2 Questions on Namibia

[Coues106]

I'm planning a management hunt to Namibia in 2024 and can't seem to find answers on a couple of points. Where this is management, I'm not looking at bringing anything back to the states. Without any physical objects being imported, am I still able to get the 15% VAT back on my hunt price? Additionally, I saw that there appears to be a 100 round/rifle amount imposed for temporarily importing rifles, is this a hard rule or could I bring more? I'm planning on shooting quite a bit and don't think 100 rounds would quite cover me and want to be safe. Say what you will about my shooting but I'd rather have extra rounds than be short. Thanks in advance.

 

[Sika98k]

I can’t answer your question re the VAT but if you are shooting factory ammunition and within reasonable distance of Windhoek its possible to get it sent out on delivery overnight. 3 big shops at least there.
There’s also a small gun shop in Grootfontein and I imagine other towns, will have similar.

 

[Coues106]

I can’t answer your question re the VAT but if you are shooting factory ammunition and within reasonable distance of Windhoek its possible to get it sent out on delivery overnight. 3 big shops at least there.
There’s also a small gun shop in Grootfontein and I imagine other towns, will have similar.

That is good info, I'll take that into account depending on what members say on the 100 round limit. I'm planning on taking my Mannlicher-Schoenauer 1908 in 8x56 that I handload for so I can't say I'd anticipate I'd be able to buy ammo in Windhoek.

 

[glblanchard]

Ask your outfitter/ph, I am sure they will be able to answer all your questions.

 

[Sika98k]

That is good info, I'll take that into account depending on what members say on the 100 round limit. I'm planning on taking my Mannlicher-Schoenauer 1908 in 8x56 that I handload for so I can't say I'd anticipate I'd be able to buy ammo in Windhoek.

Cool rifle ! Yes, you’re right. I don't think that ammunition would be stocked anywhere in Africa. Now someone prove me wrong please.

 

[autofire]

Namibia law allows reloading and many PH's reload for themselves. You could probably bring empty brass and projectiles (I have brought projectiles to PH as a gift on 2 trips) and make arrangements for your PH to get primers/powder so that he/someone can make more 8 x 56 loads for you.

 

[Philip Glass]

I'm planning a management hunt to Namibia in 2024 and can't seem to find answers on a couple of points. Where this is management, I'm not looking at bringing anything back to the states. Without any physical objects being imported, am I still able to get the 15% VAT back on my hunt price? Additionally, I saw that there appears to be a 100 round/rifle amount imposed for temporarily importing rifles, is this a hard rule or could I bring more? I'm planning on shooting quite a bit and don't think 100 rounds would quite cover me and want to be safe. Say what you will about my shooting but I'd rather have extra rounds than be short. Thanks in advance.

I need more info to advise on your hunt. Where are you hunting? How many days are you hunting? What animals are you primarily hunting?
You will pay the VAT on the cull hunt. Unless you are night culling Springbok like they do commercially I seriously doubt you will need more than 100 rounds.

 

[Justbryan]

There are 2 factors in importing firearms and ammo to Africa. One is the weight restriction of airlines/TSA for ammo which is 11 lbs. including the hard case used for transportation. Read TSA and specific airline rules carefully. This is not a lot for some rounds and a lot for others. So, weigh out how many rounds you can carry.

Second factor is Namibia importing laws for ammo. It is usually listed as 100 per firearm (only one rifle per caliber) but please check with the PH and Namibia police.

I always look at airlines, TSA, and foreign government websites before leaving the USA. LAWS AND REGULATIONS change, and you are responsible to know!!!!! Many times, gate agents and even TSA agents don't know the changes. I print out everything.

Know before you go.

 

[Coues106]

I need more info to advise on your hunt. Where are you hunting? How many days are you hunting? What animals are you primarily hunting?
You will pay the VAT on the cull hunt. Unless you are night culling Springbok like they do commercially I seriously doubt you will need more than 100 rounds.

I haven't booked anything yet as we're still working on trip dates but I was told to anticipate 2-4 animals/day for a 10 day hunt. Primary game are Gemsbuck, Springbuck, and then anything else that presents itself as a management/meat animal. My thought process was 40 animals, gives me 2.5 rounds/animal not counting zero'ing when we get to camp, so I was a bit concerned should be get into Eland or something that might require an extra shot. I think you are right that I won't need more than 100 rounds but I wanted to see if that was a hard limit, which appears it is. I'll probably just take 2 rifles and 100/each. Thank you all for the help.

 

[Justbryan]

11 lbs ammo restriction by TSA and airlines. Weight it out and see what you can carry. I usually try to keep it to 10 lbs with the locking case.

 

[Justbryan]

I am guessing at 1.5 lbs per 20 rounds x 5 boxes = 7.5 lbs. + 2 lbs case = 9.5 lbs.
Probably cannot carry 200 rounds at a very conservative guess but maybe 100 rounds. A second rifle will not give you more weight per airlines restrictions. Only way is for two separate people to check in two different rifles.

Check with your PH to see if you can work out a deal to shoot his rifle and ammo when your rounds are gone. Take one gun with 100 rounds. Like Philip said, you will probably not need more than 100 rounds.

 

[Mountaineer]

You can always rent a rifle from your PH. They usually have great rifles, scoped and unscoped.

 

[Andrew62]

If you run out of ammo for your gun I'm sure the outfitter can hook you up with something to hunt with, and, if you shoot 100 rounds, maybe you could kick back and drink a beer!!

