Flights with firearms questions.

[Muskox]

When I research flights on Kayak, get a lot of the same answers.

SLC to Zambia
SLC to Botswana
SLC to Joburg
SLC to Windhoek
SLC to Kimberly
SLC to Limpopo

Price is $2300-2800 doesn't matter.

I know with firearms I don't want to go through the UK.

What is the firearm transfer situation at Joburg like if I went to Windhoek or Kimberly or Zambia or whatever?

Seems to me the Delta to Joburg through Atlanta would be the easiest.

I never cleared customs when I was with the military 20 years ago in Qatar. I am not interested in flying into there to figure out if I have to camp out in jail for a week and give the Qataris a stack of my cash. Or worse. This was military stuff and it caused a lot of drama for me back then. I don't know if the Quataris forgot my name or not, but I am not interested in finding out.

The Swiss Air or Lufthansa flights to Windhoek from Munich, Zurich or Frankfurt would be ok, but that is 8 hours off flying on the front end from SLC.

The British Airways flights to South Africa and Namibia don't seem like a good idea for the firearms transfers.

 

[Betterinthebush]

I hired Travel With Guns last year. I took the United route from Buffalo to O’Hare Lufthansa to Frankfurt Discover to Windhoek. Everything went fine. When I go back to Namibia I’ll take the same route again, just to avoid weapons inspections and unpacking and separating ammo in JNB to take a morning flight into Windhoek.

ETA; I’m taking the ATL to JNB in May. Because I’m the first hunt of the season in Zimbabwe, the PH is picking me up at the hotel and then we’re driving to camp in Nuanetsi. So I don’t have to worry about a second flight to Bulawayo.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Qatar Air is a great option for Zambia and Zimbabwe…unless they are lying in wait to knab you obviously. Flying to/from Harare from Alaska back in October, the Qatar legs left out of Seattle, and after Doha, flight had brief stop in Lusaka, where folks headed on to Zimbabwe stayed on board while those headed to Zambia deplaned. I haven’t researched using them to get to Namibia, but for South Africa, Zim and Zambia, it’s a great option leaving from the west coast.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Avoiding JNB if not staying in RSA or driving out for Botswana or the like is key. There may be times where it’s hard, but if really look, there are often better options flying directly into the country in Africa from your midpoint layover.

 

[coreydb]

I've always traveled United because of the ease of the firearms transfers. When I had to take connecting flights in Europe, United always used United affiliated carriers, so there was never an issue or concern with my firearms.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Let me send PWP Travel a crisp salute! Paying a competent agent is INSURANCE for you and your rifles to arrive for the hunt, and for the trip on time and without problems!

Here's my story...
My wife always travels with me to Africa where I, traveling with rifles and ammo go hunting and she travels on to Lusaka to visit her family. PWP listened to my requirements and provided exactly what we needed with military precision. That included "warning orders" in the form of email reminders and a phone call when I had procrasinated of documents to fill out and return to them for submission to the airline.

Prior to using PWP, during 2023 my wife as the eldest sibling extent had to make a rush trip to Lusaka to set up medical care for her mother. Normally with rifles we drive from the Detroit area to Chicago O'Hare to board Emirates or Qatar flights. For this trip me and my rifles would remain at home. Agent not required except this was a rush trip to depart in less than a week's time. We used another Africa hunter's travel agent and this is what occured,

1. I booked wife on Emirates originating from Detroit on a connecting United flight to O'Hare.
2. I dropped off my wife at Detroit airport for the last flight of the day to O'Hare .
3. After an hour's drive home my wife called for a ride back home because United's plane had a maintenance problem.
4. I immediately notified travel agent.
5. By 10 AM following morning agent informed me that because the United flight was cancelled, my wife's tickets would be rebooked by United! Then the shxt show started!!!!!
6. Noon passed and the agent was unable to rebook on United for a fight that day!
7. I thought the hell with this and let the US Marine in me out of the brig. I started calling and did not stop until an hour later I was taking to a Emirates agent in India or location where people have similar accents.
8. The Emirates agent said, "I know the United agent whose desk is in the same building. Let me place you on hold and I'll go discuss your problem with them".
9. Sure enough, five minutes later, the agent returned to the call with the reference numbers for my wife's rebooked flight via United to Emirates.
10. Gosh knows if the booking travel agent would have got my wife on flight with only one day's delay!
11. Emirates provides a free hotel room for the 14-hour layover in Dubai. Since the flight had to be rebook via United, we had to pay for the room. Additionally, the return trip was via Dallas and my we had to drag her luggage across hill and dale from US Customs to the United flight to Detroit.

