Looks like the cost of hunting Africa goes up some more. 1.448 dollars to 1.0 Euro. In addition to the normal yearly increase Americans will be paying an additional cost due to the weak dollar.

THanks for reminding us. At least, our friends from the Europe and other places can come for a cheap visit.

Like I've said all along (and ad naseum), you'd all better hunt while the hunting is good, affordable and available. That means now, if you can afford to. If you don't, then you have no one to blame but yourselves.

Even if the Euro took a nose dive, fuel prices will drive travel costs and some local costs up so we're all in for some increases. The exchange rate impact on hunting safari costs will be seen in countries with a Euro based currency like in Central and Western Africa where the CFA Franc is Euro pegged.

Try $1.46+ this morning.

Actually, the Euro has also appreciated against local currencies like the SA Rand and Namibian Dollar. As a result, if a trophy fee for a particular animal was pegged at, say 500 Euros, then back in 2006 that was equal to about 4,375 Rand, but is now equal to around 4,745 Rand. In other words, trophies priced the same in Euros are producing more revenue now than in 2006. This should help keep prices denominated in Euros from escalating (although that does Americans little good).

By the way, the price of oil isn't moving upwards very fast -- it is the value of the dollar that is moving downward. Just wait until the Chinese dump all of their dollars and the Venezualans and Iranians start selling oil denominated in Euros and you'll find out just how little money you make.

According to Sky News a few minutes ago, the price of oil has risen from US$68 a barrel in January to US$98 a barrel now........ which is gonna mean that everything will go up in price for everyone, everywhere.

The UK are now paying UK£1 a litre for unleaded petrol.

The Canuck loonie is worth $1.10 USD as of this AM.

An all time high. The last time we were at par, let alone 10% above it, was when I was a toddler.

Cheers,
Canuck

The world exchange exchange rates can be a nightmare for forward planning, I think those in the know how or with insider trading information can make a small fortune on currency trading

Before we start to hammer the ARABS or others producing the oil for the price per barrel ... maybe if we STOP for one moment and actually look at the (price at the pump) in each country and then ask how much of that cost is Government Tax we will be amazed at how much our own governments are ripping us off

Cheers, Peter

I have to look for outfitter that still make prices lists in USD

quote:

Originally posted by Canuck:
The Canuck loonie is worth $1.10 USD as of this AM.

An all time high. The last time we were at par, let alone 10% above it, was when I was a toddler.

Cheers,
Canuck

The drop in the US$ is not all bad news. It made my recent trip to Africa quite affordable.

x2

Welcome to the world of a weakend currency and fluctauting exchange rates!!To help plan a bit better open a Euro bank account and hedge yourself against dollar weakness by putting your savings in the Euro account. The oil price will effect us all but at least by being clever with your money you can save a fair amount and plan better. I am no expert but the dollar is in for a rough time in the next few years. The EU is doing more and more trade with Africa and it is a matter of time before the Euro becomes the dominant "black market" currency in Africa.

Scott450 gives good advice. During the period that the Can$ was very low compared to the US$, I opened a US$ account and deposited money in it on a regular basis. I did this to take some of the currency risk out of my international hunting adventures that were priced in US$.

I can sympathize with my American colleagues. In Canada we have just come out of a period of weak currency. However, life is short, and you only get to live once. If you want to do it, do it! A few bucks more or less don't matter much in the grand scheme of things.

In our just completed 2007 Zambia season we actually for the first time in 10-years of operation BOOKED more European Hunters than American, is this a sign of the times, or is/was it something to do with the strength of the EURO !!

Cheers, Peter

The Euro is performing well, yes, but it's the dollar's weakness that we are really experiencing. I've been watching it like a hawk too. My soon to arrive Continental double rifle is about get more expensive. So it goes. $1.10 for the Canuck dollar is the real fright!

Since we are talking about money here, and rather intelligently I might add, why is it in Tanzania this past October ( a couple of weeks ago ) that no one, hotel to the safari company would accept US hundred dollar bills dated 2002 and before. They were really adamant about it too. Dr.C

Nothing new there...... it's the TZ banks that refuse to accept 'small head' notes because they claim they're too easy to forge. - Doen't seem to be a problem with banks anywhere else in the world though........

quote:

Originally posted by doccash:
hotel to the safari company would accept US hundred dollar bills dated 2002 and before. They were really adamant about it too. Dr.C

Because the North Koreans have become so proficient at counterfeiting them?

It has impacted more than just hunting. Our European and Australian Expats have their salaries based on dollars. Their raises the past year or so have been eaten up by the decline in the dollar. Next week we announce a wage increase for those persons to hopefully prevent non-Americans from quitting. The raise is rumored to be 20-30% to try to catch back up.

Quite a scheme, the massive US debt will be paid back with compromised dollars. That is assuming anyone will take dollars. Sad

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
it's the TZ banks that refuse to accept 'small head' notes ...

Steve

Same problem in Mozambiuque. They refuse them point blank. Do discussion.

Yup, it's a real pain pain is the ass huh? - Sometimes the staff end up with a lot of them in tips and then they bring them to us and have us change them either into Tz shillings or for big head notes and then by the end of the season we end up with a whole bag full of small denomination, small head notes to bring back to SA............ it drives me nucking futs!!