While I am not 100% sure of what happened, here is the scenario. You check in, get your rifles inspected, and then you do some shopping at the duty free. You are wearing camo stuff. A guy with an official id card around his neck comes up to you and asks you if you are the hunters with rifles. He then tells you that he has taken care of them and put them on the plane. While he is talking to you, his accomplice comes up behind you and pickpockets you (or in our case, steals a pair of sunglasses from a pocket on a backpack).

If anyone approaches you at JNB, back up against the nearest wall!

And some here wonder why a number of us who have travelled to africa for safari more than a few times now avoid travel through JNB like the plague!

Easy fix...don't wear cam.

Folks,

In O.R. Tembo or anywhere you travel try not to stand out. Dress down and keep your expensiive watches and jewelry out of sight. Brand new safari looking luggage is a dead give away also. The guy that looks like he just jumped off the pages of a Cabela's catalogue is a prime target for a scam. This is another way that meet/greet services can be of assistance.

Mark

Mark is 110% correct. If you want to get robbed make yourself stand out. I have been through jo'berg dozens of time and have had zero problems. I dress down when i travel just for that reason.

I'd have to dress up to look dressed down.

Had that happen a few years back while sitting down in the airport in front of the store "Out of Africa". Told the dude to piss off and leave, as I knew it was some sort of scam, as he didn't know me from Adam. Didn't know that the intent was to pick pocket you. Interesting.

Sadly we had the Delta employee take us individually into a back room with our rifle case and tell us he would make sure they made it to the plane while holding his hand out for a "tip". The implication is that without the money your guns just might miss the flight. This was Monday. It's bad enough when you have to deal with the regular scam artists but uniformed airline employees is over the top.

Rob: I had the same short, black Delta guy do that to me in June. He saw me with my TuffPak and came right over to help me and make sure that only he did so. He wisked me through check-in and then he took me back into a room behind the check-in counter along with my TuffPak, had me put the declaration of unloaded firearms salmon colored card in the top of the case, and told me that he would see to it that the guns would make it on the plane. He stuck his hand out, I shook it, and left out the door. The guns arrived in Atlanta safe and sound. No money exchanged hands-most likely a surprise to him as my hand was totally empty.

That was him! Sadly it would do zero good to complain to Delta.

I'm sure I had the same guy at Delta in July.
I never really noticed him putting a hand out for a tip, but I never offered one and my rifles made it home without issue.

As a funny side story. I'm sure you all have heard the stories about people in RSA getting pulled over by cops and bribing their way out? Well, my outfitter told me his wife got stopped one day and the officer told her he could use some "bread". She just so happened to have some loaves of bread in the truck. She hands them to him and just drives off. Granted, she literally though he was asking for bread.

Where ever you are JNB, NYC, or at your local Walmart, NEVER allow anyone you do not know, to get within 2 arms length's of you...

If they do, hit them in the throat,HARD, and calmly walk away...

Same old same old.

Sounds like the same Delta guy who helped me in May.
Never put his hand out and my Pelican case arrived
in ATL with my guns intact. In fact, I watched him load them on the belt loader...yep he was on the ramp loading the gun cases.

There are 3 different players here. First are the "porters". These have some kind of yellow jacket and an ID around their necks. They accost you in the checkin hall and take control of your baggage cart. They will hang around while you check in and then they will push your cart up to the firearms inspection room. That's when they expect to be tipped. They add absolutely no value so you should ignore them.

Then there are the security company employees who man the inspection room and control the log book. These are the people that put your gun on the plane. You can't avoid dealing with them. In this little room, they hit you up for a tip. You are not obliged to tip these people, in fact you are specifically instructed not to tip them. If you want to be funny, have a can of Coke in your carry on. WHen they ask for a "cool drink", give them the can of Coke.

