Africa Hunt Travel Ques.

R

Ruger No.1

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After years of dreaming and seeing the many excellent experiences that have been posted here by many CGN'ers, I have decided to pursue a PG hunt for June of '09. My plan is to do a 7 - 10 day hunt in RSA and then have my wife join me for a non hunting tour of 14 - 18 days. Right now I have several questions all related to travel that I'm hoping some of you that have made the trip can help me with.

1. I would really like to use my own gun even though the PH that I hope to use has offered me the use of his. Would it be possible/legal/feasible for me to store my rifle in J'Berg after the hunting portion of my trip or can I ship it back even though I'm not accompanying it?
2. Are there any better travel routes and air carriers to use if one is travelling with a firearm? Anything to avoid?
3. Would I be better off just using my PH's gun?
4. I usually just book my own accomodations, tickets,etc. on line. For a trip like this am I better off using a travel agent familiar with this kind of trip?

Thanks in advance for your help and opinions - any other tips or suggestions will also be appreciated.
 
I have not travelled to africa for hunting. Lived there as a child. I would however recommend a good travel agent to look after a trip of this magnitude. PM me if you want a recomendation on a travel consultant who specializes in international hunting travel.

I am envious of your trip plans. Africa is awesome.
 
I had a great experience with British Airways flying Toronto-London-Johannesburg. Storing the rifle on RSA may be a problem, your PH should be able to tell you.
 
Ruger No. 1

I am a South African that emigrated to Canada in 2000 and I have since been back to South Africa to visit and hunt.

You are bound to have an absolute great holiday and nothing that I advise you to do, should put you off from your plans.

South Africa is still one of the greatest holiday destinations in the world, but you have to adhere to the rules.

I cannot tell you what all the rules are, but they are all aimed at staying out of trouble. Unfortunately, with Uhuru in 1994, crime sky-rocketed and Johannesburg is the crime capital of the world - corruption amongst government officials is commonplace and bribery is rife.

So, here is my advice and you can take it for what it is worth:

1. Do not take your own rifles - I still receive hunting magazines from SA and I have read too many horror stories of theft and bribery experienced by over-seas hunters who took their own rifles. The new government has implemented very strict new gun laws aimed at disarming the public. These laws are complicated and very restrictive and officials at the airport have been known to twist the laws in order to force you to pay them bribes. Having firearms with you, will restrict your freedom of movement to a large extend. Talk to your PH about all or any of your concerns and listen to his advice.

2. Have your luggage Ceram-wrapped at the airport from where you leave - that is have it wrapped in plastic - I know that they have this facility at Calgary Airport and they recommend it to all travelers to Africa - it is a deterrent for theft from your luggage and it allows you to notice immediately if your luggage have been tampered with.

3. Book through a travel agent - this is for the simple reason that you do not know the rules and they do. It is hard to travel anywhere in SA without having your own transport. To start with, there are many no-go areas and you do not want to end up in any of these. They drive on the left hand side of the road and the same rules of courtesy and good behaviour that is maintained on the road in Canada, are not being observed in SA. An agent will assist you with all of this. Whatever you do, do not travel at night - too many instances with rocks on the road and hi-jacking and robberies when you stop for these rocks.

4. Get out of Johannesburg as soon as you can - there is nothing there of much interest, it is cold in June and there are just too many people and crime.

5. You must go to the Lowveld (Nelspruit and area) and you must go to the Kruger National Park. Also try and get to Cape Town - very rewarding.

6. I can carry on a lot more, but the easiest way will be to just take me with you - I know the rules and I can take you on relative cheap hunts (big five not included)!

As an alternative - e-mail me at: jouberts@shaw.ca and I can attempt to answer your specific questions.
 
Taking your own rifles into South Africa is easy enough, download and fill out the SAP 520 form in advance. There enough instructions around on exactly how to fill them out that it's hard to screw that up. You need a letter of invitation from your outfitter, a motivation letter from yourself that says about the same thing, your passport, return ticket, your registration and PAL. Piece of cake really, or pay one of the many companies that will get them for you in advance. You can forget about sending your guns back without you accompanying them. Secure storage isn't that hard to arrange, your PH will set you up.
You can take up to 200 rounds of ammo per gun, but since the airlines won't take over 5 Kgs total it doesn't matter much. Your wife can take 5 Kgs as well. Don't take two guns of the same caliber, and leave the semi-autos at home.
If at all possible check your luggage straight through, so you don't have to #### with them at all until your final destination.This requires having no lay-overs longer than 24 hours. Avoid any flight arrangements that involve different airlines that don't have baggage handling agreements. You will have to sign a form in Canada before getting on the first flight saying that your ammo weighs less than 5 Kgs and the weapons are unloaded. Use trigger locks and ape-proof gun-cases with locks. Don't put your ammo in the same case, that can go in any checked bag with a lock on it. Split your ammo between your's and your wife's bags, so if even one gets through you both have some ammo. If your guncase doesn't have wheels, get one that does. Good luck finding a travel agent that knows anything about guns, Gracy would be good if they took Canadian clients which they normally don't. Routing through Frankfurt has traditionally been less trouble than others.
 
Thanks guys, this is exactly the kind of info I'm looking for. From this board and 24hr. Campfire, I've gathered most of the info about taking firearms in but it is hard to find out what the rules are once you clear customs. My PH is strongly encouraging me to use his guns and as much as I'd like to take my own I think that it will really simplify matters if I follow his advice.

Snoepie: Kruger, Nelspruit, Garden Route and Cape Town are all on the tour itinerary of the company that I think we will use. Are there any other "must see" suggestions? They also make the point that there are areas that they avoid because of safety concerns and we hope being part of even a small group will help us avoid unpleasantness.

Thanks for your help and if anyone has further comments please post them.
 
Calgary-Frankfurt-Jo'burg was hassle free as far as routing.

The lay-over with your guns in RSA could be problematic. I'd talk to a booking agent and get their take on the logistics.
 
When you are in Nelspruit and you are prepared to venture off the beaten track, it is a short hop to Barberton (they may still be busy with road construction between Nelspruit and Barberton - otherwise a very scenic route) and old gold mining town. I called Barberton home for almost twenty years and all four my children were born there. Very interesting town and you can go for a walk (short walk in the mountains south of the town on a path overlooking the entire town) through an old mine tunnel. Also drive out on the Bulembu road into the mountains towards Swaziland - it is a twisting road that just goes higher and higher into the mountains with spectacular scenery. If you want, I can even give you the names of people who will be all too willing to show you around. Nelspruit is in the Lowveld and the weather in June is normally fantastic.

Also way off the beaten track if you have time, visit the Kalahari Gemsbuck Park in the Kalahari dessert.

When in the Cape, from Cape Town, travel to Hermanus via Sir Lowry's Pass. In Hermanus go on the Rotary Route - the turn-off is on the road between Hermanus and Sandbaai. Then from Hermanus travel back to Cape Town along the coast via Kleinmond, Betty's Bay, Rooiels, Gordon's Bay, Muizenburg, Simon's Town (in between split off to Cape Point and see where the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic ocean) Kommetjie, over Chapman's Peak to Hout Bay and back to Cape Town via Clifton.

It is a route that you will never forget - just hope the weather in the Cape is not too miserable.

Let me know if you want more info. Otherwise, enjoy the trip!
 
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