Situated at the Southern tip of Africa, South Africa contains a wide diversity of climatic regions that contribute to its renowned beauty. Cape Town at 35 degrees South lies on similar latitude as Sydney and Buenos Aires. On the West Coast the cold Benguella current of the Atlantic Ocean produces arid scrubland conditions, changing to a summer rainfall, grassland type region in the central highlands. A continuous mountain range divides the country from North to South. Along the Eastern side of this range the climate ranges from sub-tropical to Mediterranean. The warm Indian Ocean provides for high rainfall which results in the forests, lakes and rivers. The LIMPOPO Province is situated in the northern part of the country, bordering on Botswana and Zimbabwe in the north.

How do I get ther?
From the US, we recommend South African Airways.  They fly direct flights from Chicago O'Hare, Washington Dulles and New York JFK Airports to Johannesburg International Airport (O R Thambo International), your pick up point for African Pro Hunt Safaris.  You’ll need to plan ahead as flights are quite crowded during hunting season.  Also, not all the flights go directly to Johannesburg.  Some of them stop in Cape Town before arriving Johannesburg.  This option adds five more hours to an already long trip.  We can make travel arrangements for you or you can use a travel agent.  We highly recommend you use a travel agent experienced in travelling to Africa.  If you have frequent flyer miles, you’ll need to deal directly with your specific airline.  Plan ahead at least 6 months for this as the frequent flyer seats go very quickly.

What do I need to enter South Africa?
You and your family members will need a passport that is valid 6 months beyond your departure date.  Make sure you have at least 2 blank pages in each passport for visa stamps, more if you are adding stops to other countries in your itinerary.  In 2004, the South African Passport control required you to have a front and back page blank that is titled Visa.  Don’t check that when you are on the airplane filling out your immigration form.  Citizens from the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany and Spain do not require a Visa.

Click here to find a US Passport Office near you.

Make a copy of your passport and put it in a bag that is separate from where you keep your passport.  It is much easier to obtain a new passport if you have a copy of your passport.  If you lose your passport, contact the US Embassy.

What type of guns and how many guns should I bring?
You don’t need to run out and buy a new rifle unless you really want one.  Plan on bringing a maximum of 2 sporting rifles into South Africa.  The rifle that you use for hunting any deer species and other large game will work very well here. For Plains game animals we recommend any of the following: 270, 308, 30-06, 300 Magnum, 7MM Magnum.  These calibres are used with success frequently.

Big Game and Thick Skin Animals:
A minimum of .375 is required  

How much and what type of ammunition should I bring?
The airlines restrict how much ammunition you can carry by weight.  You are allowed by South African law to bring in 200 rounds.  We don’t plan on you shooting that much.  Most hunters bring 40 to 60 rounds of ammunition.  The best bullets we have seen are Premium type ammunition loaded with Barnes X, Swift A Frame or Nosler Partition bullets.  We recommend you shot a 150-180 grain bullet, whichever your rifle shoots most accurately. 

What type of shooting practice should I do to get ready for my safari?
Make sure your rifle is shooting consistently and accurately with the ammunition you choose.  If it’s not, get different ammunition.  The number one rule for practicing after that is: GET OFF THE BENCH!  Go to your deer lease or find a rifle range that will allow you to practice OFF THE BENCH.  Shoot from the sitting and kneeling positions.  Shoot off a tree limb or a tree trunk.  Get a good pair of shooting sticks and shoot from those.  The biggest challenge is getting your scope on the target and getting the shot off quickly.  Many trophies have gotten away because a hunter waits more than 2 to 3 seconds getting everything perfect before they shoot.  These trophies don’t get big and old by standing around looking at you aim at them.  The best way to help yourself is make sure your rifle fits well; your rifle is shooting accurately and learn to shoot very quickly after the crosshairs are in place.

Do I need to do anything special for shipping my gun?
You will need to go by a US Customs office and fill out a Customs Form 4457 before you go on your trip.  The US Customs Service has offices at any large international airport.  Check your government pages in the phone book to find the phone number for your local Customs office.  DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DAY OF YOUR DEPARTURE TO GET THIS FORM AT THE AIRPORT.  GET IT AHEAD OF TIME!

