A co-worker is thinking about taking his son on safari for his HS graduation present. He asked me a question that I did not know the answer to, so I thought I would ask the pros. His question was: If he booked the hunt with his son as the hunter and he as an observer, would he have to pay a full daily rate if he (Dad) chose to take an animal? Would he pay it just on the day he shot something or would he have to pay the full rate for the length of the safari?

Hope that makes sense

Thanks

Adam

BTW - I told him he was nuts and to just book it 2x1 because when he got there he would want to shoot his bank account out.

Under Zim law, technically yes. The government requires a seperate TR2 for each hunter and for that to be aquited at the end of the hunt the legal minimums would have to be banked.

In reality, for just one plainsgame animal- you put it on the Son's TR2 form and keep ad listed as an observer. It just means that all export (and US import) documentation will be in the Son's name.

It would be sort of like a thnak you gift to the father from the son - shoot one on my license.

"Under Zim law, technically yes"
No such laws in South Africa. Discuss it with the outfitter/ agent and it is unlikely that he will charge both of them hunter fee if he knows ahead of time.

When I was hunting in SA on the Eastern Cape - one of my younger sisters came along as a non-hunter/photographer and towards the end of the week the nice young cute PH (her words) talked her into taking a nice mountain reedbuck - they did not change the daily rate because of it - the mount now hangs on her wall

Different Outfitters would handle this in different ways and as Karoo said - your friend should discuss this with the one he plans on booking with when he negotiates the details of his hunt.

I would think that for the most part (certainly as far as this Outfitter is concerned) Outfitters wouldn't charge a hunting rate if the Observer wanted to hunt an animal on a 2X1 basis provided the client doesn't misrepresent himself in this regard in order to get a cheap hunt.

Adam you know the answer buddy! Send him too me and he will get the best deal on money, and no he does not have to pay as a hunter!!!!

Looking forward to seeing you in Jan....booked my booth Monday!

Cheers,

Hi Adam
We have a special Father/child deal where the one pays a 1x1 rate and the other is allowed to hunt at the standard observer rate.

If he is interested PM me or send me a mail and I can give you more details.

We actually do quit a lot of graduation gift hunts, always lots of fun.

Regards Johann

Many years ago, I was trying to book a hunt for plains game in South Africa.

I was amazed at the desparity of the charges different outfitters wanted.

We were several people, some wanted to hunt every day, others wanted to shoot an animal or two, and others were only observers.

Some outfitters insisted that those who shoot anything have to pay a hunter's daily on that day.

Then I found an outfitters - Peter Harris, of Ntshonalanga Safaris.

He charged us all OBSERVER daily fees, and anyone could shoot anything they wanted.

We hunted with him, had a great time.

Needless to say, when we wanted to go to South Africa again, he was the only one I called.

And we had another great hunt with him.

Many years ago my booking agent was a person who only hunted dangerous game in Africa, and preferred to hunt lion. After I got home from a safari he booked for me in Zambia, I called him to talk about booking for the next year. He got exited when I told him that we had seen several Leopard in daylight and some good prides of lion while driving around the concession.

He put it to me that if I wanted to take a lioness, he would book a lion safari, with me as an observer. The lion/leopard safari required a 14 day safari, at $1500 per day and $150 per day Ob fee. He said he would have the license but he only wanted a male lion, so if we split the daily fee with the observer fee added in and each pay half, and each the trophy fee for what for what we shot, then I could take a lioness, and another Buffalo. I would be paying half of the combined daily fee, plus the trophy fees for the Lioness, and the Buffalo.

The Safari Company, who shale remain nameless, was OK with this arrangement, but I simply couldn’t swing it that next year, and I wish I had had the foresight to make it happen, even if I had to borrow money. I didn’t, and have always regretted it!

If you want it make it happen, because it will not be cheaper tomorrow!

Guys,
Thanks for all the responses, PMs and contact info. I have forwarded all this to my boss. Hope I didnt scare him to death! I told him join AR and that there was a wealth of info to be obtained here.

What goes on tour stays on tour.

I don't know about other countries, but in South Africa the daily rates for hunters and observers are whatever the client can negotiate, and the same goes for trophy fees (to some extent, depending on who owns the land).