Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa If You Were Taking 17K To Africa,

how would you break it down and why? If you're able,please address a situation where you will travel to another city(Cape Town) for 5 days after the hunt. Please also know that I,in the perfect world, anticipate trophy fees around the 9-12K range. I also have 4 credit cards,including AX,3 of which offer rewards for purchases.

My sole intent and goal is to make my financial transactions as smooth and effortless as is possible also taking into consideration the possibilty of being a usual target for thieves. Hope I'm not being too maudlin with respect to that concern.

Thanks. You gents have done me right so far,that's for sure.

Do you have the opportunity to pay the trophy fees to a third party in the U.S. (escrow account, booking agent, etc.)?

where you flying out of and what flight will you be on Bob......just wondering

Bob...bear in mind any purchases made on the card overseas will carry a surcharge...don't know exactly how much, but I put about $6000 on the card last time and got about $350 tacked on to the bill...just a heads up and an FYI,....

Thanks Ingwe.If I'm using my AX to pay for my hotel in Cape Town as each month goes by, are they charging that surcharge,you think? I'm honestly one of those guys who doesn't line item his statements. I will look into it tomorrow though,thanks to your comment.

I am flying out of Dulles which is 25 minutes from my home,rattler. The flight is straight through to JBurg with that 1 hour or so stop in Dakar. It's early evening but I'll happily give you the itenerary info,if you'd like to see it.

Woodhits....no sir,I don't believe so. I can wire to a Namib bank but I don't want the hasstle of refunds or a breaking down of a significant sum of money to only their dollars.

Credit cards work fine in Cape Town and most of South Africa and Vic Falls however you won't get cash out at Vic Falls. (At least not two years ago). Debit cards also work in RSA from ATM's. You need cash to buy petrol if you decide to hire a car.

travellers cheques can be used to pay for trophy fees post hunt however clear this with your P/H before you leave. Get different denomination cheques. T/C's can also be cashed into local currency just about anywhere.

You do need some cash but I'd limit it to few hundred US$ in local currency.

If your going to worry about fees and surcharges then don't go. It is not worth worrying all the trip about them as there are far more interesting and important things to see and do without worrying about petty change.

Plan when and where you will need money/finances before you go and then forget about it and enjoy the trip.

Yep, I think I can solve this. Just withdraw the 17K. Let me carry it for you and that way you don't have to worry about theft or robbery while on the flight etc... of course at the first layover we'll need to get off the plane to stretch our legs a bit.......

Anyway, real time... best of luck. Sounds like a blast. You'll get more for 17 over there than over here. I just don't care for the thought of africa for some reason.

I'm thinking by the time I complete my trophy fee payments,tips and a jump on the initial taxidermy crap, I'll have about 3-5K for Cape Town.


If your going to worry about fees and surcharges then don't go.


Gotcha,but I'm not worried about such things. I certainly appreciate having the knowledge,however.

Some cards do not have a surcharge. I have one that passes straight through. I do need to advise them that I will be out of the country which I do bi-annually as I work in oddball places.

Wire your trophy fees. Talk to your outfitter and banker before hand. Fill out the forms with the account numbers etc...when the dust settles pick up the sat phone and have it transfered. Much less risk for all. No travelers checks. Carry cash for tips and incidentals only.

I arranged payment of trophy fees ahead of time to be charged to AmEx. Hotels etc to same card. tips were paid by bank card cash withdrawls immediately before leavinf Port Elizabeth for the safari. We took $300 converted to rand from home as cash and $300US cash.

We had no trouble with being accosted or even feeling at risk. Souvenirs were with cash advance at ATM or AmEx at larger venues. We returned home with some of the original US cash intact. Enough for a meal in Toronto on the way home.

We too spent some time in country after the safari.


Randy

In Cape Town stay in Camps Bay with views of the South Atlantic. eg.

http://www.africabana.com/AfriCabana_/Welcome.html

You can get a hire car and driver for nix over there. Pick up AM, drop off PM or have them wait. Constantia wineries are an overpriced tourist trap now, but Franschhoek is beautiful.

At Dieu Donne restaurant Franschhoek.

As Tony mentioned,good idea to check with your credit card issuers,some may not honor the card in Africa w/o prior notice.Good to give them parameters as to dates and which countries you will be in to prevent fraud.

I have been twice and did it differently each time. Both times I took about $2-3k in US funds via cash or TC.

On the first trip I figured out what I anticipated my trophy fees to be based on my wish list and wired that amount plus 10% to the PH's bank in Namibia. I then took cash for tips, transfers, etc. I took $1500 in TC and prearranged with the PH that I could use that for Trophy Fees if needed. I ended up using about $400 in TC and came home with some and some cash. Worked out well. The PH had agreed in writing that if I had not killed enough to use up the amount I paid in advance, he would refund me the difference. I would have simply applied towards tips.

The Second time my PH used a Bank in TX. I forwarded the amount to cover the remaining balance for the hunt (Buffalo, so I knew what the total should be) but did not include any extra for Plains game. I arranged with the PH to pay for any trophy fees with cash or by transfer when I returned. He was happy to accomodate this. I took $2500 in US cash and paid my tips and incidentals with it. I built up $2500 in fees and paid upon my return to his Bank in TX.

Hope this helps.

Lee

Thanks to all. Lots of good advice and suggestions.

Tophet, I am booked at a hotel called Cape Grace.

Note that if you take more than $10k in cash out of the country, you'll be required to fill out a special customs form. I took amounts equal or greater than that to Cameroon on two occasions. Let me tell you that $20K in French Francs will fill up a fanny pack. It was a very uncomfortable feeling, and in retrospect, the unsavory characters could target hunters to rob the cash.

My advise is to explore the option of doing a wire transfer for a bulk of it while you're there. Your back can wire money to their bank. They may not like it, since many in the African safari business keep their money offshore. Keeps the Mugabe types from confiscating it.

Thanks Hatari. I will wire some to the Namib bank in which their accountant works and which the family has used for many,many years. In fact, every wire I've sent so far, I have received a email confirmation from both the accountant and the outfitter.

I will wire my estimate of trophy fees plus 10%. I will either replenish with and by whatever,if necessary,or use a balance for taxidermy or gratuities.

I'll work out a deal with my AX and Visa people and have a couple of grand available for my 5 nights in Cape Town.

They have casinos,right?? Plus, with Karen going, I want to make sure she has her dough for her own personal stuff. I figure if she's gonna follow my sorry as for 12 days on a hunt, I couldn't begrudge her some spa and shopping expenditures to show a little of my appreciation.

I gave my PH a deposit at a show in the states. I guess not knowing any better, I took 12k in cash which I split between my wife and I carried on our persons. Next time I'm going w/ the same PH and now that I know him well and are comfortable w/ him, I'm going 2 pay a bigger share as a deposit so I have to carry less cash

When we went to Namibia last summer, we sent deposits and then took $20000 in travelers checks and a $2000 each in cash. We didnt spend that much, and our outfitter refunded the money in Namibian money. It was alot, and he warned us to not let it be seen in public. That was a little scary when were were walking around Windhoek shopping for trinkets. The morning before we left, we exchanged it at the hotel for US dollars and came home. All seemed to work out well.

Toby Joe

That's the best/newest part of the Cape waterfront. Nice choice. IIRC The ferry for Robin Is leaves from nearby and you can take a Heli ride around Table Mt. (well worth doing. Lots of whales to see too).

You'll love it.