The guy I encountered was in the secure area, in front of the big "out of africa" trinket shop. He too had an ID around his neck and I think he is a security company employee. He comes up to you and tells you he has put "your guns on the plane". But in fact, he has no way of knowing which guns go with which person. He is either just looking for a tip, or he is part of a pickpocketing scheme. I don't know for sure which, but given that we had a pair of sunglasses removed from the side pocket of a backpack, I think that's his game.

the first time i flew through Joburg 15 years ago, the SAPS officer who check things in the back room asked me if i had been hunting( duh, no just like to travel with a rifle!). when i said yes, he asked me if i had any "meat" for him. being a novice, i replied no, that the meat we shot stayed on the farm. he looked at me like i was an idiot. he then said, "you don't understand. do you want your rifle to get on your flight?" well course i did, figured out the scam and gave him $10. same bullshit, different day.....

quote:

There are 3 different players here. First are the "porters". These have some kind of yellow jacket and an ID around their necks. They accost you in the checkin hall and take control of your baggage cart. They will hang around while you check in and then they will push your cart up to the firearms inspection room. That's when they expect to be tipped. They add absolutely no value so you should ignore them.

That happened on my first trip to RSA, pushy little guy. He started to get nasty when he didn't get the tip he wanted, having traveled a tiny bit in the military I had experience dealing with hustlers before.

Came thru JNB just day before yesterday, no problems at all. We always check in early as possible to avoid lines and pressure. Charl uses one particular porter, pays him for the service and sends you in with him. He took us directly to the head of the line, and spoke to the ticket counter agent.

The two of us were through in less than 5 minutes. Absolutely no problem, no one bothered us in the hall, and the female Delta supervisor loaded all firearms cases on one cart and escorted us all to SAPS. She stood right there as all rifles were checked. Once completed, she gave us a bright and cheery smile and told us to have a great flight home.

Better service than I get here at home!

quote:

the SAPS officer who check things in the back room

That would be the security company (contractor), not SAPS. These people are notorious for this ploy. When they ask for a "cool drink", or "meat", or "something" make a point of writing down their ID number, on your baggage tag. Let him know if the bag does not make it, you will be in touch with his boss.

I never detected the slightest hint for a bribe or tip going through the check-in/check-out process at the Windhoek airport. That's just one more thing that Namibia has going for it as a hunting destination. Too bad that there is not more direct air service to Windhoek.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Where ever you are JNB, NYC, or at your local Walmart, NEVER allow anyone you do not know, to get within 2 arms length's of you...

If they do, hit them in the throat,HARD, and calmly walk away...

I like how you roll.

This is why I have been through Joberg only once since 2004. London, Amsterdam, Dubai, anywhere but Joberg.

Same thing happened to me in Bangkok only it was two hookers and I wasn't wearing camo.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Where ever you are JNB, NYC, or at your local Walmart, NEVER allow anyone you do not know, to get within 2 arms length's of you...

If they do, hit them in the throat,HARD, and calmly walk away...

2 arms length?? really??? you are going to be killing a lot of Walmart shoppers. what a load! i suppose you realize that means no one is allowed within 5-6 feet of you . good luck in that endeavor anywhere in the civilized world. and please, never stand in line for movie tickets or to buy something ANYWHERE!!!!!

I fly into 15-20 airports outside the U.S. every year and find JNB to be in the upper half for ease of use. Came thought there Wednesday, checked in, firearm was taken by the "short black Delta guy" and we bullshitted back to the SAPS room and he told me to have a nice trip and see you next year. No tips or any other bullshit. 3 years in a row and ZERO issues at JNB. Heading off to Tallinn, Estonia on Friday for two weeks. Hope it is as painless.

Don

quote:

Originally posted by Jorge400:
Same thing happened to me in Bangkok only it was two hookers and I wasn't wearing camo.

This is way too easy for my skill level.

I think I will just walk away from this one.

Last April, my first safari ever, and traveling alone, I had a guy that helped me checked in to my connecting flight... he actually was helpful and seemed knowledgeable.. and he spoke the language.. I only had a few singles in US funds on me, so I asked him what do I owe him and he said "twenty" so I handed him a 20 rand note and walked away.. He was actually laughing at me.. Good to see some k4's with a sense of humor..

All three trips I have made, my PH met me as I got off the plane. Shit doesn't happen that way.

i recently returned from my hippo/croc hunt in namibia on aug 20th. this was my fourth trip to namibia. at rifle inspection at the windhoek airport at about 0530, having traveled a long time before getting there, four hunters checked in before me. when the policeman noticed i was from the usa, he said "your are from the us?" i said yes and then he said he needed something for his lunch. i thought it a bit odd to talk about lunch at 0530. after several repeat requests for lunch assistance i figured out he was looking for a bribe!!! this had not happened before on my other trips. i usually bring along individual packets of skittles or m&ms to give to the staff or children during the hunt so i pulled out a 1.74 ounce packet of m&ms and told him to enjoy them for lunch. i think he was too surprised to correct my response and i walked off with my permit and rifle intact. i have had a few laughs about it ever since.

