This posting is intended for whoever have seriously thought of hunting in South Africa. Do you know what it costs? I have compiled the advertized listed costs of hunting in South Africa as published on about 130 plus web pages and for daily rates and most species of non-trophy and trophy animals into a database.

If you want to just know, or want compare the costs quoted by your selected Hunting Outfitter to what other HO's charge, this may help you some.

Please send direct e-mail to andrew@mclarensafaris.com to enquire about my findings. In particular copyrights issues prevents me from simply making all the data - that was copied from Internet web pages - available.

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

Andrew,

Do you take in to account the differences in transportations costs, dip and pack fees, and any extra fees that some companies charge for?

Andrew,

Hope I'm on the right track here...

I'm not sure if you'll agree but my experience has been that the hunting market is by en large price insensitive... Yes, there are some to whom $25 or $50p/d would make a a difference when picking an Outfitter for a first hunt but to most serious hunters price isn't the deciding factor...

Chris

Forgive me for I am relatively new to this forum. This seems to me to be nothing short of shameless advertising and may or may not be appropriate?
Steve

Steve,

Hunts are advertised on here all the time although I'm not sure that's what his post is intended to do. I think that Andrew's data may be useful to those thinking of hunting in SA.

Cheers,
Andy

quote:

Originally posted by chipolopolo:
Forgive me for I am relatively new to this forum. This seems to me to be nothing short of shameless advertising and may or may not be appropriate?
Steve

Shameless and non-shameless advertising is not only allowed, it's encouraged here. It has gotten some people some fantastic hunting opportunities.

I know that in my own case I got a better deal hunting in Namibia this year than I think that I could have gotten anywhere else. I'm a very careful shopper and I did extensive research visiting more than 100 websites before my hunt, building spreadsheets to compare apples to apples, etc. and one of the outfitters who posts and advertises here just beat the pants off any other deal that I could find on my own.

Well then, I stand corrected!!
Steve

Andrew,

Please send me the e-mail, it will be very interesting to see what the "norm" is......charl@infinito-safaris.com

I cannot agree with Chris more, most people come to hunt with the company/PH, not the price list.

Thus said....there is a norm, sort of, in our industry, and one has to stick by it. To cheap, no good, to expensive, no good either. Good thing that we have the game auction price list average every year to see what the "norm" is....

Just my 2cents worth....

O....and I got two "spello's" in your posting

Chipolopolo
If anything you should thank Andrew for taking the time to do this and then offer it to you as potential clients to the industry.
His research will give you an average to work from and allow people who are new to hunting the opportunity for a birds eye view of the market.

I also strongly believe that any outfitter who is dedicated to offering value for money hunting should be out there marketing their product, value for money is a relative term and regardless of your budget indicates that the said outfitter is focusing his opperation on the growth of the industry and popularity of hunting as opposed to the growth of his bank balance.

The little I know of Andrew has shown him to be a gentleman and powerful agent for the growth of the hunting industry, anyone who can fill those two roles deserves a medal in my opinion.

I had a great hunt with Andrew a few years ago, and will happily attest to the fact that he has only his customers (potential and real) in mind when offering this. Sure, he wants your business. What's wrong with that? I encourage everyone who wants a reasonably priced RSA plains game to take a look at Andrew's operation.

Maybe experienced and knowledgeable hunters select their destination based on PH or other factors, but I remember what it was like when I first entertained the idea of heading to Africa to hunt. The amount of information that is available on the web is overwhelming, but web sites that contain good unbiased information are scarce. I spent hours googling hunting sites - most of which were advertising web sites - and put together the exact type of information Andrew is offering.

It was only after I discovered AR, 24hrcampfire and others that I realized there was good, relatively unbiased information from HUNTERS.

I think a spreadsheet is a good tool - not by itself - but in conjunction with first-hand accounts from those who have experience to share. I wish it would have been available when this newbie was considering testing the waters!

Dave

Cost in Africa:

It costs X dollars to conduct a hunt, how it is marketed varies a great deal and all that glitters is not gold.

The client should shop around, get the quotes and know exactly what the costs include and do not include, every nickle should be explained away prior to the hunt.

Some outfitters have low daily rates and high trophy fees, some outfitters have high daily rates and low trophy fees, just the opposite of each other but the base cost is about the same.

Specials are another marketing ploy in that they offer a couple of nice animals and the rest are less desirable animals, it may not be as good a deal as you think, and they hope that you shoot other more desirable animals for trophy fees added..

