I just got back from a great hunt with Brent Hein in Bubye Valley Conservancy BVC and with John Luyt in Klaserie, both for buffalo and some plains. Both are excellent PH s, Brent having hunted / guided some 800 buffalo and John some 500. They re the best!

However, travel can be challenging. Delta has in the past asked for a copy of the SAP license do bring a gun to SA. I had Gracy Travel send a copy to me. Note also the expiration date can be a stickler on the USA customs form. I ve used Bruce with Gracy multiple times in Johannesburg with clearing guns and I highly recommend the service since he smooths the waters and takes care of any issues. Also takes you to the various offices. The one for internal travel fo SA Link is next to the domestic security toilets!! Also if you need to store rifles he can arrange that through Gracy.

In Bulawayo, they cleared guns last. They counted rounds and I showed guns to customs. Fair enough. But 5 yards later there was another counter and I again had to take the guns out of my Tuff Pack box (highly recommended case) to again show my guns. Nobody said keep your guns out or that there s another check. Supposedly in case they are military rifles!

Checking out of Bulawayo was a SA Link check, but after security, I was taken to a windowless room, no lights, and told I had to aim my guns at tattered sand bags at my feet to prove they were not loaded! Being doubles, I left the security on and pulled the trigger to show they didn’t fire and opened the breech. Soon there were 5 officials, including the guy who seemed to be running the airport on the ground surrounding and crowding me in the room and he straight out said “tips”. I handed out some $20 s and they were all smiles except the boss. The young guy who insisted on counting my bullets was hanging around so I said should he get a tip? The second in command said yes and then the counting wasn’t needed.

Smiles all around and I bade them and Zimbabwe a happy farewell. I m not sure I ll ever take guns again but I loved having my .577 with.

Some comments on clothes etc since it comes up.

Use a beany fleece with built in head light, like from Dick s , for nights and morning open vehicles. Switch to soft hat with strap with sunshine. I prefer the soft packable wide brim, can pull down when stalkin, sun protection, and protects your face from thorns. But it does catch more and scrapping makes a noise. I use Tactical ear protection, but they keeping getting blocked and battery life is short but the heightened hearing is nice and ear protection. However, whenever possible, like at the range , I use MSA hearing muffs with the straps at the back for added protection. They are excellent. Lots of 50 rated sunscreen but make sure it’s the type that does not leave your face white. Big no no

Some African hunters used only a khaki shirt and the butt naked! Traditionally the Africans used a leather loin cloth (bearsho ). Some PH s use shorts and khaki shirt. I use khaki thick Cotten green shirts over a t - shirt and Evo vest with pad for my .577. Very comfortable shooting. Can do 20 rounds that way. You only need two or three since laundry is done everyday or second day. Thick kaki green pants. Bring a pair of athletic underpants in case you get inner thigh rub from all the walking. Some PH s like paler pants and darker tops to match terrain. Some like to have shiny watches covered.

Your foot ware setup is critical. Well worn tightly laced boots are the norm. If not tightly laced with down hill slopes you can bang your toe nails and bleed, apart from blisters. I use a inner nylon and outer wool, and despite the heat that works well. Ticks are plentiful so tuck your pants into the socks and use garters to overlay and also stop sand and grass seeds getting into your shoes.

I use a Kuiu back pack belt with a soft holster to carry my .577 or Gibbs .505. They get heavy very quickly! On the belt I also have two Murray leather holders for rounds but alternating with open slots for quicker loading. I think only the lead person should Africa carry. I know too many who ve been injured with accidental discharges. Watch out for you webspace between you thumb and index finger accidentally sliding off the safety when walking. Check it often. One of our part slipped and the safety came off. I don’t carry binoculars but leave them in camp or truck when walking and the tracker carries a culling belt for me with spare rounds. I have a range finder but rarely use it in Africa. More for fun than function I start the am with a wind proof jersey and water proof outer shell but shed them in the truck.

