Probability of hunting in 21

[Tanks]

Scheduled for Zim, August 1-21, 2021. Might do other trips as well depending on how the World is.

 

[ChasingHemingway]

Booked my hunt the two weeks the last week of June and first weeks of July 2021 with Great Land Safaris and John Henry Keyser in Thabazimbi. Has anyone used Travel Express, AH Sponsor? Wondering if there is a difference booking through a travel agency vs booking directly with the airline?

 

[Tanks]

...Has anyone used Travel Express, AH Sponsor? Wondering if there is a difference booking through a travel agency vs booking directly with the airline?

I have used @TRAVEL EXPRESS in the past and have been happy with them. For some airlines though you will pay them a small fee on top of the flight cost.

I would have used them on my next trip, but I am using vouchers and that has to be done through the airline directly.

 

[MMAL]

I just booked through @TRAVEL EXPRESS. I will tell you to use a travel agent. She got me a better deal than direct with the airline and knows exactly what forms you need and airline notification(Qatar). Now as to hunting I am a little optimistic. I just rebooked my trip for oct1-16, 2020. Trying to get into Namibia for my caprivi hunt. Will advise and please wish me luck.

 

[ChasingHemingway]

I just booked through @TRAVEL EXPRESS. I will tell you to use a travel agent. She got me a better deal than direct with the airline and knows exactly what forms you need and airline notification(Qatar). Now as to hunting I am a little optimistic. I just rebooked my trip for oct1-16, 2020. Trying to get into Namibia for my caprivi hunt. Will advise and please wish me luck.

Best of luck and I am hoping you are able to travel!

 

[TByrd]

I have used Travel Express in the past and have been happy with them. For some airlines though you will pay them a small fee on top of the flight cost.

I would have used them on my next trip, but I am using vouchers and that has to be done through the airline directly.

Tanks statement is absolutely correct. I will add that I had never used an agent for any travel (including intl)....prior to reaching out to Travel Express for my first Safari trip. The primary reason was the fact that I would be traveling intl with firearms for the first time. I considered it risk reduction/management. It turned out to be so much more. Covid, airline route changes, airline financial instability, etc. has impacted this “trip”. TE (Lori) has handled all of the “spaghetti mess” of the changes and other issues in a highly professional manner. Took a Great Deal of stress and worry off my shoulders. Great communication and customer service, highly professional and qualified. Long and short, trip is being hashed out for 2021 (after original dates of May 2020, then Sept 2020). I would highly recommend them, especially in today’s environment.

Just my 2 cents in answering your inquiry.

 

[whitetail]

I just booked through @TRAVEL EXPRESS. I will tell you to use a travel agent. She got me a better deal than direct with the airline and knows exactly what forms you need and airline notification(Qatar). Now as to hunting I am a little optimistic. I just rebooked my trip for oct1-16, 2020. Trying to get into Namibia for my caprivi hunt. Will advise and please wish me luck.

I really hope you are able to make it to Namibia and will be following and anticipating your report as I am looking to reschedule my hunt there that I should be on now to November of this year!

 

[R.M.C.]

Best of luck!!! I want to see pictures when you get back lol

 

[375Fox]

Booked my hunt the two weeks the last week of June and first weeks of July 2021 with Great Land Safaris and John Henry Keyser in Thabazimbi. Has anyone used Travel Express, AH Sponsor? Wondering if there is a difference booking through a travel agency vs booking directly with the airline?

I used travel express on my last trip and was really happy with them. Their fee is less than other hunting travel agents and service is very good. I stayed in South Africa too long this March while Covid was just starting, getting out of South Africa was very difficult, they were able to arrange everything for me while I focused on getting packed and back to town. It would have been very difficult me to arrange myself (and arrange properly with all the uncertainties). You can read my report if you’d like

SOUTH AFRICA: Kingsview Safaris March 2020

I just returned back to US on March 22nd after finishing a hunt with Kingsview Safaris in the Eastern Cape with PH/outfitter Jono McHugh. This was my 9th African hunt between South Africa, Namibia, and Zambia. This was a really great hunt and was equal with any of my best hunts. I hunted from...

www.africahunting.com

 

[Rum Runner]

I used @TRAVEL EXPRESS last year and I highly recommend them...especially now. The trip went flawlessly. These days, it would to have them on your team if things went to hell.

 

[MMAL]

I really hope you are able to make it to Namibia and will be following and anticipating your report as I am looking to reschedule my hunt there that I should be on now to November of this year!

Whitetail. I am heading out with Omujeve for own use elephant, trophy buffalo and hippo and a bunch of plains game including a lechwe. Who are you hunting with?

