Trophy Handling & Rifle Importation

For Non-Republic of South African Residents:

The importance of the Trophy is of high importance to all staff and they are therefore well trained in all required field preparation. The hides are chemically preserved and tagged with your name and the transport to our local taxidermist is free. Any taxidermist costs will be covered by you, before any trophy can be transported to your choice of destination. Kolobe Safaris will complete all required documentation and arrangements for your trophies to be safely and legally exported. The Taxidermist will complete all required documentation and arrangements for your trophies to be safely and legally exported. Kolobe Safaris can not be held responsible for your trophies or the handling or mounting thereof once they have left our premises.

Importation of Firearms (Updated - August 2004)

Every hunter needs to give a wish list of animals they want to hunt. Kolobe Safaris will obtain all the necessary permits from the local authorities.

A minimum caliber of .270 is recommended and no semi automatic firearms are permitted in South Africa. In the Bush and as on Kolobe the average distance of shots will be at 100 meters and it is recommended that all rifles be zeroed in at this distance. For some of the Big Five (Buffalo, Elephant, Rhino, Lion and Hippo) a minimum caliber of .375 is recommended. 40 rounds per rifle will do.

We strongly recommend using the services of a rifle importation agent in SA for your convenience. The agent will send you all the relevant forms and personally meet you at the airport upon arrival to assist in the issuing of your Temporary Firearm Importing permit. The Rifle Importation agent will obtain all the necessary permits from local authorities.

Police officials will issue a temporary import/export permit at no costs at port of entry. Legislation governing international flights demands that rifles and ammunition be transported in separate lockable cases. A soft case is recommended for day-to-day movement of your firearm during your safari. We have a wide range of firearms available for hire if you prefer not to travel with your own firearm for convenience sake. CONTACT your local customs office prior to departure to get all necessary information applicable to legally export your firearm.

Visitors bringing firearms into South Africa for hunting purposes, will be asked to fill in a SAP 520 - Temporary Import Application which can be downloaded off the SAPS Website at: http://www.saps.gov.za/crime_prevention/firearms/importation_index.htm, or http://www.saps.gov.za (if first link has changed) or it can be filled out on arrival. We would suggest filling in the form beforehand to save the processing time at the Police Office.

Instructions for Filling in SAP 520 Form

Black ink must be used to fill in the form

The form must be left unsigned until the document is finalized in front of the police official issuing the actual permit

Please note that not all sections of the form apply. Visitors bringing their own firearms in for hunting purposes should concentrate on filling in the following:

Section D (temporary import or export permit)

Section E - 1 - 25.4

Section G- Section I - (Must fill in all details requested)

Section J - (remember do not sign until in front of police officer at firearm office)

Additional Requirements along with the SAP 520

Identity and Flight Details:

Passport

Return Airline Ticket

Other Supporting Documentation:

Proof of Ownership 

Firearm licenses, documentary proof, etc. For USA Citizens, Customs Declaration Form 4457 (officially stamped) is acceptable

Proof of Export 

Documentary proof of export from the country of origin

Motivation Letter from Client 

This is a letter from the client stating that he is temporarily importing the referred to firearm/s for the purpose of hunting, to include that the firearm/s are required as he       will be hunting (list the species to be hunted), etc.

Invitation Letter from the Hunting Outfitter 

This is supporting documentation from the Hunting Outfitter/company with whom the client will be hunting, to include full name of company, full contact details and                 address, dates and location where the client will be hunting and confirming that the applicant will be using the specific firearms as applied for.

Any Other Supporting Documents 

Firearms will be physically inspected to ensure the serial number(s) match those of the licenses (proof of ownership) and the application form. Ammunition will also be            inspected.

Procedure at Johannesburg International Airport

Clear passport control in the Terminal where your flight arrives (generally SAA and its co-partners at Terminal 2 and all other airlines at Terminal 1). 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 a                  receipt for the firearm/s. Ask the Airline Help Desk to direct you to the South African Police Firearm Office. Depending on the terminal where you arrive, they may                    need to escort you to the Office. 

