I understand your frustrations. Didnt think I'd make it to Africa for 10+ years then I was due to hunt leopard of all things in under a year from looking into it. Then bam, fabricated media virus that can be transmitted through 6 feet of air anywhere in the world, ya know with the exception of race riots. Unbelievable.I was to have hunted Botswana in May on a hunt I booked two years ago. First I was done over by the airline collapse. Then I got totally shut out by the virus. I was taking my wife to Africa for the first time (I've been before) and had some apprehensions on that. I've rescheduled to next April but with the lockdown going through next February, I'm now concerned about that. Will the "system (airlines, lodging, restaurants, civil order, etc)" be back in place to smoothly support tourism by April if not opening until February? Three months of lockdown and it appears the world has already lost it's mind. What will it look like after a year? What will the cost of all the "systems" be at that time? Will there be additional risk at that time such as being snatched and forced to endure some arbitrary quarantine. "system failure" or other intrusion, including other significant financial cost? I've been able to recoup some of my investment but sill out over 4k invested. At some point I'll need to again book things in the "system" that have already screwed me, running the risk of losing more money. I'm also concerned about my outfitter. If I were to cancel the sooner I did so the better the opportunity for them to find someone else to fill the slot. What will their stability be like after a year of shutdown? I still would love to go and hate to move too fast and sacrifice my desire and investment for all of this confusion to disappear in a couple of months and everything go back to normal. At what point do I get this out of my mind and just say screw it and move on? This was supposed to be an enjoyable, relaxing, memorable (in a positive way) experience. Seems more like prolonged misery.
Just wanted to vent a bit while setting here under some quarantine phase, all the major cities under anarchy, and a hurricane passing over. Seemed like there was nothing better to do today.
I hear you and understand. If my trip to Limpopo gets cancelled in September, and as of now it appears it will, undecided at this time what I will do.
All well and good but some agency or person in charge has to get their act together to facilitate the domestic airlines ability to carry firearms. To think everyone is going to rent firearms and buy expensive RSA ammo is a stretch.
Why would you need to rent? Pretty much every single international airline flies with firearms, and for internally, SA Airlink flies to every major airport where is needed.
Agree, It has been some time since my last safari, (9 years). Things were very easy and simple last time, this time road blocks were at every level. I was shocked at the costs not only to fly with a firearm but to see SA response to a hunter. A Gansbaai hotel told me to "move on" they don't like hunters. The difficulty in storing, traveling and touring before or after a hunt with a firearm seamed extreme. For those with unlimited funds there is no problem, use a storage/permit pro, but for others, paying the same as TF on a large animal to store your weapon seams like robbery. In the end my outfitter helped out, but not really his responsibility as we planned tour after hunt portion. With limited internal gun carriers this seams like another road block to overcome.That's true but their schedule isn't workable to some cities in RSA. When my cancelled May flight on SAA to Port Elizabeth was cancelled, the only SA Airlink flight would have required a sixteen hour layover in JNB. As I posted previously, someone or some agency has to get their shit together in RSA and let the other airlines carry firearms. There are a LOT of things that need to come together and happen before hunters in any numbers return to RSA.
That's true but their schedule isn't workable to some cities in RSA. When my cancelled May flight on SAA to Port Elizabeth was cancelled, the only SA Airlink flight would have required a sixteen hour layover in JNB. As I posted previously, someone or some agency has to get their shit together in RSA and let the other airlines carry firearms. There are a LOT of things that need to come together and happen before hunters in any numbers return to RSA.
Please don't take my post as any negativity towards SA, its outfitters or posters. Also please do not stop posting on here, guys like me need your views, feet on the ground posts so we can track what's real during this crazy time and then when this is over. I have gained tons of knowledge and up to date info from posters like yourself. Especially from a SA living persons perspective.I would suggest you look at the flight schedules when the entire country is not in lockdown.
I have flown with SA Airlink, with my firearms for many years.
Apologies l won't post any article again. Just thought the forum could do with a bit of positivity.
Please don't take my post as any negativity towards SA, its outfitters or posters. Also please do not stop posting on here, guys like me need your views, feet on the ground posts so we can track what's real during this crazy time and then when this is over. I have gained tons of knowledge and up to date info from posters like yourself. Especially from a SA living persons perspective.
MB