What is the Standard payment structure for booking a hunt?

[Tusker]

As said before. My best insurance is to have a clear contract and pay with credit card. This only applies with credit cards from the US.
Credit card fee is 3-4%
Agent fee is 10-15% (or higher)
Is a no brainer.
Plus credit card you can pay online anytime. If you are in camp, why have the outfitter waiting for you to get back home to send a wire transfer? No outfitter/operator is rich, they a mom & pop's companies, not banks.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

My experience has been either a $1000 to 50% of the day rate for deposit with the remainder due 60 days prior to the start of the hunt. Note: international bank wires from the US are limited to $10k, so you may need to make multiple wires, with multiple fees. Not sure if the $10k limit is a government restriction or just the financial institution daily limit.

At the end of the hunt, I square up the final bill and may pay part with cash or another bank wire.

 

[375Fox]

I’m not hunting anywhere that has to have 100% of the money before I get there. That’s just my policy. The two times I went to Africa. A copy of my flight itinerary is/was all that was required. But that was SA and Namibia.

Then you will not be hunting anywhere outside private land in South Africa or Namibia. Full payment of daily rates and a TF deposit before you arrive is standard for concession areas. Areas that are managed on government quotas have something to lose if the hunter doesn’t arrive. It’s not like private land where they can add one more to the quota next year at landowner’s discretion.

 

[rookhawk]

Hi All,
Thank in advance for your advice. I am looking into a hunt in June, for Zimbabwe. The outfitter I am corresponding with is asking for a 25% payment now, and the remaining 75% payment 30 days prior to the hunt. I get nervous wiring the full payment in advance, before I have even landed or met the outfitter. What recourse would I have if they just took my money and never even picked me up at the airport? Is there a more traditional or accepted practice? I am afraid I have only been to Africa once before, so I am not very versed in what is normal. Thanks, Smitty

You’re right to be concerned. 100% payment before arrival, you could get robbed. The alternative fear is people cancel hunts all the time and the PH in Zimbabwe could be stuck with quota he allocated to you and cannot resell in time. There isn’t enough profit in a hunt his next hunt to cover the quota from a prior hunt that no-showed. The risks cut both ways. Normally 50% deposit, 50% upon arrival is the norm in Zimbabwe.

What can assuage your fears is a reference check of the PH/Operator. Many of them, their word is gold and they have storied careers with many satisfied customers that give you certainty. Others? They can be carpet baggers from other countries illicitly hunting in Zim using a local, unemployed PH’s license to “launder” their foreign hunt on Zim soil.

 

[rookhawk]

You didn’t mention the name of the operator, but some names that come up again and again as being sterling reputations: John Sharp, Buzz Charlton, Lin Stanton, Vaughan Whitehead-Wilson, Lou/Clive Hallamore, Peter Barnard, the Duckworths. I know some, but not all of these folks. But these are common professionals used by avid safari hunters in Zim so you’d have confidence the hunt will commence after you’ve paid your funds.

It wasn’t an exhaustive list, just names that rolled off the top of my head.

 

[ActionBob]

I've hunted South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Tanzania. There is always a relatively small deposit to book. Most in South Africa will want some more shortly before arrival and the trophy fees when the hunt is done. That may mean before leaving or upon arrival home. I have a very good group of bankers who work hard to keep my money safe but also do my bidding. Cell phones work well in most of South Africa.

My Zimbabwe hunt was last minute and came to roughly half day fees and half trophy fees (elephant). The day fees were paid in advance and trophy fees wired after arriving home.

Mozambique was also a last minute package deal. I don't remember but some paid up front and the balance upon arrival home.

Tanzania was booked well in advance and the most structured and probably has to be with all day fees up front but over 2 or 3 payments. All trophy fees were wired after arrival home.

I have a solid reputation and try to work with people who do also.

We always try to have cash available for tips in the currency preferred by the staff and always pay it directly to the staff. If we spend too much on curios or what have you or decide to tip heavier than anticipated and run short... we will wire the tip money for the PH so we for sure take care of the staff before leaving. There have been several hunts where the guy booking it (either the Outfitter or a PH allowed to do bookings) was also the PH. And for example lady year Gina's father was along so we had an extra PH... the hired extra PH gets tipped first and the guy in charge gets tipped last because he can understand and control recieving a wired tip the easiest.

We really hate traveling with large amounts of cash. I think it is stupid and not a good way to do business but have heard of outfitters wanting everything settled up at the end of the hunt, in cash, before leaving camp. Might pass on those.

 

[ActionBob]

My experience has been either a $1000 to 50% of the day rate for deposit with the remainder due 60 days prior to the start of the hunt. Note: international bank wires from the US are limited to $10k, so you may need to make multiple wires, with multiple fees. Not sure if the $10k limit is a government restriction or just the financial institution daily limit.

At the end of the hunt, I square up the final bill and may pay part with cash or another bank wire.

I believe over $10,000 just has to be reported to the government regulators. No big deal if everything is kosher.

 

[ActionBob]

As said before. My best insurance is to have a clear contract and pay with credit card. This only applies with credit cards from the US.
Credit card fee is 3-4%
Agent fee is 10-15% (or higher)
Is a no brainer.
Plus credit card you can pay online anytime. If you are in camp, why have the outfitter waiting for you to get back home to send a wire transfer? No outfitter/operator is rich, they a mom & pop's companies, not banks.

I really hate giving the credit companies that cut. There are good ways to make payments without those fees.

