Heading to the Eastern Cape next June for my first Safari and have some questions and hope u fellas may be able to answer. I really want to take my own guns and plan on using an outfit over there called RiflePermits. Lots of stuff needed and seems to be worth it but really have no clue what is involved and how hard it is. Also plan on using a travel agent. Either Travel With Gun(TWG), Travel Express or Gracy travel. Is it worth the travel agency? Recommendations?

Also wanted to ask about Tips. What is acceptable on say an 8k safari for the outfitter? Do u tip Skinners, trackers, cooks, cleaning/laundry ladies?

Shipping trophies home? Plan on having my taxidermist here I’ve used for 30 years doing the mounts. Do u use a shipping agency to get hides/horns back home? Just get pack/dip? Get stuff tanned?

Appreciate the time and patience in reading and thank u guys in advance for any insight and advice!

Oh yeah should include my list of trophies I would like and guns I plan on taking.
Kudu, Nyala, Gemsbuck, Waterbuck, Blue Wildebeest, and Zebra

Rem 700 custom 6.5Prc with either 127LRX or 124 Hammer Hunters and a Sako Custom Deluxe 375H&H shooting 270gr Hammer Shock Hammers. The 6.5 will have a TBAC Ultra 7 on it.

Thanks Roy Schmidt

You're on the right track. The travel agents you've mentioned are most definitely the way to go for first timers. Same with RiflePermits.

If you're particularly in luv with your rifles then consider adding firearm insurance. Just ask the travel agent.

Ah, tipping. Easy to go down the rabbit hole on that. I suggest first taking a look at AfricaHunting Tipping Guide

My Wall of Dead is full and I haven't brought trophies home in a long time, I just have pics taken for the 8x10 glossies, so I really don't know the current costs for trophy shipping.

Your trophy list looks great, except if you come across an awesome Warthog take it! Pretty sure you'll be the only one on your street with a Warthog mount

Sounds like you're on the right track. The agents you mention are well known. If you go with Gracy they will take care of the rifle permits. I recommend paying for the meet and greet service in Johannesburg as it makes processing your rifles and going through customs much easier and faster.

Take pictures and leave the animals there.

Mine heads have been in a storage unit for 25 years. My wife doesn't like dead animals on the walls and my kids don't want them. It cost a lot of $$ to get them from the field to the wall 33 years ago and prices probably haven't gone down since then.

You're getting very good advice so far.

Make sure that you get your proper America firearm export permits in place.

If you're flying through Europe, you may require a permit (eg Netherlands (easy to fill out yourself, no charge)).

I whole heartedly agree with using a travel agent. They are worth their weight in gold if things go south. They also have access to flights we do not.

I also whole heartedly agree with using a meet and greet service (often booked though the same folks that do your rifle permits) I have used Air 2000 Hunter's Support for permits, meet and greet and tour guides/drivers around Johannesburg. Anne Gaines-Burrill has taken very good care of me. Well worth the price. Met at the gate, taken through immigration, bags gathered, taken to the police station to get the rifle/permits inspected. Then to the City Lodge. The next morning they pick me up and take me over to the police station to have the rifle booked in. Thence to security check in. On the way back, much the same thing. Nary a problem in the airport.

If you have to stay overnight in Joburg, the City Lodge is across the street from the airport. After 22.5 hours of travel, the last thing I want is a bus ride to a hotel or lodge, just get me to my room.

You have hired staff to assist in the airport or for permits. Let them talk to the police or gate attendants. They know what they are doing and can speak in Xhosa if required.

My last trip I used African Hunting Gazzette https://africanhuntinggazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Taxidermy-Trophy-Shipping-%E2%80%93-Your-Choices_13_05_2022.pdf for shipping the hides and euro heads home.

I live in Canada and it was easy to import the heads myself.

I recommend following the above mentioned Africa Hunting Tipping Guide. I've used it's advise both times and so far the outfitter has advised that the tips were well received. Follow the directions of your outfitter. He may want the tips given to him to be banked for the staff. If you give the tips direct to the staff, they may go on a bender until they run out of money. Meanwhile the outfitter is short of staff for the next hunt.

Have fun!

