What's a per person plane fare running these days? Let's say 7-day round trip, non-business. Falcon Travel is an old friend -- quite satisfied, but we've inquired with Kathi and Gracey Travel, too. Pamela and I can finally talk about returning after ten years away! (Early August with the Rudmans for baboon, zebra, red hartebeest and who knows?)

Without an outfitter, we'll remember to use a service for the guns part, refresh/update 4457 and so on. What we don't know is how the money part goes. Does one wire it ahead instead of the AmEx travel cheques thing mostly?

Thanks

Barry

Barry,

Just wondering about your post.

Without an outfitter??

How are you hunting then?

You have to wire the money ahead, and here is a very important part.

Make sure you are dealing with some you can actually trust.

If you have no one in particular, ask here about prospective professional hunters you can hunt with, and be sure you will get what you have traveled for.

Try not to leave anything to chance.

You want your hunt to be successful and fun, not stressful.

Best of luck.

What's in a word? Greg R used to do the booking part for me. Having been to Blaauwkrantz a couple times already, I know the drill, so booking direct with the safari company (the Rudmans) sidesteps whom I used to call the outfitter/agent.

Ten years ago, a percentage went to the guy smoothing things, answering questions, etc. who acted as go-between with the people whom you actually hunted with. Also, we were toting funds, mostly AmEx travelers cheques to settle the rest of what a safari wound up costing. Now, I simply don't know the preferred payment arrangement. Wiring bank to bank was one way, with both safari company and taxidermists, shippers, etc. Credit cards are used by some with pre-approval. (I think you answered this part already.)

Putting the balance of contract specific funds in care of an "outfitter"/agent (trophy fees in the case of RSA) is no longer in play. Do folks just wire the whole wad to the safari company now?

Mainly I want to know about fares right now, but...

Thanks for looking out for me, sir! Is the outfitter term used for the place you hunt. Maybe I should be saying agent instead?

Cheers!

Barry

It's simple...
Just look on Expedia or Google Flights or other services.
Your Houston to Joberg portion will be between say $1,700 and $2,400 depending on time of year and the Port Elizabeth flight will be around $300
Delta clearly has the most expedient route across with the direct flight out of Atlanta every night.
Others here fly itineraries on carriers like Emirates tha at have much longer itineraries

And the rest? Thanks for the partial reply. So, $4K (USD) in plane fare, plus temporary gun permitting, etc. How does one go about paying remotely these days?

Falcon Travel has replied BTW.

Barry

quote:

Originally posted by BNagel:
And the rest? Thanks for the partial reply. So, $4K (USD) in plane fare, plus temporary gun permitting, etc. How does one go about paying remotely these days?

Falcon Travel has replied BTW.

Barry

Basically it really means you have to wire the money ahead.

For travel I would imagine you use a credit or debit card.

Which brings me back to my original post regarding dealing with reputable people.

I have been hunting Africa since 1982.

Have dealt with several people, all have been exceedingly honest and above board.

Most of the times I wire the money ahead.

Sometimes I have paid after the hunt.

But, for this system to work, mutual trust between the parties is required.

There is never any question of anyone cheating the other.

On one occasion the PH got in touch with me after the hunt, it was the first time I have hunted with him.

He apologized and said that he had made a mistake in his billing, by him under charging me. We were several hunters, and he basically forgot to bill me for one particular hunter.

He gave me all the figures.

I wired the money to him the same day.

Got it. I feel loved and protected by a prince among men

Yes, you meant booking agent instead of outfitter. The outfitter is the safari company you will be hunting with.

Since you haven't hunted in a while I would recommend you use a travel agent. Also, pay for a gun expedition service, which your travel agent (assuming it is a hunting-oriented one like Gracey) will point you to.

Awesome. (It's handled.)