African Safari Hunt Cost in Tanzania 

African Safari Hunting Packages

Hunting in Africa is an experience unrivaled anyplace on Earth for those wanting a vast range of game species, stunning scenery, century-old hunting customs, and the spice of risk. A hunt on the African continent will leave you with lifelong memories, whether you decide to go after plains game in southern Africa or go for Cape buffalo and elephant in the wilds of East Africa.

In some form, hunting is available in more than a dozen African countries. The majority of hunters travel to the southern African nations, particularly South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. These nations provide excellent hunting opportunities that are both accessible and economical, especially for beginners. Large wilderness regions and significant populations of dangerous game species, including lions, buffalo, leopards, and elephants, are found in East Africa, particularly in Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Mozambique. Hunting in Africa offers something for everyone due to the broad range of geography, nations, and game species available.

How much does an African Safari Hunt cost?

The total price of an African hunting trip is a function of four components. An African safari hunt cost from $15,000 to upwards of $100,000. However, some additional costs need to be considered.

The pricing factors of a hunting safari 

The total cost of your African hunting Safari can be understood as four distinct factors: Travel to Africa, the Safari Day Rate, the Trophy Tag Cost, and the Taxidermy Cost. 

1) Travel Cost to Africa

Whether you book first class or economy is entirely up to you, however you need to get to Africa. There isn’t much to elaborate on this point, other than to say the average cost of flights to Tanzania from the USA is around $1500 – $2500, depending on your ticket and route. We have also found that a good route to fly, irrespective of your home country, is via Qatar. Your port of entry, most of the time, will be Kilimanjaro international airport in Tanzania . 

2) The Safari Day Rate

To keep things simple, most African hunting outfitters offer an all-inclusive day rate, which covers your in-country transport, your accommodation, your meals, your drinks, your hunting guide, your hunting vehicle and other gear, and more. Here, the terms “most outfitters” & “and more” is key. When looking for a hunt, make sure to check, and if it is not available, ask for a complete list of included & excluded costs, and explicitly ask for a list of any additional charges that might apply. 

3) The Animal Cost

This is where most of the differences in price come in to play. An Impala trophy might cost you as little as $300 depending on the outfitter, whereas a standard Leopard tag costs an average of $30 000. As you can see, the costs of your animal tags are completely dependent on what you want to hunt, and what you are prepared to pay.  An important note on animal tags is to make sure that the price quoted is for a trophy animal, if that is what you are going for. We have caught outfitters, more than once, offering clients extremely low tag costs only for the client to discover that they were purposefully obfuscated. The most popular tactic is to quote clients on cull-animals, and then pretend they didn’t know any better once you are in camp; forcing you to pay any amount they so wish for the trophy variant of said animal. 

4) Taxidermy & Trophy Shipping

A good rule of thumb is that your Taxidermy costs will be around 50% of the trophy animal cost. You may also work on an average of $2 000 for shipping of the trophy to your home country. Please note that this is only an average, and exceptions apply.

African Hunting Packages: Calculate Your Africa Safari Hunt Trip Cost

We offer a comprehensive selection of Plains Game Packages for all budgets for first-time and repeat African hunters in Tanzania. Our all-inclusive African hunting packages are clear and transparent, with no hidden costs. We offer our plains game hunting in a new high-end lodge with stunning views. Hunters are welcome to ask for a tailored trophy Africa Hunting Package.

We provide detailed taxidermy prices and ensure no surprises at your Safari’s end. Although Tanzania hunting safari offers some unique experiences when it comes to buffalo and elephant hunting, it is considered to be one of your more expensive hunting destinations.

10-Day Tanzania Buffalo hunt. This is one of Tanzania’s top Buffalo hunting areas. You can hunt 2 buffalo, plus 1 of each of the following; Zebra, Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest, Warthog, Southern Impala, Bush Pig, Common Duiker, and Yellow Baboon. $19,950/per person 

14-Day Tanzania hunting Western Species. This special hunt is based on the limited 21-day license with no cats or elephants. Available game to hunt is East African Sable, Roan, Greater Kudu, Livingston’s Eland, Buffalo, Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest, Defassa Waterbuck, Zebra, Common Reedbuck, Southern Impala, Warthog, Klipspringer, Grysbok and Yellow Baboon. $28 950/per person 

14-day Tanzania Leopard hunt, Sable, Buffalo, and Western Plains game.  This is based on a limited 21-day hunt for Leopard, 2 Buffalo, only 2 of the greater antelope (Sable, Roan, Eland, Kudu), plus one of each of the following: Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest, Defassa Waterbuck, Zebra, Common Reedbuck, Southern Impala, Warthog, Bushpig, Klipspringer and Yellow Baboon. Elephants can be added to this package at no extra cost but if taken, trophy fees and success fees are applicable. Please inquire. $49,950/per person.

