What is a realistic cost of a basic plains game safari?eland ,zebra,kudu,wildabeast Etc..
You here of $4500 hunts ,but I asume there is hidden costs.Looking for a ruff idea of basic cost,not including airfare.

thanks

It's what you let it be.....and what you shoot.....
Travel, tips, taxidermy, trophy fees, daily fees, packing/dipping, shipping trophys, etc.....don't let anyone tell you less than $10,000.....closer to $15,000 depending on what all you shoot.

Add $3,500 for a nonshooter to go along.....

and now the good news.......it's worth every damn nickel!!!!

Here are some typical costs, but different outfitters and different areas will quote differently:

10 day PG hunt 1x1: $350/day = $3500
eland: $1500
kudu: $800
zebra: $800
wildebeest: $300
impala: $300
warthog: $300
dip & pack: $500
tips: $500
airfare: $2000
trophy shipping: $1500
_______________________________
TOTAL: $12,000 plus taxidermy

Griz,

You get what you pay for ... in most cases. There are very good package cost for the animals you want, but be sure to ask a lot of questions.

It is possible to find a very reasonable price on this type of hunt. I am sure you will be inundated with info from agents and operators as well.

I am no exception

Take a look at my website under Namibia there are two operators who I work with who have references here on AR.

My first hunt was in 2003 and I paid a package price of 3500E and hunted kudu, wildebeest, impala, blesbuckx2, warthogx2 and got a few extras at a good rate. No hidden costs. I negotiated the deal myself, no hidden costs and had a very good hunt. This year I only hunted three species but I had my family with me so the costs were different. Your welcome to contact Tino Erasmus personally, prices have gone up a bit but for 4500 you should get a very nice hunt.
www.tgsafari.co.za
Hope you have a nice hunt!

The usual way I figure safari cost is a bit different. I figure how much I have to spend. Double that figure and that comes out about right. Have a good trip. And remember, You only get one, First trip to Africa. Don't scrimp too much.

I will take exception to some of this expertise on cost...

I can do anyone a pretty nice 7 days with about 7 animals for about $5000 including travel from the USA to Port Elizabeth, all but tips that are optional, shipping costs, and taxidermy..Have done so many times.

My hunts run $150 per day so 10 days = $1500
Kudu $1000
Gemsbok $1000
Zebra $1000
Eland Or Nyala $1800

Total: $6300. plus airfare would be the cost and these are all the most sought after animals...

If you can be content with shooting some of the smaller animals like Impala $380, Springbok $270, Bushbuck $550, Mt. Reedbuck $350, then you can stretch your hunting and your costs out...

We can pretty well design a hunt around your pocket book. Large holdings, come well recommended...My last client came home elated and said total cost was something over $4000 not counting meals, hotels at airports etc which he said was minimal....He shot Kudu, Warthog and the smaller plainsgame animals...

And your not shorted one iota, you get the same as someone booking a $100,000 hunt, just not as many animals.

I am sure you can get the same hunt for $20,000 if you like.

Good response Ray. I am by no means an expert, but know just by searching the internet that the costs are more in your range.

Griz,

You know what they say about "If it walks like a duck"..... Your right about additional costs. The outfit I used to be associated with would offer a hunt for a great price but when you added all the dip/pack, VAT, airport pick up and on and on it may still have been a fair price but it was considerably more than the initial offering suggested.

I can offer a package in RSA for $5200.00 that does include everything. Included are 7 days hunting, 5 animals, VAT, dip & pack, beer and wine, transport of trophies plus pick up from JIA and return after hunt. Gratuities, trophy shipping to States and of course taxidermy are your only responsibilities.

This hunt is offered by a major operator in RSA that has been in business since '79. The hunt is conducted on his own 18000 acres dedicated to game so there is no road time running from property to property to hunt different species.

If you'd like to know more contact me anytime.

Regards,

Mark

Ray, your 2nd paragraph really stunned me. Just to verify the approximates, "7 days,~ 7 animals for ~ 5k$ including airfare from USA to Pt Eliz"?

What I'm asking about, specifically, is airfare from the USA actually included in this?? If so, that's one heck of a deal as it would put the hunt at something like ~ 3k$

Thanks, Ray and a Merry Christmas to you and all of yours.

Mark, referencing the duck, what 5 animals are we talking about, here? Is travel from/to the USA included (includes everything)?

Thanks, Mark and Merry Christmas to you and all of yours.