Proceed to the South African Police Firearm Office (Do not at this point proceed to customs). On receipt of the temporary import permit at the SAPS Firearm 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 information made above which relates to                                documentation requirements, etc.

Please ensure sufficient time is allowed to go through the temporary importation process and to clear customs. During the busy periods of the hunting season up to                seventy clients may be needing permits at the same time. We would therefore recommend at least five (5) hours be set aside for this procedure and between connecting      flights.

Firearm / Ammunition Allowances and Specifications

No more than one firearm per caliber and 100 rounds per firearm will be permitted. No ammunition for other rifle calibers will be permitted. An exception to this may apply for shotguns where more than one of the same caliber may be allowed for bird hunting purposes if the client produces on arrival at the SAPS Gun Office an acceptable written motivation as to why more than one is required. Firearms must bear the manufacturer's serial number or any other mark by which the firearm can be identified. The identification number must be stamped and the mark affixed in the prescribed manner on the barrel or the frame or the receiver of the firearm. Handguns will be allowed into the country, but only for hunting purposes. Any visitor wanting to bring in a handgun in this regard needs to have a letter from an association in the country of origin, stating the handgun will be used for hunting purposes.

Prohibited Firearms (may NOT be imported into South Africa)

Any fully automatic weapon

Any semi-automatic weapon

Handgun/s for self-defense

Weapons which fall under military categories

A semi-automatic shotgun for hunting purposes may be allowed if an application is made at least 21 days before arrival through the Central Firearms Register with a              motivation letter as to why this type of firearm is required.

General Provisions - Temporary Import Permits

May only be issued to a foreign visitor for the purpose of hunting

Will be issued subject to the requirements of the Act with regard to the carrying, storage, safe custody and transport of a firearm and ammunition

Subject to the use of the firearm only for the purpose set out in the permit

Subject to the fact that no person who holds a temporary import permit is allowed to transfer the firearm to another person in South Africa without prior written                      permission having been obtained from the Central Firearm Register

Whenever the holder of a temporary import permit leaves the Republic of South Africa, the firearm in respect of which the permit is issued must accompany the holder          of  the permit

Possession of no more than the quantity of cartridges determined by the Registrar and specified on the permit for each firearm in respect of which the temporary import       permit applies

A Temporary Import Permit shall not be issued for a period exceeding six months at a time

Applicant must be 21 or over

Should a firearm not be declared on arrival and a temporary import permit not issued, you will face severe penalties and possible arrest on departure from South Africa

Applications for Temporary Import Permits can be made in advance to the Central Firearm Register. Ask your Hunting Outfitter to assist you in this regard.

Please ensure that your firearm/s 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. If the firearm/s do not arrive with the passenger, the                      passenger must proceed to his final destination in South Africa and apply at the closest Police Station for a Temporary Import Permit. When the Temporary Import                    Permit has been issued, the original permit with the keys to the rifle case must be couriered to the Border Post of entry. A Transport Agent with transport permit must            be appointed by the passenger. This Transport Agent must have a letter from the passenger instructing him/her to transport the firearm/s to the passenger in person.              The firearm/s will be inspected by the Police at the Port of entry and the firearm/s and permit will be handed to the transporter to be transported to the passenger

Please do not pay for any service regarding the handling of firearms at Johannesburg International Airport, or any port of entry. The issuing of the SAP 520 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        receive your firearm/s and the permit from the SAPS. Clients that are paying the various airline staff, security staff, or porters involved are actually creating a problem.            Please note however there is a handling fee charged by airlines and/or security companies for the handling of handguns, and some airlines have started charging a                    handling fee for all firearms. We suggest checking with your airline with regard to any "official" fees that may be required.

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.

Please note that NO firearms will be held for safekeeping by the SAPS. If a client brings in a prohibited firearm, brings in more than what is allowed, or lacks the necessary documentation and his request for a temporary import permit is denied, the involved firearms must be exported immediately by the client or voluntarily surrendered to the State.