Does Wiring Money to Africa for a Hunt still make you nervous

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travisreeh

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Reply version (drop this into any of those payment threads):

Really interesting thread. I'm actually doing research on this exact problem — specifically the experience of wiring money internationally to book a hunt. For those of you who've done it: was the wire transfer itself stressful, or did you feel pretty comfortable once you'd vetted the outfitter? And has anyone ever had something go wrong — outfitter cancelled, miscommunication, anything — where you wished you'd had some kind of protection on that money?

Not selling anything, genuinely trying to understand how bad this pain point actually is before I explore building something around it. Appreciate any honest takes.
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New thread version:
Title: Does Wiring Money to Africa for a Hunt still make you nervous
I'm doing some research and wanted to get input from people who've actually been through the booking process.

When you wired your deposit — $5K, $10K, whatever it was — to an outfitter you'd never met in a country you'd never been to, how did that feel? Did you lose sleep over it, or was it no big deal once you'd done your homework?

And has anyone here ever had a hunt fall through after the wire was sent? What happened?
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I was pretty close to booking a hunt in Namibia Last year but the whole payment proccess seemed pretty daunting when I got to the point of wiring money. Hopefully we can get something scheduled out this summer for a hunt in summer 27'.

I'm exploring whether there's a better way to handle this — not asking anyone to try anything, just want to know if this is actually a problem worth solving or if most hunters have made peace with it. Appreciate any honest answers.
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I have only done it after a hunt for taxidermy and logistics. I paid my balance with the PH by credit card before I left.
 
It has not bothered me to send, but I have done my due diligence to feel comfortable with the outfitter chosen before I have reached that point.

@LivingTheDream thanks for tip on Wise App.. I will have to check that out moving forward instead of paying bank fees.
 
Used to but not anymore. It's just part of it.
 
Nope, not anymore.
 
No, I took a picture of a filled in personal check. Sent the pic by WhatsApp to my PH and he sent it to his bank. Took cash for tips. Done.

The SWIFT system is JUNK. Relies on a human transcribing too many numbers. too much room for Error.
 
One area AI is helping is to either modernize SWIFT or replace it.

Instead of being replaced entirely. Most likely SWIFT will incorporate an AI tool to make it a 24/7, immediate process. instead of 9 to 5 and taking donkey cart speed to get there.
 
In years past, always uncomfortable carrying a lot of cash but that's the way I paid and for extras and taxidermy, wiring was the standard method. As others, now if possible pay with credit card. Any extras and taxidermy, money is sent as requested. Last hunt with an outfitter I've hunted with before, I wired him for the entire hunt after I got back. Another who I hunted with before, told me just wire me the whole works when I get home. For that hunt, I did pay cash in tips.
@Altitude sickness Roger that on the SWIFT system. I got dinged for $75 because the banker entered one wrong number.
 
LivingTheDream said:
It used to but not anymore. Use the Wise App, saves a lot of fees and can be done right from your home.
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@LivingTheDream I’m curious your thoughts on the Wise App further. I have looked into using it to wire money to an outfitter in Europe, they all want wire transfers and don’t take credit cards. I went through the Wise App process which was very easy to use and fees very reasonable compared to the high cost my bank charges, but I got down to the final step and the app wanted to use some third party processor to link directly to my bank account for the transfer and that made me very nervous allowing someone else I didn’t know access my bank account directly and how were they going to maintain security of that information. So I dumped the transfer attempt, went to the bank and bit the bullet paying the high bank fees and they still took 4 days to get the money transferred

Did this last step not make you nervous? Any further info on what they do to secure your information?
 
I’ve never wired money to an outfitter or taxidermist that I haven’t met personally. If I trust a P.H. With my safety I trust them with my deposit. Taxidermists not as much, but so far no real issues. Some outfitters have us bank accounts, so that’s simple. I have usually wired money but the newer apps have appeal. Credit cards usually hammer me for foreign transaction fees so I avoid that if possible. Several concession owners want cash the day you are there, so that takes preplanning. Hard to roll all of Africa and the Outfitters/ P.H. into one system.
 
