I recently came back from a trip to Namibia, my first, and took two rifles with me. I’ve enjoyed all the information I have received from this forum and posts like these are what have helped me the most in the past. Hopefully, it is of use to someone else.
When I planned this trip I looked at the issue of bringing my own firearm(s) or renting the camp gun. Ultimately, I’m a bit too nostalgic about firearms to shoot any old gun. It has to be something that I have and am making history with. And ultimately, it seemed like it would be a wash when comparing the price of bringing your own or renting.
I purchased an Apache branded (Harbor Freight) case that is large enough for two rifles. I caught it on sale for ~$100 around one of the holidays. Same with a box for ammo. Both seem very well made and an excellent value for the money.
According to my research, locks on a gun case should not be TSA locks and only accessible to the owner. So I purchased two Abloy locks for the case. If you’ve ever watched “The Lock Picking Lawyer” on YouTube, you might know he holds them in higher regard than most padlocks. Certainly they are well made but they do hold the key captive when unlocked. Having an equal number of locks and keys is a good idea if you go with Abloy.
When I booked the flights (through Travel Express), I had no clue about using different airlines and the potential for difficulties that could cause. Flying out of Duluth is limited in both times and airlines but generally beats driving to the Twin Cities. I also wanted to do the Frankfurt to Windhoek route, in part because my dad and father-in-law would be joining me and they appreciated two (relatively) shorter flights over one longer flight. Also, I felt dealing with the Germans would be easier than SAPs. Cue foreboding music.
Duluth to O’Hare
The first issue that came up for me was when I checked in at Duluth. I think they lack experience checking bags with “weapons”. This guy was reading off the computer what he needed to do, which included the “finger test” wherein the unlatched but locked case couldn’t allow access to a person’s fingers or hand.
I hadn’t heard of this before and he was the only one to do it. I’m guessing it is “official” United policy. The good news is my case passed! Then he accepted it and it went on the conveyor belt. Oddly, he never mentioned anything about the ammunition. Just checked my bag and focused on the rifle case.
Ten minutes later I’m relaxing at the gate and my name is called. TSA wants inside the case. So I run around trying to find their office. It’s not labeled. I did find out an airline employee doesn’t know the difference between TSA and the airport police or their offices. So I run around a bit wondering what is going on. When I do find it, they are waiting and I hand them the key. I should have insisted on being present when they looked at it but I was a bit frazzled. Ten minutes later they gave me the key and life went on.
Chicago to Frankfurt
Next stop is Chicago. Just before boarding they call my name. They (Lufthansa) tell me the United’s system isn’t communicating very well with their system. So which case has the firearms and which the ammunition? I wish this was a joke.
It occurred to me that United likely didn’t indicate my suitcase had ammunition. The gate agent was preoccupied with the “weapons” case. Now, Lufthansa can’t locate my suitcase and they are unsure if it will make it on the plane. The other checked bag, the long with the rifles in it, right? Yeah, that is accounted for. No use getting bent out of shape. I suspected my bag with the ammunition would make it.
At this point my nerves are a bit more frazzled about my decision to bring firearms. The rest of the trip to Windhoek goes fine and both of my bags arrive with me. The process at the airport in Windhoek is simple both arriving and departing.
I’m not looking forward to the return process because this has been a bit of a hassle. However, I did somehow avoid paying the $250, make that 250 Euros, fee Lufthansa collects for transporting “weapons”. I think it was United’s system not playing nice with Lufthansa. Score one for me!
Windhoek to Frankfurt
When we arrive back at the Windhoek airport (I know, it’s actually the Hosea Kutako Int’l Airport) everything goes well. Then, just before boarding, they call my name. Third time is the charm? They take me back and let me know I didn’t pay the fee. Yeah, because you never asked for it. There was obviously a communication breakdown and I was never told explicitly how or where to pay that fee. They think otherwise.
