First-Time African Hunter – Plan Your Hunting Trip

First-Time African Hunter – Plan Your African Hunting Safari

Are you a first-time African hunter looking for an affordable African hunting safari? Here is a list of important points for preparing yourself and planning your First African Hunting Safari.

1. Hunting laws in South Africa.
2. Hunting with three-legged shooting or quad sticks.
3. How do shooting sticks work in practice?
4. The importance of good optics.
5. Getting to South Africa.
6. Overnight accommodation in Johannesburg.
7. Suggested packing list.
8. Rifle considerations.
9. Regulations for a temporary rifle import permit.
10. Prohibited firearms.
11. A checklist for rifle permits.

Hunting Laws in South Africa

Laws in South Africa allow anyone who is not a South Africa citizen to hunt.

However, the client must be under the supervision of a licensed professional hunter. A licensed professional outfitter must host the hunt.

All professional hunters and outfitters are required to hold a valid permit. South African regulations hold the professional hunter responsible for compliance with local laws.

Nick Bowker is both a licensed Professional Hunter and Outfitter.

First-time African hunters may use licensed firearms belonging to the professional hunter. And are not required to have any home country licenses or a competency certificate.

South Africa has a friendly regulatory environment for foreign hunters. Also, it offers hunters a very affordable African hunting safari.

Hunting with Shooting Sticks

Hunting with shooting sticks is universal in Africa and an important point for planning your African hunting safari. This is because most hunting in Africa is from a standing position.

Shooting sticks are often new for the first-time African hunter.

A shooting stick is a tripod to rest your rifle over for support while taking a standing shot. Prone, sitting and kneeling shots are not that common. Because of:

• The low vegetation obscures your target.

• Lying in a prone position or kneeling can be very uncomfortable. Also, it may not be possible because of rocky terrain and thorns, and other impediments.

• Furthermore, shots in Africa often need to be taken relatively quickly. Consequently, shooting sticks and a standing position facilitate this.

We are currently using Rudolph quad sticks for our African shooting sticks. We find the quad sticks give significantly more stability and facilitate far longer shots. The preferred style of Rudolph is the one that has a flat forearm. This allows a little extra opportunity to move the rifle without having to move the sticks completely.

How do shooting sticks work in practice, how should I prepare?

• The Professional hunter will carry the sticks or tripod for the first time African hunter. He will be walking in front, followed by the tracker and then the hunter.

• The professional hunter will place the shooting sticks for the hunter when the moment arrives.

• The hunter will then place his rifle across the shooting sticks, and the professional hunter will move over to the side.

• Historically the shooting sticks were homemade by the Professional hunter.

• These days shooting tripods are readily available, durable, and light, often made of titanium.

• A lot of material is available on the right methodology for using shooting sticks on YouTube. The right way is probably the one that works best for you.

• Buy some shooting sticks. PRACTISE A LOT WITH SHOOTING STICKS to prepare for your African hunting safari.

“A good pair of optics is a must for any first time, African hunter.”

Dan hunted with Nick Bowker in 2012 and 2019 and has some advice for the first-time African hunter.

“Finally, a few recommendations I would highly suggest to anyone:

• Give yourself a MINIMUM of 3-4 hours for a layover between Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth.

• We were delayed out of Port Elizabeth and barely made the plane back to the United States.

• You will need all that time for gun transfer, International check-in, etc.

• Follow the recommended packing list Nick provides. On both trips, I have over packed.

• You only need two sets of hunting stuff. As they will wash and clean your clothes each day; used the previous day.

• Bring an excellent collection of optics! The eyesight of Nick and his crew is astonishing.

• They see stuff with their naked eye that is difficult to pick up with good binoculars.

• As a result, great binoculars will make your experience much better with the amount of glassing you will be doing.

“Practice off shooting sticks.” – The majority of shooting will be from the standing postion.

• The majority of your shooting will be standing off of sticks.

• The first time I went on my African hunting safari, I did not realize how much shooting would be off sticks.

• Practice, A LOT, and be prepared to get a quality shot off in the standing position off sticks quickly.

• When you anchor an animal with one good shot, it makes everything so much better.

• As a result, you don’t want to spend a half-day or more tracking a trophy.

• Bring quality bullets and know your ballistics this will be valuable in preventing frustrating circumstances.

• Listen to your Professional Hunter. For instance, Nick can quickly judge an excellent African animal from a great one.

• Even after two trips, every decent Kudu bull still looks enormous. He will promptly be able to tell you what is a shooter and what is not. So, I would like to trust their judgment.

• Start planning your next trip after experiencing your first trip, as this is an addicting experience. Besides, South Africa offers hunters a very affordable African hunting safari.

Getting to South Africa

First-world airports and easily affordable travel make South Africa a convenient and trouble-free destination for the first-time African hunter. There are daily flights between the US and Europe and South Africa. See Getting to South Africa for an affordable African hunting safari.

It would help if you considered using a travel agency that specializes in airfare to international hunting destinations. Especially in the case of first-time African hunters. As they can assist with all aspects of your travel plans from:

• Airfare and lodging
• Entry visas
• Firearm permits
• Trip insurance policies
• Medical evacuation services

We recommend Gracy Travel. Gracy will take care of your entire trip including the paperwork for rifle permits and make planning your African hunting safari easy.

