Taking a rifle to Africa

Technically you are supposed to have a DFAIT export permit. When I went to RSA they did not check on exit or re-entry for the permit. Exporting (even temporarily) without a license can land you a fine of up to $10,000 and forfeiture. Some of us have too much to lose (professionally) to take a chance on things like that. It's for a similar reason that I didn't take my own rifle to Zim.
 
you will need to fill out excol forms 1042-1/2 for Canada and saps 520 for RSA. Your PH will give you a list of documents to bring copies of including firearms licence and passport photo page. Fly through Germany. Currently they allow firearms through with no permits.
 
twoshots said:
you will need to fill out excol forms 1042-1/2 for Canada and saps 520 for RSA. Your PH will give you a list of documents to bring copies of including firearms licence and passport photo page. Fly through Germany. Currently they allow firearms through with no permits.
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Twoshots is bang on for the current requirements for both Canada and RSA, follow those forms directions and of course verify transport of firearms with your chosen airline.
 
bigbubba/C-fbmi

As there were only two African Outfitters at the TO show, it was likely us you were talking to. We have suppressed rifles for rent as bigbubba mentioned. They are our pers guns and are suppressed. We use them for ease of shooting for the myriad of hunters we get (inexperienced to very experienced). The main point is it is just a choice for us they could just as easily be without suppressors. It is a service we provide in order that the hunter has a choice between bringing his rifles or not. It seems to be averaging around 50/50 as to bringing rifles or not.

c-fmbi - sounds like you ran into someone hunting other folks concessions ... and a bit sketchy if they were trying to force you to shoot with a suppressor as you mentioned... pretty out of the ordinary ...where was this in RSA out of curiosity?
 
KMG............What it was, we were hunting on a privately owned concession for which only Stormberg Elangani had the contract to hunt on. Most of the year this operation catered to photo safaris and it was just the landowners wishes and attempt at control re the suppressed rifle. He knew virtually nothing about hunting but was charged with managing the game numbers on the property and was told he should only do this with a suppressed rifle so as not to scare all the game off...........which of course is bunk.
 
c-fbmi said:
...in the 15 or more times I have flown from this country, and 1/2 dozen times I have driven, with firearms and even handguns several times, I have never, ever applied for any permit from within Canada...
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The USA is treated differently than every other country. I don't know why. (When I asked an export officer that, he just laughed and said the answer was above his pay grade.)

What I'm saying is...the law is the law.

I know of a guy who went to Norway and back with his favorite rifle and without any DFAIT permits; he knew they were required by law (because I'd told him), but he didn't care; he just bluffed his way past the airline and the CBSA. It worked for him, and maybe it'll work for you. But maybe it won't.
 
KMG Canada said:
c-fbmi, yup complete bunk. You did the right thing ... faced with that proposition I would have walked away as well ... hope it didn't spoil your hunt to much!
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Nope not at all.........like I said he relented when he saw several thousand US dollars walking away..........I took a beautiful 51" Cape Kudu on that property, a true monster as Cape kudu go, and my biggest warthog to date. The operation I hunted with (Stormberg Elangani) ceased their hunting of this property after this confrontation. The guy was a true blue A-hole and the game was difficult to find and hunt and extremely spooky..........camp and food was outstanding though.
As you may have gathered, I'm not particularly thin skinned, so it didn't bother me in the least and I did get some nice animals there, but we worked our asses off for them and I had to make a couple longish and fairly difficult shots to do so. Not really the kind of place one would take your average client and expect to have any degree of success. Kudu was over 400 mtrs and standing in the shade.......really hard to see even through the scope @ 9X and the wart hog I connected on at about 175 mtrs on the dead run quartering away.......right in the back of the head..........I have to say that without my previous experience in Africa, I doubt I would have ever seen the kudu I took.
 
Excol is a piece of cake, free, and fast. The folks there have been nothing but helpful for me, frankly traveling with a rifle is very easy. It's worth doing the Canadian Excol stuff because of how simple it is.

All the in country stuff is generally just pen work, the Cameroon stuff is the worst I've encountered with pre-application. Anyone who's dealt with a dusty, remote West African bureaucratic organism knows what this means.
 
KMG. - yes I was talking with you and have sent Kim a few emails with regard to 2017.

Haven't made up my mind yet but will remain in contact with you

PS....and a DFAIT permit is not required for export to the USA. Specifically states that on the website.
 
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Ardent said:
Excol is a piece of cake, free, and fast. The folks there have been nothing but helpful for me, frankly traveling with a rifle is very easy. It's worth doing the Canadian Excol stuff because of how simple it is.

All the in country stuff is generally just pen work, the Cameroon stuff is the worst I've encountered with pre-application. Anyone who's dealt with a dusty, remote West African bureaucratic organism knows what this means.
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CAR was even worst followed by Gabon, Cameroon was way easier few decades ago ... Angus you will have fun you survived zim ...
 
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c-fbmi - 51" is a corker of an east cape kudu, well done!

bigbubba, thanks for taking a look at us, your in good hands with Kim, if you ever have any questions feel free to give us a ring or email here in Canada.
 
BigUglyMan said:
Just be prepared for various idiots along the way.
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To further elaborate on the above point, this means leave extra time everywhere to overcome challenges with officials and airline staff who may not know what to do with you and your guns. Most times it's smooth, but if you leave extra time, you'll be able to overcome these challenges smoothly if they come up.
 
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