How Do Y'all Pay for these Safaris?

[Brandy]

You’re getting lots of responses. We have been over multiple times for both hunting and holiday we plan on going more.
We are by no means wealthy but we both have decent careers.
While the exchange rate for SA does help, a few other things we have done ( once you find an outfitter you trust) we just wire him money every so often-
takes the sting out of coming up with a large amount of cash as well as eliminating having to travel with cash. The first few trips we got comments of how can you afford that ? The reality we have learned is we can travel there and stay longer for less than the average cost to popular destinations in the USA. ( think Disney or a week or two at the shore)
We’ve also learned it’s a long way to go for 7 or 10 days and the flight is fairly expensive but once there things are quite reasonable ( food air bnb .. quick flight to the cape)
There are lots of ways to explore there that aren’t expensive but you must research and find a reputable outfitter. Understand what is and isn’t included in you package. Look at day fees and if they are going to charge you for laundry or airport pickup/ transfer or add on animals I’ve seen nice packages offered but the trophy fees for additional animals is substantial.
You’ve received some great information here I look forward to reading all the responses more thoroughly. Whatever you decide to do I can tell you it is unlike anywhere else in the world calm, yet wild - beautiful, simple and exciting every single day.

 

[BigSteve57]

Worked my butt off for 35 years 50-60 hours a week, invested money got a bit lucky with it. Now retired and living the good life.

Same here! One other thing: I drive a LandCruiser but it's a 2000. It runs great. No need to get a new fancy SUV. Hint hint...PRIORITIZE!

 

[Adrian]

I always dreamed of Africa from a small boy reading adventure books. It was always just a dream.
As an adult I made mistakes and accumulated some debt, not massive but enough to make life hard on a low income.
I worked and paid everything off and then my money was my own.
I started dreaming of Africa again, looked at websites, hunting pictures and wanted to have the same photos but with me in them and experience my dream.
I worked and still work every hour I can. I work shifts and on my days off I work overtime.
Yes it's not nice to sacrifice my time off, spend time away from home, get up at half four and drive and hour and forty five minutes to do a twelve hour shift, stay away overnight and repeat again week after week.
But, as much as I don't like having to do it, I know at some point I will be in the African bush and remember my early mornings, getting wet or boiling in my uniform and a smile will come over my face as I look around me at the views, feel the African sun on my back, look at my legs covered in dust and I will know every sacrifice I made was worth it for that moment and many others while I'm there.
I work my ass off for fifty one weeks of the year just for week fifty two and I'm happy to do so.
Work hard, I only spend money on what you need, don't waste it and you will get there.
But also don't neglect yourself, get the occasional takeout, treat your wife to a meal, don't stop living.
There's no point being the richest bloke in the graveyard.

 

[VonJager]

Here's one nobody mentioned. Marry a rich old widow whose husband worked himself in to an early grave trying to save enough to go to Africa.

Seriously, work 40 hours and live on 32 or 80% of your net income.
Also, make sure your spouse WORKS. The days of stay at home moms is history.

What about stay at home dads? Asking for a friend.

 

[Hogpatrol]

What about stay at home dads? Asking for a friend.

Nah, that's out too. Financial goals can be reached alot sooner with two working and investing the extra income.

 

[HuntingGold]

@Fallow Jaeger If you are a school teacher, no worries as you can have your hunts during your breaks. My first two trips were during spring break with my daughters. We had nice hunts.

Regarding the shark dives, we did that on trip #2 and we still talk about it to this day. Well worth the time and money! With that in mind, I understand (according to TV's shark week), shark viewing is down due to the increased presence of orca in the area. If any of you are contemplating booking that trip, check to see what numbers of sharks they are seeing before you go.

As mentioned before, cull hunts are a great way to go for those on a budget. You get all the hunting, you get to take photos and see all the sights, and often get to hunt quite a bit more than if you were hunting for trophies. The moment you decide to take something home, the costs increase significantly due to taxidermy, dip and pack, and shipping. My last hunt was cull hunting and it was a fantastic trip.

 

[mark-hunter]

Really interesting thread. So far, to summarize what I have noticed/ there are several ways:

1. Rich style: Be rich, and go to safari.

2. Middle class style: Have a dream. Nurish and cherish the dream. Have goal. Never forget the goal to go to safari. Work and earn money, save money keeping main goal in mind, and go. Prioritization in saving and spending plan is must. And when we speak about priorities, many save on choice of car.

3. Carpe diem style: Just work. make money. And go when (as soon as) possible. Then repeat, asap. The long term target is not to get savings for retirement, but enjoy and spend on what the life offers. Enjoy every minute. carpe diem style

 

[Ridgewalker]

Air mile credit cards I stopped doing and now get cash. I prefer to take the cash and invest it letting it make more for my goals. Just another option to think about.
I have always paid cash for everything except our house and it so far helps with my taxes. Who knows what the future holds.

