Flying to Africa

[wildfowler.250]

Folks, I read a recent thread where a member on here had to cancel their trip due to airline issues.

It got me thinking, how much time do you tend to give to arrive before your hunt?


I’ve got my first trip coming next year which is exciting and a bit daunting - it almost makes you want to fast forward everything else.. anyway.

I was looking to fly out direct from the uk on an overnight flight. Arrive in the morning of the day before hunt 1. Several hours drive and then hopefully should be at the venue for the afternoon - maybe some range time. Should be reasonable if all flies to plan or even if a couple of hours delay. Cancelled flights obviously not considered. It’s for an 8 day hunt and will be on the same time difference.

Would you all say that’s a reasonable plan? Or would many of you leave a full days gap before the hunt starts to hang around / factor for delays? It’s another days holiday and costs but thought it was worth asking ahead of time!


Cheers!

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

This is std sir
I have hosted a number of clients from europe and uk
They usually fly overnight
Collect them at the airport in the morn in the hunting area around lunch or late afternoon
Check guns and relax or do some sundowners
Ready to go the next morning

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

1 Day usually. My most recent trip I came 2 Days early because the flight and seats I wanted required 1 day earlier commitmen. I flew Emirates vs Delta, so because I was using unfamiliar (to me) routes and traveling with rifles I embraced the extra day as I may have needed it. I didn’t on that end. It also worked out well because I used the extra days to hunt, and visit Bullseye taxidermists to go over details for trophy mount selection and use of hippo hide… I book 3-6 months out, but have booked within 2 months of departure. I’ve booked most of my trips myself, but have also used 2 different agencies popular to AH. I also have a personal travel agent that books Mexico and Canada hunting trips for me…She also found my Emirates flights and seats to SA for me and I’m really pleased with that effort and pricing. It pays to shop and price flights -if you have time.

Trip/flight insurance seems like a reasonable idea these days…

 

[Philip Glass]

Folks, I read a recent thread where a member on here had to cancel their trip due to airline issues.

It got me thinking, how much time do you tend to give to arrive before your hunt?


I’ve got my first trip coming next year which is exciting and a bit daunting - it almost makes you want to fast forward everything else.. anyway.

I was looking to fly out direct from the uk on an overnight flight. Arrive in the morning of the day before hunt 1. Several hours drive and then hopefully should be at the venue for the afternoon - maybe some range time. Should be reasonable if all flies to plan or even if a couple of hours delay. Cancelled flights obviously not considered. It’s for an 8 day hunt and will be on the same time difference.

Would you all say that’s a reasonable plan? Or would many of you leave a full days gap before the hunt starts to hang around / factor for delays? It’s another days holiday and costs but thought it was worth asking ahead of time!


Cheers!

I would stick with your plan. Delays can happen but you can't worry about that. Have a great trip and watch my safari planning videos to help get ready.

 

[wildfowler.250]

Cheers folks, sounds like I’ve made a reasonable plan then!

Philip , will have a look at the videos, thanks!

 

[HookMeUpII]

A lot of it is determined by when you can actually get a flight. This differs for everyone. Some folks have to take 1 flight, some take 3-4 connecting flights. We flew direct from Newark to Jo-Burg. Outfitter picked us up that night in Jo-Burg, drove us to camp. Next morning we woke up and were sitting by a waterhole hunting by noon.

I guess the general rule of thumb is to plan to not hunt the same day you fly in. It's possible to do so I guess but don't plan on it.

All of us in our party unanimously agreed to pay for the first night in camp (just the overnight rate) and one extra non-hunting day when we flew out. A 1 day cushion on arrival and a 1 day cushion on departure is helpful.

Sounds like you are in good shape.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

In six trips I have always just planned the day of arrival and PH has picked up and off to camp.
My next trip will be to Zim and I plan on arriving 1-2 days early to get over jet lag and in the groove. This last trip it took me 3 days to get over after landing and then straight in to hunting.

