Resources & FAQ

Yes. South Africa is regarded as a safe destination for hunting. Hunters are met at the airport or guest house and driven directly to the hunting area. The hunter is always accompanied by a local representative that knows what areas to avoid. As long as large cities, impoverished areas and travel at night is avoided, South Africa is a safe country to hunt in.

Yes. You only pay for the animals you harvest (or wound). If you wish to substitute an animal, you’re free to do so at any time. You can also add more animals to your package for an additional cost, with no restrictions on species. It’s wise to remain open-minded and flexible about taking animals of opportunity that might not have been on the list originally, as rare and once-in-a-lifetime creatures may unexpectedly cross your path.

But unfortunately, scheduled dangerous game hunts cannot be changed after arrival due to the requirement to pre-purchase tags prior to commencing the hunt. Also, the addition of a dangerous game hunt after your arrival may be impossible due to the time frames needed to acquire tags.

It depends on the terrain and situation. In the Kalahari concessions, the average range is between 100 and 200 yards.
In the mountain concessions, the average range is between 100 and 300 yards.

While hunting is available year-round, the cooler months from March to October offer the most comfortable conditions and optimal visibility in the bush.

Yes. Personal firearms from the USA are easily imported to South-Africa with no government fee required.

Please note:

• Automatic and semi-automatic firearms are prohibited.
• The US State Department prohibits the exit of the USA of rifles with thermal/night optics.
• Suppressors are permitted and encouraged with no special permit from South Africa required. The ATF tax certificate is required to re-enter the USA with a suppressor.
• For the protection of our staff’s hearing, rifle muzzle brakes are prohibited at Stirling Safaris.

A) Export Rifle Form

You need to complete a separate export US Customs 4457 Form for each firearm.

• The US Customs Form 4457 is a document that registers personal items for international travel. Other countries use the 4457 as the accepted “USA gun registration“.
• The 4457 is a simple “fill-in-the-blank” handwritten form the includes your name, address, signature, item description, and date.
• Once filled out, the form needs to be certified / validated by a US Customs agent with their signature and US Customs inked stamp. There is no charge for the 4457.
• You don’t have to present the form when you check your gun case in at boarding at departure but you will have to present the form at destination and when you retrieve your gun at the Customs kiosk in Atlanta upon return to the States.
• Keeping up with the 4457 during your travel is as important as keeping up with your passport. Do not lose it.
• Make 5 good quality color copies of the form and have them among your important travel documents. Make a small personal watermark on the copies so that you don’t confuse them with the original.
• You need to complete a separate export US Customs 4457 Form for each firearm.
• The 4457 form has an expiration date on it. Make sure that the expiration date on the form they provide you totally encompasses your trip dates.
• You will be in possession of the only 4457 form for your firearm. The US Customs does not retain a copy of this form.
• Information on the form is not recorded by any US government agency.
• The 4457 form has been recently modified to now have no expiration date on it, but South African Police will consider it “expired” if the date is older than 365 days.

  You can download the US Customs 4457 Form here
  

B) Import Rifles Form

• You need to complete the SAPS 520 Gun Import / Export Permit Application Form.

We suggest filling in the SAP520 beforehand to save time.

Instructions for completing the SAPS 520 form:
(Use black ink only)

Not all pages of the 8-page SAP 520 form are used for the importation of a firearm for hunting purposes. All dates on the form need to be formatted year-month-day.

Sections that need to be completed are:

• Page 2 –D; 5, E; 2.1 (passport), E; 4 through 22 – Natural person’s details.
• Page 4 – G 1 through 5, 9.1, 9.2 – Import/Export details.
• Page 5 – I 1.1 through 2.1.2 – Details of firearms & ammunition.
• Page 6 – Print full name section I; 4.1, date (year-month-day) section I; 4.2, sign full name section I; 4.3, date (year-month-day) section I; 4.4
• Print full name section J; 1, date (year-month-day) section J; 2, sign full name section J; 3, print your home address town -state-USA section J; 4
• PLACE – indicates your location when filling out the form.

You can only scan and send the pages of the SAPS 520 form that you have filled out. It is not necessary to scan the blank pages.

You can download the SAPS 520 Gun Import / Export Permit Application Form here

C) Hunters Permits Africa Letter of Permission.

You need to complete this permission letter to grant the service company (Hunters Permits Africa) the right to apply for the gun permit on your behalf.

You can download the Letter of Permission here

Yes. Please enquire about the variety of calibres available.

We recommend a group of no more than 4 hunters to ensure personal attention from Roland. For groups larger than 4, a second or third PH will be required. However, the main camp can accommodate up to 13 people.

