Cost for a 28 day full bag hunt in Tanzania

Wheels said:

Another friend was quoted three buff and a leopard all in for under 40k at DSC.

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I'd take that deal.....

375 Ruger Fan said:

Forgot to mention, if you wanted to economize and do a 2x1, it's only $76k.

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Both out of my league, I guess a full bag and a month long Safari comes at a cost.
I don’t understand the big drop in 2 on 1. Most advertised prices I see there is only a small drop in day rates for hunting 2 on 1. There cost has no substantial increase for a second hunter and more so a profitable proposition taking 2 on 1 there must be some profit in trophy fees too.

What I see is you might’ve save $50 a day for taking a mate. Saving 50k on the same hunt is amazing but it shows there must be an abundance of game if they can double that quota for that hunt in the same timeframe.

Less infrastructure fair enough but a tented camp and drum fuel cmon these are supposed to be professionals. I work remote in Australia it comes at a cost but they are not building homes and lodges out in the scrub either.

I think if you look at percentages the 50k drop is right in line, think a 350 a day to 200 or 250. Comparing South Africa or Namibia to Tanzania is Apples to Filet Mignon. By that I mean the costs to produce both are vastly different.

Not bashing RSA or Namibia, as they are life changing experiences and I cant wait to go back. But with Tanzania, at least in theory, you are essentially time traveling to a time forgotten.

Question for the guys who have hunted Tanzania, how rough actually is the transportation from Regional Airport to "most" prominent concessions without charter flights? The transport part is what really turned me off but perhaps there are some areas that are not too long?

Wilderness hunting is what I prefer. It is much harder to organize and conduct - even in the USA. I would rather go to TZ once than SA three times but that's just me but I will probably go to SA or NB someday. Right now, I am saving for Zambia 2022 instead of doing annual trips. I cast no judgement on anyone else and I would like the same courtesy. I have been working since the 8th grade (13 years old) and came from a middle class family with no inheritance to me. My parents are still alive and I have told them to spend down everything they have to enjoy their retirement. I expect to get very little from them. They taught me how to work hard and get ahead. My first job was for $1.50 per hour. All this talk about a "living wage" makes me upset. Entry level jobs are not supposed to be for a "living wage" because that's your INCENTIVE to work hard and be noticed and promoted. Socialism and communism suck! Lol.

I have literally guided paycheck to paycheck guys to billionaires on hunts in Colorado, Alaska and Mexico and I am not the jealous type. I am happy for everyone. There is always someone with more money. So what? There is always someone who can afford more or bigger trips than me. So what? Do what you can and be happy. Sorry for the rant!

sestoppelman said:

My 7 day buffalo and pg hunt in Tan in 1985, 2x1, with my wife along, R/T airfare included for both, all inclusive, (no air charter) was about $5500. So help me.

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You know what they say about memory right, especially as we get older. I went back and looked up this hunt I refer to above. It aint quite as cheap as I was rememberin'. The cost for my wife was $2850, flights and day fees. And trophy fees were not included, however they were exceedingly cheap. I paid about $1250 for 7 animals including buffalo at $260US!

The cost of the basic hunt was $4250 for just me including R/T air.

So all told I was into that first hunt for just over $9000 which is more than I remembered but still a bargain for most anywhere but certainly a bargain for a Tanzania buffalo hunt. Just wanted to extend and clarify my remarks, before someone ran a BS flag up a pole. LOL.

BnC 04 said:

Question for the guys who have hunted Tanzania, how rough actually is the transportation from Regional Airport to "most" prominent concessions without charter flights? The transport part is what really turned me off but perhaps there are some areas that are not too long?

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If you hunt Maasailand, the drive can easily be done in one day from Arusha.

BnC 04 said:

Question for the guys who have hunted Tanzania, how rough actually is the transportation from Regional Airport to "most" prominent concessions without charter flights? The transport part is what really turned me off but perhaps there are some areas that are not too long?

