The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Question about Long layover in Jo'Berg...Help!!Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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I will be traveling from New York to Bulawayo with South African Airlines. I will arrive in Jo'Berg at 5:00pm, and my flight to Bulawayo is at 10:00am the next morning. I DO NOT WANT the hassle of staying at a hotel in So. Africa, having to claim my rifle/luggage, permit disaster, etc. Here's the question, which I cannot seem to get a definitive answer for: Since my layover is for 17 hours (overnight) will I be able to remain in the airport until my flight leaves at 10:00am?? I do not want to claim my luggage/rifle in Jo'Berg, as I will check it straight through to Bulawayo from New York. I can't see why I won't be allowed to stay in the airport and nap, but I am concerned about them not allowing my rifle to stay (wherever they keep it) for the long, 17 hour layover. I would appreciate any imput or experience that any of you might have with this situation, or any other suggestions. I do want to fly SAA. The thought of staying in the airport overnight is just a horror, but I just want to tough-it out, connect to Bulawayo, and be on my way. Thanks Again!! | ||
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Believe your travel agent would know, especially if you've got Barb Wolberg, or Gracy or Kathi. First step to an answer is to ask SAA if they will check your baggage through or if you have to enter the RSA and recheck the baggage. Don't see why, in principle, you can't stay in the Transit Louge. But I'm not sure I'd leave my firearms in the tender hands of RSA police/customs overnight... Regards | |||
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Wolfgar: One person's experience. My experience has been that I have always had to claim "all" my luggage, including guns, in Jo'berg,go through customs, and "police". The first trip in 2006 we had a connecting flight the same day. The second trip we came in on the 5PM flight stayed overnight at the Afton House and flew out the next morning. In both cases we had to go back through the "police" for the departing flight. If you are going through Gracy Travel, I am sure they can get you the most up to date information. Best of luck, have a great trip. | |||
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There is a transit hotel within the international section of OR Tembo where you can get some shut eye on your long layover. The name is Proteus Hotel and its clean but not in first rate condition. I stayed four hours there three weeks ago for some shut eye during my layover. But as Tim Carney says, do you want to trust youur rifles to SAA etc for that long? JPK  Free 500grains | |||
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You won't have a chice vis a vis claiming your luggage and going through customs. Everybody has to do it no matter your final destination. I suppose that you could check the luggage and guns right back in at the other terminal, but the probability that something would come up missing before your flight would be very high. I wouldn't do it. Three times before, I've had long layovers there. The first time, I just kept my luggage with me for the several hours until I felt safe checking it for the next flight -- it was a LONG night; once I got a room at a 5-Star hotel -- this was fantastic, but it cost me a LOT of money per hour since my inbound flight had been delayed and I only got to use the room for a very few hours; the last time I got a day room at a place just off the airport grounds. This last was, by far, the best choice since it was very economical, they had great food and snacks and the place was VERY safe. I'll have this problem traveling to Mozambique this fall and I'm sure that I'll be selecting option 3. When you get bored with life, start hunting dangerous game with a handgun. | |||
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This is NOT true. You may transit through OR Tembo without clearing South African Customs, so long as you remain in the international terminal. BTW, the name of the hotel within the international terminal in Proteus hotel, had it spelled wrong in the first post, which I'll correct. JPK Free 500grains | |||
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JPJ, Do you forsee my 17 hour lay-over being a problem with the rifles?? What will they do with them while waiting for the 10:00 flight? Thanks | |||
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1--You do not have to claim your luggage nor go through customs. Check it through in New York all the way to Bulawayo. Your luggage (firearm) may arrive a day late in ZIM. Mine did so last month. 2--Stay in the transit hotel at JNB. Not the best, however, much more comfortable and safe than any alternative. 3--Good hunting. | |||
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I do not like the idea of trusting anyone with valubles for that long, in particular rifles since they are so critical an element of a safari. I understand that the rifles are locked in a a large security vault at OR Tembo while they await loading on the appropriate flight. Staying at Afton House or another alternative might be better. In any event, you will be beat when you arrive in Jo'Burg so you will want a place to sleep and with that long layover you will need a place to sleep. No reason to arrive in Zim thouroughly exhausted when you have a couple of alternatives for some shuteye. Have you looked at alternative SAA flights from Dulles or Atlanta to see if these might provide an easier schedule? I see you are from Metro NY, but maybe a short flight here in the US will make the Jo'Burg scheduling easier. JPK Free 500grains | |||
