Zimbabwe hunting - How traveling to Harare Zimbabwe is?

[Tanks]

... They also don’t ball-bust me when all my checked bags are 50-ish pounds rather than less than 50lbs.

Well, limit on business is 32kg (70 lbs) per bag, so that definitely helps. Also, a lot of airlines have perks for frequent travelers. I get 2 business class upgrades a year on one particular airline. Get economy with points, and then upgrade to business.

 

[rookhawk]

Well, limit on business is 32kg (70 lbs) per bag, so that definitely helps. Also, a lot of airlines have perks for frequent travelers. I get 2 business class upgrades a year on one particular airline. Get economy with points, and then upgrade to business.

On emirates upgrades do not upgrade your baggage limits or provide lounge access or limo service.

But they sort of leave you alone overweight on carry on and they don’t ball bust you for having 51-53 pounds in checked when the limit is 50.

 

[Tanks]

That's lame. Business should be business.

 

[davidg8480]

I’ve been twice through JNB. This year we are going with Qatar through Doha. You can pay to use the lounges there and is the best and newest airport. Qatar has the best service and guns are no prob. I recommend using TWG for your travel agent.

Dont mean to side track here , You and @Doug3006 mentioned twg travel agent,why use them for air booking ?
Would I use them for a direct flight from Newark to jburg (united) ?

 

[Tanks]

It is usually more practical to use a travel agent if going into the bush and/or travelling with firearms on a non-USA airline as they require prior clearing and forms etc. for the firearms.

It is not necessary if flying on Delta or United and your final destination is JNB. I would however get a local company (Afton house, riflepermits.com etc.) to handle RSA rifle permits for you.

 

[davidg8480]

Thank you sir

 

[C.W. Richter]

A business class seat is a lot more than "warm towelettes". On a 15-16 hour flight it makes a lot more of a difference as well. Plus C-130 seating of yesteryear was more comfortable than economy class of most airlines today.

I can afford it. 'Just think it's a waste of money. Sitting elsewhere isn't exactly roughing it on an airplane. LOL I don't need people to kiss up to me (for a $4K fee!) LMAO! Warren Buffett concurs.

 

[C.W. Richter]

I can afford it. 'Just think it's a waste of money. Sitting elsewhere isn't exactly roughing it on an airplane. LOL I don't need people to kiss up to me (for a $4K fee!) LMAO! Warren Buffett concurs.

$4K/safari saved x 7 over 15 yrs=$50,000 accumulated. It just makes sense. All people are equal (excepting their bank accounts and morals!) If I didn't sit in economy or coach or whatev they call it now, I'd not have shared Amarulas with the "commoners" having an open discussion about Mugabe's wife (grace?) that was sitting a few rows forward of us (they actually flew to RSA from Zim to buy Amarula in bulk, as it was cheaper than buying it in their own country! They shared with everyone in-flight!) 'Just 1 story, of course..."I'll get all the proper rest I need when I'm dead." A simpler way to say it: For every safari you go on, not flying 1st class/Business buys you 0.75 Safaris in the future! (Give the savings to your kids/grandkids and have them repeat!) Americans are so wasteful (taught that by big business/advertising.)

 

[rookhawk]

I can afford it. 'Just think it's a waste of money. Sitting elsewhere isn't exactly roughing it on an airplane. LOL I don't need people to kiss up to me (for a $4K fee!) LMAO! Warren Buffett concurs.

I don’t fault your frugality, but a few data points.

1.) it can be as little as $3000 more.
2.) it enables 70lb bags, enough for a 3 gun safari. Without the biz ticket, you will pay $500 more in bag fees round trip.
3.) it includes limo service to and from the airport. If you were just going to drive and park (many hundreds) or pay for a ride service, that is at least a $250 value.
4.) if your layover is over 6 hours in Dubai, it includes a free hotel room worth $300.
5.) lounge access is quite opulent in Dubai. Top shelf booze, meals, great service. Buying that is $200 each way. If you go to the McDonalds and the Starbucks instead, you’re going to be shocked how much you spent in the food court.
6.) more points for more flights if you collect points

I’m not saying don’t go coach, but I will say that there are benefits to biz class that shrink the fees quite a bit. I’d also suggest that it may allow you to be refreshed and uninjured enough to get an additional day of hunting in which may be worth thousands to you.

 

[C.W. Richter]

I don’t fault your frugality, but a few data points.

