Going to RSA April 2017. Have not been on safari since 2012 and things have changed.
Who is the travel agency to use today?
We are hunting with Dumukwa Safaris out of Alldays. Do we need someone to get us through Joburg customs mess and if so who?
I have some medical travel insurance with MASA out of Southlake, TX but who is the tall dog that will haul your injured butt out of the bush and home to my doc.my toys now days?
Anyone used Custom Travel Agency ?
For years I used Debbie at Gracy but she more or less blew me off handling a bird hunt in Argentina and I have not been the one handling travel arrangement since then.
I would not chose to use her again.
So..chime in and let me know who is King of the Hill these days.
Your help appreciated.
Come see me at our DSC Tuffpak booth # 4533
Better tomorrows,
Mims

Steve Turner
Travel With Guns.

First choice

There are several arrival services who will get you through customs at JNB. Most definitely the way to go especially with firearms in tow.

Depending on the airline you choose, a travel agent may or may not help. If you fly Delta, best that you book online as the booking agent can't get a better deal. Also booking online allows you to select the exact seat you want. On a 15 to 16 hour flight, seat selection is important.

You will also most likely be spending the night in Joburg as it's a little bit of a drive to get to Alldays, so you need to consider where to stay that is most convenient for your pickup.

In regards to get your butt home insurance - Global Rescue without question.

Harry, Debbie at Custom Travel is top notch as we use her for all our clients who do not book their own tickets.

As far as J'burg if you are overnighting I recommend Africa Sky guest house and tell them you want the meet and greet and pre-approval rifle permits and you will breeze right through.

If you talk to Debbie tell her David from Trophy Game Safaris says hello.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

+1

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Lozano:
Steve Turner
Travel With Guns.

First choice

Harry,

I always recommend Gracy Travel but I also never recommend using any agenda other than Shawn Kennedy that works there. She will arrange the travel, meet/greet and your insurance. It could not be more seamless.

Mark

I really don't think you need a travel agent to book your tickets. I used one, for the first time in 20+ years because of traveling with guns. She took care of the gun with the internal SAA flights, but I had to do the work for the international BA flight. I could have save myself the $75 per person fee, $225 total. The other problem with using an agent is they are in control of your ticket. That means you can't make any changes the agent has too. And it least on BA I was unable to pick my seats in advance as I usually do. I will not be using an agent ever again.

I used a gun service in Jo'berg (African Sky and stayed one night there), worth the money (gun service), just wish I had someone that could have met me at the gate and walked be thru the mess at immigration. But If I, had to do it over, I would have used a service and stayed at either the Interconti (preferred) or City Lodge.

A greet service and City Lodge is certainly the easiest and quickest way to go. After 15+ hours of flying all I want is a shower and a Scotch. City Lodge makes that happen the quickest.

Harry,

We have been using Kathi, who is a member member here, for all our travel arrangements from the US.

She has been fantastic, and I highly recommend her.

I also recommend you get the services of a meet and greet company, well worth the money.

Thanks to all for the replied and help. Most appreciated. That is the great thing about AR members. Before all said and done you get the real skinny on it all.
See you all in Dallas shortly at the Hunters Headquarters/Tuffpak booth 4533.
Better tomorrows,
Mims

In Sep I stayed with Afton House in Jo'burg. They only charged about $65.00 a night. They will pick you up at the airport (meet and greet) free of charge. If you want them to do a pre-approval for your guns, they charge $100.00 for that. (Well worth the cost IMO).

Afton House will take your reservations over the internet without you having to pay a deposit. The overnight stay includes breakfast and provides free transport back to the airport. A really great deal IMO. You also get to meet a lot of other hunters in transit - a great way to make new friends.

There is really no need to go through a travel service, unless you can get your airline tickets cheaper than way.

My only caution is upon your return if you are going through Atlanta on your way back home, make sure you have at least 3 hours between connecting flights. It took me exactly two hours to clear my guns though Atlanta and get to my gate and I was at the front of the line for returning hunters clearing their guns.

BH63

I had a great stay at afton house well worth the the money. got the pre permit and on my return flight from Port Elizabeth they led me to my next gate , made sure my Gun got thru and lead me around some long lines well worth the $100 plus some tips