I have been trying to plan an African plains game hunt for 2006, and have see many listings for package hunts. Are these any better or less costly then the daily hunts where you pay a trophy fee also. Also any advice on hunting and booking will be appreciated.

T.A.

Welcome to AR Not to be rude, but this was pretty much beat too death a few months ago. Pull up a chair, do a search and enjoy!

BTW after having done one of each I'll take the daily rate plan from now on. I'd rather pay for what I shoot than for what I "may" shoot on the package.

Package deals will generally net you the animals within the package - good or bad. A daily rate gives you a lot more flexibility in selecting species and trophy quality.

Mark,

I did read the previous posts on the package v daily rate and still have a question. "IF" you don't shoot all of the game allowed on the package hunt, would/should you reduce the tip?

By the way my first is going to be a package hunt, I am all packed and started the Malarone today! Departing May 5th.

Thats up to you. If I had a really great hunt and enjoyed it then I'd tip the same even if we didn't get all the animals on the package. If the hunt wasn't what we expected then mostly likely I'd tip less even if we did get everything on the package. I try hard not to base the tip on how many animals we've taken.

T.A.,

Here's a recent post on Package Hunts

What you will find, is that is best to select several reputable outfitters first. Once you have narrowed it down to a few outfitters, then compare their package hunts v. a Daily Rate style hunt.

Regards,

Terry

T.A

Let me give you a specific example offered by one of the top operators in RSA. The regular daily fee for a hunt on his main property is $380 per day. He also offers 2 package deals of 7 and 10 days. If you put a pencil to both types of hunts you will find the trophy fees work out to be about the same but the daily rate for the package is about $150 per day. So why doesn't everybody book a package? For one thing you are limited on your package to what you can shoot and it is hunting so you might not get everything. Also you are limited to hunting on that one property.

I generally don't like packages because by the time you add all the extras in you don't save much. In the case of the above packages they do include everything from airport pick up to airport drop off at safari's end. Your pack/dip, 14% VAT and everything is part of the package.

I personally have hunted the property and I think this would be a great place to buy a package for a first safari. The game is there, the facilities are outstanding and the PH's and staff are top notch.

Regards,

Mark

On my "package hunt" in Namibia last year, I got a refund of the trophy fees for the animals that I did not get. Was that normal for a 'package"? I used the package just as a wish list, and to make sure that I knew how much money to take.
peter.

On our packages, you generally get a discount on the day fees, and if you don't take one of the animals on the list, we refund the trophy fee for that animal. Simple. The same inclusions and exclusions apply to our packages as our daily hunts, and the service is not diminished in the least. We only added packages to our repitoir to help reduce "tar safaris." We offer packages based on what can be found on one of our properties or in very close proximity. When a guy gets 10 days for a vacation and wants to come hunt a few different species, I don't want him to feel rushed and waste time driving all over South Africa looking for game. Since we do no put and take hunting, this is what many diverse (game wise) hunts are reduced to. Spending 3 or 4 days driving from concession to concession can be very taxing for both operator and client alike. On most of my packages I give a list of what other animals are available in the area or on the concession itself, the package is merely a suggestion and encouragement to "keep it local." I have yet to have a client shoot an as-advertised package, most add animals and or days or substitute animals to fit their tastes. It is, after all, the client's hunt and package or no, it is my responsibility to make sure the client comes away satisfied.

Fred,

It's a hunt! If the game is there but you are not lucky enough to get it all and the PH has done his job you should tip accordingly.

I always tip based on how hard I think the PH and crew have worked.

Regards,

Mark

Simply speaking ...

You can equate it to when you go our to a restuarant fora meal ...

The restuarant will have a MAIN MENU and a BLACKBOARD SPECIAL

The [BLACKBOARD SPECIAL] is the package hunt, the price is economic BUT the food is restricted to a set option. Good for someone not wanting a vast selection and on a limited budget.

The [MAIN MENU] is the standard daily rate hunt wherby you can see the specie prices itemised and work out the total cost dependant upon what you hunt, you can pick & choose as you wish ..

Peter

Mark,

When asking about the tip I wasn't questioning if they worked just as hard for you as I was thinking of the trophy fees not used if you did not take all of the animals.

From the above posts I now see that many do give some refund for trophy fees not used. AFRICA here I come, 05-05-05!