What is the TRUE cost of my African Hunting Safari!

[BRICKBURN]

 

[Chago]

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Lol. I came home with a Gucci bag for her when I broke the news that I had already booked my flights to Limpopo. I better add that to the Africa hunting trip total. Married 12 years now. The "it's easier to ask for forgiveness then permission" ideology has served me well thus far.

 

[LivingTheDream]

Yeah I just pay a wife tax, figure 10% and she is excited I am going hunting. Louie Vuitton is also happy.

 

[YancyW]

My wife knew I had expensive habits when we met, she just didn't realize my addictive personality would cause most of them to have a rather steep trajectory on what I spend.

There is also a reason I pay most of my outfitters in cash

 

[Newboomer]

One of the few good things about getting older, is to no longer feel the need to "stuff" every big game animal I shoot. I have always done primarily euro mounts (for instance, I have yet to hang a whitetail shoulder mount), and I always have taken lots of photos. One morning, I had the incredibly liberating realization, that it wasn't necessary to actually bring everything home physically. I know people who will not go back to Africa because they have no room for any more taxidermy. That means they are walking away from a passion because of a lack of space. Jeez - photos are OK! And not paying the taxidermist, importer, exporter, etc will buy you another hunt pretty darn quickly. A lot of guys in the hunting industry get to the point a lot quicker than most of us. My friend Tony Makris has taken two or three dozen buffalo. He is passionate about hunting them. Should he quit hunting them because he doesn't own a gymnasium in which to hang them? Like the meat itself, the horns won't be left in the bush.

Red Leg,
I know just what you mean by no more room for trophies. I am there after building an addition onto my house. I do have space for a few more but I have harvested about all the animals on my bucket list. I'm considering cull hunts now. That fills my love of hunting and Africa and I don't have to sweat a lot of extra expense. I have the fun and pix, the meat helps feed the people, I get to enjoy the camaraderie and a cull hunt can be as thrilling as a trophy hunt. Of course, if I happen to see something I can't live without I do have a little space left.

 

[Newboomer]

I agree with Bob. It shouldn't be a problem. The only thing I would disagree with is if you're going for 10 days, take a day off and go visit a park or reserve or some other excursion. It's worth it, enjoy some culture along with the hunting, and the other thing is bring back lots of gifts, souvenirs, ect. They'll make you remember the trip and want to go back......not that you'll need it, once you get the disease, Africa that is, it spreads pretty rapidly and takes hold of your mind and you'll spend most every free moment scheming to get back. Ask anyone on this forum.....then you'll start attempting to infect others around you!!!!! It's a wonderful thing!

Amen in spades!

 

[Newboomer]

When I contacted SSI for my first hunt I asked Robert about how much the total cost might be and he said it would be about three times the cost of the package. Over the years I've found that to be a fairly close estimate.

 

[fourfive8]

Red Leg,
I know just what you mean by no more room for trophies. I am there after building an addition onto my house. I do have space for a few more but I have harvested about all the animals on my bucket list. I'm considering cull hunts now. That fills my love of hunting and Africa and I don't have to sweat a lot of extra expense. I have the fun and pix, the meat helps feed the people, I get to enjoy the camaraderie and a cull hunt can be as thrilling as a trophy hunt. Of course, if I happen to see something I can't live without I do have a little space left.

Yes, same boat here. Enough is enough and really compared to some I don't have all that many shoulder mounts- mostly skull mounts. But still I may hunt some more just for hunting. My last trip, I did not shoot nor ship out a single trophy so by far my least expensive safari. Paid PG daily rate for meat hunting for staff and got to do some extreme tracking--- miles and miles for eland, wildebeest and zebra. Of course the same great memories around the evening camp fire and absolutely excellent gourmet cooking that always amazes me out in the bush. Got to do a lot of meat shooting, some great photo and game viewing and fishing all at flat PG daily rate. It was interesting to see how fast that meat went to all corners. The day after we brought in the first 3 impala I saw impala biltong strung around staff/family huts all over about a 15 mile by 15 mile swath of the property.

 

[William W.]

Hi guys
Been scratching on this site for a while and have done some posts, however I have found mostly from feedback from my clients or other fellow hunters that have hunted Africa that there seems to be some confusion regarding total costs or total safari breakdowns, this is a subject that comes up far to often and can leave a bitter taste or a disappointing end to what would have been the perfect safari.

Does all inclusive really mean what it should, and while most or many of these potential costs are not payable to the outfitter we as outfitters could surely prepare our guests for such expenses it would be good to get a complete frame work on this (orn a norm so to speak) I truly believe that it would make the booking process for hunters much easier (less complicated) and remove any uncertainty that there might be, I would like some feedback from hunters and outfitters alike to see what we as a group can come up with.

These could potentially include:
* Pro-forma invoices Dipping packing
* Shipping (pro forma invoice)
* Additional taxes if any
* Taxidermy
* Average on tipping
* Full quote on additional species at time of booking.
* Pricing on additional flights, inland commercial or charter, and if so pricing on overnight guest housing, does this include dinner or only breakfast.
* All services that we truly include whilst on safari, transfers to non hunting activities for wives as well as pricing on those transfers and on activities themselves.
* So called free species(Varmint) any Cities or permit fees should you decide to export
* What does moderation mean (maybe I'm really happy after shooting a big kudu for 2 days? And feel like a party does this still fall under the term moderation, or rather when do I start paying and how much.)
* Possible costs on international airfare, as well as cost on inland flights to designated gateway cities.
* Visa costs if any.
* Pre arranged rifle importation

Keep in mind while I understand that there are allot of variables we (outfitters) also need to remeber that we should truly be able to list all costs directly related to visiting with us or as direct result of taking a trophy or exportable animal,

These are all things that seems simple to us but they are concerns especially for the budget minded hunter, who we all depend on.

