How long to get through Johannesburg customs?

[Hunt4Him]

I've been to South Africa to hunt 2 other times but I can't remember all the travel details. (the previous hunting outfit used their own travel agency and we aren't going with them this time) In regards to scheduling flights and layer over times, how long does it usually take to get through customs with bow and rifle? We'll be flying from Washington DC then continuing to Port Elizabeth. Any advice or travel agent recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks!!

 

[BRICKBURN]

Lori can help you out.
http://www.africahunting.com/threads/our-hunting-travel-specialist-on-ah.2734/

 

[Spooksar]

Give your self 3 hours, it won't take that long but this is Africa

 

[brushmore]

I suggest 3-4 hours. I missed my connecting flight because of issues in New York (i.e. sitting on the tarmac for 2.5 hours waiting to take off) which only left me an hour for my next flight. I highly suggest you use Henry Rifle Permits. That really streamed line the process and they made sure to get me on the next flight to Port Elizabeth.

 

[CAustin]

3 hours to get through everything and recheck to next flight.

 

[Limcroma Safaris]

Arriving passengers with nothing to declare usually breeze through customs/immigration.... I've been close to last off the plane arriving on the Delta flight and still cleared the line in less than 30 minutes. Collecting your bags should take no more than 30 minutes either.

Traveling with a bow is no different than any other checked luggage to RSA. You will simply collect your bow case at one of the oversized luggage drops behind the carousels and be on your way. There is no need to clear archery equipment with SAPS.... I second brushmore's recommendation to use Riflepermits.com if you are traveling with guns. It will usually reduce a 2 hour ordeal down to 15 minutes with a live representative walking you through the process. It's worth every nickel in my opinion.

Assuming you use a clearing agent to help with your guns, I agree with the rest that 3-4 hours should be sufficient to make any connections comfortably.

 

[billc]

Give lori at travel express a call and let her check for tickets. She always plans enough time between flights and has always got be great prices on tickets for me.

I have always had about 3 hours to get through all the airport stuff and have had no problems.

 

[Royal27]

Lori can help you out.
http://www.africahunting.com/threads/our-hunting-travel-specialist-on-ah.2734/

Give lori at travel express a call and let her check for tickets. She always plans enough time between flights and has always got be great prices on tickets for me.

I have always had about 3 hours to get through all the airport stuff and have had no problems.

Lori got me a great deal, and helped me get stuff straight when the airlines made some major changes.

 

[woods1126]

My wife likes about 5 hours or more, so she can shop!! One shop in particular, "Out of Africa" can take a couple hours alone!! I agree with everyone though, 3 or more hours is comfortable for customs, gun stuff and rechecking bags if necessary.

 

[Royal27]

My wife likes about 5 hours or more, so she can shop!! One shop in particular, "Out of Africa" can take a couple hours alone!! I agree with everyone though, 3 or more hours is comfortable for customs, gun stuff and rechecking bags if necessary.

Out of Africa is pretty cool, but expensive!! Cheaper to shoot a zebra yourself than to buy it there!

 

[woods1126]

Yea Royal, about $2100! Where we hunted you can hunt one and get it tanned for way less!

 

[Royal27]

Yea Royal, about $2100! Where we hunted you can hunt one and get it tanned for way less!

So how many did she buy???? LOL

 

[woods1126]

None!!

 

[TRAVEL EXPRESS]

Hunt4Him ~ Sorry for the late reply as we just returned from a trip to South Africa/Namibia. I agree with the others that you should allow a minimum of 3 hours in Johannesburg to clear customs, claim your bags, get firearm permit and then get checked in for your domestic flight. Hope this helps!

 

[Wheels]

Arriving in the evening on Delta it has taken no more than 20 minutes for me to get through passport control and as short as 3-5 minutes. (I set in economy comfort and try to hoof it past the business class guys to customs) Another 10-15 for luggage. Usually no more than 5-8 people ahead of me at SAPS for another 20 minutes.

Arriving in the morning, this always seems to take longer. (Only done this twice) Once I was on the back of my plane and an A380 and a 747 landed right in front. There may have been other planes. The passport control que was up the ramp and it took 1.5 hours just to get through customs. Luggage was there and fine, no wait. Line at SAPS was another hour +. Got hacked that the guys using a service were being escorted around me. Possibly a good reason to use a gun clearing service when arriving in the morning.

Good luck and have a fun trip.

 

[JGRaider]

Arriving in the evening on Delta it has taken no more than 20 minutes for me to get through passport control and as short as 3-5 minutes. (I set in economy comfort and try to hoof it past the business class guys to customs) Another 10-15 for luggage. Usually no more than 5-8 people ahead of me at SAPS for another 20 minutes.

My experience exactly. Just went through this process again a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Royal27]

Took me less than 30 minutes from wheels down to city lodge hotel. And that was about an hour ago, so very recently!

I used @riflepermits.com and zipped right through customs. The wife really appreciated walking right past the customs line!

 

[Hunt4Him]

Thank you for all the input! I will be calling Lori and check into riflepermits.com as well!! I love this forum! Great people and very helpful!!

Thanks!!

 

[JimP]

I just returned from a safari to SA and used Air2000 and we were taken right to the front of all lines. Once we reached the rifle check location we actually had to wait for the SAP's officer to show up. Start to finish it only took us less than a hour for everything and were sipping beer faster than we expected.

I even met some hunters that were using Henry of www.riflepermits.com and they were being zipped right through also.

If you are reading this wondering if you want to use a service like the above two, DO IT. It is well worth the small amount of money that you pay them for the ease of getting through it all. I met Waye Sheets the Executive Director of the NRA on my way back and he was using riflepermits.com and he had been over in SA a number of times.

 

[Hunt4Him]

Thanks JimP for the report and info. I spoke with Jennifer Ginn from Travel Express and am looking forward to using them as well as Henry from www.riflepermits.com. I hope you had an amazing safari!!