The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Africa air charter costs--why so highGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| Africa air charter costs--why so high | Login/Join |
| One of Us |
+1 Just another line item expense to charge clients and to make money on. Zim conservancies are better than tanz for me . You get to see live elephants and rhinos too. Mike | |||
|
| Administrator |
Bloody hell! Next we are going to have clients asking for money back because the camp staff are eating all the meat of the animals he has paid for and shot!  | |||
|
| One of Us |
You caught us out on that one - I never realized the truck was on charter as well.  | |||
|
| One of Us |
That unfortunately is a fact. Some do, some don't and if it might interest you, those who don't will get the 10-15% commission fee deducted from the rate.  | |||
|
| One of Us |
Its a free world - by all means go to Zim. You might even be lucky and get to see Old Bob walking down the street and get his autograph.  | |||
|
| One of Us |
And I do and I go to Botswana and Moz too. Just don’t bitch when all the famous high dollar operators shut down in Tanzania. I feel pretty safe in Zim and Botswana. I will be fishing in Tanzania, Kenya, Moz and Madagascar. Will leave the hunting to others. Mike | |||
|
| One of Us |
Here is a little example of why it cost so much. Last year (2017) it cost me $500 to have my airstrip inspected and approved by th Civil Aviation Authority. This year (2018) it cost me $1250 This is just a small bush strip where maybe 10 planes land per year The authorities keep pushing the price up not knowing they are strangling the goose. On one side the government says they want to promote tourism and on the other side they try and kill it. Thor Kirchner Munyamadzi Game Ranch +260 978157643 P.O. Box 570049 Nyimba, Zambia www.thorwildlifesafaris.com munyamadzi@live.com | |||
|
| One of Us |
As I said Mike, "Its a free world" and I certainly am not the one bitching. On more interesting topics, where in TZ will you be fishing? | |||
|
| Administrator |
May be Tanzanian professional hunters can offer drives to their camps, at a price some might not object to. I know certain places take two full days of driving. | |||
|
One of Us |
It is not that difficult to call up a charter company and pay for and arrange your own flight. I advise all my hunters to do this and recommend companies that I would feel save with. Most seem to be able to negotiate a better rate. ROYAL KAFUE LTD Email - kafueroyal@gmail.com Tel/Whatsapp (00260) 975315144 Instagram - kafueroyal | |||
|
| One of Us |
Everything is negotiable in Africa... as in everything. ___________________ Just Remember, We ALL Told You So. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Mike Payne (zim ph) and his brother (who lives in Zambia) are organizing). May be more trolling focused for bill fish. I would like to fish Latham Island for monster dog tooth tuna. Mike | |||
|
| One Of Us |
OH,MY, seems this is a sensitive subject...thought it was only me!! I expect the reason we have seen the proliferation of Cessna Caravans is the fact that avgas is getting harder and harder to get all over the world, consequently even MORE EXPENSIVE, and that most countries have abandoned 100/130 octane for 100 Low Lead which the bigger old Cessna 206 and twins like the 402-414, and Piper Navajo all like...and they stopped producing those old Queens...so they are now over 30 years old and hard to maintain...let alone make passengers comfortable and confident!! Cessna stopped building all piston singles in 1986 when the Product Liability insurance got to be more expensive than the aircraft!! The Statute of Repose finally was passed in US which gives manufacturers protection from frivolous attorneys...Cessna started producing again in 2000...and by then the CARAVAN's had taken hold. further, you can operate a turbine on Diesel in a pinch, and all of the airlines use Jet-A fuel...so it is available at any airport where there is commercial service. Clearly, the Caravan is an overkill for most bush and safari requirements....but that's what the operators have gone to....so we all pay...much more than necessary because of the bigger and more expensive aircraft.... An interesting observation I have made over the years is that even VERY Wealthy folks recoil at outrageous prices...and eventually, prices tend to settle back to the "no Squawks" levels over time. When Daddy Warbucks just pays...it only validates ridiculous or outrageous pricing...which affects all buyers...like others have said, if the package doesn't add up...don't do it...the operators eventually get the point!! I have not hunted TZ, either!! Cheers, 470EDDY | |||
|
One of Us |
Could be the criminal charter company, like the one in TZ years ago that switched the contracted aircraft to a smaller one with an inexperienced African pilot. Ended up crashing while trying to land to pick me up at the Luquati landing strip. Sure the wrecked aircraft is still there. That one cost the charter co. Some $. | |||
|
One of Us |
But look at it this way. The Caravan allows the outfitter to bring a LOT of supplies each trip-on your dime of course. Saves them a lot to have the clients pay to supply the camp..... Vote Trump- Putin’s best friend… | |||
|
| One Of Us |
YUP!! BANG ON!! That said, since I have been flying a Caravan from time to time...mostly on floats, I have become pretty spoiled....that said, I can't afford to buy one...as I can a Cessna 206. It is not hard to overload a 206 especially with a cargo pack on them....I prefer turbines, but can afford pistons and all of their thrashing and noisy exhaust....and pistons tend to quit more often that turbines too...and in the bush in Africa is NOT a place to be making an unscheduled emergency landing!! Cheers, 470EDDY | |||
|
| one of us |
"Africa is NOT a place to be making an unscheduled emergency landing!!" I can think of worst places. | |||
|
| One of Us |
