Book Your Hunt
Additional Travel Information
Appoint a travel agent
International travel always requires lots of arranging, and travelling for the purposes of a hunting safari even more so. For this reason, don’t try to tackle all the arrangements yourself. Use a travel agent you trust, and preferably one who specialises in hunting safaris.
A good travel agent will be able to get you the best possible prices, will know what’s required to fulfil regulations around travelling with firearms and ammunition, and will be able to advise you on insurance, among the many other tasks that need to be done for this kind of travel.
Importantly, your travel agent will be able to advise you on what the airline you’re using requires in terms of travelling with firearms and ammunition, some airlines simply don’t allow this at all, while others have their own set rules and procedures.
DZOMBO RECOMMENDS
PWP TRAVEL
PATRICK WRIGHT
+1 (210) 6860766
patrick@pwptravel.com
International flights to/from our Iconic Destinations
Namibia
Hosea Kutako International Airport – Windhoek
Zambia
Kenneth Kaunda International Airport – Lusaka
South Africa
OR Tambo International Airport – Johannesburg
Major airlines:
Lufthansa: www.lufthansa.com
Delta http: www.delta.com
Qatar Airways: www.qatarairways.com
KLM: www.klm.co
Health Insurance
Although by far the majority of hunting safaris go off without the slightest hitch, it would be foolhardy not to prepare for unforeseeable circumstances and unfortunate incidents. For this reason, we strongly advise that you take out comprehensive health insurance before your trip. Be sure to tell the company providing the cover that you’ll be on a hunting safari, as some companies won’t provide coverage if you’re participating in a dangerous activity that they deem an extraordinary risk.
Some credit-card companies provide automatic health insurance when you buy your air ticket. Read the small print very carefully to ensure it’s adequate for your needs.
If you have particular concerns about your health, investigate taking out medical evacuation coverage. One company that provides this service worldwide is Global Rescue: www.GlobalRescue.com
Travel Documents
– A pen is an essential to carry and have handy while traveling. – Airline ticket(s) and itinerary. – Valid passport with visa(s) if required. Copy of your passport and visa for trophy permit needs or in case you loose your passport. – A driver’s license or other acceptable piece of identification. – Phone numbers for family, friends or work that you don’t have memorized. – Dzombo Hunting Safaris will provide you a few weeks prior to your departure with a Contact Information Sheet which lists all of the information for us, including company names, contact persons, country, phone numbers, email addresses and cell phone numbers. Cell phones are now more common than land lines. I suggest that you make a copy of this contact sheet for each piece of your luggage along with a copy of your flight itinerary in addition to carrying this list on your person while traveling. – You may also wish to give a copy to family members and/or a friend along with your itinerary so they can reach you if they need to. To make it easier for everyone, include the international dialing code (011 for the U.S.) and the country codes of the countries you will be visiting to the phone numbers on your list. – Copies of prescriptions for medications that you are carrying.
Passport, visa and other entry requirements
Your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months after your intended departure date from Namibia, and it must have at least six blank pages.
You must have a valid return/onward air ticket or proof of other means of transport out of the hunting destination.
Visas are required for certain nationalities and are valid for three months from the date of issue.
Visas not required
Citizens of the following countries do not require a visa: Angola, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau (SAR), Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius Moldova, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russian Federation, Seychelles, Singapore South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom United States of America, Uzbekistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe
For visitors from other countries, please check with your nearest Consulate. Although this information was correct at the time of writing, visa requirements do change from time to time, so please double-check all entry requirements when planning your trip.
Resources
Searchable database of embassies and consulates worldwide: www.embassy.goabroad.com
US passports and international travel (US Department of State: Bureau of Consular Affairs): www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
Travel Document Systems, for visa, passport and other document expediting needs: www.traveldocs.com
Insurance
Dzombo Hunting Safaris does not provide insurance of any kind and we advise our clients to purchase their own independent insurance policies.
Contact your insurance company to find out, to what extent, if at all, your valuables such as firearm(s), binoculars and/or camera(s) are covered in your home owner’s insurance policy in case of being stolen and/or lost while traveling. You may purchase an independent policy for this purpose or contact your current medical insurance company well before your trip to find out to what extent you are covered while overseas. Be sure to tell them that you will be engaging in a hunting safari as many insurance companies will not provide coverage if you are participating in a dangerous activity that they deem an extraordinary risk. For some insurance companies you may need to inform them in writing of your trip in order to be covered. You need to ask how to notify them if you require medical services, you may have a limited amount of time to inform them. If you pay for your airline ticket(s) with your credit card you might also be insured to some extent with your credit card company.
