Dear E-Mail Extra Subscriber Mark H Young,

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No matter what you hear, the 2007 season in Tanzania is not going to be affected by those huge fee increases we told you about earlier this week. There will, in fact, be no government-mandated fee increases at all this year, large or small. I have that from TAHOA Chairman Gerard Pasanisi who is now in Dar Es Salaam personally handling the fee-increase crisis.

"You can tell your subscribers that they can come on safari to Tanzania this year without fear of a government-mandated fee increase," Pasanisi told me by phone this morning.

But what about local news articles asserting the fee increases are going through, I asked. And what about scattered reports of safari companies canceling safaris. "Are you sure, Gerard," I asked. "There is a lot of fear and confusion on this matter in the US and Europe."

"I am absolutely positive," was Pasanisi's reply.

He said the fees would not be imposed this year because of a 1994 agreement safari operators have with the government. That agreement mandates that the government give safari operators at least nine months notice of a fee increase. No warning was given, so no fees can be increased this year, Pasanisi says.

In more than 25 years of publishing The Hunting Report, I should point out, Pasanisi has never been wrong on a pronouncement of this sort. I have heard nothing from any quarter that makes me doubt him this time. If I personally had a safari to Tanzania booked, I would get on the plane and go.

But where does this news leave you if your safari company has cancelled your safari, or is hiking your fee dramatically? Obviously, you should heed your company's warning that that they are not prepared to take you afield this year if they tell you that. They may be misinformed about the fee increase, or they may be using the fee increase as an excuse to cancel your hunt. The same goes about a hike in fees this year. The company may simply be misinformed, or they may be trying to profiteer from the confusion. Do not blindly pay any new fees for a safari to Tanzania this year. Reference this bulletin if you like. More details as they become available. - Don Causey, Editor/Publisher.

If true, this is indeed good news. What is strange is that if Pasanisi is telling Don Causey this, I assume that he is also sharing the same information with the various outfitters. Why haven't they passed this on? It would certainly allay a lot of fear.

As I said on Kathy's post, I don't like Causey's insinuation about booking agents or PH's not being straight up on this issue.

Maybe someone is whistling, walking through a graveyard.

If you will go to the hunting report web site, you will notice that this information was posted on July 18, PRIOR to the meeting of July 25 when it was decided that the fee increase was to stay in effect. I don't want to accuse anyone of passing on false information, its just the timliness of it that comes into question here.

That is interesting. I hope he's right.

Just curious, wasn't the written notice supposed to be 90 days not 9 months? I thought I read that on here recently?

Regardless of today's truth, the damage has been done. Africa strikes again. All cultures are not equal.

Just got a Phone Call from my Outfitter in TZ.
He says chances are 50/50 for Increasing the Fees.
Until now he has no writen letter from the Wildlife Department that the will Cancel there NEW FEES

Seloushunter

1115:

I just checked my e-mail and had an e-mail extra from Causey sent to me at 2:26 PM today. I got the e-mail you were refering to on the 18th also. I deleted the older one so I can't tell if they are the exact same or not.
I do agree if these people know something positive they should be sharing that information in Tanznia with the pertinent people.
We still have some time to be patient about our hunt but others don't have that luxury.

Joec

quote:

Originally posted by 1115:
If you will go to the hunting report web site, you will notice that this information was posted on July 18, PRIOR to the meeting of July 25 when it was decided that the fee increase was to stay in effect. I don't want to accuse anyone of passing on false information, its just the timliness of it that comes into question here.

Actually the email bulletin from Causey that both Kathi and Mark posted is from July 27th and is a completely different text. I know Don Causey quite well am sure that he is quoting Gerard Pasanisi verbatim. I hope that Gerard is right. My understanding is that Mr. Pasanisi is quite influential with government in hunting matters. Causey is usually very careful about his quotes.If Pasanisi was wrong Don will report it.

I hope for the sake of those booked in TZ this year that he is right.

I also think that if this takes effect in 2008 it will still be a major problem. The repercussions will be felt around the industry. The major problem will occur when other countries follow the lead of Tanzania. If they do, DG hunting will go sky high across Africa. There are already some governments looking to TZ as the market setter. Saying "well if they can get $XX,XXX for a buffalo hunt then we should as well".

Not good.

Todd

It is quite simple as I see it !!!

Why cant (MR. Gerard Pasanisi) provide the public with an OFFICIAL (dated signed and stamped legal document) outlining what he has said verbally, that is not toooooo difficult is it ??

Peter

That's because there is no document. It's hope and wishful thinking...which may be good enough but perhaps not. Personally, I think that Mr. Causey was taking a big chance by saying what he did. I'm also wondering how much pressure there was from the safari industry to smooth the ripples in the water? Tanz. is already out of my reach but I know it affects many here and the rest of us by setting an example to other countries.

A couple fo answers to questions posted above:

1- Not all outfitters in TZ are registered members of TAHOA, so not all of them know what is going on and what TAHOA is doing to try and resolve the issue. Some independent operators are fighting their own battle but none of them individually have the lobbying power and access to the decisionmakers that TAHOA has.
2- TAHOA cannot release an official statment to support what Mr Pasanisi has just said to Mr Causey because they DO NOT have this info officially.

TAHOA is currently spearheading a petition that will be sent to a presidential advisory committee, of which the President is the Chairman. At thsi point, there is still hope that these increases will be withdrawn or at least, adjusted to reality.