What I find interesting is the trip I did with acute angling to remote areas of the amazon included the float plane flight in and out. That trip cost was I think $5,500 all in (everything included). The flight in allowed me 30 pounds of stuff. Also on the plane was a lot of supplies for camp including drinking water. The location was as remote as anyplace in africa. The food included chicken and meat flown in with us along with fish caught in the river. I just think Africa has become a racket with charter flights and now I am seeing exceptionally high road transfer costs. I have a remote fishing trip to Papua next year and there is a long remote charter flight and the cost is $800 per person for a group of 6. Its discretionary dollars at the end of the day - there will be alternatives for it elsewhere. The issue I would have is if my outfitter is marking up prices with charter company or getting a kickback. Mike | |||
|
| One of Us |
Agreed 100% - just not cricket! | |||
|
| One of Us |
The Caravan is by far the safest and more versatile plane for bush work with good payload to boot. If you don't want the outfitter to load YOUR plane with YOUR food, tell him so and maybe let him know that if there is no alternative, then he should meet part of the charter cost.  | |||
|
| One of Us |
My son does fishing charters PM me if interested. | |||
|
| Administrator |
Every business marks prices up, or they would go bust! You buy at X price, you sell at X+Y. Nothing wrong with that. I see in the US that a woman was suing McDonalds for $5 millions because she ordered a cheeseburger, without, the cheese, and they did not get the price of the cheese deducted from the price! | |||
|
| One of Us |
Pm sent. Thanks, Mike | |||
|
| One of Us |
Latham can be awesome if the timing is right, getting through the rips on the way there isn't so much fun. Definitely worth doing, it is quite an experience to fish for a whole day and not see another sport fishing boat. ----------------------------------------- "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. -Henry David Thoreau, Walden | |||
|
| One of Us |
We have too many lawyers in this country. Our system needs to changed to where the loser pays the costs and this type of thing would stop. | |||
|
| One of Us |
+1  Vote Trump- Putin’s best friend… | |||
|
| Administrator |
| |||
|
| Administrator |
| |||
|
| One of Us |
Say you speak to god... old ladies worried about hell will give you all their life savings so you can buy the plane! Great racket to get in to if: 1. you can con folks in to believing you- 2. You have no conscience 3. You are not worried about meeting god at the other end... Jesus is coming, and man is he P****d off! | |||
|
| One Of Us |
BANG ON, Larry!! That's why Cessna stopped building piston aircraft in 1985....because of frivolous law suits chasing the deep pockets of the manufacturer vs the NUT BEHIND THE STICK...that 9 times outa 10...causes the accident!! Statute of Repose finally gave the manufacturers relief from Liability and a limit on years of responsibility!! Now they're back building piston singles...a fine 206 too!! Do you know that the US is the ONLY country in the world where attorneys can share in the winnings of their clients....NO WONDER there are so many suits...where the client only wins or doesn't pay...and the Attorney SHARES the BOOTY!! Now Go FIGURE!! The British system, generally followed in Africa as well...REQUIRES the Plaintiffs to put up a bond to cover defendants legal fees if they lose!! Now that stops most ambulance chaser Plaintiffs dead in their tracks!!...they can't afford the Bond in many cases!! It would NOT surprise me that down the track a bit that President Trump jumps on that wagon and PISSES OFF THE TRIAL LAWYERS....BIG TIME...maybe after second election, or on his way out?? Here's HOPING!! No more Contingent law suits and no more splitting the booty....That would do it!! Cheers, 470EDDY | |||
|
One of Us |
All I can tell you guys is I know a little about aircraft operating costs and what most charge in Africa, is criminal. I was ready to book another Safari in Zim a few years back that included a charter flight from Harare to the hunting area, about an hour's flight time. The cost was 3800 bucks. Screw that. Granted it was in 2005, but when I hunted with John Sharp (who had his own airplane), the cost was 650 bucks ROUND TRIP from Bulawayo into Dande North. USN (ret) DRSS Verney-Carron 450NE Cogswell & Harrison 375 Fl NE Sabatti Big Five 375 FL Magnum NE DSC Life Member NRA Life Member | |||
|
| Administrator |
The point do you know what is involved to set up and operate a charter company in Africa? I know several people who tried setting up business in Africa. They all gave up! | |||
|
| One of Us |
I do not, but I do know costs per/hr and even multiplying it ten fold, it still does not justify a 3800 cost for an airplane with under 200 dollars/hour operating cost. USN (ret) DRSS Verney-Carron 450NE Cogswell & Harrison 375 Fl NE Sabatti Big Five 375 FL Magnum NE DSC Life Member NRA Life Member | |||
|
| One of Us |
Much like "shipping and dipping" fees, it is just another way to gouge the "rich" foreign hunters. BH63 Hunting buff is better than sex! | |||
|
| One Of Us |
When I see charter costs that are repulsive, I react to the perpetrator.... " I DON'T WANT TO BUY YOUR AIRPLANE, ONLY USE IT FOR A FEW HOURS!!" Having done a bit of flying in Africa, I have seen the SEVERE Military control some of the Countries place on private flying. Almost like they are afraid of some serious security breach, advanced flight plans and all. I expect as in most African countries there is very strenuous application and regulation that is frivolous and expensive...intended to fleece the company owners and their clients. Now that said, there are a lot of successful photo safari operators who use charter aircraft...and not only the high end Tauck and A&K operators...Overseas Adventure Travel, etc. Normal tourist travelers use them regularly, admittedly, much higher volume and scheduled regularity and probably advance negotiated contracts for flights?? This drives costs down. I have actually only seen one Tanzania operator who includes the charters in his prices...he is very successful and we all know him here... So it can be done!! Cheers, 470EDDY | |||
|
| One of Us |
Yep, and a fine gent he is! USN (ret) DRSS Verney-Carron 450NE Cogswell & Harrison 375 Fl NE Sabatti Big Five 375 FL Magnum NE DSC Life Member NRA Life Member | |||
|
| Powered by Social Strata | Page 1 2 |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Africa air charter costs--why so high
Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia