I know on the way in from Dubai to Jburg I will have to clear firearms with SAPS. Done that part many times. Question is that on my return through Vic Falls will i have to clear them again as I fly Vic Falls to Jburg, then to Dubai. Carrier is Airlink to Emirates to United. Just wanted to know if anyone has experiences with checking guns all the way through. Thanks in advance

Four weeks ago we flew home thru Joburg with firearms checked all the way to DFW. Had an issue in Joburg because Airlink hadn’t notified connecting carrier (Qatar). We were paged, met with Qatar agent (real Qatar employee) who took all of our paperwork, approval of carriage emails, boarding passes, 4457, etc., an hour later we were good to go.
You indicate you are aware you have to get SAPS permit upon arrival at Joburg. If you are planning on getting an in transit permit, you must obtain that beforehand. SAPS can not issue in transit in Joburg, only in Pretoria. Just saying that from recent first hand knowledge .

Larry, I flew Bulawayo-Jo’burg-Dubai-San Francisco a couple weeks ago. Airlink BYO to JNB, then Emirates the rest of the way. Checked my guns all the way to SFO from BYO and never saw them until I got to SFO.

There was a problem with Airlink’s paperwork but the Emirates staff in Jo’burg caught it, got in touch with me and fixed it before they loaded my guns in JNB. Props to Jordan, the Emirates manager in JNB. She was very helpful. Other than that glitch, it went flawlessly.

Thanks Karl and Dan. Karl, yes going in I land at Joburg 5am or so and then to Vic Falls at 10:20. Booked all through Gracie so they should plan an in transit but i appreciate the heads up.

I hate leaving my bags in Joburg during layovers, we’ve had our bags ransacked more than once (not last trip, though). I did get a message from an outfitter friend warning about letting Airlink gate check carry on bags, many are being broken into.

I just flew from Kasane to JNB on airlink, then on to Amsterdam via KLM, then to SLC on Delta.

Checked the rifles all the way through along with our other luggage in Kasane and never saw them again until we got off the plane in SLC. While we had the Dutch consent forms prepared (booked through PWP Travel) I was never asked to present anything. As seemless as possible.

On our inbound trip, we arrived in JNB, got our SAPS permit through Bruce and overnighted in the City Lodge. Also very smooth and claimed our luggage for the first time in Kasane.

Bill