14-Day Tanzania Elephant Hunt. This is based on a limited 21-day license for Elephant, 2 Buffalo, only 2 of the greater antelope (Sable, Roan, Eland, Kudu), plus one of each of the following: Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest, Defassa Waterbuck, Zebra, Common Reedbuck, Southern Impala, Warthog, Klipspringer, and Yellow Baboon. Leopard can be added to this package at no extra cost but if a Leopard is taken or wounded and lost, then a pre-agreed success fee will be charged. $ 74 750 per person.

21 and 28-day Tanzania safari hunts. These are full entitlement hunts for Lion, Leopard, Elephant, 3 Buffalo, East African Sable, Roan, Greater Kudu, Livingston’s Eland, Hippo, Crocodile, Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest, Defassa Waterbuck, Zebra, Common Reedbuck, Southern Impala, Warthog, Bushpig, Klipspringer, Sharps Grysbok, Ratel, Civet, Genet, Serval Cat, Black Backed Jackal, Spotted Hyena and Yellow Baboon. This is truly one of Tanzania’s few remaining great manned lion areas, with thousands of Buffalo and the easiest Leopard hunting. The foot safari option is available at an additional $500 per day for a minimum of 3 days. Start from $ 40, 000 to $75,500.

21 – 28 DAY AFRICAN HUNTING SAFARI IN TANZANIA PACKAGE.

From east to west, from north to south, you will see and experience Tanzania at its finest and follow the footsteps of iconic hunters like Roosevelt, Hemingway, and Ruark. Your hunting experiences will go beyond your expectations!  You will possibly get to hunt 2 or even 3 different areas and habitats, which will give you the opportunity to collect almost all species that do occur in Tanzania, including fishing and bird hunting.

Additional Observer Fees :

Africa Hunting Safaris: Daily Rates + Trophy Fees

Your daily rate pays for so much more than three squares and a place to rest your head after a hard day of hunting. Lemme break it down. In the States and Canada, most hunts are a set price whether you get your game or not. In some cases you can add an additional specie or two for a trophy fee, but that is not the standard. If you hunt abroad however, and especially in Africa, a day rate + trophy fees is the norm. It is assumed that the day rate just covers your room and food, but it is much more.

Daily rates on your African safari typically include:

• Transportation from the International airport to the hunting camp, and return. This should go without saying, but having a friendly face there to greet you when you get off the plane in a foreign country is a big deal. Once you see your PH, all your worrying is done. It’s time to have fun and he will take care of you right up until you go through security on your way back home.
• Full-time service of a licensed and experienced Professional Hunter. It is a learning experience to hunt in Africa. Everything is new and exciting. Our PH is top-notch. His service and trophy quality is as good as it gets, and his prices are reasonable. He’s not the cheapest out there by a long shot, but the value is undisputed by every hunter we send to Africa. Your PH will be your teacher, guide, outfitter, and will become your friend. It’s hard to put a price tag on that.
• Driver, tracker(s) and skinner. Even if you are one of the best hunters out there, you will be humbled by the trackers. I’m sure you’ve heard that before, but just trust me. They’re amazing.
• Services of all camp staff. There are helpers everywhere taking care of everything. You will wonder how they can possibly afford to hire all of these people on just that daily rate. Be thankful that labor is cheap in Africa, it makes your experience so much more enjoyable and affordable.
• Accommodation, all meals, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. You will want for nothing. If there are special accommodations that you will need that are “out of the norm”, let your PH know prior to your safari so that it can be set up for you.
• Daily laundry service. Don’t take too many clothes because the maid will do your laundry every night.
• Skinning and field preparation of trophies. Behind the scenes your trophies will be skinned, salted and prepared for shipping and/or the taxidermist.
• Government hunting licenses and permit fees. It is nice not to have to worry about all of these fees. Your PH will have everything taken care of prior to your arrival.
• 18% VAT (Tanzania ) Currently set at 18%, Value Added Tax (VAT) is included in the price of most goods and services.

