Airlines To Africa For Hunters

Let's find your best way to fly to Africa. Regardless of where you are starting from, start by finding a city with a non-stop to the African continent, preferably to, or close to one of the hunting countries. Ready? Where are you starting from?

United States Direct To Africa
United States Via UK & Europe To All African Hunting Countries
United States Via Middle East To All African Hunting Countries
UK & Europe To All African Hunting Countries
Australia Direct To Africa
Within Africa

Fly Direct (Or Nearly Direct) From The United States To Africa

There are not a lot of direct flights from the US to Africa, particularly if you live anywhere but on the US east coast and want to go to an African hunting country.

Direct flights from the US to Africa are usually more expensive than those via Europe just because there are fewer flights and they fill up more quickly.

So, discounting the direct flights from the US to Egypt, Morocco, Ghana and Nigeria, you are left with...

South African Airways

Non-Stop from JFK, New York direct to OR Tambo, Johannesburg.
1-Stop from JFK, New York via Dakar to OR Tambo, Johannesburg.
1-Stop from JFK, New York via Dulles, Washington DC to OR Tambo, Johannesburg.
1-Stop from Dulles, Washington DC via Dakar, Senegal to OR Tambo, Johannesburg.
2-Stops from Dulles, Washington DC via JFK, New York & Dakar, Senegal to OR Tambo, Johannesburg

Delta

Non-Stop from Atlanta to OR Tambo, Johannesburg

Not hunting in South Africa? Skip to Flights From Johannesburg To Other African Hunt Countries

Ethiopian

Non-Stop from Dulles, Washington DC to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
1-Stop return Addis Ababa via Rome, Italy to Dulles, Washington DC

Not hunting in Ethiopia? Skip to Flights From Addis Ababa, Ethiopia To Other African Hunt Countries

Fly From Or Via UK & Europe To Africa

There will be lots of choice of airlines for the US to Europe leg but choose your European hub airport and onward airline carefully...

Does the European airline serve your African hunting direct or will you need another onward connection in an African hub airport?
Flight costs - some European airports have higher airport taxes than others, like London Heathrow.
Layover times - too long or too short to safely connect to the onward flight with firearms.
Ease of transit with firearms.
Change of airport within European country, such as arriving at London Heathrow and departing from London Gatwick with additional firearm transfer costs and hassle.
Do you want to do any sightseeing in Europe?

Below are the main European airlines that operate their own flight routes to the African hunting countries. Many European airlines will offer 1-stop, 2-stop and even 3-stop flight legs with other partner airlines within Europe or Africa. If you opt for this multi-airline combination way of travelling and you are travelling with firearms, you stand more chance of them being mislaid on route.

Fly From Europe To Benin

Air France

Non-Stop from CDG, Paris to Cotonou, Benin

Brussels Airlines

Non-Stop from Brussels, Belgium to Cotonou, Benin

Fly From Europe To Botswana

There are no direct flights to Botswana from Europe. The best route will be via OR Tambo Johannesburg.

South African Airways

Non-Stop from OR Tambo, Johannesburg to Gaborone
Non-Stop from OR Tambo, Johannesburg to Maun

Air Botswana

Non-Stop from OR Tambo, Johannesburg to Gaborone
Non-Stop from OR Tambo, Johannesburg to Maun
1-Stop from OR Tambo, Johannesburg via Gaborone to Francistown

Fly From Europe To Burkina Faso

Air France

1-Stop from CDG, Paris via Niamey, Niger to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Brussels Airlines

Non-Stop from Brussels, Belgium to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Fly From Europe To Cameroon

Brussels Airlines

Non-Stop from Brussels, Belgium to Douala, Cameroon
1-Stop from Brussels, Belgium via Douala to Yaounde, Cameroon

Air France

Non-Stop from CDG, Paris to Douala, Cameroon

Fly From Europe To Central African Republic

Air France

Non-Stop from CDG, Paris to Bangui, CAR

Fly From Europe To Ethiopia

Ethiopian

Non-Stop from CDG, Paris to Addis Ababa

Air France

1-Stop from CDG, Paris via Nairobi, Kenya to Addis Ababa

Lufthansa

Non-Stop from Frankfurt to Addis Ababa

Fly From Europe To Mozambique

TAP

Non-Stop from Lisbon to Maputo, Mozambique

Fly From Europe To Namibia

Air Namibia

Non-Stop from Frankfurt to Windhoek, Namibia

Fly From Europe To South Africa

British Airways

Non-Stop from Heathrow, London to OR Tambo, Johannesburg

Air France

Non-Stop from CDG, Paris to OR Tambo, Johannesburg

Lufthansa

Non-Stop from Frankfurt to OR Tambo, Johannesburg

KLM

Non-Stop from Schipol, Amsterdam to OR Tambo, Johannesburg

South African Airways

Non-Stop from Heathrow, London to OR Tambo, Johannesburg
Non-Stop from Frankfurt, Germany to OR Tambo, Johannesburg

Fly From Europe To Tanzania

KLM

Non-Stop from Schipol, Amsterdam to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Non-Stop from Schipol, Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Swiss

Non-Stop from Zurich, Switzerland to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Fly From Europe To Uganda

KLM

Non-Stop from Schipol, Amsterdam to Entebbe, Uganda

Fly From Europe To Zambia

No flights from Europe to Zambia. Use South African, East African Or Middle East hubs.

