Hannes Els
P.O. Box 572
Thabazimbi,
South Africa 0380
(972)-510-4982 US Cell
011 27 83 627 0350 Cell
Email Hannes here.

Is it safe in Africa? 
South Africa is very a safe place for international travellers. However, it's sensible to take normal precautions while travelling, particularly while in the city.  Our hunting guests and their families are normally only in a large city when we meet you at the Customs exit at Johannesburg Intl Airport.  Limcroma Safaris recommends the use of travellers checks or credit cards rather than large amounts of cash just as when you travel to other adventure destinations.  Remember that every one of the staff at Limcroma Safaris is committed to the health and safety of you and your family while you are in our care.  The Limcroma staff will be with you and your family the entire time of your safari, from picking you up at Johannesburg Airport until dropping you off at the airport for your departure.  The areas where we will be hunting are typically quite rural and crime is not a significant problem at all.  Your Professional Hunters will see to it that you don't get into any questionable situations on your safari.  No visiting hunters or their families have ever been harmed while in the care of Limcroma Safaris.  We invite you and your family to relax and enjoy the sights, the sounds, the wonders that are Africa.

Where will I hunt? 
Your African adventure for you and your family will take place in the Republic of South Africa located on the southern tip of the African continent.  It covers approximately 1, 227, 000 square kilometres of differing terrains from desert to mountains to bushveld to lush green tropics.  Limcroma Safaris primary hunting camp is a 200 mile drive from Johannesburg International Airport and is situated just northwest of Thabazimbi in the game rich Limpopo Province.  Our base camp property is on the Limpopo River on the border with Botswana.  If you wish to hunt species not located in this area, we have concessions located throughout the country to serve your trophy needs.

How do I get there? 
Well, you don’t want to swim, that’s for sure.  From the US, we recommend South African Airways.  They fly direct flights from Chicago O'Hare, Washington Dulles and New York JFK Airports to Johannesburg International Airport, your pick up point for Limcroma Safaris.  You’ll need to plan ahead as flights are quite crowded during hunting season.  Also, not all the flights go directly to Johannesburg.  Some of them stop in Cape Town before arriving Johannesburg.  This option adds five more hours to an already long trip.  We can make travel arrangements for you or you can use a travel agent.  We use and highly recommend you use a travel agent experienced in travelling to Africa.  If you have frequent flyer miles, you’ll need to deal directly with your specific airline.  Plan ahead at least 6 months for this as the frequent flyer seats go very quickly. 

What do I need to enter South Africa? 
You and your family members will need a passport that is valid 6 months beyond your departure date.  Make sure you have at least 2 blank pages in each passport for visa stamps, more if you are adding stops to other countries in your itinerary.  In 2004, the South African Passport control required you to have a front and back page blank that is titled Visa.  Don’t check that when you are on the airplane filling out your immigration form.  Citizens from the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany and Spain do not require a Visa.

Click here to find a US Passport Office near you.

Make a copy of your passport and put it in a bag that is separate from where you keep your passport.  It is much easier to obtain a new passport if you have a copy of your passport.  If you lose your passport, contact the US Embassy.

What type of guns and how many guns should I bring?
You don’t need to run out and buy a new rifle unless you really want one.  Plan on bringing a maximum of 2 sporting rifles into South Africa.  The rifle that you use for hunting any deer species and other large game will work very well here.  We recommend any of the following: 270, 308, 30-06, 300 Magnum, 7MM Magnum.  These calibers are used with success frequently.  

How much and what type of ammunition should I bring? 
The airlines restrict how much ammunition you can carry by weight.  You are allowed by South African law to bring in 200 rounds.  We don’t plan on you shooting that much.  Most hunters bring 40 to 60 rounds of ammunition.  The best bullets we have seen are Premium type ammunition loaded with Barnes X, Swift A Frame or Nosler Partition bullets.  We recommend you shot a 150-180 grain bullet, whichever your rifle shoots most accurately. 