All this is on the up and up and it is acceptable, but you as a client need to know what your buying and keep in mind like everything else you get about what you pay for..

I offer these specials like everyone else, but IMO hunters would be smart to try and get the cheapest daily rate they can muster plus trophy fees...

If I were personally booking a RSA hunt today I would opt for a $300 to $400 per day hunt plus reasonable trophy fees, not the cheapest, but not the highest..

To each his own but its still buyer beware and if one is going to the expense of traveling half way around the world and spending a bundle then don't deprive yourself with a cheap hunt, they have to cut those costs someplace to put it on...An extra grand may be money well spent, but only if you do your homework.

For what its worth.

Andrew, please forward the list as you advertised you would.

My e-mail is info@infinito-safaris.com

Regards,

Charl

quote:

Originally posted by ChrisTroskie:
Andrew,

Hope I'm on the right track here...

I'm not sure if you'll agree but my experience has been that the hunting market is by en large price insensitive... Yes, there are some to whom $25 or $50p/d would make a a difference when picking an Outfitter for a first hunt but to most serious hunters price isn't the deciding factor...

Chris

I disagree, Chris! I'd say for every "SERIOUS" hunter who doesn't have to ask the price, there will by fifty who do have to ask, and I'm one of them. I'd say for most hunters, who hunt anyplace, cost is "THE" number one factor, in choosing a hunt!

I'd say that for the vast majority of us cost is a definite issue. It may not be the ultimate determinate of where we go and who we book with, but it plays a significant role. I believe that this is especially true or plainsgame hunts.

To me it's true on any African hunt, plains game or dangerous game.

IMO, if I had to start my African hunting over again, the questions important to me would be concession size, other clients sharing, and mainly DO YOU PUT AND TAKE OR NOT. To me put and take makes the whole concession hunting thing very commercial and non-authentic.Just my opine.
Steve

Steve (chipolopolo),

If there is one thing about the South African hunting scene that I detest, it is put-'n-take hunting. Many, but definately not all, hunting outfitters do it! That is why the Game Auction Prices are so eagerly watched by some - it largely determines their input costs, and the trophy fees are then adjusted accordingly! Anyone hunting as a client of Andrew McLaren Safaris is assured that put-'n-take hunting is not on offer from me!

Steve (Shakari) advised privately that I should make it clear that I absolutely refuse to provide any names of hunting outfitters with their costs! It is not only dangerous if there was some mistake on my part, it would also be good advertising for those with costs lower than mine! I refuse to do that!

The reason why I insist on members and visitors asking for the info by direct e-mail to me, is that I can not attach a file to a PM; and the only logical way for me to provide the statistics is as an Excel spreadsheet file.

Lastly, do look in the "Outfitters - Offered and Discounted Hunts" section where I posted an offer for management hunting that I really think will be difficult to beat!

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:

I disagree, Chris! I'd say for every "SERIOUS" hunter who doesn't have to ask the price, there will by fifty who do have to ask, and I'm one of them. I'd say for most hunters, who hunt anyplace, cost is "THE" number one factor, in choosing a hunt!

Let me first explain what I mean by the word "serious" hunter: For me a serious hunter is someone who is really considering booking a hunt and not just someone who is making enquiries from one outfitter after another even though he knows he'll probably never book a hunt. (better known as a tire kicker).

Of course price plays a role. And it is unlikely that someone with a $350p/d budget will make enquiries from outfitters who charge a daily rate of $500... But the reality is that most ordinary outfiters (and now I'm not talking about the high-end outfitters) charge more or less the same when you calculate all the costs. One guy charges a DR of $375p/d and sells Nyala for $2,000. Another charges $350p/d but he charges $2,800 for a Nyala...

Have a look at the number of discounted hunts offered elsewhere on this forum and see just how much attention these hunts attract... Quite frankly - most of the replies I've read are from the individuals who originally posted the thread. To me this says that - although important - prices are not as much a deciding factor in deciding who to book with. Factors like the reputation of the outfit / booking agent, rapport between outfitter and potential client, abbility of outfitter to provide answers to questions etc. play a much bigger role.