Fly From Europe To Zimbabwe

No flights from Europe to Zimbabwe. Use South African, East African Or Middle East hubs.

British Airways

Non-Stop from Heathrow, London to OR Tambo, Johannesburg with onward connection to Harare with Comair or Kalula

NOTE Comair is a franchise partner with British Airways and, as of March 2013, will not carry firearms. Kalula has an interline agreemant with BA Comair and will also not carry firearms.

Fly From Or Via The Middle East To Africa

It has become increasingly more convenient for hunters from the US and Europe to use the Middle East hub for onward travel to their African hunting countries. The journey, though long, is usually hassle-free if you are travelling with firearms and completed the prior notication document correctly.

Emirates

Non-Stop from JFK, NYC to Dubai, UAE
Non-Stop from Boston, MA to Dubai, UAE
Non-Stop from Chicago, IL to Dubai, UAE
Non-Stop from Dallas/Fort Worth, TX to Dubai, UAE
Non-Stop from Houston, TX to Dubai, UAE
Non-Stop from Los Angeles, CA to Dubai, UAE
Non-Stop from San Francisco, CA to Dubai, UAE
Non-Stop from Seattle, WA to Dubai, UAE
Non-Stop from Washington DC to Dubai, UAE

Then onwards to Africa...

Non-Stop from Dubai, UAE to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Non-Stop from Dubai, UAE to Johannesburg, SA
Non-Stop from Dubai, UAE to Harare, Zimbabwe
Non-Stop from Dubai, UAE to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Non-Stop from Dubai, UAE to Entebbe, Uganda
Non-Stop from Dubai, UAE to Lusaka, Zambia

Qatar Airways

Non-Stop from Miami, FL to Doha, Qatar
Non-Stop from Dallas/Fort Worth, TX to Doha, Qatar
Non-Stop from Chicago, IL to Doha, Qatar

Then onwards to Africa...

Non-Stop from Doha, Qatar to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
1-Stop from Doha, Qatar via Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Non-Stop from Doha, Qatar to Johannesburg, SA
1-Stop from Doha, Qatar via Johannesburg, SA to Maputo, Mozambique
Non-Stop from Doha, Qatar to Entebbe, Uganda
Non-Stop from Dubai, UAE to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Etihad Airways

Non-Stop from JFK, NYC to Abu Dhabi, UAE
Non-Stop from Chicago, IL to Abu Dhabi, UAE
Non-Stop from Dallas/Fort Worth, TX to Abu Dhabi, UAE
Non-Stop from Los Angeles, CA to Abu Dhabi, UAE
Non-Stop from San Francisco, CA to Abu Dhabi, UAE
Non-Stop from Washington DC to Abu Dhabi, UAE

Then onwards to Africa...

Non-Stop from Abu Dhabi, UAE to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Non-Stop from Abu Dhabi, UAE to Entebbe, Uganda
Non-Stop from Abu Dhabi, UAE to Johannesburg, SA

Fly Direct From Australia To Africa

There are only 2 airlines that fly direct from Australia to the African continent. Alternative 1-stop routes would be via the Middle East or Asian hubs.

Qantas

Non-Stop from Sydney, NSW to to Johannesburg, SA

South African Airways

Non-Stop from Perth, WA to to Johannesburg, SA

Flights Within Africa

Once you've arrived in Africa, you may need to take a domestic or regional African airline to get you closer to your hunting destination.

African airlines can be somewhat unreliable but you can usually count on the national airlines to stay in business.
The published flight times are often not very reliable - some African carriers seem to go when they feel like it, not only late but earlier than scheduled. Information about delays can be sparse so leave a minimum of 4 hours for connecting flights.
The question of airline safety is often a concern when thinking about using an African airline. A recent BBC report cites 'Africa accounts for only 4% of global air traffic but 27% of all air crashes.' To check any airlines crash history
There is a list of air carriers banned from entering the airspace of any member state of the European Union for failing to meet regulatory oversight standards of the EU. This was reviewed in 2014. From Africa, these include aircraft from Benin, Mozambique and Zambia.
Some African aircraft look old and in somewhat shabby condition inside and out. If you fly not expecting great food, inflight entertainment, seats to recline, attentive air crew then you won't be disappointed and will be pleasantly surprised if these things are in working order.
Don't forget to put on insect repellent when flying on some African airlines - the cabins often contain mosquitoes.

Regional & Domestic Airline In South Africa

OR Tambo, Johannesburg is the main airport hub for southern Africa and SAA, SA Airlink and SA Express operate convenient direct flights to most other hunting countries (except western Africa) and domestic locations in South Africa.

South African Airways