I finally booked air through Dakar. My oldest son is taking his girlfriend and she wants to spend a bit more time after the hunt so they are coming back 3 days behind us.

Here's the rub. She fancies herself a "world traveler" and wants to stay in a youth hostel in J'Burg and "experience the culture". My son is taking his .375 H&H and his bow. I told him that I thought this was a BAD idea & I didn't know the legality or safety of having his gun with them. I'm not dealing with another bag on my return or want to deal w/ US customs on a gun that he took.

What is your advice &/or knowlege about the safety or legality of havning his firearm off the consession in a "youth hostel"?

As far as US Customs goes all you need to do is have a 4457 with your name on it and the serial number of his gun...

Just make sure that with the guns you are taking hyou are not over the allowable amount on your return.

However let me add that if they are going to "experience the culture" he might better keep that 375 and the bow with them...

With a lot of extra arrows.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
However let me add that if they are going to "experience the culture" he might better keep that 375 and the bow with them...

With a lot of extra arrows.

I TRIED to tell them this. I know about the Zim refugees and other problems of crime. It's been my rule never to leave the consession w/o my PH but they're still 10' tall and bullet proof at this age. Her answer was "The World Cup is there in June & July, and the police will have it all cleaned up by then".

My son is a local deputy sheriff & is 6'3" and 225# but the issue of gun legality & theft is still bothering me. I did have a PH from another consession & board say he could leave his gun & bow with him for the time which gave me the idea maybe our consession can do something similar.
.......

quote:

Originally posted by Karamojo Bill:

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
However let me add that if they are going to "experience the culture" he might better keep that 375 and the bow with them...

With a lot of extra arrows.

I TRIED to tell them this. I know about the Zim refugees and other problems of crime. It's been my rule never to leave the consession w/o my PH but they're still 10' tall and bullet proof at this age. Her answer was "The World Cup is there in June & July, and the police will have it all cleaned up by then".

My son is a local deputy sheriff & is 6'3" and 225# but the issue of gun legality & theft is still bothering me. I did have a PH from another consession & board say he could leave his gun & bow with him for the time which gave me the idea maybe our consession can do something similar.
.......

I don't think Rifles, Bows and Youth Hostels work very well together, and I don't think JHB is the place to find this out.

They might be smart enough to get their bows and firearms retained at the airport, while they go culture seeking. Get hold of the folk at OT airport, and see if it's possible before making final decisions.

Last April I was fine at the Sandton Sun with both bow and rifle. The hotel security was made aware of what I had stashed in the room, they were not too bothered - just asked that I kept the bolt, and broadheds locked up in the in room safe along with cash and spare credit cards.


..--..

Bill,

I think Air 2000 air2000@global.co.za can legally store their guns and gear. Send them an e-mail. No way would I stay in a hostel while in JNB. The police may be on alert during the World Cup but so will the criminals.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by Karamojo Bill:
I finally booked air through Dakar. My oldest son is taking his girlfriend and she wants to spend a bit more time after the hunt so they are coming back 3 days behind us.

Here's the rub. She fancies herself a "world traveler" and wants to stay in a youth hostel in J'Burg and "experience the culture". My son is taking his .375 H&H and his bow. I told him that I thought this was a BAD idea & I didn't know the legality or safety of having his gun with them. I'm not dealing with another bag on my return or want to deal w/ US customs on a gun that he took.

What is your advice &/or knowlege about the safety or legality of havning his firearm off the consession in a "youth hostel"?

Mate,

The firearms are the least of your worries. I suggest someone has her arse kicked and her head read....... Rape and murder are the national pastime in Jo'burg in general and that kind of place in particular.

Tell her if she wants a safe cultural experience to stay in the most expensive hotel she can find and take a day trip to the nearest cultural centre to watch Zulu dancing and sip the pombe.

You might also tell her that comes from someone with 30 years experience of Africa.

There are several stories posted over the year on AR of hunters staying in guest houses and having their firearms stolen. I doubt a hostel will have any kind of safe lock up.

Listen to Steve, it is very very sad to say but the general populace in South Africa is pretty rough and dangerous.

I would never in a million years stay anywhere but a well recommended guest house (Afton) or a well established hotel.

To do otherwise is beyond naive, it is idiotic.

You may think this harsh, but I believe it to be correct:

If your son and his girlfriend are paying their own way, then leave it up to them as to what to do with the gun and bow (again, assuming that both gun and bow were bought by him or them).

If you are paying the freight for the trip, bought the guns, etc., then, "no" is a simple word to use. I don't think anywhere in RULES FOR BEING A PARENT is the requirement that you must be a paying accomplice to foolishness.

Just my humble opinion.

