I did not pick up the first time around that you were talking Tanzania costs. Still, the driver, assistant tracker, and game scout are pushing the total a lot higher than say a comparable 10-day hunt in Mozambique. I returned from there in October and I gave my PH $1400 and another $800 which was divided from tracker to house keeping. These folks are friends, and I followed their guidance with respect to staff. I know that they considered the PH tip generous. Of course they get a lot of Europeans as clients ……….
But the fact remains that if you use an import service, you are in an out of SAPS in 10 minutes or less. Without it, you will spend considerably more time on average dealing with a 3rd world, foreign bureaucracy on your own. Additionally, a good rifle import assist service provides you with many more services than just the importation process including paperwork preparation and a VIP meet & greet service right from the airplane door. For many folks, it's worth the money for both the convenience and the peace of mind. I provide the information and let my clients make their own decisions. I personally would never import my own guns without them...
