My son and I will be traveling to south Africa next summer on British Airways.

We will each be taking one gun.

As long as we acquire the proper gun permits, can we put both guns in one rifle case or do we each have to have our own gun case?

The owner of the case, the one who's ticket it is against, will be considered the one importing the firearms both to your destination and on your return to the USA. As far as customs goes, if it's in your luggage it's yours.

Actually Christy with Gracy Travel says as long as each person has a 4457 for his rifle and his own RSA gun permit for his rifle the luggage situation is not an issue. Both guns can go in one case with no problem.

Mark

Thank you both.

I don't know if this would pertain to your particular circumstance, but you can't import two rifles of the same caliber, meaning if you both carried the same caliber...it would require two permits.
On my second trip over, a pair of hunters were trying to each import a .270 Win for their hunt, both in one gun case. The SAPS officer would not issue a permit for either rifle. Relevant section of SA permit regulations are copied below.

"A temporary import permit will only be issued at the port of entry to the following persons

To a foreign visitor for the purpose of hunting.

To a foreign visitor to display the firearm and ammunition at a trade show or collections show or to display firearms and ammunition at a sports or hunting trade show.

To an official of a foreign government or a distinguished foreign visitor so designated by the SA Department of Foreign Affairs.

To a foreign law enforcement officer entering the Republic of South Africa on an officially approved policing assignment. To a foreign visitor to participate in a competitive sports shooting event, organised by recognised business, hunting, sport-shooting or collectors organisation.

If the applicant is twenty one (21) years of age and older.

If the rifles is not semi-automatic or fully automatic of action or hand carbines.

For only one(1) firearm per caliber.

Not more than two hundred (200) rounds of ammunition capable to be fired by the firearm imported"

Karl,

You are correct that the regs say that two rifles of the same caliber are not permitted but you can get a waiver if you apply ahead and submit a justification letter. If one hunter wants to bring two 375's for instance it can be done.

Mark

Thanks, Mark...sure didn't know this was an option.

May not matter but might want to make sure they put your luggage tag on the rifle case. Last two trips I've done, they simply printed luggage tags in one persons name and slapped those on everything. Most of the time shouldn't matter, but if anything is lost it might cause some confusion.

I would suggest two cases. If one gets lost in the flight over (or delayed) you can still hunt.
Cal

quote:

Originally posted by lrich:
My son and I will be traveling to south Africa next summer on British Airways.

We will each be taking one gun.

As long as we acquire the proper gun permits, can we put both guns in one rifle case or do we each have to have our own gun case?

Just did it in September, no problem

I also just did this on a hunt in Namibia. There were no problems.

It's easier if just one person takes the two rifles....half the paperwork.

1 One person taking two rifles in one case-less paperwork, common

2 Each person taking own rifle in own case-you have a back up.,common

3 Two persons sharing one rifle case with rifles on different permits-more complicated, with no benefit and less common arrangement

Not sure why you are stuck on option 3?

Two hunters using the same gun case for two rifles is courting disaster. Lose one gun case, and BOTH hunters are without their rifles. Two rifles in two cases, at least there is one rifle between the two of you if one case is lost or delayed. I have had my gun case lost for four days of a ten day hunt. Believe it. It CAN happen to you.

The way we look at it is that the outfitter will have a rifle if the case is misplaced. I've had my rifle misplaced on every Asian trip but so far so good going to Africa.