MontanaPat said:
@LivingTheDream I’m curious your thoughts on the Wise App further. I have looked into using it to wire money to an outfitter in Europe, they all want wire transfers and don’t take credit cards. I went through the Wise App process which was very easy to use and fees very reasonable compared to the high cost my bank charges, but I got down to the final step and the app wanted to use some third party processor to link directly to my bank account for the transfer and that made me very nervous allowing someone else I didn’t know access my bank account directly and how were they going to maintain security of that information. So I dumped the transfer attempt, went to the bank and bit the bullet paying the high bank fees and they still took 4 days to get the money transferred

Did this last step not make you nervous? Any further info on what they do to secure your information?
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It did not, but I was familiar with the software and it was actually used by one of my banks when transfer funds between the two. I will look into the app today and provide what they actually have in place from a technical perspective.

The biggest thing is you control the accounts and data it can see (I know this is a bit of "in theory") but I will also long into my bank account immediately afterwards and remove all access. I believe the access is removed by default in 30 days.

Also, while we are talking about it. My dad went to his bank to wire money for a hunt and the outfitter got it 4 days later. He was at my house when the 2nd deposit was due, and I did it with the wise app and the outfitter had it within 2 hours. This was for a European hunt. I have noticed banks seem to be doing more "delays" in sending money and saying it is for security reasons.
 
travisreeh said:
Reply version (drop this into any of those payment threads):


New thread version:
Title: Does Wiring Money to Africa for a Hunt still make you nervous
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Here is my recent experience. I finally gave up trying to wire funds to Scotland for a great hunt...I tried 5 times and it would not work. My latest August hunt coming up for the first time had a link sent to me by the outfitter that instantly went through with zero problems and I actually felt more secure with it than a normal bank wire. Just me. The outfitter is @DIVAN SAFARIS It was the easist transaction I have had sending money to Africa.
 
It’s a bit of a pain, but bebopping around Africa with $10k in cash in a backpack isn’t that great either.

My biggest gripe is the 937 times I’m asked if I’m absolutely sure I want to wire money to Africa. I get a few lectures about “this is how wire transfers work” and “it’s impossible to undo this” and “ are you sure you know this place?” “Where is Nambia anyhow?”

I guess they’re trying to bubble wrap me, in a sense, but it gets old.
 
I've made dozens of transfers over the years without any issues. If you don't know the outfitter make sure they're reputable. The assistant manager at my bank always jokes with me and says they no longer do wire transfers for hunting trips only for photo safaris.

A lot more outfitters take credit cards today which makes it easier. Only cash I carry now days is for tips for the trackers, skinners and other staff.
 
Altitude sickness said:
One area AI is helping is to either modernize SWIFT or replace it.

Instead of being replaced entirely. Most likely SWIFT will incorporate an AI tool to make it a 24/7, immediate process. instead of 9 to 5 and taking donkey cart speed to get there.
Click to expand...
You nailed it with the SWIFT codes. That was my problem in Scotland
 
Another scam involving the not so SWIFT system . Is the “Float” or Arbitrage.

When an international transfer takes 1–5 business days, the actual funds are moving through "correspondent" or "intermediary" banks. These banks hold the money in transitional accounts and can earn short-term interest on those massive aggregate balances before the funds settle in the recipient’s account.
 
I have never had any issues wiring the funds. The cost at my bank is 45.00 for the wire which is much cheaper than paying 3% cc fee as well as any fees for taking cc on the other side of the world. I will also add on the 11 trips to Africa so far, I have not sent any monies up front.

If the outfitter had a US account, I would deposit the money there or wire the total bill once back in the US.

Good luck on your hunt! I am heading back in 4 weeks and will wire the funds for my fun when I return.
 
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