The Return to ....

I think for myself it just makes more alot more sense to just borrow a nice Browning x Bolt rifle with a Zeiss scope, than to go through all the BS with taking my own guns. Especially when all 3 of my trips, I have been able to negotiate free rifle use, and free ammo. Works for me, and zero hassles! LOL

Originally Posted by SNIPER59

I think for myself it just makes more alot more sense to just borrow a nice Browning x Bolt rifle with a Zeiss scope, than to go through all the BS with taking my own guns. Especially when all 3 of my trips, I have been able to negotiate free rifle use, and free ammo. Works for me, and zero hassles! LOL

Before this form change in Germany I thought we had a simple route.
I hear what you are saying. I borrowed a rifle on my very first hunt and it worked out fine.

Some of the spots I am going do not have rifles for rent though!! Makes it a bit tough to play.

Well today was my lucky day. I have the German permit in hand. Apparently we got all the translations correct!
Thank you to Zabi and the other folks that helped.

The Surprise that came along with it:

Ladies and gentleman,

you applied for a permit to transport weapons through the Federal Republic of Germany.

The application was granted with the permission attached to this e-mail.

For this permission you have to pay 25,56 € (twenty-five Euro fifty-six Cent) according to the § 50 of the german weapon law.

Please be so kind to send the money up to 4 weeks on the following account:

to: Ordnungsamt der Stadt Frankfurt am Main
bank: Postbank Frankfurt am Main
BIC: PBNKDEFF
IBAN: DE95 5001 0060 0007 1496 02
bank number (BSB) 500 100 60
Account 7149-602
Reason: 32.22.11-Transfer

This is a standardized demand for payment which was exceptionally formulated in English. Please note that the official language of weapons Authority of Frankfurt am Main is basically German.

Kind regards
Sabrina Stock
Stadt Frankfurt am Main
Der Oberbürgermeister
- Ordnungsamt -
Waffen-, Jagd- und Fischerei
Kleyerstraße 86
60326 Frankfurt am Main

Apparently you have to pay now. It amounts to about $35 CAD. Oh well.

The adventure is not over:

Expiration date June 30, 2013. Well after my arrival date in Germany on the outward bound trip. Awesome.
The one issue I discovered.

One problem, it does not cover the dates for the return trip through Germany.

The old form addressed the reality that most people transiting through Germany might actually return via the same route and you could provide a date and flight number and avoid this.

The question has gone back asking if it is indeed expiring on June 30, 2013 or one year later. (I saw something about that expiration in the laws.)

I also asked if they might be able to accept a credit card. What is your bet?

We'll see when the questions get answered.

The Template for completing the form can be found here.

FRANKFURT FIREARMS NEW FORMS

Originally Posted by BRICKBURN

Well today was my lucky day. I have the German permit in hand. Apparently we got all the translations correct!
Thank you to Zabi and the other folks that helped.

You're welcome!

Originally Posted by BRICKBURN

The adventure is not over:

Expiration date June 30, 2013. Well after my arrival date in Germany on the outward bound trip. Awesome.
The one issue I discovered.

One problem, it does not cover the dates for the return trip through Germany.

That would have been too much of a dream, I guess...

Originally Posted by BRICKBURN

I also asked if they might be able to accept a credit card. What is your bet?

Nope.
Even I as a German citizen can't pay by credit card; they only accept "EC-cards" (euro-cheque, I don't know the correct term) in their card-readers.
(maybe I should try to get issued with a speed ticket by the police to find out if this has changed )

It is complete. The reply arrived today by email.
The new expiration date was changed for two months longer by simply changing a 6 to an 8. Awesome.

I have my approved Weapons Act to permit the lorry of firearms / ammunition into, through or out of the Federal Republic of Germany with an appropriate date.

Also the reply: No credit cards. Bank Transfer it is.

Total elapsed time from the first form (old form) submission in January 27 to February 27.

Time Elapsed since the new form was submitted February 20 to permit issued February 27.

All done by email.

Money to be sent shortly.

Now onto acquiring the final letters to help hunting buddies transit Namibia.
Thought we had this one solved.
When you try something novel you have to expect to hit a few bumps.

Apparently people have been taking advantage of the Namibian Police so there might be some potential issues.
There are no "transit forms" for Namibia, at least that I can find in the law.
I am hoping the invitation letter and licenses from Botswana will be sufficient.

Perhaps a hunting license and invitation letter in Namibia may be required.

Onward...

Total cost of the Euro to be sent $35.35. Total cost of sending the money $25.00.
Can someone clue in that credit cards are a great way to transfer money at little cost and it is secure.
Charge me $50 and I am still ahead of the game. ( I am not sending the suggestion)

The bank is happy and the money is on the way.

On to Namibia.
On my previous travel to Namibia I saw just how simple the Firearm application form was and how easy it was to process at the Windhoek Airport.
Combined with this AH threads on the subject it all suggested I could relax.
But, this trip was going through the country.

Transiting Namibia has its bonuses: Easier flight, one less flight, easier firearms transit, Windhoek Lager, Easy forms, no over night, same driving distance, see the Kalahari up close and avoid Joburg baggage handlers and a more complicated transit permit.

Not being dead certain of the current policy status I wanted to gain current confirmation of the process.

I contacted some of my contacts in Namibia. Past Presidents of NAPHA and NAPHA themselves. Always like to get the story from multiple sources.
The question: Will an invitation letter from the Outfitter in Botswana suffice?

The initial response I got on the subject was a reiteration of the conclusions in the thread.

