What have you actually had stolen getting to, coming from or on safari?

[Ontario Hunter]

Just this month I was flying back Port Elizabeth to Joberg and the P.E. agent told me I couldn't fly with the partial roll of duct tape in my carry-on. It had made it the whole journey in reverse without issue, but I just told them to toss it.

Interesting. Did the agent actually toss it in the trash? The gal that took mine opened a drawer and put it in a bag that looked like a purse or lunch sack. On the return my PH gave me another partial roll of gray duct tape before dropping me off at the airport and it went through security fine at Port Elizabeth.

 

[Tbitty]

Interesting. Did the agent actually toss it in the trash? The gal that took mine opened a drawer and put it in a bag that looked like a purse or lunch sack. On the return my PH gave me another partial roll of gray duct tape before dropping me off at the airport and it went through security fine at Port Elizabeth.

No, they set it aside, almost certainly to take with them. It wasn't more than a couple yards left on the roll of regular gray tape, no big deal to me; just found it curious to be called out.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

No, they set it aside, almost certainly to take with them. It wasn't more than a couple yards left on the roll of regular gray tape, no big deal to me; just found it curious to be called out.

A possible explanation: As you no doubt know, Tambo does not allow bags with straps. Very handy to have several vendors in the lobby who will shrink wrap luggage. Very handy regulation for the vendors anyway. Perhaps the ban on duct tape is to force us to do business with them? I bet that's it. I've never seen shrink wrap vendors in any other airport. Nor has my duct tape been confiscated at any other airport.

 

[30.06king]

I've seen YouTube videos showing how baggage handlers take a ball point pen to gain access to a zippered bag, look through the bag, then rezip the bag. Yes, I do put a lock on my checked bag, but I know if anyone really wants in they can be in and out of it in 1-2 minutes.

Yes, agree fully. There are unlimited means by which baggage can be tampered with should certain individuals be dishonest enough, no matter how tough or secure luggage is. At the end of the day a proper system relies on the integrity and honesty of emoyees involved.
In my case I don't believe anything about my luggage advertised "hunter" or "valuables aboard" as my bags are purposely non descript and I didn't take a firearm. I believe I was just a random, unlucky target. While in Cameroon there were two other shake down attempts against me but I succumbed to neither. I've had no issues anywhere else in Africa.

 

[Foxi]

my heart, lies somewhere in Africa

 

[30.06king]

Just this month I was flying back Port Elizabeth to Joberg and the P.E. agent told me I couldn't fly with the partial roll of duct tape in my carry-on. It had made it the whole journey in reverse without issue, but I just told them to toss it.

Interesting. I wonder if there is some overall airline rule regarding tape ? Few years ago I transited through Dubai and was pulled aside for a random Customs inspection of my carryon. Inside I had most of a Duct Tape roll after wrapping catches on a gun case. All very jovial and the nice Customs lady pulled out my Duct Tape saying "not allowed". I thought she was joking and said so but she told me no more than 1 metre of tape allowed. What could I do ? Simply smiled and said "OK"

 

[JimP]

I have always had a half roll or so if duc tape when flying. And have never been questioned about it.

But before all my return flights I have given it to my PH or tracker.

 

[Tbitty]

A possible explanation: As you no doubt know, Tambo does not allow bags with straps. Very handy to have several vendors in the lobby who will shrink wrap luggage. Very handy regulation for the vendors anyway. Perhaps the ban on duct tape is to force us to do business with them? I bet that's it. I've never seen shrink wrap vendors in any other airport. Nor has my duct tape been confiscated at any other airport.

Interesting, I did not know that about the straps. I know one of my travel companions had a large backpack duffel as his carry on (the Sitka 110L bag) and I used the 50L version as my carry on. Neither of us had any issues.

The tape was taken at Port Elizabeth too, not Tambo. ... FWIW, years ago I flew South African Airlines from New York to Joberg and back (no longer a flight option), and they had the shrink wrap vendors in New York. Maybe its a SAA thing??

 

[Tbitty]

Its the first and only time ive been questioned about tape. Its almost always in my carry on bag no matter where Im going or why, just a thing I always seem to have.

 

[MontanaPat]

You see vendors shrink wrapping luggage in many airports in Europe and the Middle East. Have also seen them in New York airports

 

[Ontario Hunter]

You see vendors shrink wrapping luggage in many airports in Europe and the Middle East. Have also seen them in New York airports

Interesting. I've been to Heathrow, Frankfurt, and Zurich and not noticed shrink wrap vendors. Did spend quite a bit of time wandering in the lobbies as always had ten to twelve hour layovers. Maybe I just didn't notice them? Hard to miss them at Tambo. Seemed to be several.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Interesting, I did not know that about the straps. I know one of my travel companions had a large backpack duffel as his carry on (the Sitka 110L bag) and I used the 50L version as my carry on. Neither of us had any issues.

The tape was taken at Port Elizabeth too, not Tambo. ... FWIW, years ago I flew South African Airlines from New York to Joberg and back (no longer a flight option), and they had the shrink wrap vendors in New York. Maybe its a SAA thing??

I was last through Tambo in 2023 and the no strap regulation was still in effect then. Perhaps they have changed.

 

[MontanaPat]

Interesting. I've been to Heathrow, Frankfurt, and Zurich and not noticed shrink wrap vendors. Did spend quite a bit of time wandering in the lobbies as always had ten to twelve hour layovers. Maybe I just didn't notice them? Hard to miss them at Tambo. Seemed to be several.

You wouldn’t see them unless you are outside of the secure area at the ticket counters and baggage check in area. They aren’t on the concourses where you would be on a connection

 

[MAdcox]

My last trip over I was encouraged at bag check to have my luggage wrapped in JoBerg. I declined and got home to a a suitcase that had been rummaged through and both my leather rifle slings were gone. Only bad instance I have had.

 

[Dinsdale]

First trip I had a Canon 35mm film camera body stolen in J’berg on the way home.

I was stupid on that first trip carrying rifle scopes, camera lenses, and all manner of extra crap in my carry on and with too much extra stuff I put the body in a boot inside my checked bag.

It was a good learning experience. I switched to digital, made a claim on trip insurance that actually paid me like $85 for that body, learned to not pack extra junk and now I rarely even have a checked bag, just gun case ,ammo case, and carry on.

It was dead technology that I would have stored in an attic anyway. I sold the lenses cheap and bought better new.

Hunted Europe,Africa,S.America,Canada, around the US, New Zealand and never had lost, delayed, or stolen luggage except that one instance.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Fortunately nothing in 52 years of hunting overseas.

 

[steve white]

Had a camcorder stolen back in the day, but it was on the return flight home, and having inspected my bag stateside, I know for a fact it was stolen in Detroit. There was a smiley sticker on that bag--no doubt a clue to the accomplice to rifle it.

 

[Twraska]

Son had a partial roll of duct tape in his carry on in Accra, got to Amsterdam and they had a hissy fit over it. He said he thought they were going to detain him.

 

[deewayne2003]

Flying back to Austin from Costa Rica I declared my Yeti full of fish and was cleared quickly by customs in Houston - watched the customs agent hand my yeti(soft bag type) to TSA and when I got home in Austin I found a TSA inspection note inside the yeti and a 7lbs bag of Mahi Mahi fillets was missing…. My only theft.

My last two trips to Canada they searched my checked bag in Winnipeg and broke my tackle boxes in the process, got to spend a couple of hours pulling jig heads out of my socks and underwear and duct taping my tackle boxes back together.