SAFARI PLANNING & DEADLINES

One Year or More before you go

• Book your African safari and pay the required deposit. Book earlier if you wish to go during the popular months of June, July, and August. For species with limited tags or difficult-to-get permits such as lion and leopard, book even earlier!

One Year before you go

• AIRLINE RECOMMENDATION: we always recommend Ethiopian Airlines. By all means we recommend avoiding South Africa if you plan to bring your rifle, you will need to check out and check in your rifle and ammo in South Africa.  

• Book your airfare. Most flights go on sale 330 days in advance. Book early, as flights fill up during the most popular hunting months.

• Book any pre/hunt or post/hunt accommodation reservations. If you are sightseeing before or after your hunt, book any tours, vehicle rentals, or necessary accommodations. We can give you some recommendations.

• Start getting in shape. At a minimum, walk 3 miles at least three times a week using your hunting boots.

Six Months before you go

• Ensure that your passport does not expire for at least 6 months after your departure date from Africa. Make sure that you will have a minimum of 6 blank pages available for your entry into Africa.  If you are visiting multiple countries on your safari before or after the hunt, you should either apply for a new passport at your local Post Office or apply for additional pages for your existing passport through the US Department of State’s website at: http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds4085/ds4085_2662.html

• If you have a European or US passport, you do not need to apply for a Visa since you pay for it at the airport. It has a cost of $30 and is recommended that you carry the exact amount because is common that they don't have it.

• Talk with your physician about any inoculations you may need for your trip. You may want him to prescribe a couple of antibiotic prescriptions, anti-malarial medications, anti-diarrheal prescriptions and sleeping pills for your flight over. 

• As of right now, there is no mandatory vaccine. This changes, so check online. Visit your local travel clinic or health clinic offering travel immunizations to get your required inoculations. Some of these inoculations require multiple injections over a period of months.

• Practice shooting the firearms off of shooting sticks.

Four Months before you go

• Get a “Letter of Invitation” from us. This is a simple PDF for which we need your flight information.

• Make sure you have CBP Form 4457 proving ownership of your firearms (https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/cbp_form_4457.pdf)

• Make sure the boots you will be wearing are properly broken in.  This is extremely important! Do not go to Africa with new or untested footwear! Use them on a weekly basis.

• Get a PIN number issued for at least 1 of your credit cards.  You may need a PIN number to use your card in some circumstances.  Be aware that American Express is not accepted at many locations in Africa.  Try to have at least two cards that are either Visa or Mastercard.

• Continue walking 3 miles at least 4 times a week!

• Review this checklist!

Two Months before you go

• Purchase a Medical Evacuation and Field Rescue Membership. We recommend Global Rescue.  They may be contacted at: www.globalrescue.com

• Order Trophy Tags from your taxidermist.  Include your information and your Customs Broker’s information on the trophy tags.

One Month before you go

• Review the Packing Checklist and verify that the Passport and any required Visas are in order.

• Practice shooting.

• US Dollars are very commonly used all over Zimbabwe. No need to bring local currency.

• Order TSA locks for your gun case and suitcases.

Three Days before you go

• Verify Flight schedules.

• Begin Packing using the Equipment Checklist.

• Pay all necessary bills. Phone and internet connection sometimes is limited, especially when you are in a rush!

• Copy all important documents (Passport, Visa, Form 4457, Letter of Invitation, etc:)  and leave 1 set at home with reliable contact and take 1 set with you.

• Pick up money from the Bank.

• Arrange transportation to the airport.

• Make sure you have all the prescriptions that you will need!

One Day before you go

• Check-in for your flight.

• Review Equipment Checklist.

• Finish packing / Remember medications and cash!

• Change the message on the answering machine if desired.

• Re-verify Airport Transportation.

The Day you travel

• Confirm the flight is on schedule every time you get to a WiFi connection point. Always communicate on our WhatsApp group!