Hunting & Fishing Africa Hunting Trip

[robozebra]

I have a trip to Namibia in May of this year. First trip to Africa and I'm a little nervous about taking my guns. I'm working on getting my flights booked and am trying to decide to book tickets with American Airlines (connecting flights on different airlines) or British Airways. I'm worried about my guns getting lost with different airlines, but British Airways scares me because it goes through London. Any experience in this regard would be greatly appreciated. Am I worrying about nothing???

CWJ

 

[Rhys]

Re: Africa Hunting Trip

I went to Namibia in 2007. I flew Lufthansa from Denver to Frankfurt Germany, and Air Namibia from Frankfurt to Windhoek. CHecked everything all the way through with no problems going either way.

THe layover in Frankfurt was something like 11 or 12 hours, and there is a train into the city that you can take. You don't have to collect your bags. This layover is durring the day, and with Frankfurt only being an hour time difference from Namibia it's a great chance to start adjusting to the time change. In this case the flights were overnight in each case.

 

[MikeeBooshay]

Re: Africa Hunting Trip

I went to Namibia in September last year - thru Frankfort from Houston. Stayed two days in Frankfort for the girls to acclimate to time zone, then Air Namibia to Windhoek. Best way to go, in fact, going back again this September.

If you don't have a SHOOTING travel agent, let me recommend Steve at Travels with Guns, good dude and very savvy, he'll get you there with minimum fuss.

PM me if you've got other questions on Namibia.

 

[the_dude8541]

Re: Africa Hunting Trip

I may hit you up as I'm planning a trip to Nambia this September, but may end up going next May.

 

[MikeeBooshay]

Re: Africa Hunting Trip

I like going later in the year, brush is not as thick, makes the stalking a bit easier. It is still cool enough in September, especially with a PH like mine - I think he makes masochistic workout videos in the off season.

We hunted out in RSA once, with a borrowed tracker, he wsa a bit sloow.... Kobus got out of the bakkie, and ran along the buffalo track for 45 minutes, until the tracker was dragging ass! I told him I was too old for that, I can keep up good at a hunting pace, but when he decides to cover ground - BYE!

 

[Weaselthis]

Re: Africa Hunting Trip

Lots of good info here:
http://www.africahunting.com/forums/

I'm leaving May 5th for 10 day hunt in RSA. Using Delta thru Atlanta to Joberg. Booked my flight myself online before I knew about her, but Lori Ginn is top notch according to my PH. Heard too many horror stories about London and BAW.

I'm taking two of my sticks in a Tuffpak case. Be sure and get your 4457 forms done NOW and get them to you PH along w/ the signed contract to hunt, etc.

good luck. Kill em all....let god sort em out!

 

[Weaselthis]

Re: Africa Hunting Trip

Oh, forgot....IF you are a member of SCI they have CHEAP insurance for your rifles. I insured $8000 worth of rifles, scopes, and binos, and cases for $103.00 for a full year. That alone was worth the price of admission to SCI.

 

[Billyboy]

Re: Africa Hunting Trip

I took the ATL to Johannesburg Delta flight. Smooth and easy.

Good info here!
http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/cfrm/f/5211043

 

[LegioX]

Re: Africa Hunting Trip

Like Mr Booshay advised, a travel agent works out well. I am going to Namibia the 1st week of March. I used Steve and Susan at "Travel with Guns", she has done an awesome job lining up tickets, a day room in Frankfurt for the trip over and a hotel room on the way back. She also did all the paperwork required by German authorities for my firearm.

Also, get your Customs form(s) 4457 and list your rifles, scopes, cameras or anything of value with a serial number. This allows you to bring them back stateside with out problems from the Customs folks.

Mr Booshay is a great source of knowledge about this business, I'd take him up on his offer.... Good Luck!!

 

[MikeeBooshay]

Re: Africa Hunting Trip

Oh - when you do your 4457 forms, do them seperately, one for each scope, each rifle, binos, your Rolex, etc. It will save you massive hassles on each end. Only bring the 4457 with that match the stuff you have with you, ie, don't bring one for the rifle left at home in your safe.

Customs here DOES enter the S/N in a computer on your return. It better match...

 

[robozebra]

Thanks everyone for your information. Might give Travel with Guns a call. Travel agent that PH recommended is HORRIBLE!!

CWJ

 

[LegioX]

Robo, I just got my travel packet from Travel with Guns, full itinerary, hotel reservations, firearm permit for Germany and step by step instruction for getting thru Customs in the US, Germany and Namibia, great stuff!

 

[Ghogs Nightmare]

Another tip, not sure if its like this in Nambia but think "strip club" when going through the airport. Have a supply of one's ready if your PH is going to meet you there to run interference. The porters were the only real annoying part of the trip when navigating through the airport in Joberg for me. (Kept trying to mooch a tip and no not just 5 bucks. Those clown's wanted 20 US!) Once you have that forms filled out though its a piece of cake just a matter of getting in line. Although there is a bit of nervousness with having things arriving entact etc.
.
Good luck take A LOT of pictures and think about taking a notebook to keep a journal. Oh...one last thing BUY A NECK PILLOw for the flight. Unless your a fancy guy that flies 1st class.

 

[vpexp]

Since it is your first trip (or even your 50th)I would highly recommend you contact Steve Turner. If you are going through Joberg i think it is well worth the nominal cost to use one of the services to get your guns through SAPS. It just makes the trip easier. I used Bianca Stander with Safari Concierge but there are other good services as well.