The gal is very nice about it but she is on the phone with someone from Luftwaffe, excuse me, Lufthansa. They don’t understand that I need to board. And they need to follow every rule in their book. This takes time and you have to respect the process. I’ve lost respect for the process. Eventually, they get my card number and I’m free to go. I run through part of the terminal and end up as the last person on the plane. Regrets are piling up and I’m not looking forward to Customs and rechecking my bag.
Miraculously, no one calls my name at Frankfurt.
Frankfurt to Chicago
We land in Chicago and I have the low-grade but very palpable stress that happens when they are too many unknowns and the consequences could be very expensive. However, this is where things turned for the better. I find my oversized rifle case next to luggage carousel and was directed by Customs and Border Patrol to go to a different door/room. There are 5 guys in front of me trying to import so many boxes of…something…I’m a bit concerned how much time I will spend here.
One of the CBP agents sees me and tells me to come to their open desk. The agent there was very nice and was training in a new recruit. Very straightforward about what their duties were when checking firearms back in, expectations of the owner and basic gun safety. So I learned a lot from him. He held most gun owners in high regard because they usually knew what needed to happen and followed the rules.
Found out form 4457 is good for life but most foreign countries want a recent copy. He also said if you are transporting multiple firearms, do a separate 4457 for each one. If something happens to one of the firearms and you show up with only one but the form indicates two, it could be a long explanation. Highly unlikely that would ever happen but there is a saying about an ounce of prevention...
After CBP, I went to TSA. They were super easy to work with. Scanned my gun case then delivered it to the airline for me. Maybe that is the way it is supposed to work!?
This was my first trip to Africa, my first trip flying with firearms and I had two septuagenarians relying on me to make sure we were going the right direction. Stress was a bit high for me and the addition of firearms did not help.
So, would I bring firearms on another trip to Africa? With certain caveats, absolutely!
grungy feel about you. Maybe not firearm related! But less time traveling will make the whole trip better.
It is more work and not something everyone wants to do. It is easier traveling without your firearms. But I really like the photos from Africa that have my Ruger No. 1 in them. And I enjoy using my firearm that is more like an old friend than a tool.
When I planned this trip I looked at the issue of bringing my own firearm(s) or renting the camp gun. Ultimately, I’m a bit too nostalgic about firearms to shoot any old gun. It has to be something that I have and am making history with. And ultimately, it seemed like it would be a wash when comparing the price of bringing your own or renting.
I purchased an Apache branded (Harbor Freight) case that is large enough for two rifles. I caught it on sale for ~$100 around one of the holidays. Same with a box for ammo. Both seem very well made and an excellent value for the money.
According to my research, locks on a gun case should not be TSA locks and only accessible to the owner. So I purchased two Abloy locks for the case. If you’ve ever watched “The Lock Picking Lawyer” on YouTube, you might know he holds them in higher regard than most padlocks. Certainly they are well made but they do hold the key captive when unlocked. Having an equal number of locks and keys is a good idea if you go with Abloy.
When I booked the flights (through Travel Express), I had no clue about using different airlines and the potential for difficulties that could cause. Flying out of Duluth is limited in both times and airlines but generally beats driving to the Twin Cities. I also wanted to do the Frankfurt to Windhoek route, in part because my dad and father-in-law would be joining me and they appreciated two (relatively) shorter flights over one longer flight. Also, I felt dealing with the Germans would be easier than SAPs. Cue foreboding music.
Duluth to O’Hare
The first issue that came up for me was when I checked in at Duluth. I think they lack experience checking bags with “weapons”. This guy was reading off the computer what he needed to do, which included the “finger test” wherein the unlatched but locked case couldn’t allow access to a person’s fingers or hand.
I hadn’t heard of this before and he was the only one to do it. I’m guessing it is “official” United policy. The good news is my case passed! Then he accepted it and it went on the conveyor belt. Oddly, he never mentioned anything about the ammunition. Just checked my bag and focused on the rifle case.
