Firebird
AH legend
I’ll do this day to day as there might be some info for newer safari goers and then some seasoned adventures as I go for everyone. I like long reports and I love pictures so buckle up!
Left slc flying delta yesterday morning. Nice lady at the delta gate had not done international guns before. So she read right off her screen, lock in every lockable hole-check, ammo packed in checked luggage and in containers-check, tsa locks on checked luggage but regular locks on gun case-check. When she was finished she sent us to a waiting spot until tsa gave us the all clear which came quickly. I have two rifles in one boyt case. With the two detachable scopes for my big rifle the weight was over 50 pounds. So I put those scopes in my checked luggage rather than pay the $100 overweight fee. I followed the advice of some senior members here on AH.com and purchased a pelican 1615 travel case. This securely held my two scopes and big Nikon camera as well as odds and ends very securely and was locked with tsa locks. Including the ammo box which held 60 rounds of ammo, I was able to keep this bag as well under the 50 pound delta limit. I’m not a traveler but I have been to South Africa before and knew what I should take and what not to bother with.
so my two cases went into the abyss and my wife and myself off to the gate. Gracy travel did our arrangements and I paid for meet and greet and gun service through them. I upgraded to comfort plus seating all the way to Port Elizabeth and another step up from that in the way home. Flight was on time, no masks or mention of covid though we had QR codes and vac cards with us. In Atlanta we met several of the others on the plane. One big group from me and my wife’s hometown and I could make connections with several of them very easily-small world when you are from a small town especially with a common interest.
Flight from Atlanta to jburg was delayed almost an hour for mechanical and summer weather in Atlanta-then a smooth flight across the ocean. The teenager in front of me had the seat I wanted with all the leg room but no video monitor. He promptly fully reclined and then leaned himself forward to sleep. I became cramped and boxed in-my wife in the same situation. The kid had no idea he was torturing me and I was not willing to wake him and tell him to be more considerate. The guy behind me was bigger than me so I did not recline into his life space especially as he looked like he was nearing hell on earth himslef!
Food was exactly as expected, service was fine and we watched several movies. Too dark to read but movies and music on my noise cancelling Bose headset were magic-money well spent. They started the flight by announcing someone had a peanut allergy so please don’t open any nuts. My wife wouldn’t even let me open the peanut m&ms I brought despite the protective colorful candy shell. . .
It’s a long slog in the air but when you reach OR tambo and walk off the plane and see a well dressed, clean cut, handsome man of color holding a sign with your name on it, we’ll all the stress dissipates and you feel just fine about life again. He escorted passed the temperature check point-fairy sure they won’t stop you if you are on fire, then on through the short customs line. There is also a long line I went through last time and the short one is preferable! Had a good conversation with our guy while we wait for luggage to off load. He speaks 4 languages fluently and can get by in 11 as many of the tribes are similar. He claims a Zulu heritage and grew up in kwa-Zulu natal. He has a cart for us and nearly dies when I grab my wife’s bag off the belt-sorry Micah, I’m used to doing the heavy lifting where I am from! My two cases don’t appear so we go to the heavy or oversized bag spot and there is my new pelican. Apparently they thought it had guns since it is a hard side case and sent it to the wrong pile. No big deal, we both breath a sigh of relief and head toward the saps office. Pre approved gun permits handled months ago by Bruce and Bruce is waiting with a big smile for us at the door. Thank Micah and let him go and then ease through the serial number process. Bruce runs that room like he owns it and in less time than it takes to pull the keys off the lanyard around my neck and open the case-we are finished and moving on. Truly Bruce makes this smooth and seamless. He and I push loaded carts for his other guests and start the short walk to city lodge hotel. First time I have overnighted here. City lodge is a nice, generic hotel, same as almost every other hotel you have ever been to. I would like to see Afton someday but on this trip we stay closer and it is so easy. Gracy had rooms reserved and we are in our room with out luggage in minutes. Hunters are hunters the world around and we made easy conversation with strangers everywhere we went. Nice guy from Texas at the hotel lobby was great to visit with-
It is worth mentioning that at the salt lake delta desk a woman commented on how cool the paint job on my .375 was,and the policeman in the saps office said he “really liked that one” as well. I’ll remember to pass on some kind words to Long Rifles Inc for their eye catching work at the safaris end.
Nice dinner at the hotel restaurant where my wife comments that for a busy Saturday evening no one seems in a hurry or stressed-I explain “This is Africa” to her. Dinner was 220 rand and my wife hadn’t considered the conversion rate yet. She expected to see her husband turn green and lose his mind over the check. Instead I handed to waitress a $20 and told her to keep the change. TIA baby and I love it!