Suggest you check out John LaSalla at http://www.africanhuntingadventures.com/ John set me up with Deon Cillier of Hunters Safaris in SA for 8 days. We harvested Eland, Kudu, Waterbuck, GemsBuck, and Springbuck. Two evenings we hunted and harvested Jackal. Total Cost was $5800. The only extra cost was Airfare and taxidermy.

Eight Days was more time than needed, but I enjoyed the country from the Free State to the Northern Provence, and had time to visit two museums in the Capital of the Free State.

John LaSalla set me up in Namibia with Ojandaue Safaris on a 10 day hunt for Kudu, Oryx (plus a free management Oryx), Mtn Zebra, dik-dik,steenbok,duiker,warthog and leopard for $6,800. When I didn't get the leopard, $2,000 was refunded for a safari cost of $4,800. That is daily fees and trophy fees. The only extra was dip/pack, shipment of trophies, gratuities, motel/meals before/after and international airfare. Tell him what you want and negotiate a price.



Having said that, I'd prefer using Wendell or others on this board as a booking agent.

Sorry! Airfare is not included.

The package includes a kudu, wildebeest, blesbuck, impala, warthog. A 10 day package includes all of the same plus a zebra and red hartebeest for $6400.

Regards,

Mark

Depending on your age, I'd say about $500,000.00.

Your first safari will cause you to go back for just 1 more, and then just 1 more, etc., etc.

I did not even calculate the loss you will experience from reduced work productivity (you will spend much of your working hours thinking about your safari).

Also, if your wife is not on board with African hunting, add in all the costs associated with a divorce

Tim

Thanks, Mark.

Here's the prices from the guy I Hunted with in Namibia in May 2004.
1X1.... $280/Day
10 days...$2800
Kudu........$750
Hartebeest..$450
Blesbok.....$420
Impala......$500
Zebra.......$550
Warthog.....$360
Total $5830
In line with Marks prices. Company name was van Heerden Safaries. We are not Trophy hunters but got 4 animals in Rowland Ward.

Shumba,

No $hit!! You hit the nail on the head. I hunted Zim. in '01 and took fourteen animals. My biggest problem now is that my wife joined me in May of this year in S.A. She took five of our fourteen animals on this trip and can't wait to return! I've gained a new hunting buddy, however the trip cost has doubled!!

BOWHUNR

Yes sir, that would be about right unless airfare goes up this year, but remember that is a bare minimum hunt of smaller animals...

We have a special for $3895.00 and that includes 1 kudu or Gemsbok, one impala, Mt. Reedbuck, grey duiker, Springbuck,bushbuck,baboon...Add $1700 on that for airfare and you have $5595.00 thats pretty close...

All that said, the best way to hunt is $150 per day and shoot whatever you want when you want it...and then you can determine your hunt and your not locked into any kind of a price fix or time schedule, who knows you may see a world record Gemsbok and want to take it, not that we wouldn't just let you add it on in such a case as that...The difference would be very little considering your going half way around the world, and I personally wouldn't let a thousand or two make a difference in my hunt, if nothing else I would float a loan or line of credit and make it the hunt of a lifetime...I did this some many years back and it took me 3 years of selling hunts to pay for that hunt but it also got me a start in the hunting business that has made me a good living and let me hunt all over the world, so I guess it was the best investment I ever made....

Like most in this business all this could change with the devaluation of the American dollar in Africa, I am wondering what effect this is going to have on the Safari industry, but I suspect things are going to jump over there this year. Just a guess on my part however, but we should all know something soon....

Anyone got any commints on this dollar effect?

Ray, many thanks and I did read it as the bare minimum. My mind was running in the direction of me having beau coup air miles on United along with SAA possibly joining that Star Alliance deal and using the saved monies from airfare to boost up the hunt opportunities.

Realizing that most all is approximates, that's still a heck of a deal you offer, by my reasoning, especially for someone just wanting to taste the continent for the 1st time. The "day rate and pick'em" has a lot of appeal.

On the U.S. Dollar - heard just this morning one of the learned prognosticators on CNBC saying the dollar would firm and rise against other currencies in 05. Who the hell knows? I think Warren Buffet, Jim Rogers and a few others are still short(ing) the $.

Jbout - thanks for the link.
Shumba - a few here have all of the maladies and consequences you mentioned just on account of N.A. hunting pursuits.

