Well I'm going to Botswanna to hunt ELE and have heard that you Don't need a SAP form if your not staying in SA but just transfering thru the airport. Gracy-Mars says they use a Meet and Greet person who can get your luggage and guns thru Johannesburg and on the plane to Maun. Anybody have this experience?-Rob

No personal experience but this from PHASA's website:

"In Transit Passengers (Transiting South Africa)

It is critical that you check with and confirm with the airline/s involved before departure to make sure what their procedure is for the transfer of baggage and/or firearms.

If the airline does transfer your baggage/firearms, and you have booked them through to the final destination, and you stay in the in-transit area and do not clear South African customs, then you need not go through the temporary import process.

If your airline company will not transfer your baggage/guns to your connecting airline/flight, then you must collect your baggage/firearm/s and go through the entire entry process. If this is the case, the South African limitations, requirements, etc. will apply.

This also applies if you are overnighting in South Africa before flying on to your country of destination."


I would think that the extra money for the service to ensure your bags are transferred would be money well spent.

Regards,

Terry

quote:

Originally posted by Robgunbuilder:
Well I'm going to Botswanna to hunt ELE and have heard that you Don't need a SAP form if your not staying in SA but just transfering thru the airport. Gracy-Mars says they use a Meet and Greet person who can get your luggage and guns thru Johannesburg and on the plane to Maun. Anybody have this experience?-Rob

Yup. Flew ATL to JBG via SAA. The Optima travel lady met us, showed us the gate for the SAA flight to HRE, and then the attended to having our bags transferred from the trans-Atlantic flight to the Zim flight. All went smoothly. No SAP form needed, since technically we were never in South Africa.

Congratulations on your ele hunt!!! I did it last year. I'm anxious to know when you are going, who your outiffter is, your PH and what camp!

Anyway, in answer to your question about transferring through Jo'burg to Maun. We flew British Airways and were able to check our luggage all the way through from LA to Maun. However, just to make sure all went as planned we had Hunters Support/Air 2000 meet us upon arrival in Jo'burg and make sure all was transferred to Air Botswana without problems. I would highly recommend this assistance, it is well worth the price which was less than $100.

As it turned out, our luggage was indeed transferred by BA to Air Bots without any problems, but I felt better knowing that there was someone there if the rules changed.

You'll have a great hunt!!! Regards, D. Nelson

we transfered thru joberg with no problems at all. baggage was checked through to zim and no permits required. technically you are not in south africa when in the transit terminal. same thing on the way back

Rob,

I think it would be well worth it to have Air 2000 make sure your guns made the flight to Maun. $70 well spent. E-mail anne@air-2000.com She really does know everything about gun transfers etc.

Regards,

Mark

Gents: I tried to engage the services of Air 2000 even though I will be transiting through to Zimbabwe. The lady at Air 2000 told me that I would not need their services as I was in transit. I thought they could at least ensure the transfer of luggage/guns to the Zim flight but according to her, they only work if you're staying in RSA. Some confusion here. jorge

Congratulations on your upcoming hunt. Of course Rob, you are taking at least one 600 OK with the GMA action to tease an ele.

Just received my completed 600 Ok from Ed and couldn't be more pleased with the workmanship and stock work. Will keep you informed of my shooting experiences.

Have a great trip--ele above 70# are a possibility there.

Good luck!

Dak

Dak,

Please post pics of your .600! Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by jorge:
Gents: I tried to engage the services of Air 2000 even though I will be transiting through to Zimbabwe. The lady at Air 2000 told me that I would not need their services as I was in transit. I thought they could at least ensure the transfer of luggage/guns to the Zim flight but according to her, they only work if you're staying in RSA. Some confusion here. jorge

I find this interesting since I have planned on using such a service this June. I've understood that the rival company "Optima" will ensure the transfer of luggage and guns even if you're only in transit. So maybe their policy is differant than Air2000? Or am I mixing things up?

Last time I was in transit via RSA, my rifle arrived in Zim several days later than I did...

Thanks Guys- You have helped immensely! I'm going to e-mail Air 2000 and set it up! I'm going with Johan calitz safaris probably with terry Palmer as my PH. Yup the mighty .600 OK will be used for the task.-Rob

500 Grains

Don't have a digital camera, but Ed Plummer has a picture of it in his computer before he sent it, also he has a identical mate to this rifle for sale, at least this was the case 3 weeks ago.

Rob
Will you be shooting 900 grain Woodleigh solids or other bullets? Expected fps for your loadings? Also, would anyone with a 500 + cal expect to have trouble booking hunts out of the country??? Anyone???

Dak

Robgunbuilder;

I hunted with Terry Palmer (Johan Calitz) last August for my elephant. The camp was Qorokwe. You'll have a great time and see lots of bull eles.

Keep us posted. Best regards, D. Nelson

I'm going to use some of the bullets made by Frit454. 900 gr solids and will probably use a 2250 fps load. I'll also take some Woodleigh softs at 2100 for the Baboons! They should rememeber me from the last trip. I have not heard of any current over .510 caliber restrictions and personally know some folks in the FCSA who hunted SA with a Pauza .50BMG.The .600 OK is no military cartridge by any stretch of the imagination so unless their is a caliber restriction I have never heard of any problems. If there are please let me know.-Rob

Contact info for Optima please? jorge

johan.optima@worldonline.co.za

If you're in transit only through Johannesburg, Air 2000 will tell you that you really don't need their services.

The risk you face as an in transit air traveler through and changing planes in RSA is the same as that you face at any airport: lost luggage.

Do you or should you hire anyone to follow your bags at any other airport along the way? It's not a permitting issue at all.

Rob, good luck and good hunting!

Thanks Terry. MRLEXMA, yu are right, but in dealing with the Third World, I've always found it advantageous to have that extra help. jorge