Everybody has their preferences and those are the mine and work for me.

I'm concerned that there is a major shakedown now going on in the Bulawayo airport for 'tips'. Someone needs to report it and get it stopped. I suggest that you let your PH Brent Hein and Gracy Travel know about it, or it's going to become a real issue for everyone. When I've traveled to hunt there, I have consistently refused to pay a 'tip'(bribe) or 'pay-off' anyone, and so has everyone else that I have hunted there with. As an aside, by paying those fools you could have opened yourself up to a claim of bribery. Nothing good comes from 'payoffs' or, as they say, 'tips'. They well knew what they were doing, having you 'prove' that the firearms were unloaded by pulling the trigger, and then them hitting the ground in fear. In my opinion, it would have been better to just simply open the actions and show them. Those devils are always trying to devise a new plan to shakedown someone. Just my two centavo's worth.

No fuckin' way. A 20 to each of those guys? You are setting up all the hunters following you for a shake down. I've hunted in 8 different African countries multiple times and I've given the cops a total exactly $20 one time to assure my guns made the plane to Bulawayo because we were late getting into JNB.

Mark

Last time I flew SAA Link into Bulawayo I had to do the serial number check and bullet count, but I didn’t pay a single penny in “tea/beer” money.

They must have seen you as an easy mark. Some people just look like victims.

I feel for the next hunter who flys into Bulawayo.

BH63

Returned today from SA. Used SAA, and all went well. I used Bruce from Gracy Travel in JNB, and he was a great help. Talking with him, he recommended the Delta flight from ATL for on time performance.

Thanks for all the info. Really appreciate it. No one was there with you so do as you see fit.
Good info there boys don’t start calling names or we will end seeing no reports.

I didn’t go into details When I arrived my guns were checked within 10 yards by three pairs of officials. First SA Link, then customs and then third what I presume was security police. Scott, one of the other PH was with me. We got into quite an argument with the last pair over the treatment of people with guns. So much so we were being threatened and backed off. I left a Scott to smooth things over before I got my self into serious trouble.

Note also one official kept saying I had to fill in a blue form. If you bring in more than $2000 dollars you have to complete it and supposedly when you leave. Scott got him off me but when Scott walked away I was harassed again. At customs I happen by chance to say I had $2000 so I was ok there. I was told people had been searched. I can’t confirm the truth?

On leaving I was met as I unloaded from the shuttle by a woman who brought a trolley and helped me put my guns and bag on the trolley. In the process of getting papers out I dropped a R50 by mistake, she picked up, and I said she could keep it for helping me. Turned out she was the SA Link person. She stayed with me at the checkin counter, checked the paper work but not serial or Ammo counts.

At security I was ushered through by a big Ndebele officer and told to sit down and wait for him. Shortly he took me through to outside and there the SALink woman showed up and took me the dirty dark store room with no space to put my guns down. I went through the process of showing her the guns were not loaded, opened up both doubles so she could see. She clearly wanted more money but I said already given her R50. That s when the senior official, the big Ndebele, another skinny HIV looking fellow and the ammo counter crowded me into the room and it became unpleasant and the tips for all was demanded. This was clearly a common setup. Other hunters were led off one by one. One I spoke to was pretty upset because he had no money on him and the big guy came back into the waiting area to pick up the tips.

The shuttle to BVC is currently $900 return given fuel cost about $24 per gallon on the street. BVC it’s cheaper. I will next time look into taking a plane shuttle from Bulawayo to Towla in BVC. Your luggage I m told then gets checked on the runway and does not go all the official inspections in the building but cleared at the plane.

Sad that such a great experience is marred by these issues. Scott was great at dealing with them on arriving. I let Brent know about the departure incident.

Unfortunately this not only the case in Zim and tips are often expected. UN says 5- 7 million, one third of the Zim population, will likely starve this year, in a country that was once called the breadbasket od Africa. And used to export huge quantities of meat. Much of the time there is no electricity because the turbines the Chinese put in broke again and the water level is low in Kariba from the drought.

