As some of you already know, my family and I (myself and both of my parents) will be heading to Namibia in July for our first safari. We are going to be hunting for 21 days with Omalanga Safaris (we actually booked with Okanduka Seibe but Dirk and Rita joined Omalanga Safaris recently and are now booking through them). Anyways........we were planning on spending 2 days touring Etosha National Park. Well..........I got the quote from Rita the other day and I almost choked!! She said the prices had gone up from last year, but DAMN!! For 3 people to tour the park for 2 days (all inclusive) was going to cost $3,220 USD!! So...........we have decided to skip the touring and go straight to the hunting. $3,220 will pay the trophy fees for 4 or 5 really nice animals. Just curious...........has anyone else noticed the ridiculous price increase at Etosha?

Ouch!! That seems way over the top to me. I have a trip planned for April with three days in Etosha at the beginning. Guess I need to confirm costs with my PH right away. I've seen prices much, much lower than this when researching Namibia.

Phil

This is just another "sucker deal" ES. Dirk should be ashamed.

You can tour Etosha for almost nothing. You should do the tour before the hunt so if your guns don't arrive on time (and that's highly likely based on recent experience), you won't be screwed.

You rent a car at Windhoek airport for about $75 per day. You drive up to Etosha, it's a half day drive on surfaced roads. No more difficult than driving around in AZ. Spend the first night at Etosha Safari Camp a few K's south of the south gate of the park. About $80 per person incl. meals. It's a comfortable tented camp and you can sleep 3 in a "tent". These are rather large, about 400 square feet. You need to pay an entry fee at the gate (which is higher for foreigners but it won't be more than $100 for your vehicle and the occupants). You then drive through the park to the East Gate. It will take you about a day if you go very slowly. There's a camp about half way where you can get lunch. You spend the night at the Mokuti Lodge just outside the East gate, very luxurious, about $150 per person less if sharing.) You then drive back to Windhoek, drop off your vehicle, and your PH meets you there. The whole thing is going to cost you about $400 per person.

Go to the namibia tourism site and you can get the hard numbers on the accommo and the entrance fee. http://www.namibian.org/travel/namibia/etosha.htm

But do book well in advance!!

ES:
Just curious, what were the other charges, daily rates, trophy fees etc. for the hunt?

quote:

...For 3 people to tour the park for 2 days (all inclusive) was going to cost $3,220!!...

Good Lord! Are you sure that's not quoted in Namibian dollars? The daily rates for two days of hunting (one hunter and 2 observers) all inclusive with a PH would probably be less than half that.

/

Take a look to the link below, and you will have an idea of the prices (in N$)
And this is the actual Exchange rate: 1,00 Euro = 10,0844 NAD or 1,00 USD = 6,79391 NAD
Halali resort
The luxury suite 2 Rooms-4 Bed costs 176 USD by my calculation and the Std bungalow 2 Rooms-4 Bed costs about 117 USD.
If you rent a car you can spend somthing more than 100USD daily with unlimited kilometers.

Maybe 20USD to have luxury lunch or dinner. Probably less I have to verify. PM me if you want some detail

quote:

Originally posted by Jorge400:

quote:

...For 3 people to tour the park for 2 days (all inclusive) was going to cost $3,220!!...

Good Lord! Are you sure that's not quoted in Namibian dollars? The daily rates for two days of hunting (one hunter and 2 observers) all inclusive with a PH would probably be less than half that.

Yes, she made it very clear that the price was $3,220 USD. Actually the daily fees for us to hunt is MUCH cheaper than that. I am being charged $275/day and my parents $95/day each = $465/day total. That comes to nearly 7 full days of hunting (6.9 days actually)!!

TJ, pm sent.

