Sycamore Springs Ranch

Hunting Season
Hunting is conducted throughout the year but due to summer rains and extreme summer temperatures the months April through September are preferable.

Accommodation
Accommodation at all our concession areas have private en-suite bathrooms, electricity, and hot water. Laundry is done daily and boiled water is available.

Transport
Johannesburg and Cape Town are connected by air to all major cities in the world. Daily domestic flights are available between Johannesburg, Cape Town, Kimberley, Bloemfontein, Nelspruit, Hoedspruit, Richard's Bay and Durban. We will pick you up at your destined airport and transport you to the hunting area. Charter flights can be arranged on request. For the duration of your safari, transport is provided with well equipped hunting vehicles.

Insurance recommended
All-Risk
Medical
Personal Liability
Loss of, or damage to trophies

Health
SA has no national health care program. Public Hospitals are overcrowded and understaffed. Private Hospitals are very expensive and insurance should be purchased. Zulu land and the Lowveld concessions areas are malaria-risk areas. Consult your GP for specific prophylactics if you will be hunting in those areas. Even in winter sunburn is a threat. Use a quality sunscreen with a protection of at least 15.
Immunization against hepatitis is advised for hunters of advance age, but consult your GP.
Due to winter frost bugs don't pose a problem. Sightings of snakes are extremely rare.

Documentation
All documentation must be completed in black ink.
It is advised that you bring extra sets of photostat copies of all documents.
All visitors to SA need a valid passport with more that 6 months left before expiry date.
It should have at least 2 open pages, with the back of the last page not counted. Only visitors entering from a recognized yellow-fever area needs vaccination certificates.
Confirm with your relevant embassy if a visa is required.

Guns & Hunting Documentation
At your port of entry you will be issued with a temporary import permit for your guns and ammunition.
Please note the following rules regarding the temporary importation of firearms.
1. Only one rifle of a caliber per person.
2. No semi- or fully automatic weapons.
3. Only one handgun for hunting purposes.
4. Not more than 200 bullets per caliber.
5. You have to be 21 to import a gun. Guns to be used by minors must be imported under an accompanying adult's name unless specific application is made well in advance of your safari. Rule 1 will still apply.

The purpose of the new legislation is to ensure that the gun is legally imported by it's rightful owner, that it will be legitimately used and that it leaves the country at your departure.
Please note that you can now at a fee, apply for the documentation in advance.

To speed up your entry into SA you will need the following documentation:
Proof of ownership of your guns.
A US Customs declaration that you were exporting the gun legally.
An official invitation from Sandveld Safaris that we will send you well in advance of your arrival date.
Before departure, CITES 1 permits have to be obtained by the hunter if CITES I trophies are to be hunted.
All other permits and licenses are supplied by Sandveld Safaris.
The "dipping and shipping" agent will contact you regarding your trophies after you hunt.

Hunting Conditions
On plains game hunts in the Sandveld area, shooting distances vary between 100 and 300 yards. A rifle in .30 caliber is recommended. Use a good quality scope, zeroed at 200 yards. Use only top grade, core-bonded type bullets. On a10-day hunt, 60 should see you through. For Eland a 220-gr. bullet is the absolute minimum.
In the thickly wooded areas of the Bushveld and Zululand areas, shooting distances rarely exceeds 80 yards. Use a slow heavy bulletin the .30 caliber range.
For dangerous game, 375 H & H is the legal minimum.

No automatic or semi-automatic shotguns are allowed for bird shooting. Good quality 12-g shotgun shells can be bought at reasonable prices at any gun dealer in South Africa. Rifles can be rented from Sandveld Safaris.