Travel & Safari Info

Travel Arrangements

Travel arrangements to South Africa can be made with any travel agent of your choice. Alternatively, for travel from the USA we find Linda Schrader of Falcon Travel very helpful:

Linda Schrader
Tel: 210 479 9895
Email: lacarroll@earthlink.net

Falcon Travel offers wholesale deals on airfares and deal predominantly with travel to African countries. Fares are priced on a seasonal basis.

Travel Document Requirements

• Passport (Must be valid for 6 months after your return date)
• Visa (please check with your travel agent, not required for people traveling on a US passport)
• US customs form 4457 registering your weapon in the US
• SAP 520 form for the temporary importing of your firearm/s. Click here to download instructions on how to complete the SAP 520 form.
• Motivation letter stating that you are temporarily importing your firearm/s for hunting purposes and the species of animals to be hunted. By stating the animals you wish to hunt in the motivational letter does not place any restriction on you to only hunt these specific animals.
• Invitation letter from your hunting outfitter
• Address, phone numbers for Lalapa Safaris
• Medical records
• Travel Insurance

Airport Collections

Lalapa Safaris collects safari clients from East London Airport, a 1½ hour flight from O. R. Tambo Airport in Johannesburg. O.R. Tambo airport is your international port of entry into South Africa. Please forward your travel itinerary to Lalapa Safaris as soon as it is made available to ensure that we are well prepared for your arrival. Your airport collection details will be planned based on the travel itinerary provided. A Lalapa Safaris representative will meet you at East London Airport on the date and time of your arrival. We will help you receive your luggage and firearm/s from the local security officer. It is approximately 1½ hour’s drive to Lalapa Safaris’ base lodge.

Temporary Firearm Import Permits 

Your international port of entry into South Africa is O R Tambo Airport in Johannesburg. Hunters travelling with their own firearms will obtain their temporary import permit at this point. This is why you need the Customs 4457 form, SAP 520, motivation letter and invitation letter from your outfitter. Here you will clear customs before a short internal flight to East London.

We suggest that hunters have all these documents prepared before arrival in Johannesburg. Alternatively we suggest that you make use of a meet & greet service to insure a trouble-free arrival. They will, for a fee, obtain your temporary import permit for you prior to arrival. We suggest PHASA for this service. A PHASA representative will meet you in the SA Police Office at OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg) with your permit on arrival. Please visit the Phasa website for further information on pre-issued permits.

Insurance

While all possible precautions are taken to protect you against any accident, illness or other loss, no liability can be accepted in this regard. You are required to arrange your own personal, travel, all-risks hunting and medical insurance.

Payment 

A deposit is payable on contract agreement. The balance of your package or daily rate is due on arrival in camp.Trophy fees are payable at the end of your safari. We regret that no personal cheques can be accepted, but we do accept traveller’s cheques, cash and credit cards (upon arrangement).

Export Permits

Government and the veterinary permits for exporting trophies will be arranged on your behalf, but you are required to ensure that you are able to import trophies into your own country and that all CITIES permits are in order.

Health Precautions

Your safari guide will carry a first aid kit at all times. More sophisticated medical facilities are available within a radius of about 60 miles of our hunting area. No inoculation or Malaria medication is required to hunt or visit the Eastern Cape region.

Climate and Season

The Eastern Cape of South Africa is a Malaria and Bilharzia free area and no precautions need to be taken for these diseases. 

Our cooler months of April-September, which incorporates our fall, winter and spring, are the main hunting months. This is a natural choice for hunters. Our moderate climate however does allow us to take hunters throughout the year.
In the warm summer months temperatures will vary from 55°f - 100°f (12˚c - 38˚c) in the heat of the day. The average day temperatures will be around 80°f (27˚c). During winter months, the temperature can drop below freezing at night or early morning, but warms up during the day to an average temperature of around 65°f (18˚c).

Packing List

Weapons & Equipment

• A mid-range calibre rifle is suitable for a plains game safari
• .270, .308, 7mm, 30-06, .338 or similar are all suitable calibres
• Always hunt with the rifle you feel most comfortable with
• Variable scope 2-7, 3-9 etc. can help
• Rifle sling
• 60 rounds of Ammunition (good quality soft point)
• Belt style cartridge holder
• Locking hard gun case for travel
• Soft gun case for safari
• Binoculars
• Camera 
• Video camera
• Chargers
• Flashlight
• International voltage converter (Radio Shack)

Clothes & Miscellaneous

• Cotton trousers
• Cotton shirts (long and short sleeve)
• Hunting coat or lightweight down jacket (brown, green, kaki or camo)
• Hat or cap
• Belt
• A pair of camp shoes
• A pair of boots, lightweight, preferably waterproof
• A jumper or sweater
• Pair of lightweight gloves
• 3 sets of underwear
• 3 pairs of socks
• Lip balm or chapstick
• Sunblock (SPF30+)
• Sunglasses
• An extra pair of prescription reading glasses
• Personal travel kit (razor, etc.)
• Tick repellent

Notes

• Nights are cool in South Africa, a jacket is usually required on a truck or at the campfire
• Laundry is done daily
• Camouflage is acceptable in South Africa