+1 on the warthog

Take money, you may want to add an animal --or 2

My advise is to focus on your primary animal and hold out for a good one. Rushing around filling up a list isn't nearly as fun as actually hunting. All the places I've hunted have taken credit cards although it was a pain at the one because we needed to drive into town.

First off, call your farm and speak with them. Make a list of question in advance. They'll know who you should use for shipping. My farm actually preferred I pay with a personal check...who would have thought.

Tipping is dangerous and you can actually kill the help. Yep, give the wrong guy cash and he's off to get aids. My PH told me who I could give cash and who he would need to hold the money for them. I gave away just about all of my clothes. I gave a pair of Carhart jeans to an old bushman that made him so happy you wouldn't believe. Gave a fleece jacket to my tracker and he was beaming.

I liked to tip the gals heavily, my thinking being they are the wives and will most likely spend the money wisely.

Don't give them quality knives, they get lots of knives, and the hard steel makes it nearly impossible for them to sharpen.

Every piece of advise given above is spot on.

1.) Fly direct and not thru Europe to RSA. It is not worth the hassle going thru Shipol in Amsterdam or chaning airports in Paris from CDG to Orley and it SURE isn't a good idea to ever go thru London.

Delta has a new service that includes Cape Town and Jburg. If you must over night in JoBerg, City Lodge and use Gracey Travel. TWG has a great rep, I just haven't used them.

2.) Two pair of pants for the field and two to lounge around in. Two shirts for the field and 3 for casual. 3 pairs of socks. Boots and casual shoes. They will do laundry every day if you need. Old saying, take 1/2 the gear and twice the cash and thank us later.

3.) I ask my PH what total for staff tips usually runs, and I give it to the PH to pass out. He knows what the pecking order is. Better not upset that. Africa isn't egalitarian. Tipping the PH has had endless threads on it. 15-20% of the daily rate is fair if he takes care of you. Daily rates in RSA and Namibia are very reasonable compared to Zambia and Tanz etc., so use your discretion.


Something else I've done on a safari in Tanzania where the outfitter had this long ass list of everybody and their mother that needed $50-$100 bucks that I thought was long and excessive is I handed the PH a wad of cash that I had set aside for HIS tip and that of the staff and said "I've had a great hunt. This is all of my cash. YOU decide who gets what and you get the rest."

I was not concerned that he would stiff the staff, as he needs to take of them.

Taxidermy - Your PH should be able to sort that out for you. Salt dip and packing usually has a fixed price on your safari sheet. Once you've done a bunch of safaris, you will run out of wall space (my current dilemma) and stop taking mounts. I do get joy looking at my mounts and it allows me to relievethe experience again and again, but I could have afforded twice the hunts without the taxidermy bill. Just saying.

Enjoy! I envy you the thrill of anticipation for your first safari.

1/2 the clothes and twice the money. Remember that and you'll be just fine.

I like that.

I’m starting to finalize booking a hunt and that makes a whole lot of real world sense.

I just returned from south africa last thursday. i may can answer a few of your questions.

Flying with rifles did not seem like it would be too much of a hassle. I was spooked off from flying with them, however, the process to take bows was easy. Word to the wise is to have your paperwork pretyped and it would probably go through easily. Do not attempt to fly weapons through London.

Tip wise, ours was suggested $1000-1500 based on a week. We also tipped skinners around 20-30 per animal (your trophies are in their hands), cooks (fantastic food) and cleaning service people.

We flew from Nashville, TN to Atlanta, GA to Johannesburg, S. Africa. ON the way back, we went through London before Atlanta and back to Nashville. Will have to check your bags through customs on the way back in and then recheck to your destination. Rifles cases need to be hard plastic or better yet aluminum. Wheels preferred. Double locked. You will have to declare them and they will run a test to ensure you dont have explosive residue.

Remember, they are in the opposite season as we are. We are in summer now and they are in the winter. Temperatures were 45* to 75* while we were there.
Pack accordingly but light. If you have any gifts or nice newer clothing, the skinners and trackers love gifts and will love you for whatever you give them.