1.) it can be as little as $3000 more.
2.) it enables 70lb bags, enough for a 3 gun safari. Without the biz ticket, you will pay $500 more in bag fees round trip.
3.) it includes limo service to and from the airport. If you were just going to drive and park (many hundreds) or pay for a ride service, that is at least a $250 value.
4.) if your layover is over 6 hours in Dubai, it includes a free hotel room worth $300.
5.) lounge access is quite opulent in Dubai. Top shelf booze, meals, great service. Buying that is $200 each way. If you go to the McDonalds and the Starbucks instead, you’re going to be shocked how much you spent in the food court.
6.) more points for more flights if you collect points

I’m not saying don’t go coach, but I will say that there are benefits to biz class that shrink the fees quite a bit. I’d also suggest that it may allow you to be refreshed and uninjured enough to get an additional day of hunting in which may be worth thousands to you.

My neighbor owns the Co. taxi service LOL and consequently he charges us $250 for the airport trip! LOL Once, the airport was running severely behind, such that we were going to miss our flight(s), so I quickly upgraded to VIP status and they whisked us through the lines to the front! LOL $ talks when necess.! 'Just the look and exclamations from my teen son (in 1st class) were priceless! I've done it for business, but try not to do it en route to safari. Life should be more of an adventure. I agree that sometimes it pays dividends.

 

[375Fox]

I don’t fault your frugality, but a few data points.

1.) it can be as little as $3000 more.
2.) it enables 70lb bags, enough for a 3 gun safari. Without the biz ticket, you will pay $500 more in bag fees round trip.
3.) it includes limo service to and from the airport. If you were just going to drive and park (many hundreds) or pay for a ride service, that is at least a $250 value.
4.) if your layover is over 6 hours in Dubai, it includes a free hotel room worth $300.
5.) lounge access is quite opulent in Dubai. Top shelf booze, meals, great service. Buying that is $200 each way. If you go to the McDonalds and the Starbucks instead, you’re going to be shocked how much you spent in the food court.
6.) more points for more flights if you collect points

I’m not saying don’t go coach, but I will say that there are benefits to biz class that shrink the fees quite a bit. I’d also suggest that it may allow you to be refreshed and uninjured enough to get an additional day of hunting in which may be worth thousands to you.

I guess it all depends on perspective. The most expensive round trip flight I’ve ever had to Africa was +/-$2500 most were $1800-$2000, an additional $3000 is a significant expense. I could easily afford it but have no interest in doing so. I’ll get an aisle coach seat and tolerate it for 30 hours of travel. Spending an extra $3000 on a hunt is valuable to me. Spending $3000 to be less uncomfortable for 30 hours has little value to me. Aside from the ticket I usually only spend about an extra $250 in parking and food during travel for a hunt. I have no interest in paying for lounge and have never paid baggage fees. Once a year I can see someone rewarding themselves with first or business, but prior to Covid, I was going on 3-4 international hunts each year and would rather save the money.

 

[Tanks]

@rookhawk made all my point in regards to intangibles.

Also, in my case I have 4 business class trips booked already with points/credits/miles this year. However, when paying $3,500 for an hour and a half charter to get to hunting area I would pay for a business class ticket if I had to. It would be a very small part of the Safari total cost. I still have American airlines miles that are in 7 figures which can be booked for multiple trips on Qatar.

My company rule has been all employees fly business for any flight over 6 hours as once landed we are expected to work (though clients get billed, I get the miles ). I apply that rule to personal travel for myself and mine. Usually, no jet lag to worry about especially if one is overnighting on the way during transit.

My kids and grandkids are well taken care of via Ivy league and law school etc. education that was provided. I am not worried about their inheritance.

I am also 65 with an artificial hip, too damn old and ornery to fly economy.

 

[matt vejar]

The Business class lounge in Doha is unreal!! Best $121 dollars I ever spent. I had a ten hour layover. Wished it was 12. Only positive thing about Covid-19 was making me take Qatar to Tanzania last September. I’ll be going their from now on when going to Africa. No problem with guns. The lounge is must see experience-for those who love food and drink!!!

 

[Scott CWO]

There are other undocumented benefits. Lack of harassment is a big one, @Tanks. Of the four flights in-out of Africa, the worst is the outbound Chicago-Dubai. It’s long, then a 14 hour layover. It’s also the first leg so they scrutinize everything for overweight rules. My collapsible duffel I carry on, and my son’s back pack, are allowed by rule if they are 8lbs. No exaggeration, we’ve carried them on when they weighed 60-80lbs. Fly biz, at least for the first leg, they don’t harass you for weight and measure stuff. They also don’t ball-bust me when all my checked bags are 50-ish pounds rather than less than 50lbs.

If you’re flying cheap cattle class, the occasional cash upgrade to business can be handy, so too can be the points upgrades using an Amex for another leg. A little bit of business breaks up the pain of two full days of travel in coach.