Left slc flying delta yesterday morning. Nice lady at the delta gate had not done international guns before. So she read right off her screen, lock in every lockable hole-check, ammo packed in checked luggage and in containers-check, tsa locks on checked luggage but regular locks on gun case-check. When she was finished she sent us to a waiting spot until tsa gave us the all clear which came quickly. I have two rifles in one boyt case. With the two detachable scopes for my big rifle the weight was over 50 pounds. So I put those scopes in my checked luggage rather than pay the $100 overweight fee. I followed the advice of some senior members here on AH.com and purchased a pelican 1615 travel case. This securely held my two scopes and big Nikon camera as well as odds and ends very securely and was locked with tsa locks. Including the ammo box which held 60 rounds of ammo, I was able to keep this bag as well under the 50 pound delta limit. I’m not a traveler but I have been to South Africa before and knew what I should take and what not to bother with.
so my two cases went into the abyss and my wife and myself off to the gate. Gracy travel did our arrangements and I paid for meet and greet and gun service through them. I upgraded to comfort plus seating all the way to Port Elizabeth and another step up from that in the way home. Flight was on time, no masks or mention of covid though we had QR codes and vac cards with us. In Atlanta we met several of the others on the plane. One big group from me and my wife’s hometown and I could make connections with several of them very easily-small world when you are from a small town especially with a common interest.
Flight from Atlanta to jburg was delayed almost an hour for mechanical and summer weather in Atlanta-then a smooth flight across the ocean. The teenager in front of me had the seat I wanted with all the leg room but no video monitor. He promptly fully reclined and then leaned himself forward to sleep. I became cramped and boxed in-my wife in the same situation. The kid had no idea he was torturing me and I was not willing to wake him and tell him to be more considerate. The guy behind me was bigger than me so I did not recline into his life space especially as he looked like he was nearing hell on earth himslef!
Food was exactly as expected, service was fine and we watched several movies. Too dark to read but movies and music on my noise cancelling Bose headset were magic-money well spent. They started the flight by announcing someone had a peanut allergy so please don’t open any nuts. My wife wouldn’t even let me open the peanut m&ms I brought despite the protective colorful candy shell. . .
It’s a long slog in the air but when you reach OR tambo and walk off the plane and see a well dressed, clean cut, handsome man of color holding a sign with your name on it, we’ll all the stress dissipates and you feel just fine about life again. He escorted passed the temperature check point-fairy sure they won’t stop you if you are on fire, then on through the short customs line. There is also a long line I went through last time and the short one is preferable! Had a good conversation with our guy while we wait for luggage to off load. He speaks 4 languages fluently and can get by in 11 as many of the tribes are similar. He claims a Zulu heritage and grew up in kwa-Zulu natal. He has a cart for us and nearly dies when I grab my wife’s bag off the belt-sorry Micah, I’m used to doing the heavy lifting where I am from! My two cases don’t appear so we go to the heavy or oversized bag spot and there is my new pelican. Apparently they thought it had guns since it is a hard side case and sent it to the wrong pile. No big deal, we both breath a sigh of relief and head toward the saps office. Pre approved gun permits handled months ago by Bruce and Bruce is waiting with a big smile for us at the door. Thank Micah and let him go and then ease through the serial number process. Bruce runs that room like he owns it and in less time than it takes to pull the keys off the lanyard around my neck and open the case-we are finished and moving on. Truly Bruce makes this smooth and seamless. He and I push loaded carts for his other guests and start the short walk to city lodge hotel. First time I have overnighted here. City lodge is a nice, generic hotel, same as almost every other hotel you have ever been to. I would like to see Afton someday but on this trip we stay closer and it is so easy. Gracy had rooms reserved and we are in our room with out luggage in minutes. Hunters are hunters the world around and we made easy conversation with strangers everywhere we went. Nice guy from Texas at the hotel lobby was great to visit with-
It is worth mentioning that at the salt lake delta desk a woman commented on how cool the paint job on my .375 was,and the policeman in the saps office said he “really liked that one” as well. I’ll remember to pass on some kind words to Long Rifles Inc for their eye catching work at the safaris end.
Nice dinner at the hotel restaurant where my wife comments that for a busy Saturday evening no one seems in a hurry or stressed-I explain “This is Africa” to her. Dinner was 220 rand and my wife hadn’t considered the conversion rate yet. She expected to see her husband turn green and lose his mind over the check. Instead I handed to waitress a $20 and told her to keep the change. TIA baby and I love it!
Keep it coming, don't leave us hanging. 