Alot of the places lure you in with entry level animals and then dangle more expensive animals in front of you while hunting. Take your pricelist with you. I cannot recommend a safari enough. Ours was great.

Some good advise above.

1. I use Gracy travel and use the VIP service fro meet and greet and SA520.
2. City Lodge is a good place to stay if you have connections and are not being picked up at the airport.
3. Have your Taxidermist provide you shipping tags. They usually will suggest a dip and pack that they have arrangements.
4. Find an importer, I use coppersmith however there are some others. have your paperwork completed before you leave and then cut them in on all e mails.
5. Have a tentative list of animals to go after. do some research to know what a nice trophy looks like. a spike white tail and a 5 by 5 white tail are huge in difference. Some places will put you on an animal and want you to shoot the first one you come across. I my first trip I think it was day 3 before I shot an animal. We did a lot of looking and sizing up game. We would walk up to small ones and a few larger ones, however they were not the caliber we were looking for. Look at SCI scoring for Gold and that is what you should use for a base and however, you are looking for better unless maybe you want the very oldest trophy that you can find.
6. Most places will show you many animals that are not on your list. make sure you know the price on what you are shooting. if you are on a place that markets trophies by the inch. be extra careful in shooting.
7. Take a lot of pictures and then some more. You may find out that you may be leaving them there. Dip and pack plus shipping may cost as much as your safari.
8. clothing is take less and a nice jacket and gloves. I have been there hunting when it snowed on us.

I see a lot of interesting information and found only one fault on the first article on tipping. It was written Dec 1, 2008.

Paul B.

Great info above. For your first trip over it is best to rely on the experts to guide you through the rifle permitting process. Also, limit the number of airline connections especially between the US and Africa. This will make your life much easier and a lot less stressful.

To the point of tipping - this is always a very sticky subject. Some PH's get pretty agro about tipping and expect you to do so. Here are a few points to consider:

1. The average hunting staff member makes between $120 to $140 USD a month.
2. The apprentice PH and/or master hunter makes about $460 USD a month.
3. Few if any European hunters tip. So American hunters are their bread and butter or more to the point - ATM.
4. Paying staff in USD makes it difficult to impossible to convert to Rand. (Zimbabwe is the exception here)
5. Many outfitters keep the tips and pay out at the end of the year. This is largely due to the fact that staff tends to run off after they get a fist full of bucks. (And some outfitters simply keep all the staff tips.)
6. Most of the time, things like watches, cheap cell phones, air time, clothing, binos, knives, etc makes for better staff tips.
7. For PHs cameras, ammo, scopes, binos, etc makes a good thank you. If you know your PH, you can always enquire if there is anything they may need before you leave. They are always looking for something. In 30 years of hunting in Africa I've taken reamers, reloading dies, scopes, cameras, boots, you name it, over for gifts.
8. Remember, above all else, tipping is NOT mandatory and never feel pressured to do so. You will not be treated any differently during your hunt. However, some PHs will remember your lack of appreciation if you hunt with them again. But if you find an exceptional staff member, a gift is always welcome.

And just a word of caution on transiting Tambo - Baggage theft is still an issue so use a non-zippered hard-sided suitcase. Do not dress up in your brand new hunting ensemble. Sport shirt or t-shirt and jeans are preferable. In other words, don't look like a clueless American tourist as you will attract the wrong kind of attention. And if anyone offers to help you, offer directions, get a taxi, or carry your bags just consider your stuff gone.

And learn a little Afrikaans - Fúkoff should be the first word you learn as you will use it often.

Smart move using a rifle permit service, and meet and greet. Smart move using a well known travel agent such as those mentioned. I asked safari owner to figure tip amounts according to how pleased i was. Worked great. I use hard sided luggage that I can lock. I think it's much more safe than a duffel bag type deal. Looks like your choices of rifles are great to me.

Good luck, you're going to have a blast. Warning, hunting kudu bulls is very addicting.

Some great advice. May I second a few things that are more important than they seem.

- Tags from your taxidermist to tag horns. Big help to everyone. Coppersmith has worked well for me.

As far as PH's trying to bait and switch animals, while that may occasionally happen, let me throw this in.

