Getting mixed answers on bringing ammo into South Africa

[375Fox]

I have been informed that the airline that I am using (Lufthansa) requires that neither ammunition or rifles can be in shared containers/cases.
My concern is how much extra does Lufthansa charge $$$ for any ammunition making the return trip home? We must start in Kimberly, fly to Johannesburg, then to Frankfurt, then back to Los Angeles.
Am I better off to simply leave any excess with the safari company?
How much ammunition is appropriate for two people on an eight day hunt, hoping to get maybe ten animals?

I can’t recall ever firing more than 40 rounds total on any safari. I bring 60-80 up to the 5 kg/11lb limit, but I’d consider 40 the minimum needed. Your PH or outfitter is usually happy to keep excess ammo if you don’t want to travel with it.

 

[SplitHoof]

I can’t recall ever firing more than 40 rounds total on any safari. I bring 60-80 up to the 5 kg/11lb limit, but I’d consider 40 the minimum needed. Your PH or outfitter is usually happy to keep excess ammo if you don’t want to travel with it.

Thank you for the reply.
I'm getting mixed answers from calling the Lufthansa airline about how much it costs to bring any back home after the safari is concluded. I've spent some time and went to great care to produce some very uniform, precise, clean ammunition, and Id rather bring home any excess over twenty. But if it costs too much, I'll simply leave behind. Not sure about how the safari company would be receptive my handloads. First time plains game hunt in SA, two identical rifles in 308W, two hunters.
Our licenses from SAPS call out sixty (60) for each of us, for a total of one hundred twenty (120).

 

[JimP]

On both my hunts I took 60 rounds. First hunt was 7 animals and 20 rounds. Second was 12 animals and 25 rounds.

Just figure that it'll cost you the same to bring it home as to take it there. Then if it is less you are ahead of the game.

 

[375Fox]

Thank you for the reply.
I'm getting mixed answers from calling the Lufthansa airline about how much it costs to bring any back home after the safari is concluded. I've spent some time and went to great care to produce some very uniform, precise, clean ammunition, and Id rather bring home any excess over twenty. But if it costs too much, I'll simply leave behind. Not sure about how the safari company would be receptive my handloads. First time plains game hunt in SA, two identical rifles in 308W, two hunters.
Our licenses from SAPS call out sixty (60) for each of us, for a total of one hundred twenty (120).

You have to bring what your permit says now. Going there 120 rounds would need divided into two anyway because it will exceed 5 kgs with the case. Going back as long as you aren’t claiming more than 60 one hunter can claim and take back all the ammo since both are same cartridge. The other hunter used all theirs and you didn’t shoot if asked.

Do you have a permit service helping you in Johannesburg? They’ll be able to give you a clear answer when you land. You can ask about way back then. I haven’t flown Lufthansa but no other airlines have charged me for ammo as a 3rd bag since it’s a requirement.

 

[Green Chile]

On the surface, it's admirable that you want to help the PH. Cash is typically the best way to do that.

As to the actual effort of bringing ammo or reloading components (brass/bullets) that are not for your use, it's a big mess at SAPS. They threatened to arrest me on multiple serious charges for trying to bring the PH something for his use. It's not anything you want to deal with.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I’m flying Lufthansa to Namibia very soon. Rifles are charged a fee, not ammunition. Ammunition goes in your checked luggage. You need to make sure Lufthansa knows that you are bringing a rifle. On the website, you or your travel agent needs to go to the sporting equipment part of the luggage webpage and notify them for all flights. Lufthansa doesn’t respond, but a week or two later, a very subtle notation appears on the flight itinerary. Be sure it is listed for each flight. Also, there is a Frankfurt government permit requirement for transiting firearms through Frankfurt. My travel agent handled that. Thirty days prior to trip.

 

[375Fox]

I’m flying Lufthansa to Namibia very soon. Rifles are charged a fee, not ammunition. Ammunition goes in your checked luggage. You need to make sure Lufthansa knows that you are bringing a rifle. On the website, you or your travel agent needs to go to the sporting equipment part of the luggage webpage and notify them for all flights. Lufthansa doesn’t respond, but a week or two later, a very subtle notation appears on the flight itinerary. Be sure it is listed for each flight. Also, there is a Frankfurt government permit requirement for transiting firearms through Frankfurt. My travel agent handled that. Thirty days prior to trip.

Going there in your baggage is fine, but I’ve been made to tag my ammo and check it in directly with SAPS on most occasions for any internal flights in South Africa and rechecking the next day for any flights elsewhere in Africa.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Going there in your baggage is fine, but I’ve been made to tag my ammo and check it in directly with SAPS on most occasions for any internal flights in South Africa and rechecking the next day for any flights elsewhere in Africa.

Correct, me too

 

[SplitHoof]

You have to bring what your permit says now. Going there 120 rounds would need divided into two anyway because it will exceed 5 kgs with the case. Going back as long as you aren’t claiming more than 60 one hunter can claim and take back all the ammo since both are same cartridge. The other hunter used all theirs and you didn’t shoot if asked.

Do you have a permit service helping you in Johannesburg? They’ll be able to give you a clear answer when you land. You can ask about way back then. I haven’t flown Lufthansa but no other airlines have charged me for ammo as a 3rd bag since it’s a requirement.

The ammunition total weight for each licensed hunter is exactly 2.688 KG including the hard-sided case, two padlocks, and folded copies of the German Transit Permit, SAPS 520, later of invitation, etc. Each hunter is assigned sixty rounds, as listed on all licenses and permits. Each hunter will transport their assigned ammunition in their declared, checked luggage. Hopefully my prior post did not confuse.
YES, we have arranged "meet & greet" service to help us through the legal process upon arrival to Joberg. I couldn't imagine trying to do that myself.