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FWIW, I see some possible confusion with my response to Old Handgunner. It is possible to transit OR Tembo without clearing customs so long as you can check your rifles and duffle through. With SAA and some cooperating airlines this is typical. However, if you arrive on an airline without the cooperative agreement or depart on one, you need to clear SA customs. An example of this is the current situation with Delta. SAA seems to be trying to limit Delta's impact on SAA business by refusing to allow Delta to check through luggage to final destinations - say Zim - reached on SAA flights. So, essentially if your flights are all SAA, typical, or cooperating airlines, no SA customs clearance required. Not so with all other carriers. JPK Free 500grains | |||
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Here is the link to the hotel within the OR Tambo airport where u can stay if u choose not to leave the International terminal. http://www.proteahotels.com/Protea-Hotel-Transit.html Global Sportsmen Outfitters, LLC Bob Cunningham 404-802-2500  | |||
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1. You can check your bag and guns straight through to Bulawayo. Did it last year without a hitch. However, theft could and can happen at anytime to anyone. 2. International Hotel is Protea. ROACH MOTEL in the first degree. Last year air conditioning was non existant, roaches and spiders hunting roaches was the entertainment. Shower didn't work; bath water looked like straight out of Deliverance; acidic water had all metal fixtures eaten up. Not my cup of Pro-tea. Would stay at Afton House or hope you can cat nap in the waiting area. 3. Bottom line: when your thousands of miles away from home, your on your own. Travel agents will do everything they possibly can to help you via telephone, but in reality your on your own. Have "what if" plans before you go. Good luck, LDK Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris http://grayghostsafaris.com Phone: 615-860-4333 Email: hunts@grayghostsafaris.com NRA Benefactor DSC Professional Member SCI Member RMEF Life Member NWTF Guardian Life Sponsor NAHC Life Member Rowland Ward - SCI Scorer Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt: http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262 Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142 Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007 http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007 16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more: http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409 Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#9261039941 10 days in the Stormberg Mountains http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322 Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232 "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running...... "If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you." | |||
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On my 3 trips into Zimbabwe, through Jo'berg, I have always stayed 2 nights at the Afton House. This gives one time to recover from the flight. Gives time for ones luggage to catch up with them, it has not happened to me, but to several others. Allows one to do a little shopping. Allows me to eat at least once, but usually twice at the Ocean Basket.  Which is worth the flight to Africa on its own right.The Itialian resturannt is great as well. Louis at the Afton House takes great care of you. It is worth the extra time, adjust your plans if you can. Also I have been able to see some of SA. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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On my last safari (2008), I spent three nights at the Afton house to recuperate from the long flight. You can take your rifle and gear with you to the Afton house where they have a large gun vault for your rifle. They will pick you up at the airport and take you back. They are only a few minutes away. I spent three nights there to recover from the long flight and at the same time, enjoy what Africa had to offer. The afton house can set you up with tours around the area, which is worth it. Its really safe at the Afton house. They have a website and you should check it out. | |||
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There is a rule about checking through..more than X hours layover and you have to claim and recheck. I just don't remember what X is...and it probably depends on the airline/country. Is there not an evening flight to BYO? There is to Harare. If not, then you can claim your guns, leave them with the SAPS without obtaining a permit for SA (they will give you a baggage claim form), spend the night with Afton, then pick up your guns in the am. Just tell the checkin lady you have firearms downstairs with the police, and she will issue your baggage tag for your gun case, send one of the security guys with you to claim your gun, he will put the tag on and carry the bag to the little office where you check them for the flight, and then you are done. This will cost you all of $50 or so for the night ... plus your dinner. A bargain. Russ Gould - Whitworth Arms LLC BigfiveHQ.com, Large Calibers and African Safaris Doublegunhq.com, Fine English, American and German Double Rifles and Shotguns VH2Q.com, Varmint Rifles and Gear | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Question about Long layover in Jo'Berg...Help!!
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