Daily rates exclude:

• Flights: You would be amazed how many people think that the flights are included… well, they’re not. Book as far in advance as you can for the best prices.
• Accommodation prior to and after safari.
• Trophy fees of animals bagged, wounded or lost. If you make it bleed, you pay the trophy fee. Seems fair, right?
• Taxidermy work and shipping of trophies to final destination. Many of our hunters have their taxidermy done in Tanzania. Our PH works with a great taxidermist and the price evens out when you add shipping and compare to the price of taxidermy here in the States. Also, if you do it there, there is a one-year turnaround instead of two.
• Rifle hire and ammunition.
• Tips – Tip your PH as well as you can afford. Try to be generous, he worked hard for you.
• CITES fees
• Additional activities such as Photography safari, or trips to town. Often these can be added to your package if we set them up prior to your Safari. If you take your family with you (which we suggest), then you should consider these options.
• Medical expenses.
• Trip insurance. Get trip insurance. Things happen.

Many of the “cheap” safaris set the hook with a very inexpensive, or even nonexistent, daily fee up front. The belief is that you are just going to have to pay for the trophies that you shoot, but then at the end of the safari you are hit with all of these extra costs. Believe me, that isn’t cool. Our PH doesn’t do that. His prices are all-inclusive.

Our PH NEVER adds any unexpected costs at the end of your trip. You will pay the daily rate prior to your safari, and at the end you will pay the trophy fees for the animals you bagged.

Trophy Fees for Hunting in Africa

The following prices for trophy fees are averages based on looking at three different outfitters and averaging their prices together. These prices will likely be about 35% lower if you purchase a package of animals rather than buying each one a la carte.

What types of game animals are commonly hunted on trips to Africa?

African hunting trips offer a diverse range of game species. Common targets include big game animals such as lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, and rhinoceros, as well as various antelope species like kudu, impala, and gemsbok.

What hunting methods are used in Africa?

African hunting trips often incorporate a mix of hunting methods. Common approaches include spot-and-stalk, tracking, and hunting from blinds or hides. Some hunters may also choose to participate in traditional tracking safaris, adding an adventurous element to the experience.

Are there any special permits or licenses required for hunting in Africa?

Yes, hunters typically need to obtain permits and licenses to legally hunt in Africa. The specific requirements can vary between countries and species. It’s important for hunters to research and comply with the local regulations and obtain the necessary permits well in advance of their trip.

What is the typical duration of a hunting trip in Africa?

The duration of hunting trips in Africa can vary, but many outfitters offer trips ranging from 7 to 14 days. The length of the trip often depends on the specific species being hunted, the location, and the preferences of the hunter.

What is the best time of year for a hunting trip in Africa?

The optimal time for a hunting trip in Africa can vary by region and species. Generally, the dry seasons are preferred as they offer better visibility and accessibility. Depending on the country, these dry seasons may fall between the months of May and October.

What should hunters consider in terms of safety and health precautions while in Africa?

Hunters should be aware of potential health risks such as malaria and take appropriate precautions, including vaccinations and anti-malarial medications. Additionally, understanding and following safety guidelines while handling firearms and respecting wildlife are crucial aspects of a hunting trip in Africa. It’s advisable to choose reputable outfitters who prioritize both hunter safety and ethical hunting practices.

A typical African hunting day

Your typical hunting day would be to get out of bed at +/- 06:00 in the morning, have a light breakfast and after that go out to your hunting area.

You would normally come back to camp for a brunch at about 11:00 or have brunch in the field. The rest of the time you can relax as the animals normally are bedded down until the afternoon.

At +/- 15:00 pm, you would go back hunting for the rest of the day until dark.

When your trophy is hunted and killed, you would go back to camp so that the trophy could be skinned and taken care of. 

Plan Your Unforgettable African Hunting Safari With Confidence

As you navigate the planning process, remember that careful consideration of every element, from trophy fees to travel expenses, is the key to a successful and gratifying experience. By dedicating time to thorough research and budgeting, you pave the way for a seamless and memorable safari. Whether you seek the thrill of the hunt, the beauty of diverse ecosystems, or the camaraderie of the safari experience, meticulous planning ensures that your African adventure becomes an enduring highlight. Prepare well, embrace the wild, and savor every moment of this extraordinary journey.