50-50.”. That’s why i have saved him till last. While hope is eternal I know it might take several hunts to get him

I don’t agree that Leopards have to be only a 50-50 proposition. In many areas it is accurate, but there are places where success runs consistently high, abound 80-90%. The Luangwa Valley, Selous Game Reserve, Niassa Game Reserve are areas where success tends to be very high. What these areas have in common is being huge areas of what is essentially wilderness hence lots of prey species and not a lot of pressure.

I believe that way too many areas have difficult leopard hunting and lower success for a variety of reasons, but people book these hunts because they get a relatively good deal and they’re ‘sold’ on these hunts. The problem is, too many aspiring leopard hunters have to go on multiple hunts just to see a cat in the tree.

It is often less expensive to go on a more expensive leopard hunt in a premium area and get a leopard on one safari than it is to go on 3, 4, 5 less costly safaris before you eventually shoot a leopard. I’ve hunted leopards 4 times, not on dedicated leopard hunts but rather on general bag safaris. Of those 4 leopards hunts I’ve killed 3 nice large Toms. Two were shot on the first day of sitting, 2-3 hours total for each Tom, one in AM and the other in PM. One was killed by tracking in Botswana, first morning of that safari. Those hunts were all during the first half of each areas season. The only unsuccessful hunt was one I knew would be tough going in, but wanted to give it a try anyway. It was the last hunt of the season, October into November, very hot, tons of bushpig and warthog babies running around everywhere, so getting a Tom in the tree was very tough. We did manage to get 2 big Tom’s to feed, but we zigged and they zagged so we were at one tree when a Tom was at the other. This happened repeatedly.
When I’ve hunted earlier in the season, we’ve shot good cats right away each time. This was hunting in prime leopard areas that were more expensive than a typical leopard hunt can be bought for, but I killed big Tom’s on each hunt.

If you want to kill a leopard on one hunt book a great area before most game drop their young, first half of season, and go with a PH who is truly a good leopard hunter. Not all PH’s are skilled, passionate leopard hunters and more areas are marginal than are great. My .02.

 

[kpoynter]

I fear you are correct @rookhawk !!! Lou Hallamore my ph said “craig no matter what your told, leopard is 50-50.”. That’s why i have saved him till last. While hope is eternal I know it might take several hunts to get him

Out of what you listed…the Leopard is riskiest (I realize you did the others already)
Not sure who and how you are going with but that is the lowest end of the spectrum that exists and is typically low success (certainly relatively)
There are very high success options around $27k
But good luck finishing it

 

[kpoynter]

I don’t agree that Leopards have to be only a 50-50 proposition. In many areas it is accurate, but there are places where success runs consistently high, abound 80-90%. The Luangwa Valley, Selous Game Reserve, Niassa Game Reserve are areas where success tends to be very high. What these areas have in common is being huge areas of what is essentially wilderness hence lots of prey species and not a lot of pressure.

I believe that way too many areas have difficult leopard hunting and lower success for a variety of reasons, but people book these hunts because they get a relatively good deal and they’re ‘sold’ on these hunts. The problem is, too many aspiring leopard hunters have to go on multiple hunts just to see a cat in the tree.

It is often less expensive to go on a more expensive leopard hunt in a premium area and get a leopard on one safari than it is to go on 3, 4, 5 less costly safaris before you eventually shoot a leopard. I’ve hunted leopards 4 times, not on dedicated leopard hunts but rather on general bag safaris. Of those 4 leopards hunts I’ve killed 3 nice large Toms. Two were shot on the first day of sitting, 2-3 hours total for each Tom, one in AM and the other in PM. One was killed by tracking in Botswana, first morning of that safari. Those hunts were all during the first half of each areas season. The only unsuccessful hunt was one I knew would be tough going in, but wanted to give it a try anyway. It was the last hunt of the season, October into November, very hot, tons of bushpig and warthog babies running around everywhere, so getting a Tom in the tree was very tough. We did manage to get 2 big Tom’s to feed, but we zigged and they zagged so we were at one tree when a Tom was at the other. This happened repeatedly.
When I’ve hunted earlier in the season, we’ve shot good cats right away each time. This was hunting in prime leopard areas that were more expensive than a typical leopard hunt can be bought for, but I killed big Tom’s on each hunt.

If you want to kill a leopard on one hunt book a great area before most game drop their young, first half of season, and go with a PH who is truly a good leopard hunter. Not all PH’s are skilled, passionate leopard hunters and more areas are marginal than are great. My .02.

Of course..
I’d say there are many 100%/99% opportunities…
You pay for them too. The guys here know that
I don’t mean overpay…just pay

 

[375Fox]

In all seriousness if you have $57000 to hunt you are wealthy

And yet no one thinks about spending nearly that on a vehicle every few years. Most Americans have more money than they think. It’s how you choose to spend it.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I am planning and hope to finish my Big 5 and Dangerous 7 all in one hunt. I still need Leopard, Elephant and Hippo. Plans are in the works for 2027-2028 time frame try and do in one hunt. I will be allowing 21 days to try and get it done. I figured stay longer than do two trips.
As for costs I don't want to even figure them all up!

 

[DLSJR]

Of course..
I’d say there are many 100%/99% opportunities…
You pay for them too. The guys here know that
I don’t mean overpay…just pay

But you only have to go once!

 

[deewayne2003]

While those costs are changing, the premise is 100%. It does not take a wealthy portfolio to get most of the big 5. Maybe you don't need a new truck every few years (or at all). Maybe you don't need Starbucks so often. Maybe that deer lease isn't worth it. I would far rather hunt DG than elk hunt in the US. Costs are not wildly off from those guided elk hunts in good units. Some are even less than that. The concept that big 5 is only for wealthy people is false.

Well said sir!….

I have always wanted an exportable bull, instead of saving for that “one day” hunt I went on my first safari to Zimbabwe and took Tuskless with a DR along with excellent bushbuck and Impala.

Money well spent and all in cost was about half of an Alaskan grizzly hunt.

Tuskless being my first African animal it certainly was emotional; but in a different way, if I could afford it I’d hunt multiple times as well as many elephant as possible every year.

Also a leopard, their simply beautiful, and I think I’ll prioritize leopard before doubling up on tuskless.

 

[Hank2211]

I will most likely not do the "Big Five" as I refuse to dart a rhino similar to what their vets do on a regular basis. Lion will happen in Zambia most likely next year.

If you don't mind my asking, why the refusal to dart a rhino?