I have been through the gun permit process at Hosea Kutako in Namibia 12 times now (6 on entry and another 6 times on departure).
I have never experienced anything but prompt and courteous service and certainly NEVER any hint at or request for a "gratuity" i.e. a bribe !! I am very surprised by this report and I hope it is
an anomaly; unlike what I hear is commonplace in Joberg...

While I have never had an issue while on a hunting trip, I do frequently travel internationally for work. In some parts of the world the bribes are standard practice.. Years back I did a network infrastructure project in India for a customer. One day we were in a budget planning meeting and there was a line item in the project budget for "Localized Consulting Services" - a significant number... Being a consultant myself, I asked if that was part of my project - everyone smiled... and then quietly informed me that was the budget line item for local bribes!!

The power plant would has never gotten built without the bribes - so they build them into he project budget and charge it to the customer!!

I know we just perpetuate them problem by paying them but if I am spending $20k on a hunt, blowing a few bucks on "gratuities" doesn't bother me financially, just ethically...

quote:

Originally posted by Stopckmaker:
I have been through the gun permit process at Hosea Kutako in Namibia 12 times now (6 on entry and another 6 times on departure).
I have never experienced anything but prompt and courteous service and certainly NEVER any hint at or request for a "gratuity" i.e. a bribe !! I am very surprised by this report and I hope it is
an anomaly; unlike what I hear is commonplace in Joberg...

+1 - Multiple trips through Hosea Kutako and a handfull of border crossings and never a hint of a bribe. I sure hope it stays that way.

Checking back in they tried to get a tip from us and the only tip I offered was that if they did that when my friends came in I would report him. Guys got threw with no requested tip.

Many, if not most, nowadays carry a camera/cellphone. If asked for bread, meat, something to eat or any suggestion of a tip, just ask the guy to pose for a picture and say: " This is just so that I can accurately remember what you look like!" Demand for tips or bribes thereafter usually non-existent! In severe cases you may ask to write down his ID number. But mostly they are clever enough to realize that if you have a photo they cannot just disappear behind a, well what can I say that cannot be twisted to be a racial slur?

I had to overnight in Jo-burg last month. On departing the following morning at the upstairs SAPS office as I went to open my Gun Case the officer shook his head and held his hand out. $2.00 and I was cleared and on my way in less than 30 seconds.
The surprize was at the SAA counter when we were told our ammo had to be shipped seperately. Good thing we expected that and had it packed in a locked box. All went well from there on to Windhoek.

Wildlife and people both get used to handouts.

There should be a sign in the airport, substitute "SAP Officer" for Baboon.

quote:

Originally posted by DonW28:
I fly into 15-20 airports outside the U.S. every year and find JNB to be in the upper half for ease of use. Came thought there Wednesday, checked in, firearm was taken by the "short black Delta guy" and we bullshitted back to the SAPS room and he told me to have a nice trip and see you next year. No tips or any other bullshit. 3 years in a row and ZERO issues at JNB. Heading off to Tallinn, Estonia on Friday for two weeks. Hope it is as painless.

Don

Unfortunately most members don't want to hear that. They would rather bag out the locals.

Maybe there should also be a 'bad dress sense' warning. Really, what type of personality wears cammo in an airport ?

quote:

Originally posted by larrys01:
I had to overnight in Jo-burg last month. On departing the following morning at the upstairs SAPS office as I went to open my Gun Case the officer shook his head and held his hand out. $2.00 and I was cleared and on my way in less than 30 seconds.
The surprize was at the SAA counter when we were told our ammo had to be shipped seperately. Good thing we expected that and had it packed in a locked box. All went well from there on to Windhoek.

Hah! I must have met the same guy last July on the way to Kimberley! When he shook his head, I gave him and his buddy a pack of cigarettes. Now, that worked!

I don't smoke, never have. But I buy a couple cartons of cigs at JNB and pass them out all over RSA.