Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Stealing Your Stuff in J'Burg`

Ok, another question of the day from a newbie. I've been reading on another forum about the scumbags in the J'burg airport that feel free to rummage through your bags before you get them. Any of you guys experienced this? If so, what do you do about it?

JG

Joberg does have issues.

From what i have seen bags that are easy targets are:
Luggage with side pouches...weather wrapped in plastic wrap or not were opened.

Hard sided suitcases were broken open and clothing all over the place.

soft sided cases or bags that had there zippers popped open.

What i Take:

I have a bag that is a partial hard and soft case. the zippers are over covered and bound on both side by straps and the zippers lock with a small lock. The straps were lose on one side one time however the bag was not broken into. You have to open all the straps for the flap over the zipper to be raised.

I also use the take-down model for when traveling without firearms. Makes it a little harder for the baggage monkeys to pilfer.

Don't have anything valuable in your checked bag ...bino's camera etc should be with you in your carry on

^^^^^^^^^
That. For sure.

would you be any better off if you shipped your stuff via FedEx or UPS, direct to your destination?

Shipping anything into RSA is the same as kissing it goodbye....

a shot in the dark. lol Should have known the answer.

Auto luggage handling at the Jo'berg airport was down the one time and I waited two days for my luggage. When it arrived at the farm outside of Windhoek every one of my snacks were gone - figured the boys got hungry. Everything else was there other than the food.

I've had roughly 50% of the mail sent to RSA vanish. I've had 100% of the packages mailed within RSA vanish. With normal post.

I've had 100% of the postcards within RSA and sent out of RSA delivered.

By this measure, only ups, dhl, and Fedx will work. However a simple padded Fedx envelope about 2 pounds was 128.00 one week delivery, not guaranteed.

A box sent with dillon reloading parts and a press was 400 bucks for a signature confirmation delivery. I believe it was 28 lbs iirc

I try and make sure my luggage doesnt scream "hunter from the USA"
No cool khaki canvas luggage or DSC logos. I had a partner on the tarmack a Vic Falls airport with a nice gun case receive a suggestion from one of the "helpers" that he knew he must have a nice gun in there and if he tipped him he would make sure it would make the plane safely.
I put my takedown rifle case in a top load black worn out duffle. I do put a lock in the grommets of the duffle and a luggage strap around the middle so it doesn't blouse out too much. I figure it might be easier for them to profile someone else so they overlook my bag for yours. In Africa they learn which bags have the higher probability of contains the good stuff in them from the guys going on their first safari.

Ship your rifles with out scopes. I mentioned it before on this site. At Jo'berg they will break into your box and steal them. A mate of mine who is a PH in Namibia has had a number of cliens going via Jo'berg, had scopes stolen in transit. He had one guy who had his scoped removed by hacksaw, even though he had quick release mounts fitted.Not only did he lose his scopes , but his rifles had damage to them.
They damaged my case so badly with what looks like hamer blows.It had a hole in one end, and you could see the rifles.
You will have to check the zero of your rifle with your PH before you hunt, so if you have quick release mounts fitted it will make life easy for you.
Some seem to think that the TSA won't allow you to cary a scope in hand luggage. Having never had dealings with the TSA ,I carn't say, however I have travelled a lot with rifles and never had a problem taking scopes in hand luggage. When asked what it is , I just say its a telescope and leave it that.
It is worth giving the scum a "tip", as much as it greaves me, but I would rather give the bstd's $50.00 and get my box through with out damage.

I was turned away at the New Zealand Air counter because my carry on luggage was too heavy. It was loaded with binoculars, spotting scope, rangefinder, movie and still camera, etc. I was required to move some of the equipment into my checked luggage bag. Kiwis are great people, no issues traveling there.

Had my scoped adjusted to hit 12" high at 100m. Missed the entire target but found two fresh holes just above. No doubt someone cranked my elevation for me.

I'm using the outfitter's rifles, so I'm not taking one. Just concerned about the stuff in the suitcase. Valuables will go on board with me.

Boise, same thing has happened with me but the other way around on hunting trips to NZ, even had to take a set of shock absorbers as hand luggage!
got on well with the Kiwis.

JG, if its just your clothes , boots etc , then I wouldn't worry too much. They want stuff they can sell for beer or an AIDS ridden hooker.
If any thing does go missing then it should be fairly easy to replace just don't pack anything checked if its somthing you carn't do with out or has great value to you.
Just enjoy your trip and don't worry too much. Its targets like gun boxes, camera flight cases or posh looking luggage that the baboons go for!
Have a really great trip and take loads of photos!
Cheers,
Paul.

That last one sums it up. All optics in carry on, along with a change of clothes. Rx's, toothbrush etc. I carry a wash cloth on so that I can wash up at the end of the flight.

Lock checked baggage. For others that check firearms, use a super heavy duty case. I've used a Kalispel for 20 years with a Master lock with success.

Not taking a rifle.
You can make this trip with only a carry on.

yes to what Jensen says...I was planning to use a rifle from the PH,,,so I just took a carry-on bag plus a small bag with binocs and a small camera....the PH took one look at my bags and asked where was the rest of my stuff. I told him, after 22 years in the military and 4 deployments to Afghanistan...I know how to travel light.

I totally agree with this post and the one above that stated you can do the hunt with a carry on. I would NOT take a bunch of stuff and if you do...don't be obvious about it. It always cracks me up on the flight to Joberg how many new hunters are wearing brand new khaki, camo, bush jackets and hats...etc. You are just asking for it. Fit in and things will be better.

Three years ago, while traveling through J'Burg, my wife and I were forced to check a bag that we had planned to carry on.

Lo and behold, by the time we arrived in Zimbabwe, our camera had been taken from our bag.

We went to the local police and filed a report, but only got one half the value from our insurance when we got home. Had we not filed the report, we would have not have received anything.

donsm70