I just got off the phone with an Outfitter who has spent 6 hours at OR Tambo sorting out a problem.
Apparently there is a new Captain handling the import permits for firearms entering the country. She has everyone under the impression that any hunting outfitter or hunting farm should be accredited with the SAPS to conduct hunts. She presented the outfitter with a letter stating that all shooting ranges has to be accredited with the SAPS (all true), but there is no such thing as an Outfitter or hunting farm has to be accredited. In the ongoing struggle with the new captain the outfitter called PHASA who in return called General Bosman of the firearm department, who explained the procedures to the captain. Apparently the captain and other SAPS members have been called in to see General Bosman tomorrow and also receive proper training on the importation legislation.
If anyone experiences this problem please report it to PHASA immediately.

I am sure this issue is only temporary and will be solved soon.

More on the job training and it only took 6 hours. How nice...

I am sure someone was looking for an extra 10 or 20.

Another reason to avoid JNB whenever possible. In most cases alternative flight itineraries are available for hunting Africa.

quote:

In most cases alternative flight itineraries are available for hunting Africa.

I'm getting ready to book a hunt in Namibia and have to get to Winghock. I've looked on various websites for flights out of JFK in NY or Dulles in VA without much luck. Everything I've found involves either British Air which I won't fly with guns. I had a bad experience with them and have read to many horror stories about their anti gun attitude. Their extra fee for handling firearms also sticks in my craw.

I looked at Qatar and Emirates but all their flights have long layovers and sometimes multiple stops. The travel time is long enough without 9 hour layovers. Flights through Germany also have long layovers and I recall reading about problems with permits for guns going through Germany.

If you know of any other alternatives please post them.

Tom if you look at total flight time, Qatar is within minutes of Delta from ATL - WDH. It's 32 and change total hours pretty much however you want to get to Windhoek.

I am doing Delta/SAA this week, but will fly Qatar in March. Looking forward to the March trip; not so much this one.

I used to travel; LAX to Gatwick and then SAA from Gatwick to Windhoek. I miss that route.

Labman -

I have been doing safari on average once per year for more than 20 years. During that time I have flown via most of the available airlines and routings. I despise flying through JNB as it is today.

When I last hunted Namibia, in 2013, I used Lufthansa. I have used Emirates frequently since 2011. I will be flying Air France for this years Cameroon safari. All options will have their own requirements. You must decide what your travel priorities are and then make the best choice for yourself.

Try calling Travel With Guns for assistance. I did my own booking for 15 years, but the requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition have become so varied that I have used Steve the past 5 or 6 years.

Good luck.

If I ever go back to Cameroon, it will be via Brussels Air. It took AF a month to find one of my 2 bags after my trip to Yaoundé. They never found the second one. Their efficiency is typically French-that is too say, nonexistent and arrogant.

I have never had a moment of any real trouble there. I think that the JoBurg route is the best way to Namibia.

But hey it is Africa. So things can happen. Hey things that shouldn't can and do happen right here in the USA too. I once had a rather difficult go with Southwest Airlines right here in the USA. So go figure.

Our last hunt which was in 2015 I was expecting all kinds of problems here and it was a snap. Except for the rather long check in at BA and then them wanting to handle the ammo one way here and another in London. That all took about 10 minutes and they were very respectful and helpful too. I was prepared for it and it was only a minor issue.


Heck on our arrival arrival at JNB Africa Sky had my safari case with the rifles in it in hand and standing there with a smile on their face before our luggage was on the turnstile. We zipped over to SAPS and with all paperwork in hand and a quick check of the serial numbers we were gone.

This will get resolved too. While I am sure this issue is real, when you really think about it, S Africa and JNB handles so many hunters and firearms, in a way we forget sometimes that their mess up numbers are low. You and I of course don't want to be the one. In other places you could posting from prison for life - ever how short that may be - if there was a mess up .

Hi Everyone

I don't think this issue is that bad that some of you consider not to travel or make alternative travel arrangements. This a temporary issue and should be solved withing a day or two. The way I see it is that the new captain might have tried to get a bribe somehow and this time messed with the wrong people and that got her reported.

Please note that importation of firearms into SA is FREE, please do not pay any money to the SAPS, not a tip for good service, no money that might be required by them or any such payments should be made. Unless you use a clearing agent your importation is 100% free of charge. DON"T PAY FOR IT.

Kind Regards
Bossie Mostert