Click here to download the US Customs Form 4457.

How do I get my gun there?
Your gun should be packed in a crash resistant plastic or metal case that locks.  Don’t use the plastic case that’s on sale at the end of hunting season for $30.95.  In the US, you will need to make sure you get to the airport early enough to have your gun inspected by TSA before it is placed on the airplane.  Call your airline about details of packing guns and bullets.  They are the final word.

Is it difficult to get my gun into South Africa?
No, it just takes a bit of time.  Upon arrival, after passing through passport control, you will pick up your checked baggage.  Proceed to your airline’s help desk in the luggage area and tell them you have a firearm as checked baggage.  They should assist you in retrieving your rifle.  You must then head to the South African Police Service firearm control office and register your firearm with the SAPS using SAPS Form 520.  This is a bit time consuming because it is a long form.  Once you complete the Form 520 to their satisfaction, they will issue you a temporary import permit.  Make sure you don’t lose this permit.  Remember, if you bring a firearm in, you must take it back out with you.  It is illegal to leave your firearm in South Africa.  If you book your hunt with us, we will provide you with more details on what is required.

Click here to download SAPS Form 520 (Import permit)

Click here to download SAPS Form 520 Instructions

How long will the shots be?
Most of your shots will be 150 yards or less.  It doesn’t always work that way, and longer shots are taken, but typically, 150 yards or less is the normal shot.  It’s best if you know where your bullet will strike at 50, 100, 150 and 200 yards.  We work very hard to keep all shots to 100 yards or less as we don’t want to spend your valuable hunting time chasing a wounded animal through the bush.  The most important part of shooting here is many of the shots come quickly so it’s important to be able to put your face on your rifle, look down the scope and acquire the target and shoot accurately within 3 to 5 seconds.  The trophy animals here haven’t survived by standing around watching intruders in their world.  They survive by fleeing and will not stand and look at you all day.

When is the best time to go hunting in South Africa?
We prefer our guests to come between April 1st and Sept 30th.  This is late fall, winter and early spring for us so our weather is quite nice.  If your schedule doesn’t work for those dates, we will be happy to accommodate you when your schedule allows.

CLIMATE
Like most of South Africa, the Limpopo Province experiences summer rainfall with the bulk of the rain falling between October and April. May to September is normally the winter dry season, Daytime temperatures range from 20oC in winter and 30oC in summer, but can reach into the mid 30s in mid summer, but that is not very common. The summer days are hot and the evenings are mild, with the winter days being mild and pleasant, but chilly before and after sunset. Humidity is generally low throughout the year, although summer can be humid.

FOOD & WATER 
South Africa generally has a hot climate, and everyone should drink water or mineral drinks to suit his or her own needs.  As a rule, tap water in South Africa is safe to drink as it is treated and is free of harmful micro-organisms.  As for most of the ranches in the South Africa, water is supplied via a borehole and/or pipeline and is purified and safe to drink as is. For those visitors who do wish to have bottled water, this is freely available at the ranches. The standards of hygiene and food preparation at all our ranches are top-notch; it is safe to eat fresh fruit and salads and to put as much ice as you like in your drinks - a good thing, too, after a day in the bush.

INSECTS & REPTILES 
Snakes, Mosquitoes and other bugs are basically non existent during the winter season?

Do I need any immunizations before I come to South Africa?
No immunizations are required to enter South Africa.  A tetanus booster and Hepatitis A vaccines are recommended by the Centre for Disease Control.  We recommend you look at the CDC web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/safrica.htm to learn more about health issues in South Africa.  It’s a good idea to consult with your personal physician about travelling to Africa well before you leave.
The primary hunting area for African Pro Hunt Safaris is malaria free.  If your hunt takes you to other provinces, we will inform you if a malaria medicine is needed.  You will need to start taking the medicine at least a week before you come.  Again, consult your doctor and pharmacist for instructions.

What happens if I need to fill a prescription or see a doctor?
 
