Taking knives to Africa

[Bowhunter806]

Good afternoon AH community. I have searched this topic and have threads that are pretty old. I am going to South Africa in two weeks, and was wanting to bring a few hunting knives with me on my trip. Are knives still being allowed to be checked in your checked rifle case and locked from the USA to Johannesburg? Again, sorry to ask, but want to make sure that nothing has changed since these posts are fairly old, and new laws seem to come and get enacted. Thanks and appreciate all feedback.

 

[mdwest]

I put several knives (gifts) in my rifle case every year... never a problem..

 

[375er]

I took some as gifts in my regular checked bag and had no problems.

 

[JimP]

I found on my last trip that quite a few of the trackers go all google eyed over Leatherman's

 

[mdwest]

I found on my last trip that quite a few of the trackers go all google eyed over Leatherman's

Cabelas sells a mini multi-tool for about $8… I’ve taken a handful of those over a couple of times to give away as gifts… always goes over well with trackers, skinners, and the PHs…

 

[thriller]

Yeah leathermans seem to always be appreciated. Just make sure it’s in a checked bag or rifle case

 

[YancyW]

I take several mora knives as gifts every trip, never an issue at all.

 

[Red Leg]

A Leatherman does seem to have higher beer trade-in value than a simple knife.

 

[Green Chile]

Those gifts are appreciated. I always think of another one later...t-shirts and basic clothing items like gaiters are appreciated. I left my gaiters with the skinner on the last hunt and he was thrilled to get that (plus the tip of course). Multi-tools, clothing, practical things are great gifts.

 

[wesheltonj]

I have a knife in my ammo box now, left DFW without a problem. I will see about JNB and the den of thieves.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I always take my Buck Model 110 with me. As well as a Leatherman LM Juice multi tool. Never had any issues.

 

[Green Chile]

I traveled 2x to Africa in the last few months and took knives and Leatherman both times. Once in my rifle case and once in my checked bag with my toilet items. No issues either time and returned home with them. I would also consider putting it in my locked ammo box but I try to keep that box clean and simple...just ammo.

 

[Bowhunter806]

Thank you very much. Greatly appreciate the responses.

 

[Safari Dave]

Mora's are great gifts and so are Leatherman, or even lesser quality multitools.


(Actually, a Mora 511 may be the best deal in the entire world of knives - I have one in every pack and in every vehicle)

Never loan your prized custom knife to the skinner, tracker, etc.
They view knives as TOOLS because, to them, that's exactly what they are.

They will be sharpening your $1,000 custom Damascus skinner on a cinder block, as soon as it starts loosing it's edge!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Be careful with the gift giving. My first safari the tracker wore a shitty pair of tennis shoes that were clearly wore out. I remarked to my PH that I should donate my half worn out hiking boots. He chuckled: "You wouldn't be the first. He'll just sell them and drink up the money." Last trip I noted that the tracker was skinning a carcass with a Schrade Old Timer. What a piece of crap! I know because I owned one for years. Just as well use a butter knife. Or soup spoon. I asked my PH about it. Can't they get something better for the staff? "Yeah, he's got better knives. He just wants you to see him struggling with that POS so you'll give him your knife out of pity." Well, good luck with that. I don't bring a knife with me. Why would I? Can't use it.

 

[CBH Australia]

I would have thought it's ok in Checked luggage.

I felt sorry for my tracker wearing Boots that he taped the sole to. He told me he had 5 kids too. We found him to be a nice guy but I wonder if he was playing on my sympathy. He was allocated a larger tip than the Skinner's because he was with us on the hunts but the money was transferred to the operator to be divided as I requested. The rest is history.

I have read before that trackers will sell of gifts seeing them as trinkets. It seems to be their people are not materialistic like other races. Each to their own. I know I strive to have more things over time and I save for nice things but it seems that some people are just as happy without things. Yes, some might trade it for beer and tobacco but the same people don't seem to care so much for possessions.

The exception to that are the people that don't have and won't work for it so they take it. They then don't care for it because it's easy come easy go, it means nothing to them.

 

[BeeMaa]

We took several less expensive knives to hand out as gifts and packed them in our rifle case…arrived with no issues. Trackers and skinners were very appreciative to get them along with a sharpener.

 

[Green Chile]

I've thought about taking a couple of deflated soccer balls for the kids. You know they will wear them out playing with them.

 

[Stormy Kromer]

In March I put a couple of Havilon knives in my locked ammo box which was inside a checked bag on a United Flight. No problem at all.

I left one with my tracker. I asked my PH first if it would be OK and he replied "good, then he won't have to borrow mine".

 

[375Fox]

Knives are good to give to trackers and skinners if you want to ensure they use a good knife on your trophies during your hunt. I would not spend any money on gifts. Bringing some good old clothes you’d donate anyway or thinning out some knives from your collection you don’t use I think is good. I try to do this on every trip especially with ball caps I get from work, but every tracker has been given binoculars, knives, multi tools, etc. You rarely see one with them though on your hunt. They sell them, so just give cash rather than spend any money on gifts. If you want to spend money on a nice gift ask your PH first if skinner tracker will actually keep and use it because most won’t.