Why is Tanzania so expensive to hunt and is it worth it?

The fees - mostly day rates - are very high, but personally I'd be prepared to give Tanzania a try if I believed you were actually getting what you were paying for. But what worries me is the reports I get from outfitters there of rampant elephant and other poaching, encroachment of herders and others into hunting areas, and other problems. The upshot is that if you can't get a truly wild experience, then it's simply not worth it.

Hank2211 said:

The fees - mostly day rates - are very high, but personally I'd be prepared to give Tanzania a try if I believed you were actually getting what you were paying for. But what worries me is the reports I get from outfitters there of rampant elephant and other poaching, encroachment of herders and others into hunting areas, and other problems. The upshot is that if you can't get a truly wild experience, then it's simply not worth it.

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My thoughts exactly.

JG416 said:

I have hunted Tanzania, I really enjoyed the Masai people and the game is generally fantastic; but the fees are insane and it is unbelievably corrupt filthy country. From the moment the plane lands until you leave to go home people are constantly blatantly demanding money or looking for a chance to steal from you. I have been on many safaris and understand that petty bribery is typical in Africa, but it is way beyond that. It is the only place I have hunted that I will never go back and the only place in the world that I never felt safe for one minute the entire time I was there. If you have a first class Tanz outfitter, such as those on here, you will be quickly taken from the airport and put on a private charter into camp and never realize how bad it really is in the cities and towns.

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My experience was completely opposite of yours, I encountered wonderful people and saw wonderful things. I added a day to the front of my safari in case there was a problem with lost luggage (everything arrived with me) so I had a free day to see Arusha. I hunted with Nathan @Bullet Safaris. The only trouble I had was after I had checked in at Kilimanjaro airport while waiting for my flight back home a man asked for a "small gift" to make sure my rifle made it on the plane with me, I simply told him if my rifle didn't make I would know who to look for.

Is it expensive to hunt, yes, is it worth the cost, absolutely !!!

https://www.africahunting.com/threa...safari-with-bullet-safaris-in-tanzania.45657/

BobT said:

My experience was completely opposite of yours, I encountered wonderful people and saw wonderful things. I added a day to the front of my safari in case there was a problem with lost luggage (everything arrived with me) so I had a free day to see Arusha. I hunted with Nathan @Bullet Safaris. The only trouble I had was after I had checked in at Kilimanjaro airport while waiting for my flight back home a man asked for a "small gift" to make sure my rifle made it on the plane with me, I simply told him if my rifle didn't make I would know who to look for.

Is it expensive to hunt, yes, is it worth the cost, absolutely !!!

https://www.africahunting.com/threa...safari-with-bullet-safaris-in-tanzania.45657/

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I would have to concur that if you have the time and money, Tanzania is an incredible safari experience. I made several trips to Tanzania and found the people great, Dar to be a pleasant place for a couple of days before each safari. The traditional tented camps and wild places are fabulous, as is the fishing for tiger fish. I was advised many years ago by my booking agent that lion and elephant hunting was either going to be too expensive in the future, or non-existent if things did not change. So my hunting buddy and I bit the bullet for a 21 day safari in Ruaha, and a couple of subsequent 14 day trips to the Selous. Ruaha to me seemed like what the Africa of old was like. Game everywhere, almost as if they had never seen a hunter before. Prolific lion and leopard, buffalo, sable, roan, and all other plains game. Just magical. Unfortunately, our last trip to the Selous was just before the close of elephant imports by USFW. On that trip, we saw no bull elephant, very little sign, found multiple abandoned poacher camps, and in fact encountered a band of poachers who ended up killing two female elephant and a young bull while we went covert to get back to the vehicle and report to the rangers what had been witnessed. I understand that Tanzania has regained control of the Selous and poaching is way down, but it took quite a beating over the past 5-7 years. Such a wonderful place. I know it will be once again.

Y’all have me wanting to go now but a police lieutenant salary, while comfortable, isn’t Tanzania comfortable. Lol. Maybe I will hit the lottery or have a rich relative I don’t know about yet.

I am seriously thinking of getting a second job just so I can go back for leopard and some of the plains game that wasn't on my license last trip. Instead of buying a new pickup just make the same payment to your safari account and in a couple of years you will have enough to go. The areas I hunted were loaded with game of all kinds. Heck, just borrow the money and go now, you can't borrow time!

BobT said:

I am seriously thinking of getting a second job just so I can go back for leopard and some of the plains game that wasn't on my license last trip. Instead of buying a new pickup just make the same payment to your safari account and in a couple of years you will have enough to go. The areas I hunted were loaded with game of all kinds. Heck, just borrow the money and go now, you can't borrow time!

