Here's the deal, folks. I finally retired from my first career with unpredictable schedules and am happily ensconced as a high school teacher with the ability to get some time off (predictabily) during Summers. Good news - I can plan a trip to Africa. I'd love to take along my bride of 26 years. It would have to be a nice lodge to get her past the looooong flight (she hates flying) and therein lies the rub. In that vein, what's the easiest flight plan to get to Namibia and/or RSA?

All is not lost. If she won't accompany me, I'm in for a buffalo hunt or very nice PG hunt, perhaps one that includes Nyala.

I have done the New York to Joburg to Windhoek route and didn't care for it.

Next time I'm thinking of going thru Frankfurt and then take a direct flight to Windhoek.

Possible alternative, BadMatt is take Delta to Cape Town; treat your wife to two or three nights in the Cape and then go either Air Namibia or SAA up to Windhoek.

Regards, Tim

My wife, son, and I flew from Newark to Frankfurt, spent the afternoon and night in Frankfurt. Flew out of Frankfurt late in the afternoon/early evening and landed in Windhoek just before sun up. I recommend it. The overnight in Frankfurt was good and restful, the overnight flight into Windhoek was not bad.

I agree with Hoss,,,,,,Spend a day in Frankfurt. Plenty to do there,, museums, art, great zoo, etc. It breaks the trip into halves which is much easier. Another advantage is you begin the process of getting on Namibia time, Windhoek and Frankfurt basically same time zone so you begin the jet lag recovery before you actually get to Namibia. I like arriving at day break in Windhoek so when you begin whatever drive you have to your destination there it is daylight and there is so much to see for a first timer,, like all the baboons sitting on the fence posts watching you drive by! Do it man!!! Go!!

quote:

Originally posted by Hoss12:
My wife, son, and I flew from Newark to Frankfurt, spent the afternoon and night in Frankfurt. Flew out of Frankfurt late in the afternoon/early evening and landed in Windhoek just before sun up. I recommend it. The overnight in Frankfurt was good and restful, the overnight flight into Windhoek was not bad.

+1

In fact, if you want to, spend a couple of nights in Frankfurt. I understand that you can have your gun(s) stored at the Frankfurt airport before you continue on to Windhoek, so there is no reason to hurry through if you are interested in seeing some of Germany.

Even if you fly straight through, the two flights (U.S-FRA and FRA-WDH) are of approximately equal length and not nearly so trying as the 13 to 14 hour flight to Johannesburg (after which you still have to take a two-hour flight to WDH, which will likely require you to overnight in Johannesburg -- both expensive and inconvenient.) You'll have a half-day layover in Frankfurt, but it's just enough time to take the train downtown and enjoy the bierhalls and shopping before returning to the airport to catch your overnight flight to WDH.

Fly from LaGuardia (NY) to Jo'berg, arrive at about 8am, enough time to fly out to Windhoek at 11am the same day. No overnight.

Matt,

Capetown is a beautiful city great wines in abundance. That Namibia thru Germany is also a great way and a breakup of trip.
Got a name for you to contact she can help and make recommendations. She is in USA presently.

Mike

I'm going over for the first time in May 2013.
We are booked on Delta out of Atlanta to Johannesburg. Do an overnight, then on to Namibia on SAA the next morning.
I wanted to do the Frankfurt route, but it would have been $800.00 more. After I booked a Meet & Greet, filled out the SAPS 520, I think I would have spent the extra $800.00.

MauserK98

K98, welcome to AR. Yes, that's a much easier route. Are you staying at the Afton in Jo'burg?

Being in Greenville, Atlanta is your obvious and best starting point. I would suggest ATL nonstop to JNB. If you want to hunt Nyala, RSA is likly your best option. Although, I guess Moz or Zim would be an option as well, especially if you want to hung buff.

Personally, I prefer hunting and visiting in Namibia. I've done the Atlanta-Frankfurt-Windhoek route and it is not my preferance. First, the last I checked, there weren't daily flights between Frankfurt and Windhoek (but if you are really flexible this might not matter). Second, I find a single 15-hour flight that gets into JNB at 5 PM and allows for an overnight on local time followed by an easy 2 hour flight the next day easier than a 9 hour flight followed by a 10+ hour flight with a 12 hour layover in between. If you and your wife sleep easily on a plane then great. I don't and I don't get a decent amount of sleep on the two legs on the Frankfurt route. Thus I prefer to overnight in JNB.

Don't fly from DC to Joburg. It requires a stop in Senegal to fuel.

Atlanta to Joburg is right through and much better.

Thank-you for taking the time to respond. Unfortunately for my wallet, the missus and I met with Steve (travelwithguns.com) in Charlotte this weekend and we will travel business class direct to either Windhoek or J'Burg...so sayeth She Who Must Be Obeyed. Oh yes, and that will be the only flight.

SO you are not going to Namibia then, but RSA? Not sure how you can fly direct to Windhoek, from any NOrth American departure, with no connecting flights???

ATL to Joburg and then to Windhoek. If you find a good direct flight from ATL to Frankfurt then I would do the direct flight from there to Windhoek. If cost is a factor, my guess is that ATL to JNB will be the cheaper way and maybe just as convenient (especially if a reasonably priced flight has you going to Frankfurt via some other locale). If you want direct to Windhoek it is going to cost you a lot more than business class fares because you will be renting a private jet.

Crap. It appears I misheard...and on to J'burg we'll go...

I suggest via Frankfurt. Take a day room and catch a nap & shower. Its a good way to go.

A couple of years ago we caught flights from Tampa to Charlotte to Frankfurt. Charlotte to Frankfurt was an overnight flight. Got a day-room in Frankfurt and enjoyed a little sight seeing then took the Air Namibia over-night flight directly into Windhoek. Sorry that neither one of us remember the airline from Charlotte to Frankfurt

Coming back through Charlotte was GREAT. No lines for Customs clearance and the agents were actually friendly and helpful. We will do that route again but my wife now likes to take the Swiss Air direct to Zurich overnight from Tampa and spend the day there shopping instead. Next night is over-night via J'berg but only a 3 1/2 hr layover there and bags and guns checked all the way through so no SAPS clearances to hassle with.

someone posted above they thought you could leave your guns with the equivalent of German Customs, yes. We did that last summer. Retrieved our guns and bows from the United counter. Carried them to the German customs, all paperwork had been emailed and returned ahead of time. Signed the guns and bows in, and left them, no cost, no hassle, no problem. picked it up the next day and carried them to Air Namibia, that took some time. All were professional, just different terminals and security and all a good bit of time. overnight in Frankfurt was worth the money and the Germans were very easy to deal with all in all.

I've been advised that the Police in Frankfurt are now charging for the Firearms importation permit. Not a deal breaker but it looks like an additional $60 US.

IF (Big IF) Air Namibia has a baggage handling agreement with the airline you're flying into Frankfurt with, then there is no need to claim your checked bags or rifles in Frankfurt - they're checked all the way through to Windhoek. At least that was how ours went both ways.

Since baggage handling agreements change from time to time - you might want to email Air Namibia and ask what airlines in Frankfurt they have baggage handling agreements with. Air Namibia Home Page

I just bought tickets thru Gracy for my Namibia hunt in Oct. Flying Delta to Frankfurt, spending the day and then fly out that night to Windhoek. Delta and Air Namibia have a baggage agreement so my bag and gun are checked all the way thru. I was told that the German Firearm import permit is only needed if you need to take possession of your guns, in my case I wouldn't need because they are checked straight thru, but it was still a strong suggestion to get it just in case there is a problem with flights. By the way, it is only $35.