You're hunting the Eastern cape. Gemsbok, black wildebeest, springbok, blesbok are karoo animals, and have been introduced in the EC. Don't be surprised if the trophy fee on any introduced animal higher than in native rage. This is especially true if you tell your PH in the Eastern Cape you want a sable. Sable are not native. They are pricey in Zimbabwe and Zambia, and introduced into RSA, are more so. You aren't getting ripped off per se, it's not cheap to buy these animals and introduce them and there is a limited supply. Cape buffalo in RSA is pricey, but the daily rate is 1/3 or less of Sam bit or Tanzania where buffalo are plentiful. There is a trade off.

Don't be afraid to extend your stay 2-3 days if you travel with your wife to see the Garden Route and see some game preserves and the coast and eat great seafood and sip a little fine South African wine. Don't know when you'll get back. What is an extra 3 days for a lifetime memory with your spouse?

I see that tips and gifts are being chatted about.

I usually ask the PH what he may want me to bring him over and or what would be nice for the help.

1. Clothing is always nice, make sure it is long sleeve and darker colors, medium and large are good sizes to take along. I have found out that Socks are something that is wanted. I usually take about 8 to 10 pair of socks along.
2. I have taken shoes in the past when the PH indicated that the tracker could use a new pair of hiking boots/shoes.
3. Candy and gum are a hit with the crew. I take a 1 pound bags for the workers that I expect to be around and a couple extra bags for the PH.
4. Knives, as mentioned, nice knives are a good addition for the crew and I pack 3 to 4 nice quality knives and a sharpener for each knife to pass out.
5. For the women in camp, I have found that they like a nice bar soap and pack a few bars for each of them. That goes a long ways and I give it to them early and you are treated much better during your stay. It is like night and day difference.

Money wise for the tips: Some PH's request that you give each member the same otherwise it causes internal issues. Plus, I have the currency for the country to pass out for the tips. I go to the local bank and order in what I think I will need.
1 lead tracker is about $10 USD a day
2. Skinner If you are stacking the shed then it is $10 USD a day. You have to understand that you could shoot 2 to 3 (or more) different animals in a day. The most that I have killed on one trip was 28 animals a mix of trophies and culls for in coming leopard hunters.
3. Housekeeping is $5 to $10 USD a day
4. Chef depending on meals is $5 - $10 USD a day.

PH this is your call, however is 10% of your daily fees. And if you are obtaining great trophies the tip is better.

As others have indicated, I usually will leave most of my clothing, shoes and jackets with the crew.

Some excellent advice above! I’ve only been twice, so don’t have the experience level of some of the other responders but do have some advice. My hunting was primarily on private, low-fenced farms in South Africa the majority of which also ran livestock. My PH/Outfitter had a number of Boer goats on his farm. He told me a story about a former client who wanted to shoot one of the goats. While it didn’t offend the PH, it did make him scratch his head a bit and also wonder about the client. I would recommend that you not shoot the livestock.

Roy

I don't often join in on the conversation, but since I've been to Africa 9 times including 3 to the East Cape, here's some thoughts.