Your prescription can be refilled here in South Africa.  It would be best if you bring enough of your medication to last for the entire trip so we don’t take away from important hunting time.  If you’re concerned about running out, have your doctor write a prescription for you and bring it with you.  South Africa has excellent medical facilities and medical care.  I know of one hunter in Africa who fell and broke his hip and had his hip replaced before he returned to the US.  These facilities are all a reasonable drive from all of African Pro Hunt Safaris hunting areas.

What about special insurance coverage?  
You may purchase several types of insurance for your safari.  Baggage insurance, firearm insurance, trip cancellation insurance, travel insurance and medical evacuation insurance are all areas to consider to make yourself more financially secure before you leave on your trip.
The best firearm insurance for the money is with Sport man’s Insurance Agency.  You can reach them at 800-925-7767 or visit them on the web at www.siai.net   African Pro Hunt Safaris highly recommends you to insure your rifle for this long trek.
You have multiple choices for medical evacuation companies.  You can buy a year policy or a policy that covers just your individual trip.  Here are a few companies you can check with. 
Wilderness Medical Systems - http://www.wildernessmedical.com
Med Jet - http://www.medjetassistance.com

What kind of personal items should I bring?

• Camera and more film than you think you need!
• Video Camera, tapes, battery charger and extra battery
• Eyeglasses, Contacts, Sunglasses
• Binoculars
• Flashlight and batteries
• 220 to 110 voltage converter and adapter plug
• Good reading material.  It’s a long plane ride.
• Pocket knife or scissors – PACK IN CHECKED LUGGAGE
• Diary and writing pen  
• Any medical prescriptions and allergy medicines
• Insect Repellent with at least 35% DEET
• Band aids and mole skin
• Sunscreen
• Lip balm with sunscreen
• Personal toiletries, shaving or cosmetic kit
• Small sewing kit with buttons

Clothing:

• Khaki, Olive or Camouflage clothing is convenient
• Shorts (or loose fitting long pants) and T-shirts or short sleeve shirts for day time
• Warm clothing for night time.
• Sunhat
• Warm jacket
• Light Windbreaker
• Sweater
• Underwear
• Gloves
• Fingerless Gloves
• Bandanna
• Socks
• Boots (warn in)

Do I need an electrical converter or adapter?
You will need both a converter to plug your items into and an adapter to plug into the outlet.  The converter will change the voltage from 230-240 Volts, 50 HZ to 120Volts.  You can find converters and adapters at any electronics store like Radio Shack or Circuit City or department stores like Kmart, Wal-Mart or Target.  African Pro Hunt Safaris does have a few converters and adapters in camp, but it’s best to bring your own to insure you have one. 
 
What kind of phone service can I get on my safari?
You can rent a cell phone at Johannesburg Intl Airport (O R Thambo International) that will work well in the safari area.  Also, if you have a GMS enabled US cell phone, you may make international calls ONLY if you have the international calls feature turned on. In most cases, this requires a visit to your carrier's store or a phone call to their customer service department. Once you have enabled international calling, you will be able to make calls in most areas of the country, depending on your carrier and the agreements they have in place with local carriers to provide service to their clients. (Singular works well in camp.) Another option would be a satellite phone.  If you desire one of these services, please let us know.  We can connect you with a company who can serve your needs in this area.

Can I get internet access while I am on safari?
We do not have the capability at this time to allow you to connect to the internet.  Whatever family you don’t bring with, you will have all appropriate emergency phone numbers for African Pro Hunt Safaris as well as an email address for emergency contact.  In an emergency situation, we will insure you have communication capability.  We just cannot provide it as a standard service at this time due to our remote location and limited service.

What’s the time difference between the US and South Africa?
In summer in the US, South Africa is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time, 7 hours ahead of Central Daylight Time, and 8 hours ahead of Mountain Daylight Time and 9 hours ahead of Pacific Daylight Time.  See table below for explanation.

Can I bring the meat back?
Sorry.  It is against US Dept of Agriculture regulations to import wild game or meat of any kind without a proper license.  The meat stays here at the ranch where it is served to our hunting guests as well as used by the staff and their families.