6 to 18 months from Trip – Contact your Booking Agent or Outfitter
- What time of year do you want to go?
- What budget are you working with?
- Who will be in your party: How many Hunters & Observers?
- Check personal documents (Make sure passport and visas are current – for South Africa you need at least 2 blank pages in your passport and it must not expire prior to 6 months of your trip)
- Contact Travel Doctor and establish immunization schedule (if required – not currently in RSA)
- Get active! You will enjoy your adventure more the more fit you are
9 – 12 months from Trip – Work with Booking Agent (Africa Hunt Lodge will assist) for airline tickets
- Check on any CITIES permits required for your hunt, i.e. Leopard, Elephant with your booking agent
- Decide on and book any tourist travel, excursions, and car rentals
- Apply for visas if they will be needed
6 – 9 months from Trip – Check on status of CITIES permits required for your hunt
- Apply for Proof of Ownership for each weapon you intend to take with you
- Check with Booking Agent or Outfitter on required Gun Permits and gather required paperwork for submission
- Check cameras to be sure they are working
- Check luggage (zippers/ locks, etc.)
- Check with your financial institution and make sure your bank card/credit cards will work abroad
- Be sure to get written confirmation from your Booking Agent or Outfitter
- If you need new shoes, buy them now and begin breaking them in
- Practice shooting your rifle
2-4 months from Trip – Arrange for someone to watch your home / care for your pets / plants
1 month from Trip – Order foreign currencies, traveler’s checks
- Pay balances to Booking Agent/Hunting Company if required
- Pay any bills that will come due while you are gone
- Make copies of all of your documents; itineraries, packing lists, confirmations, passport
- Set up general e-mail account (yahoo, hotmail, gmail)
- E-mail copies of travel documents to your general e-mail so that you can access this account while abroad
- Get taxidermy tags from the taxidermist you plan to use clearly labeled with all delivery information
2 weeks from Trip – Take photos of your luggage
- Provide a family member or friend with contact information and copies of your documents
- Call your credit card companies and alert them you are traveling abroad
- Refill any prescriptions that are running low
1-3 days from Trip – Take pets to kennel
- Change voicemail at work
- Activate your “Out of Office” message on work e-mail
- Charge Cell phone, cameras, etc.
- Pack chargers and any converters you need
- Pack your trip journal