Overnight in Johannesburg

If you need to overnight in Johannesburg, we recommend City Lodge which is about 300m from International Arrivals at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport.

Access to the City Lodge from the airport is easy. It is reached via a well-signposted corridor, which also serves a multi-story car park, and thence by a private escalator. The escalator’s doors are barely five minutes walk from the international arrivals section of the airport, and airport luggage trolleys can be wheeled right up to these doors.

The reception area is staffed 24 hours a day, and we found it efficient. Beside it, you’ll find a bank of flat screens displaying live flight departure information linked to the airport’s system. Conveniently, the porter at reception can organize a luggage facility for guests for which there is no charge.  

Contact Information

City Lodge Hotel OR Tambo International Airport – Johannesburg

+27 11 552 7600 Email: [email protected]

Traveling with children to South Africa

The South African Department of Home Affairs introduced new requirements.

From 2 April 2019, all minors may be required to produce:

• Passport.
• An Unabridged Birth Certificate.

Or a passport that details both parents for all international travel to and from South Africa.

Travelers should visit the Department of Home Affairs website.

Packing for the first time African hunter

• Two pairs of hiking boots
• Three hunting shirts (earth color)
• Two hunting pants
• One warm jacket
• One pullover
• Casual outfit
• Loafers
• Sleepwear
• Cap/sun hat

Extras for the first time African Hunter

• Binoculars
• Torch
• Sunglasses
• Small backpack
• Sunscreen

Rifle Considerations for Planning Your African Safari

For many bringing their rifle is a must. Getting hunting firearms into South Africa is relatively easy, even for a first-time African hunter.

Thousands of hunters bring firearms into South Africa every year. However, you do need to be prepared.

Hunters who bring their rifles must comply with their local home country regulations. These include licensing requirements and ownership proof.

Currently, only AIRLINK carries firearms to Port Elizabeth. Connecting flights must be with AIRLINK. When traveling with weapons, it is advisable to use the service of an agent in Johannesburg.

Rifle Agents for the first time African hunter

We suggest Henry Durheim. Henry will ensure you hold valid permits for your rifles while hunting in South Africa.

• Email: [email protected]

• Website: www.riflepermits.com

• Henry charges $140 per rifle.
• And will pre-register the firearms.
• Meet you on arrival.
• Take you through customs and accompany you to your connecting flight for an additional $100.

Henry needs to be contacted at least a month before arrival.

The following needs to be sent to Henry at least a month in advance. See the checklist below for detailed information.

• Completed SAP 520 Form
• Copy of Your Passport
• Complete Flight Itinerary
• US Customs Form 4457
• Invitation letter from Nick Bowker Hunting

Regulations for a Temporary in Transit Import Permit

1. No more than ONE firearm per caliber or gauge.
2. No more than 200 rounds for each permitted firearm.
3. Ammunition is packed in a separate lockable case.
4. No ammunition is other than for permitted firearms.
5. Do not try and bring ammunition for your PH’s rifle.
6. Firearms must bear the manufacturer’s serial number or any other mark by which the gun can be identified.
7. The identification number must be stamped.
8. The mark is affixed in the prescribed manner on the barrel, the frame, or the firearm’s receiver.
9. Handguns are allowed only for hunting.
10. Any visitor bringing a handgun into the country needs a letter from a registered association.
    1. Stating that he/she is a registered member of the association.
    2. The handgun to be used for hunting purposes.

Prohibited firearms which may NOT be imported into South Africa, include:

• Any fully automatic weapon
• Any semi-automatic weapon
• No semi-automatic shotguns
• Handgun(s) for self-defense
• Weapons that fall under military categories

If bringing your own rifle is not a must. We suggest using the outfitter’s rifles. Nick Bowker has high-end rifles and optics included in packages free of charge. Using the outfitter’s rifles will simplify planning your African hunting safari

Check List for Rifle Permit

First-time African hunter rifle permit checklist.

1. Completed SAPS 520 Application Form.
2. Did you SIGN the SAPS520 application form? You must sign sections 4.3 and J3 on page 6.
3. Copy of photo page of the passport.
   Minimum of THREE blank pages left in the passport.
   Validity of at least four months beyond your planned return.
4. Copy of Complete Itinerary as issued by your Travel Agency or copies of your return airline tickets.
5. Proof of Ownership.
   Firearm license / Firearm registration form
   Letter from local Sheriff OR
   Invoice from Firearms Dealer
   For hunters traveling from the United States of America, the CBP4457 Customs Form will be sufficient. Just so you know, US customs must date, sign, and stamp this form.
6. Proof of Export from Country of Origin – The CBP4457 Customs Form will be sufficient for hunters traveling from the USA.
   This only applies to US applicants.

Check List Continued

1. Invitation Letter from Hunting Outfitter on Company Letterhead (with the following details).
   Registered Outfitter Number.
   Registered PH Number.
   Office Address.
   Contact Details.
   Name of the area where the hunt will take place.
   Date of the planned hunt.
   Species of Animals that the hunter is planning on hunting – (this is for the SAPS to verify if the rifle calibers are suitable).
   Details of firearms that the hunter intends to import.
2. VERY IMPORTANT: The copies of the passport and US4457 form must be certified as true copies by a notary or your local sheriff.
3. Download the CBP4457 Customs Form. This is only a blank form; you need to take your rifles to your nearest customs office for the form to be completed, signed, and stamped by US customs.