Although we do not handle the taxidermy process for your trophies ourselves, we partner closely with a trusted and well-known taxidermy expert in the industry. This guarantees that our clients receive top quality, professional taxidermy services, with their trophies being preserved with exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail. Clients can rest assured that their taxidermy needs are met and handled with the highest level of care and precision.

Our team handles the field preparation of your trophies (skinning, drying, and salting) free of charge.

Thereafter your trophies will be sent to our taxidermist for dipping, packaging, and export.
You will be invoiced by the taxidermy company directly for these costs.

You will receive your trophies within 7-12 months with some shipments taking up to 18 months.

Yes. We hunt concessions in Mozambique, Namibia and Botswana as well.

Yes, non-hunters are always welcome to join the safari at a minimal rate.
Sharing the experience of an African trophy hunt with loved ones allows them to become a part of your unforgettable memories. They won’t just be bystanders when stories of African adventures, hunts, and trophies are shared; they’ll be an integral part of those cherished moments.

No hunter or adventurer can get far on an empty belly.

Our incredible chef will delight you with mouthwatering game dishes and traditional meals. From bush braais to fine dining, we offer a true taste of Africa. We serve three meals a day, along with snacks, soft drinks, and liquor.
We also offer field-to-table catering, preparing delicious meals from the venison harvested during the day’s hunt.

Before your safari, you’ll receive a form to share any dietary restrictions or preferences, ensuring your meals are tailored to your needs.

A deposit secures your booking. You will receive a final invoice on the last evening of your safari. Your balance can either be paid in cash, with a card machine (only Visa and Mastercard accepted) or via an electronic transfer.

Gratuities are excluded from all packages. It is not obligatory but are at your own discretion and to be given in cash.

You can download our gratuities guidelines here

The duration of the safari depends on the list of animals being hunted but generally we recommend a minimum of 7 days hunting and 2 days traveling.

Unfortunately, wounded game will be paid in full. However, we try our utmost best to ensure that you do not find yourself in this position.

You will be flying to Johannesburg International Airport (OR Tambo).

Delta Airlines offers a direct flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg International Airport (+- 16 hours).

United Airlines has a direct flight from Newark to Johannesburg International Airport (+- 16 hours).

Chartered flights are available on request at your own account.

Travelling with firearms is generally a smoother process when using Atlanta as a departure/arrival airport.

They provide a full VIP meet-and-greet service (offered at an additional fee), greeting you right at the aircraft door or arrival gate with a sign in your name. From there, they’ll escort you through passport control, assist with baggage claim, help you fast-track customs, and—if you are traveling with firearms—guide you through the SAPS office to finalize your rifle permit.

Once all formalities are complete, either we or Adele’s team will transfer you to your overnight hotel and coordinate your onward journey to camp the following day.

You can download our Traveling/Flight Step-By-Step Guide here

• Copy of your passport (South-Africa does not require a visa)
• Copy of your flight itinerary from airline that includes return flight
• Letter of invitation from Stirling Safaris (We will send you the Letter of Invitation once your safari dates are confirmed and your package is finalized).
• Rifle documentation if you are traveling with personal firearms:

1. Copy of US Customs Form 4457 for each firearm.
2. Copy of SAPS 520 Form.
3. Copy of Letter of Permission that you grant the service company (Hunters Permits Africa) the right to apply for the gun permit on your behalf.

Though probably not needed, bring the original paperwork that you scanned for the PDF email just in case a problem arises.
The same company (Hunters Permits Africa) we partnered with to assist the hunter with VIP meet-and-greet services also submits the paperwork for pre-approval of your South Africa Police gun permit.
This service will have submitted all documentation necessary for pre-approval of the gun permit.

We understand that packing for an African safari can feel overwhelming, especially for first-time travelers. That’s why we’ve created a recommended packing list to serve as a helpful guideline. To make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime experience, careful planning and packing are essential. Whether you’re an experienced hunter or a first-time adventurer, having the right gear is key to enhancing your safari.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential items you need to pack, ensuring you’re fully prepared for every aspect of your safari. Let’s get you packed and prepared for an unforgettable safari experience.

You can download our Recommended Packing List here

You may bring in up to USD 10,000 in cash without having to fill out any additional government paperwork. Any amount above this must be declared to the South African Revenue Service (SARS) when you arrive in South Africa, before clearing customs. Travelers can declare excess currency either through the online traveller declaration form (completed before travel) or by filling out the manual Traveller Card (TC-01) at the port of entry.

The credit card system in South Africa is widespread, efficient, and secure. VISA and MASTERCARD are widely accepted. Cash is still a good option, particularly when providing gratuities to the staff.

Yes. Roland can put you in touch with our U.S.-based agents or regular clients, any of whom would be happy to help you work out the details of your safari plans.