Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Getting Gun thru airport

How many of you have travel to Africa and did not pay someone else to get your guns thru the airport at Jo-burg? My real question is how long did it take for you to put your hands on your gun after landing? My wife and I are tentative planning a trip and was told that it normally took 4-6 hours to get your guns after landing, any truth to this or was a travel agency trying to pick up an easy $200+.

Frankfurt was easy, and I required no assistance. Can't say for Jo'burg.

I have been to RSA three times, and I used Air 2000 for my meet and greet/firearms permits each time. Trust me, it is money very well spent.

I have been several times over the past sixteen years and have never paid for the service. Either the service was not available or I was not aware of it on my first three trips during the nineties. I simply got comfortable doing it own my own.
We do recommend it to all of our clients.
If you download and fill in the SAPS 520 form properly prior to leaving it's fairly easy.
The gun services are known to the South African police department at the Jo'burg airport and they now how to properly fill out the forms.
This service can allow you to go through customs in just a few minutes whereas if you are doing it yourself it could take considerably longer. If you fill out the paperwork incorrectly you have to fill it out again and go to the back of the line. In recent years I have seen some long lines depending on what time of year it is and how many hunters are on the flight. I have'nt seen it personally but have heard of people taking a couple of hours or more.
As Sharpsguy says, "It's money well spent".

I've only been to Jo'bug once, in 2009. That said, my buddy and I did not use a meet-and-greet service, nor a firearms expediting company, and we blew thru the airport in less than 30 minutes from the moment we got off the aircraft. Based on the many horror stories I subsequently heard about long delays at Jo'burg, I can only conclude that my buddy and I were extraordinarily lucky. We figured, however, that we'd much rather spend the fee charged by meet-and-greet/expeditors on dinner and beers at our Jo'burg hotel (which is exactly what we did).

I'll put a +1 to what Sharpsguy says. Air2000 worked for me. Trust me, once you get off the plane in Jo'burg, the last thing you want to do is deal with African bureaucracy and paperwork. The cost does seem a little high, but in the grand scheme of things, it's worth the money to avoid the hassle and delay.

Test

My connection was through Frankfurt to Windhoek, Namib. No handing of gun cases nor waiting at Windhoek. Had my rifle within 20 min of landing at Windhoek. Was advised by Gracy's Int'l to avoid J'Burg if possible, along with Amsterdam and London.

goodnews, I talked with Gracy last Friday and they advised just the opposite for me.

Well, I don't know your destination but that was true in '07. Good hunting.

If all your paperwork is done properly and the outfitter has sent you an invitation letter, plus you made a copy of passport, 4457 and your itinerary it should be 15 minutes.

Usually there is a long line in the hight of the season but that is guys filling in forms or not knowing what to do if you go to the counter and drop all the paperwork correctly they usually help you first. They know me by now really well and know that the paperwork we send to our clients are done correctly and it's normally done in 15-20 minutes, use the other services if you want but saving $100-$200 for 15 minutes ????

Just make sure your outfitter is on top of it if he suggest using a service use it then.

I'd definitely spend the money and use a service like Air 2000.

The SAPS form is a nightmare and I've noticed most Americans find it alien and difficult as they are not accustomed to this type of firearms related paperwork.......

Someone at Gracy gave you some very poor advice.

Both times I went, two separate outfitters and the travel agent each sent me a sample SAPS form filled out with sample information. It was easy to complete before the trip. The first time took me about 45 minutes to go through unassisted. The second time I was met by Afton Guest House but had already gotten my rifles through in about 30 minutes. Aftron will help you too, if you are staying there.

Below is a copy and paste from Air2000 whom we have used in the past with no problems. We now use Gracy and simply send everthing to them on behalf of the clients and they forward it to South Africa.

For temporary firearm importation permits you need to complete and send to us:
�� A copy of the South African Police Service SAPS 520 form (obtainable from our website at
www.hunterssupport.com). You must complete sections E 1 to E 25.4, G, I and J (please don�t
forget to sign both sections I and J and submit the full application of 8 pages);
�� Please complete the SAPS 520 in black ink, no other colour will be accepted.
�� An authorization to Air 2000 to obtain a permit on your behalf in the form of the attached
Hunters Support Form to be completed and signed, giving hunters� support permission to
obtain your permit in advance;
�� An original notarized copy of your passport,( photo and signature page ) and the passport
must have a minimum of two free pages and a minimum of four months validity after the
termination of the hunt.
�� An original notarized copy of Proof of ownership of your firearms in the form of
o The US Customs form 4457 OR
o A letter from your local sheriff in the form of an affidavit confirming ownership OR
o An invoice from the gun shop where you purchased the firearms OR
o A copy of your firearms license. Whichever is applicable
�� An original notarized copy of Documentary proof of export of the firearms in the form of
o For all US citizens, US Customs form 4457 (one copy is sufficient)
o An original notarized copy of the Proof of Ownership (4457) and passport must be
signed and stamped as true copies of the original document by a Public Notary.
o A letter of invitation from your outfitter confirming the dates of your safari, where
you are hunting, what species you are hunting and what firearms the outfitter
suggests you bring that is applicable to you hunt.
All documentation is to be completed correctly as per above and sent via courier Fedex, DHL or UPS
to arrive at Hunters Support 30 days prior to your arrival for processing depending on whether is is a
normal application or 35 days prior if it is an application for a semi-automatic firearm or a handgun.
The postal service can be used and it is advised to use the Global Priority Mail service from the US
Postal Service. This service takes 10 days, any other form of service can take 90 days to land here in
South Africa.

Another vote for Air 2000

Heck it took me 4 to 6 hours to get my guns in Vancouver one time.

Hi Dlallder

I can understand that the whole process might look challenging for someone who has never been, however in saying this most Outfits should have all the documentation you need on their web site?

There should be a section on rifle importation procedures helping you to fill out all the paperwork.

You will need to have:

SAPS form as well as a letter of invitation.

You are welcome to look under documentation on my web site if it will help?

The other thing that seems to help my clients is that I meet them at JHB international in person, so immediately there is a familiar face?

Should you have all the documentation and you outfitter meets you at the airport I simply can�t see any problems it should be fairly painless.

Best Regards
Louis van Bergen