A 14 hour layover? After a 15 hour flight?! No way I would do that. Qatar has 4 hour layover and then a 7 hour connection to JNB or Harare or Lusaka. You would be arriving your destination on Qatar before leaving Dubai on Emirates.

 

[Tanks]

A 14 hour layover? After a 15 hour flight?! No way I would do that. Qatar has 4 hour layover and then a 7 hour connection to JNB or Harare or Lusaka. You would be arriving your destination on Qatar before leaving Dubai on Emirates.

Depends on where in the USA you are leaving on Qatar. We are flying Qatar this year leaving from LAX. We have a 9 hour layover and the flight to Harare is 9:45 hours including a stop at Lusaka.

To be honest I prefer the longer layover in order to get a good night's rest and time acclimation. On Qatar you arrive at Harare at 11 AM on Emirates in the late afternoon. It doesn't matter as that day is a dead day anyway for me as we are overnighting at Amanzi lodge prior to proceeding to Hwange National park the next day.

 

[matt vejar]

When you sleep good 8-9 hours on a 15 hour flight it makes all the difference. Cattle class is a tough go as I have done it several times. I flown Virgin Atlantic to Heathrow in premium economy several times since I found out about it, it’s a leather seat you can sleep pretty good in. Then I’ll fly to Doha and take it to Africa. The lounges in Doha are seven wonders of the World!! Takes longer but your good to when you land. In Heathrow they have day sleeping quarters which are convenient ( in airport) if you fly Virgin. Tanks is correct when he says a long layover/ with sleep allows you to reset your body. I highly recommend Virgin when traveling with guns (no extra charges on premium ) and I’ve never had lost our late luggage in five trips with them. I fly From SFO so with Virgin it’s 11 hours to Heathrow-sleep 6 hours- fly to JNB another 11 hours and fly to wherever hunt is. Not bad. Also the flight from JNB back to Heathrow is always empty. Last time upgraded to first class for very little points. Now your really talking!!!!

 

[Scott CWO]

Depends on where in the USA you are leaving on Qatar. We are flying Qatar this year leaving from LAX. We have a 9 hour layover and the flight to Harare is 9:45 hours including a stop at Lusaka.

To be honest I prefer the longer layover in order to get a good night's rest and time acclimation. On Qatar you arrive at Harare at 11 AM on Emirates in the late afternoon. It doesn't matter as that day is a dead day anyway for me as we are overnighting at Amanzi lodge prior to proceeding to Hwange National park the next day.

Yeah I was talking about flying from the Midwest as he does from Chicago and myself from Denver. LAX is further away.

 

[Philip Glass]

I'll gladly book those flights for you for a $2,500 commission (and then my Son and I will fly over to hunt!) LOL I know there are carriers that are not gun-friendly, etc. These are just the first prices/options that popped up. Safe travels. If someone just managed their own travel details, for the extra pricing you mention, one could buy an entire safari outfit (gun, ammo, etc.) or add more game to the bag and better support Africa!

Except it is simply not true. Bad experience? Lack of experience? I am not sure but I can assure you I do use an agent and I do not pay more for the actual ticket than what is published online.
I look forward to more bad travel reports from y’all who buy your safari flights on your phone and then proclaim to everyone how it is too much trouble to take a rifle! This site is riddled with them.
Regards,
Philip

 

[Philip Glass]

Well, one can always get a cheap flight if one does not care about the safety in regards to the airline (Rwanda, really?), number of stops and where those stops are.

If transiting with firearms I'd also avoid changing airlines or stops where one has to go through a firearms inspection and/or extra permitting requirements.

Travel expenses are a very small part of a hunt and trying to save a few dollars brings to mind the old saying "penny wise and pound foolish".

Yep

 

[Philip Glass]

Let's say you're going on a $10K or $20K safari. If the "flight" is $5K on top of it (25%-50%,) I'd not agree it's a "small part of a hunt." Even the past SAA flights into JHB typically involved another airline to get to the next destination (Namib Air, etc.) Never an issue other than the "hold your ammo and/or luggage" scam at the airport, so that the baggage and delivery people collect a few more bucks (which happens after the flight.) Use reputable airlines, try to minimize diff carriers, but don't spend money on flights you could be hunting with! I see business class-yes, you're getting soaked for those warm towelettes! lol

You have obviously never flown in Qatar’s QSuite. It is an experience all it’s own. After 16 trips in the back I finally got to sit in the front last year. I am ruined!
seriously I’ll price all airlines and seats and then make the decision. I am using Patrick at TWG and he knows I want all my gun friendly options for each trip I take. I am all over the web so I know what the pricing is. I pay exactly what is online plus the agency fee.