1. I've been snowed on twice including last August. Bring more cold weather clothes than you think you need. This year in June it rained, so light rain gear. Its rocky mountains so bring boots.
2. Put the 375 back in the gun safe and bring a fast 30cal. Your 6.5 PRC is not equal to my 300WSM with at 200gr ELD-X @ 2900fps. Unless you're shooting buffalo, 375 is the wrong caliber. When you need to shoot the zebra at 350 yards, the more horsepower the better. But take 2 guns.
3. Ask your PH or outfitter what he thinks of your bullet choice. If he's not 100% certain they work, bring 1/2 your ammo with your bullet, 1/2 with his selection. Never heard a PH badmouth Nosler Partition, Accubond, or any Swift bullet. Most of the guys want bonded lead. GMX or Barnes if your shooting high velocity like your PRC. But don't bet a $15,000 trip on something you read reports about on the internet. I've killed over 150 animals with Accubond, my first choice.
4. My travel agent is an Africa/Argentina specialist from Houston. She has hunters in and out of Africa year-round. If something changes, she knows what did, and how to accommodate or fix it. I pay her about $100 per trip. Use a travel agent. I went last May/June, yes only 45 days ago. Delta to JoBerg, arrive late and overnight at City Lodge which is inside the airport. $110 includes buffet breakfast. Used Rifle Permits, preapproved permits and carried our luggage to hotel, then fetched us next morning and walk us to Airlink baggage counter. Airlink is the biggest problem you will have. Always screwing up, but not any other airline option that carries guns. They will add fees for each leg that cost more than your ticket. Get your agent to book all this as one ticket if possible.
5. As for payments, ask your Outfitter if you can do wire transfers. Do not carry cash. Once we get all Americans to stop carrying cash, crime rates against Americans will plummet. For safety, do not leave the JoBerg airport. Pay any deposits in advance by wire, pay the remaining amount when you return home via wire. Think about this, guys. Would you do business with an American who asked you to bring $10,000 in cash? I never would. Reputable outfitters run all their money via the bank. The local staff are not allowed to have US Dollars, so pay your outfitter the tips and he will distribute. If you can't trust him, get another outfitter. I use Crusaders. Andrew won't accept cash, his PHs say they always get the tip that I send to Andrew.
6. Buy a set of shooting sticks and practice alot befor you go. Learn to set the gun on the sticks and get your shot off in less than 10 seconds. In Africa 10 seconds on the sticks is a long time. That's what every PH says to me - you Americans take too long to shoot! They want it done in 5 seconds. Practice standing, sitting, and prone. I shot a blesbuck at 470 yards prone from the edge of the dirt road, gun on a tall sandbag. Not bad for a 30-06 165gr Swift Scirrocco and 3.5X10 VX3 with duplex reticle. Jut aim at the top of the horns and squeeze. . .
7 I use rangefinding binoculars, then give them to the PH if he doesn't have them. I want to be looking through the scope when he tells me the range. Bring good optics and scope mounts. I find putting two guns in my SKB case is easier if the scopes come off. I use both Picattiny Rail with Warne rings and Talley detachable, remember to carry you wrenches with you. You always sight in again once you arrive so resetting zero is not a big deal.

When you go on your trip, try to have fun.

Bring a journal to record all the memories from your safari. I leave in 3 days for my sixth Namibian safari and I’ve used the same journal to record sightings, stalks, side trips and even the various venison dishes served in camp. After my 5 prior trips I’ve exhausted wall space for trophies so I take tons of trophy pictures and email them to Costco back home while still in Africa. For less than $40, Costco will enlarge the pictures to 11” X 14” and enclose the print in Acrylic, complete with a mounting bracket.

Knowing how to tip was tough for me. My hunt for 5 animals was only $6000 but when I asked the guide for advice on tipping he gave me a list of everyone there and an amount for each. It added up to over $5000. I went to him and told him I didn't have enough to cover those amounts.

As the only hunter in camp that week he had asked me to tip 5 trackers and skinners, 3 house keepers, 2 guides, along with everyone else including a huge tip for his wife who did absolutely nothing from what I could see. It soured the experience quite a bit on what was otherwise a great hunt. I ended up giving the guide $1500 to distribute as he would.

When I came back 3 weeks later to get my guns before I left a staff member asked why I was not happy with my hunt because no one had received a tip. Next time I'll give the tips to who I want individually as I see fit based on what they do and how they do it.

Bb

In June, it's the dead of winter, th eone thing Iwish I'd brought that Istill remember is a pair of slippers, the floors are COLD when you have to go pee at 3 am.

I have hunted the Eastern Cape with Frank Bowker's outfit twice and had a good time both trips. There are a lot of species to hunt there. One thing I learned going to Africa is to take some things we take for granted that they have a hard time getting. Swiss Army knives are popular with the trackers and skinners and multi-tools are a hit with the PHs. Common medical stuff like tylenol/advil/excederin and antibacterial cream and bandaids are always welcome.

The big thing with Africa is you never know what you will come across. Take enough extra cash to cover an animal you didn't even plan on. If the bush offers you a gift, take it. I once took a nice waterbuck that I hadn't planned on. He just stepped out of the brush. It was a lot cheaper to take him then rather than pay for another trip for one.