I have heard too many stories from hunters who were happy to have had such membership (or wished they did) not to believe that it is an important aspect of any well planned hunting safari. Thankfully most hunts come off without a hitch; however unavoidable unforeseeable circumstances or unfortunate incidents are an inevitability if you travel enough and we would like to see you protected from financial loss or worse.
For a fraction of the cost of a hunting safari, a medical evacuation membership is a worthwhile investment. This is especially true if you cannot afford to lose what may have taken you years to save or you wish to protect your savings from being depleted by an unfortunate event. You should be aware that regular travel insurance does not cover many activities undertaken by a hunter or adventure traveller, therefore you will need specialty developed exclusively for hunter’s active lifestyles.
Trying to decide on medical evacuation coverage can be complicated. For this reason, we have reviewed several medical evacuation companies and their products and have chosen to recommend Global Rescue. They are a well-known, respected and experienced company that offers high quality, comprehensive, affordable medical evacuation memberships designed specifically for traveling hunters, their observers and outdoor adventurers. You can find a lot of information about Global Rescue products and services on their website at www.GlobalRescue.com.
Emergency Evacuation and Field Rescue Membership No matter if it’s your first or fifth time hunting in Africa, unavoidable accidents do happen. Whether a medical or security emergency, an evacuation from a remote part of Namibia could cost well over $100,000. We strongly recommend that anyone traveling to hunt purchase a membership with Global Rescue, the only crisis response company that provides hunters with medical and security evacuation and consultation services anywhere in the world, even the most remote areas. Their deployable teams of paramedics and special operations veterans, backed by on-staff physicians and the specialists at Johns Hopkins Medicine, will get to you wherever you are, by any means necessary, and evacuate you all the way to your home country hospital of choice. Member benefits include: – 24hr medical advisory services from critical care paramedics and in-house physicians – Specialists at Johns Hopkins Medicine available in real-time – Field Rescue from the point of illness or injury – Evacuation back to the member’s home hospital of choice – Global network of medical Centers Of Excellence – Deployable medical and security teams – Evacuation services provided up to $500,000
Memberships start at $119
If you would like to purchase a membership or have additional questions, Global Rescue can be reached anytime at +1 (617) 459-4200, or via www.GlobalRescue.com, click here.
Traveling with firearms and ammunition
Namibia Weapon and Ammunition Importation Procedures
Temporary importation of firearms and ammunition into Namibia is free of charge and the process is quick and easy. Should you be traveling with bows and arrows to and/or through Namibia, there is no required permit or charges. Although it is not required by Namibian Customs, we recommend while traveling, especially via South Africa, that you carry your gun license with you. Some countries, including the United States, do not issue gun licenses, in this event a copy of proof of ownership should be carried instead.
Hunters entering Namibia with firearm(s) and ammunition must complete a Temporary Import/Export Permit Application Form for all firearm(s) and/or ammunition in their possession. Click here to print a copy of this form, we would strongly recommend that you fill out the form beforehand, leaving it unsigned and carry it with you to Namibia, along with a second copy for yourself. As your hunting outfitter, we do not need to receive a copy of this form.
Option of Online Application For the convenience of hunting clientele visiting Namibia and bringing along their personal hunting rifles, the Namibian Police has implemented an online firearm import application facility at Hosea Kutako International Airport. Please find attached the Requirements for Import Permit for Hunting Purposes: Namibian Police Force by clicking here. Please find attached the Temporary Import/Export Permit Application Form for submission prior to arrival in Namibia which must be emailed to the Namibian Police at firearmairport@nampol.na. Click here to print a copy of this form. Please note that at this stage, this procedure is only applicable to Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek.
This application form must be submitted upon entry while declaring your firearm(s) and ammunition in a small office located in the baggage claim area of the airport, where your temporary import/export permit will be issued.
At the time of declaration of firearm(s), hunters will have to present and show a copy of their hunting permits to police officials and will also be required to supply a “Letter of Invitation” on company letterhead from their hunting outfitter. It is a supporting document from the hunting outfitter that you are visiting for the purpose of trophy hunting indicating the farm name and number.
Invitation Letter will be provided by a Dzombo Hunting Representative once contract are signed and travel tickets are booked.
A maximum of eighty (80) rounds of ammunition may be imported per hunting rifle, however you may encounter greater restrictions from the airline(s) you are traveling on or country you are departing from or other countries you may be visiting or transiting through.
Only ammunition for the specific caliber(s) you are bringing may be imported.
There is no limit to the number of firearms per license holder that may be imported safely stored in one locked case into Namibia for trophy hunting purposes, however if traveling through South Africa a maximum of two firearms are allowed even if you are just in transit. Some European countries also have greater limitation than Namibia as to the number of firearms which can be brought into their country even while in transit.
