Traveling with rifle to RSA - do you need a "fixer"?

[ftothfadd]

Dear members,

I am headed for my second trip to Africa next year, this time with my wife and another couple. I am planning to take a rifle with me, and I would like to avoid any issues. I know I could reach out to Afton lodge, or so and arrange some help with clearing the rifle. The problem is that I am cheap and I would rather spend that money on additional hunting or even tipping the trackers etc. Is it really that precarious to take care of the rifle importation upon arrival? If so, how much do these facilitating services cost? Any experience good or bad would be very welcome.
Thank you in advance, Ferenc

 

[Spartan5]

Following

 

[Mekaniks]

Some folks do it themselves.....

Not me... I consider it insurance. The fee is not that much compared to the cost of a safari IMO

 

[JimP]

For the little that it cost it's well worth using a service.

 

[Racer00]

Afton's gun permit/SAPS assistance is $100. Best money you will spend on your trip. Takes the headache and worry out of a possible situation that could go sideways. I have used them several times and I am sure I could do it myself. But if there is an issue, it would taint my whole trip, Using a service (Afton or one of the several others that are recommended) is like hitting the Easy Button for me.
YMMV
Jody

 

[Hedge774]

Yep. Take my money.

 

[fourfive8]

You don’t need a fixer but it certainly minimizes the potential hassles by using an agent with meet and greet option like Gracy Travel and staying first night at City Lodge. If DIY work out ok- no issue. If they don’t you will be wishing you hadn’t cheaped out to save a little $.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I’m sure I could do myself after six trips over, but I wouldn’t try. Riflepermits and Henry’s team well worth cost. This year I am using Africa Sky because I will be staying there a few days before safari. Also using VIP meet to get thru customs. Well worth every penny it costs. I don’t want deal with headache and foul up with no one to assist.

 

[JimmyJack54]

Afton's gun permit/SAPS assistance is $100. Best money you will spend on your trip. Takes the headache and worry out of a possible situation that could go sideways. I have used them several times and I am sure I could do it myself. But if there is an issue, it would taint my whole trip, Using a service (Afton or one of the several others that are recommended) is like hitting the Easy Button for me.
YMMV
Jody

I completely agree. Some times there are few hunters waiting to clear rifles with SAPS at JNB. Other times there are many. With the later, I’ve witnessed those with “fixers” breeze through and those without waiting, regardless whether or not there is a problem with their paperwork.

Quite similar with paying the VIP service where a local meets you as you disembark, before passport control. I’ve waited in long lines waiting to clear passport control, once because the system was shut down due to rolling blackouts. It was tolerable because I was alone. When I took my family last year I purchased the VIP service and we walked straight to the front of the line to the next available officer, gathered our bags, cleared rifles and were gone quite expeditiously. That said, I don’t fault anyone for trying to save a few bucks but it may come at some cost, usually time.

 

[HuntingGold]

During my first trip with bringing my own rifles, I arrived in Johannesburg dead tired from the travel. I found my guy from Africa Sky and we went to the SAPS office to claim my rifles. However, my rifles went missing, along with several others from fellow travelers. My guy went to work, as did the folks from Rifle Permits. The airline didn't care, the South African Police didn't care, but those on "my team" cared and worked every string as well as continued to communicate with me as this story continued to unfold. My guy from Africa Sky needed to transport passengers to the guest house and left. The Rifle Permits Team took his place. Finally my rifles and the other rifles were found in some obscure part of the plane. I was quickly cleared and out of there. The fees I paid were well worth the potential headache on that trip.

BTW I am quite frugal (cheap) as well and would not consider taking rifles again without a clearing agent.

 

[Brian]

Good info! Thanks, Brian

 

[ftothfadd]

Thank you all, this is very informative. I guess being super cheap be damned, I will have to resort to use one of these services. Any idea how this can be arranged? And is it indeed ~$100? Thank you all for your insight. It is funny, how these questions usually result in a split decision, but in this case, it is overwhelmingly: use the service!

 

[Mekaniks]

Thank you all, this is very informative. I guess being super cheap be damned, I will have to resort to use one of these services. Any idea how this can be arranged? And is it indeed ~$100? Thank you all for your insight. It is funny, how these questions usually result in a split decision, but in this case, it is overwhelmingly: use the service!

Like you said Afton has the service. There is also Rifle Permits, Gracy Travel, and several others….The cost is going to depend on what you want from basic rifle import to full VIP Meet and Greet Services

 

[Ericedwinbates]

Used Gilbert at Africa Sky lodge many times, well worth it!

 

[sureshot375]

I have done it without assistance before without issue. I almost always use assistance now.

The charges are minimal. My time is much more valuable.

It’s a no brainer. Use someone to assist you.

 

[Sailfish9453]

African Sky is a great one to use.
Used in 2023 with great results.

 

[MontanaPat]

I think the cost for most actually runs about $150. One thing I have not seen mentioned that is an additional benefit to using a service like Afton or Rifle Permits involves if you are flying on from Joburg down to the Eastern Cape to hunt or to Namibia or Botswana, etc. The service people will assist you the next day as well to make sure you get your rifles checked in at the right spot on Airlink. It is a multi step process to go to the check in counter, then to another counter to pay the rifle fees and then to a third place to actually turn over your firearm and ammo cases. Without their help it would be very confusing and probably cause you to miss your plane. Then on your flight home they help you with all of the same steps that are needed to get rifles checked in for your return flight home. This is all covered in that $150 fee, so pay the man and avoid the anxiety

 

[Tintin]

Ferenc,

i’ve done DIY rifle paperwork on all of my trips - never had an issue.

The 520 form is straightforward to complete prior - and there are plenty of examples online and advice here on AH.

in my experience it has only taken about 15 minutes for SAPS to process the form and issues the permit - and there is taxidermy on the walls in the SAPS office for you to look at while you wait ;-)

I’ve never experienced any significant queue - but presumably that good occur.

i’ve also managed to navigate the Airlink check in - just allow plenty of time and get clear on the steps prior.

The US$150 will probably go close to covering the cost of you getting a jackal or baboon and almost half a duiker etc.

 

[Sabre]

Use a rifle import agent. Bang for your buck, best money spent on a safari.

There are tons of things I would save money on that other people say to splurge for, like business/first class. I always look at it as, I would rather spend that money hunting more animals.

But there aren't many animals you can hunt for $150. And that money is much better spent reducing anxiety and greasing the wheels of the gun import machine.

 

[Sideshow]

I think the cost for most actually runs about $150. One thing I have not seen mentioned that is an additional benefit to using a service like Afton or Rifle Permits involves if you are flying on from Joburg down to the Eastern Cape to hunt or to Namibia or Botswana, etc. The service people will assist you the next day as well to make sure you get your rifles checked in at the right spot on Airlink. It is a multi step process to go to the check in counter, then to another counter to pay the rifle fees and then to a third place to actually turn over your firearm and ammo cases. Without their help it would be very confusing and probably cause you to miss your plane. Then on your flight home they help you with all of the same steps that are needed to get rifles checked in for your return flight home. This is all covered in that $150 fee, so pay the man and avoid the anxiety

@MontanaPat thanks for the info I’ll definitely be using them when I head to Namibia. Question is the $150 for the VIP service?
Cheers