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We drove from Arusha to the hunting area, IIRC it was about a half day, maybe less, long time ago. I do remember it was a pretty rough ride at times, but I was in my 30's then and able to handle it. Glad I got TZ done all those years ago. It was a fantastic place to hunt, the classic tent camp, hunting in the same places that Ruark did, and Hatari was filmed. Never forget it.
My Grants gazelle.

The driver who picked me up at the airport would hate me cause I'd be needing to stop every couple hours to walk a bit.

spike.t said:

You are talking the difference between operating on a game Ranch in countries with pretty good infrastructure... compared to very large wild government concessions in countries where the infrastructure is not as good ...Another distances are great...this includes getting fuel and supplies etc in......So don't go trying to compare ....and as for the model of conservation.... As I said you are comparing two totally different types of operations..... Maybe one day when unfortunately the big wild concessions are no more due to population explosion... then I suppose the game ranching scenario you so love as its cheap will possibly become the norm ....if the legislation is in place to allow it....but I hope the big wild concessions are around for as long as possible.... And I also hope there keep on being people who can afford to hunt these places.....

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Could not agree more Mike, and well said. I have nothing against hunting in South Africa or Namibia - have been many times, and will be going back. But you cannot compare hunting there with hunting in "wild" places. I have not hunted Tanzania or Zambia (though I will one day) but all my best hunts have been in some of the "wildest" places available today - Cameroon forest and savannah, Ethiopia mountains, etc. Wild country, no fences, spartan accommodations and meals and more "natural" numbers of game.

I can't say that what count as truly wild places today bear any comparison to those of days gone by, but I can say this: wild places, as we know them, are under enormous pressure and getting smaller and more difficult to find all the time. We need to hunt these areas while we still can, because neither we nor our children, let alone our grandchildren, will see their like again.

Rum Runner said:

Try Bullet Safaris! I hunted ten days in Rungwa, Tanzania, this last August. Truly a fantastic, wild, magical place! Eight animals in eight days, including two dugga boys taken within 30 seconds of each other. It was expensive, and worth every penny.

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Nathan has some of the best prices I have seen and Rungwa is a wonderful place, one day I'll go back for a Leopard if I live long enough. For me the cost was secondary to the experience. I wanted the whole enchilada, as near as I could come to the traditional East African safari. Porters have been replaced by trucks and light aircraft and there are more "roads" but I think I came as close as I could to what it used to be like. Yes, Tanzania is expensive and I am far from wealthy, at a young age I chose to make the Navy a career and I'm sure Red Leg and many others on the forum will tell you that nobody in the military gets rich. I was able to retire at a fairly young age though and pursue another career but I'm strictly a blue collar guy. I live in a very modest house and drive a 12 year old Ford to work everyday. I will never be "rich" financially speaking but I value my family, friends and experiences far more than money.

BnC 04 said:

Question for the guys who have hunted Tanzania, how rough actually is the transportation from Regional Airport to "most" prominent concessions without charter flights? The transport part is what really turned me off but perhaps there are some areas that are not too long?

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The Selous is tough. It doesn't seem like many of the outfitters that I am aware of want to drive you in. Most push to get you to charter. Some may drive you, but this may change since they are turning the north side of the Rufuji into a National Park. All the concessions will now be further away. Expect at least a ten hour drive out of Dar if not longer.

Royal27 said:

You can find some outfitters now that will have you picked up in Mbeya and be driven to the concession. Makes the hunt so much more affordable.

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Feel free to contact Royal on this for more details. This is about a five hour ride into the western Rungwa concessions. A little further into Lukwati and the western Rukwa areas. A little shorter into the old open areas on the NE sides of the lake that McCallum used to hunt. Probably around 10-12 hours to get to the concessions around Katavi.

I hope I am not putting Nathan @Bullet Safaris on the spot but he has mentioned something like 10-12 hours to his Rungwa areas out of Arusha. There would certainly be a cost to this drive but it would be way less than a charter. I would guess that there are flights into Dodoma now that would shave this time down considerably.

