Firearm and Ammunition Information
We recommend that rifle hunters bring their own rifles, since you are used to hunting with your own guns. We will assist clients with the entire temporary gun permit process if you choose to bring your own rifles. Below we have provided some important information to keep in mind while deciding which firearms you are planning to bring, along with caliber suggestions based on the species in which you plan to hunt.
Important Information
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A maximum of 3 firearms per hunting client is permitted.
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Maximum permitted ammunition import to Zambia is 100 rounds per rifle; 200 round per shotgun. (Remember that airlines will restrict you to no more than 11 pounds or 5 kilos of ammunition. Check additional restrictions for your airlines and any country you may transit.)
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You MUST notify the airlines in advance that you will have firearms and /or ammunition in your possession. Be prepared to give weights and dimensions of rifle and ammunition cases.
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Only ammunition for the specific caliber(s) you are bringing may be imported.
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Handguns, automatics, semi-automatics, and military-style firearms are prohibited.
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Please let us know if you plan to bring a bow. Bow hunting is permitted in Zambia for non-dangerous species. Lion, leopard, hippo and buffalo require permission from the Minister of Tourism prior to your hunt.
Rifles
It is our recommendation that a 30-06, .270, or 300-Win Mag for plains game and a .375 for the bigger game would cover all your needs sufficiently. Do not think this to be a requirement – it is merely a suggestion. If you intend to hunt any one of the big five, outside of cats, a .375 is the minimum legal caliber which you can use to hunt. Most professional hunters and experienced clients prefer calibers that start with a “4” such as the .404 Jeffery, .416 Rigby, .416 Rem., .458 Win. Mag. or .470 Nitro Express, with the .416 being our preferred caliber for clients. When it comes to rifle sights, a big game rifle is ideally used with either iron sights or a lower powered variable scope as long as you can dial it down to 1x to 1.5x. A quick detach mount is recommended for removing the scope if needed for a wounded animal.
Ammo
We recommend using the best premium grade ammunition that your rifle shoots accurately with. We recommend the following bullets for most game: Nosler Partition, Barnes TTSX, and TSX, Swift A-Frame, and Woodleigh. There are many other premium bullets to select from, but these have proven to do the job with the utmost satisfaction to our clients. For hunting lion and leopard, we recommend using soft nose ammunition such as, Woodleigh, Norma Oryx or Nosler partition. For buffalo, we strongly recommend using Barnes TSX or equivalent. For elephants and hippos, we have seen very good results with Hornady and Barnes solids. The amount of ammunition you need is dictated by the amount of game you will hunt, but the overarching limit is the airlines’ five-kilogram rule. On a lengthy safari 60 rounds for the “lighter rifle” and 30 rounds for the “heavier rifle” should be plenty.
Firearm Importation Checklist
The below information is for clients to reference in regards to importing firearms. Once you have contacted us about booking and your dates have been finalized we will ensure that you have everything you need to get your rifle and ammunition imported into Zambia. To import your firearm into Zambia, hunters will need to obtain a temporary permit from the Zambia Police Service. The following documents are required for the permit application:​
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Valid passport
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Return air ticket
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Hunting permit or invitation letter from Epic Safaris
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US customs form CBP 4457 or a valid firearm license/permit from the hunter’s home country
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A completed Zambia TFIP form (click here for form)
Once the permit is granted, the hunter can bring their firearms into Zambia. It is important to note that the permit is only valid for the duration of the hunting trip and hunters must re-export their firearms at the end of their stay.
Upon arrival to Zambia, an agent will meet you at the airport and help you clear customs.
Fees
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There is an import fee of about $2 USD per cartridge of ammunition. Your temporary firearm permit is included in your package price.
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We can provide camp guns and ammo for $250 per rifle plus ammo at cost.