Fortune has smiled upon me and I'm planning to head to Zimbabwe next June to hunt with Roger Whittall Safaris in the Save Conservancy for ten days. I've been perusing the forums but was left with a few questions for you experienced hunters.

I just use a dumb flip phone and wondered how you handled communications. I don't need/want internet or even a phone, and if Whittall has a sat phone for emergencies, that would be fine. Would an international calling card be helpful during the flights to and from Harare, or is there a better solution?

I understand the ammunition limit is 11#. Will the airlines accept quality plastic cases or do you need Official Factory Cardboard Boxes to make them happy?

I'm not crazy about traveling with a large amount of cash for tips and such. Is there a more elegant way to handle this issue, or just bring plenty of Benjamins and be cautious?

From what I've read, even getting European skull mounts and shipping them home can run thousands of dollars. Is this worth the expense, or just bring a good digital camera and have some nice prints made of the trophies for the memories?

Many thanks!

Unless you're shooting for a month or have to resight in, a couple of boxes of ammo is plenty. Most airlines are okay with the quality plastic ammo boxes. The best thing to do is print out the airline policy and have it with you.

Cash is king, always has been always will be. Usually not a problem carrying cash.

Taxidermy or not, only you can answer that question. I could not have imagined leaving anything behind on my first (second, third, fourth) safari. If you can do without bringing stuff home you will be way ahead on funding your next hunt. I hope you have a great hunt.

First, you couldn't have picked a better outfitter. You are in for a fabulous time. One you won't forget. A flip phone is all you need, I leave all that other stuff at home and just soak in the experience. Plastic ammo cases are fine. Cash is the only way for tips, money belt. You may want to prepay some of your trophy fees or work something out with RWS on paying for them once you get back. Trophies are TREMENDOUSLY expensive. You have the dip and pack, shipping, then the taxidermy. Having said that, being your first safari, I think I would bring back one or two home. Something you might think about is for less money than trophies, have your hunt videoed. Andy Buchanan has done some work with RWS and some of his clips from there are here on AR. With a video you can play back the memories again and again, share with friends. You will remember so many things that you forgot. A video is worth the money and then some. Most of all, soak it all in, the sights, sounds, smells, savor EVERY moment. Have a great time and post a report when you get back.

If you do decided to bring trophies home, bring them all. The increase in dip/pack/freight fees for more animals is marginal and many fees have a minimum you have to pay anyway.

If you have plastic ammo boxes, like the kind reloaders use, you can make your own labels to stick on them and they instantly become factory ammo boxes.

Have a great trip.

I am not an expert on Africa. Fairgame advised in the past to save on trophy shipping and taxidermy to hunt more!

When I planned Zim I came through South Africa. Some rules say that ammo should be in a lockable separate case. I think this is a bigger issue for local flights.

Where do your flights connect?

This is what I did. You need to use your own lock & key & not a TSA lock.

Ammo boxes totally depend on the route you are to fly to Zim. If you go via Johannesburg and check in with SAA for the flight to Bulawayo or Harare, you will need a hard ammo case with locks as SAA wants it checked as a separate piece of baggage.

On your return, it matters not as you will be in tansit through SA--even though you will fly on SAA south. Makes no sense at all but that is the way it is.

Prepare for sticker shock for trophies going home. Shippers are expenseve. Taxidermy in Africa is less money than in the states but the crate will be bigger so you won't save in the long run. Also, some (not all) African taxidermy leaves a lot to be desired and one can't do anything about it when the crate arrives. (A friend just received a shipment from Zim and the quality was not that good. His PH won't answer his emails and his communication with the company didn't really solve any issues.

You are going with an excellent name in the business and an excellent area. Your trip will be memorable and take endless photographs and videos.

You may decide to use a service in SA to get permits for your firearms. Many here use them and many don't. I don't and when I used them there was no saving of time--in my experience.

Arrive a day or two early to rid jet lag and do some shopping in the city. The city square in Bulawayo has good deals on trinkets. Fazaks has a lot of stuff but are very expensive. The museum in
Bulawayo is amazing. There is more to the hunt than just the hunt. See and experience all you can. Sight see, visit old ruins, fish, etc.

Good luck and we here all want a report. I may see you as I will be going to Zim in mid to late June, via SA (I want to avoid the middle east and Emirates) and will night over at the City Hotel.
Folks here can supply the SA rifle permit so you can do it yourself if you wish.
Cheers,
Cal

PS. Nakihunter's post arrived as I was typing mine. I do exactly what he does for international travel with ammo.

1) In my experience (2 trips), you do need to use a TSA lock on your ammo box. Only use your own lock on your rifle case.

2) If Guy Whittall approaches you holding a drumstick like a microphone, do not agree to doing the interview.

Thank you all for the experienced advice. It would be easy enough to have the ammo in a small locked container in the duffel/suitcase, and I will plan on that.

