What is the TRUE cost of my African Hunting Safari!

[Rob404]

I want to look just like this Guy,,I,ll look so Bad The Kudu will just Surrender,,,not to mention the Hot Native Girls.

 

[enysse]

I want to look just like this Guy,,I,ll look so Bad The Kudu will just Surrender,,,not to mention the Hot Native Girls.

LOL, good luck with that!

I'd rather look like Clint Eastwood in one of his many Western movies.

 

[Bobpuckett]

:rofl: Hey Rob44 You haven't been to Africa yet have you wait til you check out those hot native girls.

 

[Rob404]

:rofl: Hey Rob44 You haven't been to Africa yet have you wait til you check out those hot native girls.

Looks like my last trip thru North Minneapolis

 

[postoak]

Ha, those five women would only make up two of our local African-Americans.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

:focus:

 

[Rob404]

I,m having Lori book my flight But just snooping around Expedia and the difference in cost between the different classes is Nuts the spread is 4K between economy and First class,,,Man I wish I was Rich ,,,Coming from the Colonies can anybody offer opinions on long distance carriers??

 

[Bobpuckett]

:focus:

Sorry J done in humor, Please feel free to delete my earlier post if you like.

But to get back to topic, alot of this is gone into greater depth then even I have thought of, Great job guys! One thing I like to do is be honest with a client when I offer hunts when they ask about total cost I give it all to them because it does add up i.e. plane fare RT 1800 safaris 6200 dip& pack 500 +- and even more if you get them mounted there shipping about 500 +- customs broker 300 +- recieving agent 50+ and the list can go on Taxidermist can run in to the thousands as well. so to make a long story short there's no cheap hunts just cheaper and I also recommend that they lock in future hunts early to save against inflation next year or even the year after gives you something to save for. Just remember this is your dream hunt and if in the event there isn't another then you've lived your dream or at lease some of it.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Sorry J done in humor, Please feel free to delete my earlier post if you like.

No need for an apology Bob, just an important thread that I want to keep on topic, thanks!

 

[Mtgoat]

Jeff,
Thanks that helpful info.

My first safari is a few weeks away. However, my rule of thumb in North America is that the "real" cost of the hunt will be double what I pay the outfitter. It's not perfect and tends to breakdown at the extremes on both ends (cheap and expensive). However, if I go into a hunt with that ratio in mind, I don't stress about the extra costs when they come up.

 

[Bwannabe]

I want to look just like this Guy,,I,ll look so Bad The Kudu will just Surrender,,,not to mention the Hot Native Girls.

Why do you want to look like Richard Chamberlin?

OK so I book a Safari
Lioness
Wildebeest
Zebra
Gemsbok.

PH says its $10,000. USD for the above.

I know I will have airfare to Joberg and gun permit.

Below is the hunt I purchased at auction.. So what else will pop up. I understand the dip and pack fees, and export permits. those will be a month or so later. I bought the original hunt at auction, it includes 7 days, five days hunting, pickup and take back to Joberg.



The donation hunt consists of the daily rates for 2 hunters for 7 hunting days and a warthog and jackal per hunter. The total value of the donation is $7200


The day the clients arrive, I will pick them up myself, at the O.R Thambo International Airport. From there we head out to the hunting area. The areas differ in distance, it all depends on what the clients want to hunt. On arrival at camp, (well equipped lodge of en-suite facilities) if during the day, we will take it easy and shoot the guns to see if they are still printing where they ought to. We will then go out hunting.
A typical itenerary for a hunting day is as follows.... We will wake up at 5:30 AM, where we will then have some coffee, serials, toast, yoghurts, juices etc.
By 6:30 AM we leave camp to go hunting.
Between 11:00 and 12:00 we arrive back at camp for a big brunch...
After brunch there will be a siesta time until about 14:00 where we will go back out for the after noon sessions hunting.
We then return at dark, where we sit around the fire and have some drinks untill supper is served at around 20:00



All the skinning is done on site. The skins are skinned out to the clients preference, being shoulder mt, full mt, back skins of flatskins, and are salted immediately to eradicate any possibilities of any hair slip etc.
There will be daily laundry services, and maids that clean the rooms every day...
After the hunting period, I will drop the clients off myself, at the airport, but first stopping at a souvenir shop close to the airport...
Extra sightseeing activities can be arranged for observers during the hunting period at extra costs...
There are no troubles bringing in guns, I will go through the steps with them all the way.

Thanks Bwannabe

 

[dory]

F&*k ! now Im really confused , I thought I had my costs sorted but im going to have to have to think again .
Thanks guys , food for thought ?
Cheers Dory .

 

[Bwannabe]

Bring the skins back to the states, at lest the quality is here just shop around. Dont have to depend on someone in your own states.
Taxidermy Associations This is a list of state taxidermist associations. Every state has a few outstanding taxidermist. Some are expensive others are small shops and more affordable.

I booked through Gracy Travel in San Antonio. One reason for using them is their experience booking flight in and out of Africa. Also if the flights get screwed up you can call them and tell them to help you out.

They also have a service where their person meets you when you get off the plane and guides you through the police etc at Joberg.

$2500. round trip, 1st class was $13,000.

