What is the Standard payment structure for booking a hunt?

Smitty said:

Hi All,
Thank in advance for your advice. I am looking into a hunt in June, for Zimbabwe. The outfitter I am corresponding with is asking for a 25% payment now, and the remaining 75% payment 30 days prior to the hunt. I get nervous wiring the full payment in advance, before I have even landed or met the outfitter. What recourse would I have if they just took my money and never even picked me up at the airport? Is there a more traditional or accepted practice? I am afraid I have only been to Africa once before, so I am not very versed in what is normal. Thanks, Smitty

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375Fox said:

Then you will not be hunting anywhere outside private land in South Africa or Namibia. Full payment of daily rates and a TF deposit before you arrive is standard for concession areas. Areas that are managed on government quotas have something to lose if the hunter doesn’t arrive. It’s not like private land where they can add one more to the quota next year at landowner’s discretion.

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Rare Breed said:

Interesting, in my 8 safaris covering SA and Zim, I just always had to have my day rates paid in full before the hut. In SA, I had to pay final TF with either a wire or credit card whereas in Zim with both D&Y and Tokoloshe, I paid TF when I arrived back to US with a wire.

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rookhawk said:

The Zimbabwean way is to pay cash-cash for a deposit, or wire it to a US or foreign bank, that books your hunt.

The trophy fees are frequently paid via wire after the hunt, other times cash in hand at the hunt.

This odd scenario is due to tax avoidance. You can't beat the central bank of Zimbabwe, they want their money, they won't release the trophies or approve the TR2 without it. Hence, that portion of the payment is usually quite formal and obvious. That's the money that Zim knows was paid for a safari, everything else is subjective and self-reported by the operator.

All the other portions (daily rates) of the payment are as under the radar as possible because the operators don't want to get taxed to death on it. It's also why daily rates are either in cash whether at a convention or wired to a US bank or a Botswana bank. It's all to keep it out of the clutches of the Zim government.

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Rare Breed said:

Interesting, in my 8 safaris covering SA and Zim, I just always had to have my day rates paid in full before the hut. In SA, I had to pay final TF with either a wire or credit card whereas in Zim with both D&Y and Tokoloshe, I paid TF when I arrived back to US with a wire.

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Rafiki said:

I have never paid trophy fees up front. When I book a hunt I wore 50% of the daily rate and the other 50% just before heading over. Trophy fees are paid according to whatever I get after my return.

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KAROO WILD Safaris said:

If it’s standard practice to pay trophy fees upfront it really shouldn’t be. Begs too many questions, like what happens if you’re not successful on hunting that particular animal. I can understand a deposit to show your intention to come on the hunt, but trophy fees upfront doesn’t sound like good business practice. No matter what the outfitters reputation may be

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375Fox said:

A lot of South African outfitters sell buffalo packages and PG packages. Is full payment due before the hunt starts? Or is the trophy fee portion reserved until after the hunt finishes? It’s no different in other countries except it’s broken into separate daily rates and a trophy fee. I’ve only ever prepaid specific trophy fees on high value primary animals like buffalo or elephant. The rest on return home after completing the hunt. I’ve never had the need for an outfitter to return a trophy fee deposit so far usually I have a balance due.

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