Most of the northern circuit is a few hours drive from Arusha if saving money is an objective. Due to the demand for the unique northern circuit pg, many of these safaris tend to be higher with not as many "deals."

ActionBob said:

And yes I just put a deposit down on a Tanzania hunt for next year. Although only 21 days.

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If you do something like Bob mentioned, consider an outfitter that will split your hunt and get you into the northern circuit as well as an area like Rungwa with one day wasted in driving. Nothing says hunting East Africa like taking 30+ animals in a 21 day hunt. Especially the unique northern animals.

BNC, Hopefully someone with more knowledge will chime in and help answer your question better than I have. If I have said something incorrect, please correct me. Most of my knowledge deals with Southern Tanzania.

Some roads are paved in Tanzania, but don't count on roads that get you to hunting concessions to be paved. Embrace any road travel you have. There is no better way to enjoy Tanzania than driving by mountains, then stopping in at a local duka and getting a samosa and orange Fanta, then stopping in a couple hours to relieve yourself to the sounds of the Cape Collard Dove or the Grey Lourie while watching a Secretary Bird catch a snake that the baboons were harassing. Then seeing the trophy of a lifetime fifteen minutes prior to arriving in the concession, only to have your PH say that you will do better! Those experiences don't happen on charters.

sestoppelman said:

We drove from Arusha to the hunting area, IIRC it was about a half day, maybe less, long time ago. I do remember it was a pretty rough ride at times, but I was in my 30's then and able to handle it. Glad I got TZ done all those years ago. It was a fantastic place to hunt, the classic tent camp, hunting in the same places that Ruark did, and Hatari was filmed. Never forget it.
My Grants gazelle.

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Who is the young guy posing with your animal?

CBH Australia said:

Less infrastructure fair enough but a tented camp and drum fuel cmon these are supposed to be professionals. I work remote in Australia it comes at a cost but they are not building homes and lodges out in the scrub either.

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It is much more than a drum of fuel, a tent, and a box full of food....

Full time year round anti-poaching, that is paid for by the outfitter, isn't cheap.... That's something that Aus doesn't have to deal with. I don't know what an Aus outfitter has to pay to the government for each hunter in license fees and TFs, but I'm going to bet it is significantly less than in Tan. A Tanzanian Safari will also have staff of 10-15 people. How many besides the PH in Aus? One? Two max? It all adds up...

I really want to go to Australia one day and hunt buffalo in the Outback. It's on the list, but it's not Tanzania, to me.

When you want the best, you typically pay more. That's Tanzania, even with all its faults.

tarbe said:

Who is the young guy posing with your animal?

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I think it's his grandson?

tarbe said:

Who is the young guy posing with your animal?

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Oh its me allright 1985 is a few years ago and I was only 32. Oh to be young again!

Wheels said:

The Selous is tough. It doesn't seem like many of the outfitters that I am aware of want to drive you in. Most push to get you to charter. Some may drive you, but this may change since they are turning the north side of the Rufuji into a National Park. All the concessions will now be further away. Expect at least a ten hour drive out of Dar if not longer.




Feel free to contact Royal on this for more details. This is about a five hour ride into the western Rungwa concessions. A little further into Lukwati and the western Rukwa areas. A little shorter into the old open areas on the NE sides of the lake that McCallum used to hunt. Probably around 10-12 hours to get to the concessions around Katavi.

I hope I am not putting Nathan @Bullet Safaris on the spot but he has mentioned something like 10-12 hours to his Rungwa areas out of Arusha. There would certainly be a cost to this drive but it would be way less than a charter. I would guess that there are flights into Dodoma now that would shave this time down considerably.

Most of the northern circuit is a few hours drive from Arusha if saving money is an objective. Due to the demand for the unique northern circuit pg, many of these safaris tend to be higher with not as many "deals."




If you do something like Bob mentioned, consider an outfitter that will split your hunt and get you into the northern circuit as well as an area like Rungwa with one day wasted in driving. Nothing says hunting East Africa like taking 30+ animals in a 21 day hunt. Especially the unique northern animals.

