Hi,
I am planning my first African safari to Namibia next year (Aug 2009). I am taking my family with me, we are really looking forward to this. I want to travel to Namibia via Frankfurt, and also spend about two weeks touring Germany. If I am traveling with my weapons, does anyone have any experience with the procedures/regulations, etc. with how I can do this? I've seen a lot of threads in this forum discussing short layovers, but nothing about longer sidetrips.
Thanks,
Ken

Welcome to the Board.

I believe your question raises some complicated issues that may require you to approach the German authorities, perhaps through the nearest Consulate first.

Regards

My family and I are leaving for Namibia on July 21st 2008. I looked in to the same issue. Between the info I got pulled together and information shared by another member here. I found the red tape and run around was not worth it. To keep your fire arms in bond was a total pain and I received contradicting info from various people on the subject. These were people the supposedly knew the system in Germany working at the airport.

Also once you stop your point of travel in Europe. Then continue on, you are then bound to the travel luggage limits imposed on the Europeans. You will be paying through the nose to get your 45-50lb bags back on a plane to the States.

We opted to not try and stay in Germany and just go back another time to visit Europe.

Hope this helps.

Safe Hunting
Will Barks

Might be easier all around to see if the outfitter has a gun you can rent or borrow.

hunterman,

Before I changed my plans I would contact Gracy Travel. They are up on all gun related travel issues. I consult them often on behalf of my clients and have found their advise to be spot on.

Mark

Thanks for your replies...it looks like this isn't an easy thing to do. I will definitely be talking with Gracy Travel about my travel plans. I'll let you know what their recommendations are.
Cheers,
Ken

Hello.
we have somthing in europe called a firearmspassport. I do a lot of hunting in germany and thats all that is required for entering with guns in germany. I don't know how is is with Us citizens. I will check and get back to you

I have done a bit of research if you can bring your gun with you to Germany. From what I can see you only need your permit from your homecontry if it is just for 2 weeks. To be sure this is the email adress to the airportpolice at Frankfurt airport, ask them they know what to do.
bpold.frankfurt.sts.oea@polizei.bund.de

quote:

Originally posted by Rodam:
I have done a bit of research if you can bring your gun with you to Germany. From what I can see you only need your permit from your homecontry if it is just for 2 weeks. To be sure this is the email adress to the airportpolice at Frankfurt airport, ask them they know what to do.
bpold.frankfurt.sts.oea@polizei.bund.de

Rodam, here in the USA,we don;t need permits for rifles & shotguns for the most part. Would a customs form 4457, proof of ownership, be sufficient to get this permit? Thanks for the e-mail address. I have inquired about the process for my upcoming trip in Sept.

The information I passed on was from my Gracy Travel rep. According to her there were way too many what ifs and open ended issues to make it worth the risk. Even if you do get a permit of some kind... is you hotel going to store the firearms for you? Probably not.
There may be a way to do it. If you find out how I would like to know.

An update on my search for some answers to laying over in Germany. THis is from Frankfurt Airport Customs:
Dear Mr Johnson,

thank you for your inquiry. Best would be, if you check the luggage right
through to the final destination. If N O T (you are going to immigrate), you
need an agreement of the competent administration, in case the airport of entry
will be Frankfurt am Main it will be the "Ordnungsamt of the city of Frankfurt
am Main", Mr. Voss is responsible for matters concerning firearms, you can
reach him under the following phonenumber +4969-212-42422.

If you have the agreement (Erlaubnis) you declare the firearms
to "vorübergehende Verwendung" at the "RED EXIT" and store the firearms at our
office, there will be a fee that you have to pay for this."
Although the information is accurate to the best of our knowledge, we
Cannot assume legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness
or usefulness of any information.

Obwohl die Informationen nach bestem Wissen zusammengestellt wurden,
können wir keine Haftung für deren Vollständigkeit, Richtigkeit und
Nützlichkeit übernehmen.
Sincerely
H Geist
So it looks like it can be done.