Hi Folks.
A friend and I are headed to Moz via JoBerg in late August and have been discussing the merits of getting the SAP520's issued on arrival vs getting them pre-approved through Afton. It finally occurred to me that this is the perfect place to ask. Any thoughts? Thank you.

Steve Richards

I've always had them processed upon arrival. Never had any issues and I've been lucky in that the entire event has always gone quickly. However, I tend to hunt late season when there aren't many hunters on the plane.

Last month I was first in the SAPS office and my gun was also in the SAPS office before anyone else had arrived from the plane and they still made me wait while they processed all of the pre-approved permits ahead of me. I made myself very vocal about it, but they didn't care, as it's Africa. I ended up being the last one out. I have had that happen on the last two trips. In any event, I don't see the need to pay someone to do something that you can easily do yourself. I have paid for the pre-approvals in the past, but really see no need anymore to waste the money. I most likely was at my overnight location in Pretoria just a few minutes behind the rest of them anyway. It's my belief that SAPS is certainly not doing the pre-approvals ahead of everyone else just for giggles; something has to be changing hands somewhere.

quote:

they made me wait while they processed all of the pre-approved permits ahead of me

That would make a lot of sense - its basically the reason for getting the pre-approval of the SAP form done and dusted beforehand and having the privilege of priority treatment over those that don't.

I've done it both ways and strangely enough on both of my trips I was the only one at the SAPS office.

This past trip in late May of this year, I used Henry Durrheim of Riflepermits.com and all went well. A rep was waiting as we exited the plane. We flew SAA which has a slightly different procedure than Delta had on my first trip. With SAA your rifles are brought out into the baggage claim area. The rep took us to passport control where we bypassed the lines and went straight to a passport control officer.

We then went to the baggage claim area where he knew exactly who to speak to to let them know we had a rifle case coming in. I don't know it could just be me, but I had a sense of ease that with the rep being there that any shenanigans would now not take place.

Rifle and ammo case came out at which time a SAPS officer took them to the SAPS office via backway and we met the officer there a few moments later. Permit was in hand within two minutes, with the time used to just confirm serial numbers on the rifles. Ammo was never looked at.

We then were taken to check-in for our connecting flight and to the next SAPS office for getting our rifles onto that flight. I spent $200 including tip for all of this.

Was it worth it? Not sure since we would not have experienced a line. But I can say again there was a sense of comfort having someone there on that side of the pond acting as an advocate for me.

We had Adele Jansen van Rensburg of Hunters Permits Africa to do our gun permits.

An unexpected bonus was when we were leaving we arrived at Tambo about 30 minutes before the plane was to leave. Adele’s husband is a honcho with SAA and he met us and expedited our getting boarding passes and the rifles through SAPS and onto the plane. He did laugh at us for being late but made a call to hold the plane for us.

Mark

Adele is a very nice lady. She did my permits for me last year. While she was in SAPS office she had her parents meet me at customs. After getting permits she drove us out to our friend's lodge which is about 4 hours away.

How long is your layover in Joburg? I have been told that if it is less than 24 hours you can leave your gun "in transit" and not have to mess with SA Paperwork.

Who are you hunting with in Moz?

Guys,

The system is what it is. Getting the RSA gun permit pre approved just makes things easier. I like having someone in Tembo to meet me and expedite the transit of the airport. To me it is money well spent and my clients all seem to like it.

Mark

It's the best money you can spend on your trip. After 17 hrs in flight I don't want to spend an extra minute waiting for that process to be done.
If you've spent any time at all there you will see what lubricates the process. The meet and greet services also speed you through immigration and I've never had anyone look in a bag or suitcase on arrival.

You guys must be experiencing something completely different from me in JoBerg to feel paying for this service is worthwhile. On my last 5 or 6 trips through there, I have, every single time, had an airline employee, be it Delta, SAA, or Iberia, collect all the firearms and place them on carts, and escort me directly to the SAPS office, completely free of charge. Once in the SAPS office, I've never seen anyone processed ahead of anyone else due to using the pre-approval service. It isn't always first in / first out, but it always seems to go smoothly, without undue delay.

Now, several years back, when the then "new" RSA firearms laws first went into effect, yes, that service could have saved you considerable time as it seemed to be complete caos in the SAPS office. I submit that you'll likely experience more "travel with firearms" related hassels upon your return to ATL if using Delta.

I suppose this is simply a case of how several people experience the very same event but interprete it differently. My experience has been that I walk in at the very same time as the "pre-approvals", we all stand around a few minutes for the officials to stamp our permits, then we all walk out at roughly the same time. As many times as not, I've walked out prior to the "pre-approval" guys. Sometimes they walk out ahead of me. In any event, the difference in time spent in the SAPS office amounts to a few minutes at best. I can't justify paying for what I get for free.

Safari2
Our layover is only about 12 hours, but the folks at Travel With Guns say we do have to do the paperwork. Hunting buff with Kamboko Safaris.

Thanks to all that have provided input.

Agree with you Todd. The time difference between pre-approvals and you isn't that great to justify the payment. I have done it both ways, and would rather spend that money on something during the hunt. When staying overnight at Afton or Africa Sky, I get out of there with those that have paid the extra fee at the same time anyway, since we all are riding together.