Also don't pass on things like jackals and baboons. They can be fun to hunt and neat trophies.



Take or borrow a shotgun for birds if you have the time.



Don't turn your nose up on the little guys because they are a lot of fun to go after


As soon as you are done with your first trip over there do not be surprised if you immediately begin planning the second trip.

Roy:

Congratulations on your getting your first trip underway.

You’ve got some good advice so far and I’ll try and provide some advice/recommendations that I’ve learned over the years and answer your questions in the order you posted them.

“Heading to the Eastern Cape next June for my first Safari and have some questions and hope u fellas may be able to answer. I really want to take my own guns and plan on using an outfit over there called RiflePermits.”

I have not personally us the Rifle Permit folks in Jberg but, I’ve met and talked to them several times while waiting in the SAPS office to clear my own rifles thru. I’ve also had a few people I know use them in the past and all were very happy with them. My face to face time with them has been great and seem like they know what they are doing. Older retired couple and they know every SAPS officer working there by their first names. I’ve done it enough that I do my own permits. Not that complicated once you’ve gone thru it once or twice.

“Lots of stuff needed and seems to be worth it but really have no clue what is involved and how hard it is.”

Granted, the temp rifle permit process can be a bit daunting the first time but is actually pretty ease and you’ve got more than enough time to sort it out. Just 4 things you’ll need to get and supply (email) to Rifle Permits are:

1. A US Customs Form 4457. Since the US doesn’t require an actual “license” for long guns, like the vast majority of foreign counties do, those counties accept the 4457 as your “license” to own it. It’s easy to obtain. The form is not much bigger than your passport and a fallible version is available on-line https://www.cbp.gov/document/forms/form-4457-certificate-registration-personal-effects-taken-abroad

A couple of things about the form. For US use/purposes, once it is filled out, signed and stamped by US Customs, it is valid for life. Unfortunately, the form has an expiration date in the upper right hand corner. To a foreigner, that means your “license” expires after that date as well. That date actually just mean that version of the form expires on that date and must be reviewed and re-issued. So, for now, just find the closest US Customs office to you and after the first of the year get it. Just fill out the form with your name, address, make, model serial number and caliber and print it out. Then, just take your unloaded rifle to the Customs office. Leave it in your vehicle and go in and tell the agent(s) you’d like to have your 4457 for a rifle certified. They will either have you bring it in or come out to the vehicle to verify the data. They will also run the info thru the NICS database to make sure the rifle wasn’t stolen. They will sign it and stamp it. Keep this as your master copy.

2. Your PH/Outfitter will send you what they refer to as an “invitation” or “motivation” letter. This is simply your justification for wanting to bring your rifle(s) in and who/where you will be taking it.

3. A photo copy of your passport

4. A copy of your airline ticket.

“Also plan on using a travel agent. Either Travel With Gun(TWG), Travel Express or Gracy travel. Is it worth the travel agency? Recommendations?”

For a first-timer traveling alone or with another first-timer, it probably is a good idea to you an agent that is familiar with the normal routeings to Jberg and your your follow on connecting flight requirements. The two you mentioned have a good rep and also offer a rifle permitting service just like RiflePermits. They also charge an extra fee for this that is about the same as the others.

Something you didn’t mention but need to think about is, depending on the airline and route you take, it’s very likely you’ll need to stay overnight in Jberg to make your connecting flight the next day. Several options here. You can book with several well known guest lodges that are off and away from the terminal or stay at a hotel within the airport complex itself. Personally, I tried several of the off terminal places and they were fine but, I prefer to stay at a hotel within the terminal complex. Cost is about the same but, convenience is better and takes one more potential travel complication (airport transit shuttles) out of the mix. Prefer to trust my feet and a 10-min walk vs a van breakdown, accident or worse between the airport and lodging.


“Also wanted to ask about Tips. What is acceptable on say an 8k safari for the outfitter? Do u tip Skinners, trackers, cooks, cleaning/laundry ladies?”

This is one of the tough ones as it’s all “opinion” based and how big is the “camp”, how many camp “staff” and are you the only person there (closed camp) or are you sharing a camp with others who may be arriving/leaving while your there (open camp).