Like it or not if you want to stay "IN" the park it you will have to pay! They improved all the rooms and raised the prices for 08. It's not your guides fault don't kill the messenger.
A bush chalet 2 beds double occupancy is 3.000.00 N. 4 adults two room is 6.000 N per night + 15% VAT tax http://resafrica.net/namutoni/ I would talk to Dirk and see if you can hunt first and arrange to stay in their Mopane camp on the last days of your hunt. You could then rent a car in Tsumeb (one hour from the park ) for $100-$200 a day (when you look at prices on the internet look for 08 prices, you also have to pay insurance and 15% tax) . My guess is it will cost your family $500-$600 a day to do a self drive if you stay out side the park. I spent 5 weeks driving this area last September don't be afraid to tour the park on your own, you will have a great time. My only warning is never let your gas tank get below half a tank! They run out of gas in the park all the time.

I still say it's a ripoff. Alf, since you were quick to jump on me for jumping on Dirk, I will post the relevant prices for all to read.

Note, lodging prices are PER ROOM, not per person:

Etosha Safari Camp, in N$, divide by 7 to get US$:

Bed & Breakfast (B&B)

Rate per Room 1 Nov '07 - 28 Feb '08 1 Mar '08 - 30 June '08 1 July '08 - 31 Dec '08
Single Bungalow N$360 N$440 N$540
Double Bungalow N$580 N$720 N$880
Triple Bungalow N$870 N$1 080 N$1 320
Quad Bungalow N$1 160 N$1 440 N$1 760

Mokuti Lodge

Bed & Breakfast (B&B)

Rate per Room High Season
Nov '07 and 1 Jul - 31 Oct '08 Low Season
1 Dec '07 - 30 June '08
Single Room N$975 N$785
Double Room N$1 365 N$1 095

Park usage and entrance fees per day (payable on arrival only):

Adults foreign N$ 80 Passenger vehicle (up to 10 seats) N$ 10
Adults SADC N$ 60 Bus (11-25 seats) N$ 40
Adults Namibian residents N$ 30 Bus (26-50 seats) N$ 300
Children (6-16) no charge Bus (51 and more seats) N$ 500

Accommodation and camping per night Okaukuejo 2008, valid from 01.11.2007

Yes, tourists pay a little more to enter the park but there is NFW that you can spend $3000 per person for a couple of days trip to Etosha.

From what I have read I am assuming Eland Slayer and his family asked to travel and stay " in" the park at one of the nice lodges, Namuntoni, Hatall, Okaukuejo. The Namibian government raised the rates for 08. What can the outfitter do? Most people would want the outfitters to honor a their request and and give them an all inclusive price for their tour. (with any and all costs disclosed) Nobody is saying you can't do it cheaper! You can sleep in your car and cook your own food for a hell of a lot less money. But that is that what the client asked for. Russ I have always respected your input here on AR. But this time I think you blew it. With out knowing the full details of the clients request. Its unprofessional to say things like "This is just another "sucker deal" ES. Dirk should be ashamed." or a rip-off .

When I toured Kruger on my first the PH charged me around 350USD (add meals) for a three day trip.

That was only six years ago -prices haven´t changed that much even in SA.

Just to clear up a few things. We did not ask to stay in the park. The price we were quoted was to stay at the Etosha Safari Camp which is a camp located approximately 10 km from Etosha National Park. Here is part of the message I recieved from Rita:

Costs for 3 persons: USD 3220


Include in the costs:
* Guide
* Minibus / Van
* Gas
* entrance fees for the park
* all mentioned meals
* soft drinks during day time
* 2 nights accommodation in Etosha Safari camp, 1 double room and one single room, all en suite
* 15% VAT


NOT included:
* gratitudes
* not mentioned meals
* drinks
* personal expenses

Russ,

The price was $3,220 for all 3 of us, not per person.



We already have our dates booked. We will be arriving at the Mopane Camp on July 16 and hunting at the Mopane Camp with Dirk from July 17-July 27. Then we will will be hunting at the Oryx Camp with Dirk from July 27-August 6.

for 2 nights accommodation outside the park, that is outrageous

Russ, mind if I ask a question? Let's say I fly into Windhoek 4 days early for my safari. And my rifle arrives as well - is there a place that I can leave it, rent a car, drive to Etosha, do the park tours, etc., then drive back to Windhoek and pick up my rifle and meet my PH for pickup to go hunting?

