Unexpected First Trip !!!

[375 Ruger Fan]

You might check your medical shot record and make sure everything is up to date. Get your form 4457 w/ CBP for your rifle & scope (to bring them back into the US).

 

[Hogpatrol]

+1 on What's App. Seems to be much used by PHs in RSA. Same goes for all your shots and medical records. I got DPT, Hepatitis twinrix (A&B), pneumonia, flu & yellow fever shots. Was in bed for two weeks. Just joking. Not a doctor but I did stay at a Holiday Inn a few years ago.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Thanks guys
Already loaded whattsap and texting with ph.
As for shots. Up on Tetanus. Have had Hep A&B

 

[ShortMag]

Great news! I am sure youre going to have a great time!

A small recommendation: pay the extra $60 and have your passport expedited..

Your hunt is still 4+ months away.. but you dont want to delay getting everything in order.. Time is going to start passing by pretty quickly while you get everything else in order.. youre going to need your passport in hand before you can apply for your permit to take your rifle to South Africa.. If you dont expedite it takes 4-6 weeks to get your passport back after you apply for one.. thats after you take a day to get passport photos knocked out, fill out the paperwork, and stand in line at your local post office, etc.. to get your application submitted..

You need another month + for getting your paperwork submitted to riflepermits.com so that they can get your permit in order in advance..

IMO its a lot better to get all the "administrative" aspects of the safari knocked out well in advance.. you dont want that sort of thing looming over your head and taking your focus off of more important things like daydreaming about stalking one of Gerrits big kudu, or spending additional time at the range practicing and figuring out what the perfect gun/bullet combination is going to be for this first African hunt

FYI, I also have a hunt booked for South Africa in June this year and submitted my passport application in early January. I had my passport back within two weeks. As always YMV.

 

[Philip Glass]

This will be my first trip to South Africa, I have been following on AH for awhile now and ask any for any advise the seasoned hunters may have. I have had dreams of going for over two years now and had been planning on a 2019 or 2020.

But thanks to Gerrit with Bos en Dal Safaris it has been pushed to June of 2018 !!!
I won a trip from them on their Facebook Page!!!

I don’t even have a Passport!
So here are what i think priorities may be and any input would be greatly appreciated.
1. Start Passport process this week.
2. Airline Tickets. Will call Lori at Travel Express from what I have learned on AH
3. Finalize dates depending on airline flights.
4. U.S. Customs forms ( taking my own rifle)
5. SAPs paper work.

Questions I can think of being a first timer and going it alone.
Do I need to get help for rifle permits and paper work? From a service like Rifle Permits?
Do I need medical like Global Rescue?
Travel Insurance?
I know i will have more questions.
Any help or advise will be appreciated.
So excited don’t really know where to start or what to do.

Rifle permits up to you and just $130 with www.riflepermits.com.
I just booked an RSA/Namibia trip with Steve with Travel With Guns and he got me a Ripcord travel insurance policy for $240 and it is also a disaster/evacuation policy. I could not believe what was there for the price. Global Rescue (I also have a policy due to the DG hunts and places I've been lately) also has similar policies so you can get normal travel insurance combined with disaster recovery insurance. This is all new to me but a very good option instead of an expensive membership. For the most part doing a PG hunt in RSA you do not need an evacuation policy.
Philip

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Thanks
Keep the recommendations coming.
Just booked flights with Jennifer at Travel Express. Dates set with Gerrit. Leave Atlanta on Delta 200 June 6,2018!!

 

[BRICKBURN]

Thanks guys
Already loaded whattsap and texting with ph.
As for shots. Up on Tetanus. Have had Hep A&B

Talk to a travel doc for your specific conditions and needs

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Talk to a travel doc for your specific conditions and needs

Already have appointment with doctor to discuss this.

 

[Wheels]

Congratulations!

Gerrit is a great guy and will take good care of you.

1.If you want to bypass the rifle import hassle, Gerrit has a couple of nice camp rifles you can rent/use.

2. Global Rescue is great if you feel you need it. RSA has some good medical facilities. It is not like some African countries. If you are in good health and on a pg hunt your chances of injury aren't very high. A rule of thumb you might consider. Would you buy GR if you were going on a Colorado hunt. If so then buy GR. If not......

3. If you like nature and can take an extra day or two off, consider visiting a National Park. Pilanesberg is near Bos en Dal. Sun City is also right there if you are into that stuff. If you enjoy history, ask Gerrit about historical sites in the area or on the way to or from Tambo.

Ask tons of questions and have an open mind. You will have a blast.

 

[cagkt3]

Congrats on booking!

 

[johnnyblues]

All good advice. I would agree on buying a short policy with global rescue. Car accidents are a real possibility while in Africa, once your off the main highways things can get hairy. Twist and break an ankle very possible. Don’t risk it. The cost is minimal. I’ve used Henry at rifle permits and can highly recommend them. You’ll be out of SAPS in minutes.

 

[Mike B]

One thing I haven’t heard anyone mention, and now I wonder why, is the SPOT GPS device. It’s like $30 a year for medivac with them once you buy the GPS device. Just mash the “help” button and a helicopter or crew gets dispatched. That’s why I took to Africa and use in the mountains in the Us. Never have had to use it so I don’t know how good it would be, but seems like it would be good from my reading. I do know they won’t send in security teams like global rescue, so there are differences. But it’s cheap.

 

[brandondd24]

Hmm never heard of it but I’ll check it out! Thanks for the info!

 

[Mike B]

I just looked it up to see, I have an older one that was cheaper. But it’s $20/month or $200/year for the tracking, sos, etc. then $20/year for GEOS rescue services. If your away from people a lot it’s great because no cell service needed, it’s all satellite.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Which power converter to take with me? Anybody have a preference?

 

[RogerHeintzman]

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.
Travel insurance for sure. You have a free hunt so should not be anything there to insure, just your flight. I've had to use insurance twice.
*Check with your health insurance company too and find the hospitals in area which accept your insurance.*
Have some 5's in your pockets and use the porters at airport if you are running late or just not sure of where to go etc.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Have another question gentlemen.
CBP 4457 done. Sending paper work to Riflepermits.
I understand procedures when I get to Johannesburg. I am flying Delta from Houston to Atlanta them Johannesburg.
Will Delta check guns all the way thru from Houston or do I have to get them and recheck in Atlanta?

Also on return home. Will they be checked strait thru to Houston or will I have to get in Atlanta and go thru customs there and recheck on to Houston.

Thanks
For all your help so far.

 

[Shootist43]

You only need to check your guns once. Delta will take care of the transfer in Atlanta. You just need to make sure that you have sufficient time for them to do so. I's suggest a minimum 4 hour lay-over in Atlanta. As far as "power conversion" goes I purchased several conversion plugs off Amazon. I also purchased a small converter but don't recall using it. Most smart phones, cameras, etc. self adapt.

 

[fourfive8]

4 hours should be fine for both outbound and coming back. The issue on any "big" connection is your previous flight arrival being on time. Always good to plan some extra and 4 hours has a little extra built in.

Upon return, you'll have to gather your bags including gun and go through the Customs US re-entry process in Atlanta. Then re-check all on to Houston. There will probably other hunters also on that return flight into Atlanta. If so, stay with them, visit some and chances are at least one or more will be "old hands" at the process. The quicker you can get to the entry/return inspection area and get in line the better. Good luck

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Thanks for the answers.
On US forms 4457. I know firearms are listed. But what about optics? Scopes on gun and binoculars.