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Firearms & Ammunition

 

Upon your arrival in camp, you will be required to sight in your rifle.  Suitable rifle  ranges with solid shooting benches are available.  We suggest your plains game rifle to be sighted in two or two and a half inches high at one hundred yards – this will in effect enable you to comfortably take shots out to two hundred and fifty yards without having to compensate for distance.  For heavy caliber big game rifles, dead on at one hundred yards is recommended. 

Inferior quality bullets have been the cause of many wounded animals and unnecessary hours spent following up.  Compared to the trophy fees and cost of a safari, bullets are cheap.  Of the best available, Trophy Bonded Bear Claw and Swift A frame would be our first choice for soft points. 

 Do not hesitate to discuss individual calibers, bullet weight and make or other relevant items with your professional hunter.  He knows the area, game and conditions and will be able to recommend to you, not only bullets, but also calibers suitable for the game to be hunted.

Importation of Firearms

Visitors bringing firearms into South Africa for hunting purposes should try to obtain a copy of the Temporary Firearm Import Application – SAP311 in advance from their hunting outfitter, and complete this form before arrival in South Africa. This is recommended if possible to help streamline the entry process. The form however can be filled out on arrival. The form must be completed in black ink and left unsigned until the document is finalized in front of the police official issuing the actual permit at the airport.

Required along with the SAP311 will be the following:

  1. Passport

  2. Airline Ticket

  3. Proof of Ownership, i.e. firearm licenses, etc. While the South African Police Service has been lenient up until now regarding proof of ownership, they will be getting stricter in this regard. To preclude any problems on arrival, clients need to have proof of ownership by way of a gun license, customs declaration letter from country of origin, etc.

  4. Address and telephone contact information in South Africa of where you will be staying/hunting during the course of your hunt. Make sure you get this information from you outfitter. This information is necessary for the actual temporary import permit, as well as if the Police need to get in contact with the client for any reason.

Firearms will be physically inspected to ensure the serial numbers match those of the licenses and the application forms. Ammunition will also be inspected, and it is important to note that this ammunition also requires a permit. For visitors clearing customs at the Johannesburg International Airport, please take note the following procedure to be followed on arrival:

  1. Clear passport control in whichever Terminal where the flight arrives. (Generally, SAA and its co-partners at Terminal 2, and all other airlines in Terminal 1).

  2. Proceed to baggage claim at the respective carousel. Pick up general baggage, then proceed to the respective airline Help Desk to pick up firearm/s from the airline company and sign receipt for the firearm/s.

  3. For visitors with firearms arriving at Terminal 2: Proceed to the South African Police Firearm Office. Look for the office signage. (N.B. Do not at this stage proceed to customs)

  4. On receipt of the temporary import permit at the SAP Firearms Office, proceed to Customs, the Red Zone, where you declare the firearm/s and finish other custom clearance procedures.

 

For those visitors clearing customs at any of the other international points of entry, please take note of the relevant suggestions made above which relate to documentation, requirements, etc.  If you are connecting to other flights, please make sure that you allow ample time for this process.  Also, please ensure that your firearms arrive on the same flight as you do. This must be done with the airline company on departure. Your firearm/s may only be signed for by you and will not be released to your outfitter or professional hunter should it/they arrive on a separate flight. In this case, the firearm/s will be held by the SAPS until such time as you claim ownership in person.

 

Please do not pay for any service regarding the handling of a firearm at Johannesburg International Airport, or any port of entry. This is a free service and the South African Police Service asks clients not to pay anybody involved in handling firearms from the time of arrival in South Africa right through until you received your firearm and the permit from the SAPS. Clients that are paying the various airline company staff or the security company involved are actually creating a problem. Please note however that there is a handling fee charged by airlines and/or security companies for the handling of handguns.

 

Temporary Import Permits (SAP312) are issued to the particular person and are not transferable. Temporary Import permits are issued for a period of 90 or 180 days. When the visitor departs from the country, he MUST take all the firearms as stated on the Import Permit with him. He is not allowed to leave any of the firearms mentioned on the SAP 312 in South Africa.  Should a firearm not be declared and a temporary import permit not issued, and you proceed through customs without declaring a firearm, you will face severe penalties and possible arrest on departure from South Africa.

 

*There is no permit required, nor any charge by the South African Police Service for a bow. Handling fees are charged by airline and/or security companies for bows and handguns, but not for rifles.

No more than one firearm per calibre and 200 rounds per calibre per client will be allowed into the country per client.

 

Prohibitions of firearms are: (Section 32 of the Arms and Ammunition Act, 1969) (Act. No 75 of 1969)