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That’s how I decided to pay for this one and 2020. I started pulling out a car payment from each pay check. It’s amazing how fast it will add up. I keep thinking leopard and buff and hippo in RSA it plains game license in Tanzania. It really is all about priority I guess. I have coworkers that think I’m nuts.

Glenn Slaven said:

That’s how I decided to pay for this one and 2020. I started pulling out a car payment from each pay check. It’s amazing how fast it will add up. I keep thinking leopard and buff and hippo in RSA it plains game license in Tanzania. It really is all about priority I guess. I have coworkers that think I’m nuts.

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Your coworkers just don´t understand you want to enjoy life your own way.

Hank2211 said:

The fees - mostly day rates - are very high, but personally I'd be prepared to give Tanzania a try if I believed you were actually getting what you were paying for. But what worries me is the reports I get from outfitters there of rampant elephant and other poaching, encroachment of herders and others into hunting areas, and other problems. The upshot is that if you can't get a truly wild experience, then it's simply not worth it.

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I wrote the above a while ago. But the thread got me thinking - what about going to Tanzania? We hear so much about the problems outfitters there are having - maybe we can help each other? I've been trying to decide what to do next, having just competed the nine spiral horns. Maybe a long safari in a tent would be a good idea?

So I sent off a half dozen emails to some well-known Tanzanian outfitters, asking them for some more information and price lists - none seem to show these on their websites. Only one - out of six or so - even bothered to reply - and that was to ask me what I wanted and they would give me a price!

So perhaps a word of advice to Tanzanian outfitters - Gentlemen, you need to try a little harder to sell yourselves and your country. Or maybe just try? Or, contrary to what we've heard, are things so good that it's not necessary?

Hank2211 said:

I wrote the above a while ago. But the thread got me thinking - what about going to Tanzania? We hear so much about the problems outfitters there are having - maybe we can help each other? I've been trying to decide what to do next, having just competed the nine spiral horns. Maybe a long safari in a tent would be a good idea?

So I sent off a half dozen emails to some well-known Tanzanian outfitters, asking them for some more information and price lists - none seem to show these on their websites. Only one - out of six or so - even bothered to reply - and that was to ask me what I wanted and they would give me a price!

So perhaps a word of advice to Tanzanian outfitters - Gentlemen, you need to try a little harder to sell yourselves and your country. Or maybe just try? Or, contrary to what we've heard, are things so good that it's not necessary?

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Interesting you say that. I found the same thing as far as price. It was difficult to find places that listed prices. Honestly if I don’t see rates on a website, I keep looking somewhere else.

Glenn Slaven said:

Interesting you say that. I found the same thing as far as price. It was difficult to find places that listed prices. Honestly if I don’t see rates on a website, I keep looking somewhere else.

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I tend to lean the same way most times but I understand, to a point. If the website doesn't list prices it is easier to keep it current. What I don't care for is someone that is supposed to be a professional failing to respond to an information request in a timely fashion, especially since the hunting season isn't open Tanzania right now so there should be time to respond to a potential client.

There are three sponsors of this site, all of which guide in Tanzania. And I can say that I have had excellent communication from all three.

Aaron Nietfeld said:

There are three sponsors of this site, all of which guide in Tanzania. And I can say that I have had excellent communication from all three.

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I have communicated with 2 of them and likewise had great communication from both of them.

I hunted Tanzania last year with Nathan at Bullet Safaris. It was a great trip, after my luggage finally arrived. My daughter and
I spent two days in Arusha just doing the tourist thing and never felt unsafe. Nathan runs a great camp. I added a second buff on my 10 day license for a $5,000 fee. I thought this was a great deal especially after I got buff #1 the first day. We saw lots of game including lion, hippo, buff. Both buff I took were over 40 inches. The area I was at was not much different than Zambia, or northern Moz. I definitely recommend the two buff deal. WE flew in and drove out. Tanzania was on my bucket list and I'm glad I went.

Hank2211 said:

I wrote the above a while ago. But the thread got me thinking - what about going to Tanzania? We hear so much about the problems outfitters there are having - maybe we can help each other? I've been trying to decide what to do next, having just competed the nine spiral horns. Maybe a long safari in a tent would be a good idea?

So I sent off a half dozen emails to some well-known Tanzanian outfitters, asking them for some more information and price lists - none seem to show these on their websites. Only one - out of six or so - even bothered to reply - and that was to ask me what I wanted and they would give me a price!

So perhaps a word of advice to Tanzanian outfitters - Gentlemen, you need to try a little harder to sell yourselves and your country. Or maybe just try? Or, contrary to what we've heard, are things so good that it's not necessary?

