Michigander heading to South Africa

thanks for the info Ruger, i believe its british air to port elizibeth. your right the 11 hrs will help me to settle in.
what do u guys think about renting a car in port elizibeth for a few days and cruising around on my own. no guides/outfitters.
 
Another 2¢ : DO NOT. I repeat DO NOT go to Africa or any other out of the U.S. hunt without Global Rescue unless you want to pay tens and maybe hundreds of thousands of dollars to get you back to the United States in case of a medical emergency.
There is another thread on this site with posts listing documented costs to get people out of Africa and back to the U.S.

Trying to save a few bucks on a one month subscription, is in my estimation, extremely financially risky.
 
Hey Coltcc fellow Michigander here, I have been 3 times to Africa with 2 trips to the eastern cape. I have taken the 10:30am SAA flight to PE arriving just after noon, that way you don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to be at the airport 2 hours early. I have stayed at Afton Safari House all 3 times no problems ever, but the City Lodge looks like a good choice too, not sure how they handle the storage of your firearm. If you would like to talk or meet, we are close to the Pontiac area, just PM me with a number and I will call you.
 
thanks for the info Ruger, i believe its british air to port elizibeth. your right the 11 hrs will help me to settle in.
what do u guys think about renting a car in port elizibeth for a few days and cruising around on my own. no guides/outfitters.

If you are traveling with guns, double check to see if BA (Comair) will allow them. I've read reports here on AH that BA does not allow guns for checked bags or otherwise. SAA is probably the better option.

Renting a car is very doable. Nice roads in RSA for the most part. You need to be comfortable with driving on the right side of the vehicle, probably a standard transmission and driving on the right (wrong) side of the road. Also, there are roundabouts. If you do want to drive around, going west from PE and heading towards Cape Town is known as the Garden Route and has quite a bit to see.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_Route

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Welcome to AH from another Michigander; where abouts in the state are you located?

As to your questions,:
1.) I would check with your current health insurance and see if they will cover you abroad. Having said that, if not, I think you can find short term health policies from various agencies. AS for global rescue: I would not go abroad, to ANY foreign country, without some means of getting my arse back here in the event of a medical issue. If you don't like global rescue, I believe there are others out there. In addition to being trampled by a rhino or elephant, getting snake bit, or being bitten by a lion or croc, there are those "little things" that can sneak up on you........like a blood clot that can travel to your lung after spending 15 hours on a flight to SA.....or a cardiac condition that suddenly decides to make it's presence known while you're thousands of miles from home (especially after being seen by the doctor a week before and being pronounced "fit as a fiddle":rolleyes:) See it all the time at work........healthy, younger people who suddenly come in with life/death matters without warning. Not meaning to scare you, but in this day and age of 'availabliitly', I can't see not having some method of transport back to the States.

2.) Funding: When I went in 2014, our outfitter agreed to take traveler's checks prior to our departure and did accept them for final payment. However, it appears that travelers checks are now going the way of the dinosaur.......we used them for a trip to California a few years back, and nobody would accept them. We stopped at a AAA office to cash them out (they were issued by AAA), and THEY even refused to cash them!!! And they are the ones who issued them!!:mad: If I were going today, I would pay for the hunt up front, take some US currency, and some Rand for small purchases, such as coffee, snacks, etc. I found that most everyone prefered US dollars to Rand. IIRC, I think that I had $100-$200 changed to Rand PRIOR to going over; I did not use the ATMs prior to going to the SAP office to pick up my firearms; there were too many shady looking people standing around the ATM/banking centers who would then follow people who used them.......seemed like most were looking to "handle your bags" for a tip, but I didn't want to take any chances. One last thought: some outfitters do not accept credit cards! As someone else said, check with your PH PRIOR to leaving the US. Also, as someone pointed out, call your credit card company and let them know you will be traveling abroad prior to departing.

3.) I would suggest a meet & greet service: They will help you get your firearms out of the SAP and get you on your way to where you wish to stay, safely. We stayed at Afton house, and I have no complaints.

PLease realize that this is all based on my personal experiences, and that others may have other (and maybe better) ideas...........good luck on your trip, and don't forget to give us a hunting report when you return. BTW: What species are you planning on hunting?
 
thanks Mr. 16 gauge, so it sounds like travel medical insurance and maybe global may be the way to go, as stated if u dont need it so be it.
yes let the cc companies know about your travel i have heard is a good idea so they dont turn off the card.
i am not taking my gun i decided long ago for my first trip it would be easier to just rent the outfitter gun.
as for animals i will be gunning for the typical plains game i guess kudu, gemsbuck, blesbuck and a wildebeast and hopefully i run out of ammo after that!
 
nice 375 Ruger fan, that ride sounds great along the Garden Route. i love the ocean and always get out on it when im near so i also have a day fishing charter planned as well as a day out chasing marine life around too. i tend to pack lots into any trip i do
 
yeah tay50 i may take u up on that. talking with people that have been there done that is the key. i know there are some great things to see and some ok things to see and do
 
Welcome to AH Coltecc. I live in South Eastern Michigan and have been to Africa with most if not all the questions you had. Send me a PM with your contact information and I'll call you. Several AH members did this for me and I'm more than willing to pass along the good deed.
 
Welcome to the best forum Coltcc! Enjoy!
 
Welcome to AH Coltcc! Nice to have you on the site.
 
hey thanks for the warm welcome, i was still wondering if anyone has stayed at the hotels next to the casinos and what are the thoughts of hanging out at these?
 

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