Hi all,

I am fed-up with Game Ranchers (especially those up here where I live) who increase their Trophy Fees every time the US$ strengthens against the South African Rand but refuses to adjust their prices downwards when the Rand strengthens... Five years ago I was paying landowners the equivalent of around $1,000 for a Kudu bull in Limpopo irrespective of size which gave me a margin of about $200 when I sold it to clients at $1,200... Nowadays we Outfitters can pay anything from $1,700 to $2,000 (and even more) for a Kudu bull and worse of all are those Landowners who charge by the inch!

Fortunately there are still Landowners who are more interested in doing business than what they are in getting rich overnight - and now I'm referring specifically to those I met and negotiated with in my areas down in Natal.

In light of this, I've compiled a list with new Trophy Fees - specific to my areas in Natal - which I would like to share with board members.

It is a well known fact that (as a rule of thumb) the best Nyala trophies in South Africa comes from Natal - where incidentally - one can still hunt them in their natural habitat. But this province also offers great hunting opportunities for most other species of Southern African game. In addition to my areas in the Colenso district, I now also offer hunts near Dundee (right next to the Battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift). Some of these new areas are high-fenced but I also have access to unfenced areas where one can still have a free range hunt in a large area.

Here are my new Natal prices valid for a limited time only:

Species Trophy Fee
Baboon $110.00
Blesbok $250.00
Blesbok White $350.00
Bushbuck $700.00
Bushpig $300.00
Duiker Grey $250.00
Duiker Red $900.00
Eland Cape $1 900.00
Gemsbok $1 500.00
Giraffe $2 750.00
Hartebeest $900.00
Impala $250.00
Jackal $50.00
Kudu $1 400.00
Monkey $75.00
Nyala $1 870.00
Ostrich $350.00
Reedbuck Common $700.00
Reedbuck Mountain $500.00
Serval $300.00
Springbuck $300.00
Steenbuck $250.00
Suni $1 760.00
Warthog $250.00
Waterbuck $1 760.00
Wildebeest Black $900.00
Wildebeest Blue $800.00
Zebra $1 100.00

Anyone interested in more information please feel free to send me an email or PVT MSG.

Best regards,

Chris

Chris, I applaud your efforts to keep hunting in South Africa affordable for the average guy. I have noticed the increase in prices especially for kudu over the last 5 0r so years. The worst being those who charge by the inch.It's nice to know there are still some outfitters with integrity.

In Sept. of 2007 I was visiting St. Lucia with a good friend, and PH befor we went up to Thabazimbito hunt. I stated that it would ne nice to hunt nyala in the natal area. My friend called around, and found an outfitter who had nyala for $1300.00. He said because it was late in the year. Wheb we met with the outfitter he told me that he didn't realize I was an American, and the price would be $2600.00. I appreciate that locals should get a price break, but to charge twice as much because I was an American was outrageous.

All I can do from my end is refuse to hunt with those guys, but it is nice to know therer are some outfitters over there who understand that most of have to work hard and do without to come to Africa. Thanks.

The pricing structures are an indication of greed and rip-off time. Even SANParks are guilty of this. We, [my family] took a Kiwi visitor to Addo Elephant Park. He was in my vehicle, driven by myself, nothing extra, nothing different to the rest of us. At the gate we were asked if we were all South Africans,"no," one international visitor. The rest of us had to pay ZAR30:00 but for the visitor, ZAR100:00. I do stand to be corrected on this, it might have been ZAR130:00.
Correction; it was ZAR130:00. What I neglected to add was the fact that the person at the gate had a really crap attitude of take it or leave it, with the visitor in the car listening to the fuss.

It's exactly the same in the KNP.

Thank you Venda Axe,

I'm all for people making money. After all - that's why people are in business... But I regret to say that the way some people make money is a disgrace.

Earlier this year a bow hunting client of mine wanted to hunt a Bushbuck so I sent him to one of the ranches (coincidentally near Thabazimbi) that I hadn't hunted on for some years that is a Bow-only property and is known for quality bushbuck. The client ended up shooting not one but TWO bushbuck on the same day which was great! Until I got the invoice from the Landowner for ZAR 12,000 i.e. R6,000 a piece + tax. This equated to $860 at the time which would have been fine... except that I only charged a TF of $750 per Bushbuck to my client. When I asked the Landowner how his price for Bushbuck had almost doubled in 3 years time the reply I got was that this was what "Mr X" from "XX Safaris" was prepared to pay and the reason for him increasing his prices. See, the problem (as I see it) is not only greedy Landowners but also Outfitters who offer Landowners ridiculous prices in the hope of getting exclusive hunting rights on their properties. (But that's another story altogether)

Thankfully, the folks I work with down in Natal have a different view on this and understand that (especially in the current economical climate) it is better to get a little less for your animals but at least get hunters through your camp. So... guess what? I will in future move as many of my hunts as possible to Natal... Quite frankly, it is as pretty (if not prettier) down there than what it is up in Limpopo, the areas are huge and has a much more "African feel" to it than many of the properties up in Limpopo. And before the Limpopo guys jump onto my back... I love the place - remember I live here...

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
It's exactly the same in the KNP.

FRIGGEN WANKERS!!!

As for some of dilly prices on game farms, one clever begger had a really nice nyala that would have easily gone 31", put such a huge price on the bull that nobody wanted it. Well what with the drought, winter and the rest, a superb animal ended up breeding flies.