Cost of Full Bag 32-Day Safari in Kenya & Tanzania, 1970

[Garciamarquez1918]

I was going through some old records of my Grandfather's and found this run-down of the all-in costs of his 32 day safari in 1970. He took something like 35 animals, including lion, elephant, black rhino, buffalo, lesser kudu and on and on. What was then Ker, Downey and Selby were the outfitters, so it was as high-end as it got. He spent $8,930 all in, including air fare, taxidermy etc. A quick on-line conversion puts the all-in costs in today's dollars at about $65,000.

 

[RLD]

Very cool find. Appreciate you sharing that.

 

[wesheltonj]

That would be a bargain in today's dollars. Last price I had was 72,900 USD for daily fees for a 21 day. By the time you add in Trophy Fees, Airfare, Taxidermy and Shipping & Clearing, I would bet at least 225K USD.

 

[Russ16]

That's very cool. Thanks for sharing.

I'd like to see that $9 hotel in Dar Es Salaam.

 

[pilar]

Wow nice !
I had a school friend whose father and grandfather would pack the entire family up and go every year for the summer. I was always fascinated by his and his brothers stories
Unfortunately his father was killed in an airplane accident and he has never wanted to return! ,

 

[mark-hunter]

My guess is he hunted DG with a camp gun, ammo listed is only for 30-06 and 270?

Yes, today, full bag safari is high cost.

But we have a starting budget for about 5000 USD for one week safaris on plains game in South Africa and Namibia. And 10k, maybe in total with other costs.
And with modern industry, I think safari hunters are more numerous today than ever before.

Each historical period brings its own ways.

 

[Garciamarquez1918]

He had retina problems and his eye doctor limited him to the 30-06. He shot the dangerous game with it -- hence the solids. You could get away with that back then. But from the notes he kept he was immediately backed up by the PH. So it's not as foolhardy as it looks. According to his notes the elephant dropped with a brain shot. Of course his notes are biased, but he was merciless on himself when he made a bad shot so I'm inclined to believe his account.

 

[deewayne2003]

Thank you for sharing this, I often try to explain to the older people around me how much more they could purchase with their dollars than todays youth and it usually falls on deaf ears and brings asinine comments about avocado toast and other nonsense.

The inflation calculator I used put it at $70,055 all in for 2025.

For a 32 day Safari - daily fees, trophy fees, airfare, hotels, TIPS, taxidermy, shipping of taxidermy, ammo shipped to Kenya, film processing......EVERYTHING!

 

[PARA45]

I'm sure $8,930 in the 70s was a lot of money. The average home in the 1970s was $27K, and the average car was between $2k- $4K. Maybe the buying power of the Dollar at the time was better, also I'm guessing not a lot of US hunters visited Africa in those days.

 

[deewayne2003]

I'm sure $8,930 in the 70s was a lot of money. The average home in the 1970s was $27K, and the average car was between $2k- $4K. Maybe the buying power of the Dollar at the time was better, also I'm guessing not a lot of US hunters visited Africa in those days.

Median annual household income in 1970 was $9,870 = $82,413 in 2025 (actually 2025 is $62,000)

So you could go on that 1970 Safari for basically 90% of the average family income; where as it would likely cost minimum 5X the annual income in 2025.

 

[RedTag]

Drinks cost more than ammo.. those were the days!

 

[skydiver386]

I'd really enjoy a breakdown of what each species cost. Most of the Plains Game fees would probably bring a smile to us now, if not a loud chuckle.