Congrats on your monster leopard! Not sure where to post my question, and as things are constantly changing, searching for answers. On the way home from Namibia on August 4, 2022, we have a 7-1/2 hour layover in Johannesburg before departing for Atlanta (then another 7-1/2 hours more waiting in Atlanta to depart for Des Moines; brutal).
I understand we can leave the Jo'berg airport, then check back in; we arrive in Jo'berg from Windhoek at 3:30 PM, don't depart for Atlanta until 11:00 PM.
Is that enough time to leave the airport, have dinner somewhere in Jo'berg, and get back through customs for our 11;00 PM flight?
If so, any recommendations where to go for dinner or what to do to kill time?
Thanks! Mike Wachtel, Lacona, Iowa
First think through the math. 7.5 hours layover on your ticket does not mean you have anywhere near that much time available. It will help if your guns and luggage are checked through. But if you need to claim your guns and recheck, even your baggage, you need fully half that time. I've not traveled to Nabia but you may need to go through Immigration/Customs. Then if you want to go eat, you do not have any reasonable amount of time to really leave the airport and it is NOT advisable to just grab a cab in Joburg. If you really want to leave the airport, get Afton House or Africa Sky or one of Henry Durhiem's guys to take you. But reconsider the time you have available.
If you want to leave the secure area with your carry on and go to the very adequate Food Court, you can get a decent meal for airport food. I like the Ocean Basket, especially the prawns and kingklip
There is a hotel attached if you want to grab a room for a shower or quick nap. May even be an airport or airline lounge?
As for Atlanta, you do need to go through Immigration and Customs, heck claiming your gun can take a while. I've seen a couple wierd situations.
They have a glass cage/room they put your guns in. Then the appointed employee goes in to get them and bring them out to walk you to Customs to check your paperwork and clear them back into the county. I had that guy lock himself into that glass cage! The look on his face when he realized the door locked behind him and didn't have a key. It took all of half an hour to get a guy with a key.
Then another time a couple of very politically correct looking fellows drew attention of the Customs agents right before it was my turn. Well stories didn't seem to be matching up. So these two ass clowns get themselves zip tied and typical of any group of employees given the latitude, every agen has to come poke their nose in to see what's up. So the whole process shuts down and every other "customer" is left waiting with several missing their connections.
No, that is not too much time for those two particular stops. Hopefully you have tons of time to waste because everything goes smoothly. In that case, in Atlanta at least, go to the Delta Lounge and relax there