From recommendations here on AR, I already talked with "Travel With Guns" and will use them to book the flights after I confirm dates with Hannah. Flying out of Boise, as I expected they suggested going to Seattle and taking Emirates to Dubai, overnighting there, and then on to Lusaka and Harare.

I'm planning on bringing a carry-on bag with essentials, a change of clothes, binoculars, and my riflescopes which are on Leupold QD mounts. I figure I'll be confirming zero at Humani and the rifles seem to hold zero well with removing and replacing the scopes.

My primary goals are a Cape buffalo and kudu, but a nyala and waterbuck would be welcome. I'll bring a couple Kimber Caprivi rifles in .375 H&H and .458 Lott. Our ground squirrel season starts in late January and they are out until early June, so I can grab a rifle, hike into the BLM, pester ground squirrels, and prepare for Zim. There is nothing like facing the charge of a buck Townsend's ground squirrel!

I'll remember to avoid the drumstick, thanks!

England,

Do not carry your rifle scope in your carry-on luggage. Put it in your rifle case to avoid a huge hassle at security. They consider it a part of a firearm and won't allow it.

Mark

Check the airline's ammo rules for both your flight to RSA (or wherever) and the flight to Zim.

I flew SAA from Jo'burgh to Zim and they required the ammo to be in a separate, lockable container.

I bought a cheap plastic pistol case and put the ammo in that case (locked with TSA locks). That was then put inside a checked luggage.

Zim counts ammo going in and out, so don't give away any excess ammo (try to keep your fired cases as well).

Check with your outfitter as to how you need to pay your trophy fees.

I have always used cash, but some outfitters have trusted me enough, to let me pay them via credit card at the end of the safari.

I have always left my scope on my rifle and have never had a problem with damage or even losing zero. I use an old Cabela's metal travel case that I have had for years.

Bringing both a .375 and a .458 Lott might be more trouble than they are worth.

The .375 would work well for everything IMO, especially if you are only going to shoot one buffalo.

Still its your safari and whacking an old buff with a .458 should be loads of fun.

BH63

PS It cost me over $3000.00 to ship a single set of buff horns and its cape form Bulawayo to Denver last year. That's almost twice what it will cost me to have a should mount done by Jonas Bros. taxidermy!

The scopes on my rifles are fixed, not removable.

They have been on for so many years, and have never lost their zero.

Based on my two experience's with lost luggage. You should wear 2 changes of clothes while your traveling and carry 2 more in your carry on.

I use an old metal first aid kit box with the plastic boxes locked inside. Ive always used a small combo lock on it. I have never had a problem.

England,
I will answer your questions based on our recent (Sept 17) trip to Zimbabwe.
Ammo in a separate TSA locked case in your checked luggage. SAA did NOT make us take the ammo out of our luggage and check it separately. Zim did count the rounds on the way in, they DID NOT on the way out. I left our excess ammo with the PH and when they asked I told them I used it all, the did not have a problem with that. I cannot help with the dip pack costs as we have not been home long enough to be at that point, but we did arrange to have all of our animals sent home. Doing 2 Euro mounts only because we do not have the ceiling height for a Kudu and Eland shoulder mounts.
Now all of this being said your experience may differ as many told me "It's Africa and shit happens". If you do go I would advise you to use a travel agent to do your flights and permits, also check into the "Meet & Greet many offer I felt it was some of the best money spent.

Leaving Zim: " Sir, do you remember how much 450 Rigby ammo you had when you came in?" "No, but it was what you see there." "Thank you sir".

This thread is valuable as it shows how unpredictable Zim can be. In 2016 I was asked to fill in a blue form stating how much cash I had. I was to turn it in upon my departure and was told I could only bring $1000 out. Anything over $1000 would be confiscated.

At departure I was asked for the form and how much cash I had. I told them and they said no problem, nothing would be taken if it was my money I was leaving with.

In 2017, noting of the form was mentioned upon arrival but asked for upon departure. When I said I was not given one upon arrival, it was no problem and I proceeded through.

Sometimes ammo is counted, other times it is not.
Sometimes my bags are weighed, other times not.
Sometimes head stamps are checked, other times not.
Sometimes I am asked for a letter from my PH, other times it is never asked.
Sometimes I am asked what I bought in Zim and what I am taking with me, other times it is never asked.
Sometiems I am given change at the VISA desk, once (and only once) I was not.
Sometimes I am asked what items I am bringing into Zim to leave, and again sometimes it is never mentioned.

At all times, I smile and tell officials how much I love Zimbabwe and how many times I have been there and how many times I plan to return. Then I dazzle them with a photo of me at home holding a thermometer a -58. That usually gets them off track of what they are looking for.

