Hello, I am considering a safari to shoot primarily one big buffalo next year but am confused by the very different trophy prices I have seen quoted from US$1500 in Tanzania to $15,000 in South Africa ?? I understand I have my pro to pay for, approx $350 a day and all the other stuff etc but what is the proper price for a trophy cape buff ? Thanks in advance, Mike Bailey

Hi Mike,

Welcome to the forum from a fellow Brit.....

You really need to look at the total package price. some countries will have high government fees and camp costs and low trophy fees and some the other way round. There's lots of variables that cause this. For example, in South Africa all a hunting camp has to do for supplies is pop down to the local supermarket, in Tanzania, however, everything has to be flown in by charter plane or put in a truck and driven for 3 days. All this obviously costs money.......

The hunting experience is also very different from country to country. In South Africa, you'll be hunting behind wire fences and the outfitter will probably know which Buff you're going to hunt even before you arrive.

In Tanzania for example, you'll be hunting in a true wilderness area where there are no fences and game is free to roam over the entire reserve. (About 5 million acres plus buffer zones) The Buff here are obviously a whole lot more numerous.......... So you also need to decide if you want to hunt in a wilderness area or in a fenced reserve. It's your choice.

As for me, I'd opt for a true wilderness area every time......

Mike,

As Steve said you have to look at the total price and what type of experience you are buying. Just in Tanzania we offer 1x1 short buffalo hunts from $9,000 to $20,000 to include all costs and 1 buffalo. You have to decide how important a chance to hunt a really big buffalo is and if the luxury camp is what you need.

Throughout southern Africa I think you'll find basic buffalo hunts running about $9000-$12000 when you figure everything and a buffalo trophy fee. RSA is a completely different hunt and not the wild expereince you'll find in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania etc. Even in the areas bordering Kruger a buffalo hunt is not a good value for the dollar.

If I can assist you in planning your safari please feel free to contact me anytime.

Mark

I can only but support mark and steve. There are no "bargin" buffalo hunts. If someone from zim is offering you a buff hunt at below US$10,000 including daily rates and trophy fees- the question is "Why". Is it a marginal area? There are the rare occasions when someone legitimately has left over quota at the end of the season due to a marketing problem - like falling out with an agent or new concessionair with insufficient time to market etc, but if a client didn't get a buff and so the guy has "unshot" buff at the end of the season there is a good chance you will be hunting in one of the more marginal areas. (again there are exceptions- client already has a 41" buff and will only shoot something bigger but those are exceptions )

Also - read the fine print! What are the transfer fees- does the quoted price include the government license fees (in Zim they should always be included in the price), are there other little extras like gun import fees, local area management fees...

There are many ways of selling a $12000 buff hunt so that the gullable think it is only going to cost them 5k. Deal with a reputable operator or agent (like the two above and a good few others who post on this forum), and you will get a bargin- in terms of a great hunting experience at the quoted price with no nasty surprises and actually recieve your trophies!

Ganyana hit the BIG nail on the head: "if you actually receive your trophies." It doesn't matter to most Hunters what they spent on their hunt when they fail to receive their trophies; mounted or raw skins and horns. This has been a major concern for many years. Dealing with a reputable PH/Outfitter should eliminate that concern. Take note however, once your PH delivers your trophy to a licensed Taxidermist, it is out of his hands. Most PHs won't tolerate BS and the bad guys get eliminated quickly. But once your trophy is mounted or dipped/packed and crated, it then moves on to the shippng company, who forwards it to your nearest port of entry and or Customs Broker. So again, deal with established companies to avoid problems. Good hunting, LDK