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Traveling with Rifles, Bows, and Ammunition Rules & Regulations

Bow Hunters

Bow Hunters do not require a temporary import permit for their bow/s into South Africa, BUT do however require a USA Customs Declaration 4457 form for their Bow/s.

 

Rifle hunters

Rifle hunters coming to South Africa requires a temporary import/export permit for firearms and ammunition. Firearm Import/Export permits can be issued at both our international ports of entry, Johannesburg, and Cape Town International Airports, or applied for before your arrival in South Africa.

 

Make sure you comply.

 

Visit www.riflepermits.com for assistance with importing & exporting permits on all firearms.

 

 

*Complete the form in BLACK ink.

 

The form must remain unsigned until it is completed in front of a police officer, who is issuing the actual permit.

Please note that all sections of the form apply.

 

Hunting visitors should concentrate on filling in the following:

 

Section D – (Temporary Import or Export Permit)

Section E: 1 – 25,4

Section G

Section I: Fill in all the required details.

Section J: Remember, do not sign until you are in front of the police officer at the Firearm Office.

Hunting visitors also need the following important documents:

 

Proof of firearm license, documentary proof etc.

Documentary proof of export from the country of origin.

Invitation letter from the hunting outfitter, which should be on company letterhead. (DOWNLOAD LETTER)

A signed copy of the Huntshoek Safaris Indemnity Form. (DOWNLOAD FORM)

Huntshoek Safaris Remuneration agreement, signed. (DOWNLOAD AGREEMENT)

Mandatory Bookings form, to be completed online. (ONLINE FORM)

Provide full address and contact details.

Location where hunting will take place.

Confirmation of animals to be hunted and confirming caliber of firearms required.

 

Note: Firearms as well as Ammunition will be physically inspected to ensure that the serial numbers match the licenses.

 

Rules & Regulations for the import/export/transit of Firearm/s to/from South Africa:

  • You may temporarily import a maximum of four firearms per hunter.
  • Rifles of the same caliber are NOT allowed.
  • ONLY Flysafair and SA Airlink allow the transportation of firearms domestically within South Africa.
  • Ensure your domestic flight/s you are booked on indicate it is an flysafair/SA Airlink flight AND NOT a SHARED CARRIER flight. The shared carrier will not honor or permit the carry of firearms. Even if your flight indicates it’s an Flysafair/SA Airlink flight, double check it is not a shared carrier flight.
  • Please note there will be an extra baggage charge for both rifle case and ammunition case.
  • Ammunition case to not exceed 5kg/11lbs.
  •  Rifles and shotguns will not be accepted as Checked Baggage, unless approved no less than three (3) working days prior to departure through Airlink Reservations Control Tel +27 11 451 7350/ Your Travel Agent.
  • Rifles must be unloaded with the safety catch on, and suitably packed and accompanied by all documents legally required by the countries of departure, destination and any stopovers.
  • You may only bring ammunition applicable to the firearms that you will be carrying.
  • No person under the age of 21 may bring firearm/s into South Africa or apply for a temporary import permit in his / her name.
  • The barrel, frame or action is to be marked with the same serial number.
  • Semi-automatic shotguns for bird hunting or a custom-made handgun/s can be bought into South Africa for hunting purposes only.
  • No self-protection firearm/s allowed.
  •  If in transit, permits are required by any passenger spending the night in South Africa while in transit to a third country. The same pre-requisites apply as to obtain the standard temporary import permit.

 

Rules & Regulations for traveling with ammunition for your firearm/s to/from South Africa:

 

  • ALL ammunition you are travelling with, internationally arriving/departing in/out of South Africa and within South Africa / regionally within Southern Africa on SA Airlink/flysafair must be in a separate locked hard metal/plastic ammunition case.
  • Ammunition is no longer allowed to be checked within checked luggage arriving in South Africa.
  • Ammunition will never be carried in the cabin or flight deck of the aircraft.
  • Ammunition must be packed separately and securely from the firearm case and not in the checked bag onto final destination.
  • Also note a maximum of 200 rounds of ammunition is allowed per firearm/per caliber.
  • Most airlines have a weight limit on ammunition of 5KG/11 LBS, which is approximately 140 rounds of 243 / 120 rounds of 300 Win Mag / 100 rounds of 375.
  • From experience we would recommend between 60 and 80 rounds per caliber.