I am thankful for the effort expended by Rainer on the followup. I just got another email as he had gone into Windhoek and asked a gun dealer about the subject. The gun dealer was under the impression the Namibian Police would require a local (Namibian) invitation letter and also the hunting license may be required.

Now quite concerned.

Jerome jumped to the call for assistance. Contacting NAPHA directly, as they had not gotten back to me directly yet, and he spoke with the CEO who provided the following: folks transiting with firearms would need an Invitation letter from a Namibian Outfitter.

Ok, I have now heard it enough times to believe it. The hunters will need a local invitation letter.


Why the change: Apparently folks have been taking advantage of the easy process and abusing the privilege.
So the Namibian Police have reacted.


NAPHA and MET need to get the Legislature ahead of the ball.

They really should get a transit permit under the law if they are going to have an issue.
RSA thinks of itself as a hub and is and the law reflects it.

If this route works for me as a hunter and more people can avoid Joburg baggage handlers, the more traffic could come through Windhoek which would only help Namibian Hunting and the economy.

More butts in seats more services to be offered.

Maybe one day Air Namibia could actually offer some direct flights from the USA.
Imagine what that might do for hunting in Namibia. 2 extra days to hunt, no over nights, more money spent in Namibia!!!

Just think how easy things would be, if you were in charge transportation permits and flight plans.

Originally Posted by enysse

Just think how easy things would be, if you were in charge transportation permits and flight plans.

Tell me about it. They just have to hire me.

Let's see- 8 hrs layover in ATL after leaving LAS early in the morning. A nice day room at the airport and good lunch and a short nap in ATL before the 17 hrs to Joberg on Delta, then a nice overnight at the Afton House with a great breakfast (they handle all the weapons in their walk-in safe:-) catch a flight to Windhoek and an easy gun permit again and a nice 2 hr drive to camp where a fire and wine glass await. Sounds easy and nice to me :-) :-) London? Germany? Amsterdam?Hmmmmm But I understand where you are coming from. I hope your trip meets your expectations and effort I'm sure it will!

Originally Posted by Cliffy

Let's see- 8 hrs layover in ATL after leaving LAS early in the morning. A nice day room at the airport and good lunch and a short nap in ATL before the 17 hrs to Joberg on Delta, then a nice overnight at the Afton House with a great breakfast (they handle all the weapons in their walk-in safe:-) catch a flight to Windhoek and an easy gun permit again and a nice 2 hr drive to camp where a fire and wine glass await. Sounds easy and nice to me :-) :-) London? Germany? Amsterdam?Hmmmmm But I understand where you are coming from. I hope your trip meets your expectations and effort I'm sure it will!

Damn pilots, you don't mind hanging out in airports. Thought you would have spent enough time in them.

You have to expect it when you try new stuff. Routes. (Specifically, after the issues with the pain for us going through the US.)

My trip is working out just the way I expected it would. Twists, turns and adventures in learning.

I'll get that nap and schnitzel in Germany. Never been so it will be interesting.

This all sounds like a lot of work, but I am addressing issues for a dozen people at one time not just for myself!

Cliffy, Would this itinerary be worth the effort for you?

A "slightly" longer trip than most folks tend to do. 48 Days

Crossing southern Africa west to east covering 5300Km between destinations on the ground without international flights included.

Schnitzel and Beer enroute in Frankfurt.

1. Ozondjahe Namibia. Visiting Jerome and seeing the Waterberg. I do love Namibia. Seeing Cheetah.

2. Kanana Botswana, Seeing the Kalahari with Jason. Hanging with the San.

3. Over night at a Game farm enroute. Waking to the heights of the Midlands.

4. Leeukop Safaris, KwaZulu Natal. Running around with Kemp, Neil and Malcolm.

5. Visiting Friends on a farm in Zululand. Maybe drop into Swaziland. Doing some more studying for PH qualification.

6. Lake Safaris, Kwa Zulu Natal If Trevor is in town we may head out to play by Durban.

7. Rhodes, Eastern Cape. McNab is likely on the table way up high. Guess which critter is on the agenda here?

8. Visiting Friends in the Northern Cape enroute to Joburg. I have to see the Karoo again and say hello.

nice little jaunt, beats my 5 weeks year before last you driving all the way?

Originally Posted by spike.t

nice little jaunt, beats my 5 weeks year before last you driving all the way?

Only one flight. Maun to JHB. The rest will be driven. You see so much more from the ground.

It took a few days on the last trip to get used to driving on the left and to watch for "taxi's" screaming down the road.
Otherwise, incredible.

Sounds like a outstanding adventure!!!

Originally Posted by enysse

Sounds like a outstanding adventure!!!

It will be. It also gives me a chance in between to forget the flights.

Originally Posted by BRICKBURN

Only one flight. Maun to JHB. The rest will be driven. You see so much more from the ground.

It took a few days on the last trip to get used to driving on the left and to watch for "taxi's" screaming down the road.
Otherwise, incredible.

you mean on the proper side of the road also how are you with the gear lever thing sticking out of the floor, or do you have them in canada?

Pardon me while I reload and shoot myself in the foot!
WOW, now that's a trip. I wanna GO!!!! We too like traveling by road "just to see what's there!"
Yes I was rubbing it in about how much effort it takes for you Canuks to transit our land. It's a shame and shouldn't be that way.
The learning experience?????? I don't know about that one :-) We'll stick with SA and Namibia for the time being. Really like Namibia!

Good luck to you Brick, sounds like quite an adventure already....

sound like an awesome trip brick .and spikeys spot on about driving on the proper side of the road
youve certainly put the effort in your planning and i hope you have so much fun it takes four days to read your report
.enjoy bloke