I will say I've done one package deal in South Africa and one daily rate plus trophy fee hunt in Namibia. Based on those two hunts I want do another package hunt! I'd rather pay for what I shoot, not pay for what I might shoot. MHO.

Just curious....since I now have my 470, I am going (attempting?) to take a Cape Buffalo on my anticipated trip to SA in 2006. How do the trophy fees for buffalo vary from SA to say Botswana, Zimbabwe, etc. Thanks.

Gary B.

South African Buff prices are ridiculous.......you would be much better off going to Tanzania or Botswana......or in fact, pretty much anywhere else than RSA for your Buff.

The reason is that the SA Buff are all clean of foot & mouth & corridor disease etc and therefore worth a lot of money at game auctions.......you'll also get a better hunting experience if you take your Buff in a True Wilderness Areas such as I've previously mentioned.

Mark6.5x55,
I am not sure what you are saying, either way one only pays for what he shoots, at least with us and as far as I know that is the way with everybody else in Africa....

Fly,
RSA Buffalo trophy fees run about $10,000 and up now plus a stiff daily rate and mostly fenced hunts..I agree with Steve, Tanzania is the place to hunt Buffalo today and it gives you a taste of the old Africa, tented camps with all the trim, ala Hemmingway, Rouke and others of the 1950s..

We charge $10,550. 2x1, and $12,550 1x1 plus $200 per rifle to the Govt., and tips that are optional and that is All inclusive, charter flight, daily rate, one buffalo, the works, no other costs and extra buff is $1600. and plainsgame on quota for very reasonalbe trophy fees....RSA and Botswana cannot do that I don't think, maybe Mozambique can, but I don't like it there myself....

Many if not most deluxe plainsgame hunts cost this much I might add...

Try this


Sergei Mitrofanov
Elena Travel Services
P.O. Box 3127 Windhoek, Namibia
Tel: 061 244443
Fax: 061 244558
Cell: 0811 246286
Website: http://www.namibweb.com - The online guide to Namibia
Payment options, terms/conditions and cancellation policy:
http://www.namibweb.com/cancel.htm
http://www.namibweb.com/payment.htm
http://www.namibweb.com/terms.html

Ray,

I'm saying we went to South Africa on a 10 day, 8 animal package hunt and only shot 6 animals of the 8 listed on the package, we did not shoot a Kudu or Red Hartebeest. One way of looking at that is we paid for the Kudu and Red Hartebeest, yet did not get them. We never fired a shot at either or for that matter never had a Kudu in the scope. Another way to look at it is, and this what I told the PH, this was hunting and you don't always get the animal. But if given the choice I will in the future pay for what I shoot (daily rate + trophy fees) and not for what I might shoot, or for that matter didn't see (package hunts). Because it still is hunting you don't always get all the animals in the package. I'm not trying to slam the hunt you or anyone else has offered. In fact, I hope your guy carries over the $150 daily rates to 2006. If he does then maybe I can afford to book a hunt through you and go back sooner! Oh, and happy birthday.

Ray,

Know it is the Christmas season and one should not be greedy, but...

If one wanted to take a third buffalo on the same trip, how much would the third buffalo cost ?

Some of us came into the game late. And if we're ever going to catch up with Saeed or John Burger we have to re-double our efforts.

Besides, we've built too many dangerous game rifles and each needs to bloody a buffalo.

Hammer

Ray....sent you an email from your site.

Gary B.

Ray,
I just sent you a PM. Take care and God bless.


cordell

Fjold, I wouldn't think that they would or even could unless the spread was just something glaringly outstanding. I say this because, surely, their cost of doing business cant be going down. Mine (cost) sure aren't.

If they can and do take the opportunity to pull up a little slack on the rates, buy new and better equiment, expand their areas etc. - more power to them. If it gets too far out of line, folks will vote with their feet. I dont see this as a zero sum game. JMO.

Mark,
We would have given you the refund trophy fee cost to those two animals as they were in the list and you didn't get them.....However you would have gotten those animals with us. We are 100% for the last 8 years, but I didn't keep records prior to that. they just have an abundance of game, especially Kudu and Gemsbok.

Hammer,
Can't get three buffalo on a 7 or 10 day license..the license only includes two buffalo..You can get three buffalo on a 21 day license and the buffalo run about $800 each...

That said, under certain circumstances it is possible if for instance your hunting partner only wanted one buffalo.

How old does the hunting partner have to be ?

If my ten year old son joins me and he takes a couple of plains game, can he be allocated two buffalo ?

Hammer