BNC, Hopefully someone with more knowledge will chime in and help answer your question better than I have. If I have said something incorrect, please correct me. Most of my knowledge deals with Southern Tanzania.

Some roads are paved in Tanzania, but don't count on roads that get you to hunting concessions to be paved. Embrace any road travel you have. There is no better way to enjoy Tanzania than driving by mountains, then stopping in at a local duka and getting a samosa and orange Fanta, then stopping in a couple hours to relieve yourself to the sounds of the Cape Collard Dove or the Grey Lourie while watching a Secretary Bird catch a snake that the baboons were harassing. Then seeing the trophy of a lifetime fifteen minutes prior to arriving in the concession, only to have your PH say that you will do better! Those experiences don't happen on charters.

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A LOT of good info here! Thanks @Wheels.

@Royal27 I’m sure there is cost involved but dropping 50 to take a mate doesn’t quite equate to me I feel trophy fees are in it.
I hope people get what they pay for and it sounds like it is Proper African hunting I guess. Limited experience and ahh budget here.
I think Buff trophy hunts start after 10k but it’s Australia, I got a good cull hunt deal in South Africa but flights came in about equal. But I recently returned and it was a good experience.
For me Buff territory is over 3000km from home by road and still expensive to Hunt but again I guess it depends on the operator.
Australia is worth visiting but where to start?
But hey, dropping 50k to make it 2-1 brings it into reach of more people I’m just not sure why it would be so different. Being US$ it’s still equates at 150% for Aussies

The South African conservation model can’t and will never work in Tanzania. All the Game Reserves, Wildlife Management Areas and Open Areas and the wildlife within are owned by the state. So it’s the government that determines the block fees, license fees and trophy fees. In SA it was the private landowners who decided to kick off domestic stock and reintroduce wildlife, and they had the savvy to turn a profit.

The TZ outfitters make the majority of their money from the daily rate alone - this is why you’ll find a difference between the various outfitters daily rates, the better the area and quality of camp the higher you will pay.

I was a PH in Tanzania for 8 years and did anti-poaching during the off season flying Bantum Ultralights. The cost of building camps, maintenance of road networks, year round anti-poaching, distances needed to travel, community development etc etc all is extremely costly. That is simply why the daily rate in TZ is somewhere between $2000 and $3000 per day. Also the TZ hunting season is very limited, where many areas of central and southern Tanzania can only start hunting end of July due to the rains and have to shut down camp end of October before the rains start again.

So it’s very difficult to compare SA to Tanzania as everything is different and the playing fields are not the same. But what I can assure you is that it’s not the Outfitters pulling the piss, the majority are just trying to stay afloat.

And it’s a fallacy to claim that the hunting areas are not wild any longer, the hunting areas are still as remote and wild as ever. Yes the urban population is forever expanding but the National Parks, Wildlife Management Areas and Game Reserve were put in place for a reason. I also hear that the government with the help of the outfitters and hunters dollars have got poaching on the decline.

I certainly will be taking my hunting clients back there who wish to experience the Africa of old!

CBH Australia said:

But hey, dropping 50k to make it 2-1 brings it into reach of more people I’m just not sure why it would be so different. Being US$ it’s still equates at 150% for Aussies

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Also remember this, we are talking one example here. And one that I haven't seen confirmed (Meaning that big of a drop for 2-1, it's usually not much of a delta).

Someone saying they can't afford to hunt Tan because of the initial post in this thread, or the 2-1 discount, is no different than someone saying they can't afford a car because a Lamborghini costs $250k. There are cheaper cars, and hunts.

Again, Tan is still expensive and not for everyone or every budget. That doesn't mean though, that there aren't values to be had.

Finally, as others have said, if the wild areas of Africa interest you then you simply can't compare Tan price to SA or Nam. It's apples to oranges. You've got to compare to wild areas in Zim/Zam/Moz/Cam/ etc.... You'll find the prices much closer to Tan.