 

[sgt_zim]

We took 2 days in Jo'burg at Africa Sky between Houston and heading up to Limpopo. The missus likes to get be at our destination, she just doesn't do well between Houston and our destination and takes a couple days to sort herself out.

Even if I trusted United or Delta and our travel had been abbreviated by 8 or 10 hours, we'd have still taken 2 days in Jo'burg. Our very best case is 18 or 19 hours of airtime to get to Jo'burg from Houston. I'm glad I did it that way my first time over, because I was ready to rock by the time I got to camp. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, I'll always take 2 days in Jo'burg before I head out to where ever.

 

[wesheltonj]

Folks, I read a recent thread where a member on here had to cancel their trip due to airline issues.

It got me thinking, how much time do you tend to give to arrive before your hunt?


I’ve got my first trip coming next year which is exciting and a bit daunting - it almost makes you want to fast forward everything else.. anyway.

I was looking to fly out direct from the uk on an overnight flight. Arrive in the morning of the day before hunt 1. Several hours drive and then hopefully should be at the venue for the afternoon - maybe some range time. Should be reasonable if all flies to plan or even if a couple of hours delay. Cancelled flights obviously not considered. It’s for an 8 day hunt and will be on the same time difference.

Would you all say that’s a reasonable plan? Or would many of you leave a full days gap before the hunt starts to hang around / factor for delays? It’s another days holiday and costs but thought it was worth asking ahead of time!


Cheers!

As long as your flight is on BA or Virgin direct from Heathrow your plan is good. I would not add a day.

 

[Moe324]

I like to do tourist thing before the hunt. Then if my flight gets cancelled I still have a chance to get another flight in a couple days. I don't worry so much about my return flight. I really enjoy flying up to Victoria falls for 2-3 days and then flying back to Johannesburg to get picked up for the hunt. By then I'm used to the time difference and weather. If you haven't been to Victoria falls and Chobe National Park I highly recommend it.

 

[coreydb]

Folks, I read a recent thread where a member on here had to cancel their trip due to airline issues.

It got me thinking, how much time do you tend to give to arrive before your hunt?


I’ve got my first trip coming next year which is exciting and a bit daunting - it almost makes you want to fast forward everything else.. anyway.

I was looking to fly out direct from the uk on an overnight flight. Arrive in the morning of the day before hunt 1. Several hours drive and then hopefully should be at the venue for the afternoon - maybe some range time. Should be reasonable if all flies to plan or even if a couple of hours delay. Cancelled flights obviously not considered. It’s for an 8 day hunt and will be on the same time difference.

Would you all say that’s a reasonable plan? Or would many of you leave a full days gap before the hunt starts to hang around / factor for delays? It’s another days holiday and costs but thought it was worth asking ahead of time!


Cheers!

Just keep in mind you pay extra out of your pocket. Range time is always built in to your hunting time, so not to worry. Talk to your PH about a Plan B in the event your flight gets cancelled or postponed. It happened to me once and the PH had no problem adjusting. All flights to RSA land in the evening, so there is no extra time on the ground unless you pre-arrange with the PH; and that is IF they can accommodate.

 

[sgt_zim]

Just keep in mind you pay extra out of your pocket. Range time is always built in to your hunting time, so not to worry. Talk to your PH about a Plan B in the event your flight gets cancelled or postponed. It happened to me once and the PH had no problem adjusting. All flights to RSA land in the evening, so there is no extra time on the ground unless you pre-arrange with the PH; and that is IF they can accommodate.

That depends on the carrier. Qatar and Emirates tend to arrive before noon at JNB because flights from Doha and Dubai to JNB depart in the neighborhood of 2200.

I've heard enough horror stories for UA and Delta to JNB to assert I will NEVER fly either of them from the US to South Africa.

Emirates is a UA partner, and Qatar is an AA partner. Flying from Houston or Dallas, there is zero reason to put up with the bullshit from United or Delta. Zero.

 

[coreydb]

That depends on the carrier. Qatar and Emirates tend to arrive before noon at JNB because flights from Doha and Dubai to JNB depart in the neighborhood of 2200.

