Grady
AH enthusiast
OK….I know there are quite a few posts about “How Much Is My Safari Going To Cost”. I know this because I think I have read most of them….both before I went on my Safari and after. There is a lot of good information contained in the AH, just not all in one easy to find location.
So I decided that I would try and list the things that you may consider, before, during and after the hunt to try and figure out how much you will need for your hunt. This is not an all-inclusive list, but I hope it will be as close as I can get in a listed format.
The decisions you make early on, will drive to cost of your hunt. I think you will see that with a few decisions on the additional stuff, the total cost could snowball and become double or even triple the cost of the hunt with the outfit that you select.
If I miss something, please chime in. Sorry for the long read!
OK, to start, here are some things that I will not list, because I assume as hunter, you will have the basic equipment (Clothing necessary, optics, boots, gun/bow case locks, ect). If you need/want a list of some suggested items, that are a few threads in AH. Also, if you plan on purchasing a new bow or rifle for the hunt, you can figure that cost into the total if you want….but if you are going to share the list with your significant other, I would suggest you may want to hide that cost.
This will be based on hunting in South Africa.
Now for the list:
Before the Hunt:
1. The First to consider is the actual cost of the hunt. You will have to do your homework to decide if it is better to purchase the hunt at auction, in person, on-line or one of the fantastic deals that are regularly posted on AH. This will be a pretty big portion of the overall cost, but maybe not the largest depending on the taxidermy.
2. Planned Taxidermy
3. Any side trips that you will take in country (Vic Falls, Kruger etc...)?
4. Airfare
5. Extra Baggage Fees
6. Extra Accommodations if you will be staying a night in town before heading to camp or when you get back to town.
7. Will you rent a rifle or take your own?
8. Tips at the Airport
9. Extra spending cash
10. And finally, the Wife/Husband Tax that you will have to pay either before they agree to let you go, or when you come home.
Now that you are in country at the hunting camp:
1. Booze, if “drinks” were included, no worries. If not, talk to the outfitter to get an idea of how much this will cost?
2. Extras in camp? Most hunts that I have seen include at least the following, but you should make sure before you assume…pick up and drop off at airport, accommodation, soft drinks and bottled water, trackers and skinners, Fully licensed PH, Field preparation of trophy, Laundry, All meals
3. Contingency funds. Here are some of the things that you didn’t consider.
4. Can you exercise self-control? Did you? Now is time to pay up! Extra Animals mean more taxidermy and possibly more spouse tax when you return home.
5. Tips? There are lots of suggestions listed on AH. Do your research and plan accordingly.
6. Finally, goodies to take home?
Now that you have arrived home after the hunt, what else can you expect?
1. Shipping cost for your trophies?
2. Customs at the port of entry?
3. Now for the final installment of the spouse tax as you find somewhere to hang your trophies.
Again, sorry for the long read. I am sure I missed something, but hopefully I got the big items. If I did miss something, please let me know.
So I decided that I would try and list the things that you may consider, before, during and after the hunt to try and figure out how much you will need for your hunt. This is not an all-inclusive list, but I hope it will be as close as I can get in a listed format.
The decisions you make early on, will drive to cost of your hunt. I think you will see that with a few decisions on the additional stuff, the total cost could snowball and become double or even triple the cost of the hunt with the outfit that you select.
If I miss something, please chime in. Sorry for the long read!
OK, to start, here are some things that I will not list, because I assume as hunter, you will have the basic equipment (Clothing necessary, optics, boots, gun/bow case locks, ect). If you need/want a list of some suggested items, that are a few threads in AH. Also, if you plan on purchasing a new bow or rifle for the hunt, you can figure that cost into the total if you want….but if you are going to share the list with your significant other, I would suggest you may want to hide that cost.
This will be based on hunting in South Africa.
Now for the list:
Before the Hunt:
1. The First to consider is the actual cost of the hunt. You will have to do your homework to decide if it is better to purchase the hunt at auction, in person, on-line or one of the fantastic deals that are regularly posted on AH. This will be a pretty big portion of the overall cost, but maybe not the largest depending on the taxidermy.
a. With the decision comes the cost of the “extra animals”. That can normally be found on your outfitter/PH page. You should consider the “gotta have animals” and the “If it’s a trophy animal” and finally “I have no self-control animals.” The last two can get very expensive! Keep this in mind for the taxidermy fee later.
b. Extra Days?
c. Extra Hunter?
d. Observer?
b. Extra Days?
c. Extra Hunter?
d. Observer?
