I'm curious how bad your (African) business is right now. I just got an unsolicited offer from an outfitter dramatically reducing his rates for 2009.

The slow-down has hit every business I'm in, or related to, and will make me look at my hole-card one more time before committing to a 2010 hunt. Certainly an unexpected development.

according to a few posts here, business was so good at the various conventions, that not much time was left open. i guess that may be true for some outfitters but obviously not for everyone. i guess it varies from one operation to the next.

I've heard a few outfitters complain about cancellations. At the Dallas Show, I went with the intention of booking a 2010 Namibia hunt. We got there early Saturday morning, and by Saturday night we wanted to book hunts for 2009 and 2010.

Of the three particular outfitters that we liked the best, none had avails for a 2009 hunt over my son's summer school break (Jun-Aug). By Feb 10th all three had space for us to make a Summer 2009 hunt.

If the global economy keeps heading deeper into the dump, I wonder how many "booked" hunts will be cancelled or at least postponed??

The downturn is wide-spread. I figure it has to hurt the African safari business. Here in Jakarta we had a conference planned. The hotels are fighting over it. We've had 5-star hotels tell us they will match any price to get the event.

There are obviously people that will continue to hunt no matter the economy, but a whole lot of very wealthy people aren't near as wealthy as they used to be.

I think outfitters are going to take the hit next year. If I already had my deposit down for 2009, I would follow through. If not, I would probably act like the international oil companies and defer my plan another year.

Big 5 hunts are usually booked a couple of years in advance. So if you think this year is bad wait until next year. There has been plenty of canceled hunts this year. You have seen some of them here.
Wait until next year if world economy does not improve some hunting companies and outfitters will be in real trouble. Only the strong will make it.
Here's hoping things get turned around for all concerned.

I am doing OK personally. Also my brother Alan the ranch owner, and son Dene the PH/Outfitter are doing OK.

WE are quite diverse inthat we have ranches for hunting and also game breeding/conservation projects, therefore we dont have all the eggs in one basket so to speak. In this current economic climate one needs to (spread the risk) as we are all finding out in the current and fluid so called world economic crises.

I have been doing this as a sideline for 10+ years, so have managed to build up a (good functioning network) over time.

Mind you, I am a semi-retired (one man band) sole trader (working from home) with no extra overheads. Have converted one of the bedrooms into an office.

I get a (good mix) of; repeat clients; word of mouth referals; and in the last few seasons a number of (third party bookings) VIA other local Southern Africa Agents whom want to bring their own personel clients to our private ranches. Generally we let these agents accompany their clients (Agent NO charge) for the hunt duration as a non-hunting guest.

I guess part of my personal success has been that I am 100% within the (family operation) and therfore only book hunts to my brothers own private ranches, so it is tidy and easy to manage.

I do sympathise with those on the open market whom have to compete in more difficult circumstances.

I dont believe that reducing prices is the answer to most problems, whether hunting or other, rather a fined tuned operation or business where the waste and dead wood is minimised.

Like it or not, we essentially still live in a Capitalist World where (supply and demand) is THE KING, at least for the immediate future, unless we all prefer to go socialist and start giving things away !!

last 2 lines of the above post sound very much like the U.S. never thought i would see the day.

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
last 2 lines of the above post sound very much like the U.S. never thought i would see the day.

jdollar

Unfortunately the people have spoken and you have that crowd in power BUT dont despair, as sure as day turns to night they will SELF DESTRUCT, the questuion is how long it takes.

This is my personal opinion, looking at USA politics from an outsiders perspective.

It seems that the Conservatives picked the wrong person to get the message out, dear John, (bless his heart) a good chap and he meant good, but he was toooooo middle of the road and lacklustre, he tried to be good to both sides and not ROCK the BOAT, unfortunately there are some key aspects to WIN is the USA.

1) You MUST be a preacher/orator and be able to serve up a sermon, even if the menue is flawed

2) You MUST be young and vibrant

3) You MUST have a MACHINE behind you whom knows the modern world of electronic and othe rmedia to get the message out.

4) You need to be able to somehow BREAK the MONOPOLY which main stream MEDIA have and their left leaning stance

5) Any finally, not as important .... BUT for those thinking people left in the world,

You need to know what you are talking about and (stick to the theme) not let the pressure groups within and outside the party dictate what you will say next.

Have the RIGHT message and DONT FLINCH, just like when taking a shot with a BIG BORE ... be steady and keep the target in FOCUS all the time

WE live in HOPE, the time will come when your TRACKER hits the right path and you will find the wounded animal (toxic economy) destroy him and start a new beginning

HOLY SMOKE I drifted off track again, lets get back to HUNTING and SAFARIS and not the doom and gloom (-:

Cheers, Peter