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Booking A Hunting Safari

Booking a hunting safari is the process by which you indicate that you definitely want to hunt at a specific time and paying the hunt deposit confirms the booking.

Don't book a hunt if you are not 100% sure that you can and want to go. It's a pain in the neck for all concerned if a hunter cancels for some spurious reason and deposits have to be returned if they are indeed refundable.

"Booking a safari isn't all that unlike contracting for a wedding. You supply the money and the main participants and somebody else will be delighted to do most of the work of putting the whole show together." Peter Hathaway Capstick

Some outfitters will hold dates open for a client while they are deciding but don't expect this to be indefinite. If you have dates held open for you, tell outfitter at the earliest opportunity if you no longer require them. If the hunt or dates are popular, another client may book and pay a deposit before you, so don't hang around or you may lose out.

It is often around the time of booking a hunting safari, that some hunters like to exercise their price negotiating skills.

There is something about hunting in Africa, perhaps either unwittingly perpetuated by the outfitters themselves or just perceived by clients, that it is not really a 'legitimate' business. Many clients have an inbuilt suspicion that they might be being fleeced in some way, so feel they must 'barter' on their hunt price. There is nothing wrong with seeking out a genuine bargain due to a cancellation or to take a gap hunt that the outfitter might have available. However some clients feel obliged to pressure an outfitter for all sorts of 'freebies'. A popular one is trying to get the outfitter to let the wife come for a reduced rate, if not for free. Their reason being that she doesn't eat much and certainly not US$200 per day's worth of food. Another ruse is requesting that the non-hunter may shoot a 'few' animals.

A top-flight outfitter will not respond to bargaining - his published prices are what he needs to charge to run his business and make a living. Don't expect the very best quality hunt from an outfitter who does concede to bargaining demands - there will be corners cut somewhere.

Before you transfer any money to pay for your hunt, make sure you are in possession of a detailed hunt contract or agreement and that you understand and are happy with the company's terms of business regarding hunt payments and cancellation policy.