Black powder rifles are permitted in Namibia, however it is illegal to transport on commercial airlines black powder and percussion caps. These may be purchased in Namibia but it is best to contact us to organize for it well prior to your hunt as it may need to be special ordered and could take some time.
No fully automatic firearms are allowed.
Other self-loading, considered semi-automatic firearms are permitted in Namibia, but you can expect questions at the airport upon importation.
Namibia does not have a minimum caliber requirement for rifle hunting and rely by law on minimum energy (Eo – muzzle velocity). Smallest caliber recommended by NAPHA 7 mm (.284).
No solid point cartridges.
No handguns.
No weapons which fall under military categories.
No crossbows.
Namibia Arms Ammunition Application Form
Transiting firearms & ammunition through other countries
Laws and regulations around travelling with firearms and ammunitions, including in transit, are specific to each country, and are constantly changing, so you need to ensure you have up-to-date information before you plan your trip. Your travel agent should be able to advise you.
South Africa Weapon and Ammunition Transiting Procedures
Should you be traveling with firearms and ammunition in transit through South Africa, not leaving the airport with your firearms and ammunition, you will not be required to go through the temporary importation process and fill out the South Africa Firearms Permit Application Form (SAPS 520 Form) as long as the airlines transfer your baggage and/or firearms and ammunition through to your next or final destination and you stay in the airport transit area never clearing customs.
It is however critical that you check with and confirm with the airlines involved before departure to make sure what their procedure is for the transfer of baggage and/or firearms and ammunition. Also once at the airport counter make sure to tell the airline check in agent to check your baggage and/or firearms and ammunition all the way to your final destination.
In the event that your airline company will not transfer your baggage and/or firearms and ammunition to your connecting airline, then you will have to collect your baggage and/or firearms and ammunition and go through the entire South African clearing process, and in this case you must know that all South African firearms and ammunition laws, legal limitations and requirements will apply even if you are not staying or hunting in their country.
When booking your flights to Africa, please insure sufficient time to go through the temporary importation process to clear custom in South Africa even if you will only be staying in the airport transit area never clearing customs.
While transiting through South Africa if an unscheduled layover occurs, due to a changed or canceled flight, some hunters might encounter problems at customs if they do not have the appropriate papers from their hunting outfitter(s). Firearms and ammunition have been impounded due to this exact situation. South African Customs requires a Letter of Invitation from hunting outfitter(s) to handle gun permits. In order to prevent such an occurrence, as a precaution always request from your hunting outfitter(s) in the country where you are going to be hunting to provide you with a South Africa Letter of Invitation. We recommend that you print a couple of copies and carry them with you while traveling to your destination as it needs to be on your person.
Expect some delay at the South African Police Services (SAPS) office at the airport especially if there are a large number of hunters getting their temporary firearm import permits, which is likely the case during the peak of the hunting season (June through August). The process is bureaucracy at its best and can take anywhere from 20 minutes to well over an hour or even two. The most important thing you can do to expedite the process is to be well prepared to help avoid prolonging the time it takes or the possibility of fines. Should your application for a temporary import permit be denied; your firearms and ammunition will be confiscated and returned to you upon your departure to your country of residence. Should a firearm not be declared and a temporary import permit not issued, and you proceed through customs with a firearm anyway, you will face severe penalties and possible arrest.
Temporary importation of firearms and ammunition into South Africa is free of charge. Should you be traveling with bows and arrows to and/or through South Africa, there is no required permit or charges. You can find up to date information on importation of firearm into South Africa by going directly to the South African government web site of the South African Police Service (SAPS) by clicking here.
The South Africa Firearms Permit Application Form SAPS 520 (SAPS 520 Form, application for a multiple import or export permit / temporary import or export permit / permanent import or export permit / in-transit permit for personal use) must be submitted to the designated firearms officer upon entry while declaring your firearm(s) and ammunition where your temporary import/export permit will be issued.
Hunters entering South Africa with firearm(s) and ammunition must complete the South Africa Firearms Permit Application Form (Form SAPS 520) for all firearm(s) and/or ammunition in their possession. Click here to get a copy of this form, we would strongly recommend that you fill out the form beforehand, leaving it unsigned and carry it with you to South Africa, along with a second copy for yourself. Your hunting outfitter does not need to receive a copy of this form. You can also download the South Africa Firearms Permit Application Form, SAPS 520 directly from the South African government SAPS web site by clicking here.