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Gould:
This is just another "sucker deal" ES. Dirk should be ashamed.

You can tour Etosha for almost nothing. You should do the tour before the hunt so if your guns don't arrive on time (and that's highly likely based on recent experience), you won't be screwed.

You rent a car at Windhoek airport for about $75 per day. You drive up to Etosha, it's a half day drive on surfaced roads. No more difficult than driving around in AZ. Spend the first night at Etosha Safari Camp a few K's south of the south gate of the park. About $80 per person incl. meals. It's a comfortable tented camp and you can sleep 3 in a "tent". These are rather large, about 400 square feet. You need to pay an entry fee at the gate (which is higher for foreigners but it won't be more than $100 for your vehicle and the occupants). You then drive through the park to the East Gate. It will take you about a day if you go very slowly. There's a camp about half way where you can get lunch. You spend the night at the Mokuti Lodge just outside the East gate, very luxurious, about $150 per person less if sharing.) You then drive back to Windhoek, drop off your vehicle, and your PH meets you there. The whole thing is going to cost you about $400 per person.

Go to the namibia tourism site and you can get the hard numbers on the accommo and the entrance fee. http://www.namibian.org/travel/namibia/etosha.htm

But do book well in advance!!

Not at all John.

Normally you let your PH worry about your rifles while you are in the park. If your outfitter won't do it, then I will put you in touch with one that will. The second option is to leave them with the police at the airport. I have left handguns there in the past with no problem. That's if you are returning to WDH before your hunt starts. The final option is to stay at a lodge just outside the park and leave them there until you are done.

Even if that's for all 3 of you, it's still excessive. The only person being unprofessional here is the person or persons pocketing this egregious tour charge. I know Dirk and I have done this tour and I still say Dirk should be ashamed to quote this, even if he's not making a cent on this tour. I hate to see this kind of thing, it just sours people on the whole trip when they figure out they have been taken. And that they will do, it doesn't take a genius to add up the costs of the hotels and meals, estimate the rental car cost, read the rate card at the park entrance, and back into the profit on this deal.

My math is not based on a bare bones trip Robert, as you suggest. Etosha Safari Camp and Mokuti are just as nice, or better, than the state-run camps in the Park. Mokuti is very nice indeed. And even if you do stay in the Park, you cannot justify $3K plus for 3 people.

In any case, you are being quoted for accommodation at Etosha Safari Camp, the very same place I recommended that you stay near the South Gate, and whose rates are published on the web and quoted above for all to see.

Anyone who thinks about this for a minute, even without a calculator, can figure out that $3320 for 3 people for two days is way too much. Etosha Safari Camp's bill for one double and one single would be $405 for all three of you for both nights, even in high season. That includes breakfast. Entrance fee is $16 for 3 foreigners and the vehicle. To rent a vehicle for 2 full days is $200 max. Gas is $100 max for this trip. Lunches and dinners 3 people 3 days is 9 meals at @$15 $135. So grand total for the 2 days, 2 nights, one full day in the Park, is $855. I don't see how you can do 2 full days in the Park and only stay 2 nights, unless the hunting area is right next door. Even if it is, this won't change the numbers much at all. The tour guide and the middleman/men are charging you $2465 for two days' "work". No PH in Africa gets paid anything like that, and this is on top of a charge for vehicle and gas.

I wouldn't stay two nights at Etosha Safari Camp anyway. I would do one night there, drive thru the park, and then one night at Mokuti. That way you will see more ground without doubling back on your tracks. And at ESC you can stay in a 3 person "bungalow" (actually they are permanent wall tents on concrete slabs with en-suite shower and toilet) and do it for even less.

I make no apologies for taking the side of the visitor here. If noses are out of joint, so be it. I don't need the approval of Mr. Johnson or Alf for my position, and I fail to see why they are defending this rip off.

/

It's a rip off, in MY opinion. I charged three people the same money (little bit more) for a SEVEN day tour to the Cape and Addo national PArk, travelling over 4000km's. I made money, worked hard, they had a great time, and paid me with a smile, without it costing them an arm and a leg. That is what this business should be about.

