Ok guys/gals, I have a question. Can you assist me in identifying what the government trophy fees for a buffalo bull and tuskless elephant are for 2009?

The reason I ask is that my contract signed in 2008 specifies my trophy fees are subject to "Government changes". On the outfitters website the trophy fees have increased, so I am trying to determine if I am subject to the increase.

I have sent an email this morning to the outfitter, but I am still awaiting a reply. Thanks

I should note this is for Zimbabwe 09....

The way I understand it is the "trophy fees" is something the individual outfitter fixes. The govt. might charge a fixed price to all the outfitters but they add their own markups based on what they feel they can get away with. Perhaps one of them will clarify this.

Trophy fees are not set by the gov't in Zim. There are some regulations specifying minimum fees for hunts but I believe these are below market rates and thus moot.

This is not to say that money is not paid the the gov't or local council by outfitters..but each concession/auction hunt/communal area lease has it's own negotiated (or auction) price and each of these has its individual quota. Some deals require that a certain portion of the trophy fee be paid to the relevant authority. Some deals are paid in a lump sum regardless of whether the animals are taken. Thus there is no standard countrywide number by species.

There is however a 2% gov't levy on safaris and I think this is probably what your agreement anticipated...if there is any change in this figure, the outfitter would be justified in passing this on.

If, as most likely happened, he has merely increased his list prices for this season, you are not obliged to pay the higher rate. If he tries to pull that on you, you should protest vigorously, and if that doens't work, then I am sure the members of this forum would like to know the operator's name.

Hmm depends where you are hunting. Parks sets the trophy fees for all hunting on parks concessions- and yes, they have put their prices up. Elephant bull's start at 10k and go up according to ivory weight.

Thier are also minimum fees specified that the operator may not go below. In theory these should be the same as the parks fees- ie an operator may not see a bull for under 10k and a tuskless for under 2. In practice, SOAZ haggle with the reserve bank over the minimums...and in a hard year like this one, nobody except the parks senior management are expecting increase in the costs of hunting!