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Jesse's Hunting > Hunting Articles > Articles > Traveling Abroad - Using Rifle Import Service for Your African Hunting Trip
Traveling Abroad - Using Rifle Import Service for Your African Hunting Trip
Brad Swadley - JHO ProStaff
- Dallas, Texas
October 19, 2007
Success in Africa
The author used a service to process the paperwork for importing his rifles for his African hunt, and found the experience well worth the cost. |
I recently returned from my first trip to South Africa. Well in advance of the trip, I made a list of things that I would need to do to prepare for the trip. One of the things noted was to make sure that the rifle I would be hunting with would import into the country without any hassle. I also brought archery equipment, but currently there are no laws or permits restricting the temporary import of archery equipment. But there are for rifles so let me relate to you what my experience was.
When I first heard about paperwork and permits to bring my rifle into South Africa, I debated as to whether or not I even wanted to bring my rifle. Most Professional Hunters have loaners, but I decided early on that for my first trip, that wasn’t an option. When I first started talking to the travel agent about going, I mentioned that I preferred to fly via London, as that would break up the long flight. But unfortunately, the laws are very strict in Britain and if I were to leave the airport, my understanding was that I would have to hire a courier to move my rifle around.
I wasn’t excited about the fact of having someone I didn’t know driving my rifle around London, so I decided on the direct route. I did have a layover in Chicago after I left Dallas and before I arrived in Washington D.C., but I was assured by the travel agent and the airlines that once checked in at Dallas, my checked baggage including my rifle case would be automatically checked through to Johannesburg. That sounded good to me.
So the next step was trying to figure out what paperwork was needed for the import permit. I contacted a couple of businesses that work with you to obtain the import permit so there wouldn’t be any hassle at the airport. I ended up using RiflePermits.com. They gave us a list of things paperwork that was required.
Upon review of the information on Riflepermits.com’s website, there are two basic forms you need as well as your itinerary: the SAPS(South African Police Service) Form 520 for South Africa and the CBP(Customs and Border Patrol) Form 4457 for the United States side. The SAPS 520 is simple and straightforward, and was quite easy to fill out. Next was the CBP Form 4457 which at first seemed easy, but was a little more complicated. This form is used for anything you are exporting from the United States, to include firearms. The other thing it is used for is to show proof of ownership for items not made in the United States. So for instance, I added my new Panasonic camera to the form. If I hadn’t, there was the potential that tax would have been charged for it upon re-entry to the U.S.
Once completed, Form 4457 has to be reviewed and signed off by a Border Patrol or Customs Agent. I almost didn’t get this done, as I didn’t realize at first that this was needed. But since we had to turn in the information to Riflepermits.com a month early for pre-approval, I had reviewed the CBP website and noted that it had to be done.. So I had to drive about 45 minutes to the closest CBP office and get that completed. It only took a couple of minutes, but it was a very important step to complete.
Once all documents were complete, we sent them via DHL to Riflepermits.com. They received the paperwork and processed it in about a 2 week time frame. The only thing left to do was to meet them at the Johannesburg airport where they would walk us through that second part of the process. So we were set, we just needed to get to Johannesburg.
Well the day arrived and we finally landed at Johannesburg. I was praying that nothing got lost in transit, and was relived upon finding my checked baggage at the carousel. Just outside the luggage area was our hosts, Gus and Pat Ives, as well as the representative from Riflepermits.com. She walked us through the process of verifying our luggage, and walking with us to the SAPS office. The whole process went quickly and without a hitch. We were only in the airport about 45 minutes, most of that waiting in line at the main customs area. Gus made mention of the fact that he was quite impressed with the speed in which we were able to get the guns through the process as well, as he had heard some horror stories of it taking several hours.
Overall, I was very pleased with the whole rifle import permit process and the way that Riflepermits.com made it seem so easy. The cost was a mere $90 U.S. which I thought was very reasonable. Sure beat the scenarios had I not had the proper paperwork. The representative was a nice young lady that even gave us a brief review when we were ready to depart.
I would highly recommend that if you head on safari and plan to take your own rifle, that you make sure to use a service to complete your paperwork. While it does cost a little, it sure gives you peace of mind that everything is approved before your arrival in Johannesburg. I was very pleased with Riflepermits.com and would recommend them as well for your safari to South Africa.
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