Just won a 10 day trip Need Advice

[DieJager]

You should look at the prices list from that outfit. 650-950 for warthog. 4750 for a kudu over 52" and wildebeest is $1650.

There are great discrepancies in the price list it seems. Some are not too bad but some are above what seems normal. Choose wisely.

Edit:

If you hunting full ten days with those prices, you probably have payed for multiple safaris. Only the common Duiker, Springbok, warthog and Steenbok are somewhat reasonable but still prices higher than usual. The rest is expensive to say the least.

Ask if you also can cull.

 

[IvW]

You should look at the prices list from that outfit. 650-950 for warthog. 4750 for a kudu over 52" and wildebeest is $1650.

4750 for a kudu??? F...me I can kill buff for that.....

 

[dlmac]

You may need to talk to your tax guy also. The IRS might look at the listed value of the hunt. Might be an ugly surprise????

 

[Berettaco]

Agree with all of the above.

I suggest a phone conversation with the PH . If you have the budget and want to add 10-12 animals they may work with you on pricing. The price lists of animals on donation hunts are much more expensive per animal as they are trying to make up for the daily fees ($100-$150 per person) plus the $400 impala and $500 wildebeest (rough estimates). Just a ballpark - they are in for $2,500 before you get there and they need to make that up.
Do some research on some outfitter sites and get an idea of average pricing. Pricing varies greatly in RSA depending on size and health of landowners herds.

 

[Hunt anything]

On the kudu question, Limpopo has always been high, the Eastern Cape is most often the lowest. My problem with the Limpopo they tend to have a tiered system for kudu, up to 50”,between 50 and 55” more and so on up to 60+” get real pricey.
In Limpopo I would add bushbuck, nyala and maybe a bush duiker at a minimum.
I’ve talked to several outfitters on donated hunts and they have always said per current price list on the web site. Never have I seen a special list.
Also on 2 of my hunts the outfitters have offered me some really good deals on animals I had no intention on shooting but they were too good to pass up.

 

[jb1069]

I appreciate all the advice and it appears I have even more homework to do than I thought. Are you guys saying the prices on the Hercules website seem rather expensive compared to what you have paid at other camps? I definitely believe you get what you pay for and I am not sold on this place just because I won the trip but I would think I would be a step ahead starting off with the first 2 animals for free. What would you consider this trip to be worth if I was paying for it? This is what is listed

10x Days

All inclusive:

*Worldclass Accommodation *4x4 hunting vehicle

*All food, drink, Alcoholic and beverages *field Preparation of Trophies

*Cleaning Staff & Daily laundry *Trophy fees included

*Professional Hunting Guide *Trackers and Skinners

1x Blue wildebeest

1x Impala

1x Hunter

Please Note:

Taxidermy, Airfare, side trips & tours, Additional Accommodation outside main camp and Tips are not included in this package. Terms and conditions apply.

 

[DieJager]

In Namibia I paid for two steenbok, a Oryx, a hartebeest, common Duiker, Warthog, Impala, springbok and a jackal 3000 euro in trophy fees.

The Oryx alone on the pricelist is almost that. So yes they are high. But maybe with a few low trophy fees animals and some cull animals you can still have a blast for a reasonably price.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

You should look at the prices list from that outfit. 650-950 for warthog. 4750 for a kudu over 52" and wildebeest is $1650.

HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!

The place I like kudu are 1200 and warthogs 350. I don't remember on wildebeest. Maybe a grand?

I paid less for my 5 package deal than that kudu price, and my package had a kudu and wildebeest.

 

[JimP]

Here is who I went with 3 years ago. I purchased their 10 days 12 animals package

South Africa Packages – Frontier Safaris

Hunt with the Superior Choice

frontiersafaris.com

Just for comparison

 

[YancyW]

4750 for a kudu??? F...me I can kill buff for that.....

Only if they are 53" or more......

 

[Daisy]

Congrats my man. You’re gonna have a blast.

I did my first trip exactly like you on a “won” trip, with a different outfitter.

They know very few people will go on a 10 day trip and only take 2 animals. My trip started with 3 and I took 9 on a 5 day trip.

That is why his prices are so high. You could easily end up spending way more than had you just bought a safari up front.

I would pick 3-5 animals you would like to take extra, and tell him what you’ll pay up front. The place I went the price list was about half the price of yours, and he gave me 20% off the list price.

I will say if you go and just harvest two animals in 0 days the trip won’t be that fun for you.

Another option is take cash and negotiate with ph when you see an animal you would like to take.

Good luck!

 

[IvW]

Only if they are 53" or more......

And your point is?

 

[Hunt anything]

In my opinion you can’t compare eastern cape kudu to the kudu in the Limpopo. Two different categories in the record book (which I don’t give two shakes about) . If you kill a 55”+ EC kudu you have what may be a trophy of a lifetime, a 55+” southern greater kudu you have a good trophy be it from Namibia, the Limpopo or Northwest province.
Almost like comparing my southern coastal whitetail to a Iowa or Kansas mid western whitetail.
Hey @IvW , is that $4750 for a buffalo in South Africa? I’ve seen them for that in Mozambique and Zimbabwe but most in South Africa seem to be $9000+ for a bull.