2. Planned Taxidermy
a. In Country? Will you have to pay extra to have the taxidermist pick up your trophies?
b. Back in your home country?
c. What type of mounts? (European, shoulder, pedestal, full body, or dip and pack if you are taking them home etc).
d. Make sure to look at the prices for you selected taxidermist an again plan accordingly.
b. Back in your home country?
c. What type of mounts? (European, shoulder, pedestal, full body, or dip and pack if you are taking them home etc).
d. Make sure to look at the prices for you selected taxidermist an again plan accordingly.
3. Any side trips that you will take in country (Vic Falls, Kruger etc...)?
a. Side trips while in camp? (Big Five preserve, Spa day for the wife (or you if you enjoy that stuff)
4. Airfare
a. To and from Africa including the flight necessary in country
b. First Class, Extra Coach, or Cattle Car?
b. First Class, Extra Coach, or Cattle Car?
5. Extra Baggage Fees
6. Extra Accommodations if you will be staying a night in town before heading to camp or when you get back to town.
7. Will you rent a rifle or take your own?
a. If you rent, you will need to account for the ammunition for the hunt. Suggest you budget 3 or 4 round per animal (maybe on the high side, but this should also cover the sighting in process, the not so great shots and the extra animals)
b. For Bow hunter, I plan on 3 arrows/braodheads for each planned animal. Again, this should cover the clear misses and the extra animals. I know you don’t plan to miss, but it happens sometimes.
c. If you will bring your own, do you plan to hire a company to help you thru the security process or clear it yourself.
b. For Bow hunter, I plan on 3 arrows/braodheads for each planned animal. Again, this should cover the clear misses and the extra animals. I know you don’t plan to miss, but it happens sometimes.
c. If you will bring your own, do you plan to hire a company to help you thru the security process or clear it yourself.
8. Tips at the Airport
9. Extra spending cash
10. And finally, the Wife/Husband Tax that you will have to pay either before they agree to let you go, or when you come home.
Now that you are in country at the hunting camp:
1. Booze, if “drinks” were included, no worries. If not, talk to the outfitter to get an idea of how much this will cost?
2. Extras in camp? Most hunts that I have seen include at least the following, but you should make sure before you assume…pick up and drop off at airport, accommodation, soft drinks and bottled water, trackers and skinners, Fully licensed PH, Field preparation of trophy, Laundry, All meals
3. Contingency funds. Here are some of the things that you didn’t consider.
4. Can you exercise self-control? Did you? Now is time to pay up! Extra Animals mean more taxidermy and possibly more spouse tax when you return home.
a. Did you decide to add an extra side trip while you are there?
5. Tips? There are lots of suggestions listed on AH. Do your research and plan accordingly.
6. Finally, goodies to take home?
a. How many bottles of Amarula are you going to try and take home?
b. What other goodie to you plan to purchase at the trinket shops around town, before you get to the airport, and in the airport shops. This may be part of the spouse tax.
b. What other goodie to you plan to purchase at the trinket shops around town, before you get to the airport, and in the airport shops. This may be part of the spouse tax.
Now that you have arrived home after the hunt, what else can you expect?
1. Shipping cost for your trophies?
a. Does this include insurance to your front door?
b. Will you ship via air or surface?
c. What is the cost to ship to your front door or your taxidermist?
d. If you use a taxidermist at home, what is the cost the ship your finished trophies home?
b. Will you ship via air or surface?
c. What is the cost to ship to your front door or your taxidermist?
d. If you use a taxidermist at home, what is the cost the ship your finished trophies home?
2. Customs at the port of entry?
a. Will you clear them yourself or use a brokerage house?
b. Do you have to pay tax on your finished trophies?
b. Do you have to pay tax on your finished trophies?
3. Now for the final installment of the spouse tax as you find somewhere to hang your trophies.
Again, sorry for the long read. I am sure I missed something, but hopefully I got the big items. If I did miss something, please let me know.