Thank you everyone for your input on this! It is very helpful.

To take a firearm to SA you will need a letter of invite from a South African outfitter. You will also need an itinerary that shows SA as your final destination.

.... And it will be the stamps in my passport that tell tale

quote:

Originally posted by Ramblinman:
.... And it will be the stamps in my passport that tell tale

The stamps won't help you get the permit....just letting you know what's required to get a temporary export permit to SA. Coming back is no big deal as long as you have it to show the CBSA officer.

by mentioning the stamps my concern is whether Canadian customs will enforce the sanctions against Zimbabwe - my passport will notify the agent on my return as to where I have been.

i do not know in Australia but lying to a customs officer in Canada can be a very interesting challenge ...

Ramblinman: you know you shouldnt and you want to try .... advice is cheap and very true on that specific case ...

On my trip back from Cuba last winter I was checked at Canada customs.The officer saw that I had a camera.He took out a laptop and inserted my flashcard into it.I had my last two hunting trips photos on it and he went through the whole thing.

If your nothing else Ramblin man, you are determined!

quote:

Originally posted by nickh:
Medved,
In that case you Canadians should stay home and watch it all on TV then!
Zimbabwe is a country where both Aussies and Canadians can visit.
I have no issue in telling my border patrol that I visited the country.
Even tell them I hunted there, as that's allowed as well!
As to your firearms, well you guys figure that one out!

Ramblinman asked about this, and he has been offered opinions from different members.

It's up to him what he does from here.

Have you ever been to Zim. Or even Africa hunting ever????

A lot of Canadians do go and do take rifles as well

good point

quote:

Originally posted by nickh:
Medved,
In that case you Canadians should stay home and watch it all on TV then!
Zimbabwe is a country where both Aussies and Canadians can visit.
I have no issue in telling my border patrol that I visited the country.
Even tell them I hunted there, as that's allowed as well!
As to your firearms, well you guys figure that one out!

Ramblinman asked about this, and he has been offered opinions from different members.

It's up to him what he does from here.

Have you ever been to Zim. Or even Africa hunting ever????

A lot of Canadians do go and do take rifles as well

not only i visited Zim but i lived and hunted in CAR for three years first time in 1989 ... but that is not the point.

and for advice this is what i said also he will be the one dealing with his choice not me ...

Guys,

If you do it right and let a savvy travel agent handle it there will nothing on record to show you as Canadians entered Zim with guns. Your passport may show a Zim stamp but if you've done it right it will only show the guns went as far as RSA.

Mark

Brian I think you have 2 issues . First issue is getting your gun into Zimbabwe past the airlines . As others have said on this thread that appears doable by buying separate tickets . You can get a transit permit from SA with little problem .
The requirement from the Zimbabwe stand point are rather lax a single form in triplicate The second bigger problem is from my understanding it is illegal as a Canada citizen to export even sporting firearms to Zimbabwe with out authorization . While you can probably pull it off using separate tickets you still have broken Canadian law as I understand it .If they find out about it . I think you should think long and hard about this is it worth the risk? Most outfitters have a large selection of quality rifles you can rent.

The matter of moving hunting rifles across different borders can be administratively cumbersome and not without its occasional red tape.

My intent is to not only generate some conversation in this regard for my own benefit, but also to have some record for the next Canadian who decides to travel abroad with a rifle.

Accurate Reloading hosts a wealth of knowledge. I would be remiss to not tap in to it. I appreciate the advice is free - I am happy to have it.

My problem (and its a first world problem I know) is that the rifle I intend to hunt with is important to me - and it was purchased many years ago with the intent hunting Africa. To leave it behind would not sit right with me.

I sincerely appreciate everyone's point of view.

Well then you have answered your own question. Hunt one of the other countries in Africa - SA, Namibia, Zambia ,Tanzania etc. with your rifles. All offer different experiences and don't entail the possible red tape issues.

My advise is do what you are comfortable with. I have done African hunts with and without my rifles. Although hunting with my own rifles was/is preferred, the the memories of hunts I did with loaner rifles were not diminished in the least by using a rented rifle.

Most CBSA agents I've run across don't even know what the temporary export permit is despite the fact they have to sign it upon your return but you never know what questions they may ask. If you take a rifle to Zim you are knowingly breaking the law. Only you can decide if you are willing to live with the consequences if you get caught. I know I personally wouldn't be so I wouldn't.

Thanks to everyone who commented on this matter. For info - I choose not to bring a rifle or ammunition. My research concluded that it was not likely a situation I could talk or negotiate my way out of ... something about a 20,000 dollar fine and confiscation of my rifles closed the deal for me. It worked out for the best as I got to shoot my Tuskless with a Double Rifle.

I should also add that Emirates was great to fly with. Air Canada could not get me to Joberg - yes the internet site would not acknowledge my query - when I called a representative she simply said the computer will not let her do it and she ended he conversation. It was laughable.

Emirates on the other hand let me do all the booking on the web - and someone actually answered the phone and looked after all my questions when I had them. If I could do it all over again I would have flown directly in to Harare. Go Emirates!

Between losing my luggage/rilfes in the past, arrogant flight attendants and a web site that is seriously lacking - I will go out of my way NOT to fly with AC!

Ramblinman, you made the proper choice. On a bear hunt in Manitoba earlier this year, I ran afoul of a Canadian Customs agent named Lee, who was approximately the size and temperament of a sow grizzly. He said to me, "Just because your paperwork is in order, does not mean I have to approve your gun permit." He apparently did not like the fact that I chose to bring a .470DR along. I had a short connection time to Winnipeg. and he advised me that I should re-book for a later flight, because if my rifle got "lost", he would be able to buy it from impound for a song in the future.

Good discussion. I enjoyed reading it all.
Glad things and the hunt worked out for you. Did you arrange to bring trophies back?

Tim: Sounds like the a/h was giving you some good advice don't it?

George