I'm going to Zim next month for buffalo, hippo,croc and PG. What I need to know is cash king for the PH and staff or should I take misc gifts for tips?

CARLOS,

Greenbacks in small denominations will be more appreciated than anything. Small gifts are also appreciated but I would not bring them in lieu of a cash tip.

Mark

ah but if you're a wealthy booking agent the small bills are still 100's

I always try and take the PH 4 boxes of fresh factory ammo for his heavy back-up rifle. 2 boxes of softs and 2 of solids. At times your PH will have been in the bush for sometime and hasn't had a chance to get any ammo, plus even if you buy him 470 Nitro or 500's of some sort your cost will be alot less than his. But I don't count that aganist his $$$ tip though. The rest of the staff wants cash........JJ

Ammo for the PH is always appreciated, but ONLY LOADED with premium bullets..............and CASH....doesn't everyone love it????

Carlos

I agree with Mark. Cash is obviously good, but a (small) gift for the PH shows prior planning - and class. And no PH will look at you funny when giving him premium ammo ...

Enjoy your safari!

The concern would be taking ammo in a caliber of a rifle you were not taking, wouldn't it?

In 3 trips to Tanzania and 4 to South Africa all I have ever been asked to do was reach into my bag and produce the ammo thats on my paperwork. I have never had to totally empty my duffel and it be searched for other caliber ammo. I don't think the officals want to go to that much effort. So I don't think it would really be an issue...................JJ

quote:

Originally posted by JJ_Miller:
In 3 trips to Tanzania and 4 to South Africa all I have ever been asked to do was reach into my bag and produce the ammo thats on my paperwork. I have never had to totally empty my duffel and it be searched for other caliber ammo. I don't think the officals want to go to that much effort. So I don't think it would really be an issue...................JJ

it is still illegal in most african countries. plus i think TSA and some airlines might have a problem with it. for all the potential problems you can have( especially possible time in an african jail-unlikely but possible), to me it just isn't worth the risk.

another possible problem is the airline weight limit on ammo(5 kg. i think). if you take 2-3 boxes for yourself the weight allowance is about gone. the heavy caliber ammo weighs a lot!!

jdollar, yes its illegal as are lots of other things, but I have never been searched or heard of anyone else being searched upon arrival in Africa, so in reality its a non-issue.

I don't see how TSA or the airlines would know what caliber ammo is in your bags, you just tell them yes I have ammo in that bag and they tag it.

As for the weight again I am asked to take out MY ammo and weigh it. If I leave some under my shirts the check in girl has no way of knowing that. Its not x-rayed at the check in counter. When your bag goes thru the x-ray YOUR AMMO is back in the bag, so when the x-ray operator sees ammo in your bag all he looks for is the tag on your bag, he does not have time to count each round in your bag, so again in reality its a non-issue.

I have never heard of anyone going to jail or even being fined for sneaking in a couple boxes of ammo, it may get seized but I have never heard of that happening either. Has anyone else ?? ............................JJ

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanna:
The concern would be taking ammo in a caliber of a rifle you were not taking, wouldn't it?

Bwanna

Don't worry about caliber and chamber. They swop, mix & match ... normally there's something of everything in the PH complement arsenal anyway - especially 375, 416 and 458 - in the combined PH collection. Otherwise just ask if he wants it - that in itself is a nice gesture.

Again, prior planning - finding out who you'll hunt with and what weapon he carries shows class.

As your outfitter. He must know the answers.

As a bow hunter, I never have a gun when traveling, but do carry ammo for the PH. I have not had any problems, when I made it known, that I was carrying ammo, but no gun.

Guys,

Pre 9/11 a well known booking agent entered Zim with a couple boxes of undeclared ammo for a client who had arrived earlier but lost his ammo in transit. They threw his butt in jail in Harare where he stayed for several days. Now to me that sounds the same as declaring 60 rounds and bringing in 100. Playing the "I probably can get away with it game" in this era of hieghtened security and when dealing with officials in foriegn countries makes litte sence to me. Can you feature jail in any African country?

Mark

I have always asked the PH a head of time if there is anything I could bring him. The responces have ranged from 450/400 ammo, dog training collars, 22 mag ammo to an altimeter for his air plane and a baby tooth brush for his daughter. I don't count those towards his tip.

465H&H

Just returned from SA. I took 6 deflated soccer balls and an airing needle. Gave them to the trackers and skinners + their tip. Aired them up in the shop at the lodge and they were in Heaven !!!!! They had 12 pair of sunglasses, 58 hats, 105 tee shirts, 23 multi tools, etc. But no soccer balls. Think about it next trip. They were very well received.
Just my .02
Trophyman

Of course they were well received thats how the game is played..After you leave they pawn them for next to nothing...Mark is right cash is the way to go, with it they can feed their families.

Taking extra ammo into any country is poor advise, keep your nose clean, be polite, and you will be received with courtesy, get smart and your butt will sooner or latter end up in jail, after that you will be named "pokey white boy"

I have had to bail out more than one client that thought they knew "the ropes" as they explained to me on the jail house phone, most were in tears, and their bravado had turned to horse piss!

I would suggest talking to your PH...in Zim these days the PH might be very "chauffed" with some of the basics (razors and shaving cream, batteries, underwear, sunblock, camera flash cards, etc) and/or things for the family if he has one. There have been some excellent suggestions above, noting in Zim USD's are indeed king and the PH's need this so that they can continue making plans for essentials. And this holds true for PH's employed by other companies as well those that own their own outfit, as both depend heavily on tips.

Sometimes the PH or company he works for will have company needs and if offered will ask you to get things for them, which can be taken off of the bill.

I have become more practical w/gifts and tips for the trackers - some of who have just taken the generous cash tip and at first opportunity got themselves "pissed", exchanging the USD's for local currency at ridiculous rates. It is easy to go over-board in this respect, and/or with too many goodies that they will never use or simply sell. Your PH can give you some guidance here.

The soccer balls w/portable $10 pumps and nozzles are an excellent "fun" idea and I take a few as room permits.

There is one forum member who takes "pencils and rock candy" for the village children too.

This being said, an iPod Shuffle loaded with songs was VERY popular with the cameraman this last trip. So much so that he managed to wangle it from the PH for who it was intended (and who I still owe one to!). An iPod Shuffle at BestBuy: $80. An iPod loaded with fresh songs in the bush: Priceless.

Not a tip but a part payment (same thing anyway isn't it ) ... I know of some guys who took a quite large and heavy winch which the outfitter had asked for, and managed to con the airline to carry it free as a village aid project.

On a Tanzania trip I recently returned from i took my PH extra battery sticks for his Surefire torch and a laser bore sighter. The batteries cost me around $90 US ands "if" he could've got them would have cost him 3 times that. The bore sighter was $100 same goes for his cost. He told me his 460 WBY ammo costs him $58 USD per round and the bore sighter is worth it's weight in gold.I deducted these costs from his cash tip and if he was disappointed he surely didn't let on.
My partner and I each gave the staff of 18 cash in USD.
*** I think way too much worry is put into the amounts of tips for the PH & staff by first time clients. It is afterall a tip that is made at a level you feel you wish to give.

Euros are 1.37 time better tips than US dollars!!

If your PH guides you to a 100 pound elephant, tradition is that you will give him a double rifle of his choice as a tip.