 

[Rob404]

Just sent my Final Payment to CT Safaris, so far all I have left is a few Gifts to spread around ,,As carefull as I was,,planning a trip of this Magnitude,is still a lot of trial and error,,I decided to get a pair of Back up eye glasses ,,also learned never to buy hunting boots in the Morning,,and as a Chef by trade and knowing Murphys Law ,,I have told my cooks that I plan to lock myself in my office to stay away from anything Sharp or Hot the week I leave and they only need to slip the days reciepts and money under the door

 

[BRICKBURN]

??.,,As carefull as I was,,planning a trip of this Magnitude,is still a lot of trial and error,,I decided to get a pair of Back up eye glasses ,,also learned never to buy hunting boots in the Morning,,?..

Always interesting what you learn.

 

[enysse]

As your feet swell because of activity, they can change sizes. I'm always thankful I'm not diabetic, they have it the worst (shoes must fit perfect).

 

[Inrutt]

Jeff,
Thanks that helpful info.

My first safari is a few weeks away. However, my rule of thumb in North America is that the "real" cost of the hunt will be double what I pay the outfitter. It's not perfect and tends to breakdown at the extremes on both ends (cheap and expensive). However, if I go into a hunt with that ratio in mind, I don't stress about the extra costs when they come up.

Figure on tripling the cost of the hunt prior to taxidermy. I just did a trip and that was what it worked to. Good luck and have fun.

 

[ActionBob]

A couple of the guys at the camp I was at got talking about the cost of taxidemy and one guy mentioned that he knows a fellow who only does pictures. For the cost of taxidermy, shipping, etc. he can do another whole hunt! I wanted to get mounts because it was our first time, and the longest vacation we had ever taken. Went a bit nuts as we were treating ourselves for our 30th anniversary and 30 years in business. Pretty much shot any good speciman we had a chance at and tripled the number of animals we had in the original package. But we have worked hard and done ok, so we can afford to do what we want now, within reason..... Which will now have to include building a trophy room!

However I can see how a person could do a very nice hunting trip on a working man's budget..... It is just a matter of prioritizing, budgeting, and being reasonable with expectations.

 

[Foxi]

The total Costs ?
I think the safaricosts have an end,when your trophies are at home.
I shot in 2012 in Zambia
1 buffalo (then shouldermount)
1 warthog(then shouldermount)
1:1 Guiding - 7 days
Tips
flights
Fees
Dipping
shipping etc.
but no holidays before and after the hunt
calculate in africa with additional costs 30-40%

I was exactly by USD 26.000.-

Greetings
Foxi

 

[tiss kocovsky]

Feel free to forward this list to your friend...

Note that my list omitted the fundamental costs such as:

- Hunters' daily rates or hunting packages' costs
- Non-hunting guests' daily rates
- Rests or or transfers' daily rates
- Government tax on daily rates or hunting packages
- Trophy fees
- Government tax on trophy fees
- Possible refunds for animals not taken on hunting packages
- Bird hunting costs
- Fishing costs


Omitted from list below:
- Concession fees
- Airport taxes


Here are some expenses that may also apply...

- Equipment needed for the trip
- Bank charges
- Traveler's cheques costs
- Bank wire transfer costs
- Credit card charges
- Insurance costs (medical, evacuation, travel insurance...)
- Create or revise your will
- Passport
- Visas
- Custom charges
- Doctor visits
- Preventative Medications
- Vaccinations
- Immunizations
- International Certificate of Vaccination
- Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Abroad (CBP form # 4457)
- Airport transit permits for weapons
- Overweight or too many luggage costs
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service & CITIES permits for certain sport hunted trophies
- Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Etiologic Agent import permit for certain sport hunted trophies
- Sport hunted trophies export permits
- Hunting licenses
- Hunting permits
- Weapon permits and importations costs
- Ammunition permits and importations costs
- Practice shooting costs
- Fine on wounded trophies
- Accommodations pre/post hunt costs
- Excursions and tours
- Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages costs
- Ground transportation costs to and from airport
- Charter flights
- Field preparation of trophies costs
- Hiring of weapon and ammunition costs
- Pre-hunt preparation costs (baited hunts)
- Game scouts costs
- Delivery of trophies to local taxidermist in Africa
- Taxidermy and Dip and Pack costs
- Taxes on non exported trophies
- Shipping of Trophies
- Trophy clearing Agent
- Gratuities
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Gift for wife
- Unforeseen expenses...

I hope I'm not the only one who's head is spinning from this list. Holy Cow! Ok, deep breath and...several questions.
First, is there any way the PH's and agents/owners whoever is in charge could give me an idea of a budget. What I am looking for is something like a timeline budget. Say for example my hunt is from Sept 1 thru 10 of 2015. What money would I need when? Does everything (daily rates, food, transportation, licenses, stamps, trespass fees, permits, etc) get paid up front?
Second, How do I know what a fair trophy fee is? Is there any site that could give me a general idea of the "average" safari? I will have to save several years for this hunt, and I really want to know what I am aiming for. I have heard off season airfare (Sept-Feb) is around $2000. How much does it cost to bring my rifle in? I guess to keep this from becoming the unabridged works, I will just ask How much should I have before I even talk to outfitters/PH's whomever. What are they called anyway?
Tiss