Interested Guests,

Some of our forum guests in the other sable thread seemed to be ( rather shocked ) at the specie fee charged for sable particularily in South Africa, and also asked what was the reason for sable being such a high fee as opposed to other plains game animals ..

The $3500+ specie fee being charged by some SA operators is a steal for sable IMHO ...

Take a look at this news just out from Zims, and remember the rand is somewhere around 12 to the US dollar ..

Happy hunting

Regards, Peter
---------------
Zim selling sable to survive (Spi Mabhena)

Harare - Zimbabwean wildlife safari operators are selling off rare game in a desperate attempt to survive an unprecedented collapse of the country's tourism industry.

The country's Wild Producers Association (WPA) this week petitioned local conservation authorities to urgently increase export quotas for rare game in a bid to earn hard foreign currency.

WPA chairperson Wally Herbst warned on Tuesday that the country's wildlife and safari industry was on the verge of collapse following a 60% drop in tourist arrivals and disastrous outbreaks of animal diseases.

"We need to earn foreign currency if we are to survive. South African and other regional game reserve operators would love to buy sable and other rare animals from our breeders. We would also earn far more selling the animals than hunting them here," said Herbst.

Foreign visitors stay away

The WPA has written to Zimbabwe's tourism ministry urging higher export quotas, and will meet ministry officials later this month to lobby for greater support for struggling safari operators.

"The industry has been hard hit by an effective stay-away by foreign tourists, and was almost crippled by the panic caused by the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease last year," said Herbst.

"Increased export quotas will help us recapitalise our businesses."

Herbst noted that South African wildlife importers paid R65 000 per sable, compared to the maximum R34 000 earned from hunting the animals in Zimbabwe. - African Eye News Service

Peter,

There are few huntable sables in RSA. The prices on auctions for sable is horrendous and the farmers who want to stock sables on their farms must pay through their noses.

In Zimbabwe the trophy fee is 2000-2400USD and I belive it is the same in Botswana.

Probably the best sables in the world are found in the Matetsi Safari Area, Zimbabwe.

I use to hunt that area and so does Saeed.

Bjorn

Peter,

Unfortunately that's all a bunch of BS. I have yet to uncover a reputable safari company that lowered prices in the past year. In fact, almost all have raised daily fees and trophy fees. I think they are testing elasticity of demand.

Ski+3

[This message has been edited by SkiBumplus3 (edited 02-06-2002).]

Ski+3:

Agree; my safari operator in Zim went from $600 to $700 per day on daily rates, and upped the buffalo trophy fee by $250. He did keep his other trophy fees at last year's rates.

Since I have had a deposit in place since August 2001, for a hunt in July 2002, he will honor the old daily rates. I will have to pay the higher buffalo trophy fee.

Justification for raising the daily rates is scarcity of fuel and foodstuffs. While I am sympathetic, I would be inclined to point out the matter should be taken up with President Mugabe, rather than potential clients.

A few hunters cancelled trips to Zim last year but not many, so the tourism folks' statements just don't ring true.

Since safaris are priced in U.S. dollars, I'm not enough of an economist to understand how the safari folks have been hurt all that much.

I will be interested to hear what Zimbabwe outfitters and booking agents have to say at SCI this March.

[This message has been edited by Nitro Express (edited 02-06-2002).]

Nitro Express,
A little of the subject, but, I may be in Alanta at ROCG to take prostrae cancer treatment in the next month or so. I would like to have some contacts to just to visit with as I will have to be there two months or longer. I would like to do some bass fishing while I am there also. Maybe you know someone.
George

George,

I wish you well with the treatment and a full recovery ...

Regards, Peter

Thank you Peter...

Peter
Iwanted to take a sable with you in 2000 but the price was what they are asking now.Sable has always been exspensive and I think will continue to escalate. I am still considering taking a Buffalo with you .I found your vidio on the leopard hunt very interesting.
PaulK

Hello Paul,

That is part of the problem,

Our sable, rightly or wrongly are introduced species from Zim's, we introduced them some while ago now and the species fee price we charge $3500 ( although good for RSA ) reflects the commercial hard facts that one faces in southern africa to introduce a prime game animal species, especially from a neighbouring country, and the inherant expences to operate a private safari ranch ... it cant be compared with those outfitters only operating on "concession areas" with no comparitive high cost overheads to speak of that ranch owners face ..

PS: Refresh my memory, where did you get the Balla Balla "promo video" with the Leopard footage which you mention, it sure is a very lucky genuine unacted action shot which we obtained of the nightime kill!

Regards, Peter

Peter:
I believe you sent it to Charlotte and I in 1998. We were trying to put together a Buffalo hunt with you in Zambia on the property you and your brother had aquired there. But were not quite ready. We would have been one of your first customers to hunt there.

Paul K

Paul,

I checked my old letters file, and found the letter I sent, you called me on the phone as I recall ... At that time the 5 day buff pack hunts in zambia were $5,900 1x1 ... the prices now are $6,500 for the same hunt + air charter, + dip, pack, freight etc ...

Glad you got sorted out with a good hunt in Zim's anyhow ...

take care, keep well

Peter

Peter
I will be e-mailing you soon about some of your hunts.Its been nice talking to you again. Thanks again for that leopard tape it was fantastic.

Paul K

George,

I hope your treatment goes well.

If you're in Atlanta and looking for something gun related, I am a member of RiverBend gun club north of town. You're welcome to head up there if you feel up to it. I have a few rifles that you might find reasonably interesting.

Sorry, but not going to be much help when it comes to the bass fishing.

regards, Brian