Please make sure to complete the form and all sections as instructed otherwise your application will not be approved. You can download the instructions for how to complete the SAPS 520 Form by clicking here. You can find up-to-date information on importation of firearm(s) into South Africa by going directly to the government web site of the South African Police Service (SAPS) by clicking here. You can also download the instruction on how to complete the South Africa Firearms Permit Form, SAPS 520 directly from the South African government SAPS web site by clicking here.
You can find all the forms and instruction files from the South African Police Service on their web site by clicking here.
Should the links to these SAPS pages no longer exist please visit the home page of SAPS at www.saps.gov.za and just simply browse through their web site to find the link to the page on information on importation of firearm into South Africa?
At the time of declaration of firearm(s) at the SAPS office, you will be required to supply a Letter of Invitation from each hunting outfitter(s) you will be hunting with as well. It is a supporting document from the hunting outfitter(s) that you are visiting for the purpose of hunting. If you will be hunting with several hunting outfitters in South Africa or other countries, you will need a Letter of Invitation from each one of them. Request from your hunting outfitter(s) a signed Letter of Invitation on company letterhead for the Central Firearms Register, click here to view a sample of this document in Word format.
There is a limit of two firearms per hunter that may be imported into South Africa for trophy hunting purposes, however hunters cannot bring in more than one firearm per caliber. An exception to this may apply for shotguns where more than one of the same caliber may be allowed for bird hunting. The client must provide an acceptable written motivation as to why they require more than one shotgun to the SAPS office upon declaration of firearms.
A maximum of two hundred (200) rounds of ammunition may be imported per firearm, however you may encounter greater restrictions from the airline(s) you are traveling on or country you are departing from or other countries you may be visiting or transiting through.
Only ammunition for the specific caliber(s) you are bringing may be imported.
Black powder rifles are allowed for hunting purposes in some provinces of South Africa, however it is illegal to transport on commercial airlines black powder and percussion caps.
Any hunter wanting to transit with a handgun must submit a letter of intent with their SAPS 520 Form stating the handgun will be used only for hunting purposes. Hunter also needs to produce a letter from a registered association of his/her country of origin, stating that he/she is a registered member of the association and that the handgun will be used exclusively for hunting purposes. The application has to be submitted to the Central Firearms Control Register before arriving in South Africa as it needs to be pre-approved. Your application must be logged by the Central Firearms Control Register at least 21 days prior to your arrival in South Africa to enable the South African Police Service sufficient time to process the application and to submit the permit to the applicant to an address outside the borders of the Republic of South Africa.
It is legal for hunters to travel with bows and arrows to and/or through South Africa, there is no required permit or charges.
Crossbows are allowed for hunting purposes in some provinces of South Africa, check with your hunting outfitter.
No automatic, semi-automatic, lever action or slide action firearms are allowed. A semi-automatic shotgun for hunting purposes may be allowed if an application is made and granted through the Central Firearms Register at least 21 days prior to your arrival.
A person must be 21 years of age to import firearm(s) and ammunition. It is possible for someone under the age of 21 to do a hunting safari in South Africa, however another hunter over the age limit must import a firearm for their use or they can rent/borrow one from the hunting outfitter.
Please note that only the Central Firearms Control Register in Pretoria South Africa can authorize special applications for example a second rifle or shotgun of the same caliber or a semi-automatic shotgun. These applications must be made and granted through the Central Firearms Register at least 21 days prior to your arrival.
Contact information for the Central Firearms Control Register: The Head Central Firearms Register Private Bag X 811 Pretoria, South Africa 0001 fax (27) 012.3536041
cfr.imports@saps.org.za
Special Notice: The issuing of the SAPS 520 is a free service and the South African Police Service in an effort to control bribery asks hunters NOT to pay anybody involved in handling firearms from the time of arrival in South Africa right through until you receive your firearms and permit from the SAPS. Clients that are paying the various airline staff, security staff, or porters involved are actually perpetuating this problem. Please note however that there may be a handling fee charged by airlines and/or security companies for the handling of handguns, and some airlines have started charging a handling fee for all firearms. We suggest checking with your airline with regard to any official fees that may be required.
The Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA) recommends that when ever possible that the actual temporary import permits for firearms be obtained prior to your arrival.
The Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA) recommends a minimum of 3 hours of time between flight connections at Johannesburg International Airport.
If traveling in a group get temporary importation permits in advance, everyone in the group can expect to be delayed at Johannesburg International Airport for up to 3 hours.
RiflePermits.com is a small company in South Africa that works hand-in-hand with the South African Police Services (SAPS) to provide “import/export” or “in-transit” permits for your rifle(s) before you arrive in South Africa. They offer a good service and you will find valuable information regarding this process on their website at www.riflepermits.com.
