Traveling with rifle to RSA - do you need a "fixer"?

ftothfadd said:

Dear members,

I am headed for my second trip to Africa next year, this time with my wife and another couple. I am planning to take a rifle with me, and I would like to avoid any issues. I know I could reach out to Afton lodge, or so and arrange some help with clearing the rifle. The problem is that I am cheap and I would rather spend that money on additional hunting or even tipping the trackers etc. Is it really that precarious to take care of the rifle importation upon arrival? If so, how much do these facilitating services cost? Any experience good or bad would be very welcome.
Thank you in advance, Ferenc

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I have been twice and took my rifles through myself, no issues at all. Other countries might be a different story, but I had no issues in/out of RSA.

Thank you. It is interesting how many PMs I have been receiving stating that they have done the gun import themselves. It sounds like it is eminently doable. This is in contrast with the forum posts where almost everyone promotes the fixer etc idea. It is also noteworthy that those posts are mostly from very well heeled people, which I am not…

I have done it both ways. It’s not at all hard to do. It’s simply been my experience that with a service you’ll be out of there much quicker
and are not as susceptible to shakedowns or hassle. Although I have experienced much more “shakedown” in Zim or Mozambique

ftothfadd said:

Thank you. It is interesting how many PMs I have been receiving stating that they have done the gun import themselves. It sounds like it is eminently doable. This is in contrast with the forum posts where almost everyone promotes the fixer etc idea. It is also noteworthy that those posts are mostly from very well heeled people, which I am not…

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I always wonder how many PMs go out from hunters that won’t post. I think it’s unfortunate people don’t want to be honest publicly. I don’t think $150 is the difference between wealthy and blue collar. I can afford a lot, but I only pay for things I see value in. I refuse to pay for business or first class, but I’ll gladly pay for assistance with a firearm at the airport. I’m often offended here by the guys willing to spend money on status symbols for themselves but not on quality hunts or properly tipping the guys who make their hunt happen.

ftothfadd said:

Thank you. It is interesting how many PMs I have been receiving stating that they have done the gun import themselves. It sounds like it is eminently doable. This is in contrast with the forum posts where almost everyone promotes the fixer etc idea. It is also noteworthy that those posts are mostly from very well heeled people, which I am not…

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I am far from what you would consider "well heeled" and I have used the service twice and if I go again I'll use a pre approved permit service again.

Considering what you are spending for your hunt from start to end it is a very small amount for the service.

ftothfadd said:

Thank you. It is interesting how many PMs I have been receiving stating that they have done the gun import themselves. It sounds like it is eminently doable. This is in contrast with the forum posts where almost everyone promotes the fixer etc idea. It is also noteworthy that those posts are mostly from very well heeled people, which I am not…

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That is an interesting observation, if you can do it yourself successfully please help others rather than PM, we are all here to learn.

Myself, I saved for 2 years to go and I did the VIP meet and greet and Riflepermits. Total was $250 and I left more than that in ammo when I left. I did the frugal part too but I also had an experience in my mind of what the trip should be and it still exceeded my expectations. Spend the money and save yourself the stress when you land after a day of travel.

From the experience part itself, I have been doing government compliance for pharma my whole career. What I did learn was if you can hire a consultant for a very specific task you will only do once, its worth the price. I could have done the forms correctly, I could have argued with the SAPS guy, I could have been on my own. I paid.

Also remember you are not paying for the task, you are paying for the guy who does it every day and has seen every thing that can go wrong and knows how to get ahead of it, you are paying for the guy who knows which cop likes something done one way, a second a different way. The cop who knows that Henry's people never get it wrong so they don't look as closely.

When I imported a mixing tank from Germany to Taiwan, we could have done the paperwork or we did pay a fixer and shaved weeks/months off delivery.

My opinion pay for it.

I too am far from well healed! I fly coach or maybe comfort if find a good deal. Save and Save for each hunt and watch spending on animals. But I tip well, at least what I believe is well and what PH recommends for staff, but I will not chance issues with airports and gun permits and use the services of those who do it daily to get me thru as fast as possible without being hassled or Hustled by others or police.
I have witnessed Henry's people have to step in and help a hunter, who was not using a pre approval service, with his gun paperwork when SAPS was giving him a hard time and shake down on his paperwork.

Mark Biggerstaff said:

I too am far from well healed! I fly coach or maybe comfort if find a good deal. Save and Save for each hunt and watch spending on animals. But I tip well, at least what I believe is well and what PH recommends for staff, but I will not chance issues with airports and gun permits and use the services of those who do it daily to get me thru as fast as possible without being hassled or Hustled by others or police.
I have witnessed Henry's people have to step in and help a hunter, who was not using a pre approval service, with his gun paperwork when SAPS was giving him a hard time and shake down on his paperwork.