Had one Outfitter ask for that. The infamous Loodt who was banned from this site long ago

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

375Fox, Thank you. I guess you are right. I have checked references. All of them speak highly of the Outfitter/PH, it's the booking agent who I have trust issues with. But I will check the hunter's association and be as careful as possible.

ask the references u spoke to when they hunted??, hopefully recently, and how they paid

 

[Hunting Hitman]

Hi All,
Thank in advance for your advice. I am looking into a hunt in June, for Zimbabwe. The outfitter I am corresponding with is asking for a 25% payment now, and the remaining 75% payment 30 days prior to the hunt. I get nervous wiring the full payment in advance, before I have even landed or met the outfitter. What recourse would I have if they just took my money and never even picked me up at the airport? Is there a more traditional or accepted practice? I am afraid I have only been to Africa once before, so I am not very versed in what is normal. Thanks, Smitty

This is standard. Make sure you have a reputable outfit and enjoy the Safari.

HH

 

[Smitty]

You’re right to be concerned. 100% payment before arrival, you could get robbed. The alternative fear is people cancel hunts all the time and the PH in Zimbabwe could be stuck with quota he allocated to you and cannot resell in time. There isn’t enough profit in a hunt his next hunt to cover the quota from a prior hunt that no-showed. The risks cut both ways. Normally 50% deposit, 50% upon arrival is the norm in Zimbabwe.

What can assuage your fears is a reference check of the PH/Operator. Many of them, their word is gold and they have storied careers with many satisfied customers that give you certainty. Others? They can be carpet baggers from other countries illicitly hunting in Zim using a local, unemployed PH’s license to “launder” their foreign hunt on Zim

You didn’t mention the name of the operator, but some names that come up again and again as being sterling reputations: John Sharp, Buzz Charlton, Lin Stanton, Vaughan Whitehead-Wilson, Lou/Clive Hallamore, Peter Barnard, the Duckworths. I know some, but not all of these folks. But these are common professionals used by avid safari hunters in Zim so you’d have confidence the hunt will commence after you’ve paid your funds.

It wasn’t an exhaustive list, just names that rolled off the top of my head.

Thank you for the suggestions. It is nice to have some names of other operators. I didn't mention the name of the outfit because I don't want to cast any aspersions towards them if what they are doing is standard practice and not a rip-off. I have checked at least 6 references (including ones not listed by the Outfitter that I found on this website), and heard back from several. The all speak very positive about the PH/Co-founder in Zimbabwe. 1 person had issues with the other Co-founder who lives in the states and handles the money end.

 

[Tusker]

Out of my experience the person in the office typically gets all the worse part.

As a guide (I was a full-time guide for over a decade) I needed only to show up at the airport, hunt and drive back to the airport. As long as I did that is was all good.

On the other hand, I remember when I worked for the same company/outfitter for a couple of years in the office that was hell... I actually quit my job. Every year you had these clients assuring they had advised the guide about not paying for extra points (when it was clear in the contract), trying to bribe the guides or government rangers and doing all kind of sketchy things.

If I could afford to not make make I would continue guiding forever, but never ever ever I would work as an outfitter office employee again.

 

[Bandera]

I can see paying a deposit upfront. Locks your spot in, shows the outfitter you have every intention of hunting. Paying the full amount before the trip, well that strikes me as sketchy. Kinda like paying a home contractor in full before the job is done.

 

[rookhawk]

I can see paying a deposit upfront. Locks your spot in, shows the outfitter you have every intention of hunting. Paying the full amount before the trip, well that strikes me as sketchy. Kinda like paying a home contractor in full before the job is done.

No one will do what you want in a free range safari country. If I'm your operator and you tell me you're coming on these dates next year for $40,000, I have to go buy the quota and reserve it for you for $20,000. If you no-show, I'd then have to run ads on places like AH begging someone to come shoot your quota for a loss if it sells at all. One client that fails to show up takes 4-5 safaris of net profit to get back to dead-even.

In RSA? Sure. It's just a livestock, owned by the landowner. If you don't buy it on Tuesday, somebody else can shoot it on Wednesday.

Usually its 50% or more at booking as deposit in a wilderness area. It's more before the hunt starts to cover the substantial staff and logistic costs. The nuance is whether you pay the rest when you arrive, before you leave, or if you're "good for it" to wire when you get home. I've known a lot of operators that got stiffed on the "you're good for it, pay when you get home" part of that deal.

 

[gordon kings langley]

I have hunter is SA for many years, to date the most I have paid up front is a deposit off approximately £1000. The balance of the hunt was paid on departing.

 

[Scott CWO]

My experience has been either a $1000 to 50% of the day rate for deposit with the remainder due 60 days prior to the start of the hunt. Note: international bank wires from the US are limited to $10k, so you may need to make multiple wires, with multiple fees. Not sure if the $10k limit is a government restriction or just the financial institution daily limit.

At the end of the hunt, I square up the final bill and may pay part with cash or another bank wire.

It’s up to the bank. I just did an international wire for over $50k. I don’t mind if the US Government gets notified. I’m doing nothing wrong.

 

[Scott CWO]

Hi All,
Thank in advance for your advice. I am looking into a hunt in June, for Zimbabwe. The outfitter I am corresponding with is asking for a 25% payment now, and the remaining 75% payment 30 days prior to the hunt. I get nervous wiring the full payment in advance, before I have even landed or met the outfitter. What recourse would I have if they just took my money and never even picked me up at the airport? Is there a more traditional or accepted practice? I am afraid I have only been to Africa once before, so I am not very versed in what is normal. Thanks, Smitty

Seems your questions have been answered. I would add that the outfitter I hunted with in Tanzania in November 2023 pays the government a $1M per year concession fee whether they book any hunts or not. In wild Africa, it is common to pay the daily rate and license costs upfront and also make a large trophy fee deposit. After the hunt, the trophy fees balances are paid or refunded when you get home.