I've heard enough horror stories for UA and Delta to JNB to assert I will NEVER fly either of them from the US to South Africa.

Emirates is a UA partner, and Qatar is an AA partner. Flying from Houston or Dallas, there is zero reason to put up with the bullshit from United or Delta. Zero.

Yep, you're correct! Where I live, the "air carriers that shall not be named" are the carriers I use. I tried Qatar Air once and won't fly them again. As soon as we got over international waters, I was commanded by a flight attendant that I HAVE to move to another seat because the person who was supposed to sit next to me was a Muslim woman travelling alone. Evidently according to their law, she cannot sit next to a non-Muslim male. The look of hatred and disgust on the flight attendant's face was enough for me to never fly on that airline again.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Yep, you're correct! Where I live, the "air carriers that shall not be named" are the carriers I use. I tried Qatar Air once and won't fly them again. As soon as we got over international waters, I was commanded by a flight attendant that I HAVE to move to another seat because the person who was supposed to sit next to me was a Muslim woman travelling alone. Evidently according to their law, she cannot sit next to a non-Muslim male. The look of hatred and disgust on the flight attendant's face was enough for me to never fly on that airline again.

Interesting, I had a similar experience that it now occurs to me I was oblivious to. A woman, after some private discussion with her husband and a flight attendant, decided to switch seats. She started off sitting next to me, but moved. I generally have the disposition of someone who is tolerant, but it would have ended up with me being upgraded or others being made to feel uncomfortable.

Otherwise, I really enjoyed everything about my Emirates flights. I’m definitely booking with them again.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

Just keep in mind you pay extra out of your pocket. Range time is always built in to your hunting time, so not to worry. Talk to your PH about a Plan B in the event your flight gets cancelled or postponed. It happened to me once and the PH had no problem adjusting. All flights to RSA land in the evening, so there is no extra time on the ground unless you pre-arrange with the PH; and that is IF they can accommodate.

Not so
Most dlights from europe and uk land in the am at johannesburg

 

[fourfive8]

Getting there on time is a major part of your whole trip. If all goes well with connections then no worries/no issues. If one connection get screwed up, just like dominoes, all are screwed up and the clock is running against your time on safari. Planning an extra time buffer at the beginning or between critical connections provides some insurance against that lost day (s), allows for separated checked bags/ guns to catch up, helps mitigate jet lag and reduces stress.

I don’t know the potential pitfalls of air travel between UK and JNB. A lot of posts I see so far also are not speaking from experience of UK to JNB . I’m only speaking from my experience of many trips traveling US to JNB and other Africa destinations after connecting in JNB and many trips/routes US to SE Asia.

Having said all that, If you have just one direct flight of London to JNB, arriving in the morning, then there’s a very low potential for problems. You should be good to go as planned. Have a good trip and good luck!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

First time I connected from Canada through Heathrow to Joberg and then to Port Elizabeth, RSA. I took the redeye out of London, two hour layover in Joberg to process guns, then on to PE. Driven to the lodge in time to check guns at the range. I was ready to go hunting the next morning. Hell, I was ready to hunt as soon as I stepped out of the vehicle. Socializing and putting on the feed bag is not important for me. I want to see as much of the country and animals as I can.

Buy some headphones for the plane. I picked up a $4 pair of collapsible at the dollar store. They really made a difference. I don't sleep well on the plane and have hearing issues. Nice to be able to hear the movies. I've been told the noise reducing ones are the Eighth Wonder of the World. Spend the money for those.

 

[Brian]

I like to hang out at the guesthouse for a day or two to get over the jet lag and visit with friends. I usually have people over for dinner at the guest house before I go out to the hunt. I only hunt buffalo and want to be in good form the first morning of the hunt.

I hope that you all take electrolytes before, during and after you flight. My sons don't have any trouble with the jet lag but I do. It's an age thing fo me. I'm turning 80 pretty soon. Brian