I have hunted overseas several times but, since I am usually on a business trip, have never brought my own rifle. Borrowing or renting a rifle just seems easier. That said, I am heading back to Namibia this fall for a vacation and hunt and am considering bringing my own rifle. This may be a dumb question, but I couldnt find a clear answer searching the forums.

I am flying Turkish air to Johannesburg and South African to Windhoek .

Can I check my rifle all the way through to Windhoek or do I have to go through SAPs for a temporary permit, etc., in RSA? My connection is only a couple hours. I have the same question for an 8 hour layover in Istanbul.

Thanks

Where is your start destination? . Normal procedure if you check through and do not go through customs at Joe burg ,you do not need to fill out a SAP520

If all the airlines that you are flying have baggage handling agreements in place you should be able to check your guns all the way through to Namibia without getting a gun permit in Jo'berg.

I did this to Zimbabwe (United Airlines) when flying UA to Gatwick (London) then SAA to Jo'berg then the Airlink to Bulawayo.

Turkish Airlines and South African are both Star Alliance so you should be able to check luggage and firearms all the way through. Are all the flights on the same ticket?

Thanks all.

The flights are Boston--Istanbul--Jo'berg--Windhoek and are all on the same ticket. I was able to use my United miles for the round trip.

The return is SAA/UA through jo'berg back to Boston via Dulles.

I have checked through to Zim when flying SAA through Joberg. This works if you don't overnight in Joberg, in which case you have to claim your bags, and go through the SAPS procedure, importing your rifles to RSA only to recheck them in the morning.

When you look at the over all cost of a Safari it is small change to use someone like Steve Turner to help with the details.

We always use a mileage ticket for the trip from Alaska to Africa and the return but I still use Steve to handle the intra-continental African travel and to be on call for any screw ups along the way.

Money well spent!!

+1

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
When you look at the over all cost of a Safari it is small change to use someone like Steve Turner to help with the details.

We always use a mileage ticket for the trip from Alaska to Africa and the return but I still use Steve to handle the intra-continental African travel and to be on call for any screw ups along the way.

Money well spent!!

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
When you look at the over all cost of a Safari it is small change to use someone like Steve Turner to help with the details.

We always use a mileage ticket for the trip from Alaska to Africa and the return but I still use Steve to handle the intra-continental African travel and to be on call for any screw ups along the way.

Money well spent!!

And save yourself from a nightmare.

When you check in at Boston immediately ask for an agent who handles firearms. They will know the drill and handle the internal process. Most important check the baggage tag to make sure it is your final destination. On one flight the agent said she could not check a firearm through and tagged it to one of the stops. Big mess for a while until the supervisor straightened it out. This was on Delta but it was out of Boston. Other than airline ignorance I've ha no problems in Boston