Planning my first African safari!

[Velo Dog]

Hello Csnakes03,

Khomas Highland Hunting and Fishing Safaris of Namibia, welcomes you to the greatest forum on earth.

I agree with most of the advice for you that has already been offered by others.
And, I will add my +1 endorsement of Ontario Hunter’s recommendation for the Air Tag.

Without an Air Tag in each of our bags and carry-ons, we might never had recovered a lost bag, upon arriving at our final Airport.
The airline / airport employees insisted our missing bag was not in their airport, claiming that they had searched thoroughly (lies).
Our little digital screen showed it nearby.

It moved once while we were having our repeated and frustrating conversations with the morons.
Lowe and behold, I ended up finding it, tucked in a corner, not quite visible, unless one was to walk almost close enough to kick it.

It appeared to me that, perhaps an employee had stashed it there, intending to take it home at the end of their shift.
That seemed possible but not very likely, as it was in the public baggage area and not back in the secured area, behind locked doors.

I believe most likely that, some weary traveler fetched it by mistake.
Then upon discovering their careless error, went back for their real bag, tossing ours aside, instead of putting it back where they got it.

The place where I found it was at a different baggage carousel than the one for our flight.
It was dropped in a corner of said carousel, exactly where the “belt” passed through a wall.
You could not see it until you were almost touching it with your toes.

Anyway, the air tag in it saved the day for sure.

Moving right along, if you’re an archer, by all means bring your own tackle.
But if passing through The Netherlands, do research their laws regarding razor tipped arrows, knife restrictions and soforth.
In fact some other countries (including The Soviet Socialist Republic of New Youk) seem to enjoy constantly changing their laws, regarding travel with sporting goods.

Meanwhile if you’re a rifle type hunter (me too), I seriously recommend renting a rifle from your safari company.
Crossing international borders with a firearm no longer appeals to me, due to many airline employees across Europe being hateful elitist anti-hunter types who have harassed me for the last time.

I will keep my airport gun tax money (extortion money) and they can keep their mean spirited computer tricks.

At any rate, I predict that you will turn a double back flip when you first set foot in the African bush.
And so, I shall look forward to your hunt report.

Best Regards,
Velo Dog.

 

[DLSJR]

Apple Air Tags are a “must have” item. Place one in every single pierce of luggage, including carry-on.

If I didn’t have an Air Tag in my Tuffpak when traveling home from Cameroon this past February, my 375 would have been stolen by an airport baggage handler. It took 2 hours and a number of people looking for my gun down in the bowels of SFO for my gun to turn up and that Air Tag was the only proof I had that it was at the airport. I’m 100% sure a baggage handler hid my Tuffpak and was going to take it home with him.

I will never fly anywhere without Air Tags.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

There is a YouTube showing how to disable the AirTag "chirp". Good idea. The noise only alerts the would-be thief an AirTag is inside. If he's intent on stealing the gun, he'll cut the locks and destroy the AirTag. Hide it well inside the case and make it silent.

 

[GENTZ SPORTING ARMS]

Welcome to AH Csnakes03

 

[North Fork Technologies]

Welcome to AH! Glad you found us and joined our community. Enjoy the site and have fun planning!
If there is a way we can be of help to you please feel free to call or send us a message.

 

[RIGBY]

Welcome to AH. Congrats on your upcoming safari! Planning is half the fun! Enjoy the forum, it's very addicting.

 

[Philip Glass]

Hello everyone! I'm in the process of planning my hunt for next May in South Africa. I won a package deal hunt in an auction at a benefit dinner for the California deer association. It's a 7 night, 6 day hunt with Wesco Safaris(Jaco Wessels is the PH) and we are going to be based out of the Hesuta lodge near Douglas. I've watched a bunch of videos on YouTube about how to prep and pack for a hunt, and this forum has been really helpful as well. At the moment I'm working on securing my flights to and from SA. I'm leaning towards using Delta for most of the trip, and then I'll have to transfer to another airline for the flight from Johannesburg to Kimberley. I'll be traveling with my brother, and my wife, as well as our twin boys who won't quite be 2 years old when we travel(if they didn't go my wife was going to not go either). Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated with regards to travel, and if we should try and limit our luggage to carryon only, or if checking a bag would be ok. I've seen from a few folks that bags can get delayed if they are checked.
Thanks in advance for any tips and advice! Can't wait to share the experience with all the fine folks on this forum!
-Chris

I would firstly recommend a travel agent for your flights. The flight to Kimberly will likely be on Airlink but be careful as some airlines do not carry guns. If on Delta make sure you check your bags only to JNB for the overnight at a hotel and not checked through to Kimberly or they will be unavailable to you until you get to the final destination. I recommend City Lodge at JNB for your overnight as it is connected to the airport.
In all our planning it can be easy to be paranoid from others struggles traveling. Bags are not lost nearly as much as in the past. Knock on wood, as for me and the groups of hunters I hunt with we've not lost anything in years. Plan ahead, use a TA, and follow our recommendations and take your own guns.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Welcome.
Congratulations on your Safari auction win. Many people start this way. Many people have a great time if they are prepared and understand what they signed up for.
Communicate your goals and desires for animals you want or expect to take. Don’t plans on negotiating or traded animals from your auction package. If you do, get it in writing.
Pack as light as possible.
Carry on necessities.
Rent guns.
Get travel and trip insurance/cancellation insurance.
Read through as many Threads/posts as possible: Planning, Tipping, Packing, Before and After the hunt, and recent reports.
Make a check list based on everything you learn and all the advice you are given.
Practice shooting at least a .30 Cal rifle.
Young kids? What happens if one gets sick (God Forbid) and you have to leave immediately? How will you get them home?
Unfortunately, you caught an outfitter that is just out of driving range to pick you up.
Added expenses: Extra flights. Use Delta - one overnight at a guest house/safe house and possible flight delays.