South Africa Firearms Permit Application Form SAPS 520
South Africa Firearms Permit Information saps 520
Germany Weapon and Ammunition Transiting Procedures
Below are the instructions to apply for the license to take weapons through Frankfurt Germany.
_____________________________________________
From: sabrina.stock@stadt-frankfurt.de <sabrina.stock@stadt-frankfurt.de> On Behalf Of transfer@stadt-frankfurt.de
Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2018 8:28 AM
Subject: NEW! Transfer licenses via Frankfurt
Dear Sir or Madam,
via this E-Mail we would like to inform you about changes in the process of applying for transfer licenses for your customers who are hunters, sports shooters and other weapons owners.
If your customers travel to foreign countries via the airport in Frankfurt, an application for a transfer license must be placed with the weapon authority of Frankfurt.
Up until now, the applications and the issuance of the permits took place via E-Mail.
From November 01, 2018 the applications and the issuance of the permits can only be placed online via the following link:
www.frankfurt.de/mitnahmeerlaubnis
The documents necessary for the application such as identification documents or weapons permits from the customers home countries can be uploaded via the application portal.
The fee of 20 € for the permit can be paid online as well. The following online payment systems can be used at present:
PayPal
Master Card, Visa
GiroPay
If the application is approved, you will receive an E-Mail with a link to download and print the permit.
In addition to the permit document a certificate with security features for counterfeit security will be attached to the E-Mail. Please print this document as well and present both documents to the customs authority at the airport in Frankfurt am Main.
We hope to have made the application process more transparent and easy to understand for you with this online processing portal.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Im Auftrag Sabrina Stock
STADT FRANKFURT AM MAIN
Ordnungsamt 32.22.11 Waffenbehörde
Kleyerstraße 86 60326 Frankfurt am Main
Money
Dzombo Hunting Safaris has a safe where you may store your valuables while in camp. It is a good idea to bring a combination of cash, traveller’s cheques and Debit/Credit cards.
Bring cash in US$ or Euro and a small amount of local currency. Small denominations of US$ and/or local currency is always useful for tipping, purchasing small items, etc.
Credit/Debit Cards, for your convenience Dzombo Hunting Safaris is equipped to accept credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard and Maestro). If you intend on using your credit card for payment, you should inform your bank or credit card company in advance of your safari about your destination(s) and the dates that you will be traveling so that they can remove any automatic locks that may be put into place for your protection during your trip, especially when making large payments.
Most shops and hotels accept credit/debit cards with a Visa logo or American Express cards. A credit card generally offers a higher degree of protection from fraud than a debit card, also a debit card charge is deducted automatically from your bank account whereas the credit card offers you the opportunity to review the charges on your statement prior to paying the bill.
While in cities you will be able to draw cash from most major bank’s ATMs; however there is usually a limited amount that can be drawn out each day which varies from bank to bank. Although it may be time consuming I believe that you are better off going into a bank to get cash from a debit or credit card. As far as choice of credit card is concerned in Africa Visa and American Express are much more widely accepted than MasterCard.
Overseas many financial institutions are on the CIRRUS system which means to be able to use your credit/debit cards, not just at an ATM but for ALL purchases, in many cases you will be required to have a pin number. Call your bank or credit card company to get a PIN number issued for your card(s) before you leave. Make sure your PIN number is only four digits in length as some international credit card machines and ATMs can only handle four digit PIN numbers, also some do not recognize the “0” as a number. You should inform your bank or credit card company in advance of your safari about your destination(s) and the dates that you will be traveling so that they can remove any automatic locks that may be put into place for your protection during your trip.
Dzombo Hunting Safaris does not accept personal checks, traveler’s checks and bank certified checks as payment. If you are confident in Dzombo Hunting Safaris as many of our clients are, you may consider making arrangements to send a bank wire transfer of an agreed upon amount a few weeks prior to your safari to cover a good portion of your estimated trophy fees. It is a common practice, it may save you the hassle of carrying so much money. Before instructing your bank to wire the funds, make sure there is ample time for the funds to get to our bank before you arrive for your hunting safari.
Phone and Internet
Cell phones are now more common than land lines, the cell reception at Dzombo Hunting Safaris is excellent within most parts of our territory through Starlink. Contact your cell phone provider for international calling plans and connectivity of your cell phone overseas.
We have a phone landline at the lodge for our guests to use, there is a charge for international phone calls and faxes (tel/fax US$2 per minute).
Free WIFI in the common areas of the main lodge and camp dining area.
Car Rental
Car Rental Companies Avis: www.avis.co.za
Budget: www.budget.co.za
Hertz: www.hertz.co.za
Europcar: www.europcar.co.za