Yet another reason to choose a PH with quality Camp Guns. As much as I enjoy shooting and hunting with my own guns, the hassle with corrupt incompetent African officials or incompetent TSA and CBP losers isn’t worth the bother and frustration.

In 2016 my PH picked me up at the Bulawayo airport and drove me to Nuanetsi and back no charge.

It pays to shop around when it comes to safari.

BH63

I'd never hunt with an outfit that left me to a "public transportation" shuttle from the airport to camp.

Beginning to sound like Zim is not the bargain it used to be.

BH63

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:
I'd never hunt with an outfit that left me to a "public transportation" shuttle from the airport to camp.

The OP never said that he was left on his own to negotiate public transport and I can assure you that was not the case. Perhaps he will clarify.

It was a service setup by one of the PH s from BVC, Scott, and Brent s tracker William drove us. Safe and careful driver. Obviously, once you pass passport control etc the PH s are not with you.

If what you say is true, that other hunters were also getting shaken down for 'tips' and bribes, like you were, then there is a real problem at the Bulawayo Airport that has just taken root, and which needs to be immediately addressed by the Zimbabwe Professional Hunters and Guides Association. ASAP. By ignoring it, they are going to lose clients and business, because no one is going to go through that shizz. In regards to the travel to the BVC, I have always had my PH pick me up and drop me off for a number of reasons, one of them being that white PHs are usually not harassed like black drivers are. Moreover, if you get in a pickle, with a black tracker as the driver at the wheel, you would likely find it very difficult to get yourself out of it without your PH.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
If what you say is true, that other hunters were also getting shaken down for 'tips' and bribes, like you were, then there is a real problem at the Bulawayo Airport that has just taken root, and which needs to be immediately addressed by the Zimbabwe Professional Hunters and Guides Association. ASAP. By ignoring it, they are going to lose clients and business, because no one is going to go through that shizz. In regards to the travel to the BVC, I have always had my PH pick me up and drop me off for a number of reasons, one of them being that white PHs are usually not harassed like black drivers are. Moreover, if you get in a pickle, with a black tracker as the driver at the wheel, you would likely find it very difficult to get yourself out of it without your PH.

Exactly!!

quote:

Originally posted by LR3:
Obviously, once you pass passport control etc the PH s are not with you.

Must be a completely different set up at Bulawayo than Harare. I've not hunted out of Bulawayo but leaving Harare, your PH is right there with you while your passport is checked and guns are cleared. The PH leaves once you walk through the doors to go through security and after all bags have been checked in and are on their way to the plane. That is, assuming your PH picks you up and drops you off which has always been the case when I've hunted with CMS.

quote:

Originally posted by LR3:
It was a service setup by one of the PH s from BVC, Scott, and Brent s tracker William drove us. Safe and careful driver. Obviously, once you pass passport control etc the PH s are not with you.

Passport control is usually the last thing you do.

Your PH, or his representative, should be with all the way until then.

quote:

Passport control is usually the last thing you do.

Your PH, or his representative, should be with all the way until then.

Exactly. Another reason why the Zimb PHs need to get this under control asap.

Dang, I went through BUQ just one year ago and it wasn’t terrible or anything I didn’t expect. I had over the $2000 in cash, so they took me to a private room to count it for them. Lady never asked for a bribe. Rifle was loaded into the log book and ammo checked, but no ask for a tip. Only person who asked for a tip was the guy who insisted on carrying my rifle case. I just played dumb and took my case once the PH met me after security.

On the way home from BUQ, got asked for tips when they crossed my rifle out of the log book and again when confirming it was unloaded. Gave the guy $2 and said make sure it gets on the plane. Didn’t feel necessary, but if $2 ensures it makes the plane, works for me.

Both times I’ve been I play the aloof tourist routine when being asked for tips, or act like I didn’t hear the request by saying something back like “thanks, I will have a great trip!” Throws them off.