The Accurate Reloading Forums
Johannesburg
30 August 2010, 03:59
Eland SlayerJohannesburg
It looks as though my family and I may be planning our first safari soon.....possibly for 2012. We are currently debating mainly between RSA and Namibia.
My question is, if we decide on South Africa.....is Johannesburg such a big pain-in-the-ass to avoid it alltogether, by doing a hunt in the Eastern Cape (instead of Limpopo) and flying to the Port Elizabeth/Cape Town area?
30 August 2010, 04:03
Steve AhrenbergES,
I have always told people who think hunting in Africa is dangerous, that the most danger you'll likely ever face in RSA is the walk from the SA police office to the car in the parking garage. Plus the shakedown on the way out.
Steve
Formerly "Nganga"
30 August 2010, 04:15
Heym 450/400I've been to both. Namibia is a much easier country to enter with firearms, but the game list is much shorter. RSA is definitely more of a hassle, but if you use a rifle clearing service it's pretty painless. If you really want to go to RSA don't let the hassle scare you because it is truly not that bad and part of the adventure
30 August 2010, 04:19
Idaho SharpshooterES,
Congratulations. You will enjoy it. I went to Limpopo hunting Plains Game in April. My PH met me at at the airport, knew the people there in customs, and walked me thru the entire deal in less than thirty minutes. Make sure ALL of your paperwork is in order. My PH sent it all to me, and I filled it out and returned it via Email. He called me and let me know that it was all in order about an hour later from his home there.
Cell phones work, at least my 3GS did.
Rich
30 August 2010, 04:32
Mad DogES, Johannesburg isn't THAT big of a pain in the azz. Besides the limpopo is a great place to hunt with a lot of very reputable outfitters there. Do what the others suggested. You can use a meet and greet service. We didn't, but we overnited at Afton Guest House, and they picked us up at the SAPS office. As stated before, just make sure all your paperwork is correct. Your outfitter will help you with that.
Mad Dog
30 August 2010, 04:54
graybirdES,
Don't let Joburg run you away from RSA. I just returned about 2 weeks ago from a hunt in the Eastern Cape via Joburg.
Use a meet and greet service, we used Afton House and things will all be in order.
Trust me the Eastern Cape is HUGE country!!! Very different terrain, flora and fauna within an hours drive! Most of the hunting for me was on low fence cattle ranches. Of the high fence operations that I took an Eastern Cape kudu and Black wildebeest, they were 4800+ ha. That would be about 10,000 acres. So, don't be mislead that all hunting in RSA is simply put and take. If you choose the right outfitter, you'll quickly learn otherwise!
Good Luck with your choices!!!
Graybird
"Make no mistake, it's not revenge he's after ... it's the reckoning."
30 August 2010, 05:00
SteveGlWherever you go, especially if you're bringing family, try to get a look at the big five - easier, I would say, in South Africa. I'm sure they'd all enjoy a side trip to Kruger.
30 August 2010, 05:06
Frostbitquote:
Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
ES,
Cell phones work, at least my 3GS did.
Rich
Rich,
How bad was your phone bill? I've been told that the 3GS like yours and mine will look for upgrades and such and you will get hit with a Data Charge thats unlimited here but charged there.
Anyway, did you run into that?
30 August 2010, 05:17
graybirdquote:
Originally posted by Frostbit:
quote:
Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
ES,
Cell phones work, at least my 3GS did.
Rich
Rich,
How bad was your phone bill? I've been told that the 3GS like yours and mine will look for upgrades and such and you will get hit with a Data Charge thats unlimited here but charged there.
Anyway, did you run into that?
I left on Aug. 2nd headed to the Eastern Cape. Before I left, I called AT&T about getting emails on my Blackberry. The agent told me I could receive the emails but the charge for data would be $20.00/meg of data received. WAY TOO STEEP!!!! Even though my business manager told me to do it, I opted to turn the data receiver off. Best decision I made on the entire trip!!! However, upon turning it back on once back in Atlanta. Damn did I have a heap of emails to sort through!!!
I would turn on my cell phone just to make a quick call every other day back home. The rest of the time, I just sent a text message in the evenings. It was the quietest 2 weeks I've had in I don't know how many years!!!
Graybird
"Make no mistake, it's not revenge he's after ... it's the reckoning."
30 August 2010, 08:06
Idaho SharpshooterI think the International Call Assistance charges amounted to about $7 per call total. I made three calls back here to Idaho to chat with Mamma and once to check on the cows with my nephew. Talked about ten minutes each time. My 82 year old Mother wanted me to call her just so she could tell all her friends that her boy Rich called her from Africa so I did that from the PH's house in Pretoria next to last day out.
Graybird,
the silence was deafening...
Rich
DRSS
30 August 2010, 08:59
graybirdquote:
Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Graybird,
the silence was deafening...
Rich
DRSS
Isn't it OUTSTANDING!!! Wish I could do it more often!!! No emails, phone calls, etc. Sometimes wish I didn't have one of the damn things!!!
