Vic Falls as a Tourist Save Valley as a Hunter! Need logistics help!

[Charles.Williams04]

Hey everybody looking for some help. I was told once I went to Africa once I'd be there twice and wouldn't you know I'm sitting here booking my 2nd safari.

My plan is to fly from home(ATL) to JBurg spend an evening(African Sky most likely) then fly the next morning to Vic Falls for a few days as a tourist, then fly to Harare to meet my outfitter. Will we have any trouble carrying rifles into country at Vic Falls airport with no intention of hunting at Vic Falls? Also, where would I keep my rifles when being a tourist at Vic Falls?

Anyone done a similar trip? Does the SAPS form work getting a rifle into Zim? All help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Bejane]

Good Morning, I think you should ask your Zim outfitter to help you. Also ask your intended hotel in Vic Falls about storing weapons with them. Your outfitter in Harare would probably know a few PH's in Vic Falls that could help you store them in the event the hotel cannot.

 

[K-man]

The simplest solution is to arrange storage at your first overnight b&b, likely Africa sky. You can then pick them up on the way back to the Save valley. No need to pay the airline to take them to the falls.if you are coming back through Johannesburg,

 

[sproutp2003]

We just did a similar trip and left our guns at AfricaSky then picked up when we flew back through Johannesburg.

 

[Charlie64]

.

If I get this right ...

1/ you are flying to RSA Joburg & overnighting - then you need a SAPS temp import permit (make sure that it is valid to bring your guns back in from Zim for the return trip to the US - add extra days)

2/ flying Joburg to Vic Falls - therefore clear guns in Vic Falls for which you will need a Zim import license

3/ flying with guns from Falls to Harare direct - you have your Zim license for this

4/ flying at end of hunt Harare - Joburg (re enter RSA on your SAPs license)

5/ fly Joburg / USA

so you will need SAPs & Zim license. Most hotels in Vic Falls have storage facilities (Vic Falls Hotel took our gun cases off of us in the parking area on arrival & issued us bag tags withing 2 minutes!)

Hope this helps but you should also contact some US travel with guns operator to be 100% .....

.

 

[Hooked Now]

2nd to the recommendation to use a rifle permit service to answer this. I just got back from a JNB to VFA trip and back again and here are some thoughts.

1. You will need both a SAPS 520 and the Zim rifle permit. The Zim one you fill out by hand and give them at the airport. Here's the wrinkle. They asked us to see our invitation letter and read it very carefully. Only a permit company could answer the question of if you could bring a rifle into Vic when you are hunting near Harare.

2. We stayed at the Victoria Falls Hotel. They will keep your rifle very secure (so secure that you cant access it until you check out and even then can't open the case until you are at the airport). Also, that hotel is really fantastic. Pricey, but great.

3. Last thing. Going into and out of VFA was, for us, a bit of an experience. I wouldn't carry a rifle through there if I didnt have to. Its a bit of a mess with random people showing up with no ID taking pictures of your passport, asking for docs and generally being a pain. On the way out one of our party had a rifle round of unlikely caliber somehow make it into the case. It took $200 to dissuade the security team from suggesting jail.

The Falls are really spectacular. The rest of the town didnt hold much allure for us, but take the helicopter ride for the Falls.

 

[Mekaniks]

Hey everybody looking for some help. I was told once I went to Africa once I'd be there twice and wouldn't you know I'm sitting here booking my 2nd safari.

My plan is to fly from home(ATL) to JBurg spend an evening(African Sky most likely) then fly the next morning to Vic Falls for a few days as a tourist, then fly to Harare to meet my outfitter. Will we have any trouble carrying rifles into country at Vic Falls airport with no intention of hunting at Vic Falls? Also, where would I keep my rifles when being a tourist at Vic Falls?

Anyone done a similar trip? Does the SAPS form work getting a rifle into Zim? All help is greatly appreciated!

Contact Riflepermits.com or Gracytravel.com. They can help you sort it

 

[MacJenkins]

Hey everybody looking for some help. I was told once I went to Africa once I'd be there twice and wouldn't you know I'm sitting here booking my 2nd safari.

My plan is to fly from home(ATL) to JBurg spend an evening(African Sky most likely) then fly the next morning to Vic Falls for a few days as a tourist, then fly to Harare to meet my outfitter. Will we have any trouble carrying rifles into country at Vic Falls airport with no intention of hunting at Vic Falls? Also, where would I keep my rifles when being a tourist at Vic Falls?

Anyone done a similar trip? Does the SAPS form work getting a rifle into Zim? All help is greatly appreciated!

If you already staying at Africa Sky just leave the guns with them and use their VIP service for transit and the gun permit. They do a great job.

So do Riflepermits as noted above. I just used them as I was not staying at Africa Sky this trip.

 

[spike.t]

Mmm....just for the people who either don't read correctly...or don't know their geography ..the op is staying in joburg overnight then flying to Victoria falls in zim...from there he is flying to Harare..also in zim....to be driven to save ...guess what also in zim....

 

[Pole Pole]

I hunted in Mozambique crossed the border into Zimbabwe then took a Cessna to Victoria Falls with a rifle. I stayed at the Victoria Falls Hotel which had a check in locker for guns. Pick up gun on check out. No problem. That was 2013.

 

[Pole Pole]

I had already checked my gun into Zim when I flew into Harare from j’berg going to Moz.

 

[DLSJR]

I did this almost exact itinerary last year and it was easy. We overnighted at City Lodge and Bruce from Gracy Travel handled the gun logistics. Five nights at the Victoria Falls Hotel and they kept my rifles in the hotel vault. We then drove to Bulawayo where I met up with Alan Vincent and we headed off to the Savé Valley Conservancy to hunt buffalo on Hammond.

There was nothing complicated or difficult about traveling with guns, staying at Vic Falls then hunting Savé.

 

[Charles.Williams04]

I did this almost exact itinerary last year and it was easy. We overnighted at City Lodge and Bruce from Gracy Travel handled the gun logistics. Five nights at the Victoria Falls Hotel and they kept my rifles in the hotel vault. We then drove to Bulawayo where I met up with Alan Vincent and we headed off to the Savé Valley Conservancy to hunt buffalo on Hammond.

There was nothing complicated or difficult about traveling with guns, staying at Vic Falls then hunting Savé.

That is EXACTLY what I wanted to hear! My main concern was them seeing my PH Invite Letter for the Save and ask me what the heck I was doing in Vic Falls.

This will be my first buffalo hunt, how was the Save?

 

[DLSJR]

That is EXACTLY what I wanted to hear! My main concern was them seeing my PH Invite Letter for the Save and ask me what the heck I was doing in Vic Falls.

This will be my first buffalo hunt, how was the Save?

The Savé has excellent buffalo hunting. Tons of buffalo and very good quality. Which Savé block will you be on and who is your PH?