Ten minutes later I’m relaxing at the gate and my name is called. TSA wants inside the case. So I run around trying to find their office. It’s not labeled. I did find out an airline employee doesn’t know the difference between TSA and the airport police or their offices. So I run around a bit wondering what is going on. When I do find it, they are waiting and I hand them the key. I should have insisted on being present when they looked at it but I was a bit frazzled. Ten minutes later they gave me the key and life went on.
Chicago to Frankfurt
Next stop is Chicago. Just before boarding they call my name. They (Lufthansa) tell me the United’s system isn’t communicating very well with their system. So which case has the firearms and which the ammunition? I wish this was a joke.
It occurred to me that United likely didn’t indicate my suitcase had ammunition. The gate agent was preoccupied with the “weapons” case. Now, Lufthansa can’t locate my suitcase and they are unsure if it will make it on the plane. The other checked bag, the long with the rifles in it, right? Yeah, that is accounted for. No use getting bent out of shape. I suspected my bag with the ammunition would make it.
At this point my nerves are a bit more frazzled about my decision to bring firearms. The rest of the trip to Windhoek goes fine and both of my bags arrive with me. The process at the airport in Windhoek is simple both arriving and departing.
I’m not looking forward to the return process because this has been a bit of a hassle. However, I did somehow avoid paying the $250, make that 250 Euros, fee Lufthansa collects for transporting “weapons”. I think it was United’s system not playing nice with Lufthansa. Score one for me!
Windhoek to Frankfurt
When we arrive back at the Windhoek airport (I know, it’s actually the Hosea Kutako Int’l Airport) everything goes well. Then, just before boarding, they call my name. Third time is the charm? They take me back and let me know I didn’t pay the fee. Yeah, because you never asked for it. There was obviously a communication breakdown and I was never told explicitly how or where to pay that fee. They think otherwise.
The gal is very nice about it but she is on the phone with someone from Luftwaffe, excuse me, Lufthansa. They don’t understand that I need to board. And they need to follow every rule in their book. This takes time and you have to respect the process. I’ve lost respect for the process. Eventually, they get my card number and I’m free to go. I run through part of the terminal and end up as the last person on the plane. Regrets are piling up and I’m not looking forward to Customs and rechecking my bag.
Miraculously, no one calls my name at Frankfurt.
Frankfurt to Chicago
We land in Chicago and I have the low-grade but very palpable stress that happens when they are too many unknowns and the consequences could be very expensive. However, this is where things turned for the better. I find my oversized rifle case next to luggage carousel and was directed by Customs and Border Patrol to go to a different door/room. There are 5 guys in front of me trying to import so many boxes of…something…I’m a bit concerned how much time I will spend here.
One of the CBP agents sees me and tells me to come to their open desk. The agent there was very nice and was training in a new recruit. Very straightforward about what their duties were when checking firearms back in, expectations of the owner and basic gun safety. So I learned a lot from him. He held most gun owners in high regard because they usually knew what needed to happen and followed the rules.
Found out form 4457 is good for life but most foreign countries want a recent copy. He also said if you are transporting multiple firearms, do a separate 4457 for each one. If something happens to one of the firearms and you show up with only one but the form indicates two, it could be a long explanation. Highly unlikely that would ever happen but there is a saying about an ounce of prevention...
After CBP, I went to TSA. They were super easy to work with. Scanned my gun case then delivered it to the airline for me. Maybe that is the way it is supposed to work!?
This was my first trip to Africa, my first trip flying with firearms and I had two septuagenarians relying on me to make sure we were going the right direction. Stress was a bit high for me and the addition of firearms did not help.
So, would I bring firearms on another trip to Africa? With certain caveats, absolutely!
- The biggest one is making sure all connecting flights are with the same carrier. Or eliminate Lufthansa from the mix. The could be the fly in the ointment.
- I would look into firearms specific insurance, that might have reduced the stress and anxiety a bit.
grungy feel about you. Maybe not firearm related! But less time traveling will make the whole trip better.
It is more work and not something everyone wants to do. It is easier traveling without your firearms. But I really like the photos from Africa that have my Ruger No. 1 in them. And I enjoy using my firearm that is more like an old friend than a tool.
