Hints & Tips

Preparing for your Hunt & what to expect

Some important hunting tips to help you prepare for your hunt, including the procedure for taking your rifles into South Africa and what you might expect on your hunt. We aim to give you the hunt of a lifetime and to get you to come back often! We want you to enjoy your hunt at Nduna Hunting Safaris and your stay at our base camp, Nduna Lodge and we aim to give you the hunt of a lifetime and to get you to come back and enjoy more Hunting Safaris with us!

Booking Airline Tickets

When you book the tickets, be sure to advise the airline that you will be carrying sporting rifles and ammunition. Make sure the airline policy does not preclude this.

South African Permits

We believe that a hunter shoots best with the rifle he normally uses and we encourage clients to bring their favourite rifle(s) of suitable calibre to use during the hunt.   Quality rifles, fitted with quality European riflescopes, are available to hire at £60 per hunt.   Ammunition will be provided at replacement cost.

Rifles

You can take up to two rifles of different calibres into South Africa on a Temporary Permit. Suitable calibres for plains game include but are not limited to: .30-06; .308; .300WM; .300WSM; .270; .270WSM; 7mm-08; 7mm Rem Mag and other .300 and 7mm Magnums.   Semi Automatic rifles are not permitted in RSA.

Ammunition

You will normally be limited to a maximum of five kilos of ammunition by the airline. The ammunition, which should be in the manufacturers or similar packaging, is to be placed separately in a lockable case and checked in as hold baggage. It can be placed in your main checked in suitcase or bag, though certain Internal Airport security companies insist it is loaded as a separate checked item. The RSA Police limit you to a maximum of two hundred rounds per calibre. Many hunters use an MTM type rigid plastic ammo box and find that fifty rounds is more than enough (with plenty left over in case you have to re zero for any reason). Good bullet choices for most Eastern Cape plains game include Barnes X, Nosler Partition, Hornady SST or any other proprietary bonded or core locked bullet. The animals in Africa tend to have thicker skin and more robust constitutions than European and USA deer species. This demands a bullet designed to hold together and penetrate deeper before expansion. Ballistic Tip bullets are not suitable for plains game.

At the Airport

Your rifle(s) should be in a hard lockable case and identified as sporting rifle(s) to the check in agent, who will instigate local authority regulations, if any. Your rifle(s) will then be taken by the airline security personnel and that is the last you will see of it / them until you land at one of the two entry airports in South Africa, Johannesburg or Cape Town.

Arriving in South Africa

On arrival at the South African entry airport of your choice, you will proceed to immigration, a painless operation taking about 15-20 minutes, unless a lot of aircraft arrive within a short space of one another, where you will show your passport and return ticket.

Retrieving Your Rifle at Baggage Claim

In Johannesburg

Your rifle(s) will be taken direct to the Police Office in the airport, so passing through immigration, make your way to the baggage reclaim area to retrieve your baggage. Having done so, walk through the Green Channel, out the door into arrivals and turn Right. Then on your Right will be some shops, a corridor and the Police Office is at the back. Go in and identify yourself to the Police Officer. Present the police with the documentation pack which we will make up for you (if you so wish). Be sure to tell the policeman that the pack is for him so he does not have to make copies. The issue of a temporary permit should only take 20 minutes.

DO NOT sign the SAPS 520 form until the policeman asks you to do so, as he must see you sign it.

In Johannesburg Airport, there is a Police Office dedicated to the issue of temporary firearm permits and there is likely to be several officers on duty.

In Cape Town Airport, the Police Office is smaller, with maybe only one officer on duty, but if there are not a lot of people seeking permits, it’s a fairly quick process there too. Here your rifle will be taken straight to the Police Office, which is on the Right, just before Customs.

Transfers to Port Elizabeth

Depending on what time your flight arrives, you may have to stay overnight at port of entry, catching a flight to Port Elizabeth the following day. In Johannesburg, the Airport Game Lodge. It’s comfy and inexpensive. It’s only 10 km from the airport and they will pick you up and take you back to the airport in the morning for free! www.airport-game-lodge.co.za

In Cape Town, the Airport Lodge Hotel, actually at the airport, is convenient. Make sure you let hotel booking staff know that you want the hotel mini bus to pick you up from the airport about an hour after your flight lands (there is a cost for this service).

Whether in Johannesburg or Cape Town, after you check in for your flight to Port Elizabeth, check in staff will direct you to the firearm check in desk. Here, a security man will check your rifle’s serial number against your temporary permit and take it to the aircraft for you.