 

[SplitHoof]

I’m flying Lufthansa to Namibia very soon. Rifles are charged a fee, not ammunition. Ammunition goes in your checked luggage. You need to make sure Lufthansa knows that you are bringing a rifle. On the website, you or your travel agent needs to go to the sporting equipment part of the luggage webpage and notify them for all flights. Lufthansa doesn’t respond, but a week or two later, a very subtle notation appears on the flight itinerary. Be sure it is listed for each flight. Also, there is a Frankfurt government permit requirement for transiting firearms through Frankfurt. My travel agent handled that. Thirty days prior to trip.

YES, Lufthansa has been properly notified of firearms and separately packed ammunition, and has been verified through two phone calls.
German Transit Permits listing specific details of each hunter, their rifles, ammunition, and travel dates has been secured in writing for each hunter. Cost for each was about $23.

 

[SplitHoof]

Going there in your baggage is fine, but I’ve been made to tag my ammo and check it in directly with SAPS on most occasions for any internal flights in South Africa and rechecking the next day for any flights elsewhere in Africa.

That is exactly as it was described to us by our travel agent. Going to Kimberly the next day.

 

[Sabre]

I have been informed that the airline that I am using (Lufthansa) requires that neither ammunition or rifles can be in shared containers/cases.
My concern is how much extra does Lufthansa charge $$$ for any ammunition making the return trip home? We must start in Kimberly, fly to Johannesburg, then to Frankfurt, then back to Los Angeles.
Am I better off to simply leave any excess with the safari company?
How much ammunition is appropriate for two people on an eight day hunt, hoping to get maybe ten animals?

I am a bit confused at what your concern is. Why are you concerned what they will charge for you to bring the ammo home as luggage but aren't concerned about what it will cost to get there?

I might be missing something, but you will have less ammo on the way home. So, if you are ok with the cost to get it in country, it should cost less to get it home and by the same means.

 

[Philip Glass]

I'm going to SA in September and will be using the PH'S rifles and ammo. I've heard that ammo can be difficult to get there, so I'm wanting to bring a couple boxes of ammo to help replenish what I use. Some say that I can, others say no ammo alone, but only with a firearm. Any info on that?

No firearm no ammo. Unless you are a licensed importer.

 

[Philip Glass]

I have been informed that the airline that I am using (Lufthansa) requires that neither ammunition or rifles can be in shared containers/cases.
My concern is how much extra does Lufthansa charge $$$ for any ammunition making the return trip home? We must start in Kimberly, fly to Johannesburg, then to Frankfurt, then back to Los Angeles.
Am I better off to simply leave any excess with the safari company?
How much ammunition is appropriate for two people on an eight day hunt, hoping to get maybe ten animals?

Not a Lufthansa rule but an IATA rule that ammo and rifle may not share the same case. You will put your locked, hard side ammo box in your suitcase both ways.

 

[SplitHoof]

I am a bit confused at what your concern is. Why are you concerned what they will charge for you to bring the ammo home as luggage but aren't concerned about what it will cost to get there?

I might be missing something, but you will have less ammo on the way home. So, if you are ok with the cost to get it in country, it should cost less to get it home and by the same means.

Just trying to determine costs, and if I really need to bring any luggage back other than just rifles. I don’t like to leave ammo behind if it is more than a box, but will do so if there are extra fees that I could avoid.
If it turns out that I wish to ever go back, I’d consider simply renting weapons from an outfitter to avoid all the transportation work. And no need for any checked baggage on the way home.u

 

[Kudu2024]

The only ammo that may be hard to get in SA area is some Weatherby. My PH always ask to keep my 240 Mag and 300 Mag Weatherby brass. I always give them to him.

 

[DieJager]

Thank you for the reply.
I'm getting mixed answers from calling the Lufthansa airline about how much it costs to bring any back home after the safari is concluded. I've spent some time and went to great care to produce some very uniform, precise, clean ammunition, and Id rather bring home any excess over twenty. But if it costs too much, I'll simply leave behind. Not sure about how the safari company would be receptive my handloads. First time plains game hunt in SA, two identical rifles in 308W, two hunters.
Our licenses from SAPS call out sixty (60) for each of us, for a total of one hundred twenty (120).

I think Lufthansa requires pre approval and pre payment iirc. So you probably have to pay upfront for your return flight. So I do not understand the problem. 150 euro per flight so 300 euro total iirc

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I think Lufthansa requires pre approval and pre payment iirc. So you probably have to pay upfront for your return flight. So I do not understand the problem. 150 euro per flight so 300 euro total iirc

I fly a United flight to Houston and then Lufthansa to FRA and then WDH. Lufthansa won't allow me to pay the rifle fee ahead of time. During my layover in Houston, I have to go out of the secure area, go to the Lufthansa ticket counter and pay the fee. A bit ridiculous, but I have 5 hours in Houston.

The rifle fee is per rifle case, not per rifle. So even though I am taking two rifles, I pay just one fee each way.

 

[DieJager]

I fly a United flight to Houston and then Lufthansa to FRA and then WDH. Lufthansa won't allow me to pay the rifle fee ahead of time. During my layover in Houston, I have to go out of the secure area, go to the Lufthansa ticket counter and pay the fee. A bit ridiculous, but I have 5 hours in Houston.

The rifle fee is per rifle case, not per rifle. So even though I am taking two rifles, I pay just one fee each way.

Wow that seems unpractical. Just go with the flow than.

 

[Sika98k]

No lack of factory ammunition in Safari Outdoors about ten days ago.