 

[Mekaniks]

I appreciate all the advice and it appears I have even more homework to do than I thought. Are you guys saying the prices on the Hercules website seem rather expensive compared to what you have paid at other camps? I definitely believe you get what you pay for and I am not sold on this place just because I won the trip but I would think I would be a step ahead starting off with the first 2 animals for free. What would you consider this trip to be worth if I was paying for it? This is what is listed

10x Days

All inclusive:

*Worldclass Accommodation *4x4 hunting vehicle

*All food, drink, Alcoholic and beverages *field Preparation of Trophies

*Cleaning Staff & Daily laundry *Trophy fees included

*Professional Hunting Guide *Trackers and Skinners

1x Blue wildebeest

1x Impala

1x Hunter

Please Note:

Taxidermy, Airfare, side trips & tours, Additional Accommodation outside main camp and Tips are not included in this package. Terms and conditions apply.

I took a quick look at their website....Their daily rates and inclusive items are inline with going rates...

Some of their trophy fees seem kinda steep. In my experience, these trophy prices are usually assisted with outfitters that are donating hunts and trying to make up costs....
As an example the price of kudu goes up as they get bigger because people want big kudu, not because it really costs more to raise big kudu....

There are lots of sponsor outfitters here on AH. Use the "resources " and "info' tabs at the top and do a cost comparison in similar location between your outfitter's listed prices and other outfitters prices.... You will figure out pretty fast what is "normal"......

 

[ActionBob]

Here is who I went with 3 years ago. I purchased their 10 days 12 animals package

South Africa Packages – Frontier Safaris

Hunt with the Superior Choice

frontiersafaris.com

Just for comparison

Excellent example however I visited with them at SCI in 2024 and their prices were on the higher side but not ut of line". So again. An excellent example of what you should be able to find easily. With a bit more looking you can likely do better.

 

[ActionBob]

Hey @IvW , is that $4750 for a buffalo in South Africa? I’ve seen them for that in Mozambique and Zimbabwe but most in South Africa seem to be $9000+ for a bull.

In Mozambique or Zimbabwe or Tanzania for that matter... you will easily find buffalo trophy fees for that amount. The day fees, government fees. Etc. Will be on top of that.

In South Africa that $9000+ likely includes 5 to 7 days and no other extra costs other than tips. Not that I'm promoting hunting buffalo in South Africa... just trying to be accurate.

 

[ActionBob]

I appreciate all the advice and it appears I have even more homework to do than I thought. Are you guys saying the prices on the Hercules website seem rather expensive compared to what you have paid at other camps? I definitely believe you get what you pay for and I am not sold on this place just because I won the trip but I would think I would be a step ahead starting off with the first 2 animals for free. What would you consider this trip to be worth if I was paying for it? This is what is listed

10x Days

All inclusive:

*Worldclass Accommodation *4x4 hunting vehicle

*All food, drink, Alcoholic and beverages *field Preparation of Trophies

*Cleaning Staff & Daily laundry *Trophy fees included

*Professional Hunting Guide *Trackers and Skinners

1x Blue wildebeest

1x Impala

1x Hunter

Please Note:

Taxidermy, Airfare, side trips & tours, Additional Accommodation outside main camp and Tips are not included in this package. Terms and conditions apply.

You possibly get what you pay for but only if you do your due diligence. It is very easy to get taken advantage of.

Go to the Deals section and look at Offers from Sponsors.

Deals & offers

Hunts offered or wanted.

www.africahunting.com

 

[Hunt anything]

In Mozambique or Zimbabwe or Tanzania for that matter... you will easily find buffalo trophy fees for that amount. The day fees, government fees. Etc. Will be on top of that.

In South Africa that $9000+ likely includes 5 to 7 days and no other extra costs other than tips. Not that I'm promoting hunting buffalo in South Africa... just trying to be accurate.

That’s what I figured. I think my buffalo in Mozambique was around 4000, I see the pkgs for $9000 and days plus buffalo but if you go and decide to add a bull it’s way up there in South Africa according to the websites I’ve looked at.

 

[DonPablo]

My opinion is skip the travel agent. Find your flight using Google flights. Go ahead and buy travel insurance but buy it directly from the company, not as an add on to your flight (it will cover more that way). If you buy the insurance within a day or two, you ought to be able to also insure any $ you spent on the hunt (if it was an auction). If you change your mind about taking a gun, then pay someone to facilitate that. To be honest, I've only been once. But I've bought plane tickets twice. The first time we didn't get to fly out due to a mistake on the part of the travel agent. And then instead of making things right, they (the travel agency) left us high and dry. Know you'll likely talk yourself into spending more than you planned after you get there. Good luck and post a review when you get back.

 

[YancyW]

And your point is?

Making a joke