Below are some important tips to help you prepare for your hunt, including the procedure for traveling with your rifles and what you want to bring for your hunting trip.

Booking Airline Tickets

When you book the tickets, be sure to call and advise the airline that you will be carrying sporting rifles and ammunition. Most airlines will allow you to check these items in, as long as you have notified them and completed all necessary paperwork.

South African Permits

We believe that a hunter shoots best with the rifle he normally uses and we encourage clients to bring their favourite rifle(s) of suitable calibre to use during the hunt. Quality rifles, fitted with quality European riflescopes, are available to hire at £60 per hunt. Ammunition will be provided at replacement cost.

Rifles

You can take up to two rifles of different calibres into South Africa on a Temporary Permit. Suitable calibres for plains game include but are not limited to: .30-06; .308; .300WM; .300WSM; .270; .270WSM; 7mm-08; 7mm Rem Mag and other .300 and 7mm Magnums. Semi Automatic rifles are not permitted in RSA.

Alternatively, you can hire a rifle from us for $30 per day.

Ammunition

You will normally be limited to a maximum of five kilos of ammunition by the airline. The ammunition, which should be in the manufacturers or similar packaging, is to be placed separately in a lockable case and checked in as hold baggage. It can be placed in your main checked in suitcase or bag, though certain Internal Airport security companies insist it is loaded as a separate checked item. The RSA Police limit you to a maximum of two hundred rounds per calibre. Many hunters use an MTM type rigid plastic ammo box and find that fifty rounds is more than enough (with plenty left over in case you have to re zero for any reason). Good bullet choices for most Eastern Cape plains game include Barnes X, Nosler Partition, Hornady SST or any other proprietary bonded or core locked bullet. The animals in Africa tend to have thicker skin and more robust constitutions than European and USA deer species. This demands a bullet designed to hold together and penetrate deeper before expansion. Ballistic Tip bullets are not suitable for plains game.

At the Airport

Your rifle(s) should be in a hard lockable case and identified as sporting rifle(s) to the check in agent, who will instigate local authority regulations, if any. Your rifle(s) will then be taken by the airline security personnel and that is the last you will see of it / them until you land at one of the two entry airports in South Africa, Johannesburg or Cape Town.

Arriving in South Africa

On arrival at the South African entry airport of your choice, you will proceed to immigration, a painless operation taking about 15-20 minutes, unless a lot of aircraft arrive within a short space of one another, where you will show your passport and return ticket.

Retrieving Your Rifle at Baggage Claim

Johannesburg Airport

Your rifle(s) will be taken direct to the Police Office in the airport, so passing through immigration, make your way to the baggage reclaim area to retrieve your baggage. Having done so, walk through the Green Channel, out the door into arrivals and turn Right. Then on your Right will be some shops, a corridor and the Police Office is at the back. Go in and identify yourself to the Police Officer. Present the police with the documentation pack which we will make up for you (if you so wish). Be sure to tell the policeman that the pack is for him so he does not have to make copies. The issue of a temporary permit should only take 20 minutes.

DO NOT sign the SAPS 520 form until the policeman asks you to do so, as he must see you sign it.

In Johannesburg Airport, there is a Police Office dedicated to the issue of temporary firearm permits and there is likely to be several officers on duty.

Cape Town Airport

In Cape Town Airport, the Police Office is smaller, with maybe only one officer on duty, but if there are not a lot of people seeking permits, it’s a fairly quick process there too. Here your rifle will be taken straight to the Police Office, which is on the Right, just before Customs.

Transfers to Port Elizabeth

Whether in Johannesburg or Cape Town, after you check in for your flight to Port Elizabeth, check in staff will direct you to the firearm check in desk. Here, a security man will check your rifle’s serial number against your temporary permit and take it to the aircraft for you.

Arriving at Port Elizabeth

At Port Elizabeth Airport, Khangela staff will meet you. They will retrieve your rifles for you and carry your baggage to their trucks and convey you to your accommodation.

Climate

South Africa has vast temperature variations, which depend on the season. The ideal time of year for hunting is from April to September. The chances of obtaining your trophy are so much better during these months. We suggest that you bring a windproof jacket and at least one warm sweater. The Eastern Cape enjoys a moderate climate, with few extremes in temperature and is generally sunny and pleasant. Winters are usually mild, although snow falls on the mountain ranges of the Cape and Natal and occasionally in the lower-lying areas, when a brief cold spell can be expected throughout the country.

Malaria

Most of the hunting takes place in the Eastern Cape, which is Malaria Free. You should still bring some mosquito spray (30% Deet), to keep flying pests and the occasional tick at bay.

Hunting Clothes and Equipment

All hunting clothes should be neutral of colour (i.e: khaki, green or cammo). Please do not bring bright or white colours.

• Hunting or Hiking boots that are already broken in
• Short sleeve shirts
• Long sleeve shirts
• Short trousers
• Long trousers
• Hunting Cap/Hat
• Gloves
• Warm sweaters
• Warm jacket
• Casual clothes, to be worn when not hunting
• Underwear
• Socks
• Toiletries
• Sunscreen, SPF 30+
• Lip balm
• Video/Digital Camera
• Binoculars ( 6X to 10X)
• Torch/Flashlight
• Medical

If you have any allergies or medical conditions we recommend you bring your own supply of medicines. We do carry a well stocked First Aid Kit in the hunting vehicle.

Insurance

Although all reasonable precautions are taken to ensure your safety during your safari, you should arrange your own personal travel and all risk hunting and medical insurance, as no liability can be accepted by Khangela Hunting Safari for these risks. It is necessary for all clients to sign a personal indemnity before commencement of the safari.