Airport Jo'burg weapon-importing as a hunting guest

[Foxi]

Does anyone have recent experience at Johannesburg airport customs/police with importing weapons?
Has anyone tried it without an “agent”?
Has it become more difficult than two years ago?
How were the tips?
Thank you for an answer
Foxi

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I had a transit permit this past summer. We overnighted at JNB and flew out the next day for Mozambique. But we had Henry Durrheim's service thru Riflepermits.com with a pre-approved permit. I'll say this much about it. There was a big crowd in the SAPS office trying to get their rifles.

With having "a guy" on my side of the deal, we moved to the front of the line and were in and out of the office in 10 minutes or less. I plan to use Henry's service in the future.

We tipped only those folks working for Henry, no one in the SAPS.

 

[SETH RINGER]

DON'T THINK IT IS MORE OF A HASSLE THAN IT WAS A FEW YEARS BACK AND I'M A DO IT MYSELF KIND OF GUY BUT I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER VALUE FOR SAVING TIME AND AVOIDING HASSLE THAN USING RIFLEPERMITS.COM

 

[sureshot375]

It’s well worth the money to have someone help you.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Let’s face it. Aren’t we happy deep down to walk past all the guys in line that don’t use a permit expediting company.

If we all used them. We would not be able to move to the front of the line. Or we would need to continually pay more and more to jump the line.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Let’s face it. Aren’t we happy deep down to walk past all the guys in line that don’t use a permit expediting company.

If we all used them. We would not be able to move to the front of the line. Or we would need to continually pay more and more to jump the line.

When I turned to head out with my case and saw the sneering look on the faces of those who were there before me and still waiting, I felt bad, all the way to the SAPS office door..... Then I realized I got what I paid for.

 

[Andrew62]

Sure, you can do the permitting yourself, if it takes you 30-45 extra minutes and you save 150.00, I get it. For me, however, this is the cheapest part of the hunt, and if I can pay 150.00 and have a reduction in anxiety that if something does go sideways, I'll have someone there to advocate for me and get me on my way quicker, then it is money well spent.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Sure, you can do the permitting yourself, if it takes you 30-45 extra minutes and you save 150.00, I get it. For me, however, this is the cheapest part of the hunt, and if I can pay 150.00 and have a reduction in anxiety that if something does go sideways, I'll have someone there to advocate for me and get me on my way quicker, then it is money well spent.

And if you happen to be carrying a double or higher end bolt, that anxiety can be a bit high. But hell I'd pay it if it were only my M70 .375HH, I've got too many memories with that rifle to see it disappear.

 

[wesheltonj]

I’ve done it both ways. If I had a close connection it’s worth the money. Lots of time, not really worth it.

 

[ftrovato]

Does anyone have recent experience at Johannesburg airport customs/police with importing weapons?
Has anyone tried it without an “agent”?
Has it become more difficult than two years ago?
How were the tips?
Thank you for an answer
Foxi

I was just there in September. I hired an agent as per my Outfitters advice. Clearly the agent made the process go smoothly. I felt that I would have been taken advantage of if they were not there when I met the customer/police

 

[JimP]

If you are being picked up in Joberg by your outfitter another preapproved service might not be needed since your outfitter may offer it.

But after being over for two trips I would never go back with a rifle in tow without using one of the preapproved services. Even without lines it is well worth the money in my opinion.

On my last trip trough one of the other hunters had a problem in some way. Henry's wife went after the SAP's officer like a pit bull and all was taken care of.

 

[deewayne2003]

My first Africa trip was in July, we transferred in Johannasburg headed to Zimbabwe.

Riflepermits.com is definitely worth the money.

 

[Tintin]

I used an agent in the past, my mate and I did it ourselves this year.

We did not experience any issues. SAPS were polite and helpful.

Maybe we got lucky - there was no queue ahead of us in the SAPS office, so things went reasonably quickly - once SAPS got their printer to work.

Whole process took about 15 minutes.

 

[bohannon]

Sure, you can do the permitting yourself, if it takes you 30-45 extra minutes and you save 150.00, I get it. For me, however, this is the cheapest part of the hunt, and if I can pay 150.00 and have a reduction in anxiety that if something does go sideways, I'll have someone there to advocate for me and get me on my way quicker, then it is money well spent.

This 100%. I used RiflePermits and it was worth every penny to have everything pre-approved, someone to advocate if things go sideways, and to jump to the front of the line.

 

[wesheltonj]

I used an agent in the past, my mate and I did it ourselves this year.

We did not experience any issues. SAPS were polite and helpful.

Maybe we got lucky - there was no queue ahead of us in the SAPS office, so things went reasonably quickly - once SAPS got their printer to work.

Whole process took about 15 minutes.

That’s the key is that their computer and/or printer is working. I had that problem, took a while, but I had hours between flights.

 

[Oil & Dirt]

I was just thru SAPS a couple weeks ago. Same as it was a couple years ago. They can either make up some BS to try to get a few more dollars out of you, or not, seems like luck of the draw. I have used Gilbert at Africa Sky both times. Much better option than my big, pale, hard of hearing self having a melt down in a South African police station!

 

[Speedster]

Been twice and both times did it myself. First time took about 30 minutes as the guy in front of me did not have his filled out correctly. Cost him $100 to get his rifle. Second time took me 15 minutes. No issues for me either time but if you you are unsure or want peace of mind, have a service do it for you.

 

[Pablo]

I used Travel Concierge for a meet & greet off the plane. The guy took me through customs and then SAPS. It was 30 minutes from the time we got off the plane until we jumped in our PH’s van. Money well spent.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Six trips and use Henry's VIP service every time. I want someone on my side when I leave the plane thru customs baggage and SAPS.
Money spent is well worth it to me.
I always have the meet greet guy hang around until rifle case has made it to SAPS. One time after about 20 min my case had not showed up. He went and found it, brought a picture of it on his phone and said where it was. Then Riflepermits Anna got onto SAPS about it. It showed up in just a few min.
That's why it worth it to use Henry's service.

 

[deewayne2003]

Six trips and use Henry's VIP service every time. I want someone on my side when I leave the plane thru customs baggage and SAPS.
Money spent is well worth it to me.
I always have the meet greet guy hang around until rifle case has made it to SAPS. One time after about 20 min my case had not showed up. He went and found it, brought a picture of it on his phone and said where it was. Then Riflepermits Anna got onto SAPS about it. It showed up in just a few min.
That's why it worth it to use Henry's service.

Exactly! …. It’s not that I can’t navigate paperwork, it’s that unforeseen variable where the pro comes in handy.