I'm thinking that I may go back to Zim for another hunt but I don't want the hassle of declaring and carrying a lot of cash.

Is there an escrow service/company that you guys trust to hold trophy fees here in the U.S.?

I booked my 2012 Zim safari through a booking service in the USA (Texas) They did the escrow for me. And there was some issues with the safari company and the booking agent helped me.
If you are interested, PM me and Ill give you details.

Thanks

Check with the outfitter you are hunting with.
My last two trips the outfitters had US bank accounts.

No wire fees and send a check for the balance when i returned home.

I used Mark Young's Exclusive Adventures for my Zim safari and he had it prearranged so we could handle the funds this way. I thought it was a really nice way to handle everything including the tips.

Steve,

Thanks for the kind words. Most clients really like that arrangement of having me hold the trophy fees and this year the tips at least for Zim. That allows the hunters to travel with nothing but a little pocket money.

Mark

Pick the right people to deal with, and you won't have anything to worry about.

Sadly, there are quite a few bad apples operating nowadays, so be very careful.

As Mark says, I think you can only keep the trophy fees to be paid at the end of the hunt.

The hunt itself must be paid, in full, in advance.

A deposit with the outfitter you are hunting with is NOT an escrow account (Unless the the outfitter has made specific agreements with you). If you have a reliable relationship with a given outfitter by all means set up an account or prepayment plan with them. If not use a true escrow account wherein you retain some control over payments.

I got a message from a member asking if the WHOLE safari costs can be kept in an escrow account, and be paid after the hunt.

My understanding is that is not possible, only trophy fees.

Would some of our booking agents, outfitters and PH please clarify this point.

I was also asked how I do it.

Luckily, I have had very good luck in dealing with very honest people, and never had to worry about anything whatsoever.

Those include The Klinebergers, Rosslyn Safaris, Ray Atkinson, Pierre von Tonder, Peter Harris, and of course Roy Vincent and Alan Vincent.

From private conversations with professionals in the business, there are many crocked clients around, so I cannot blame them in covering themselves.

Frank- your full daily rate will need to be paid before you start hunting. If you are hunting with a reasonable outfit in Zim they will more then likely extend the curtesy of paying your trophy fees on your return.

We offer this and to date we have never had a problem with US clients not paying! Quite a few of our return clients actually pay the trophy fees of their main animals up front and if they do not take one of them for what ever reason we reimburse them. Either way should work fine! Have a great hunt!!!

As a booking agency we do that as well. Pay the day rates up front but we will hold trophy fee money - on any hunt with TF- not just Zim.

Saeed,

I personally have not dealt with a safari operator that did not require the daily fees paid in full before the safari commences. There may be some out there that do not require up front daily fees but not that I'm familiar with. As Tim does we also hold the trophy fees or a good portion of them on all hunts that have trophy fees. That keeps everybody honest and all parties seem to like the arrangement.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Steve,

Thanks for the kind words. Most clients really like that arrangement of having me hold the trophy fees and this year the tips at least for Zim. That allows the hunters to travel with nothing but a little pocket money.

Mark

I would never put the tips for the trackers, camp staff, etc. in escrow to be paid after I was gone. That's just me. I like to hand the reward over at the time it's earned.

Your mileage may vary.
Jim

Jim,

I agree that tipping if you choose to do so is best done at safari's end as you get to show in person your appreciation for a safari well done. This year though with the $1,000 thing in Zim being handled in no standardized way it saved my clients some angst to have them leave the tip money as well as trophy fees with me. They of course had full discretion to add or subtract from the tip as they saw fit.

Mark

Guys thanks,

I know how payment is usually done as I've hunted Africa four times in three different countries with four different outfitters. I like variety so I hunt for different animals in different locations so most of the outfitters wouldn't know me well enough before the hunt to let me pay trophy fees afterwards.

All my hunts have been purchased with outfitters who post here on AR as I believe that they have more of a reputation to protect so there is less chance of getting a bad deal. I like dealing directly with the outfitter as I believe that communications will be more direct and there's less chance of a misunderstanding with fewer people in the conversation chain.

I have no issues paying all the daily fees in advance, my question was only about carrying cash for trophy fees. Specifically to Zimbabwe but generally to any country as I dislike carrying a lot of cash with me through all the airport screenings, layovers, etc.