Credit Card Surcharges in South Africa

[thi9elsp]

I guess I’m fortunate that all my hunts I wired balance once I returned to the US so haven’t dealt with this

 

[Letzhunt]

Do most ask for payment while there or allow to pay when you get home?

 

[Hank2211]

Do most ask for payment while there or allow to pay when you get home?

I believe it varies, depending in great part on the operator, the client and how well the client is known, and the type of hunt. It’s one thing to wait on some trophy fees for plains game, and another thing to wait on a trophy fee for an elephant or a lion, especially if the client isn’t well known to the outfitter. Just as chasing an outfitter in Africa for money isn’t a lot of fun, neither is chasing someone in North America for money when you’re in Africa.

 

[MacJenkins]

In 13 safaris with 11 different outfitters never had any of them offer the use of a credit card. Two hunts I wrote a check in camp at the end of the Safari to square up, the others just preferred a wire when I got home.

 

[375Fox]

Do most ask for payment while there or allow to pay when you get home?

@Hank2211 answered it well. It depends. Typically what I’ve seen is higher cost hunts are paid by wire transfer after returning home, but a trophy fee deposit is in place on major species. Many South African outfitters want payment at conclusion of hunt for lower cost PG hunts and offer credit card option to do so. It really depends on the outfitter, the hunts they do, how they market, the clients they attract, competitor’s practices, etc. You always need to discuss final payment before the hunt takes place.

 

[Flipper Dude]

You can pay for a safari with a freakin’ credit card? Oh lordie, it’s my ass now.

 

[Letzhunt]

My last safari I paid with a credit card at the end but also had the option to wire transfer. I chose CC as it was easier and gave me a significant amount of airline miles. I then just paid it off as soon as got home. None of the outfitters have listed or offered to pay when I got home that's why I was curious about it.
A small CC fee is ok for me but no way I would do 10%. And anytime they say mandatory Fee I would question it.
I too wonder who the outfitter was that did that as for others to avoid them for sure.

 

[Vintageguy]

I did a little more research on the report of SA being withdrawn from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) payment system. It is unlikely that as a whole all Businesses and Banks in South Africa would be eliminated from SWIFT. A more likely scenario would be that certain named organizations and businesses would be withdrawn. The hunting outfitters are not likely being considered. I hope this holds true as I like to pre-pay a bit for Safari so I don't have to carry as much cash while there.

I think all bets are off on this because the government of South Africa appears to be doing nothing to improve relations. Sanctions targeting specific government individuals are looking more likely which would likely not warm the relationship any.
They are cozying up with Iran and the openly stated goals of BRICS put RSA very much at odds with the U.S.

 

[MacJenkins]

I’ve always just wanted my operators to not get dinged with fees. It’s a tough place to run a business. Never done SA until this last trip and they do operate different than Tanzania, Zim and Bots. So could totally be a normal SA thing.

 

[Hank2211]

I should have added that it also depends on who owned the animal you shot (in arms, like South Africa, where wildlife is owned by individuals).

If the outfitter has bought an animal from a farmer, for example, and brought the hunter to the property, the farmer may insist on being paid immediately for the animal. At that point, the outfitter is actually out-of-pocket the cost of the animal, and (i) will want to be reimbursed as soon as possible, and (ii) is unlikely to want to take the risk that he won't be paid at all.

If the outfitter owned the animal, he's not out-of-pocket any money and taking risk on payment may be more palatable.