Arrival at Johannesburg airport

Relyt530

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I was wondering how secure your rifles are once they arrive off the plane at Joburg airport? I am concerned that once the baggage handlers see the pelican cases they have a good idea what's in them. Also how secure is your checked baggage? Obviously if you don't want it stolen put in your carry-on, but you still have clothes and things. Just trying to see what some advice would be to a first timer. One thing I am planning on is to put ammo(locked case)with a mix of ammo in each travelers(2 of us) checked baggage and switching out before customs deceleration. My thought is if one bag doesn't make it we still have ammo for both guns...thanks in advance
 
I was wondering how secure your rifles are once they arrive off the plane at Joburg airport? I am concerned that once the baggage handlers see the pelican cases they have a good idea what's in them. Also how secure is your checked baggage? Obviously if you don't want it stolen put in your carry-on, but you still have clothes and things. Just trying to see what some advice would be to a first timer. One thing I am planning on is to put ammo(locked case)with a mix of ammo in each travelers(2 of us) checked baggage and switching out before customs deceleration. My thought is if one bag doesn't make it we still have ammo for both guns...thanks in advance

Hi Relyt530.

You will clear customs before you get To go an retrieve your luggage. So if our partner doesn't have a rifle, putting ammo in there bag IS not a good idea. And if they do have rifle the ammo needs to match there rifle. If not It could get them arrested.

Your rifle will be walked by handlers to the baggage claim area and given to another agent and they will walk you to you first check point. Then ask for directions to the second check point. there you will claim your rifle.
 
Hi Relyt530.

You will clear customs before you get To go an retrieve your luggage. So if our partner doesn't have a rifle, putting ammo in there bag IS not a good idea. And if they do have rifle the ammo needs to match there rifle. If not It could get them arrested.

Your rifle will be walked by handlers to the baggage claim area and given to another agent and they will walk you to you first check point. Then as for directions to the second check point. there you will claim your rifle.

Both parties have rifles but my concern is that if baggage is lost or ammo is stolen we now have two metal/wood clubs and no guns. Is your baggage more secure if it's deemed to have ammo, or can you put ammo in the case with the rifle?
 
Not sure about all the rest, but I had Henry at Rifle Permits - In Support of Conservation Through Hunting deal with clearing the rifles. We also used his Vip service. That way we had someone meet us at the gate, helped us with our rifles at the initial SAPS area, then through customs & help on the other side through to checking in on our next flight.

Our ammo was never checked at all...
 
I used Rifle Permits as well. They where a great help. It is an added cost, but it was also piece of mind. I know others do it themselves, but we just didn't want to take the risk. As far as ammo goes. My dad had both guns registered in his name. This kept us to just one person doing the paperwork. But we split the ammo. I carried one half of the ammo, and my dad carried the other half(mixed 30-06 and 300WSM). No one checked it at all. The only time anyone questioned anything was the return flight back to the states. It wasn't anything bad, but the standard questions. Maybe we got lucky?
 
Both parties have rifles but my concern is that if baggage is lost or ammo is stolen we now have two metal/wood clubs and no guns. Is your baggage more secure if it's deemed to have ammo, or can you put ammo in the case with the rifle?

No ammo in any rifle case!

Leave some money or other easily saleable item and it may go missing. Ammo, not likely!

Baggage gets "lost" and delayed.

With all the controls on firearms I have never been concerned about my firearms being stolen at an airport.
 
No ammo in any rifle case!

Leave some money or other easily saleable item and it may go missing. Ammo, not likely!

Baggage gets "lost" and delayed.

With all the controls on firearms I have never been concerned about my firearms being stolen at an airport.

Agree with brick on guns will be safe, the only issue is a good case, have seen a couple guys with broken rifles. What caliber of rifles are you taking? There's a good chance your outfitter might have back up ammo on hand in case luggage is delayed, probably have a good camp rifle as well. Don't overthink it, it's Africa.
 
Both parties have rifles but my concern is that if baggage is lost or ammo is stolen we now have two metal/wood clubs and no guns. Is your baggage more secure if it's deemed to have ammo, or can you put ammo in the case with the rifle?

