I just got back last Sunday. I promise I WILL have pics up sometime soon . Anyway, just about everything Shakari says is true. I needed=passport, 4451, 520, AND I WAS fingerprinted (index finger). They were also very pleased that I had a letter from my PH. They wanted to know where I would be and his addy was on the letterhead. They also checked the ammo. It was somewhat of a pain in the arse but they were all doing their job and really acting politely. Nothing was out of hand.

I was first in line so it didnt take me too long but there were others in line and I am sure that it took them somewhat longer. My buddy took and hour, and the line was still quite long.

Personally, I dont like to hunt with someone elses gun so I will have to take that into consideration when I go again. If it gets much worse, like having numbers on my barrel, well, lets just hope that they see the light if they start loosing lots o $$$$....

I've heard, some rumors, some very credibles, that it's almost impossible right now to carry our own rifles, and that the only way is to rent the PH's availbale rifles. Please, is that true??

tks!

I got back from Nambia, traveling through cape town on the way to Windhoek, and had no problem getting a temporary South Africa permit. We did need a US form showing that I owned the rifle. They have a new form to fill out, but required no fingerprinting as had been rumored. I think if you have a proof of ownership from your government and good serial #'s on your rifle, you'll have no problem. I did check with our booking agent for advice, so that's always a good plan in case something changes. I don't think South Africa will mess too bad with the system that would discoureage foreign hunters and dollars from coming to RSA. Bob

From the US it is possible to go with your own guns. I do not know what Argentine regulations may be in place.

Firearms regulations changed here on July 1st this year and although the SAP still seem to be changing the rules on a pretty much daily basis, the CURRENT situation is that you need form 4475, a written invitation from your outfitter to hunt complete with his outfitters licence number, a letter from yourself to the Central Firearms Register stating where you are hunting,when you are hunting and what type of species you are hunting (plains game, etc) and a copy of your passport. Then on arrival you will be fingerprinted, your firearms will be inspected to check the serial numbers correspond with your licences, your ammo will be counted and checked against the SAP520 form and then you will be issued with a temporary firearms licence. The shortest wait (that I know of) since the new laws came into force is about an hour and the longest is 6 hours. (a very few hunters have given up and returned home rather than be buggered about any longer) Having said all that, the checks seem to vary from officer to officer and hunter to hunter. Some hunters are not being fingerprinted, some ammo is not checked and occasionally they don't check the serial numbers at all. (This happened with me when I came through on 9th July)

You have two other alternatives. One is to use one of the firearms assist companies that operate at JIA, which will cost between US$35 per person and US$70 per hunter. (the more expensive one doesn't make an additional charge for non hunters) These companies will take you through the assisted passengers control point of passport control (much faster than usual) and then have all the paperwork pre prepared for you and take you to the head of the queue for serial number checking and fingerprinting etc. This is much faster than the usual wait, but one has to pay for the service....... The alternative is to hire or borrow a rifle from your PH.

According to the CURRENT advice from PHASA and the SAP, from January 1st 2005 all rifles WILL require the serial number to be engraved on the bolt, the receiver and the barrel. If they're not, then they won't be allowed into the country.

PHASA and a selection of concerned parties have already lost a High Court action to have this dumb act set aside and are now seeking an interview with the Minister of Tourism in an attempt to explain that if the act remains in force the hunting, airline and hotel industries will be severely affected. So far, no interview has been forthcoming. There is also some talk of another High Court action against the SA government for making it impossible for us PHs & Outfitters here to earn a living, which is against the new constitution....... but don't hold your breath on that one

You will probably have a few people tell you that they came through RSA and had no delays or problems etc, but if they came through before July 1st 2004 their comments will be of no use to you as it was before the new act came into force.

......now all I have to do is wait for an incoming
R-Attack

Tks for your replies! I feel now a little bit more comfortable!

Their (RSA) most recent change has almost certainly caused me to take my grandson to Namibia for his graduation present instead of RSA, where I likely was going to take him. I will hopefully fly directly to Namibia, meaning at least as it sits today, I won't be flying SAA. The RSA government is really doing themselves a favor!

I traveled July 8 through 24. Only have my experience to go on. This is a great forum to watch for the latest. I was looking at the possibility of leaving my rifle at home and using the PH's until early July reports showed OK. Seems like this is an ever-moving target. Bob

Sounds like a good idea to me. Maybe it's also a good idea to copy in the Minister of safety & security.

I'll try to get the right addresses on monday and will post them here.

My friend Wayne returned Wednesday from a hunt in South Africa and Namibia. He told me that the rumor is circulating that nearly three thousand hunters have canceled their hunts because of the new law's perceived difficulties. Anyone know if that is true, or is it just a rumor with no factual basis.

What about a letter writing campaign to the RSA Tourism department from hunters explaining how the changes will impact their decision on where to go hunting (read spend their money)? Gary T.

Steve



Thanks for your detailed report and keeping the guests posted, you have been a good (johnney on the spot) for information ....



After spending 30+ years in Southern Africa I have some good news for the guests that will hopefully help you all feel better.



If you think 2-3 hours waiting for government red tape to be processed consider yourself lucky as we whom have lived over there have to bang our heads against the wall to get the simplest of jobs done. Dont despair just remember you dont have to live with it on a daily basis.



Basically it is not the regulations perse that are the problem, IT is some of the boneheads administrating the system at grass roots level. If in fact all hunters had the correct forms and other information exactly as requested then barring the odd few INEPT officers you would find that it would not be a major problem, it is those hunters whom DONT listen and keep themselves informed and DONT have the full correct paper work with them that makes the waiting time compound.



Regards, Peter

Hi Peter,

Thanks for those few kind words...... and you're not kidding about the numbskulls cocking things up. There was an SAP guy at JIA last week threatening all kinds of trouble to a bowhunter because he didn't have a serial number on his bow!!!.......they made the poor bugger queue up for hours at the firearms office and he didn't even have any firearms with him...... just the bow!!

Hough, soreeee sah!

Hi Steve

Just keep taking the tablets, one blue one pink and in the next 50 years or so it will all be rosy again just like in the good old colonial days ( dream on Peter )

Take care Steve in Sunny RSA and thanks again

Peter - in NZ ( Rugby test from Sydney on TV soon )

Great game Peter, neither team really deserved to lose