Graybird
"Make no mistake, it's not revenge he's after ... it's the reckoning."
30 August 2010, 09:02
crbutlerMy opinion on Joberg, and its just from being in transit through there, is that if you have an agent (I used Gracy's folks) and you have enough time (a couple hours) you shouldn't have any problems on your arrival.
If you transit through, it seems (by other folks I've talked to in camp) when you leave your baggage in the "care" of the airport staff you run a higher risk of tampering.
There were a bunch of folks asking for "presents" that I gave a $5 bill and got rid of, as I didn't want to sit and argue with them, but the SA consensus is to ignore them, as they are not due anything.
I've heard some pretty wild things about the city itself, but if you are with a local (one of the guest house staff, or your PH) during the day, it should be OK- they know where not to go and since it should be during the day... Its a lot like the big cities here, only the violence is a bit nastier among the locals, from what I've been told.
They have upgraded OR Tambo for the world cup since I was there last, but I thought the airport was comparable with US airports, only the security was a little less obnoxious.
Have fun with the hunt. Get an eland while you're there...
30 August 2010, 11:35
Idaho SharpshooterGraybird,
"You can run but you can't hide...". Truer words were never spoken.
Yes Eland Slayer, that needs to be your first order of business there. One is atop my bucket list for 2011.
I made my wife a deal, I would not go back to Africa hunting until she got a new car. Did I mention there is a Salsa Red Jetta TDI in the garage as of Friday night?
Rich
30 August 2010, 18:47
Eland SlayerYes, Eland is definitely on the list. I've already hunted them here in Texas and they were, hands down, the most challenging and fun exotic game animal I've ever been around. 6 full days of walk & stalk hunting before I finally got a shot at a mature bull.....
30 August 2010, 19:48
MARK H. YOUNGWade,
Make you and your folks life simple. If you really get to go this time just get Gracy to organize your travel, gun permits and meet/greet. Someone will meet you at the jetway as you get off the plane, whisk you through customs etc and deliver you to the SAPS office. There Bruce from Gracy will be waiting with your gun permits and in a few minutes you'll be out the door with your outfitter.
O.R Tembo airport has a brand new arrival terminal built for the World Cup and it is much easier to navigate even by yourself. Last year was the my last time there and I was out the door within 20 minutes or leaving the jetway.
Mark
MARK H. YOUNG
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https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 30 August 2010, 19:50
Mad DogAhh hell, nobody has made a specific reccomendation, yet on who to hunt with. So here goes.
www.cruisersafaris.com/They are fabulous. Great lodge. Can arrange side trips. Their pkg. hunts haven't gone up much since I was there in 2008. Their agent here in the states is great, and will walk you through everything. Stay at Afton, and let those boys take care of you.
Mad Dog
30 August 2010, 20:23
Eland SlayerThanks for all the good info guys.....
BTW, in my initial post.....what I meant to ask was.....is Johannesburg too much of a pain to deal with? Therefore, should we book a hunt in the Eastern Cape instead? So that we could fly directly to Port Elizabeth or Cape Town, instead of Johannesburg.
But it sounds like it doesn't matter much anyway.....
30 August 2010, 20:38
Lincs StalkerWe arrived on the 14 August at J-Burg from the UK, with a completed SAPA 520 (Application For Multiple Import Or Export Permit/ Permanent Import) and a letter of invitation and had no trouble at all - its a quick simple process. Only tip, avoid the airport porters, they didn't add to the process.
30 August 2010, 20:45
Outdoor Writerquote:
So that we could fly directly to Port Elizabeth or Cape Town, instead of Johannesburg.
If you decide on the Eastern Cape, I don't believe you can fly directly into Port Elizabeth. You will still have to go though either CT or JB to clear customs first.
When we went to the EC in 2003, we processed through JB on our own. It was basically painless. Just make sure you allow enough time between flights and have your paper work in order BEFORE you get to the SAP office.
On the return to JB, we rented a car and drove to a lodge just outside Krueger, where we spent 4 days touring the park and taking photos.
Tony Mandile - Author "How To Hunt Coues Deer"
31 August 2010, 04:30
Eland SlayerThanks Outdoor Writer.....for some reason I was thinking you could fly directly to Port Elizabeth from the U.S.
31 August 2010, 06:57
L. David KeithAnnelise from Afton House arranged our recent permits and we made it through SAPS in 15 minutes (was the record for me). Lodging in took about 30 mins as the girl was new and slow. All in all, it was well worth the $90. I can do it myself with my eyes closed but standing in a long line is not my forte.
Depending upon the time of year and species your looking for, both are great hunting destinations. The EC has the most PG and accommodations are anything from simple to posh. Namibia offers its own unique terrain and can be just as good of a quality experience. I would take at least a couple of days to visit one of the big parks. Deals are available in both areas. Airfare is currently averaging $2,200 from Atlanta to Jo'burg to PE. Less on SAA. Haven't seen the current airfare to Windhoek but would most likely be similar to a less.
GH,
David
Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris
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Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt:
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http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson
Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running......
"If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you."