Leaving for RSA in 2 weeks for my first plains game hunt. Got all of the paperwork done, prescriptions, clothes, locks, etc. So I walk into my bank and want to order some travelers checks. "Sorry we quit handling them Jan. 1, 2008". WHAT? So, coupla days later, I check to make sure that the girl told me right at the main branch-YEP, NADA!

The girl at the main branch called 4 other banks in town. 2 didn't handle them at all, and the others you had to be a customer of that bank to buy them! Long story short, she called 2 other banks in 2 different cities, and finally found one that would sell me American Express travelers checks.

The answer everywhere was too much fraud/liability. Don't know if this is going on anywhere else other than Indiana, but just a heads up not to wait til the last minute to get travelers checks, if you need them.

Who'd a thunk it. The easiest thing to get done to go to Africa, turns out to be the hardest. BTW, I gotta drive 60 miles round trip to get the checks from the other bank

Mad Dog

Yep, my Bank quit selling VISA Checks, but is now selling AM Express.

They told me that no one buys TR Checks any more. Everthing is done by Credit Card now days.

Rather do a transfer into your outfitter's account on your last night. He will probably prefer it. We struggle with TC's in Namibia, my bank recently told me they take at least 6 weeks to clear, so I am a bit reluctant to take them anymore.

I'l second that as a good idea - but remember to make sure your bank knows beforehand that you'll be making a large electronic bank transfer from Africa.

We looked into being able to take CC number and debit the account via the internet and a Bgan but there were all kinds of problems with it. The banks are reluctant to do it because they're afraid of fraud and they wanted to charge an additional 5% at least....... which would have to be passed on to the client, which in turn, (understandably) isn't very popular with the clients.

That said, our bank and many other African banks are now charging an additional 5% to handle T/Cs from this year!!!!

In many ways, cash is still the most useful way to do it, but I fully understand many people might not want to carry large amounts of it around. - If you do bring cash dollars to Africa, try to make sure it's 'big head' notes and not the older 'small head' notes as many places won't accept the older versions because they think they're easier to forge.......

Karl, call me challenged, but what is involved in a wire transfer?

Mad Dog

Hey, give the guy a break - English is his second language - or maybe even his third language...... Im sure he meant transfer not transport..........

Steve, me thinks he actually wants to know how you do one, what is the actual procedure. If I read him right

Hell, some of you guys must live more in the boondocks than I do!

I think Karl meant an electronic money transfer via either an ordinary internet connection or by a Bgan....... the drawback to them is that there is usually a bank charge at both ends and the payee is expected to pay both........ usually about US$80 or so if I remember correctly. The good news is that it's usually very fast and the better news is that you get an instant proof of payment that you can save to the PC etc........

I'm curious, how do you do a wire transfer via the internet and what is 'Bgan'. My bank will only do wire transfers in person and it would be really handy if I could do them via the net.

As best I know AAA still sells travelers cheques. No charge to members. If I want large ($1,000 or $500 cheques) I need to tell them a few weeks in advance. Wire transfers are done thru your bank who has a corresponding bank in the USA which handles the actual transfer with their corresponding bank in the foreign country. I did one a couple of months ago and my bank (FCU) charged $40 and when the monies got to my PH's account it was $15 light due to another bank charge. I sent my daily rates and will carry travelers cheques and small amount of cash maybe a $1,000. My credit union (30 miles do the road) did my transfer with afax from me. I find I change very little into rand and NO Zim dollars.

A Bgan is a doo hickey that looks like a laptop and you open open it up and point it to the stars and it uses the same satellites as a sat phone (I think) and acceses the internet with the aid of a laptop like any other computer. It's expensive to use though and a bit slow, but it gets the job done....... do a quick search on the term Bgan and you'll find full details. The transfer itself is done exactly the same way as any other internet banking transaction..............

AAA still sells AE travelers checks. I bought the "two name" ones for my wife and I last Saturday and there was no charge (AAA member). I called in advance as I thought the amount was large and wanted to make sure they had them on hand.

Less than a week to go now.....

My wife and I just returned from a salmon fishing trip in the PWN. I went to my bank the day before leaving expecting to get some TC. No deal!! THey didn't carry them any longer. So, I got some cash, went across the street to the bank my wife has her business account with. Luckily, they did have some. They said I was the first person to EVER buy some TC, but they have only been open for about a year now, so I wasn't really surprised. They did charge me a $1.00 for each check though.