And, I've planned 2018 and 2019 already.
Cal

My experience for what it’s worth is some sort of hard lockable case with the ammo using TSA locks in your checked bag is good. They want it locked, and TSA regs are unique lock on the firearm, not the ammo, and if the inspectors behind the scenes can’t open and see it, they will cut locks.

The ammo needs to be in individual round spot boxes, so the plastic reloader boxes are good, but the wording can confuse folks so usually I use old factory ammo boxes in the right caliber.

I have had Air France and SAA pull the ammo out and put it as a separate luggage item, but so far if they have me take it out, they haven’t charged extra bag fees, but guys who showed up with it separate have been charged for a extra bag.

Some agents want to include the case in the ammo weight, some correctly interpret ITAR as ammo weight without the lockbox. To be safe, get the lightest case you can.

The rifle case (and bow cases seem to be treated as gun cases) needs to have non TSA locks in each place a lock can go. I bring extra TSA locks in case of unreasonable agents... so what if they are wrong, it gets you through.

There is no TSA rule about no clothing in the gun case, but many airlines demand it, so I don’t put anything other than guns and cases in my tuffpack. Again, may be extralegal behavior by the agents, but why fight it...it can only cause frustration.

Take lots of pictures of everything you find interesting and do ship your skulls and capes home for mounting, it's worth it!

Whatever you do, seriously consider having Andy Buchanan video your safari. If you can't get him, ask him for a recommendation. Next to my custom rifles (thanks Lex Webernick of Rifles, Inc), and the shooting school (FTW-thanks, Tim Fallon), by far the best money I spent was having all three of my safaris (thus far) video'd. I enjoy watching them as much as looking at my taxidermy (and the video was a lot cheaper). Not only that, but Andy is a genuinely good guy, a hell of a lot of fun to be with, gets along great with the PH's and the trackers, and makes a great Gin and Tonic! Just my $.02.

I was transporting a scope from Joberg to Port Elizebeth for a friend in South Africa. I had in my carry on bag which the x-ray machine picked up. The guard picked it out of the bag and looked at me. I told her, “It fits on my camera.” She shrugged, put it back in my bag and I boarded my flight.

Suggestion: wear your hunting boots on your flight, you don’t want to loose them in checked baggage. I switch over once on board and wear warm socks for the flight.

And bring some of your skulls and hides back. You set those in your home and not a day goes by that you don’t remember your trip.

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
This thread is valuable as it shows how unpredictable Zim can be. In 2016 I was asked to fill in a blue form stating how much cash I had. I was to turn it in upon my departure and was told I could only bring $1000 out. Anything over $1000 would be confiscated.

At departure I was asked for the form and how much cash I had. I told them and they said no problem, nothing would be taken if it was my money I was leaving with.

In 2017, noting of the form was mentioned upon arrival but asked for upon departure. When I said I was not given one upon arrival, it was no problem and I proceeded through.

Sometimes ammo is counted, other times it is not.
Sometimes my bags are weighed, other times not.
Sometimes head stamps are checked, other times not.
Sometimes I am asked for a letter from my PH, other times it is never asked.
Sometimes I am asked what I bought in Zim and what I am taking with me, other times it is never asked.
Sometiems I am given change at the VISA desk, once (and only once) I was not.
Sometimes I am asked what items I am bringing into Zim to leave, and again sometimes it is never mentioned.

At all times, I smile and tell officials how much I love Zimbabwe and how many times I have been there and how many times I plan to return. Then I dazzle them with a photo of me at home holding a thermometer a -58. That usually gets them off track of what they are looking for.

And, I've planned 2018 and 2019 already.
Cal

It’s either incompetence, or a very clever secure scheme whereby since you don’t know what to expect, you overly dot your Is and cross your Ts.

I corresponded a bit with Guy Whittal and he seemed a cool guy.

He was an international cricketer and a good rugby player. I am told he is good fun.

You could read up about his cricket career including his 200+ score.

I have been to Zim twice. Both times travel arranged by Gracy. The meet & greet/rifle permit service is well worth the $150 or so it costs if for no other reason than they go immediately to the front of or around any lines at check-in, etc.
I use a Cabelas plastic ammo box with a non-TSDA lock. It travels in my duffel. On both trips, the only time my ammo was weighed was by SAA going from Joburg to Harare. SAA is OK but next trip I am going to fly Emirates and avoid Joburg altogether.
As for guns: last trip I took a .375 and a 12 gauge. Shot a buffalo, Kudu and Eland. Don't forget the bird shooting if you like that. The sand grouse at dusk was great fun!
Have a great safari!

It helps to know exactly what your ammo weighs. I've told the person at the gate that I had 10.5 kilos of ammo and had them just move on, but I've been weighed a couple of times too. Have a copy of the regs with you. The locked box your boxed ammo boxes are in doesn't count. Had that debate with KLM once but they ultimately agreed.

This & a few other pages on the same site might be of use to you: http://www.shakariconnection.c...l-with-firearms.html