Boys, I've been once to JNB, for our RSA safari, in July 2008.

My son and I are going to Zim, but will be overniting, in JNB, at Afton.

I have some questions about the transiting permit vs. hunting in RSA. I assume you still need a letter of invitation from the outfitter[Zim], do you still need a letter of motivation?

I know we need the 4457 form, copy of pasport, copy of itinerary, as well as the filled out copy of the saps 520[black ink, unsigned]

Anything different or in addition you need for the in transit vs. hunting in RSA?

Thanks.

Mad Dog

Why spend the night in SA and deal with all the hastles? I always transfer straight to zim and save the headache and the dollars.

Huge reason. My son has enough frequent flyer miles to get us to JNB for free, on Delta. Our transfer is to Bulawayo. We get in too late to make the transfer, as they only have 1 flight there per day, on SAA.


Mad Dog

What area in Zim are you hunting?

Ben

quote:

Originally posted by Mad Dog:
Boys, I've been once to JNB, for our RSA safari, in July 2008.

My son and I are going to Zim, but will be overniting, in JNB, at Afton.

I have some questions about the transiting permit vs. hunting in RSA. I assume you still need a letter of invitation from the outfitter[Zim], do you still need a letter of motivation?

I know we need the 4457 form, copy of pasport, copy of itinerary, as well as the filled out copy of the saps 520[black ink, unsigned]

Anything different or in addition you need for the in transit vs. hunting in RSA?

Thanks.

Mad Dog

You have all the information correct - you do not need a letter of motivation if you have all the other documents including the letter of invitation from the Zim outfitter.

To make the filling the SAPS 520 form in easier I have created a PDF form of it on my website - Permits. Means you can type all the information in - only those areas that required to be completed are highlighted - and then print it to sign it. Make sure when you print you scale the pages to fit into print area!

Good hunting!

Thanks Steve! I could have just contacted you about this. You are handling all the arrangements for thr trip, through my son, Dan. I believe he just booked the tickets, today through you.

Mad Dog

He did indeed! Nothing like the forum though, to get other travels perspective as well.

As Steve has suggested,that's the only way to go! Annelise DuBose at Custom Travel does it the same way!

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Turner - Total Travel Solutions:

You have all the information correct - you do not need a letter of motivation if you have all the other documents including the letter of invitation from the Zim outfitter.

Hang on a minute here, please: does one need a letter of motivation and/or letter of invitation from the outfitter when transiting via Joberg?
I'll be traveling to Namibia soon, and I have a quick transit (no overnighting) in Joberg, and of course I wish to make sure I have the ducks neatly in a row.

Further to this: I have understood that if the guns have been checked all the way, the airline will transport the guns to the connecting flight, and no declaration and SAPS forms are needed. I this correct?

- Lars/Finland

If you aren't overniting in JNB, you don't need the documentation. As far as I know.


Mad Dog

Checking straight through avoids the SAPS520 bs.

However, in practice, the security company will pick up anything looking like a rifle and deposit it in the SAPS office. By the time they wake up and check the tags, the flight has left. This is one reason why so many hunters arrive without their guns.

You can check, at the int'l xfer desk, that the bags have been transferred to your connecting flight. If not, get a supervisor to go to the SAPS office to retrieve them.

If you have time, it pays to clear immigration at JNB and go check that your guns are not stuck at SAPS.

Otherwise, plan to spend 2 nights in town (Windhoek or wherever) before you start your hunt. 90% of lost bags make it 24 hours later.

Given the above, it actually makes a lot of sense to spend a night at JNB. That way you know your guns are on the connecting flight the next day. The "flying straight through" strategy is not as smart as it seems.