Historic Safari Prices

[TEX84]

Just curious, what did a typical plains game safari cost 30 years ago? What would the trophy fees have been for impala, kudu, and cape buffalo?

 

[CAustin]

Interesting question for sure.

 

[sestoppelman]

My first buffalo, pg safari in Tanzania no less back in 1985 so just 30 years ago. It was a late season, 7 day package hunt with 8 animals including buffalo and airfare from NY, all transfers and all trophy fees and even dip and doc. It was a 2x1 hunt with a partner I didn't know, not really a good idea but almost unheard of nowadays. I took 7 animals, didn't take a dik-dik though could have. All of that cost just over $4300 for me and I added my wife as observer for extra. In those days there were quite a few 2500$ (with air) Zambia buffalo hunts being advertised as well, though I gather there were some problems with some of the hunts and they were fairly short, some just 5 days. Things have changed a bit. I should note that those prices were not typical even then.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Here is a thread entitled Compilation of Old Ads Promoting Hunting in Kenya which may be of interest to some: http://www.africahunting.com/threads/compilation-of-old-ads-promoting-hunting-in-kenya.15232/.

 

[smp005]

I don't like to think about it..

 

[CAustin]

Oh well I couldn't have afforded Sestopplemans 1985 hunt at $4300 as my total salary at the time was only $25,000. So that hunt would have been 20% of my gross income with tips. I guess one could say that taking a hunt in Africa back then in today's dollars would be very similar in price to what one would expect to pay today. In 1985 you could by a new Toyota car for $5000 and it's four to five times that now. So that $4300 hunt would be around $20,000 to $25,000 now. Time marches on and so does inflation. The adds Jerome posted are very interesting......everyone should take a look.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

In 1985, I did not think that I will hunt in Africa.
Witold

 

[Velo Dog]

In 1985, I did not think that I will hunt in Africa.
Witold

Me too.

 

[Foxi]

Me too.

Hi Folks,
here a side from a brochure from 1983
5 Days hunt in Zimbabwe
1 buff, 1Impala,1Hog
Basis 1:1 = USD 3.500.- .........inkl all fees.
Take a look at the other prices ,with the good old German Mark.
You can't imagine ,how I'm missing her
Foxi

 

[Velo Dog]

Hi Folks,
here a side from a brochure from 1983
5 Days hunt in Zimbabwe
1 buff, 1Impala,1Hog
Basis 1:1 = USD 3.500.- .........inkl all fees.
Take a look at the other prices ,with the good old German Mark.
You can't imagine ,how I'm missing her
Foxi

In 1983, I had two very young children, a lazy wife and paying on both a house in another state that I needed to sell badly plus, a loan I had signed for, so that I could pay our way to move to Alaska, where I had accepted a new job just the year before.
In regards to my 1983 financial situation, the price of that Zimbabwe hunt may as well have been 3 million, 500 thousand US dollars.

Today, I am not rich but at least not poor any more - 20 something years ago I divorced the couch potato, then over the years I have finally paid off most of my debts and married my good wife who, is on her second career.
The only thing we're still having to pay on is her substantial student loan but in a little under two years, that will also be paid in full.

Now, I can afford to hunt in Africa once every 3 to 5 years, if I budget my money very carefully.
2016 will be my 5th Safari.

 

[Foxi]

In 1983, I had two very young children, a lazy wife and paying on both a house in another state that I needed to sell badly plus, a loan I had signed for, so that I could pay our way to move to Alaska, where I had accepted a new job just the year before.
In regards to my 1983 financial situation, the price of that Zimbabwe hunt may as well have been 3 million, 500 thousand US dollars.

Today, I am not rich but at least not poor any more - 20 something years ago I divorced the couch potato, then over the years I have finally paid off most of my debts and married my good wife who, is on her second career.
The only thing we're still having to pay on is her substantial student loan but in a little under two years, that will also be paid in full.

