Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa J'Berg Airport

Who's been through there lately and what's the process with guns?
Any issues with locals ransacking your luggage?
Any other issues?

I'm using a meet and Greet service, but figure I'd lean on others who have ben through lately for the benefit of all.

Jeff, the Meet and Greet is the way to go, for sure...

AIR 2000. DON'T GO WITHOUT THEM

Jeff, the meet and greet has saved you from being harrassed for tips by the porters for sure. Apart from that, everything running smoothly. Who are you using for the meet and greet? Well worth the money.

Agreed. I wouldn't go without using a service, period. Once we arrived at a time that happened to be during a shift change. Our guy from Africa Sky (fantastic place and service) took me to SAPS office where several of us were waiting for our rifles. We waited, waited, and waited while no rifles were being brought up front. He found out about the shift change and actually went back behind closed doors himself and found my rifle. We got done while the others were still standing around wondering what was going on.

We had no problems in June, used Gracy travel.

In our hotel room an hour after we landed.

Gracy does have a great hookup with Africa Sky, Jeff. Highly recommended

I will be using Gracy Travel again, this August. Used to be not a big deal to work your way thru the Joburg customs- not anymore! I think the Meet and Greet services are now nearly essential for everyone travelling with firearms.

I booked through African Odyssey and they set me up with Air2000, as the meet-and-greet. Was met by them and they retrieved my luggage, rifle and ammo.They took me to the SAPS office. Was in and out in 15 minutes. No issues, no bribes. They took me to my connecting flight to Kimberley where my luggage was checked. I was escorted to another SAPS office where my rifle and ammo was checked in for the connection.

I was very pleased with the way it was handled. I thought they were very professional and efficient.

The only issue, which was a small one, and was discussed is various threads in this forum, was the ammo. I'm glad I planned in case the issue arose. I put my ammo in a cheap Harbor Freight lockable ammo can, which was stowed in my luggage. At Heathrow prior to boarding for the flight to J'Berg I was paged to report to the ticketing agent. When I reported the agent asked if I had ammo in my luggage. Told her I did and she said it had to be sent separately. She printed another luggage tag and I was escorted to the Jetway where my suitcase was waiting. I removed the ammo can, they tagged it and put it back in the cargo area. I was slightly worried that it wasn't going to make it. Everything made it to my final destination. Didn't have any issues with any items missing from my luggage.

Two issues in J'Berg airport, minor ones, albeit. Every time you went to the bathroom, there was the attendant with his hand out, "welcome to my office!" I referred to it as a "urination tax". The bathroom was extremely clean, I'll give him that. I tipped him a buck the first time.

The other was when I was in a souvenir shop getting items for the grand kids. I was approached by a fat, Rosie O'Donnell, looking woman. She walked up to me out of the blue and told me if I was here to hunt that I should be ashamed of myself. I complimented her on her matching leather shoes and purse and told her to not eat anymore meat. Wished her a nice day and to get away from me.

I was very pleased with the service and will book through them again.

Respectfully to all,
Dave

I was supposed to pay that guy?
He didn't offer to hold it, or anything....
No wonder he gave me the dead fish handshake.

I actually had a fellow in Jo-Berg Airport thank me for going hunting.....
he said it helped his people.


Slave

It was my first trip, so I can plead ignorance....

I travelled through Joberg with my rifle in late May. Used Gracey travel (as usual) for VIP meet & greet as well as rifle import. Bruce from Gracey handled everything with his usual efficiency. We made our connection to Port Elizabeth on SAA with plenty of time to spare. Overnight stay was not necessary. No issues whatsoever. Luggage was intact. Nothing missing. Came back via Cape Town. Gracey again handled the arrangements via Bid Air. Again, no issues.

I think the Nando's in the airport isn't as good as a regular chain location. The one in WindhoekStein St. is way better than any of them, nice girls as staff/friendly/clean.

Craft beer place is OK, food was decent (ribs& chicken), did the beer sampler and enjoyed them and I'm not much of a drinker.



The passport control line is the sucky part, if you are using a service, won't really much effect you. I used a service on one trip as I had a connection and thats where it payed off (Henry at riflepermits).

I cleared my own guns 2x last 3 trips and no bribes, not even implied; so different then say 10-12 years ago. About 1/2 hr each time, spent more time last fall talking to SA PH that was guiding in Zambia and ogling his 465HH Royal than anything.


Good luck on hunt, local guy has hunted with Muchinga several times and always has had a good time.

African Sky thru Gracey

Africa Sky made my trip through Joburg a breeze

The overnight at their B&B was top shelf as well

Same here Ted. I used them twice and would do so again in a heartbeat. Someone needs to remind hatari to lay off of AS's free booze though.

This was 17 years ago but if someone hadn't been there for me I'd have gotten screwed over royally.

Arrival in J'berg was uneventful. I knew what paperwork to do and it only took about 45 minutes IIRC to get through the receiving area there, mostly because there were a whole bunch of hunters arriving and doing paperwork at the same time. JJ Hack was waiting outside the receiving area for me and the trip to the hunting area was fine.

Departure was altogether different. Went through the ticket counter and got all squared away there, then went around the right to a small room to check my rifles. Three black guys with extremely snarky attitudes were in there and let it be known in a round about but very clear manner that I had better pay them or my bags would never get on the plane. I forget the circumstances of why he was there but fortunately JJ arrived and spoke pretty brusque Afrikaans with them and their attitudes changed right quick from smirky to angry but obedient. All bags including my rifles arrived home with me safe and sound.

It's well worth the money to have someone who knows the ropes guide you personally as far as possible through the arrival and departure process.

We flew to South Africa a month ago and returned a couple of week ago. Our PH at Lianga Safaris preapproved our guns for us and met us when we got off the plane and then took us to the SAP office where the gun check took less than 5 minutes. Leaving Joberg our PH delivered us to our airline and SAP took five minutes again. No problems, no hassles. Our luggage was fine and all went well. The only advice I would give you, "make sure your gun case is easy to get into and close without a lot of extra items because you will be opening and closing it a lot."

Piece of cake, another reason I'll continue to book with biggamehuntingadventures.com, my PH's and Photographer have met me on both trips at the airport, they'll get you through customs, drive you to camp, return you to the airport and back through customs, even buy you a giant seafood platter dinner then walk you to your departure gate!

I don't think they can be beat, I do use travelswithguns.com for the ticket booking and flight insurance, another great service.

Africa Sky is where my wife first tried Amarula

We now stock it in our liquor selection in our house.

Was thru there twice in March April. I do my own paperwork. I stay in the City Lodge which is in the airport. No problems.
The biggest issue with your luggage not showing up when you do relates to the connection times on your flights. Never had an issue since I started using Steve Turner and Patrick at Travel With Guns.
Smiling and being polite will take care of just about all potential problems...don’t be a jackass...ever.