My point is that trophies fees and daily rates do by no means constitute a complete breakdown on all safari costs involved, as outfitters do we really give our clients a complete breakdown on all safari costs involved, We are their/your contact/route/gateway to Africa and I feel that Ultimately we as outfitters should be responsible for providing clients potential or booked with all information instead of shrugging it off as non related costs.

No matter which way we cut it in the end is part of safari expenses. Would really appreciate some positive feedback to see where we as outfitters can better ourselves and make the whole booking process less complicated.

Thought it would be good to start this as it is just before Vegas and some other shows.

My best always

Yeah … y’all’s nickel and dime items always have zero’s after them.

 

[Happy Myles]

This may have been covered, if so my apologies. I read somewhere in these pages that your PHs tip could or should be 10 % of the total costs. What portion of the total cost is included in this percentage calculation? What items not included? In the old days i started with 100 dollars a day as a tip guideline, then went up or down depending on how I felt things had gone during our adventure. For example, 21 day safari $2100, 30 day $3000. Once at end of a 35 day trip I gave my PH $3500 he said he usually got twice that, I felt like two cents. The PH tip is voluntary but is a true cost of a safari.

 

[JimP]

The PH should of felt like two cents in questioning the tip amount and then saying that he usually got twice the amount that you gave him.

 

[Tanks]

... For example, 21 day safari $2100, 30 day $3000. Once at end of a 35 day trip I gave my PH $3500 he said he usually got twice that, I felt like two cents. The PH tip is voluntary but is a true cost of a safari.

I would have asked for half of it back after a comment like that. I usually go by $100 per day for the PH, $10 to $15 per day for the staff and like you I adjust from there.

I am also fairly sure that they are not getting tipped much by the Europeans, if at all, as tipping is an American custom.

I also will not use an American outfitter that has a mandatory tip percentage listed on their web site.

 

[Happy Myles]

Tanks, my thought exactly. In fact if we had not had such a fabulous hunt up until then , the thought crossed my mind to ask for it all back. The hunt had gone without a hitch even my shooting was outstanding. I was in great physical shape too

 

[Hunting Hitman]

This has been written about at length but we will never get consensus on it. Some PH’s want the moon and others are happy with the $100 a day plus a little bonus for an excellent hunt.
I was on a 14 day hunt and tipped the guide $6000 and he was very appreciative (Hunt costs were 70K). I was on a hunt were I tipped $2500 and the guide felt shorted (Hunt cost was 10K). Everyone is different and they all come at it from different angles. Only tip what you feel it’s worth! No PH or anyone on this site should make you feel uncomfortable with your personal decisions.
I do not subscribe to the 10% of the hunt BS either…

 

[Newboomer]

I usually figure 100.00USD a day plus a little if I feel like it was an outstanding hunt. When I talked with Safari Specialties Importers before my first hunt he told me to figure 3 times the listed cost of the hunt for everything, the hunt, air travel, trophy fees, day rates, taxidermy, shipping, etc. So if a hunt is listed at 8k, the rough total will be around 24k by the time you get your trophies home.

 

[VonJager]

I usually figure 100.00USD a day plus a little if I feel like it was an outstanding hunt. When I talked with Safari Specialties Importers before my first hunt he told me to figure 3 times the listed cost of the hunt for everything, the hunt, air travel, trophy fees, day rates, taxidermy, shipping, etc. So if a hunt is listed at 8k, the rough total will be around 24k by the time you get your trophies home.

Highly dependent on your taxidermy choices. I would say if your mounting everything, then yes.

 

[Tanks]

One interesting observation from someone that has never been on a Safari, my significant other. I was discussing the tipping for my upcoming 21 day trip and how it would be between ~ $3K - $4K depending on service as I would be tipping the PH, trackers/skinners, cook, game scout, and possibly a maintenance person.

Her response was, "You are paying $1,500 a day for daily rate and they don't pay their employees out of that?"

She does have a good point. That was the reason I used to frequent Club Meds back in the day for beach vacations as opposed to other places as it was all inclusive.

 

[YancyW]

The 100ish a day for a PH seems like a good spot and if that is below someone's exception, I suspect they are fairly often disappointed.

 

[Chago]

This may have been covered, if so my apologies. I read somewhere in these pages that your PHs tip could or should be 10 % of the total costs. What portion of the total cost is included in this percentage calculation? What items not included? In the old days i started with 100 dollars a day as a tip guideline, then went up or down depending on how I felt things had gone during our adventure. For example, 21 day safari $2100, 30 day $3000. Once at end of a 35 day trip I gave my PH $3500 he said he usually got twice that, I felt like two cents. The PH tip is voluntary but is a true cost of a safari.

Ya that sounds like your guide was a a$$. I gave $125 per day on a 7 day hunt. And a $20 per day for my tracker and $20 for my house staff (shared). Little less then $1200 total and everyone seemed to be super grateful. And for a trip of that length I am sure a slightly less per day is fair considering how long you were there. Now more importantly....... what in gods name did you shoot in 35 days..... share pictures lol.

 

[Happy Myles]

Chaco. That 35 day hunt was Tanzania tented camps in out of the way places. As i recall. We camped in three places and yes I shot a lot of game. I am there for the adventure and do not like to rush around with a check list. I think i spent a day or so bird shooting. Sand grouse coming in to a water hole in the morning is a bit different fast and furious using a lot of ammo in a hurry. Robert Ruark liked that.
I like at least a 21 day safari and prefer tented campi.