Completely naive and purely idiotic. That girl needs a reality check and if your son doesn't do it now they may both pay an exceedingly high price.

Please have them read "Drums in The Mist" [available here at Amazon] written by my friend Joseph Mutobaya. It is a quick, and sobering read. Describes Josephs' years in Johannesburg as a youth of similar age. While I'm sure things have changed, I wonder if for the better.

Les

Wow!

A hostel? Really?

This is bad, bad, bad.

Time for intervention.

on the other hand, do you want your gene pool tainted by this airhead? Some people have to learn everything the hard way. I would just tell her the trip is off for her.

Rich

I don't care how much of a badass...sheriff...230lbs what the hell ever, 2 dudes with a knife or pistol can make you feel like a school girl. Obviously, you've never been to South Africa because you wouldn't ask something so obvious.

When I've traveled through RSA, with big groups of GUY friends (don't even get me started on a woman), with guns, I still was pretty freaked out of my mind. It's a whole different world, you need to put a stop to this, or get life insurance on the both of them.

The only time I felt safe was when the plane lifted off the ground!

Do they still rent Uzi's at the airport?
On the other hand, the life insurance thing doesn't sound too bad an idea...

Rich
talk them out of it

Shakari has hit the nail on the head. Go back to his reply and read it AGAIN!

quote:

Originally posted by Oryxhunter1983:

When I've traveled through RSA, with big groups of GUY friends (don't even get me started on a woman), with guns, I still was pretty freaked out of my mind. It's a whole different world, you need to put a stop to this, or get life insurance on the both of them.

The only time I felt safe was when the plane lifted off the ground!

Wow guys, I am shocked at all the negative comments, my wife and I moved to Northcliff area of Joburg in 97-99 and although crime was high we traveled all over the country very safely. We met and lived with locals, ate at all the restaurants, ventured through downtown Jo-burg (with our locals friends of course) and never had any problems.

With that said, we aren't tourist travelers wondering around gawking at things, we traveled little at night, unless heading to the waterfront, or to TGI fridays for dinner.. We had a wonderful time and met friends we are still close with today..

I personally love South Africa and frankly would love to live there again someday..

I do not discount other experiences and maybe things have changed,, but I recall telling my parents once I was going to Ghana and they said "But there are killings there" I cracked up and asked if they watched the local news lately..

One more thing, there is a hostel on Lawley street of off DF Milan that I recommend, very safe in walking distance from malls, shopping cafe's, close to an area called Melville, eat at the fishmonger... Awesome place to walk around,,, really...

Well I stand corrected, after posting this morning I thought I would research the current crime situation in SA. Even though when I was there 10 years ago I felt safe and enjoyed SA. I surely didn't want to mislead someone with my information. After a few hours of research I am heartbroken of the violence against farmers, and innocent people. What a shame that such a beautiful place as South Africa be this way.. Here is one blog with a lot of information

http://censorbugbearadriana.sp...5376348175!489.entry

Go home together. If she wants to experiance the culture do it with a tour operatotr. I have done Soweto etc with a tour operator and felt safe.

As for your son keeping his rifle, BAD IDEA. Word will quicky spread and soon he will be without it and his life.

The idea that Joburg will be safe by the world cup is rubbish. The thieves are rubbing their hands

quote:

Originally posted by holzer375:
The idea that Joburg will be safe by the world cup is rubbish. The thieves are rubbing their hands

The world cup is gonna stuff everything up for anyone coming to SA anytime in 2010.

Most accommodation prices have trebled. (Mostly) Not because of profiteering by the hotels and lodges but by FIFA who are buying hotel time at low prices and selling at ridiculously high prices.

Airlines and car hire etc have jacked up their prices in the most ridiculous manner.

Crime, especially, rape, murder, robbery and car hijackings will go through the roof.

As most of the roads have no street lighting, are in shit order and often not exactly well designed, the car accident rates will be phenomenal and as a spin off of that, because most of the hospitals lacking in facilities and the ambulance services underfunded, they'll be an awful lot of unnecessary deaths.

You can bet your life that soon after the world cup finishes, the AIDS figures in the soccer loving western world will go through the roof.

Other than that, the world cup will be a complete success.

It appears your son is an adult by age standards.

Sounds like he needs to man up and manage his own decisions and their consequences.

At some point you have to stop protecting him from himself and his choices in travel, safety, girlfriends, etc etc.

You would think he sees enough stupid at work.

I have been told that some of the locals over there think that raping a white woman is a cure for aids. This is coming from a former S/A police officer.
Maybe you should let her go

Steve:

Thank all of you & Especially Steve/Shakari,

I knew that if I posted it here & could get the AR members to respond as you all did I could get them to listen. You all may remember a time when your parents knew nothing too!