Thread: Going To South Africa...I Need Some Help

Stirlo, if you buy sticks over there and use them, no-one will be any the wiser or care. If you bring them all back shiney and new still in their packaging, then it is best to declare them.

Even with the lower threshold for under 18 you will usually be right as I have been told before and my experience coming through Aussi customs backs this up that the cost of processing the the duty for the small amount of duty they are going to collect is prohibitive and is usually only done if you act like a knob. Just stick to the limits on specified items such as alcohol (not for you) and dvd's etc.

Originally Posted by woodcutta

Stirlo,

As you know I travel quite a bit for work. The way I judge a place is if i'm in a country and there are people walking around with machine guns - it's not a safe place. S.A police carry machine guns

As others have said your hosts will not let you get into trouble.

woodcutta

PS call me about your bits.

.thanx for the advice.

about those bits - can i get you to post them to me and i'll deposit the money into your account (direct debit).

Originally Posted by Burnsy

Stirlo, if you buy sticks over there and use them, no-one will be any the wiser or care. If you bring them all back shiney and new still in their packaging, then it is best to declare them.

Even with the lower threshold for under 18 you will usually be right as I have been told before and my experience coming through Aussi customs backs this up that the cost of processing the the duty for the small amount of duty they are going to collect is prohibitive and is usually only done if you act like a knob. Just stick to the limits on specified items such as alcohol (not for you) and dvd's etc.

cheers for the tips

Stirlo, I understand your apprehension being a first time OS traveller, I remember being the same. The important thing to remember when going through customs is that it is not an audit. No-one wants to see receipts or add up approximate value of what you have on you. In fact no-one even wants to see everything you have on you.

When considering duty, they look for what is termed reasonable. Bringing in 20 sticks may be seen as not reasonable and possibly for business/selling. Six sticks for someone on a OS hockey tour may be seen as reasonable?

Just remember to be honest as has been stated before when filling out the quarantine declaration on the way back and think hard about what you actually have. It is easy to forget/overlook that you have seagrass or something with you as you did not realise that that was what the hair on the wooden mask was made out of. If in doubt, declare it, better the officers look at it and go nah don't worry about that than them find something you did not declare - then you start feeling guilty and have to go through the whole "why did you not tell us about these dried zebra ears you have with you"

Originally Posted by petersemple

About a year (or maybe 2) ago my BIL went to SA with his girlfriend. They brought back a carved wooden noah's ark and animals for the kids - no problems with quarantine. It's only one data point but it's obviously possible.

Peter

BIL? is the a brother in law? And he has a girl friend - do tell!

The best advice I ever got re: flying was for Domestic travel try and take all your luggage in carry-on (not possible all the time) and for International try and take no luggage in carry-on. The logic is that Dometically you dont have to wait around for bags once you get off, you can just take your stuff and P*** off. And Internationally after 900 hours in a plane the last thing you want to do is be packing up a couple of carry on bags full of cameras, lollies and other assorted crap - it just feels better to get straight off the plane and stretch the pins. (and you looked like a seasoned traveller)

thanx for the tips

Originally Posted by Toolin Around

BIL? is the a brother in law? And he has a girl friend - do tell!

Yeah, wife's brother. And he has a girlfriend. Not sure why that would be intriguing?

Peter

Stirlo, you must be getting excited now. I am sure you will have a wonderful time. Its great to travel while you are young and see a bit of the world.
I called in at Capetown many years ago and things were not too great at that time but we didn't get into any trouble. You just gotta be careful.

I think its a bit rich that you are not allowed the full allowance for tax free goods.

Originally Posted by petersemple

Yeah, wife's brother. And he has a girlfriend. Not sure why that would be intriguing?

Peter

He must have been thinking your sisters hunsband having a girlfriend

Originally Posted by munruben

Stirlo, you must be getting excited now. I am sure you will have a wonderful time. Its great to travel while you are young and see a bit of the world.
I called in at Capetown many years ago and things were not too great at that time but we didn't get into any trouble. You just gotta be careful.

I think its a bit rich that you are not allowed the full allowance for tax free goods.

yeah, getting quite excited. I also dont get the reason u18's get a lesser duty free limit

have a great time little buddy. Just remember, no bright hawiian shirts or camera around the neck.

Originally Posted by petersemple

Yeah, wife's brother. And he has a girlfriend. Not sure why that would be intriguing?

Peter

wasn't looking far enough along the family tree - was thinking of your sister being married...

less than 17 hours till lift off

Last minute advice?

Don't buy any cheap diamond rings

I think you said its a 'school' outing? Take a few cases of condoms - never hurts to be careful, the boys may run out & you can always leave some as 'tips' - ditto ball point pens.

Mate got all his washing done for free by Quarantine - He went to Vietnam on a movie shoot, spent several weeks in & out of the jungle then came straight home. Quarantine took one look at him & his declaration, then took everything except what he was standing up in (freshly laundered) and fumigated & washed it for him