Credit Cards

[JimP]

I wonder how many on there the pay or plan to pay in cash ask their outfitters to give them a discount of 3% or whatever the CC company charges them?

On my first hunt my outfitter only took cash or a wire transfer, on my second one they just wanted to be paid. They didn't care if it was cash, CC, personal check, or a wire transfer. The one easy thing is that they had set up a US bank account where a client didn't get charged the foreign wire fee.

When I settled up on my second they just asked me how I wanted to pay the $00000 that I owed. All I really owed was my deposit on my taxidermy, they didn't mention any discount for a cash payment. So as I sit here now I presume that there wasn't any.

As for a bank not doing a wire transfer to a account in Africa, I don't see what the big deal would be. A wire transfer is a wire transfer as long as you have the correct account, routing number, and other information. They might scratch their heads for a minute but what good is a bank if they don't do what a bank is suppose to do?

 

[wesheltonj]

My little rural bank tells me they have NEVER sent a wire transfer to Africa. Not reassuring. And $10K in cash, the accepted limit, used to pay for a hunt........probably not anymore. Also, many operators don't take credit cards...and most don't have a US bank you can prepay at. Best of luck with whatever you decide.......FWB

I Bank at the 18th largest bank in the USA - USAA FSB. For an international wire it goes through their correspondence bank in NYC and I end up paying two outgoing wire fees. I thinks it’s either $35 or $45 each wire for both fees.

 

[Sabre]

I would ask YOUR outfitter what his price sheets look like if you pay cash. No one here can say what discount (if any) they may offer. Most SA outfitters have 3 or 4 price sheets, for different clients and scenarios. Then you will have an easy comparison to make with the credit card payment. I would still take cash for tips and extra costs you may incur along the way. Have fun and don't overthink it too much.

This is something that eats at me a bit. I dislike that they tend to have multiple price sheets. I don't mind paying the same price everyone has to pay for an animal. But I don't want to pay 2-3 tiers above for the exact same animal and exact same hunt, just because.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

my outfitter prefers cash but will take a credit card but will charge you 3%. on my trip this week I will be taking cash as the hunt will only be about 5500 depending if I decide to take a bull Buff or stay with the cow and of course cash for tips .he does not care for wire transfers and will not take a check said his bank will not take them

 

[bashaw]

A lot is going to depend in how much you intend on spending.

If the balance of your hunt is going to be more than $10K there are significant hoops you are supposed to jump through before you take that amount of cash outside of the US..

For me, I put almost everything I purchase on my American Airlines credit card and then pay the card to a zero balance each month (never pay interest). The points I accumulate over the course of a year typically pays for the 2x international flights I will take the following year to go hunt somewhere (plus some).. and while I hate American Airlines, living in DFW, AA pretty much gets you anywhere on the planet you want to go either with them or one of their code shared partners (AA's global HQ is in DFW and DFW is their largest global hub)..

Most outfitters will allow you to send a wire or do some sort of other bank transfer at the end of a hunt to shore things up if you prefer that over a card.. some will accept US checks.. etc..etc..

I typically take a few grand in US currency with me when I leave the country and convert it to local currency as needed.. it gets used to pay for incidentals, tips, and other things and is an "emergency" fund if there's an "emergency".. but I normally don't carry a whole lot of cash beyond that unless there is a specific reason to..

I hate UA but I have there card for the same reason you have AA, convenience I wish the Airlines understood Customer SERVICE

 

[Hunt anything]

The one time I put something on Safari on a credit card I think they charged around 3%. I was made an offer I couldn’t refuse.
I normally wire all of the daily rates and at least half of the expected trophy fees.
I will normally carry $3,000 to 5,000 in cash to cover tips any curios and the rest of the trophy fees. I will carry about $500 in my wallet and the rest in a money belt. If robbed I will hand over the wallet but I doubt anyone has started stealing belts yet.

 

[375Fox]

This is something that eats at me a bit. I dislike that they tend to have multiple price sheets. I don't mind paying the same price everyone has to pay for an animal. But I don't want to pay 2-3 tiers above for the exact same animal and exact same hunt, just because.

I wish all prices were listed in local currency instead of USD, Canadian dollar, euro price lists, but it seems no one ever agrees on anything here, so I can see the marketing dilemma for outfitters. I don’t know of any outfitters that charge more or less for American or European clients. There are outfitters that cater more towards one or the other though with different pricing.

 

[Hunt anything]

This is something that eats at me a bit. I dislike that they tend to have multiple price sheets. I don't mind paying the same price everyone has to pay for an animal. But I don't want to pay 2-3 tiers above for the exact same animal and exact same hunt, just because.

I have always heard about this , I try to go by what prices are listed on the outfitters web site. But it would piss me off if I paid website price for something and the same animal was offered to someone for less. Of course I didn’t complain when an outfitter offered me a free blesbok if I would shoot a gemsbok bull for his advertised price.

 

[MarkB]

First thing to do is ask your outfitter. My last safari paying with CC incurred an extra % for fees, also your at the CC companies exchange rate. That's never good.

First few safaris were travellers cheques, glad we are past that. Last few I have always wired funds in amount outfitter asked for prior to leaving home, normally daily rate and fees for advance special permits. (Night critters). Then E-Transfer final amounts on last day in camp. I always talk to my bank prior to leaving and inform manager of plan. No issues when in Africa so far. Sometimes tip amounts are in local currency? But lately even those are added to invoice for final payment. Hopefully those that deserve and I gave to receive it. Do prefer and think best to have all in camp last night for thankyou's and tip handouts. But up to outfitters and not travelling or worrying about money exchange is better.

