I see alot of post on flying to Namibia via Johannesburg and the paperwork you go through. What about returning from Namibia via Johannesburg on your way home?
I'm not going to Namibia in the next year, but plan to go in the future unless the financial markets go wild again.
My best bet is to fly out of Atlanta non stop on Delta, then Namibia Air into Windhoek. Going over it looks like you are going spend the night in Johannesburg and fly out the next day. What about coming back?

Any information on this topic will be much appreciated and will be filed away for future reference.

Thanks again.

Mauser K98

That is no real problem. Unless you decide to make a stop-over in Johannesburg (which some hunters do), you can check your gun(s) straight through to Windhoek. That means you won't be able to take possesion of them in Johannesburg, but Joburg airport implements a system with only licensed gun handlers taking care of guns, so in principle it should work... (It did work for me on my last outward bound journey through Joburg...).

Joburg Airport requires guns (and preferably ammo) to be packed in seperate bags to regular (i.e. non-gun related) luggage. Sadly, this means even takedown gun cases are pretty conspicuous...

Arriving in Windhoek, you have to present your import papers (download and fill out in advance) to be able to pick up and import your guns. Bit of red tape, but not as bad as some countries... Upon departure, you have to display the guns at Windhoek airport again, to prove they have been re-exported. Then onto the aircraft and check them through to your final destination.

In Joburg, it is the same "procedure" as on the way in. South African Airways managed to "loose" my guns in Joburg on my last return trip. Fortunately the gun case and contents showed up about 4-5 days after my return...

- mike

MK98,

If you are going to overnight in Joburg after arrival, you'll need to get a South African Temporary Import Permit. If you are going to overnight in Joburg after hunting in Namibia, you will also need the South AFrican permit. In that case do NOT give the authorities at the SA Police office on the departure level your permit when you leave for Namiba. Just explain that you'll be returning to the RSA for a day or so of tourism and they'll let you keep the permit and save time and trouble on your return. NOTE: When you get the permit on arrival, you'll have to be sure that you give your actual final departure date from the RSA so the permit remains valid throughout the trip.

If you are just transiting the airport in Joburg directly from Windhoek, you don't need to worry about the permit, as explained above.

Regards, Tim