Back from Africa. How are you paying the bill to the PH?

Deposit first and then day rates before I arrived all bank wire transfer. Brought 5k-6k in cash or more, I remember I stuck under the 10k claim thing and double checked before.

I did claim that upon entry into Zim, and zero issue.

Then paid tip and whatever left onto the total. Wired the remaining when I got home that week.

NOW, my 2nd trip, I walked into the bank and the lady said, we charge 40$ for the wire but you can send international transfer for free through their app. I tried it with $120 ($20 always gets eaten by recieving branch) and made sure $100usd showed up. It did

And so now, with this confirmed wire transfer direct in my banking app, I can send money anytime anywhere (with internet ofcourse)

Wire transfers have not been an issue, but not every branch for my bank had someone available any given day, so they requested an appointment be made. Not a big deal for me.

An old guy told me he places a resealed box of tampons with a couple of the fireplugs replaced with rolled cash. Apparently, even thieves don’t want to touch “the box”.

Betterinthebush said:

An old guy told me he places a resealed box of tampons with a couple of the fireplugs replaced with rolled cash. Apparently, even thieves don’t want to touch “the box”.

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Now that’s a plan.

Normally you can wire by simply logging into your account…or on your mobile app (but you can’t set up a new recipient on app)
I too have had numerous issues in the branches like this too. It’s counterintuitive to say the least.

I remember the travel agent saying we could open a bank sccount at a bank in the country of our hunt. Our hunt was in Namibia and I investigated it. The idea was you would open an account, fund it, use it while in country then close it once back home. I didn’t do it but considered it. Might have made more sense if I planned repeated hunts there. Anyway, food for thought. Anyone done this?

I just used my Chase Sapphire preferred card. No out of country fees and have never had a problem using it in South Africa!

Tdruck said:

I am back from Zimbabwe. The take was an elephant, a dagga boy, and 2 enormous crocodiles.
The PH asked me to pay using YOCO app. We could not get the card to run there, or at home, even in smaller amounts that should be under my card limit. I plan to attempt a wire transfer at the bank.

Thanks,
TD
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I did a wire transfer from my bank when I got back last time. On my first safari (1983) I paid for everything with Travelers Checks (remember those?)

Really nice buff by the way!

rsmurray said:

I take $9950 in cash but gotta b careful if another family member on same flight! $10k is limit w/o declaring. My PH buddies rec if nor roll ur Benjamins tightly!!!!

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Has anyone heard of the authorities stopping someone or searching for cash hasn’t happened to me once in any of my trips?

I did a wire transfer before and after the trip. Seems to be the best way to me.

Huntforever said:

Has anyone heard of the authorities stopping someone or searching for cash hasn’t happened to me once in any of my trips?

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Yes. Me to zim 2021.

Even my small town bank is easy to do wire transfers thru, just fill out the form and drop off at local branch, the fax or email to main branch, usually within 15 minutes they call me and verify info and its done. Also have sent picture of check to outfitter as he has USA bank account or mail check to his US rep and he will deposit in account. I have paid pretty good deposits at the shows also in cash and that seems to be liked alot also.

Yes my bank is also easy to wire but they do clip me for $75 each time I wire

The scanners at many airports will pick up $100 bills like neon. All the PH’s I know say “roll them tight and put’em inna sock”

Zim has often inquired how much cash I'm carrying (arriving and departing.) It may be a form of double-checking how much the PH was paid, for "taxation" purposes, but they also purely want to see you leaving with less than you brought in!

E-transfer in camp (or at PH's house/office) prior to departing using their SWIFT code and my laptop or PH's these days. Hakuna matata. In Zim, down south U songo wara (venda). In the middle, Usanetseka (shona) and up by the falls Kutamanga (tonga).

Adam Stevens said:

Deposit first and then day rates before I arrived all bank wire transfer. Brought 5k-6k in cash or more, I remember I stuck under the 10k claim thing and double checked before.

I did claim that upon entry into Zim, and zero issue.

Then paid tip and whatever left onto the total. Wired the remaining when I got home that week.

