Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa If I Change My Mind Advice

Flying the Dakar route and staying one night in JoBurg and the next evening in Windhoek before going to camp the morning after. When hunt is finished, we are staying 5 nights in Cape Town.

Until yesterday, I was going to pay the 35 bucks a day to use the outfitters 300 mag. I just recently purchased a customized 338Fed and I also have a very nice 375 H&H. I drew leopard and I will also be PG hunting for animals up to the size of Kudu and zebra. This 338Fed is a beauty and light,to boot. I also feel it could be perfect for all the game I plan to take. After advice, I guess I could add the 375 if strongly advised. I think you know where I'm heading now.

If I did change my mind and decide to take my rifle(s) what would you suggest as to just taking one or both and, more importantly, how much extra hassle could I expect by taking them? The CT stay worries me a bit but I may be over-reacting to a minimal concern.

Is what I will have to go through worth not taking my own rifles?

I used my .375 on Kudu, Zebra and Gemsbok and my .30-06 on Blesbok, Blue Wildebeest and Warthog.

You could take just about everything with the .375, but it is fun to have a second rifle.

I believe the .338fed would be a good one.

I know the .338fed good luck with it grouping....


better then 1/2"

I would opt for the .338. It's more than adequate and it sounds like you enjoy shooting it.

You said you were overnighting in Jo'burg. This will mean declaring your firearms and taking them with you. I would pay the $100.00 for the Gun assistance in Jo'burg. Air2000 or Gracy Travel offers this service. This will take care of that end.

If you are staying at a hotel in Cape Town call to see if they have a hotel safe room that they will store your firearms in for the duration of your stay.
I did this in Sun City and they were more than happy to lock up my firearms until I left.

I have never hunted leopard so I am not much help on that.
Some random thoughts (the only kind I seem to have these days)and I have only been to Africa one time:
The airlines don't weigh rifle cases so it is almost as easy to take 2 as it is 1.
I took my .375 and I really liked how it performed on the bigger plains game like zebra and wildebeest. I have no experience with a 338 fed but I would want more gun for a leopard YMMV.
You will have to check your guns thru at J'burg when you arrive, take them to Afton (or whereever you stay) then check them back thru the next morning to Windhoek.
Renting a gun would save time and hassle for sure, and you would be taken to the range to shoot it, hopefully alot, and become familiar with it. I think if I went again and was making connections to another city/country I would probably rent the rifle, especially if I were making sidetrips.

isaac, the problematic part[as I'm sure you know], is back into RSA, to Cape Town. I'm going to suggest that you get a hold of Steve Turner, at Travel with guns.com. He used to work for Gracy, and has his own business now. He spends time on the ground, in RSA, and will set you straight on what you need to do. You will then have to decide if it is worth the hassle. I guess I would lean to just 1 gun. Less paperwork, less ammo to carry, etc. Hell, if something happens to 1 gun, you were going to use the camp gun, anyway.

The guns really aren't that big a hassle, once you've done it. But getting the right answers fro a pro, before you leave, will greatly relieve stress.....


maddog

35 bucks a day for the use of a rifle? That you are going to use to harvest trophies your paying him for? I'm stunned at this. Simply do not understand how outfitters can rent a rifle, collect for ammo, and yet find people that are willing to take this on without any negotiation.

Most of us lose or skill to negotiate when we are 12 years old. Everyone of us had the ability to get toys or candy from our parents in the checkout line at the store when we were in our single digits. I'll clean my room, I'll take out the trash, I'll walk the dog, blah blah blah. Yet as adults we hear 35 bucks a day and just believe that and go with it. When the outfitter sees your reaction to this as fine, where does that set the stage for the next stupid price level or "adder".

Come on man, you can do better then this, just say no to stupid expenses..... no functional outfitter on this planet has that gun rental written in stone, that's a 100% bonus to him, it's a point at which he can offer that up when you seem to be on the fence. You never even climbed the fence to see what was on the other side!

Your .338 Fed will be ideal for everything you are planning to hunt in Namibia to include eland. The .375 will work as well, it is just more rifle than you need to lug around for the game you are hunting. You are also not in an area where an accidental encounter with Buff or elephant could occur. Your .338 will decisively conclude events with your cat and is legal for leopard in Namibia. I am doing the same route you are in June and Gracy has been very helpful w/r to the whole transfer process in Joburg. As noted above, the tricky part of your trip will be the Capetown excursion. If you transit Joburg, I would expect one of the specialist agencies like Gracy could arrange storage.

Bear, in mind that all internal flights in SA on economic you are allowed 44 lbs max on luggage and yes they will weigh your rifle and some of the cheaper airlines like Mango, Kulula and Nationwide I think dont allow guns on planes so make sure your agent knows about it. I would opt for getting a gun clearing service keep your rifle in storage in Joburg after your hunt.

If I'm going to travel that far and spend that kind of money, I take two rifles and either one of those will work for everything you are going to take and then some.

Steve Turner, Kathi Klimes, or any of the fine of the fine folks at Gracie's can get you squared away on the rifle permits.

It is a royal PIA to travel with firearms these days, but I honestly can't imagine traveling halfway across the world to hunt with an unfamiliar firearm.

Your .338 Fed loaded with premium ammo (210gr. NP, 200gr. Trophy Bonded, heck, even a 185gr. TSX) will tip over everything on your wish list.

Take them both. Get Gracy to help you clear them. I never like shooting someone else's rifle.

Have fun. War eagle!

Will the agencies help you even if you didn't purchase air fare through them?

isaac, probaly not. But if it costs you $100-150, the peace of mind will be worth it.


maddog

Thank you. I just read a SAA directive which states that your rifle weight is limited to 11 pounds per rifle carrying passenger. Is that just the rifle or are they attempting to include case weight with that? Nah, it can't be case weight. My double aluminum case weighs more than 11 pounds itself.

isaac, I'm telling you, use a professional, that deals with it every day. The 11 lb. thing, sounds like ammo, NOT guns.


maddog

I'll do just as you advise,Maddog. Thanks for taking the time to help out.

Items of importance:
1. Be there.
2. Make sure you have a rifle you are comfortable/confident with.
3. Do anything you can do to facilitate 1 and 2.

Best wishes.

+1

Re-read it. The 11 lb refers to ammunition and with Karen going you can double that

I never saw anyone over here or over there weigh any rifle cases.