Post hunt travel plans with firearms

[Dukeisok]

Question for the more knowledgeable members.

Planning a first time hunt in Africa. I have a wife and young kids who want to come too. Wife wants to visit Tanzania (Ngorongoro crater) as a lifelong dream. I'd love to hunt Tanzania but doubt I can swing the cash. I've been looking for about a week long plains game safari in RSA or Namibia. Plan to add on a trip at the end to Tanzania for another week or so then return home.

I have rifles I like and would prefer to hunt my own rifles, however I don't know how to handle them in Tanzania if I'm not hunting there. I could potentially leave them in storage in RSA and return to take them home but this would require a return flight through South Africa. I could hunt with rental guns. Does Tanzania allow import of rifles without hunting plans? If I could find a trip cheap enough I could just spend an the time in Tanzania.

Suggestions?

 

[thi9elsp]

For your first hunt and to simplify travel and logistics I suggest you find a reputable outfitter in SA that has quality firearms for you to rent. I used outfitter provided rifles in both Mozambique and New Zealand and it worked out fine.

 

[dchamp]

If you are set on taking your own firearms then you should call a travel agency that specializes in getting all of your permitting put in order. I have used both Gracy and Travel with Guns in the past, both are excellent.

On one safari I did something similar to what you're wanting to do. I flew L.A.-Frankfort-Windhoek. On the return trip I needed to stop and visit my wife's family, along with my wife and kids, in Belgium for a week.

Travel with Guns was able to arrange all of the permits including leaving my firearms with the German Customs in Frankfort. The only hiccup that occurred was in Frankfort. You see the Frankfort Airport has two terminals with customs being in one terminal and United in another. I was not allowed to transport my firearms from one terminal to the other without an agent from either Customs or United. They both said the other had to do it. Finally a customs agent escorted me and the firearms to United. What a pain in the rear that was.

A year or so later I did a hunt in Australia. I was going to do a Stag hunt in NSW with my cousins husband and then drive down to Victoria to visit my cousins ranch and hunt Sambar. The problem with Australia was I needed to have a permit from NSW and another permit from Victoria. Dealing with two different states was becoming a real hassle. I ended up not taking my own rifle but using the outfitters rifle in NSW and using another rifle at the ranch. That ended up being the better way to go instead of dealing with the headaches of permitting and traveling with firearms in multiple states.

Anyway that's my 2 cents worth.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Can you swing two trips, one with the wife & kids to Tanzania and one for yourself to RSA for plains game? If not, going with one of the aforementioned travel agencies would be money well spent, with or without guns.

 

[MarkB]

I would suggest getting your hunt and outfitter organized. Be honest and tell them your plan/issue, any outfitter who wants your booking will provide a doable plan. If your hunt is in SA and somewhere close to Joberg you can organize/arrange to have your guns stored legally while you complete the tour portion, either before or after hunt. Then retrieve your guns on way home. This is if Joberg is your entry and exit city in Africa.

I have had guns stored in Hotel while we toured at reasonable costs, also locked in trunk in countries and times when it was legal. Past summer we toured 14 days in SA, all facilities were gun friendly, SAN parks locks your hard case with their lock upon park entry and removes when you leave, on same trip SAP's extended my import permit and stored my guns in Joberg Airport lock up at no cost for 21 days, they check guns and gave an official receipt for retrieval when we returned. I will add that for a short safari renting guns is far less money than paying the airline fees, storage fees and hassle when travelling, but if your like me its important to use my own with my handloads. In the big scheme of things its not too much hassle with guns, just be prepared, staying, polite and calm is answer.

MB

 

[Dukeisok]

Its all about priorities.

I probably could afford two trips but the biggest issue is being married to a woman who loves to travel. This won't be our only major trip that year. We'll probably end up in Paris or Barcelona as well. She is not a hunter but Tanzania interests her for sightseeing. I doubt I can convince her of the need for two trips to Africa as much as I would enjoy that and time off of work is limited. At the same time, I've always wanted to hunt Africa but it seems that Namibia or South Africa would be a good starting point rather than starting in Tanzania particularly given the cost.

Ultimately, I figured it makes the most sense to use the rental rifles but wanted to make sure there was not an easy alternative answer.

Thanks

 

[MarkB]

Easiest I think and may check all your boxes. Fly USA to Joberg, complete hunt somewhere "close" many outfitters within 5 hr drive, get dropped of after hunt in Joberg, have place to store guns legally organized (outfitter will organize). Fly to Tanzania and have touring time of your life with wife then return to Joberg, retrieve guns and fly home.

Now Namibia hunt or leaving from any airport, country other than Joberg and I have no idea =rent guns.

MB

 

[wesheltonj]

I have stored a gun in RSA at Africa Sky and left RSA to Tour outside of RSA. It was expensive to do and I would not do it again.