The following prices are charged by an outfitter in Limpopo province.

2008 PRICES DAILY RATES - PER PERSON (Prices are quoted in US$ and are subject to change)
1 Hunter x 1 Professional Hunter (1x1) 425-00
2 Hunters x 1 Professional Hunter (2x1) 375-00
Observer / Non-Hunter 175-00

TROPHY PRICES
Greater Kudu 1650-00
Impala 500-00
Gemsbuck 1650-00
Warthog Boar 350-00
Burchells Zebra 1250-00
Giraffe 2500-00
Vervet Monkey 100-00
Blesbuck 500-00
Jackal 150-00
Baboon 150-00

What do you think, are the prices reasonable or rather on the expensive side? Any recommendations for very good reliable South African outfitters whose rates and fees are "affordable"?

Those prices are about what I am paying this year.

Some trophy fees are $50 to $200 higher per animal than I am paying this year. The daily rate is about $50 higher per day higher than I am paying.

What would be more important than these minor differences is the quality of the hunt and the quality of the animals on the farms to be hunted.

You might want to post the name of the Safari Company and get references on them from some who are on this forum. That would be more important than the prices.

You might look at JJHACK's operation. I believe that Saeed has hunted with him. I hunted with Jim last year...and can highly reccommend him..his prices were somewhat less. If you would like to see photos of his areas and game that we shot, pm me and I'll send you a photo CD.

South Africa prices, particularly Limpopo area, are somewhat higher than similar Namibia prices. Those you quote are on the higher end for S.A., and about 50% higher than typical Namibia charges. For example, the gemsbok is typically around $600-$700 in Namibia, rather than the $1650 quoted here. On the other hand, the warthog at $350 is less than many places in Namibia charge.

That is NOT to say that this particular outfitter is overpriced. Costs vary, depending on whether it is private land or paid concession; transportation, lodging, etc. If you wanted to do a less expensive hunt in S.A., you might look to the Eastern Cape or other locations besides Limpopo. However, if you go to Limpopo you will have a chance to at least see some species of dangerous game that might not be present other places.

Looks right in there with what I have seen advertised by a lot of outfitters, but far more important than a few hundred dollars difference in trophy fees is the quality of the operation. Definitely ask around about the outfitter and check references, but whoever it is the prices seem pretty well average.

Thanks for the postings, my fault, I should have mentioned the name of the outfitter of course: SHIAWELA near Louis Trichardt.

quote:

Originally posted by elliesbear:
You might look at JJHACK's operation. I believe that Saeed has hunted with him. I hunted with Jim last year...and can highly reccommend him..his prices were somewhat less. If you would like to see photos of his areas and game that we shot, pm me and I'll send you a photo CD.

Just back from a hunt with Jim (JJHack) at his new location - Matossie Safaris near Swartwater, Limpopo. Great experience, great people, great food, great trip. All went out of their way to ensure a quality experience and high success. Highly recommended and as pointed out less expensive than what was posted.

Hunting Adventures

Trip report and pictures to follow as soon as sleep and work are both under control.

Just got back from hunting with Jim Hackiewicz. His prices are better than the ones you listed for most animals and the daily fee. Three of us were hunting for seven days and we shot 14 animals. Four make the Roland Ward minimum, a kudu, red hardabeast, and two impalas. Two others may make the SCI minimum, a gemsbok and a steinbuck. Jim measures for SCI and will let us know. He runs a excellent camp and I highly recommend him.

quote:

Originally posted by Sunshine:
Thanks for the postings, my fault, I should have mentioned the name of the outfitter of course: SHIAWELA near Louis Trichardt.

I have been to Shi-awela 3 times, and they run a first class operation.

quote:

Any recommendations for very good reliable South African outfitters whose rates and fees are "affordable"?

Yes, our own AR Infinito Safaris with Charl van Rooyen.

quote:

Originally posted by Terry Blauwkamp:

quote:

Originally posted by Sunshine:
Thanks for the postings, my fault, I should have mentioned the name of the outfitter of course: SHIAWELA near Louis Trichardt.

I have been to Shi-awela 3 times, and they run a first class operation.

I hunted with them once as well. Great folks and a great piece of property with some super trophies!!

quote:

Originally posted by Sunshine:
Thanks for the postings, my fault, I should have mentioned the name of the outfitter of course: SHIAWELA near Louis Trichardt.

Nothing wrong with Shiawela good guys

Going south again i August.
Second trip with Sportsmans Safari in Limpopo.
Close to the Stockport Border Crossing to Botswana. Operated by Clive Perkins

Prices a bit less than what Sunshine quote.
Only rise from 2006 is kudu which is now $ 1500.
Good trophies as far as I can judge, good camp, exellent food, nice people, professional operation.