When I discussed my 2025 travel plans with Patrick of PWP, I was in Marine-mode. "This is what I need, can you provide it?" Being a retired Limited Duty Officer (LDO), I am authorized to be occasionally be Loud, Dumb, and Obnoxious! I'm sure that's what Patrick thought of me

I asked in no uncertain terms, "If a flight is cancelled or we have other problems when overseas, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO!" Patrick walked me through PWP emergency action procedures and I was satisfied that using PWP, I would not need to become my own travel agent. PWP has Patrick and his right hand lady alternating weeks for their 24/7 emergency duty.

Bad thing happens to nice people. Traveling with expensive rifles for expensive hunts in third world countries, having a competent travel agent a phone call away 24/7 is important to me.

Now, all that stated, when traveling to South Africa with rifles, we've not used and agent. But our route is simple since Detroit is a Delta hub. Detroit to Atlanta on Delta. A three-hour delay and board Delta direct flight to Johannesburg. Simple as pie...

For future travel, I'll take PWP, you can take your chances....

 

[Franco]

I will second what Mark says about Patrick and PWP. He knows the business and pays attention to details.

My airline of choice is Emirates via Dubai. I would advise you to purchase transfer and permitting assistance where ever it is offered.

 

[Philip Glass]

When I research flights on Kayak, get a lot of the same answers.

SLC to Zambia
SLC to Botswana
SLC to Joburg
SLC to Windhoek
SLC to Kimberly
SLC to Limpopo

Price is $2300-2800 doesn't matter.

I know with firearms I don't want to go through the UK.

What is the firearm transfer situation at Joburg like if I went to Windhoek or Kimberly or Zambia or whatever?

Seems to me the Delta to Joburg through Atlanta would be the easiest.

I never cleared customs when I was with the military 20 years ago in Qatar. I am not interested in flying into there to figure out if I have to camp out in jail for a week and give the Qataris a stack of my cash. Or worse. This was military stuff and it caused a lot of drama for me back then. I don't know if the Quataris forgot my name or not, but I am not interested in finding out.

The Swiss Air or Lufthansa flights to Windhoek from Munich, Zurich or Frankfurt would be ok, but that is 8 hours off flying on the front end from SLC.

The British Airways flights to South Africa and Namibia don't seem like a good idea for the firearms transfers.

1. Do your research on Google.com/flights. Set parameters for your itinerary and airlines. This will give you some idea of your options.
2. Then call our AH sponsor @TRAVEL EXPRESS
3. You will get some educated comments here but please stay off FB for this type of info!

To further comment I would say that yes Delta is the easiest for most. This will likely require a JNB overnight. I recommend City Lodge for its price, quality, and convenience. Then connect on Airlink the next day.
We have plenty of info here on AH in the Safari planning section as well as my YouTube channel.
Happy Safari planning!

 

[Muskox]

1. Do your research on Google.com/flights. Set parameters for your itinerary and airlines. This will give you some idea of your options.
2. Then call our AH sponsor @TRAVEL EXPRESS
3. You will get some educated comments here but please stay off FB for this type of info!

To further comment I would say that yes Delta is the easiest for most. This will likely require a JNB overnight. I recommend City Lodge for its price, quality, and convenience. Then connect on Airlink the next day.
We have plenty of info here on AH in the Safari planning section as well as my YouTube channel.
Happy Safari planning!

Thanks Phil,

I was just on YouTube watching one of your videos.

!