I just found out that I will be going on an 18 day hunt in Namibia and I'll be leaving on August 16.

I'm trying to make my flight reservations and I would like to know if I have to clear customs in JoBurg or Windhoek. I want to be sure I have enough time.

This will be my first African safari so to say that I am excited is an understatement.

Thanks for any advice.

I checked my guns through to Windhoek and cleared customs there.

You might want to look into traveling Hometown to Frankfurt then on to Windhoek. You bypass the "infamous" Jberg, simply clear customs on arrival in Winhoek and you are in.

If you overnight in Jberg you will have to clear customs there.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

The route via Frankfurt is MUCH more desirable than going through JNB. It is almost impossible to go through JNB to WDH without overnighting in Johannesburg. That is both expensive and inconvenient, not to mention hazardous to both your property and your person.

Ask your travel agent to route you through FRA on an airline that has a baggage agreement with Air Namibia. That way you'll never touch your checked baggage until you arrive in Windhoek. You'll arrive in Germany in the early morning and you can spend the day in Frankfurt seeing the sights and enjoying the local food and bevereges while you wait for your late evening flight to WDH to depart. "Clearing" customs in Germany to go see the sights is as simple as walking to the train station to board the train to downtown. You can even check your carry-on baggage at the Frankfurt airport for a couple of bucks so that you don't have to wag it with you. If you'll stay awake and active in Frankfurt rather than bedding down for the day, you will sleep on the 10-hour overnight flight to Namibia and be adjusted to the time when you arrive.

Before you go, download the firearms form for bringing guns to Namibia. Immediately go to the "gun room" in the airport arrival area to claim your gun(s). If you have the form pre-filled, it will save you time and get you closer to the front of the line. The agents who take the form and verify the serial numbers and information are generally friendly, and having all of the information clearly and accurately filled beforehand helps their job go more smoothly. Compared to other countries (including the USA) Namibian customs clearing is a breeze.

Be aware that you may bring in no more than one gun in a given caliber (chambering). If taking a back-up rifle, make sure it is not of the same chambering as your primary gun. You may take as many as 100 rounds of ammunition for each gun. But unless you intend to "shoot" it all (meaning leave about 75 rounds with your host ), 100 rounds is far more than you'll need unless you are doing something like a cull hunt for springbok.

Hunting Namibia is a HOOT! Which part of the country are you hunting and which species are on your wish list?

JMB,

Contact Gracy Travel, Steve Turner or Kathi Klimes. There are the experts on Africa travel with guns. They'll be able to advise on the best route for you to take to make your travel seamless.

Mark

SW- Frankfurt is the way to go.

Just had some clients return on the Frankfurt route - traveled United/Lufthansa and Air Namibia. Checked their baggage/firearms from the US to Windhoek with no problems. On the return Air Namibia checked all the way to the US. When they arrived in Frankfurt and checked at the transfer desk to obtain onward boarding pass, United/Lufthansa agent (they were traveling United Frankfurt/Chicago) made them pay EUR 35.00 second bag fee!!! Had no choice but to pay as agent would not issue their boarding pass.

According to United if your destination is Africa then you are permitted two checked bags free of charge. So why they charged them is anybodys guess! It could be the fact two tickets were issued- round-trip from the US to Frankfurt and a round-trip from Frankfurt to Windhoek. This is the first time I have had this problem - so wondering if anyone else has experienced this.

I am finding the SAA non-stop flight out of JFK to Johannesburg (departs JFK at 1115am arriving into Johannesburg at 840am the next morning) and making a same day connection to Windhoek (thus avoiding having to obtain in-transit permit) is working very well. Depending on where you originate in the US you may be required to overnight at an airport hotel at JFK, but this is so much less of a hassle than Johannesburg.

Don't take guns, use the guns where you are hunting. Cheaper in the long run and hassle free.

+ 1 on Frankfurt route.

Another enthusiastic vote for the Frankfurt route. The idea of staying awake and active for your daytime layover in Germany, and then sleeping on the flight to Windhoek, works beautifully and you arrive refreshed and "on African time", so to speak.

Try to remember to pack your guns with the serial numbers facing upwards in the guncase. After I switched the cut-out foam insert around to allow for this, it made clearing customs much easier as the guns don't need to be removed.

You are going to have a great time! Enjoy!

John

I want to thank everyone for their help. When I say that I am a novice to African hunting you have no idea of how much of a novice that I am.

StoneCreek, you asked which part of the country where I'll be hunting. I have no idea but I believe it is a 4 1/2 hour drive north of Windboek. Let me tell you the rest of the story........3 years ago my brother-in-law, who has made about 6 or 7 hunting trips to Africa, booked an 18 day hunt to Namibia for leopard, kudu and gemsbok. Last week he found out that he could not make the trip because of work and he had to cancel. Because of the very short notice none of his hunting fees could be refunded. He spoke with the outfitter who agreed to let me take my brother-in-laws place. I just have to pay my own air fare and any additional trophy fees above what has already been paid as well as any miscellaneous items and tips.

Keep the suggestions coming.....

Thanks again.

Frankfurt for sure. I did it last year. We spent three days in Frankfurt, took the train to Colgn to see the Cathedral, etc. Give you time to blow off the jet lag. Do use a travel agent which specializes in Africa/hunters. Regular travel agents know nothing of the complications of travel with firearms.

SWPA,

Up north the country will be brushier and shots generally shorter than in the open plains down south. Either place, hunting is usually great.

Check with your outfitter on the current status of leopard hunting. That has been in flux in Namibia recently.

Kudu and gemsbok are "must have" trophies, but while you're there (and since your only extra expense will be trophy fees that are not prepaid) be sure to consider going for eland and impala (which are much more available in the north than the south). Namibia offers indigenous mountain zebra which is unavailable most other places, and has tons of the beautiful little springbok. My most impressive trophy is perhaps a black wildebeest, which is also unavailable at many African hunting destinations. Red hartebeest, warthog, blue wildebeest -- all are great trophies you don't want to overlook.

With 18 days you'll have more time than money to shoot these species. While shooting a leopard is what floats the boat for many hunters, you'll spend a LOT of time sitting over a bait and shooing bugs off for a slim chance at a relatively small feline. I wouldn't forgo the opportunity for many of the beautiful horned species just to sit in hopes of glancing a cat, but that's a matter of personal preference.

quote:

I just found out that I will be going on an 18 day hunt in Namibia and I'll be leaving on August 16.

Geez, I wish stuff like that just "happened" to me!!!! Good luck!

Stonecreek,

I just returned from my trip to Namibia and I took your advice and enjoyed the experinece instead of getting too hung up on shooting a leopard. Although I did see a leopard, I was told it was a female. Could not prove it by me.

I'll post a report in a few days after things get back to normal at my house. I did manage to shoot a gemsbok, kudu, springbuck, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, mountain zebra, impala, blesbuck and a wart hog. I'll post pictures once I sort out the procedure on how to do it.

Thanks again for the good advice.

Impressive list of trophies! Do post a report, and don't forget the photos.