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I don't think many put prices on their sites. Also, keep in mind, these guys are likely busy getting ready for hunting and don't live on their computers as many other seem to do. I personally don't want to hunt with a guy that is on the internet all the time.

I have always puts my faith in a reputable booking agent. They have the contacts, know the PH's the GMA's.

Tanzania can be hunted fairly inexpensive. I hunted 21 days with Wayne Grant last year, the 21 day license on 16 day hunt was under 30K all in less TF's. I had great hunt. Poaching was a problem, we even caught 3 of em. Lots of snares, lights at night.

Brent in Az said:

From what I know....

Expensive Licenses and government fees
Air Charters to many areas are expensive
Many hunting areas are remote, and the time and cost of hauling in camps, fuel, supplies, etc, is costly. Hence higher day rates.

Despite all that, Tanzania is an icon of Safari hunting. #1 item on my bucket list. Don't know if I will ever make it there though. Sigh.....

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I think the same as "Brent in Az".

I've hunted there twice...many years ago.
2004 7 x day buff and PG hunt.
2005 21 x day hunt...safari fee on 21 day was $36k..1st buff at $850 2nd buff at $1000 and 3rd buff at $1200..lion and leopard cost $2750 each...Ellie at $4k
MASSIVE availability on 21day list...Ellie's down to dik dik!; Air charters were over and above the Safari fee...
Compare today's prices and TZ is now WAY OUT on pricing and why I don't go back.
It has to be the best hunting area, along with the Luangwa Valley areas in Zambia.
For those flush hunterso there it will be a dream!!!

Bruce said:

I've hunted there twice...many years ago.
2004 7 x day buff and PG hunt.
2005 21 x day hunt...safari fee on 21 day was $36k..1st buff at $850 2nd buff at $1000 and 3rd buff at $1200..lion and leopard cost $2750 each...Ellie at $4k
MASSIVE availability on 21day list...Ellie's down to dik dik!; Air charters were over and above the Safari fee...
Compare today's prices and TZ is now WAY OUT on pricing and why I don't go back.
It has to be the best hunting area, along with the Luangwa Valley areas in Zambia.
For those flush hunterso there it will be a dream!!!

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I was thinking the very same thing when I was posting. The Luangwa Valley is as wild, raw and pure as are comparable GMA's in Tanzania. Zambia offers quite a few "Zambia Only" species that tend to be localized, The Lechwes, Puku, Cookson wildebeest and good availability of Sitatunga in quite a few GMA's. Zambia's pricing structure doesn't seem to "extort" extra fee's simply because of a unique species.

Tanzania has its share of unique and endemic species as well. But those tend to be where the prices are extraordinarily high, like Masaailand

I've done three trips to Tanzania and have had decent hunting but the poaching pressure I've seen is like nothing I've ever seen in Zambia...anywhere in Zambia.

Massailand is on my bucket list of places to return in Tanzania. It is a $50K trip for plains game, albeit species like lesser kudu and generuk. I will gladly return to Rungwa some day, but that was a one time 21 day hunt for my lion and elephant. The Selous, where I hunted three times, needs time to recover from poaching, but is on the mend. Zambia Luangwa is a special place and the leopard, buff and lion are outstanding. I took a great leopard and buff there and hope to return. All in all, you can’t find more wild and beautiful places.

If someone posts a request for a hunt in South Africa, Namibia or Zimbabwe (at least), there's usually a response within the hour. PM's are sent and offers of hunts abound.

Here we have a thread dealing with Tanzania, and only Tanzania. I said in an earlier post that I was contemplating a hunt in Tanzania, but was getting no responses to my emails sent through various operator's websites. A number of others suggested that in their experience, Tanzanian outfitters, or those with which they had dealt, were quite responsive. Others suggested that those outfitters who were sponsors of this site were also responsive.

Well, since the initial silence, I've had . . . wait for it . . . even more silence. Not one outfitter has seen fit to respond, and it's now been well over a month since I sent off the requests.

Gentlemen, if this is how you run your businesses, you are either doing very well indeed (so stop complaining), or if you aren't doing that well, you should perhaps look in a mirror to find the reason why. If you're out in the field hunting, you should perhaps consider having someone answer your emails so you don't lose potential business, or even have an automatic response to emails "I'm off hunting . . . will get back to you soon." But ignoring potential business? I wish I had that luxury.

Maybe it's the fact that this thread focuses on the cost of Tanzanian safaris, and perhaps this puts off Tanzanian outfitters. On the other hand, even a cursory look at the places I've hunted would tell you that I don't shy away from more expensive places. Well, so be it. The moment has passed. I'm looking elsewhere now.