Was my experience the norm or did we just get lucky?

[prdhuntrs]

My wife and I went on our first Safari in August. It was everything I hoped it would be! We have already begun planning our next trip.
I got to thinking about our experience with Customs and SAPS and wondered if we just got extremely lucky or was ours the normal experience that just doesn’t get written about as much?

We flew Delta and had Afton house VIP gun/meet and greet service. You could probably hear that sigh of relief when I saw our greeter all the way back in the states! We both took rifles separately. It took longer for our bags to come out (which wasn’t a long time) than customs and SAPS combined.

Our trip home started with a painless check by SAPS and quickly through security. When we arrived in the US we waited and let the rush of folks wanting off the plane to clear and then exited. Customs took all of 2 minutes and then on to baggage and collecting our guns. We waited in line about 30 minutes to get into the room with our guns where it might have taken 2-3 minutes to unlock our gun cases and show the 4457 forms. A quick spray of our boots and off we went to recheck with Delta and done. We did notice that reading the signs and having paperwork ready sure speeds up the processes!

It was all so much smoother and faster than I expected! Is this really the norm or did we just catch every break?

 

[PARA45]

If you came through Atlanta, that is the norm. Customs officials in Atlanta are very efficient, and I guess they see a lot of hunters coming through. One custom official asked me how my trip was and said don't forget your rifles. LOL!!!!

 

[prdhuntrs]

If you came through Atlanta, that is the norm. Customs officials in Atlanta are very efficient, and I guess they see a lot of hunters coming through. One custom official asked me how my trip was and said don't forget your rifles. LOL!!!!

Yes we came back through Atlanta. They were very efficient

 

[deewayne2003]

I’ve made 1 trip to Zimbabwe through Johannesburg and everything went pretty smooth except….

Qatar revised their paperwork for firearms and told NO BODY, so the check in process at DFW took over 3 hours.

Joburg was easy because riflepermits.com had things sorted; the “inspection” process in Zimbabwe was interesting, why it takes 5 inspectors to look at 2 rifles was a mystery to me ….. until I watched them count the number of cartridges I brought, then the reason for the 5 inspectors in one room became quite clear.

Bottom line, when traveling things usually go to plan and keep your paperwork tight; I had everything in triplicate…..but was only asked for a couple of the many forms I had prepared.

Where you hear the horror stories are when people don’t read regulations- like the 2 men behind me that had 15lbs of ammo stuffed into 1 case for 2 hunters….. yeah they lost several hundred dollars in Ammo and lots of time at check in.

Other horror stories are usually due to incompetent personnel creating problems either through ignorance, corruption or flat out power abuse.

 

[CJW]

United in Chicago was easy to deal with and SAPS was easy for me as well. I felt like I was in there maybe 2 or 3 minutes even though they were very busy. Having the greeter and Bruce in RSA was very reassuring, especially that windowless, dimly lit, creepy room the next morning. Namibia was easy as well when I collected and checked my guns there.

New Jersey was a little obnoxious with their system but doable and smooth enough.

Though I should add that my luggage was ransacked going and coming through RSA. Screw that place!

 

[JimP]

On both of my trips it was that smooth.

My first trip I came back through Dulles and the last one through Dallas. The only problem was on the first trip and I managed to get a customs agent that was being trained, but that was the only problem.

You will find that most people will post their complaints rather than their smooth transactions.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Atlanta and Delta are generally smooth and efficient. Twice through Newark, twice through Dulles was easy. Qatar anywhere is a goat rope.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Seams Normal to me....

 

[Beretta391]

That’s the way it’s happened for us on our 9 trips to Africa!! Never had a problem!! We have taken Our rifles on every trip and never had a problem.

 

[coreydb]

My wife and I went on our first Safari in August. It was everything I hoped it would be! We have already begun planning our next trip.
I got to thinking about our experience with Customs and SAPS and wondered if we just got extremely lucky or was ours the normal experience that just doesn’t get written about as much?

We flew Delta and had Afton house VIP gun/meet and greet service. You could probably hear that sigh of relief when I saw our greeter all the way back in the states! We both took rifles separately. It took longer for our bags to come out (which wasn’t a long time) than customs and SAPS combined.

Our trip home started with a painless check by SAPS and quickly through security. When we arrived in the US we waited and let the rush of folks wanting off the plane to clear and then exited. Customs took all of 2 minutes and then on to baggage and collecting our guns. We waited in line about 30 minutes to get into the room with our guns where it might have taken 2-3 minutes to unlock our gun cases and show the 4457 forms. A quick spray of our boots and off we went to recheck with Delta and done. We did notice that reading the signs and having paperwork ready sure speeds up the processes!

It was all so much smoother and faster than I expected! Is this really the norm or did we just catch every break?

Atlanta is efficient, but different airports vary in efficiency. I have to fly out of and return to Dulles in Virginia when I hunt and it's never efficient.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

just watched one of those seized at the border shows last night and they show hunters going thru customs in Atlanta, was well done and did not show any issues with hunters.

 

[375Fox]

That’s been the norm from my experience through Atlanta and with a pre-approved rifle permit at Johannesburg. It really can be that easy is why I get frustrated at hunters warning other hunters not to take their own rifles due to problems they likely had a part in causing themselves.

 

[Green Chile]

Atlanta and Delta always go smoothly for me. What they really like is when you have your 4457 and your boots out before they get to you. Last week, the guy said "look at you, that's perfect! Everyone do what he did!" Hah.