Flight Questions

[RETD16]

So my friend and I booked a safari for August 2026 with Hotfire Safaris. We apparently need to get to East London Airport for them to pick us up. What is the best way to fly from the U.S. to East London? Thank you!!!

 

[Sabre]

My recommendation if you aren't very seasoned in travel and travel arrangements would be to use a travel agent that deals in hunting trips. Especially if you are traveling with guns.

There will likely be others that come along that are more interested in DIY travel, and offer booking advice in that regard as well.

 

[MontanaPat]

To get to East London you will have to fly to Johannesburg first and then take an Airlink commuter flight to East London

 

[RETD16]

My recommendation if you aren't very seasoned in travel and travel arrangements would be to use a travel agent that deals in hunting trips. Especially if you are traveling with guns.

There will likely be others that come along that are more interested in DIY travel, and offer booking advice in that regard as well.

I’m an airline pilot so I’m very familiar with travel, however I’m not familiar traveling internationally with firearms. So any advice is greatly appreciated!!! Any recommendations for a good travel agent? TIA

 

[Firebird]

In the US, you typically fly into Atlanta, then on to Johannesburg. Typically you will have to spend the night and the next morning fly into East London.
I fly delta from salt lake to Atlanta, delta from Atlanta to Joburg and airlink from joburg to final destination.
There are other routes
There are other airlines
I do take my own guns
I do like to have an agency set flight and hotels up for me.
Enjoy your planning and preparation!

 

[slam8031]

Jennifer at @TRAVEL EXPRESS is excellent. She is a sponsor here.

 

[wesheltonj]

For the do it yourself, any airline into JNB and Airlink from JNB to East London. Don’t want the do it yourself option, call Gracy Travel, ask for Nicole. They will book your ticket, met you at JNB take care of your gun permit, and get you to your next flight all inclusive in their fee.

 

[CamoManJ]

+1 @TRAVEL EXPRESS

 

[BRICKBURN]

@TRAVEL EXPRESS is absolutely the easiest route to East London.

 

[Philip Glass]

So my friend and I booked a safari for August 2026 with Hotfire Safaris. We apparently need to get to East London Airport for them to pick us up. What is the best way to fly from the U.S. to East London? Thank you!!!

We will need more information! What is your home airport?

 

[RETD16]

PDX

We will need more information! What is your home airport?

 

[Sabre]

My recommendation if you aren't very seasoned in travel and travel arrangements would be to use a travel agent that deals in hunting trips. Especially if you are traveling with guns.

There will likely be others that come along that are more interested in DIY travel, and offer booking advice in that regard as well.

I have used Patrick who runs PWP travel and I really enjoyed it. I think the extra cost they charged me was $200 for their fee. I felt like it was worth it, personally. I know some people get a level of satisfaction out of doing it all on their own, but I am happy to pay, what I feel like is a small fee, and have someone else book it all for me. I have quite a bit of experience traveling and traveling abroad, although, not as much as some on this site. And I still think it is worth it.

It is very true that you can do all the stuff yourself. To me, I felt like their ~$200 fee was worth every penny.

I have also seen many people on this site use Travel Express which has already been mentioned multiple times on here and I believe they are members on here. People seem very happy with them as well.

If you want to take your own guns and don't go with a travel agent, I would do a domestic flight to ATL, then fly direct with Delta from ATL to JHB. Then you will have an internal flight in SA to East London, and they will require you to alert them you are traveling with a gun, and then they approve it. It isn't a huge deal, but it is an extra step some people have forgotten in the past that can cause issues.

 

[Bandera]

The people at travel express are competitive with booking your own flight prices.

 

[Hunt anything]

Whatever you do use one of the firearms import specialist to get you in and out of SAPS as quickly as possible!

 

[ADSstecky]

I suggest you call Gracy Travel. I deal with Shawn Kennedy. Each of my previous 8 trips have gone without a single problem. No issues with hotel reservations in JNB. The Meet and Greet program is worth every penny.

 

[Sabre]

Whatever you do use one of the firearms import specialist to get you in and out of SAPS as quickly as possible!

I couldn't agree with this more. Again, some people really like doing it themselves.

But I have read and heard too many stories about people waiting in lines for a couple hours to clear SAPS. I have zero interest in doing that after a long flight.

If you pay a service you should be in and out in 5 minutes or less. I just look at it as pre-bribing to go to the front of the line and not be scrutinized as heavily.

 

[WyoBull]

Additionally, get Global Rescue, or someone like them. The few hundred dollars you will spend for trip coverage is nothing if you should need it.

 

[Red Leg]

Travel Express or Gracy Travel are excellent. I am not a pilot, but have been traveling internationally my whole adult life (turn 73 this year). I book most of my travel, but I never ever travel internationally with a firearm without using one of these two expert agencies.

 

[Rare Breed]

So my friend and I booked a safari for August 2026 with Hotfire Safaris. We apparently need to get to East London Airport for them to pick us up. What is the best way to fly from the U.S. to East London? Thank you!!!

Fly direct from Atl to JNB and overnight at. it’s Lodge so you don’t have to leave the airport. 14.5 hour flight. In the morning take Airlink to East London 1 hour flight. Done it several times. Total cost right now Delta and airlink Coach $1800-$2200

 

[Rare Breed]

City Lodge