Free market my ass, what is going to happen if a Supermarket asks what they want for bread, and force the price on everyone else.... you will have a revolution.....and no bread....Everything has a price, but one of the points of asking questions on this forum, is NOT to get a bad deal. Eland Slayer asked a question, and got answers. He can now go and make an educated guess, wheter his hosts are ripping him off or not.

I don't have a dog in this fight, but it strikes me as yet another of the silly 'trial by internet' cases that crop up here from time to time. - Typically, these cases are full of BS, accusations and personal insults and pretty much empty on anything else. Also typically, those most vocal and the most opinionated are those that actually know the least about what they're talking about.

Camps and vehicles etc vary enormously in quality and price etc. Don't forget that the USD is rapidly going down the toilet and the price of oil is rapidly rising. Both of these factors will increase prices. That same weak dollar also means higher prices for fuel and pretty much everything else. - I don't know the PH involved but if someone trusts him enough to book a hunt with him, they should trust him enough not to think he'll overcharge elsewhere. All that said, the guy imvolved isn't taking the photo safari anyway, so surely none of it matters anyway............... C'mon guys, let's try to get back to what this forum should be about!

Gotcha - I'm still up in the air about doing any "tourist" stuff before the hunting. I guess I'm a little leery of being by myself, driving on the wrong side of the road in a foreign country, y'know? Even in the U.S. I carry a Glock 26 and don't trust most people (I see the true dregs at my job, and know what they are capable of). I obviously wouldn't be able to carry in Namibia. I guess I'll see what some tour companies offer with regards to some group tours I could jump in on.

Am I correct in assuming that my rifle and ammo (do they have to be in separate containers/boxes or can they be in the rifle case together), when it arrives at WDH, will be taken immediately to the police area and then await me (even if days later) to come claim them? Or would I need to go there first, let them know they will be staying there for a few days, etc.?

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Gould:
Not at all John.

Normally you let your PH worry about your rifles while you are in the park. If your outfitter won't do it, then I will put you in touch with one that will. The second option is to leave them with the police at the airport. I have left handguns there in the past with no problem. That's if you are returning to WDH before your hunt starts. The final option is to stay at a lodge just outside the park and leave them there until you are done.

You need to report to the police on arrival and tell them what you are doing and why, John. They are pretty laid back.

BTW you can now do the same thing in RSA if you are just overnighting before going to another country. Saves a LOT of paperwork BS just for an overnight stay. On my last trip I spent three days visiting my mother and friends in RSA before going to Zim, and the cops kept my guns without permits, no problem at all.

This forum is a place for people to ask questions about African hunting. This thread started with a valid question relevant to at least two people (John and ES and probably a lot of others who may be considering going to Namibia). The thread has provided answers to that question, in great detail, It has taken quite a bit of my personal time to provide this information. I don't mind...it's all give and take on this forum. If there is anything on this thread that is of no value, it's the postings by those commenting on the process itself, or making broad philosophical statements about the free market or the cost of oil.

Thanks, Russ - I do appreciate the information. I apologize for asking so many questions, but as my dad used to say, "Son, there are no stupid questions, just stupid people. If you don't ask questions, you'll be ONE of those stupid people."

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Gould:
You need to report to the police on arrival and tell them what you are doing and why, John. They are pretty laid back.

BTW you can now do the same thing in RSA if you are just overnighting before going to another country. Saves a LOT of paperwork BS just for an overnight stay. On my last trip I spent three days visiting my mother and friends in RSA before going to Zim, and the cops kept my guns without permits, no problem at all.

This forum is a place for people to ask questions about African hunting. This thread started with a valid question relevant to at least two people (John and ES and probably a lot of others who may be considering going to Namibia). The thread has provided answers to that question, in great detail, It has taken quite a bit of my personal time to provide this information. I don't mind...it's all give and take on this forum. If there is anything on this thread that is of no value, it's the postings by those commenting on the process itself, or making broad philosophical statements about the free market or the cost of oil.