Fortunately, that is not the case, and there is no ambiguity on the matter, thanks to a prompt clarification by Dr. L. Saiwana, Director General of ZAWA. His word on this matter can be taken as official: The safari fees in the new Statutory Instrument for 2007 will be implemented during the 2008 safari hunting season. Hunters destined for Zambia should be told there is no change in fees this year, Dr. Saiwana says.
So, what are the new fees? Here are some of the more important ones. Just be aware that outfitters in Zambia, as elsewhere in Africa, commonly surcharge government-mandated trophy fees, either to increase their profit or lower their daily rate in an effort to appear cheaper than their competitors. Surcharging trophy fees, of course, encourages governments to increase the fees even more, creating an upward spiral.
At any rate, here are some of the fees: black lechwe ($1,700 up $600), buffalo ($1,600 up $600), crocodile ($1,600 up $600), eland ($2,500 up $1,000), hippo ($1,600 - up $600), kudu ($1,600 up $600), leopard ($2,650 up $900), lion ($4,200 up $1,450), roan ($4,000 up $500), sable ($3,000 - up $300), sitatunga ($2,800 - up $1,000) and zebra ($720 up $120).
Still in Zambia, there is a new wrinkle in gun-clearing procedures there. Seems the government now wants your safari operator to have a copy of your passport and some kind of proof of firearms ownership in hand, along with a letter........(continued)
