I am going to Zim end of May with Buzz. I will be overnighting in J'burg at Afton House. If I check my bags thru to Harare, do I need to get a SAPS 520? Several folks have told me no, since my guncases will stay in the baggage handling area for my flight the next day. Seems sort of silly to pick them up, go thru the SAPS 520 dog and pony show, drag them to Afton House and then have to check them in the next day.

How closely does the SAPS look at your ammo? Do they open the boxes and look at the headstamps? I would like to take some 458WM ammo along with my 458 Lott for some friends in Zim who have 458WM's. This is probably a "gray" area and may not be worth the risk. Is it less of a problem if the guncases are checked thru to Harare?
Thanks in advance for your help.

Here's how it worked for me when I overnighted at Afton Guesthouse 3 weeks ago on the way to Windhoek.

Since I was overnighting in South Africa, regardless if my luggage was checked through to Namibia, I had to go through RSA customs and South African Police Service with my firearms and ammunition. Anticipating this, I hired Riflepermits.com
to process my firearms through SAPS. Their procedure is all in their website.

The firearms clearance through SAPS was easy enough, except that South African Airways had bashed one of my gun cases pretty good and SAA was making sure that I knew that they were going to compensate me for the damage. That took about 10 minutes. SAPS was not even concerned about my ammunition, which I kept in a TSA-locked box in my check-in luggage, separate from my rifle cases. Unless you alert them to it, I don't think they'll even look at the headstamps on the cartridges, much less count how many you have or open the boxes for inspection.

I was met at the general meeting area by pretty and efficient Eunine Ferreira, where she had already cleared my SAPS 520 through. After handing her the US$ 90.00 fee for clearing each transaction (regardless of the number of firearms), I collected my rifle cases, shook hands with Eunine, and I was on my way with Louie to Afton Guesthouse.

Leaving Jo'burg was easier. The Louie drove us to the airport where one of Afton Guesthouse staff members escorted us through the departure procedure.

Hope that helps.

Namibiahunter

Another thing - your .458 Lott uses both the Lott and the .458 WinMag so both are appropriate for your rifle. That will give you no trouble at all at SAPS.

Namibiahunter

After signing the firearms logbook in baggage claim, you clear customs you go to the SAPS office WITHOUT your guns. The guns will be brought to the office by an airport security person. Once there, you can ask the SAPS to hold them in safekeeping for you until the next day. They will make you sign a form saying they are not responsible if something happens to your guns. Which is unlikely but if it does you are SOL. Next morning, when you check in, you tell the airline people you have guns "downstairs" in safekeeping and ask for the baggage tag. They will send someone down with you, with the tag, to the SAPS office. You present your receipt, get your bag, airline bag chaperone guy will put the baggage tag on the bag and carry it to the SAPS office upstairs, with you in tow. From there it's a normal departure...go through customs etc.

If they won't hold your bags (things change) then fill out the SAPS 520 and take your guns with you to your overnight lodge.

AiA

Last year (Nov) I had prearranged Riflepermits' service for SAPS permit for my overnight in Jo'burg on my way to Vic Falls.

As it turned out, my rifle case was held at the airport and simply loaded onto the plane the next morning. I didn't realize they would do that until I checked with the Delta folks at baggage claim in Jo'burg. According to the Riflepermits folks, it's a crap shoot, but it's a good thing to have the permit anyway in case anything happens on the ongoing and return trip.

Believe me, it it was up to me, I would rather pick up my firearms, take them to Afton House, lock them in Louie's huge gun safe, take them back to the airport and have them re-checked and put on the plane with me, than leave them overnight in the Jo'burg airport. No doubt about that one, for sure.

Did you pay the riflepermit.com contact in US cash? I'm going in two months and would prefer to pay cash if possible

quote:

Originally posted by a11en

Did you pay the riflepermit.com contact in US cash? I'm going in two months and would prefer to pay cash if possible

Yep, $90.00 in US greenbacks, not credit card or cheque. Make sure you have the exact amount.

Also, have some small rand notes ready to give as tips for baggage handlers, if you have any from previous trips.

Namibiahunter

Head Truma,

O.R. Tambo International Airport is a real mad house at this point in time with the construction going on there, I assist in the area of about 10 hunters a week with firearm import permits and what i recommend is to make use of someone like myself or anyone who offers assistance with temporary firearm import permits. my website is www.airchartersafrica.com it is not complete as yet but I would be more than happy to assist you.

Temp permits issued before the time saves you about an hour and a half at the police station and it makes life so much easier.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any queries

The ammo won't be a problem, please do not leave your firearms at the airport if something happens as it often does on our wondeful continent then you are going to be very sorry.

It is not worth the risk and the amount of trouble you will land up in, get a permit and take your guns with you

HT

In my experience Gracy Travel has a pretty good handle on any gun related travel issues. They told me concerning leaving your guns at JNB airport that there is a 50/50 of them being stolen. That is why I recommend using a service like Air 2000 etc. My clients that have used them have been very pleased.

As for having 2 kinds of ammo and one rifle you are taking a big chance. Your ammo may get checked 1 in 100 times but if a sharp eyed customs/police person notices this you might be in deep shit.

Two guys came through JNB last year with the ammo not matching their guns. The were detained and told to pay a $200 fine and have the wrong ammo confiscated. They chose not to pay and spent a weekend in jail. On Monday they were very happy to pay the $200 and get on with their safari.

"It probably will ok" or "Joe Blow never had a problem" is a really bad attitude to take when traveling internationally with guns and ammo.

Mark

If you're using Gracy, then Bruce of Gracy Travel will be there to assist you through SAPS, will assist getting you and your firearms to Afton House, will meet you at the airport the next day, and will see to it that your firearms are rechecked and on the plane with you. Can't beat that.

Head Trauma,

If you are going to stay at the Afton House in Joberg, why don't you have Louis Afton secure the Saps 520 form for you. Louis offers the same service as a couple of others regarding the SAPS Firearms Import. You have to fill out the form and send it to Louis. He will then get it processed.

I am going to South Africa on a hunt and had Gracy Traavel handle all my details. Louis Afton is Gracy Travel's contact in Joberg. If there is anyone in all of South Africa who can navigate you through the morass importing firearms into South Africa, Louis can.

Gracias,
Hoot

I don't get it... Really how hard is it to fill out the SAPS form yourslef? Seemed pretty straight forward a couple years ago when I was there. Planning on going back next month and plan on doing it myslef again. I think all in all it took longer for the rifle case to show up on the baggage carosell than it did to get the rifles checked in and cleared.

A savings of an hour to an hour and a half? How is that possible? Do your clients get to go to the front of the line or what? It took us about an hour from the time our plane landed till we cleared customs. Would I get to go directly to customs and pick up my rifles?

I talked to my travel agent ( Kathi Klimes) and have seen the light. She told me if your layover is longer than 12 hrs you cannot leave your guns at the airport.I will get the Rifle Permits folks to do the SAPS 520 and take my guns to Afton House for my overnight. Why give the airport thieves even more opportunity to steal them? BTW, Kathi periodically sends batches of SAPS 520's over for her clients and will send mine (along with the fees, of course.) One less thing to have to mess with, easier to have her do it. Easy is good.