NOW, my 2nd trip, I walked into the bank and the lady said, we charge 40$ for the wire but you can send international transfer for free through their app. I tried it with $120 ($20 always gets eaten by recieving branch) and made sure $100usd showed up. It did

And so now, with this confirmed wire transfer direct in my banking app, I can send money anytime anywhere (with internet ofcourse)

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I can do global money transfer direct from my bank account into safari operator's bank account. However, the funds MUST be deposited in local currency (rand). I can do currency conversions for the safari deposit and add the extra $40 his bank charges (my bank charges me nothing). But he prefers US dollars so I go to the bank and do wire transfer through "intermediary" bank, etc per his instructions. It is very confusing and a hassle for bank people but we finally get through it. I pay the fee on my end, usually about $40 no matter how much I'm sending. Why doesn't he want a big wad of rand dumped in his bank account? I'm not going to ask. Been to RSA enough times to not need to ask.

We need to understand (and appreciate) that the hassles involved in money transfers are largely due to policing money laundering by criminal elements. I will put up with any inconvenience if it means making a cartel's operations more difficult. Sometimes my car gets searched at the border when it's "my turn." Agents always apologize for the delay and I always say no need to be sorry. Figure I'm doing my small part in helping fight crime. Banks are under constant scrutiny both internally and externally for money laundering. I believe some indiscretion with Trump company transactions was recently discovered during one of the bank's routine anti-laundering audits. And a Toronto Dominion bank manager in US recently went to jail for facilitating money laundering. It's the shitty world we live in.

I typically settle up with credit card. No problem ... usually. My FIRST safari my card wouldn't work. Holy crap! I was terribly flustered but safari operator said don't worry about it. "Figure it out when you get home and we can deal with it then." What a guy! Fortunately, I called my bank and the manager happened to be there working late and picked up. He got it sorted out.

Tdruck said:

I am back from Zimbabwe. The take was an elephant, a dagga boy, and 2 enormous crocodiles.
The PH asked me to pay using YOCO app. We could not get the card to run there, or at home, even in smaller amounts that should be under my card limit. I plan to attempt a wire transfer at the bank.

Thanks,
TD
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Most that I deal with are using a service called InterAfrica here in the US. I just wire the money to the InterAfrica US bank and they take care of the rest. I've even received money back for items requested by guys overseas. It works well but I do not know the particulars.

I have used various methods in the last few years. The easiest by far was when the outfitters I hunted with had set up bank accounts in the USA.

Second easiest method was using Wise (website or app) to send funds to South Africa. The fees weren't very high, but I couldn't transfer more than $3,000 per transaction. So the fees added up. Additionally, the intermediary bank (Wells Fargo if I remember correctly) took $15 each time. If you need to do more than one transfer, then a wire transfer is probably best and cheapest (although more time consuming).

Third method was a wire transfer (Zimbabwe). Staff at my bank were not familiar with the process, so it took a long time to complete the transaction. I suggest you keep a copy of the sending instructions as a template to use in the future should you deal with inexperienced bank staff again. The cost of the wire transfer was approximately $30 but would have been higher if the amount had been over $50,000 (it wasn't).

Fourth method, which was also easy, was when the outfitter had an actual bank machine in camp (Eastern Cape). I used my MasterCard and paid the full invoice before I left. If you use this method you still need to bring some cash for tips.

I hope this helps.

rsmurray said:

The scanners at many airports will pick up $100 bills like neon. All the PH’s I know say “roll them tight and put’em inna sock”

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Our new plastic "paper" currency actually has a very detectable odor, presumably so airport dogs can sniff out drug launderers. The scent is ... maple syrup. Yep. No joke. You sniff the $20 bills and tell me what you're smelling. Cute, eh?

Tdruck said:

I am back from Zimbabwe. The take was an elephant, a dagga boy, and 2 enormous crocodiles.
The PH asked me to pay using YOCO app. We could not get the card to run there, or at home, even in smaller amounts that should be under my card limit. I plan to attempt a wire transfer at the bank.

Thanks,
TD
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I set up wire transfer from my Etrade brokerage account. This account is for Africa only. Outside of SA which usually sells packages, I always pay all day rates and all fees well before my hunt then settle up with a final wire transfer when I get back for all trophy fees.