 

[Grumulkin]

I have a trip to Namibia in May of this year. First trip to Africa and I'm a little nervous about taking my guns. I'm working on getting my flights booked and am trying to decide to book tickets with American Airlines (connecting flights on different airlines) or British Airways. I'm worried about my guns getting lost with different airlines, but British Airways scares me because it goes through London. Any experience in this regard would be greatly appreciated. Am I worrying about nothing???

CWJ

1. If it were me, I would not fly with American Airlines if I had any other choice. In my opinion, they're about the rudest airline going. I have never flown British Airways with guns but from what I've heard, I would prefer to avoid it.

2. Definitely get gun insurance that covers foreign travel. If your guns really get lost, it would be an inconvenience but at least with the right insurance you'd get new ones.

3. Work through a travel agent that knows the ins and outs of airlines and is familiar with traveling with guns. I used Kathi Klimes of Wild Travel on my recent trip to South Africa.

4. I would rather fly through Germany with guns than through Great Britain.

5. My preferred route would be from the U.S.A. to Johannesburg to Namibia.

6. On my trip last fall, I found that various officials wanting "tips" had greatly increased over my previous trips. The strategy is to have some delay in getting your guns, separating you from your PH or the person meeting you at the airport and, when they have you alone, asking for a tip. Guess how much I paid? That would be $0.

7. If you have an unlocked cell phone, you can get a sim card that will allow you to make calls from over 100 countries (actually I think it's closer to 200) in Europe, Africa and other places. I used an older Blackberry that my AT&T rep unlocked for me; they won't do it with a new phone but if you have one that's 2 or 3 years old, they probably will. You can also use "Jailbreak" to unlock it yourself (I've heard about it but never used it). Sim cards can be had from Telestial.

8. Remember to take appropriate adapters so you have the right plugs to use with Namibias 220 volt current.

 

[robozebra]

So, lots of snags on this trip.

Travel with Guns has been anything but helpful. The lady that we've been in contact there is clueless. I went over dates twice with her and she still managed to screw them up. Got dates corrected, but she looked up flights through London on American, which prohibits guns on flights in and out of London. I found flights on Expedia on British Airways. Unfortunately, it'll cost me another $500 to take my guns on that flight according to BA personnel, and I may have to fly the guns separately for part of it because Comair has now outlawed guns on their planes. Found flights to Namibia through Frankfurt, but no return flights through there. Guess Air Namibia doesn't fly out through Frankfurt when I need them. Unfortunately, the return flights that I found all go through London on American. Ugh....

I may be down to renting guns in Namibia. This hunting trip is going to give me an ulcer....

CWJ

 

[wdebo]

I took the ATL to Johannesburg Delta flight. Smooth and easy.

Good info here!
http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/cfrm/f/5211043

Same flight I use. Very easy.
I like Africa in September the best.

 

[Grumulkin]

Really, why don't you try Kathi Klimes of Wild Travel?

You might also peruse the forum on accuratereloading.com. There is a special section devoted to African travel where you can get questions answered.

 

[Alaskaman11]

Off topic here, we are planing a trip to RSA soon, what rifles are you taking?

 

[robozebra]

I'm taking a 300 WSM and my wife is taking a 6 CM. I have a 375 RUM and was going to take it. Spoke with George Garner about it and he said it was overkill. He said he took a 308 on his trip to Africa.

Ended up booking my flights on my own. Thanks for all of the advice.

CWJ

 

[MikeeBooshay]

Ended up booking my flights on my own. Thanks for all of the advice.

CWJ

So which route did you choose and why?

 

[robozebra]

I'm flying Denver, JFK, Johannesburg, Windhoek on SAA going and Windhoek, Johannesburg, Washington, Denver on SAA/United returning.

Chose those flights because:
1) departure in Denver is at midnight and can get to Windhoek the next day.
2) avoided London (AA won't let you fly guns through there and BA wanted 50 British Pounds per leg per gun on their flights).
3) avoided Comair from J-burg to Windhoek (no guns on their airlines as of Feb 28).
4) SAA appears to be fairly gun friendly (at least at the moment).
5) one of the cheapest flight available (booked for under $2000/person).
6) personal reason: DFW/DEN are nearly equidistant from AMA and I can fly my Columbia 400 to each in about 1:40.

Information was gathered from conversations with several sources including people at AA, BA and lady at Travel With Guns.
Lessons learned so far:
1) airline restrictions are getting worse every day.
2) travel agencies aren't always helpful. (Very disappointed with the service we got from lady at TWG. Owner might be better, but the lady I had helping me, screwed up stuff several times even when we went over things repeatedly. In the end, I found the flights that worked best, because she kept booking wrong dates and flights on airlines that restricted guns. When I called her back, she checked her rates on flights. She wanted $1000 more per ticket.)
3) there's great information out there on safaris if you look around. I reviewed all of the websites posted in the thread.
4) the PH in Windhoek hasn't been very impressive at least to this point. Hopefully, he'll redeem himself in the field. I'll post a full review when we return...

Thank you again to everyone who has posted in this thread. I appreciate the advice and direction.

CWJ

 

[medium rare]

I did an internship at a Thaba Mmoyo safari company in South Africa a couple years ago. I used gracey travel. Flew Houston to Atlanta to jo-berg to polokawani. Delta didn't get my bags or gun on the plane to Jo-berg. Had to go on to the ranch without them. They were shipped to ranch 3 days later. Gracey did a great job getting the bags and gun to me. If I were paying to hunt I would use the safari companies guns and not worry about it at all. They trust their lives to their guns and I'm sure you would be more than satisfied with them. I would in no circumstance fly a gun through London.