Planning another trip to Namibia for next year. Looking a flights and see that it is not uncommon to have a 12-15 lay-over in J’berg.

Question – If my checked bags, including guns, are checked all the way through from Atlanta to Windhoek, and if I have a 12-15 hr lay-over in J’berg, do I have to claim my checked bags/guns if I stay in a hotel near the airport for a few hours. Just live out of the carry-on in other words.

I just called one of the SAA travel agents about this and it was like talking to a post.

Each to his own, but I've never dared to leave my guns and baggage in the Jo'burg airport for that length of time. It's not that big a problem to claim them and take them to the hotel I'm using during the layover. In fact, I'm going to Moz next month and will be doing exactly that for my 17+ hour layover in Jo'burg..

The one downside, however, is that you need to get RSA firearm permits to take the guns with you. I get preissued permits, so it's not much of a problem, but that does entail an additional expense for budget minded folks.

If you are going to Namibia, why don't you look at going though Frankfurt and flying Air Namibia to Windhoek? If you fly an airline with baggage agreement with Air Namibia you can check bags straight to Windhoek. I did this last month. Long layover in Frankfurt, but it is a hell of a lot better than a long layover in Joberg.

quote:

Originally posted by MCM300:
If you are going to Namibia, why don't you look at going though Frankfurt and flying Air Namibia to Windhoek? If you fly an airline with baggage agreement with Air Namibia you can check bags straight to Windhoek. I did this last month. Long layover in Frankfurt, but it is a hell of a lot better than a long layover in Joberg.

That is exactly what I am doing this Sept. 10-12hr layover in Frankfurt suites me better than one in Johberg & the crappy Airbus flight out of Atlanta is definetly not to be repeated by the faint of heart.
OHH is right, if you collect your rifles & leafe the airport, you'll have to get a SAP's form. I would either do my best to make sure the bags get checked through or hang w/ my stuff for 10hrs in the airport.

When I go back to Namibia to hunt again I'll be going through Europe. I've done the JNB thing enough times so that it is not intimidating but why go through RSA process if you don't have to?

Mark

I was i Namibia last year and i went Stockholm-Frankfurt-Windhoek, it was the easiest trip i ever done. My PH said that 100% of his clients who went through RSA had their bags late or missing and he had never had any bags late/missing through the Frankfurt connection ! He maybe exaggerated that a bit - but still...

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SAA must have changed their schedule. The last time I flew to Windhoek via Dallas, D.C., J'burg I only had a layover of 3-4 hours. I did RON at D.C. which was painless.

I just went through Joburg. No missing bags or problems.