My wife and I are leaving for South Africa and going thru the airport in JoBurg this September.

It is our first archery hunt in Africa and will be our first time in JoBurg.

From what I can tell archery equipment is handled as regular baggage. I wanted to see if anyone has any tips that make things go easier when going thru customs or if anyone has had any issues with customs and archery equipment.
Thanks
Will

I have put a take down bow in the bottom of a L.L.Bean travel bag (in it's box) along with 16 arrows in a crush proof tube with no BHs installed and picked that bag up from the luggage tram then walked right thru customs with it,out the door to the safari agent's truck. My BHs, release, field points, etc. were all in my luggage in a small plastic tackel box without a problem.

I've had no problems traveling with archery gear in RSA or Zim. I used a hard SKB case, so it came off the plane with the firearms. I declared the weapon on my customs form, but obviously didn't need a SAPS form for the bow. No problems with custons.

I've told this before, but once when traveling to Canada to bowhunt I had a Delta agent in the US absolutely insist that I declare my bow "unloaded" on the firearms card before she would accept the checked bag. No amount of arguing could persuade her, and she was certain the bow must be "unloaded" before it could be checked. Pitiful.

Sometimes you just have to go with the flow. Adapt. Overcome. Have fun!

Bill

good luck at joberg! I have been there twice with a bow, neither time was it a terrible experience but if your bow case looks at all like a gun case, you may have to go to the saps office to pick it up and have to show them it is a "BOW" and there could be a little pressure cash wise from you to get it released in a timely manner.I resist giving bribes, but my hunting trip was worth more than the 20 bucks I gave the guy to help me get my bow over to the customs officer so I could continue my trip. Once before it came out with the oversize luggage and I just basically walked out with it after passing immigration and customs.

Next year if at all possible I will be going through Frankfurt, then to Windhoek to avoid Johanesburg completely.

Thanks for the input and comments! This site is such a great resource on so many topics. It sure takes a lot of the guess work out of the trip when it is a first time event.

Happy hunting
Will

458Lottfan

Last year my bowcase came one day later in Zimbabwe.
I have travelled with my cousin, using two cases + 1 guncase + 1 bowcase.
In Joburg airport I was asked if my bowcase contained a gun and I answered "NO".
In my opinion, that's why the bowcase was delayed.
A bowcase just looks like a guncase. When the staff of the airport see sort of a guncase (the bowcase) that's not labelled as containing a gun, they check the case and send it the next fly.
Consequently, if you're asked if there is a gun, just answer, Yes there's an arm.

+1 on being asked if my bow was "unloaded" at atlanta airport.........

Lady insisted I open the case and I refused, telling her it was a BOW and none of her business........ supervisor came over and laughed his ass off when I told him it was a bow and the lady kept Insisting I show her it was unloaded.......

Well all when perfect with the bow case and our trip. We did not have a single hold up. All of the staff at the Joburg airport were happy and helpful. Perhaps they spent some time on customer service with the world cup.

quote:

Originally posted by 458Lottfan:
Well all when perfect with the bow case and our trip. We did not have a single hold up. All of the staff at the Joburg airport were happy and helpful. Perhaps they spent some time on customer service with the world cup.

Excellent news. I haven't been through Jo-Burg with my bow yet (next year), but we have had clients go though with no problem whatsoever.

How did the hunt go?