Travelling with your rifle

Hunting firearms and ammunition must be declared when you arrive in Namibia. The Namibian Police issue a temporary import permit, which stays with your rifle for the whole hunt and until you leave. NAPHA, the Namibia Professional Hunting Association, advises applying in advance by email to the Namibian Police. Ask Andrew for the current form and the documents you’ll need.

According to NAPHA’s summary of the rules:

• At most two firearms per hunter. South Africa also limits transit to two firearms per person.
• At most 100 rounds of ammunition per rifle.
• Handguns, semi-automatic and automatic firearms are not allowed. Neither are crossbows.
• Carry rifles in a sturdy, lockable case, and ammunition separately in its original packaging.
• Namibian law sets a minimum muzzle energy: 1,350 joules for small game such as springbok and duiker, and 2,700 joules for medium game such as kudu, wildebeest, oryx and eland.

Under the international air-transport rules (IATA), a passenger may carry up to 5 kg of securely packed sporting ammunition, in checked baggage only, with the rifle unloaded in its case. Airlines can set stricter rules and usually want firearms booked in advance, so contact your airline before you book, and again before you fly.

If your route passes through South Africa, you need a South African in-transit permit to take your firearms through the country, even if you only change planes. The application is made on form SAPS 520. Check the South African Police Service rules well before you travel, or choose a route that avoids a South African transit.

Register your firearms with U.S. Customs and Border Protection before you leave, so you can bring them back into the country without questions.

We welcome bow hunters and can arrange hides at waterholes. Bow hunting in Namibia has its own equipment rules; ask Andrew what applies to your bow and arrows before you travel.