Other 1st time safari tips needed

This is what Gracy Requires:

1. Copy of the information page of your passport (Must be Notarized)

2. Completed and signed SAPS 520 application (Must be mailed- Original only)

Pages that will need to be filled out:

**Page 2- 1- 25.4

**Page 5- Details of Firearms & Details of Ammunition

**Page6- Signature required on 4.1- 4.4 and J-#1-4

**I will need page 6 original page to be mailed to me. Over night if at all possible.


3. Copy- US Customs form 4457 (Must be Notarized)

4. Invitation letter from hunting outfitter on Company letterhead (with the following details) , we will need a letter of Invitation for all countries in which you are planning to hunt and must include (from your outfitter):

Registered Outfitter Number
• Registered PH Number
• Office Address
• Contact Details
• Name of area where hunt will take place
• Date of planned hunt
• Species of animals that the hunter is planning on hunting ( this is for the SAPS form to verify that the rifle calibers are suitable).
• Details of firearms that the hunter intends to import.

Originally Posted by safari-lawyer

I'll bite.

#1: You CAN clear your own guns, but why would you? To save $150? Really? I hear everyone talk about how easy it is, etc, etc, etc, but I've been there when the S hit the Fan, and I was glad to have some locals there to get me and the guns out of the SAPS office without me and the Mrs. having to pay off the whole office. I would not consider going through SAPS without a VIP advance gun permitting and meet and greet service. Buy one less piece of grossly unnecessary gear before the hunt and you can spring for the gun permitting service.

#2: Go to a strip club before you leave. Take a mental picture of what you see there. Go again when you return if you feel the need. J-berg is a hole. Transit in, transit out. No need to spend time there. 20 years ago, sure. Today, no thanks.

LOL Well put!

Do the copies of the passport need to be notarized?

Originally Posted by Lapaiki39

Do the copies of the passport need to be notarized?

If they are being presented as official documents to be used with SAPS for firearms permits. YES.
Know any lawyers who do that for free?

Originally Posted by safari-lawyer

I'll bite.

#1: You CAN clear your own guns, but why would you? To save $150? Really? I hear everyone talk about how easy it is, etc, etc, etc, but I've been there when the S hit the Fan, and I was glad to have some locals there to get me and the guns out of the SAPS office without me and the Mrs. having to pay off the whole office. I would not consider going through SAPS without a VIP advance gun permitting and meet and greet service. Buy one less piece of grossly unnecessary gear before the hunt and you can spring for the gun permitting service.

#2: Go to a strip club before you leave. Take a mental picture of what you see there. Go again when you return if you feel the need. J-berg is a hole. Transit in, transit out. No need to spend time there. 20 years ago, sure. Today, no thanks.

I am with you on this one!!!!, advantages of using someone to prearrange or pre capture your temp import are. Your details are already on the system so you jump the line you skip the capture process and you're out, if you were to do it yourself and you are the lucky number 5 - 10 in the row as there are maybe 10 hunters on your plane you arived on or two flight come in at the same time and your'e number 11 (which I have witnessed). you feel like

It'l take a while, this does suck I seen guys touch down groggy from their sleeping tablets and 25 hours of accumilated air travel and then you need to deal with African red tape.........

Enough said you make the cal on whether it is worth saving $100 i reccomend it to all my clients and even include it in packages, it works, it saves time... and this makes you feel like

Point is you can decide what you would like to feel like,..........

My very best always.

Quick question. If you do your own gun permit do you still need the copy of your passport info page to be noterized? Or will a copy of it along with the passport on you work?----Thanks

Originally Posted by Divernhunter

Quick question. If you do your own gun permit do you still need the copy of your passport info page to be noterized? Or will a copy of it along with the passport on you work?----Thanks

It was enough with a copy of it along with my passport when I did it in 2011.

Ok. Thanks for all your help!

Sorry guys another question, how about customs form 4457 if I have the original does it have to be notarized?

Originally Posted by Lapaiki39

Sorry guys another question, how about customs form 4457 if I have the original does it have to be notarized?

Get it notarized and then laminate it. Another tip is to have separate 4457's for any rifle, camera, binocular, spotting scope, range finder, etc... that you might take internationally someday. Individual forms let's you mix whatever you want to take and be covered.

Thanks Buff-Buster. Can I just make a copy of the 4457 and bring along the original?

Originally Posted by Lapaiki39

Thanks Buff-Buster. Can I just make a copy of the 4457 and bring along the original?

Yes sir but I usually just take color copies and leave the original at home in the file. What I usually do is build a book for each of my trips. Multiple copies of everything go into it. Passport, 4457's, invitation letters, contract, etc.... It stays in by backpack and with me at all times.

As for "debauchery" in Jo-burg, I would rather walk the bush with cobras and puff adders than the streets of Jo-burg with human ones. The same goes for places like Detroit, Chicago, etc.

You can usually count on the larger hotels for night life. Choose a popular hotel with clubs and enjoy a few nights in J-burg. If you choose to venture out work it with your bellman to get you transportation and play it smart. Any city can be dangerous, foreign travelers over seas can be a little silly sometimes. Get a good cab driver to take you to your destination and pick you up at a pre determined time. Shouldn't be a problem.

Mahalo!