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I too try to save money where I can, apply wisdom and experience, when it comes to budgeting and booking a Safari.

My feeling is that it’s comforting and helpful to use someone that actually “speaks the language” when it comes to Rifle Permits and clearing a Rifle through; at least in Joburg.

At the suggestion of my PH, I used Mr X to expedite my rifle permit process. After a 16hr flight and still needing to drive about 2.5hrs to my lodge, it is well worth the fee. He is quick and professional and has everything ready as quick as you clear customs. Time to get the rifles and permits is about 5 min. Fee was $150 in 2025 and $100 in 2024. I would use him again.

Things go well until they don't. On the way home from RSA, I had a flight from Blomfontein to Joburg.
Arriving in Joburg, my gun made it but not my ammo box.. Bruce from Gracy Travel followed up and found that it wasn't unloaded until the next Blom to Joburg flight. Fortunately, I had a fairly long layover in Joburg and the ammo made it to my flight home. I suspect if I didn't have VIP service, that box and ammo could have gone awol. Ten trips, I always pay for the services and well healed is far out of my pay grade.

It's the best money you'll spend on your hunt.

I apologize if I offended anyone with the”well heeled” comment. Truthfully, a hunting trip to Africa requires a certain financial standing in itself. I am unfortunately not just frugal but, sadly, cheap… If I were traveling on my own, I would try to do the gun import myself and risk some wasted time. (Being raised in the socialist Hungary, I would like to believe I know how to avoid a shake down, though as we know TIA) Having said that, three more people will accompany me on this trip and I will be the only one bringing a rifle. So, courtesy dictates that I have to avoid wasting their time and I think I will have to resort to using a gun clearing service…
Again, I am very thankful for all the advice from both sides of the discussion.

ftothfadd said:

I apologize if I offended anyone with the”well heeled” comment. Truthfully, a hunting trip to Africa requires a certain financial standing in itself. I am unfortunately not just frugal but, sadly, cheap… If I were traveling on my own, I would try to do the gun import myself and risk some wasted time. (Being raised in the socialist Hungary, I would like to believe I know how to avoid a shake down, though as we know TIA) Having said that, three more people will accompany me on this trip and I will be the only one bringing a rifle. So, courtesy dictates that I have to avoid wasting their time and I think I will have to resort to using a gun clearing service…
Again, I am very thankful for all the advice from both sides of the discussion.

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Good luck on your hunt.

ftothfadd said:

Dear members,

I am headed for my second trip to Africa next year, this time with my wife and another couple. I am planning to take a rifle with me, and I would like to avoid any issues. I know I could reach out to Afton lodge, or so and arrange some help with clearing the rifle. The problem is that I am cheap and I would rather spend that money on additional hunting or even tipping the trackers etc. Is it really that precarious to take care of the rifle importation upon arrival? If so, how much do these facilitating services cost? Any experience good or bad would be very welcome.
Thank you in advance, Ferenc

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Since you are asking the saying penny wise pound foolish comes to mind. I have always used Rifle permits. on my 8 safaris first your license is approved and in your hands at the gate. second all police recognize the people clearing your rifle. I once saw someone like you screw up his license application. Later I saw him at City Lodge listening to him complain about 2.5 hours to clear his two rifles which took me all of 10 minutes with my “fixer”. In my busy hectic life time and lack of added stress is worth money to me but yes you can do everything yourself. Just remember you are in a third world country and TIA This is Africa and bad things can happen fast if you are not prepared. Good luck!

ftothfadd said:

Dear members,

I am headed for my second trip to Africa next year, this time with my wife and another couple. I am planning to take a rifle with me, and I would like to avoid any issues. I know I could reach out to Afton lodge, or so and arrange some help with clearing the rifle. The problem is that I am cheap and I would rather spend that money on additional hunting or even tipping the trackers etc. Is it really that precarious to take care of the rifle importation upon arrival? If so, how much do these facilitating services cost? Any experience good or bad would be very welcome.
Thank you in advance, Ferenc

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Use Harry, he is worth every penny. He helped us the last time I was transiting through Joburg and we missed our flight. Harry pulled some strings and got us another flight with our rifles squared away, The last thing you want after a looong flight is some sort of problem. Not sure what you might want to shoot for 100-150 dollars but not having a headache is worth at least that much, in my humble opinion