Closed camps tend to be smaller operations and just have one smaller group of 1 to maybe 4-5 clients at time. Therefore, they also have smaller “staffs”. Usually the owner will be the or one of the PH’s, wife runs the “camp” over-sees the cooking etc. They may have one or two maids/kitchen helpers etc and maybe one or two workers to double duty as trackers, skinners and general camp handy work.

Open camps can have very large staffs of 30 or more to accommodate many simultaneous clients. I’ve done this ONCE and swore never again.

Now to the tipping question. Since I now only do small groups/small camps, my “rule of thumb” is it starts at 10% of the daily fee for the PH and goes up or down from there depending on how things go. IF all I’m seeing/being put on are just average or below or the PH is a bit lazy or lackadaisical it goes down. IF he’s working his ass off trying to get me on good animals, even if I don’t get a shot, it will go up. When it comes to tipping the rest of the staff, I usually start at $5 US per day for the maid depending on how the room was kept. Meaning, floors swept/mopped daily, bed made morning and afternoon etc. I don’t mean they are responsible for cleaning a client’s mess who lives like a pig in the room with kit and crap left everywhere. Maids are generally told to NEVER touch a clients personal items – ever. So, if you leave clothes on the bed, your be will likely NOT be made. You leave clothes and crap on the floor or in the corner instead of the laundry basket, that is where it will STAY.

Trackers/Skinners – Big open camp, you may have a different tracker everyday. Small closed camp you may or may not have a tracker with you. Same, starts at $5 US per day for PG and a good bit more if DG. I’ve you’ve seriously buggered the shot and the tracker(s) bust their coconuts and save you butt and find an expensive trophy for you, maybe add an additional 10% of that trophy fee for that tracker who just may have saved you the trophy fee on a lost animal. Skinners, depending on the animal and the mount, from $10-$50 per animal. If all I’m doing is simple European skull mounts, $10 and full flat skin zebra rug or shoulder mounts $50. Leopard or something complex like that, $75-$100. Some specialty mounts require a good bit of extra work.

General camp workers. These are the workers who collect and chop the firewood for the hot water donkeys so you get a hot shower every night and for the braais for cooking and enjoying your evening sundowners around. They likely also do the general outdoor picking up, cleaning, trash removal/burning

The big open camps are a serious PIA to me for tipping because to me, a “tip” is for extra good care/service I’ve received from an individual. It’s damn hard to get that individual feel in a bigger operation. Maybe just give the PH/Owner a percentage of the overall hunt and IF you do have one or more workers that provided you exceptional service, single them out privately and slip them “a little something extra” and tell them why”. If you give a bulk tip the the PH/Owner and he keeps it for himself, that’s on him. Also, be aware that some places do set aside the staff tips until the end of the season and disburse them. Sometimes, when staff get large tips during the season, they “disappear” for days at a time leaving the camp shorthanded.

“Shipping trophies home? Plan on having my taxidermist here I’ve used for 30 years doing the mounts. Do u use a shipping agency to get hides/horns back home? Just get pack/dip? Get stuff tanned?”

That is generally up to you. Generally, the cost of taxidermy work is less there but, what you may save is offset by the increased cost of shipping the completed work home. Your PH/Outfitter most likely has a taxidermist they normally trust/use. After the initial skinning, salting/drying your items will be taken to a taxidermist for either follow-on work to be done or preparation (dip/pack) and export documentation. Then they pass it on to a shipping agent to gets it to the port of entry into the US. From there, it is your responsibility to either hire a US based importer and then freight forwarder to ship completed work to your door, or the taxidermist you hire in the US, sorts out the US receiving end of your salted/raw items to them.
“
“I would like ...Kudu, Nyala, Gemsbuck, Waterbuck, Blue Wildebeest, and Zebra"

Nice list – the Nyala is a very nice choice for that area.

“Rem 700 custom 6.5Prc with either 127LRX or 124 Hammer Hunters and a Sako Custom Deluxe 375H&H shooting 270gr Hammer Shock Hammers. The 6.5 will have a TBAC Ultra 7 on it.”

