Rifle into SA

[wildfowler.250]

Well folks , taking the plunge and doing my first trip!

I’m very tempted to use the outfitters rifle to save hassle but I’m also far more comfortable with my own gun,(albeit it’s probably 1” moa).


I’ve seen on an Africa hunting forum that some people have used a service to book the rifle the whole way through and sort the paperwork. Any experience?


Think I’ll do direct Heathrow to joburg . Any major does or don’ts? I believe some airlines won’t allow rifles?


If it’s not worth the hassle, I’ll just hop on the flight with a change of clothes

 

[Tim.243]

Well folks , taking the plunge and doing my first trip!

I’m very tempted to use the outfitters rifle to save hassle but I’m also far more comfortable with my own gun,(albeit it’s probably 1” moa).


I’ve seen on an Africa hunting forum that some people have used a service to book the rifle the whole way through and sort the paperwork. Any experience?


Think I’ll do direct Heathrow to joburg . Any major does or don’ts? I believe some airlines won’t allow rifles?


If it’s not worth the hassle, I’ll just hop on the flight with a change of clothes

3 pages is my guess...

 

[wildfowler.250]

3 pages is my guess...

As in, huge hassle?


If it’s a case of lots of tips to get my rifle back from airport security and a stress, no thanks. If it’s £200 and someone does all the paperwork and meets you at the airport and it’s faff free - great.


Feel like hire rifle may be the way though

 

[Tim.243]

As in, huge hassle?


If it’s a case of lots of tips to get my rifle back from airport security and a stress, no thanks. If it’s £200 and someone does all the paperwork and meets you at the airport and it’s faff free - great.


Feel like hire rifle may be the way though

No 3 pages of replies....

 

[artschool]

the paperwork is pretty straightforward. You complete it beforehand and then just go to the police desk at Oliver Tambo and they process the license and give you your rifle at the same time. I used to fly with SA Airlines and then moved to Virgin. I believe BA is expensive for rifles.

 

[Selous]

Virgin were good to deal with and didn’t charge for the rifle case as we were in a party of 4 with 2 bits of hold luggage so the gun case and ammo were not counted as excess baggage.
I paid Air2000 for a meet and greet service, well worth the money - about £120 from memory. They met us as we got off the plane and got us through the VIP lane in passport control which must have saved an hour. Escorted to baggage reclaim and then on to the SAPS office which was a bit tucked away where he handed us to their representative at the office. Our PH met us there. 10 mins paperwork and we were reunited with gun case and ammo box. There was a few minutes of uncertainty as the ammo box had been separated from the gun case but it soon turned up. All quite straightforward. The main thing I would say is to arrive at Heathrow in plenty of time. We were 4 hours before the flight. Expect delays getting the guns checked in as you will wait for a courier at check in and then may wait again after passport control for the guns to be checked by border force. It’s not a horrendous process to be honest and I would definitely take my own rifles if possible.

 

[artschool]

Virgin were good to deal with and didn’t charge for the rifle case as we were in a party of 4 with 2 bits of hold luggage so the gun case and ammo were not counted as excess baggage.
I paid Air2000 for a meet and greet service, well worth the money - about £120 from memory. They met us as we got off the plane and got us through the VIP lane in passport control which must have saved an hour. Escorted to baggage reclaim and then on to the SAPS office which was a bit tucked away where he handed us to their representative at the office. Our PH met us there. 10 mins paperwork and we were reunited with gun case and ammo box. There was a few minutes of uncertainty as the ammo box had been separated from the gun case but it soon turned up. All quite straightforward. The main thing I would say is to arrive at Heathrow in plenty of time. We were 4 hours before the flight. Expect delays getting the guns checked in as you will wait for a courier at check in and then may wait again after passport control for the guns to be checked by border force. It’s not a horrendous process to be honest and I would definitely take my own rifles if possible.

skipping the passport queue is well worth the money. i didn’t know you could do that

 

[stevec]

I would contact Afton Lodge in Johannesburg. They offer first class accommodation and food and will arrange permits, meet and greet etc and also advise on which airlines are easiest.

In theory the system is simple, but so badly administered and corrupt that I wouldn’t want to try South Africa without local help. I spoke to several people who live there and still use Afton or similar.

Not all African airports are the same. Windhoek is an absolute pleasure.

Emirates are helpful and good with firearms - remember to book the Dubai firearms permit.

Lufthansa were fine in my experience, although you also need a Frankfurt transit permit.

I have heard good things about Ethiopian Airlines and they are cheap.

Qatar are supposed to be good with firearms but after they cancelled my flight and it took a threat of legal action to get a refund, I would not touch them.

I have heard some good reports and some bad reports (mainly relating to cost) about BA.

Virgin probably the best bet from London

 

[stevec]

skipping the passport queue is well worth the money. i didn’t know you could do that

I spent 2.5 hours in the passport queue at OR Tambo a couple of years ago. It is an awful airport

 

[Dickie]

Much of this has been written many times before on here.
Your outfitter or PH might be of some help.
The guy I went with sent me a list of all the paperwork I’d need, he also sent the SAP’s form and a filled in example and instructions.
He then met me at arrivals and escorted me to the police office to present the paperwork and wait for my rifle case and ammo case to arrive.
No long wait in the police office and no extra charge or tips required and pretty quick.
I flew with Virgin and no hassle from them but a bit from the Heathrow staff regarding ammunition.
Have a great trip.

