Just got back from a 12 day trip.

1. TSA won't allow a TSA lock on a gun case - not new but they are tightening up.
2. The airlines won't let you check a firearm to RSA if there is "clothing" in the same case. Apparently this is to reduce pilferage by the security company employees, go figure.
3. Delta will weigh both checked bags together, not individually. (They do this in SA and have done so for some time). This is good news as the rifle case is usually lighter than 50lb, esp now since you can't put other stuff in there.
4. Delta is specifically asking how much ammo, and how the ammo is packed. The right answer is "in the factory packaging".
5. You can't recheck a firearm at JNB to another destination if there is "clothing" in the gun case.
6. Air Botswana will allow a firearm to be checked provided it's in a locked case but they charge you 250 Pula (about $40) for the privilege. They were very confused about what to do with the ammo. They wanted it out and checked separately. But then they allowed it to go with the firearm. Best put it in a lockable box in case they force you to check it separately.
7. If you break your journey by more than 12 hours, your int'l baggage allowance (2 bags up to 50lbs each) expires and you will pay excess on anything over 20kg total checked baggage.
8. You can fly into Livingstone for a lot less than flying into Vic Falls, on the airline "One Time". You can also fly into Kasane (Botswana) on the cheap, but you have to get a taxi to the border (Kazungula), and then another ride from there to whereever you are going in Zim.
9. Botswana hunting is not being shut down. There is a new buffer zone around the parks where no hunting can take place, to avoid offending the greens. Hunting continues in the concessions as well as on private land. Lion numbers are up and it's possible lion hunting will be reopened, on a lottery basis like leopard. At the moment, one can take out problem lions on cattle ranches, but the law does not allow any fee to be charged. The prospect of winning this lottery is enough justification to book your next PG hunt in Bots.
10. Zim customs is counting ammo coming and going. They want you to show empties to prove you haven't left ammo behind. There is an arms and ammo embargo on Zim, so shortages have developed and ammo prices have gone sky high, eg $10 per round. It seems the gov't is using the embargo to dry up ammo supplies.
11. Chirisa plenty of buff and ele, although we didn't see any decent ivory. Sengwa hunting very well this year also. Clients got ele, buff and 7 PG each in 9 days. It's seems a little drier than normal this year.

makes me glad i am using a camp rifle on my buffalo hunt in Zim in a few weeks. this shit is getting to be a major pain in the ass for hunters traveling with their own gun- of course, i think that is the whole idea.

Glad to hear you had a good trip.

In reference to #7. So if you overnite in JNB, and fly out to Zim, the next morning, they won't honor the international weight limits?

What a crock!


Mad Dog

I returned from Zim this morning. My experience was a little different.

I packed clothes in my Tuff Pack with my guns to Joberg with no problem coming or going.

I overnighted in Joberg and SAA honored the 50# limit on all four bags the next day with no problem. I flew from Atlanta on Delta.

Brought 80 rounds in and zero rounds out, just told them we shot everything, no other questions asked.

quote:

Originally posted by Mad Dog:
In reference to #7. So if you overnite in JNB, and fly out to Zim, the next morning, they won't honor the international weight limits?

What a crock!


Mad Dog

I think you can get away with it if you have all your flights on one itin/ticket. But if you have a separate ticket for your onward flight, be prepared to pay excess baggage.