You have gotten some great insight for many different options! It sounds like you have a plan. Best of luck making your dreams come true!

 

[LivingTheDream]

I am surprised no one has mentioned this, but you should probably only come to this website like once a month. Between people selling guns and knives, outfitters advertising, and end of season specials, forget saving you will have a second mortgage in no time, lol.

 

[Hogpatrol]

@Brandy, Good call on the Harrisburg show. Last time I was there, in 2016, there were some very good deals on RSA hunts.

 

[Rob404]

Simple,Body Parts,,I'm already down to one Lung and I have my left eye for sale on E-Bay to fund my Namibian hunt next year

 

[Buffalo1]

Know the cost of hunt and then take advantage of low bid prices at auction hunts. You would be surprised at what you can save on the cost of a hunt.

 

[Wheels]

I just would like to know if anyone has tips or suggestions on how to save, or make money on the side.

My second job, I rob banks.

why you ask?

"because that's where the money is" Willie Sutton


Seriously, you have a lot of great advise here. Make a plan, stick to the plan and before you know it you will be hunting in Africa.

I look forward to reading your first hunting report!

 

[tarbe]

Simple,Body Parts,,I'm already down to one Lung and I have my left eye for sale on E-Bay to fund my Namibian hunt next year

If I could only find someone who wants to pay for 61 year old body parts!!

 

[Jaws]

Wow & here I was thinking its only us 3rd world folk that had to turn our Kwacha / Shilling /Meticas/Rands around to be able to afford anything...

Observing from a different angle as a local & spending a lot of time in neighboring African countries, I get to see a great deal of tourists/ foreigners projecting the extravagant lifestyle staying in the fancy hotels & ordering the expensive drinks and food thus creating the impression of all foreigners are "loaded".
Typically people are opportunistic and the inflated pricelist especially for the "loaded" visitors are quickly pulled out. Perhaps that is the reason why trips to Africa are generally considered expensive?

 

[tarbe]

One day I realized that I have done everything in my life to set myself up for when I’m old and all of it went away almost overnight.

Oh yeah.

BTDT...bought the T-shirt. A whole box of them!

Life goes on...this time I am making sure I live a little more along the way!

Rainy days will come, and you need a plan. But pity the poor fellow who's sitting in the rain, and never once took the time to enjoy the sunshine.

Edit: to add...I was 58 when I first hunted Africa.

 

[Wheels]

Wow & here I was thinking its only us 3rd world folk that had to turn our Kwacha / Shilling /Meticas/Rands around to be able to afford anything...

Observing from a different angle as a local & spending a lot of time in neighboring African countries, I get to see a great deal of tourists/ foreigners projecting the extravagant lifestyle staying in the fancy hotels & ordering the expensive drinks and food thus creating the impression of all foreigners are "loaded".
Typically people are opportunistic and the inflated pricelist especially for the "loaded" visitors are quickly pulled out. Perhaps that is the reason why trips to Africa are generally considered expensive?

Around 10 years ago I was in departures for a flight to Dar. A 20 something year old girl started asking me questions about Tanzania. She worked for some UN agency and was moving to Dar. As I recall, the UN gave her a budget of $6,000 usd/mth for rent. I don’t remember what her vehicle budget was but it was a stupid number.

NGO’s can be as bad as tourists.

She left when either first class or business was called. I waited with the rest of the herd of cattle to board.

No idea what the UN would pay for rent now but would bet it has risen.

 

[Aaron N]

I am diver, scuba dive instructor, myself, and it never occurred to me to join two activities together untill now.
White shark cage diving, plus hunting safari.

This is very very interesting combination. I wonder would it be feasible to arrange with some of the good outfitters on this forum?

https://www.sharkcagediving.co.za/

These guys will picked me up right st my door in Cape Town and dropped me off again. No need to have someone else plan it for you.

 

[BRICKBURN]

............... Perhaps that is the reason why trips to Africa are generally considered expensive?

Opportunism and "International price lists" certainly add to the expense.

...... creating the impression of all foreigners are "loaded".

Perception is relative.
Not a lot of international travellers from either of the addresses below! (RSA & USA)
I'll bet you look pretty well off to these folks to.

Sia is a young South African that had never seen an Elephant. (My ignorance left me astonished) I took him to Addo National Park and changed that. It's a short trip to me, only 118km from his home. (I've driven 1oo km one way for a Sunday brunch.) My guest for lunch in the restaurant in the park, where he ordered off one of those pricey menus. I doubt he'll ever afford to go back himself. I also took him on his first hunting excursion. It was a small gesture from one of the "loaded" people. In comparison, I can certainly see how he could be left with the impression.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Relative to the vast majority of inhabitants on this rock, in the U.S., we ARE loaded.