Also, I just renewed my subscription to African Hunter Magazine and my bank charged me 1% of the total cost for the renewal.

Wire transfers of money in the future may be the only way to go, with the expectation of swallowing the transfer/exchange fees!

I agree TC's are a pain and often a huge hassle for the safari operators. An electronic transfer is best. A trophy fee/daily balance deposit to your agent might be the best and he can do the transfers as necessary with the trophy fees beig paid after the hunt. Simple!!!

Mark

Gents!
Nowadays it is very hard to use any kind of checks and my bank will not accept them or issue a bank check if I ask them. I think it is 15 years since I saw a paper check the last time. The bank say that it is easier and safer if I just make a internet transfer directly to the account of the recepient, and I tend to agree with that. Unfortunately there are some people that hold on to their account numbers so hard that they loose business transactions by doing so.
Account number, swift/iban/bic numbers, name of account owner is needed & then it is just to make the deposit there, easily trackable & reversible if need be. Still this is free of charge with my bank as long as I do it and not ask the customer service to do the same thing.

Sincerely
Daniel

I guess I live too far back in the eastern US sticks. I don't have a computer in my home. I am in my office. I have a hard time with the electronic thing as BIG BROTHER HAS HIS EYE ON EVERYTHING. Our friend in Sweden probably is use to big brother having his eye on everything.

If you want to keep up with technology and come into the (real world) which we now live in, IMHO this is the way to go.

You dont have to have or sign up with a Bank near your home or even the town or villiage which you live in. You can have a Bank account anywhere (within reason) where you choose, the options are unlimited really, and I dont know of many people in the modern world whom dont own a PC and have some form of telephone connection

1) FIRST shop around and join a Bank that has secure (online) internet banking options, that way you can do international (t/t) telegraphic transfers from the comfort of your own home on your own PC.

2) If you are booking with a tried and trusted Outfitter, make an initial t/t for the deposit and follow up with a second balloon payment t/t say (one week prior to your departure to hunt) this option saves taking travelers cheques and large amounts of cash, both which can be open to theft and or loss of.

Always (minimise traveling with lots of paper currency) that can be taken off you

Cheers, Peter

Maybe the PH/Outfitters over in Africa could set up a US bank account and the clients could use the PH's computer to pay up at the end of the trip. The PH could electronically move the money "off shore" as needed. The PH's that come to Dallas, Houston and SCI could do the set up face to face if needed....of course big bubba might have something to say about all of this.
Robert

When we book with Jack Atcheson we set up an escrow account in the US and the money is held here until we return. Then with our OK it is released to the hunting company. This can be done with tips, trophy fees, and day rates, also charter fees.

gunny, I like your idea. We paid for the basic trip up front, but I wanted extra cash for tips, taxes, trinkets, and maybe extra trophies. If I ever get the chance to do it again, I think I will use your suggestion.

Mad Dog

Our booking agent is holding the money in the States, so we Canadians don't have to carry too much cash in Zimbabwe.Cutting cash down to tip money is an enormous load off my mind.

One more reason to deal with some you can trust!

You can pay him in advance, or pay him when you get back home.

I am talking of my own personal experince.

Of course, we cannot forget that we do have some crooked clients, and some crooked outfitters.

I just hope they gravitate to each other

Be aware that even wire transfers can take time...several days if the country is classed as a "slow payor". Your bank can tell you when you make the transfer.
Peter.

We have opted to transfer 2/3rds of the trophy fee's and daily rates when we leave the US and pay the remainder cash when we leave Namibia.

Wire transfers are very easy to do with your bank you just need to get the operator’s details and then double check with your Bank that you have the correct payee information before you depart the US.

Will

Don't waste your time with travelers checks, they rather have good ole American greenbacks. However I get a couple of hundred in Rand, before I leave the U.S. in the Airport, normally for tipping the tracker or small favors I may need at the Airport, for souveniors I use credit card, Never had any problems.

I totally agree with AKsheephunter. Seems almost everyone takes credit - even out in the middle of nowhere. I would suggest you get more rand than you think you'll need as i never seem to have enough.