Dear All,

If all goes well, I'll be travelling to Zim in mid-September. I'll be flying via Johannesburg. I hope to be able to check my luggage straight through to Vic Falls, but JNB airport being what it is, I'm a bit worried about the chances of my luggage making it with me to my final destination.

Does anybody know if any of the JNB "gun handling service" companies can actually ensure that checked-through luggage makes it onto the connecting flight?? If yes, any recommendations for such a company?? Or do the gun-handling services only work for SA gun imports these days??

Does the JNB airport authorities have special requirements for travel with firearms, or is this up to the airline companies offering the flights?? E.g. rifle has to be packed in separate locked case (as opposed to the case being inside my duffel), or ammo in separate bag from gun (I was hoping to travel with just one bag).

Does anybody know if tax-free goods (booze) bought in JNB airport will be allowed onto the flights out of JNB airport??? Of late, it seems a mystery when and in what form liquids will be allowed onto flight as part of your hand luggage...

Upon arrival in Vic Falls, what are the procedures for gun import?? Do I need a confirmation from my safari company I'll be going hunting with them?? Any official forms to be filled out in advance (as in SA)??

I suspect I'll have to declare foreign currency carried when entering Zim - in order to be able to leave the country with (parts of) said currency instruments again??

Thanks a lot for any help and assistance you may offer.

- mike

Hi Mike,

back in 06 I was traveling - Ljubljana - Frankfurt - Jo'burg - Harare. I have checked the bag and rifle (separate) to final destination (Hre). Mainly just because of tight connection (1 hr) from Jo'burg to Harare they didn't connect my bag - rifle came through. Bag arrived with next flight. I was equiped with invitation letter, but nobody asked for it, same with declaring foreign currency. In Zim you will pay your visa (choose the right line), then you will be asked to fill a form (No. of firearm... 3 copies - take 2 x A4 indigo sheets - they don't have them) and you will be out of there.

With tax-free booze - keep the bill and you should be fine.

mho

SeeTHIS THREAD for info on SAA requirements.

I tried to get Air 2000 to help assure the transfer of bags on a connecting flight like that last fall [2007] and they said they were no longer able to do that!

You can check with each airline at every airplane change, to be sure that the bags have transferred [I believe that they are all scanned these days to match bags and passengers]

The duty free will probably be delivered to you at the door of the outbound aircraft, and you should be good then, though you would probably not be able to transfer it, however, from one flight to another.

The Vic Falls proceedures should be answered by your PH / Outfitter.

Declare ALL your cash and ALL firearms and ammo, do not even consider doing otherwise.
Be sure to allow plenty of days on your entry/visa application and check all documents to assure that the dates are correct.
Vic Falls airport, while extremely small and "low tech" does have something of a reputation for "creative law enforcement".


Les

Thanks Guys! As usual, AR is the place to come for help!!

- mike

I have used Optima twice, the last time being last month and every bag has made the connection both ways. It is $50 per person each time. Well worth it.

vipassist@optimahandling.co.za

Make sure that you do not have an EU arms embargo issue if traveling from Europe or through a European airport. Some airlines will not check your rifles through to Zim and you could get into trouble as well.

mho; You have a PM...Regards, D. Nelson

Thanks Guys.

D.Nelson, saw PM and replied. Thanks a bunch.

Charles, I won't be passing through an EU airport along the way. Besides, I have a feeling only the UK has set up these rules?? Thanks for the heads-up in any event.

450/400, I'll check out Optima and see if they can still offer the service for transit luggage.

- mike

Yes, you can buy booze at JNB duty free and hand-carry it onto your flight.

Don't try to apply logic to that, it just gives you a headache.

Thanks mate, it sounds like the gin (and tonic) may be possible...

- mike

MHO, you have some great questions. You have obviously thought your hunt and all the ways it can go wrong. Of course it is always possible that your bags will be separated and arrive on different flights at the destination. Also, I wanted you to know that on my last flight to Zim I had no intention to fly through London, but the airlines sent me there anyway. They had such delay on departure that I missed my connections in D.C. This fiasco resulted in E.U. Customs officials telling me they were detaining my rifle in London until I decided to return and pick it up on my way back to the U.S., all because of the arms embargo banning guns going to Zim. The moral of the story is that when the airline tries to give you a detour you must not let them route you throulgh E.U. countries. Just tell them to pay for your hotel room and let you wait for the next non-stop flight to JNB. I definitely agree with your idea of getting written letters from your outfitters confirming your hunt details prior to departure. That has become fairly standard in recent years. Have a great hunt.

Don't count on being able to buy booze in J'berg and taking it on a flight to another country. I tried this in May and they wouldn't sell it to me...said I need a diplomatic passport to take bourbon to Namibia. I tried several times...