SAPS Question

[Speedster]

I have a question for those do it yourself people who have filled out the SAPS form. At the end of the form you need to sign and date and enter the place. For me, since I am flyng into Johannesburg I assume that is the place. Anyway, for Sections I and J, both these sections need signed, dated, and the place entered. Do I do both of these in the present of the SAPS officer or fill in the information in Section I before and just fill in Section J when I get to the SAPS office? TIA

 

[BRICKBURN]

Signatures in front of SAPS.

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/saps-520-sample.8677/

 

[Rare Breed]

I use rifle permits.com. Their cost is so small including their VIP meet and greet. Just wait until you see the long line of people in the passport line that you go to the very front of to understand their value. On their website they tell you exactly what to do. I do the SAP520 form all in advance so I sign nothing when I arrive. The rifle permit team meets me at the gate, waits for me to get my luggage then walks with me to the police department to present my already approved SAP520 temporary license form. I get my rifles and I am done. My recommendation from multiple safaris is don’t be “penny wise but pound foolish”

 

[CoElkHunter]

I use rifle permits.com. Their cost is so small including their VIP meet and greet. Just wait until you see the long line of people in the passport line that you go to the very front of to understand their value. On their website they tell you exactly what to do. I do the SAP520 form all in advance so I sign nothing when I arrive. The rifle permit team meets me at the gate, waits for me to get my luggage then walks with me to the police department to present my already approved SAP520 temporary license form. I get my rifles and I am done. My recommendation from multiple safaris is don’t be “penny wise but pound foolish”

+1! Best $150 I ever spent. They handle everything with SAPS and NO issues or hassles with that part of the Safari adventure.

 

[Tgood1]

Ditto for rifle permits and vip. Fantastic service

 

[JimP]

For what Rifle Permits.com charges you would be money and time ahead to have them take care of it, not to mention the agrivtation that you will go through doing it yourself.

Plus if you have a err on your form you'll be in for even more agrivation.

 

[davidg8480]

For less than the cost of box of Premium ammo , II'd let Henry @riflepermits.com handle the rifle import stuff. So I can focus on more important things like putting my feet up and having a burbon and a Havana.After a long flight the last thing I want to deal with is standing in line at the SAPD.

 

[channelkat]

I was planning on doing the saps myself too, but you folks got me to reconsider...

 

[JimP]

I was planning on doing the saps myself too, but you folks got me to reconsider...

For the overall cost of your safari the piece of mind having a pro standing next to you is worth the cost of their VIP service.

 

[channelkat]

I'm staying/ being picked up by Africa Sky, who also offers rifle service. Any idea if their service is comparable? Or is it really Henry and his team's experience that makes the difference?

 

[Ontario Hunter]

The Professional Hunters Association of South Africa also provides this service for about the same price. Their guy saved me a bundle when I arrived in Joberg for my second safari. He noticed my return ticket was wrong and got it fixed before I caught my flight on to Port Elizabeth. I tipped him well!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

When booking your flight with guns leave yourself plenty of time to catch connecting flights out of Joberg. One hour is NOT enough time. PHASA advised two hours and that was about right.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

And finally, PAY ATTENTION TO THE REGULATIONS RE FLYING WITH GUNS AND AMMO. The US airlines allow ammo in gun cases for domestic flights but every other country I've encountered does not. You'll need a locked ammo case separate from other checked baggage. Every airline is different so check out their regs. Look for it under sporting equipment in the baggage section of website.

This is probably redundant. Sorry. I'm sure several folks have started threads on this before.

 

[shootist~]

I'm staying/ being picked up by Africa Sky, who also offers rifle service. Any idea if their service is comparable? Or is it really Henry and his team's experience that makes the difference?

Yes, excellent service. I'm using Africa Sky for the second time in June and I'm overnighting with them as well. Getting my paperwork ready to send to them this week.

You also want the VIP meet and greet so you don't have to stand in line at Customs. (I'm using the Gracey Travel guy for the meet and greet this time since it was part of my ticket price.)

 

[Rickmt]

I'm staying/ being picked up by Africa Sky, who also offers rifle service. Any idea if their service is comparable? Or is it really Henry and his team's experience that makes the difference?

Africa sky performs the same service . I use them every time for both rifle permits and pickup and lodging . Very easy one stop shop !

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

To do the permits tourself is very easy and no hassle
Sure to have pre cleared permits is nice and save you maybe 20-30 minutes
I have had lots of clients donot themselves and its very simple and easy Just have all correct papers and forma filled out and it tales maybe 30 mins and u jave your permits and off you go

 

[CoElkHunter]

I'm sure it's probably not very difficult to do the SAPS permit after arriving in RSA. It's getting on an airline here in the US with your rifles that can be a hassle without having at LEAST a copy of the filled out SAPS permit to show them. This last June, I went through Rifle Permits and had a pre approved rifle permit waiting for me upon arrival in RSA, but I was questioned here by American airlines counter personnel because I didn't have the actual permit in hand. Then they questioned me about if I filled the paperwork out for Qatar (connecting flight) regarding my firearms. After I showed them (including a supervisor) an email on my phone from Rifle Permits about the pre approved permit and ALL the completed copies of the SAPS application and Qatar forms, I guess they had enough (after 45 minutes) and I checked my rifles. So, maybe it's easy to get the permit in RSA, but you have to get on a plane here with your rifles first! LOL

 

[JimP]

Just so that others know what happened to CoElkHunter was that our travel agent when they booked us put every little thing that was needed for us to take rifles into South Africa on the electronic ticket form. So when the agent pulled it up there were a dozen extra pages relating to what we needed for both Qatar and our SAP's 520 forum..All of which wasn't needed for our domestic flight.

I must of got lucky, my agent just listened to me and sent me on my way, I guess that I winked at her the right way or she just wanted to get rid of me and figured that if everything wasn't in order that I would have to deal with others along the way.

 

[shootist~]

I used American/ABQ for my jump to Qatar/DFW in 2021. Almost hassle free, but I did have to show some my paperwork (don't even remember what). I did have to convince them (American Airlines) that I had to claim my rifle case in Dallas and re-check with Qatar. (Showed them the Qatar form that specified the firearm must be signed off by a Qatar employee.)

 

[Hyde Hunter]

I'm staying/ being picked up by Africa Sky, who also offers rifle service. Any idea if their service is comparable? Or is it really Henry and his team's experience that makes the difference?

last April we stayed at Africa Sky and they handled our permits and met us at the airport and everything went very smoothly good people