As a Canadian one question I ask is can we deal in Canadian funds. No exchange rates and being able to wire amounts seams easier. All safari companies gave me costs in Canadian for 2021 safari. Hunt, D&P, Shipper but not Turkish airlines.

MB

 

[Bandera]

I pay by credit card if it is an option.
I only use cards with foreign transaction fee.
The credit card gets paid in full every month.
I will take cash for tips and what not.
Normally I would use an AMEX Delta card.
I will also carry a Visa and a Master card.

 

[Stormy Kromer]

I just returned from South Africa. My outfitter only required a $1,000 deposit prior the the hunt. I paid by check when I booked in the US a year ago. His preferred payment for the balance was a CC at the end of the trip. I asked about bringing a money order for most of the expected cost, he said he preferred a CC. I did as he asked.

I did check with my CC companies before I went to tell them there would be a large charge from a foreign country, none of the cared. I have 3 cards. Two of them didn't have an International fee, one charged an additional 3% to the card holder. I left that one in my wallet.

 

[jpr9954]

On my first trip which was a package deal, I paid the base price using a wire transfer. I carried about $2500 in cash with me for tips and other stuff. I put my two extra animals on my credit card and the outfitter did charge an extra 5% to cover their fees. I was understood and was OK with it. I did, however, find out my credit card company charged 3% for foreign exchange. I did switch cards when I came home.

 

[sgt_zim]

Bar none my favorite SNL skit ever...

I remember sitting in front of the TV with my dad.. when Akroid said that line.. he and I about fell off the couch laughing.. while my mom grew a look of horror on her face lol..

"Bagged-up, dried-up, slunk meat..."

 

[thi9elsp]

I would just bring some cash for tips and use your credit card. Remember US requires declaration if taking $10k or more out. And SA has the incoming declaration requirement - though seeming optional US airlines are requiring you do the SA form before boarding.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Last safari I asked my operator how much he wanted for deposit and he said don't worry about it. I transferred $2K into his bank account anyway. As always, paid the balance with a card before leaving. He said he's only been stiffed once by someone who was, oddly enough, friends with other longtime client couple. Very embarrassing for them.

Keep in mind our African friends have access to witch doctors who can put a hex on anyone who rips off the safari operator. See what happens to your sex life when your junk turns into a pile of warts!

 

[Hunt anything]

I would just bring some cash for tips and use your credit card. Remember US requires declaration if taking $10k or more out. And SA has the incoming declaration requirement - though seeming optional US airlines are requiring you do the SA form before boarding.

Never filled out anything other than Covid crap in 5 trips into or transferring through South Africa. First trip in 2014 and the latest was 2021, is this something new?

 

[thi9elsp]

@Hunt anything

Here’s the recent thread about it. I have an email from Gracy about it
https://www.africahunting.com/threa...claration-south-africa-revenue-service.91184/

 

[Sabre]

I wish all prices were listed in local currency instead of USD, Canadian dollar, euro price lists, but it seems no one ever agrees on anything here, so I can see the marketing dilemma for outfitters. I don’t know of any outfitters that charge more or less for American or European clients. There are outfitters that cater more towards one or the other though with different pricing.

I think when people are talking about multiple price sheets we (or at least for me) are not talking about different prices for Canadians vs Americans vs European. Where I feel like I see it happen is for instance you won a hunt at an auction or raffle, here is our price sheet, and it's higher than their standard prices. Or, here are our standard prices listed on our website, but then when someone buys a package hunt with that outfitter then there are sometimes different prices for animals. Or, Here is our price list of animals, but you can call us for a personalized discounted package.

And I am not saying they shouldn't be able to do it. It is their business, and I see some of the reasons it's done. But it does create a scenario where a person could call up and pay full price on daily rates, and full price on all animals, and then another person does the same hunt for much less. And that's always going to feel a bit icky to the person who ends up paying full retail for the same product.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I Bank at the 18th largest bank in the USA - USAA FSB. For an international wire it goes through their correspondence bank in NYC and I end up paying two outgoing wire fees. I thinks it’s either $35 or $45 each wire for both fees.

I’m in the same boat with USAA. I normally wire 100% of my day rates, license fees, and a portion of what I anticipate my trophy fees will be to cover the cost of the two wires.

Remaining balance I’ve paid 3 different ways

1) Wire transfer after getting home from my hunt (least favorite because of the double fee from USAA)

2) Cash on the spot. I’ve done this multiple times including a big ticket multi Big 5 Species Hunt in Zim. In that case I had to declare the amount I was bringing in country since it vastly exceeded the $10k limit.

3) Credit Card. I’ve done this in Namibia and South Africa multiple times. I use a travel card like @mdwest so I avoid the foreign transaction/processing fees. I’ve had an outfitter charge a 3% fee and I’ve had outfitters not charge anything.

I too travel a lot for work, so using my airline card gets me a lot of additional miles, which I often use for flights specifically when hunting.

 

[Hunt anything]

I may rethink on the amount of cash we take in August if this turns out to be a hassle.
What will be the options other than pre-wiring money if you’re going to a remote camp say in Mozambique or Zambia? The camps I’ve been to didn’t have internet at the time and could not process a CC even if they wanted to.

@Hunt anything

Here’s the recent thread about it. I have an email from Gracy about it
https://www.africahunting.com/threa...claration-south-africa-revenue-service.91184/