Be sure to CONFIRM with your PH that your 6.5 will be legal. Most counties and most Provinces have very specific minimum caliber requirements either for each species or a general overall minimum like 7mm. The 375 will be way more than sufficient. Just to proved you with a common caliber to compare to, a simple 308 Win, loaded with 150 TSX (not TTSX) and pushed to 2900 fps WILL be complete pass-thu’s on broadside zebra out to 200m. Done it personally a LOT and people I’ve taken over a LOT!

Not sure about taking a can over as I've never personally done it. From what I've read and know about RSA firearms laws, there is no restriction on bringing them in, possessing them ect. You can even walk into a gunshop there, buy one over the counter and walk out with it. Just not sure how IS Customs or TSA will view it going out and coming back in even if you have your US permit as well as a 4457 with it listed on it proving you bought it in the US. That could be a bit dicey and leave you a bit open to an induvial TSA agent or US Customs agents personal interpretation. Might be best to leave that home. If you want to hunt with a can, consider just picking one up there for a couple hundred USD and leaving it as part of your "tip" to your PH. Even if he can't or doesn't want it, he can trade/sell it for something he needs/wants.

Hope this was a bit helpful

What you described is of course ridiculous, however, this seems to be a common game now. The PH wants you to pay the staff's salaries for the month so he doesn't have to. At $5,000 USD you would have paid enough for a staff of 40. Unfortunately, I doubt the $1500 you gave him went to the staff or if it did, it was heavily "modified".

The US client is taken advantage of in my opinion simply because they don't know how to tip and come from a culture of tipping. European hunters don't typically tip and if they do it's peanuts compared to US hunters. So American hunters become the prey.

When you pay a PH a daily rate you expect him to work his ass off for you. You expect his staff to do the same. Don't get pressured to tip a cent unless you feel magnanimous and overly philanthropic. At the end of the day who gives a toss if the PH doesn't like you or how you tip. This is your money, your hunt, your pleasure. Enjoy the hunt and don't sweat the tip.

My advice is to be in shape, and get a guy to film the hunt.I've taken lots of pictures on my hunts but have never looked at them in the years that followed.However get a nice video, edit it yourself and put it on your lap top and enjoy it many times throughout the years.
For a 8K safari I would tip 500 in cash to the PH and about 100 each to the trackers and 50 to the laundry guy and cook.I feel the tip should be around 10% of the cost of the hunt.If you are going through hard times but still want to go on the hunt tip less-lol.

Regardless how excessive you tip, the PH is still going to laugh with all his friends about how badly you shot.

Just have fun.

Wheels up in 30 days! Everything is ready to go! Guns and all paperwork. Upgraded my list to include a few more animals as well! Can’t wait fellas!



Roy

A little off track, but VERY important. Practice shooting off sticks. So many guys shoot off a bench. When they get to Africa and come upon the first animal, the sticks go up and the hunter is baffled. We don't do it over here, so it's a big change. Practice here to avoid that common pitfall.

Yep...

Don't pack the kitchen sink. Go light and take some throw-away cameras and take a lot of pictures. Processors can transfer them to digital.

Hatari: I get why you advise not flying through Europe, you have direct flights from the east coast to the RSA. Living in western Canada, KLM through Amsterdam is the best I can do, AND it is easier than flying with a rifle through the USA.

Others: My wife tipped the house keeper directly. The PH was startled. He NEVER allows money to be given directly to that woman. He said she could be worse than the men, hitch hiking into town and drinking the money away. I now just give the money to the PH. He keeps their type money in his safe and acts as a sort of banker for them. I just take CAD and he will convert it to RAND on the books.

hi AB206

I think KLM is indeed the best you can do from Canada.

You are also correct about NEVER flying with a rifle via the USA, no matter how much cheaper the flight is!

I've had many flights from Canada to Europe, and KLM is the ONLY airline that didn't seem to try to make me feel like a criminal with my firearms.

Twice the KLM counter agent was clearly unfamiliar with firearms, but in both cases they called in a supervisor (or at least an agent who really knew the firearms regulations) and everything was handled so quickly and discretely that I doubt that the person in the que behind me had any idea I had weapons.

John

I hope this ended up on the wall !