 

[Sika98k]

A word of warning re your airline of choice. I booked a flight with Lufthansa via Frankfurt to Jo,burg. A great price I couldn’t believe it ! I had been scouring airlines for a week and nothing had turned up. This did, booked it.
Last week I rang their service centre to book my rifle. Yes sir no problem, €250 each way . Then it would have been $160 to Rifle Permits to grease the wheels in Jo,burg. This was more than the flight ticket.
So I’m hiring a rifle. It’s $25 a day including ammunition so not a major problem. However being a leftie I’d much prefer my own firearm.
Previously, last year, Lufthansa didn’t drop that on me to Windhoek. Prior to that I’ve flown Ethiopian Airlines to Namibia and found them reasonable and firearms friendly (no charge) Egypt Air also carry firearms at no extra charge. I discovered that too late.

 

[Hanechdene]

I used to fly South African Airways but now fly BA.

Carriage is £125 each way. Trying to notify them you are carrying firearms can be a bit of a hassle.

I leave 4 hours to check in at Heathrow.

Collecting the firearms in Jo’Burg is relatively straight forward, but give yourself plenty of time if you are taking an internal flight, at least 3 hours (this can be tight). If you pack stuff in with the rifle, have a list and give it to the security chap, just makes his life easier.

The paperwork looks daunting but is straight forward for the permit. You will only need to fill in a couple or so pages of the 520 form, then have copies of your passport, invitation letter from the outfitter, border force export permit, international flights and firearms certificate. Give them this lot as it saves them making copies. The time of year you go will influence how long you have to wait or how long it takes to be processed by SAP. I go early March and now have it down to 20 minutes………

Internal flight is with SAfair who also charge but you can notify them when booking the flight so really easy.

 

[tusker]

I used to hunt SA but found it was too much faf and on one occasion missed our connecting flight so its Namibia all the time now. One sheet of A4 with about 6 questions and letter of invite to hunt, no extra payments or bribes, 20 minutes from passport control and you have your guns.
We are flying Ethiopian in May rifles go free.
Tusker

 

[wildfowler.250]

Gents, much appreciated! Will reply properly when I get in but will definitely..

1) be flying direct Heathrow to Joburg. I think they’re about £750 return

2) will be collected by the PH at Joburg - unless they forget me.

Is there any service you’d recommend to check the rifle through and do these forms for you?

Realistically am I going to have to pay lots of folk cash just to grease the wheels to get my rifle through the airport? Can’t be bothered with that if that’s the case.


Thanks!

 

[sh1kar]

Gents, much appreciated! Will reply properly when I get in but will definitely..

1) be flying direct Heathrow to Joburg. I think they’re about £750 return

2) will be collected by the PH at Joburg - unless they forget me.

Is there any service you’d recommend to check the rifle through and do these forms for you?

Realistically am I going to have to pay lots of folk cash just to grease the wheels to get my rifle through the airport? Can’t be bothered with that if that’s the case.


Thanks!

Last para. No

Anne at air 2000 hunter support. Used them a lot. Google

 

[artschool]

Gents, much appreciated! Will reply properly when I get in but will definitely..

1) be flying direct Heathrow to Joburg. I think they’re about £750 return

2) will be collected by the PH at Joburg - unless they forget me.

Is there any service you’d recommend to check the rifle through and do these forms for you?

Realistically am I going to have to pay lots of folk cash just to grease the wheels to get my rifle through the airport? Can’t be bothered with that if that’s the case.


Thanks!

you don’t need to pay anyone any money. one of the porters once tried to drop me a hint but i just ignored him.

 

[old 30-06]

wildfowler.250 Hi, do not over think it. Your PH will collect you at Joberg air port and steer you through the necessary procedures. A little "good will" rand will help as the PH directs. Your PH will have done this a lot, so go with the flow. It is a little bit of a faf, but worth it. When you are up the Limpopo with your own gun in your hand it is so worth it. It is the finest hunting experience on the planet ! I wish I was going with you.

 

[NickJ]

I used to hunt SA but found it was too much faf and on one occasion missed our connecting flight so its Namibia all the time now. One sheet of A4 with about 6 questions and letter of invite to hunt, no extra payments or bribes, 20 minutes from passport control and you have your guns.
We are flying Ethiopian in May rifles go free.
Tusker

How was Ethiopian last year? @Selous and I are looking at Caprivi next year from the UK
Thanks

 

[NickJ]

How was Ethiopian last year? @Selous and I are looking at Caprivi next year from the UK
Thanks

@tusker ? Thanks

 

[tusker]

@tusker ? Thanks

Hi NickJ, Ethiopian were ok. So from the start. They advise to email/call 72 hours before you fly however I never got through and I am not sure emails were even looked at.
Arrive at Heathrow at least 4 hours before your flight. In our case it was clear the staff were not trained regarding firearms but they got there in the end. What really put them in a spin was my bow as they wanted to class it as firearm and insisted on a serial number etc. it was hilarious trying to explain that it wasnt a gun so she asked me "is it a weapon?" I said yes, oh she said then its a firearm. Long story short it was sorted.
Now your rifles travel free as your second piece of baggage that does not exceed 23 kilo,s but they will try and charge you £80 handling fee most of my team paid it but if you argue you can get away with that.
Transfer at Addis Ababa, you will be met by a chap with a card with your name and you will go down to the baggage area and have your rifles checked, no big deal. arrive Windhoak very quick check and on your way.
Returning is great as Windhoak are so efficient and you do have the same check at Addis Ababa.
We are going to Namibia next April and one thing I will do on the return leg is book in the lounge (£30) as it is a long lay over and the cost of stuff in the airport is eye watering.
I hope this helps, please ask if you think I have missed anything.
Tusker