Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Cost wise Africa vs. American Elk ?

Given elk these days costs

~2,400 for a really nice pack in hunt
~4,000 for a decent pack in with guide
~7,000 on up for guided / ranch hunts

What would be the major class groupings / types of African hunts and what is the normal cost?

Add $2K for plane ticket and you can get 5+ animals for the cost of an elk, packaged according to the above pricing. And, you are likely to see something to shoot at, whereas elk hunting might not give you anything besides spectacular country to look over.

2 cents

Africa does it differently, so it's a little hard to compare. Factor in ~$450/day for all lodging, hunting, guide, tracker, skinner, food, drinks, etc. Then add the trophy fee of the animals you hunt. Little as ~$350 for an Impala to ~$1900 for Kudu.

You can hunt the National forests for Elk for essentially the cost of the license too.

There is no better value in the hunting world than hunting in South Africa. North America is EXPENSIVE! Unless you can hunt for yourself. Hire a guide in NA, and the price skyrockets.

For $7,000 in South Africa you should get at least 10 days and at least 5 trophies (more animals if a cull hunt) and that includes air fare.

+1. For $7K a guy can take 5-7 PG animals over a 10 day hunt, and have a fantastic trip.

We hunted with this outfit back in 2008. Others here, have also hunted with them.


http://www.cruisersafaris.com/hunting_package_10day.html


They have a 10 day, six animal pkg., hunting 1x1 for $5325. Cruiser was awesome to hunt with. Great accomadations, meals, and phs. Add in $2300+/- for air fare, and you're there. Only extras are tips/taxidermy. You WILL have a memorable trip.


maddog

Africa.....the truth

$150........Passport
$300......pre approved gun permit and overnight Afican Sky
$2850.......Round from STL to East London
$2450.......Dip, Pack, Ship to ATL........10 animals
$300.........Broker for shipping release dip and pack crate in ATL
$4500........6 animal pacage
$800........tip PH
$100........tip staff
$3300........3 extra animals

$14,750.........= 10 animals

However

Elk tag.......... $555 to $780.....$668 we will use
Gas from STL to North NM round trip......$700
Tri State or Vermijo ranch....... $10,000
Cape Skin and process in Raton.....$350
Guide tip....... $1000
Staff Tip....... $100

One animal..........= $12,818

Spotshooter, I think tt is not 100% on his view...everyone has had different trips to Africa. Each hunter has their own story.
For me, the cost in 2012 was $2000 round trip air. The outfit charged $4000 for 5 plains game animals...then I had to add $800 for Dip and pack and customs/shipping...then add the Taxidermy here in the US.
So, that week of hunting cost me about $9000 all together.
I know two guys who went elk hunting in Colorado, each spent $6000 for an 8 day hunt...they never even saw an elk.

Look at tedhorn's posts�most realistic as he has just returned, and didn't forget to add anything in.

Note: The elk hunt at $12K+ is one animal
The African hunt is $14K+ and ten animals in a setting that has to be seen to be believed.



There is NO comparison.

Take $3700 off for the extra 4 animals plus $900 for the additional dip and pack then drop a couple hundred or more off the PH tip + staff and this gives you as accurate a number as can be had I promise for a 6 animal PGH

$9950........ = 6 animal PG hunt


No hidden fees unless you add Dr visits for shots and take with you Rx

Under 10K for one person.......6 animals vs 1

Personally, I would love to hunt Africa and hope that someday I do.

One of my hang-ups between an Elk vs Africa: meat in the freezer.

I'm sure the meat in Africa is used to feed the camp, villagers, the next group, or as bait but I do like the idea of being able to bring home the meat if I ever get the chance to go on an elk hunt.

That being said, with the information out there I think if I'm going to pay $10,000 I will probably aim for Africa and try to do a DIY or other "budget" elk hunt since there are plenty of resources out there to be successful

If elk meat is what you desire it can be had in North New Mexico for about 20 to 25% percent of a bull elk

I love elk hunting and hunting in North America for all species, and I will continue to do so, but the plain simple truth is that there is really no comparison.

Plane ticket is $3K + $3500 for 5 plains animals, impala, wildebeast, zebra, warthog, stienbok or Duicker. 10 days. I'll add a Kudu. Gotta do this at least once. IMHO

The problem I see

You are leaving off several expenses that can't be ignored

42% more

But I highly highly recommend any and all to do it

Basic summery of fees:
Airfare: varies (I used miles +$73)
Daily Fee: ~$450 hunting, ~$250 non-hunting day
VAT: 14% of daily fees
Trophy Fees: varies
Tips: (~$20/day staff, ~$20/day tracker, ~$100/day PH)
Hunter's Support (Air 2000): $180

If taxidermy is desired:
Dip & ship: TBD
Taxidermy: varies

PH mentioned to me that many repeat hunters want to go with large printed pictures instead of taxidermy.

I shot a 7x7 361 class bull in Canada about 8 years ago. Had all the meat cut by an authorised certified export shop. Us customs denied its entry to the USA at the border crossing.

I lost it all!

that's just mean!!