Arriving at Port Elizabeth

At Port Elizabeth Airport, Nduna Hunting Safaris personnel will meet you. They will retrieve your rifles for you and carry your baggage to their trucks and convey you to Nduna Lodge, about an hour’s North along the coast, near the small town of Alexandria.

Nduna Lodge

On arrival at the Four Star Nduna Lodge, you will be shown to your very comfortable and luxury accommodation and depending upon arrival time, perhaps fed one of Chef’s South African breakfasts. You will then be able to sample such delights as kudu sausage, bacon, eggs, tomatoes, fruit, toast, etc.,etc. Fill your boots, you’ll need it! You will enjoy the best of hunting, the friendliest of atmospheres, the most excellent of food, the finest of South African Wines, Spirits and Beers and the warmest of South African welcomes. All of this included in the cost of your hunt.

Check Your Zero!

If after this you can still move, and once you have settled in, you will be invited to go to the firing range, where you can check the zero of your rifle. Zeroing over, it is then up to you.

Nduna Hunting Safaris Personnel

You will find your outfitter, Willem de Villiers and his team of Professional Hunters to be friendly, knowledgeable and helpful and very happy to share their knowledge with you, if you ask and show interest. They love to hunt and to talk hunting and they appreciate an inquisitive, attentive and humble hunter and will respond accordingly.

Climate

South Africa has vast temperature variations, which depend on the season. The ideal time of year for hunting is from April to September. The chances of obtaining your trophy are so much better during these months. We suggest that you bring a windproof jacket and at least one warm sweater. The Eastern Cape enjoys a moderate climate, with few extremes in temperature and is generally sunny and pleasant. Winters are usually mild, although snow falls on the mountain ranges of the Cape and Natal and occasionally in the lower-lying areas, when a brief cold spell can be expected throughout the country.

Malaria

Most of the hunting takes place in the Eastern Cape, which is Malaria Free. You should still bring some mozzy spray (30% Deet), to keep flying pests and the occasional tick at bay.

What to Take

Most of our clients find that even though they try to travel light, they always end up taking clothes they never wear. Nduna Lodge provides a daily laundry service. Just leave your dirty clothes in the laundry bag each morning and by the time you return from your hunt in the evening, your clothes will be in your room, clean and freshly ironed.

Activities for Non Hunters (and Hunters alike)

Horse riding on the beach.
 Addo Elephant and Game Reserve.
 Pumba Big Five Viewing Safari.
 Health and Beauty Spa.
 Fishing.
 Shopping in Port Elizabeth.
 Bush walks at Nduna.

Activities not undertaken at Nduna are at cost.

Hunting Clothes and Equipment

All hunting clothes should be neutral of colour (i.e: khaki, green or cammo). Please do not bring bright or white colours.

  • Hunting or Hiking boots that are already broken in
  • Short sleeve shirts
  • Long sleeve shirts
  • Short trousers
  • Long trousers
  • Hunting Cap/Hat
  • Gloves
  • Warm sweaters
  • Warm jacket
  • Casual clothes, to be worn when not hunting
  • Underwear
  • Socks
  • Toiletries
  • Sunscreen, SPF 30+
  • Lip balm
  • Video/Digital Camera
  • Binoculars ( 6X to 10X)

Torch / Flashlight

Medical

If you have any allergies or medical conditions we recommend you bring your own supply of medicines. We do carry a well stocked First Aid Kit in the hunting vehicle.

Insurance

Although all reasonable precautions are taken to ensure your safety during your safari, you should arrange your own personal travel and all risk hunting and medical insurance, as no liability can be accepted by Nduna Hunting Safaris for these risks. It is necessary for all clients to sign a personal indemnity before commencement of the safari.

Payments:

  • All prices are quoted in Pounds Sterling, US Dollars or Euros and are valid as per price list and subject to change.
  • A 50% deposit based on total daily rate to confirm hunting dates and safari.
  • All payments to be made in cash, traveller’s cheques or bank transfers.
  • Balance of daily rates payable on arrival.
  • Charges are applicable to animals actually bagged or wounded and lost.
  • Trophy fees, any additionally incurred fees and payment for wounded animals are payable at the end of the hunt before departure. This includes day trips etc.

Cancellation Terms:

Deposits are non-refundable but a 6 month mutually convenient date change can be made.

*Please Note:
All prices/billing information and packages may be subject to change