What type of shooting practice should I do to get ready for my safari? 
Make sure your rifle is shooting consistently and accurately with the ammunition you choose.  If it’s not, get different ammunition.  The number one rule for practicing after that is: GET OFF THE BENCH!  Go to your deer lease or find a rifle range that will allow you to practice OFF THE BENCH.  Shoot from the sitting and kneeling positions.  Shoot off a tree limb or a tree trunk.  Get a good pair of shooting sticks and shoot from those.  The biggest challenge is getting your scope on the target and getting the shot off quickly.  Many trophies have gotten away because a hunter waits more than 2 to 3 seconds getting everything perfect before they shoot.  These trophies don’t get big and old by standing around looking at you aim at them.  The best way to help yourself is make sure your rifle fits well, your rifle is shooting accurately and learn to shoot very quickly after the crosshairs are in place.

Do I need to do anything special for shipping my gun? 
You will need to go by a US Customs office and fill out a Customs Form 4457 before you go on your trip.  The US Customs Service has offices at any large international airport.  Check your government pages in the phone book to find the phone number for your local Customs office.  DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DAY OF YOUR DEPARTURE TO GET THIS FORM AT THE AIRPORT.  GET IT AHEAD OF TIME!

Click here to download the US Customs Form 4457.

How do I get my gun there? 
Your gun should be packed in a crash resistant plastic or metal case that locks.  Don’t use the plastic case that’s on sale at the end of hunting season for $19.95.  In the US, you will need to make sure you get to the airport early enough to have your gun inspected by TSA before it is placed on the airplane.  Call your airline about details of packing guns and bullets.  They are the final word.

Is it difficult to get my gun into South Africa? 
No, it just takes a bit of time.  Upon arrival, after passing through passport control, you will pick up your checked baggage.  Proceed to your airline’s help desk in the luggage area and tell them you have a firearm as checked baggage.  They should assist you in retrieving your rifle.  You must then head to the South African Police Service firearm control office and register your firearm with the SAPS using SAPA Form 520.  This is a bit time consuming because it is a long form.  Once you complete the Form 520 to their satisfaction, they will issue you a temporary import permit.  Make sure you don’t lose this permit.  Remember, if you bring a firearm in, you must take it back out with you.  It is illegal to leave your firearm in South Africa.  If you book your hunt with us, we will provide you with more details on what is required.

Click here to download SAPS Form 520 (Import permit)

Click here to download SAPS Form 520 Instructions

Click here for hassle free firearms import permits.

How long will the shots be? 
Most of your shots will be 150 yards or less.  It doesn’t always work that way, and longer shots are taken, but typically, 150 yards or less is the normal shot.  It’s best if you know where your bullet will strike at 50, 100, 150 and 200 yards.  We work very hard to keep all shots to 100 yards or less as we don’t want to spend your valuable hunting time chasing a wounded animal through the bush.  The most important part of shooting here is many of the shots come quickly so it’s important to be able to put your face on your rifle, look down the scope and acquire the target and shoot accurately within 2 to 3 seconds.  The trophy animals here haven’t survived by standing around watching intruders in their world.  They survive by fleeing and will not stand and look at you all day.

When is the best time to go hunting in South Africa? 
We prefer our guests to come between May 1st and Sept 30th.  This is late fall, winter and early spring for us so our weather is quite nice.  If your schedule doesn’t work for those dates, we will be happy to accommodate you when your schedule allows.

How long does it take to get my heads, hides and horns back? 
Sometime between four and eight months depending on how fast the South African Parks officials will issue an export permit after it is requested.  It also depends on when you go.  Typically, if you hunt later in the season, it takes longer to get your trophies back.  The one definite answer is there are no concrete answers when it comes to your trophies.  Once we deliver your trophies to the taxidermist, this issue is now in their hands.

Who do I pay for the dipping, packing and shipping? 
You will pay the shipping company in South Africa and the receiving company/broker here in the US.  It will be two different payments as they are not the same company.  You will usually receive a fax, email or phone call from the shipping company in South Africa telling you your order is ready to be shipped.  Once you pay them, either by credit card or bank transfer, your trophies will be shipped.  The receiving company in the US will contact you when your trophies have arrived.  They will hold your trophies until you pay for them.  You can either pick them up personally, have your taxidermist pick them up or ship them to your taxidermist for mounting.