The way it is right now, I need a negative Covid test within 72 hours before arrival, i get another test on arrival, I then can quarantine in camp and hunt. Not sure what happens if for some reason I test negative in USA and positive in Namibia? Don’t want to think about it. It also means that I can not fly domestically in Namibia, so instead of a hour flight up to Caprivi, I need to drive 14 hours. TIA AND COVID!. The only issue I may have is if Namibia declares they are open but not to USA citizens. Flying JFK-Doha-Windhoek. Flight was $677 coach or $3,200 business. Best quotes I ever got heading to Africa. FYI Qatar mandates face masks AND face shields (Qatar supplies) for the duration of the flight. That should be fun? I can not leave the airport in Doha but although I have never been, I hear the airport and lounges are really nice.

Good luck everyone.

 

[Tgood1]

@TRAVEL EXPRESS are a top notch outfit. I have used them previously but this year Lori seamlessly arranged my travel (before covid), then arranged full refund. Both were just a few emails. Highly recommend them.

 

[TRAVEL EXPRESS]

I just booked through @TRAVEL EXPRESS. I will tell you to use a travel agent. She got me a better deal than direct with the airline and knows exactly what forms you need and airline notification(Qatar). Now as to hunting I am a little optimistic. I just rebooked my trip for oct1-16, 2020. Trying to get into Namibia for my caprivi hunt. Will advise and please wish me luck.

@MMAL Thanks for reaching out to us again for your travel, my fingers are crossed that your trip will go off as planned

 

[TRAVEL EXPRESS]

Tanks statement is absolutely correct. I will add that I had never used an agent for any travel (including intl)....prior to reaching out to Travel Express for my first Safari trip. The primary reason was the fact that I would be traveling intl with firearms for the first time. I considered it risk reduction/management. It turned out to be so much more. Covid, airline route changes, airline financial instability, etc. has impacted this “trip”. TE (Lori) has handled all of the “spaghetti mess” of the changes and other issues in a highly professional manner. Took a Great Deal of stress and worry off my shoulders. Great communication and customer service, highly professional and qualified. Long and short, trip is being hashed out for 2021 (after original dates of May 2020, then Sept 2020). I would highly recommend them, especially in today’s environment.

Just my 2 cents in answering your inquiry.

@TByrd Awwwww thanks for the kudos - always a pleasure working with you!

 

[whitetail]

Whitetail. I am heading out with Omujeve for own use elephant, trophy buffalo and hippo and a bunch of plains game including a lechwe. Who are you hunting with?

The way it is right now, I need a negative Covid test within 72 hours before arrival, i get another test on arrival, I then can quarantine in camp and hunt. Not sure what happens if for some reason I test negative in USA and positive in Namibia? Don’t want to think about it. It also means that I can not fly domestically in Namibia, so instead of a hour flight up to Caprivi, I need to drive 14 hours. TIA AND COVID!. The only issue I may have is if Namibia declares they are open but not to USA citizens. Flying JFK-Doha-Windhoek. Flight was $677 coach or $3,200 business. Best quotes I ever got heading to Africa. FYI Qatar mandates face masks AND face shields (Qatar supplies) for the duration of the flight. That should be fun? I can not leave the airport in Doha but although I have never been, I hear the airport and lounges are really nice.

Good luck everyone.

Sent you a PM just now.... Lori @TRAVEL EXPRESS -spoke with Jenn earlier in the week- planning on making it to Windhoek in early to mid November 2020 to hunt with Jacques Spamer. Will be in further contact soon- hoping to find out more of the situation on the ground in Namibia soon. MMAL has answered some of my questions but still have a few more mostly concerning the testing requirements prior to, during (and after?) the trip. Thus, will elect to wait on booking with you for a bit longer- will want to do the Dallas-Doha-Windhoek schedule on Qatar as I previously was scheduled to do. But this time maybe Business class since flights are a heck of a lot cheaper!

 

[ChasingHemingway]

Thank y'all for the feedback on Travel Express. Have already sent them an email and will be waiting to hear back from them soon. Appreciate all the additional insight provided!

 

[MMAL]

Namibia is opening up Sept 1st. Although I know of no flights scheduled before Oct. 1st. That may change now.

 

[Goose Cracker]

I'm scheduled for late April/early May in Limpopo. I'm optimistic.

Also used @TRAVEL EXPRESS for the first time. Typically have booked direct. This time I didn't have the 930,000 miles Delta wanted for business class direct so flying with Qatar through Doha. Figured if I'm not using Delta I should pay an expert. Also like the "insurance" of using a travel agent given COVID uncertainties.