Newbie Glad to be here

[Dutchlund]

Just returned from my first safari…a “free” safari purchased at a charity auction that turned out to be anything but free. Other than the cost, the experience was life changing, and I can’t wait to go back, but will do more research this time.

 

[Mekaniks]

To AH
Tell us more about your “free” safari. How did it go? What was good? What will you change? Got pics???

 

[Loud8362]

Welcome

 

[Dutchlund]

Here are the seven animals we took. Waterbuck, Nyala, Kudu, Common and Black Impala, Gemsbuck and Blesbuck. While I was initially upset by the trophy fee amounts, when I actually computed the entire cost for our trophies (about seventeen thousand), the total was about the same as other outfitters with lower trophy fees, given that we did not pay any daily fee, and both the common impala and blesbuck were included at no charge. So actually, I should probably retract my initial comment, other than to make sure that other first timers understand that if you go and shoot a bunch of animals, it adds up quickly.

 

[Andrew62]

Welcome! Certainly glad to have you here with the rest of us! Great pictures, anxious to hear more about your experience.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Happy research. AH is an incredible asset.
Welcome.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Welcome to AH! You've learned a bit of a lesson about auction hunts but not too hard a lesson. Those that have preceded you have done much worse. Nice bag of animals you took there.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Welcome to AH Dutchlund!

 

[EXECUTIVE HUNT AFRICA]

Good day! Welcome to AH! Congratulations on your trophies.

 

[mark-hunter]

Just returned from my first safari…a “free” safari purchased at a charity auction that turned out to be anything but free. Other than the cost, the experience was life changing, and I can’t wait to go back, but will do more research this time.

Welcome to the forum!

Frequently there are new members joining this forum and aksing things about donated hunts.
Sharing your experience with them would be great. Yes, there is no free lunch.

But 17k, is realistic for the trophies you collected. (with my last outfitter it means: trophy fees for each animal, and day fees - I run the calcs just now)
It is interesting how they manage to wrap up the price, with "free daily fees", and on the end it comes down to the same cost, with fully transparent offers with others.

Congrats on your hunt, fine trophies you collected!

 

[Dutchlund]

Yes, I’ve now run the calculations against several other outfitters’ trophy fee plus daily fee schedules, and virtually all of them have come out within a thousand dollars or so, some more, some less. Essentially, since both my wife and I were “hunters” our outfitter had to make up about 5k in daily fees plus a little over 1k for the two “free” animals, and that is exactly how it worked out.

 

[CBH Australia]

G’day from Australia