What is the weather like? 
It is almost always sunny and dry from May through September.  Temperatures range from low 30s F (O C) and can warm up to the 70s F (20 C) during the day.  Some days will be cooler than that.  It can rain occasionally so make sure your jacket is water resistant.

What type of clothing should I bring?
The most important thing for this hunt is good footwear.  We highly recommend leather boots that are well broken in as well as high quality hiking socks.  This is NOT the trip to break in a new pair of boots or to wear cheap socks.  You may be walking a great deal, and blisters on a safari are no fun.  An extra pair of boot laces is nice to have just in case one breaks.  You may want to bring camp shoes so you can get out of your boots if you like.

Long pants or shorts are both good while hunting.  Pants with legs that zip out and convert to shorts can be quite handy. 

Think layered clothing for this hunt.  It will be quite cool in the morning but usually will warm up during the day.  Having a nice, warm jacket, a pull over fleece or a sweater you can take off later in the day works well. You will want to bring a pair of warm gloves for the cold mornings as well.  A light rain jacket is also a great idea in case you encounter an extremely rare wet day on your hunt.

As far as color of clothing, camouflage is great if you prefer.  Dark clothing such as olive, dark green and dark tan also works well.  It’s best to avoid light colored khaki clothing if at all possible. 

Don’t forget a hat or cap of your choosing for skin protection.

Belt and a cartridge holder can make life much easier for you during the hunt.

Your laundry is done every day except Sunday so we recommend four pair of undergarments, 4 pair of socks, three shirts and three pants/shorts for your stay.

Most of our hunting guests and their families wear their hunting clothes for dinner as we retire to the fire before and after dinner on most nights.  If you wish to have some other comfortable clothes to wear to dinner, a sweat suit, or jeans and a sweater or sweatshirt would be fine.

Can I drink the water there without getting sick? 
Our water supply is completely safe to drink from the tap.  We also keep an abundant supply of bottled water on hand for our guests if they prefer.

Do I need any immunizations before I come to South Africa? 
No immunizations are required to enter South Africa.  A tetanus booster and Hepatitis A vaccines are recommended by the Center for Disease Control.  We recommend you look at the CDC web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/safrica.htm to learn more about health issues in South Africa.  It’s a good idea to consult with your personal physician about travelling to Africa well before you leave.

The primary hunting area for Limcroma Safaris is malaria free.  If your hunt takes you to other provinces, we will inform you if a malaria medicine is needed.  You will need to start taking the medicine at least a week before you come.  Again, consult your doctor and pharmacist for instructions.

What happens if I need to fill a prescription or see a doctor? 
Your prescription can be refilled here in South Africa.  It would be best if you bring enough of your medication to last for the entire trip so we don’t take away from important hunting time.  If you’re concerned about running out, have your doctor write a prescription for you and bring it with you.  South Africa has excellent medical facilities and medical care.  I know of one hunter in Africa who fell and broke his hip and had his hip replaced before he returned to the US.  These facilities are all a reasonable drive from all of Limcroma Safaris hunting areas.

What about special insurance coverage? 
You may purchase several types of insurance for your safari.  Baggage insurance, firearm insurance, trip cancellation insurance, travel insurance and medical evacuation insurance are all areas to consider to make yourself more financially secure before you leave on your trip.  Your travel agent can help you with trip cancellation, travel and medical evacuation.

The best firearm insurance for the money is with Sportman’s Insurance Agency.  You can reach them at 800-925-7767 or visit them on the web at www.siai.net   Limcroma Safaris highly recommends you insure your rifle for this long trek.

You have multiple choices for medical evacuation companies.  You can buy a year policy or a policy that covers just your individual trip.  Here are a few companies you can check with. 