I'm curious Sunshine. Your location is listed as South Africa....Cape Town. Surely there are other ways for you (to your own benefit) to look for hunts than ask about them here.

Prices are market related, but a little more than ours....

We are based two hours drive from OR Tambo international airport in Limpopo. You are welcome to give me a ring on 078 444 7661 to see if we can be of any help to get you a top class hunt.....

We have good ref. with South Africans and overseas clients......not to mention some of the guys in this crowd

We do "special" bookings for AR members that are a lot less than advertised prices. Some of the guys here have booked them to their own advantage.

www.infinito-safaris.com

If they REALLY charge for Baboon and Jackal, it's a ripoff. Those should be free.

Trophy fees look reasonably competitive (High side for certain though but if the animals rate it they rate it).

Honestly to me, the daily rate seems very high.

They were high in 99 when I went with them they still appear high now.

quote:

Originally posted by Grumulkin:
If they REALLY charge for Baboon and Jackal, it's a ripoff. Those should be free.

I quite agree: They should be free! I personally have NEVER EVER had to pay any landowner for any porcupine, black backed jackall, baboon, vervet monkey, caracal, springhare and similar creatures shot on their land. Seeing that I get these for free, I pass on the price and offer it to my clients for free too!

The other side of the coin is: Although with Andrew McLaren Safaris you can hunt all of these free - but you can skin them yourself too! I will assist, show how and where to cut and advise, but there is just no way that I will let anyone shoot a flea ridden porcupine for free and then have to skin, wash, salt and deliver to the taxidermist it for free too!

I advise any hunter to look at the "Trophy Cost" for these "varmint" animals as the measure taken by the Hunting Outfitter to recover cost for fuel used while hunting them, trackers and assistants in attendance, PH cost, 'lost revenue' from potentially hunting other trophy animals in that time, cost for providing skinning, salting and taxidermy delivery.

Just my 2c on this topic.

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

It needs to be remembered that just one of the many reasons that prices vary so much is that facilities vary so much. Some areas are big, some not so big, lodges and hunting operations can have anything from 2 or 3 staff to well over 20 or 30 if you consider anti poaching and security staff etc. - You might not see that many staff, but they could well be there. Lodge facilities can range from very basic to ultra luxurious, catering can range from pap and boerworst to haute cuisine, customer service can range from yup, we'll see you when you get here to we'll lead you by the hand every step of the way and trophy quality can range from there's an impala, shoot it quick to no, that one isn't a world record, so don't shoot it.

African safaris are like rifles, you can buy a brno for a budget price and you can buy a Westley Richards for a very high price. Both do the same job, but they're very different from each other and if you think you can buy the Westley Richards for the price of the Brno, you're very much mistaken.

As for giving animals away for free, you need to bear in mind that whether we like it or not, there's always the occasional person that will make a pig of himself when it comes to killing for free....... that can have two effects. Firstly, the species will get hammered which may well mean it affects other species and secondly, the client may want to spend all his time on those free species rather than hunting other species that give a profit margin to the safari company. - Which means they'd go out of business. I tend to think it might be better to let the 1st of those species be taken for free and then charge a fee thereafter.

quote:

Originally posted by elliesbear:
You might look at JJHACK's operation. I believe that Saeed has hunted with him. I hunted with Jim last year...and can highly reccommend him..his prices were somewhat less. If you would like to see photos of his areas and game that we shot, pm me and I'll send you a photo CD.

I have not hunted with Jim, but have had friends who have.

They spoke very highly of him and his operation.

I have å offer from Kwazulu Natal like this:

http://www.allyrobins.co.za/

Look at this link

quote:

Originally posted by Andrew McLaren:
The other side of the coin is: Although with Andrew McLaren Safaris you can hunt all of these free - but you can skin them yourself too! I will assist, show how and where to cut and advise, but there is just no way that I will let anyone shoot a flea ridden porcupine for free and then have to skin, wash, salt and deliver to the taxidermist it for free too!Andrew McLaren

Good point.

quote:

Originally posted by Grumulkin:
If they REALLY charge for Baboon and Jackal, it's a ripoff. Those should be free.

Most places list a "trophy fee" for jackal and baboon, however I suspect that they also handle it the way our outfitter does. He told us (encouraged us, actually) to shoot as many as we wished without charge, but that was because we were also shooting plenty of other game on which we were paying trophy fees.

The problem he had experienced was with cheap hunters who -- inconceivably to me -- would hunt with him for a week and just look at trophy plains game but shoot only "free" jackals and baboons. He put a price on these otherwise "free" animals to discourage the cheapskates. Since our group of three killed six trophy animals on the first day of hunting, he was happy for us to shoot "free" varmints "on the house".