You need to know the following should you fly with SAA, rumors that SAA is refusing to take firearms to Zimbabwe are false. The situation is that all airlines flying from a port in the European Union (EU) are blocked from taking any firearms to Zimbabwe. That's because of a firearms embargo implemented by the EU several years ago

The United Kingdom was the first to enforce the EU embargo when it was first passed. In 2008 The Netherlands was enforcing it and now Germany encountered the embargo. Apparently, Switzerland, although not a member of the EU, is now enforcing the embargo as well. What all this boils down to is that SAA is unable to check firearms all the way through to Zimbabwe when flying from the EU. However, they can check your guns through to South Africa from where they can take them on to Zimbabwe.

For several years now, The Hunting Report has advised subscribers on their way to Zim through the UK that they need to break their travel itinerary into two parts in order to circumvent this embargo. The first ticket must show South Africa as a final destination. A second and separate ticket should be issued for your flight from South Africa to Zimbabwe. This same advice applies to all flights from any country in the European Union.

Of course, not checking your bags all the way through to Zimbabwe means you will have to claim them in South Africa and check in for your connecting flight to Zimbabwe. This will require going through the temporary gun import process in South Africa, which can take some time. Be sure you schedule at least two to three hours between your flights.

Please remember

You can download the application form to import your guns from the home page of the PHASA web site under SAP520, PHASA will handle all the paperwork for you. We can get your permit issued ahead of time and will meet you at the airport to make sure you get your guns on your next flight. Contact PHASA for this service on: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it