Timing of Payment for Safari

[sureshot375]

I’m trying to gage what’s customary these days.

I’m just going to make up numbers here. Let’s say I’m going on a dangerous game hunt. Total hunt cost with daily rate and trophy fee is 25k. I put down a 10k deposit. When would the remainder be payable? Once the animal is harvested? Upon arrival in camp? 30 days before the hunt?

I’m sure different outfitters do it different ways. I’m just curious to see if there is a general consensus.

 

[MMAL]

Really depends on the outfitter but in four safaris I started with the deposit and always paid tips and the “rest” of the cash I had on hand (saved some travel money). With the remainder wired to the outfitter after I returned to the USA. You will find that outfitters are tremendously generous. Just ask them how they want to handle. I would NOT pay a trophy up front unless it was a package deal and you knew what you were getting back.

 

[Tanks]

Usually the outfitters want the balance of daily fees paid prior to the commencement of the hunt. Trophy fees are paid later. In my upcoming hunt I am paying half of trophy fees and incidentals before the hunt and the rest after. I paid all of the daily fees last year as scheduled even though the hunt was postponed, I wanted to make sure they'd have funds to survive.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Mine was a package deal - 5 species for 3900ish x 2. ( I don't remember the exact amount/my daughter was going to go) I paid a deposit of 1500. Then, when things got delayed it wound up being just me, and an offer was made for a cow buff hunt.

In the end I harvested 10 animals, to include the buff. I paid the balance via credit card on the last night I was there. It was easy-peasy. Tips were paid in cash at the same time. Not sure how close this is to the norm, if such a thing exists, but it worked for me.

 

[chonk34]

I bought a package deal. I paid a deposit up front and settled up the remainder using a credit card on the final night of the trip. My dad's arrangement was the same. I imagine it largely depends on the outfitter's preferences and cash flow situation.

 

[meigsbucks]

For both of my hunts it was 50% of daily fee at booking and the other 50% at something like 90 days in advance. For trophy fees, on my first hunt, I booked thru an agent and he had me deposit money in an account prior to departure. He handled the payment and refunded the balance. For my second, when I got home, I had emailed bills for my trophy fees and wired the money to them.
Note: I have talked with outfitters that wanted trophy fees paid before you left, either by credit card or wired.

 

[mark-hunter]

In my case, payment streched througout a year, or a bit more.
1st payment, deposit, when boking the hunt.
2nd payment, plane tickets
3rd payment, after safari done, all remaining costs paid, minus previously paid deposit. So far, six months time frame.
4th payment, shipping of trophies, so far 9 months passed since signing the contract, and making first deposit.
5th payment, taxidermy costs, 12 to 15 months since signing the contract.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I agree with the sentiment Tanks expressed, outfitters are so hard pressed they are trying desperately to survive and give you a great experience. For that they need resources. So how about the 50% deposit upon booking and the remainder to arrive about two weeks before you do, so there is the wherewithall to lay in provisions, service vehicles etc?

 

[Hogpatrol]

I agree with the sentiment Tanks expressed, outfitters are so hard pressed they are trying desperately to survive and give you a great experience. For that they need resources. So how about the 50% deposit upon booking and the remainder to arrive about two weeks before you do, so there is the wherewithall to lay in provisions, service vehicles etc?

Kevin, in the states, we call that a shoestring operation and is a red flag for business dealings. For a U.S. citizen contracting with an overseas vendor, doing this is economic suicide. YMMV.

 

[Happy Myles]

Fortunately, i have hunted all over Africa for fifty years, sometimes two or three safaris a year. I have never had any payment problems. Luck may be involved but I think the main reasons are I do a lot of careful outfitter research. Word gets around if an outfitter is a flake so do some sleuthing. I visit both Safari Club International and Dallas Safari Club. I speak directly with references and check with competitors. Communications in todays world are vastly improved, take advantage of them. Most first class operators now have banking relationships here in the States for you to deal with. I wire the deposit when required and pay the balance when the outfitter wants it just before leaving or at his dead line. I pay most of my trophy fees in advance just so I do not have the hassle when in Africa. I also nail down what is expected for staff tips and how they are to be paid before I go. Tips for PHs are an inexact science but I take a money belt full of crisp new unfolded consecutively numbered 100 dollar bills for that and other unexpected needs. I keep 5s, 10s, and 20s in one wallet and credit cards in a separate wallet.
Stay in touch with the hunting firm you decide to use and be sensitive to anything that seems odd. This is a good place to bounce ideas off of if something bothers you. When I first began traveling to the “ Dark Continent “ I knew no one who had been there. I had a few startling learning experiences but surprisingly good triumphed over evil and all turned into great adventures. Mostly……
Kindest Regards

 

[Areaonereal]

I am always hesitant to commit to any deposit due to current circumstances…my commitment to to paying anything in advance is limited to the drive up window at McDonalds. Any deposit is a good will to secure and not a paid in full prior to arrival.

 

[VertigoBE]

In my case, we paid only a 1000€ deposit and then paid up via bank transfer the remaining sum (stay+trophies) on the last days of the hunt when most trophies were taken.

 

[Tanks]

One thing also to add. Most RSA hunts are package deals of X animals in Y days and a lot less money than a hunt in Zimbabwe, Tanzania etc.. Additionally in RSA farm hunts you are guaranteed to fulfil your quota.

While there is a good success rate for DG hunts, it is not a given, so it does not make sense to pay all the trophy fees up front. People have been burned by an outfitter not refunding trophy fees. Even when one does due diligence.

On one hunt, at the end, the outfitter owed me $16K in trophy fees of animals not shot. He refunded $5K later on as he got money. Before he could send the rest he got a brain tumor, racked up a ton of medical bills and passed away. I never got the rest of the money or any of the trophies that I shot from his heirs. He was well recommended and a friend had hunted with him in the past.

So, caveat emptor.

 

[mark-hunter]

@Tanks
In which country did this hunt take place?

 

[Tanks]

@Tanks
In which country did this hunt take place?

Zimbabwe

 

[mark-hunter]

Thanks.