I have had multiple people complain to me about Zimbabwe charter prices . Some are saying the prices have tripled .

I’d like to hear from others about their experiences.

For a Cessna 206, flying me from Harare airport to Pedza Pasi Camp on July 2nd of this year - I paid $1370. Google Earth shows the straight line distance as 142 miles (standard US miles) so it comes to $9.65/mile. How that's changed over time, I don't know.

Rate was $1,800 each way to Nyakasanga (if another hunting coming as I am leaving then half) this year. It was a 15% increase over what was quoted a year prior when I had booked my hunt. Still a bargain compared to Zambia or Tanzania charters.

Those don’t seem that bad to me.

Last summer, Harare to Dande East and back, with CMS (wonderful hunt), we were charged $1600.00 for the plane. For an upcoming hunt in SAVE we have been quoted $2300.00 PER PERSON round trip, probably will hire a car for that hunt. So yes, I would say prices have gone crazy and will ultimately hurt the industry.

Larry, for both Lindy and me last June it was $2,700 round trip from Harare to Dande East. We only flew one leg, however, so it ended up being $1,350.

Prices seem to be all over the place.

That's a whole lot cheaper than what I've paid in Tanzania.

Tanzania has always been off the bloody charts. Easily two or three times the prices I have paid in Zimbabwe and Namibia for comparable flights.

Well, the TZ outfitters have always claimed it costs 3 times as much to operate an aircraft there than other African countries………

One can always opt for road transfers.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
One can always opt for road transfers.

DAR to Mlele by road would be kinda far, 2-3 days I’m guessing.

I think floatplanes locally charge more or less $1000.00 per hour.
I can't see how operating costs are more expensive in Africa than rural AK.

I've done the 7+ hour road transfer from Bulawayo to the Omay in Zimbabwe. It was the next day after the 30 hours of plane travel and I actually enjoyed the drive.

$3100 round trip total for 2 people from Harare to the Sango hunting airstrip last month.

quote:

Originally posted by tygersman:
$3100 round trip total for 2 people from Harare to the Sango hunting airstrip last month.

Similar to last year. Decided to drive to Humani in October for a change.

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:
Last summer, Harare to Dande East and back, with CMS (wonderful hunt), we were charged $1600.00 for the plane. For an upcoming hunt in SAVE we have been quoted $2300.00 PER PERSON round trip, probably will hire a car for that hunt. So yes, I would say prices have gone crazy and will ultimately hurt the industry.

I have never seen the per person charge before. Seems ridiculous to me .

The unofficial quote I got for Harare to Matombo for coming December was $1300.

The combination of flying commercially and then an air charter puts me in camp 6 hours from locking my front door.
The Hilux will consume about $400 of diesel for the 1800 mile round trip. My son and I will then rather do a road trip adding a couple of days and seeing the countryside.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
Tanzania has always been off the bloody charts. Easily two or three times the prices I have paid in Zimbabwe and Namibia for comparable flights.

That is a fact. About 15 years ago, I had a $16,000 charter in TZ.

As far asI can remember, people have been complaining about charter prices.

Won’t stop now.

If there not enough passengers to fly with these prices, they would be lowered.

When I was hunting Tanzania with PVT Safaris I only paid part of the flight...

Retreever

I was once told by a pilot in Zimbabwe who had spent the year flying safari clients in Tanzania that the safari company was always complaining that he charged too much.

And then they would add 100% to the tab and give the bill to the client. (That was in 1994.)

quote:

Originally posted by scruffy:
I was once told by a pilot in Zimbabwe who had spent the year flying safari clients in Tanzania that the safari company was always complaining that he charged too much.

And then they would add 100% to the tab and give the bill to the client. (That was in 1994.)

Seems to be standard TZ practice….

I had to postpone my Zim trip for 2 years due to Covid, and prices increased on Zim air charters each year (which is suspicious because airline prices were relatively steady during that same period). I would say that quoted prices increased about 25-30% in the last two years.

Last Month, my wife and I chartered from Harare to Karunga (Dande East), then from Matombo (Zambezi River) back to Harare. I was charged $1500 for the Karunga flight, and $1700 for the Matombo flight for a total of $3200. Both flights were a Cessna 206 and we didn't split charters with other hunters.

Looking at others posts in this thread, it does seem as if pricing is all over the place. Still WAYYYY cheaper than quotes I received for Tanzania air charters in 2020.

Do not always go with the lowest bidder on flights in Africa. You have to listen to your Outfitter. I still remember the tragic event that happened in Kenya. Several members of the Brumley family lived here in NC and three generations were lost.

https://www.tampabay.com/archi...s-three-generations/

https://alumni.duke.edu/magazi...es-three-generations

quote:

Originally posted by Capt.Purvis:
Do not always go with the lowest bidder on flights in Africa. You have to listen to your Outfitter. I still remember the tragic event that happened in Kenya. Several members of the Brumley family lived here in NC and three generations were lost.

https://www.tampabay.com/archi...s-three-generations/

https://alumni.duke.edu/magazi...es-three-generations

Except in some cases, especially in TZ, the outfitter has a slice of the pie….