Now, I can afford to hunt in Africa once every 3 to 5 years, if I budget my money very carefully.
2016 will be my 5th Safari.

well done fellow.

 

[Biddleman]

Hmmm.... in 1985 I was 10. So I couldn't afford those prices then.

However I do remember being in grade school and the one teacher had a map of the continent of Africa and in the center of the map, from west coast to east coast it just said "Dark Africa." I would sit and wonder what could possibly be there. I think that's what got me started.

 

[spike.t]

However I do remember being in grade school and the one teacher had a map of the continent of Africa and in the center of the map, from west coast to east coast it just said "Dark Africa." .

now i know why it seems a lot of people from the usa arent too good at world geography, in school they are using maps from the 18th and 19th centuries.........did it have "here be dragons" on it as well?

 

[Biddleman]

now i know why it seems a lot of people from the usa arent too good at world geography, in school they are using maps from the 18th and 19th centuries.........did it have "here be dragons" on it as well?

LOL. No it wasn't quite that bad. Though that would've been cool. If I remember right that particular teacher collected old maps and books. It was framed in glass and he had it hanging on the wall. He had more maps on the wall as well, but I sat next to African map most of the year. I wish I had it to hang in my house.

On a side note that same teacher collected firearms from WW II and would bring them in once in awhile to show the class. Could you imagine doing that today?

 

[BWH]

I'm with Biddleman..... I would have been 10 or 11. Seeing Africa in books, pics of the landscape & all the different animals, definitely set wheels in motions for me.

Hmmm.... in 1985 I was 10. So I couldn't afford those prices then.

However I do remember being in grade school and the one teacher had a map of the continent of Africa and in the center of the map, from west coast to east coast it just said "Dark Africa." I would sit and wonder what could possibly be there. I think that's what got me started.

 

[Wheels]

now i know why it seems a lot of people from the usa arent too good at world geography, in school they are using maps from the 18th and 19th centuries.........did it have "here be dragons" on it as well? [/QUOT

My geography map had words like Gold Coast, tanganyika, Rhodesia, Belgian Congo, Salisbury, Leopoldville, Ft. Victoria, and Elizabethville on it. Not sure if the map was out of date or if I'm just old.

By the way, what is an Eritrea, South Sudan and Burkina Faso ?

 

[brushmore]

Wow this conversation is bring me back to my 4th grade social studies where we learned about Africa. I wasn't much into school back then but I still remember it 30 years later it must say something. My fascination with Africa started even before that so guess I can see now where this obsession comes from.

 

[Wheels]

Full bag, 30 day Tanzania safari including big 5 and airfare was under $5,000 in the 60's from a source I visited with the past year. Taxidermy may have been included in this price as well.

My parents resident Tanzania license cost 100tzs. About $10 and included over 100 animals. Multiples of most species including Apx 4 buff. Additional buff could be added for $2-3. Elephant, rhino, lion, leopard had to be bought separately. You could take a max of 5 elephant per year. I am happy to stand corrected if I am off a little on my numbers. This would have been 40-50 years ago.

All the best

 

[Foxi]

Servus Wheels,
the recently deceased zambian PH Hartley Cumbrinck told me,that his father shot every year the legal quote of four Elephants and with this ivory,he
paid the boarding school for his sister and him for a year in South Afrika in there childhood.
Foxi
p.s.
here a pic of him-a pic from a great hunter

 

[Wheels]

Servus Wheels,
the recently decedent zambian PH Hartley Cumbrinck told me,that his father shot every year the legal quote of four Elephants and with this ivory,he
paid the boarding school for his sister and him for a year in South Afrika in there childhood.
Foxi
p.s.
here a pic of him-a pic from a great hunter

View attachment 36314

Neat story Foxi.

If I remember correct the break even point on the ivory was around 40 pounds. If you shot a bull with 120 pounds of ivory you did pretty well for yourself. Again, I am happy to stand corrected on this statement if I am off.

Wish I could go and hunt for 2-3 weeks, shoot 4 elephant and pay my daughters college bill.