I am often asked the question, "How can you afford to hunt in Africa - and especially as often as you do? Are you "Rich?"
The answer might surprise you.
While I would consider myself to have had a successful career over my lifetime, I first went to Africa with my family at 19. I went again at 24 on a leopard hunt.
Time, raising a family, and, of course, a lack of extra funds delayed my next trip until I was 35. Now, I go at least every other year.
Because I make it a priority, I never worry about "affordability." I have automatic deductions put into a soecial account separate from the family finances that is my "hunting fund."
What I don't do is eat out a lot, I never have an expensive bar bill, I don't smoke, drink, drive the newest cars or trucks, and live in a modest home.
Looking at the costs to hunt big game outside of your state of residence (the cheapest way to hunt), hunting in Africa and, especially South Africa, are a relative bargain.
Your average , QUALITY, 7-day, plains game safari with 5-7 animals will run you between $6000-$8000, depending which animals that you choose. We run specials all the time that can save money on those rates, but that's a good number.
I want to put an "aside" here that "quality" is a very important term.
We see hunt pictures all the time of people that have "tagged out" on all of their animals and the biggest ones are SCI or Rowland Ward "bronze-level" - most of them smaller. All of the trophies at The Best African Safaris are of high quality, with most making the record book.
Let's say that you want to go on a safari in 2 years. The total cost with airfare, tips, gratuities and trophy fees is $9500. Divide that number by 24 and you have just under $400/month. Your goal is to find a way to put that money aside. Maybe you bring your lunch to work 3 times per week. Perhaps you don't go to the bar with your buddies on Fridays. Maybe you work a little overtime and put that money into the fund, or work a part time gig like Uber, Lyft, Postmates, or other part time work. Perhaps you wait another year for that new car, or buy used when you normally buy new.
All will work.
If you think that's a lot of money, you need to know that is the same and less than a guided elk hunt in New Mexico, Moose in Alaska or Canada, and about 4x less than hunting any of America's sheep.
The BEST news is that The Best African Safaris can help you by setting up an automatic payment plan for your trip so that there are no issues when it is time for you to go, while still having your money under U.S. control and deposit to ensure that there are NO issues with your trip.
You CAN afford to hunt in Africa. Let the Best African Safaris help!