By Jerry Long, March 22, 2010 
In this post I discuss costs associated with traveling to the Republic of South Africa for hunting.
Affording the Trip
Is a trip to Africa within your budget? Only you can answer that question. I’ll relate how it worked in my house-hold. It was kind of like building a fire; an internal, burning desire. The elk hunt costs related in WWAC – What Would Africa Cost? had me looking for another adventure (the idea). Kansas friend Crazy Brew brought up Africa (the spark). The website Bowsite provided tons of information and experiences (the fuel). Once the fire was lit (raging) I started looking at prices. When I had an estimate I brought it up with Mrs. dustyvarmint.
The agreement worked out like this – we agreed I could spend our money to go to Africa if I re-paid the amount with a monthly savings allotment and did not take any guided/outfitted hunts during the time it took to for this re-payment. I stress our money here because of some of the attitudes I see shared on bowhunting forums. For the record – we’re both working hard for a living (well, she is, anyway) and we’re both wearin’ pants. Anyway, my current re-payment schedule will take three years. During those three years I’ll focus on all DIY hunts with friends for adventures to Kansas for turkey and whitetail deer, possibly varmints in Montana and maybe mule deer in South Dakota.
So why go now and make payments vice saving the money and going later? From the information I gathered I decided that prices in 2009 and 2010 were likely what I was willing to pay, EVER – that any further increase in costs would likely preclude me from ever going. I simply reach those kinds of thresholds sometimes (ask Mrs. dustyvarmint). I’ve already admitted I’m cheap. Now add STUBBORN (she insisted that be in all caps…).
The attached spreadsheet, Safari Options, helps to compare the costs associated with various outfitters in various locations. The costs listed were as of May/June 2009 planning for a 2010 trip. Feel free to adapt it to your own use.
Discussion of Various Costs
A lot of the below information was discussed in the previously mentioned WWAC – What Would Africa Cost?, but I’m going to repeat some of the key information and expound on it a little bit here.
Equipment – As far as bow set up there isn’t that much you should need from what you already have. I’ll discuss equipment details more fully in a future entry. I bought new, heavier aluminum arrows to raise kinetic energy, obtained cut-on-contact broadheads from Santa Claus and bought a sight light for dark blinds. By watching the Archery Talk classified ads I found an excellent deal on a heavy duty SKB double bow case. I did buy a new bow, but was in the market for one anyway (my never-ending quest).
Baggage – Caught in a bind that I’ll relate in a future blog entry I booked my flights through Gracy Travel. Those tickets included two fifty-pound bags and Doug assured me that included my bow case whether through a sub-carrier (as is the case I’ll encounter in the smaller Milwaukee airport) or through the primary carrier. I will see. When booking travel arrangements for hunting it is prudent to include baggage policies and fees among the various carriers. As related in Archery Resources – Airline Travel $100 or more each way for a bow case can add up. In the case of traveling to South Africa I’ve not heard much positive in the way of alternative shippers such as FEDEX.
Overnight Stays/Ground Transportation – The nature of the long trip from your home to RSA may require an overnight stay or stays on the way to or from. In my case I have an overnight stay on the way there in Johannesburg at a cost of about $150. Also, your outfitter may impose a transportation charge from the airport to the hunting concession. This may be by-the-person or by-the-trip. A few examples are included on the cost spreadsheet. Again, clarify these things with your outfitter.
Insurance – I didn’t plan on paying for travel or extra medical insurance, but I decided to purchase it. I think Doug at Gracy Travel really brought it to my attention. There are several discussions concerning why or why not to purchase it on the Bowsite Africa forum as well as this article by the Hunt Doctors. When Doug couldn’t articulate exactly what I was paying for through them for Travel Guard Insurance, an AIG Company, I decided I would arrange it on my own.
First I called my homeowner’s insurance to see what was covered. They recommended I buy travel insurance to cover lost equipment and trip cancellation or delay insurance (they don’t sell it). I was also looking for some medical evacuation coverage as my health insurance won’t necessarily cover that to the extent that I or my family might want me to be evacuated. Recently, however, when I decided to call and actually pay for the insurance I stumbled upon a lot of negative reviews. As of the writing of this blog entry I haven’t decided what to do, but I’m still strongly leaning towards purchasing from Travel Guard based on the recommendations of some specific hunters I’m acquainted with. To insure my currently paid, non-refundable, deposits plus extra medical evacuation coverage it would cost me about $193.
Ok, that’s it for this post. I’ll continue next time with dv Goes to Africa – Expenses Part II where actual in-country hunt costs will be discussed.
happy hunting, dv
If you liked this blog you may like the following:
- Photographing Your Hunting Trophies
- Outfitter Report – Javelina And Hogs In Texas
- Boar Attack – Anatomy Of A Hog Shot Gone Wrong
- Pronghorn – Rained Out
- How To – Prepare A European Skull Mount
- WWAC – What Would Africa Cost?
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