Wilderness Medical Systems - http://www.wildernessmedical.com/

Med Jet - http://www.medjetassistance.com/

Medex - http://www.medexassist.com/

What kind of personal items should I bring?   
What you bring is up to you, but here are items that at least one hunting guest or family member has said, “I wish I had brought ________” or “I forgot my ___________.”

The sun is very intense here even though it may not be summer time.  Make very sure you pack sunscreen and lip balm with sunscreen to protect yourself while you are in sunny Africa.

What currency is used in South Africa?
The South African Rand is the used in South Africa for all purchases.  You can see how your currency converts by linking to the following web site: http://www.xe.com/ucc/

You may exchange your currency for Rand at the airport when you arrive or at a bank on the way to the hunting area.  Travellers checks and all major currencies can be exchanged at banks and various exchange companies.  Banks are open Monday - Friday 9am-3:30pm and Saturday 8:30am-11am.  Most ATM machines support the Cirrus network cards.  You can check with your bank before you leave and find out if your ATM card will be accepted in South Africa.

Most shops, hotels and restaurants accept Visa, Master Card and American Express.  Keep your passport available as you may need picture id when you use a credit card.

What about tipping? 
Tipping is never required but is greatly appreciated.  If you believe you received good service from the camp staff and your professional hunter, it is customary to tip somewhere around 10% of the daily rate.  If you were exceptionally pleased with the service provided by the staff and your PH, you may tip whatever you like above that.  Feel free to ask your outfitter and PH if you have questions on tipping.  They can give you great guidance in that area.

How do I pay for the balance of my safari? 
We accept cash or travellers checks to pay the balance of the safari.  We will be accepting VISA and MASTER CARD to pay for TROPHY FEES ONLY beginning with the 2005 season.  We will not allow you to pay daily rate, tips or dipping and packing with a credit card.  WE WILL NOT ACCEPT A PERSONAL CHECK FOR THE BALANCE DUE ON THE SAFARI.  Please read our Terms of Business details here on the web site.

Do I need an electrical converter or adapter? 
You will need both a converter to plug your items into and an adapter to plug into the outlet.  The converter will change the voltage from 230-240 Volts, 50 HZ to 120Volts.  You can find converters and adapters at any electronics store like Radio Shack or Circuit City or department stores like Kmart, Wal-Mart or Target.  Limcroma does have a few converters and adapters in camp, but it’s best to bring your own to insure you have one.  For our lady guests who need a hair dryer, we will have hair dryers in each chalet that are designed for South African electrical outlets.  No need to bring along that big hair dryer. 

To make sure you are getting the correct adapter, you can check out the link below.  This will take you to Magellan’s home page.  In the upper left search box, type in “Plug H” and then click on “GO”.

What kind of phone service can I get on my safari? 
You can rent a cell phone at Johannesburg Intl Airport that will work well in the safari area.  Also, if you have a GMS enabled US cell phone, you may make international calls ONLY if you have the international calls feature turned on. In most cases, this requires a visit to your carrier's store or a phone call to their customer service department. Once you have enabled international calling, you will be able to make calls in most areas of the country, depending on your carrier and the agreements they have in place with local carriers to provide service to their clients. (Cingular works well in camp. ) Another option would be a satellite phone.  If you desire one of these services, please let us know.  We can connect you with a company who can serve your needs in this area.

Can I get internet access while I am on safari? 
We do not have the capability at this time to allow you to connect to the internet.  Whatever family you don’t bring with you will have all appropriate emergency phone numbers for Limcroma Safaris as well as an email address for emergency contact.  In an emergency situation, we will insure you have communication capability.  We just cannot provide it as a standard service at this time due to our remote location and limited service.

What’s the time difference between the US and South Africa? 
In summer in the US, South Africa is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time, 7 hours ahead of Central Daylight Time, 8 hours ahead of Mountain Daylight Time and 9 hours ahead of Pacific Daylight Time.  See table below for explanation.

Can I bring the meat back? 
Sorry.  It is against US Dept of Agriculture regulations to import wild game or meat of any kind without a proper license.  The meat stays here at the ranch where it is served to our hunting guests as well as used by the staff and their families.