Your baggage will not be deemed to be anything. Not a good idea to have ammo in the gun case. While some airlines don't rule against it, another in the chain may not allow it, and customs probably wont like it either. The best advice for a first timer is use one of the services as stated above. Afton Guest House offers this service as well as Rifle Permits, and there are others. I have been to and thru RSA several times and still plan to use a service for ease of the process.
 
What does the rifle permits or Afton Guest House service cost? I used a bow last time but think I will use a rifle next time.

BHFS300
 
What does the rifle permits or Afton Guest House service cost? I used a bow last time but think I will use a rifle next time.

BHFS300

Rifle Permit processing cost depends on the particular retailer ( Pick from the hordes):


Pre-issued Permits

PHASA charges $150 plus the courier costs and notarized copies.



Afton is a Guest House:
Home

R800 Single

They have an associated permit service as well.
 
What does the rifle permits or Afton Guest House service cost? I used a bow last time but think I will use a rifle next time.

BHFS300

I think Afton charges $100 if you are a guest at some point during your stay. Not sure otherwise.

Brickburn has supplied the link.
 
Another choice is Africa Sky Guest House. They offer a package deal for an overnight stay and pre-approved permit. I think they actually work with RiflePermits.com to do the pre-approved permit.

Home
 
Afton House charged $100 last year for the permit
 
First a question-
Are you being met in Joberg by your PH and hunting near joberg or are you connecting to another flight some where at a later time? This makes a difference in my answer.
I will surmise that you will be hunting from Joberg and your PH will be there to met you-
NO ammo in gun case period. USA regulations allow it but ONLY inside the USA.
Your gun case will be locked by you and you have the only keys NO TSA LOCKS ON GUN CASES!
Chances of your gun not meeting you is slim now a days with positive bag match to travelers as long as you leave enough time for transfers from flight to flight. 4 hrs minimum in Atlanta for transfer.
Your gun case goes in a special compartment on the airplane and is transferred to the SAPS (police) office at the airport while you are going through Immigration and Customs.
When you leave Customs you go to the SAPS office with your 4457 from the USA and your SAPS forms BUT NOT SIGNED and wait in line for your turn to get your South African gun permits.
You can do it yourself, I have several times, or you can have a service do it. Doing it yourself will take longer as the services jump in ahead of you and get theirs done first.
If your PH meets you at the exit from customs (as most do) he will help you with the gun permit. If you are staying over night in Joberg to connect to another flight the next day, I know the Afton House is real good, their pickup guy will met you at Customs and help you with the guns and they are a legal gun repository and use an honest to God bank vault in their house to store your guns.
They will also help you the next day at the airport for your next flight.
Don't waste a lot of effort worrying about your guns. I haven't had a problem in 14 years.
 
Cliffy,

You are saying not to use TSA locks on gun cases? I thought we were supposed to use those. I will be traveling on United from Midland, TX to Houston, TX to Washington Dulles. I will be flying on South African from Dulles to Johannesburg thru Dakar, Senegal.

This is my first time going to South Africa and I don't want to have any avoidable problems.

Thanks

Rusty
 
Cliffy,

You are saying not to use TSA locks on gun cases? I thought we were supposed to use those. I will be traveling on United from Midland, TX to Houston, TX to Washington Dulles. I will be flying on South African from Dulles to Johannesburg thru Dakar, Senegal.

This is my first time going to South Africa and I don't want to have any avoidable problems.

Thanks

Rusty


NO TSA locks on gun cases. They only want YOUR locks on it.
 
Cliffy,

You are saying not to use TSA locks on gun cases? I thought we were supposed to use those. I will be traveling on United from Midland, TX to Houston, TX to Washington Dulles. I will be flying on South African from Dulles to Johannesburg thru Dakar, Senegal.

This is my first time going to South Africa and I don't want to have any avoidable problems.

Thanks

Rusty

Cliff is correct. You and only you should have a key to the lock on the firearms case. This prevents anyone who may have improperly obtained a TSA key from accessing the case.

This has to be one of the most confusing issues for the first time traveling hunter. Why the TSA lock was ever used I cannot figure.
 
Thank yall for the quick replies and information. I would have screwed up royally.
 
I have combination lock (numbers on a dial). That qualifies as a lock, correct?
 

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