Target Sports

SHOOTING HOLIDAYS: AFRICAN ADVENTURE

Created on 14th May 2009

Thinking of getting away from it all? Head to South Africa for some stunning scenery, exotic wildlife and of course some great shooting

Why South Africa?

AS THE self-appointed adventure capital of the world, South Africa has natural beauty and wildlife to leave you awe struck, combined with history, culture and extravagance; and despite the global credit crunch the cost of living is reasonable too. A trip to the coast could put you in full view of whales doing acrobatics, or see you getting up close and personal with great white sharks. As well as experiences, there are iconic places to visit as well. How about taking a trip to Robben Island, a former political prison, that now stands as one of the key world heritage sites in South Africa? Then there is Table Mountain, a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town - easily scaled by cable car but less easily by foot! Declared a World Heritage site, the Cradle of Humankind near Johannesburg includes the Sterkfontein Caves, where the skull of a three-million year-old hominid was found in 1936. There are game parks too (Kruger and Hluhluwe-Umfolozi are particularly engaging). And, once you've seen what you want to see, there is nothing better at the end of the day than to settle down with friends for a glass or two of a prize-winning wine, breathing in the invigorating mountain or ocean air, thinking about the great shooting you'll do. Oh, and the weather's usually nice as well!

Shooting snapshot

2009 marks the 80th anniversary of the creation of the country's full-bore governing body: the South African Bisley Union (SABU). The main meeting (equivalent to our Imperial) is usually at the same time of year as the start of the regular full-bore season in the UK, so it is a great way to kick off your year's shooting in such a pleasant environment. A number of our established teams make regular visits each year to the Championships including England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the RAF, and others. They join regular competitors from neighbours Namibia and Zimbabwe, and sometimes from Malawi, Swaziland and Zambia. There are a number of provincial meetings in the weekends before SABU, which offer a warm hand of welcome to all visitors. F-Class is also well catered for, with the country boasting several top competitors in this discipline. All the main full-bore shoots in South Africa require you to bring your own ammunition (PMP is the main local commercially available ammo) or hand loads, but see below for some important considerations here.

The country's shooting reputation was given a boost by winning the world team long range match: the Palma trophy, on home soil in 1999. It is currently choosing its team for the highly competitive Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010, and will no doubt send a strong team to Australia for the 2011 Palma match.

Ranges

The hub of the country's shooting is the General De Wet Rifle Range at the SA National Defence Force De Brug training area near Bloemfontein in the Free State province. Despite being used primarily by the military, it boasts around 200 targets, with shooters falling back from 300m, to 500m and 600m all on the same range. It is usually very dry and dusty (so beware of ants, snakes, and even toads). You will need lots of sun cream and water as there is not much shade. When it rains it rains heavily, but dries very quickly. Taking a look at the usual wind conditions, it is world famous for its challenges. There are lots of wind flags, but they can be very hard to read, and sometimes it really is blowing a gale. Unlike Bisley, it is not full of club houses, although there is a dining hall and bar (which doesn't open until shooting ends). The vibrant city nightlife more than makes up for it.

Other ranges visited regularly by overseas teams include Nottingham Road in KwaZulu Natal - a small but beautiful range where you shoot across a lake. There is also a great range just outside Cape Town with a back drop of Table Mountain (and a nuclear power plant!).

Legal and safety

South Africa is generally much more relaxed about firearms than in the UK. People often have hunting rifles and pistols (for personal protection). However, it is important to use common sense; even if your firearm is locked in a car, you should keep the bolt separate. When applying for your import permit you will also need to send certified copies of your FAC and passport (certified by a solicitor or equivalent - the NRA can also certify NRA members). You will need to apply several weeks in advance for an import permit - see the SABU website for application forms. There is a standard weight limit of 5kg of ammunition per person on any passenger flight. That equates to about 200 rounds of .308 155gn. If you are using hand loads, be aware that you can't carry components by air.

First steps

Consider when you would like to go. If you are the spontaneous type you could still enter for the 80th SABU Championships (26 March to 4 April 2009), with a few provincial meetings to warm up.

Permit forms for your firearms can be downloaded from the SABU website www.sabisley.com. SABU will also give you good guidance on how to complete them. Email sanra@sanra.org.za.

Pick your airline carefully. British Airways is good for its baggage allowance for rifles. But, as always, make sure you tell whichever airline you use, well in advance, that you will be carrying firearms and/or ammunition.

With thanks to Karen Robertson, NRA UK. Photos: Karen Robertson and Conrad Steele-Benny.