I have not hunted in Zimbabwe since 2004, apparently traveler checks aren't accepted. Has anyone had problems taking large sums of cash into or out of Zimbabwe? I could see the potential of a problem if they limit the amount of cash that can leave Zimbabwe if I was unsuccessful on taking an Elephant. Should all the cash be claimed upon entering the Country? Any suggestions would be helpful.

Taking over 10K can get the feds interested in you. You need to declare anything in excess of 10 K. Zim did not care what I did in either 07 or 09, but I did not leave with anything near that much.

Its better to work out some way to do a wire transfer or work with a booking agent for the money in escrow in my opinion. That way you don't have to carry all that cash around or be worried about it disappearing in camp.

Leave a cash deposit with your booking agent to cover the cost of the elephant trophy fee. He will forward it upon success or refund it if not succesful.

quote:

Leave a cash deposit with your booking agent to cover the cost of the elephant trophy fee.

Excellent advice.

I took almost 10k to RSA with me in 2009. We did 3 days of sight seeing before the hunt started. I was nervous the whole time about carrying that much cash. Ill be leaving a deposit with the U.S. contact this time. Less stress.

We have had no difficulty using travelers checks to pay in Zimbabwe. One PH let us use a personal check. Cash is strongly discouraged. If it is lost or stolen before the hunt is concluded you have no means to settle your account, which could become a contentious situation. We were robbed in Harare of several thousand dollars in personal property. They do not have razor wire on residences for decoration.

I believe travelers' checks fell out of favor with Zim PHs after one of our AR members went to Zim, shot several animals including elephant, paid with travelers' checks, then came back to the US and reported them as stolen. The PH was left holding the bag for all the government trophy fees.

Oh come on Hooker, NAMES, DETAILS!!!

Walking around with all that cash will give you some idea what it must feel like to have a vagina.
I also have left a deposit for what I expect to shoot, and settled accounts later. That way you just need cash for tips and incidentals.

quote:

Originally posted by jorge:
Oh come on Hooker, NAMES, DETAILS!!!

Jorge,

I don't want to be the one to re-ignite the threads, but all the details can be found by going to the Hunting Reports-Africa forum and doing a search for "travelers checks" or "TR-2".

quote:

Originally posted by armorer:
They do not have razor wire on residences for decoration.

It was dark when I arrived at the B&B my first night in Harare...I noticed the razor wire when I looked out my window in the morning...It was then that I realized I wasn't in Kansas anymore...

I took 7K (extra buff trophy fee, plains game fees, & tips) in cash with me and was a nerveous wreck...4K in a travelers wallet under my shirt and 3K in my money belt...at the airport in there was a form I had to fill out declaring how much cash I was brining into the country...being alone and my first time out of the US I didn't know what to do...If I put down the 7K it was like painting a target on my back...but if I didn't decalre it and didn't spend it I could have real problems leaving the country with it...

I declared the cash and wound up spending 5K of it...

Bottom line is I don't know if I'd do that again...

TLS60

If you used an agent do as others have suggested leaving your trophy fees with the agent and letting them pay the safari operator after the safari. If you did not use an agent and you trust your safari operator wire the money ahead. Carrying a lot of cash is not really wise, Traveler's Checks are a pain and I had problems cashing them a couple of times because of counterfeiting.

Mark

quote:

Walking around with all that cash will give you some idea what it must feel like to have a vagina.

Damit man, I about fell out of my chair when I read that..........I am still trying to catch my breath!

That was Fu%*&ng FUNNAY!

I've used traveler's checks many times and had no problems in paying for the hunt that way. I've always used regular cash for personal items, and I've always traveled with some. Last time, in 2011 however, in paying for the hunt, I wire transferred money to the outfitter, both before and after the hunt, and it was much, much easier.

Thank you all for the information.

I pay for the hunt(day rates) in full in advance either to my agent or a PH I trust. I take $2k plus for tips etc. and shoot everything I want. When I get back home I wire the balance due to the PHs bank. No problems ever.

Gents:
Marty's quote:
Walking around with all that cash will give you some idea what it must feel like to have a vagina.

I don't know about this post's accuracy. As soon as I read it I put thousands of dollars in my pocket just to walk around the house. No difference. Shit!!
Cheers all,
Cal

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
Gents:
Marty's quote:
Walking around with all that cash will give you some idea what it must feel like to have a vagina.

I don't know about this post's accuracy. As soon as I read it I put thousands of dollars in my pocket just to walk around the house. No difference. Shit!!
Cheers all,
Cal

Ha!! Get on the subway & then see if your tune changes..

But on the real..

I used over 12K in TC's with the very same PH who was left holding the bag from that great white hunter..

While I would say the use of TC's are scrutinized a bit more by operator's.. I don't think there's to much of non acceptance going around..

Btw.. Having an "unknown to you agent" this side of the pond with your money is no guarantee either, I got boned over the years not by one agent but two..

One of the best services of a booking agent is to pay to a trophy fee escrow account what you expect, plan or hope to shoot so you are not screwed if you wire ahead and something goes wrong.