 

[rifletuner]

I cant say for sure about Namibia, but I asked a South African taxation representative about a VAT refund on some of my safari. The answer I got was that you only get a refund on items you are taking out of the country on your departure from the country. Anything that is "consumed" in country will not be refunded. I believe that is how all countries charging a consumption tax operate.

 

[BRICKBURN]

……. am I able to get the 15% VAT back on my hunt price? .

No.

Additionally, I saw that there appears to be a 100 round/rifle amount imposed for temporarily importing rifles, is this a hard rule or could I bring more? ………..

IATA limits for airlines carrying ammunition is 5kg per passenger.
Ten guns, still limited to 5kg ammo.

Namibia restricts imports on amounts, as you already know.

 

[IvW]

I haven't booked anything yet as we're still working on trip dates but I was told to anticipate 2-4 animals/day for a 10 day hunt. Primary game are Gemsbuck, Springbuck, and then anything else that presents itself as a management/meat animal. My thought process was 40 animals, gives me 2.5 rounds/animal not counting zero'ing when we get to camp, so I was a bit concerned should be get into Eland or something that might require an extra shot. I think you are right that I won't need more than 100 rounds but I wanted to see if that was a hard limit, which appears it is. I'll probably just take 2 rifles and 100/each. Thank you all for the help.

40 animals is optimistic so is 100 rounds needed.

 

[M McDindi]

The ICAO regulations govern transport/shipping of loaded ammunition and firearms on commercial passenger aircraft, not TSA. That said, it is still up to each airline if they want to allow firearms or ammunition onboard their aircraft. If they do, they can NOT exceed the limits established by the ICAO. A significant number don't allow firearms or ammo at all. The limit for ammo is 5 kilograms (just a shade over 11 US pounds) of loaded ammo per passenger. The actual ICAO regulation does not include the weight of the locked transport case. I have been a little over the total weight limit checking in a couple of times. Discussed it with the check-in agent and took the boxed ammo out of the case and weighed it by itself.. The loaded/boxed ammo was under the 11 pound limit. Agents accepted and continued on just fine with it all back in the locked transport case.

It's not just the airlines having ammo and firearm entry restrictions. THEORETICALLY, a non-hunting traveling companion could get extra ammo on the aircraft. The trouble becomes when you try to enter the country without bringing in an accompanying firearm and temp import permit and invitation/motivation letters from the PH/Outfitter.

NAM VAT tax can only be refunded for items purchased in Namibia and taken out of the country. It can NOT be refunded for good/services and restaurants and lodging. VAT on exported taxidermy can be refunded. However, they require you to have any items the refund is requested for be with you at the airport, where you apply for the refund, the day you depart. Makes taxidermy refunds unlikely, unless you do what I've done several times, bring the previous years taxidermy back with you as excess checked luggage on your return flights. You do still need to have all the proper Nam export and US import permits in your hands to process thru/out of the airport in Windhoek.

They do have a process where you can email your taxidermy receipts into the tax office after your stuff gets home and they say they will mail out a check (in Namibian Dollars). I tried this once. Emailed copies of the proper forms and receipts/invoices to the email address I was given, multiple follow-up emails to multiple other individuals and offices and....nothing.

I've made a LOT of trips to Namibia starting in 2007. Sometimes three a year. Only years I didn't make at least one trip was 2018 and 2020. Didn't go in 2018 because the drought was so bad and we went to Australia for a month of sightseeing and a week of water buffalo culling in the NWT. Didn't go in 2020 due to the Rona lockdowns. A very sever drought started there in 2012-2013 that effected nearly the entire country with the exception of the Caprivi Strip area. It finally broke about 3-4 years go. It devastated the game and and domestic livestock populations. They are both still recovering and will take years to get back to pre-drought populations. Cull hunts will be difficult but not impossible to find because most operations are letting everything live they can to restock. That is why I agree with agree with IvW above that 40 head is optimistic in Namibia.

I was in the Tuli block of Botswana this past Aug-Sep where PG populations are at least 50x (not exaggerated) what I saw in NW Namibia last June 2022 for 14-days. In 10-days of culling on Bots, I took 40 head combined of impala, blue w/b and zebra. I don't think I even saw that many head on 50,000 acres of low-fence, free range land in Namibia the entire 14-days in Nam. I took 100 rds of 9.3x62 ammo and had 52 rds left. Are or will there be perhaps a few high-fence operation in 2024 with some culls to take....possibly.

Also something to be sure to ask about before you book a cull/management hunt with ANYONE, ANYWHERE - what are the "rules" regarding wounded/lost game. In trophy hunting, the general "rule" is if you wound it and it's not recovered, the TF is still due and payable. Just because your doing a cull/management hunt doesn't mean wounded/lost game doesn't mean you don't pay the cull/management fees. Some places MAY even charge an extra fee for the wounded/lost game based on the average weight of each species for the lost income from the meat sales either directly neighbors or to commercial butcheries. SOME do. SOME don't. It's just something you need to ask upfront so you don't get an unpleasant surprise. My point being, just because it's cull/management hunting it not just taking willie nillie shots at everything you see. Every animal possible is still recovered an eaten/utilized by someone.

Just my opinion - take it or trash it as you wish.

 

[M McDindi]

Quick point of clarification.....

The FAA regulates US domestic transport of firearms/ammo.

The ICAO regulates the intranational transport between countries, of firearms/ammo.

Example of one difference. Flying domestically entirely within the US, ammo can be inside your locked rifle case. Flying internationally, it can not.