JMHO

The number of disasters I hear about every year is simply overwhelming. Any “serious†hunter will meet with the prospective outfitter as well as talk to previous clients first hand. It would alleviate a tremendous amount of headache for the hunter going for an inexpensive hunt where cost is all important. That criterion is a recipe for disaster. There are some really good deals available from reputable outfitters for good reasons, and there are a lot of scams from places that will only make you mad you spent a cent, rand or pound there. Shop wisely.
Camshaft

Hello Andrew

I'd like to see the price comparison list. Please email to todd@tjsafari.com

Thanks

Todd

If you want a reason why cheap hunts are a gamble go have a look at the war of words going on over in the outfitter section about a lost trophies. You don't hear about trophies lost for 2 years in Tanz. Bots or Zambia. I typically get trophies back from the TAXIDERMIST in about a year from when killed.

Chris

Very good!

quote:

Originally posted by ChrisTroskie:

Have a look at the number of discounted hunts offered elsewhere on this forum and see just how much attention these hunts attract... Quite frankly - most of the replies I've read are from the individuals who originally posted the thread. To me this says that - although important - prices are not as much a deciding factor in deciding who to book with. Factors like the reputation of the outfit / booking agent, rapport between outfitter and potential client, abbility of outfitter to provide answers to questions etc. play a much bigger role.

JMHO

Chris, I agree with the first points in this posting, but the part quoted above should IMHO be viewed quite differently!

I quite agree that many of the posts in the "Outfitters - Offered and Discounted Hunts" are replies by the original posters. But this does NOT by any means indicate a lack of interest in the offer!

I very recently posted in that section for the very first time ever. This was an offer to partake in a bit of a cull/herd management hunt at what I consider very good prices. The actual posting is here: https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/832100588/m/476106359
So far the statistics reads: Views = 352, Replies = 1.
Now, if I read your comment correctly this should imply that there is very little interest in my offer? Not so at all! I've been absolutely swamped by PM's from members enquiring about the offer. Received quite a few direct e-mails also from people who, based on requests like: "Please provide your banking details so that I can make a deposit on Monday...", don't create the impression of being tire kickers! I'm so busy replying to PM's and e-mails trying to fit in all who are interested that as far as I'm concerned I'll say: The readers on AR forum are VERY interested in hearing about good offers - despite, in my particular case, a rather poor choice of the heading on my posting!

I have yet to see an offer that I consider a better proposition for someone who is not a trophy hunter, but just wants to enjoy some ethical PG hunting in South Africa.

In good hunting.


Andrew McLaren

Yes many of us are very interested in hearing about good offers of discounted hunts with reputable PHs and Outfitters. That's why that specific forum was created not very long ago. And it will most likely be getting a lot more attention in the future. I know that it will from me. Just my 2 cents' worth.

Andrew is true to his word. His wife does the cooking and she is outstanding. His place is modest but very comfortable. I have stayed at his place twice and he is excellent host and PH. Just to let you know his trying to help all hunters who come to South Africa whether they hunt with him or another PH.

Andrew if you could please email me the info.

Woodie .. Woodie71@aol.com

quote:

Originally posted by Andrew McLaren:

Chris, I agree with the first points in this posting, but the part quoted above should IMHO be viewed quite differently!

I quite agree that many of the posts in the "Outfitters - Offered and Discounted Hunts" are replies by the original posters. But this does NOT by any means indicate a lack of interest in the offer!

I very recently posted in that section for the very first time ever. This was an offer to partake in a bit of a cull/herd management hunt at what I consider very good prices. The actual posting is here: https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/832100588/m/476106359
So far the statistics reads: Views = 352, Replies = 1.
Now, if I read your comment correctly this should imply that there is very little interest in my offer? Not so at all! I've been absolutely swamped by PM's from members enquiring about the offer. Received quite a few direct e-mails also from people who, based on requests like: "Please provide your banking details so that I can make a deposit on Monday...", don't create the impression of being tire kickers! I'm so busy replying to PM's and e-mails trying to fit in all who are interested that as far as I'm concerned I'll say: The readers on AR forum are VERY interested in hearing about good offers - despite, in my particular case, a rather poor choice of the heading on my posting!

I have yet to see an offer that I consider a better proposition for someone who is not a trophy hunter, but just wants to enjoy some ethical PG hunting in South Africa.

In good hunting.


Andrew McLaren

Sorry Andrew, I was not implying that there is no interest in your offer - which is an exceptional one and which I am sure will sell fast. I don't think anyone can beat this offer - me included.

I was simply pointing out that - in general - special offers do not attract that much attention - which to me indicates that price - although important - is not the deciding factor and therefore not the most important factor.