I am flying from Dallas TX to JNB...I have a current form 4457 for my rifle and SAPS 520 but I am seeing language from US Custom's website that says: "I am going hunting in Africa and plan to take a rifle and rifle ammunition; do I need to obtain an export license?

No, 22 C.F.R. § 123.17 allows U.S. persons to temporarily export up to three (3) firearms (rifles and/or handguns) and up to 1000 rounds of related ammunition without a license providing that they will be returned to the United States. However, the exporter is still required to make a declaration via the Automated Export System (AES), pursuant to 22 C.F.R. § 123.22(a) and submit the AES Internal Transaction Number (ITN) along with the firearms/ammunition to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for visual inspection prior to departure from the U.S."...is anyone familiar with thus requirement? I have traveled to Africa before and was not aware of this requirement to declare via AES and obtain a ITN.

This is precisely why you book your travel through an agent like TWG.

Looks like the AES system is back again. This only makes at least the 3rd time.

So much for no back door gun registration.

We brought this on ourselves, in part, by travels leaving guns overseas.

I know this was proposed during both President Obama and President Trump administrations. Both times the rally was able to get the registration suspended.