How do you handle weight limit for carry-on on commercial flights within Africa

[Windy]

I am going on a 3 week photo safari in October. I've got all my equipment and just bought the Gura Gear Kiboko 30L that Steve raved about. Loaded it weighs close to 30 #s. I have one flight on FastJet from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg. Carry-on is limited to 1 bag weighing no more than 7kg or 15.4 pounds. How do you handle that? I've taken everything out of my bag except lenses, cameras and iPad without the case. I'll put batteries, wallet, memory cards, etc, in my pockets and everything else in checked bag. It still weighs over 20 pounds. Any suggestions other than eliminating a camera and lens?

 

[Butlerkid]

I am going on a 3 week photo safari in October. I've got all my equipment and just bought the Gura Gear Kiboko 30L that Steve raved about. Loaded it weighs close to 30 #s. I have one flight on FastJet from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg. Carry-on is limited to 1 bag weighing no more than 7kg or 15.4 pounds. How do you handle that? I've taken everything out of my bag except lenses, cameras and iPad without the case. I'll put batteries, wallet, memory cards, etc, in my pockets and everything else in checked bag. It still weighs over 20 pounds. Any suggestions other than eliminating a camera and lens?

You are not allowed to put batteries in checked luggage. Check baggage rules for each airline that you will be flying.

If you are going on a photo tour, most organizers make arrangements so that the weight limit is a bit more for their photographers. So check with your tour organizer about internal flights.

I just flew Airlink (I think that was the name) from Johannesburg to Kasane (near Victoria Falls). I had my photo backpack that weighed about 25 lbs and my computer bag that weighed another 18 lbs or so with computer, a 2nd camera body, lens, chargers, etc. I also wore my photo vest with batteries, cards, and other stuff in the pockets. Carry on bags were not weighed...... YMMV.

 

[philippe]

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[Windy]

thanks for your feedback. I’ll be putting the batteries in my pockets, not checked bags. Good info re Airlink. I’ll talk to the tour operator and see if they have any experience with Fastjet. I’d hate to leave a lens home.

 

[ElenaH]

@Windy you'd need to have a 'special' jacket wth big inside pockets. I can even put a camera (without lens in mine pocket) One camera and lens you can put on the neck.
About the batteries normally nobody cares but yes, they should be in the hand luggage.
If there is a problem you just start to argue about taking responsibility abot your equipment and pay you if something will happen. Normally they give up and let you go. For exaple, the medical equipment has a special care. Sometimes even the golf-equipment.
You can also buy a second seat just for your equipment. We did it once on the international flight. Then you can take 75kg of hand-lugguage. ;-) with groups it is definitelly easier.

 

[fcotterill]

@ElenaH could not put it better. A waistcoat is essential IME on all flights. Two front-bottom pockets on my well worn Country Innovation Raptor w'coat can swallow an entire D5 or D850, and if necessary the back poacher's pocket can just hold a 500 PF to board. TC's smaller and/or a smaller lens in an inner top chest pocket. This thing has 13 15 pockets in total i think.
I have flown the regional flights several times from Joburg into VFalls or Livingstone (across the Zambezi) and managed to negotiate once. Other times it works to not stand out and move some items into pockets. The stated rules are elastic and written by thought police to try deter the more gullible.

fyi https://www.squiver.com/blog/review-gura-gear-chobe-2-0-laptopcamera-bag/

Raptor Waistcoat

Perfect Photographer Vest: Tough, durable & 15 pockets. Made from military grade fabric, the Raptor Waistcoat is a strong workhorse. Buy yours...

www.countryinnovation.com

 

[ElenaH]

the back poacher's pocket

with 500PF sounds great ;-)

@fcotterill when last time you did fly to VicFalls? we always had a problem with customs there and not with lugguge weight ;-) They were very interested in our equipment and wanted some deposite... all times we managed to escape but we don't fly to VicFalls anymore. I wonder if a bottle or two of Whiskey can solve the problem. They always ask for that. But now I don't remember if they ask for Whiskey before or after.asking for equipment-deposite ... ;-) I am not happy to support any bribe. This is why we fly now to Lusaka or Gaborone and then drive to Zimbabwe. Even in Botswana they start to be interested in equipment. But in Botswana you can use a Carnet but it is not valid in Zimbabwe.

 

[Nick B.]

Don't forget that the weight limits are not arbitrary but rather relate to the total weight limit of the airplane in order for it to take-off and fly safely. Whether you have 30 lbs in a carry-on or split between a coat and carry-on doesn't matter. It still adds weight to the plane and, if enough people do it, could affect safety.

 

[joe43]

All of the comments above are good suggestions. When I was in Botswana, on a photo safari, one member of our group hand held his 500mm f4 lens as he boarded the "large" jet in Botswana for the flight to Johannesburg. I am not sure if this was to avoid any number of bag or weight restrictions.

Photo vests are a good idea especially if you can find ones that do not advertise photo gear in pockets. In addition, check out the vests with hidden pockets and other special shirts and jackets sold by Scottevest.

Vests with Pockets | Travel Vests with Hidden Pockets | SCOTTeVEST

Travel vests, utility vests, fleece vests, technical vests and even vests with removable sleeves (aka jackets) for men and women. All vests have hidden pockets and tons of features for life on the go. With VEST in our name, you know that SCOTTeVEST makes the best multi pocket vests.

www.scottevest.com

 

[Windy]

Ii understand about the weight issue on planes. I will seriously think about buying an extra seat to avoid the hassle. The trip is already expensive, a couple of hundred more won’t break me. Thank you all!

 

[Maljo]

Steve has a video on what is in his bag when he goes to Africa.
In the video: Sony 600 f4, 100-400 zoom, 24-105 zoom.
He did not mention how much that bag weighs, though. That would be interesting info,

 

[Roy]

I am going on a 3 week photo safari in October. I've got all my equipment and just bought the Gura Gear Kiboko 30L that Steve raved about. Loaded it weighs close to 30 #s. I have one flight on FastJet from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg. Carry-on is limited to 1 bag weighing no more than 7kg or 15.4 pounds. How do you handle that? I've taken everything out of my bag except lenses, cameras and iPad without the case. I'll put batteries, wallet, memory cards, etc, in my pockets and everything else in checked bag. It still weighs over 20 pounds. Any suggestions other than eliminating a camera and lens?

When carry on weight is a problem - I sometimes sling a camera over a shoulder to reduce the bay weight.
So far I haven't had any problems...

 

[BFinkelstein]

We just got back from a 6 week Safari (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa) for a total of 7 camps (including Gorilla trekking.). We had 13 bush plane trips (6-12 passengers) and a total weight being 22kg. There was no checked luggage and other than what was on your back or person had to be in a duffel bag that could be jammed into a small cargo door opening. We kept our "luggage" to 10 Kg and bought the smallest camera bag we could to hold a z50 and z7ii plus a Tamron 18-400 mm. My sister had a Sony 7 something and a 100 to 400 lens in the same kind of backpack. My wife isn't a photographer so she took same on my camera weight into her backpack. I put all non-essential and back up camera supplies in the duffel. At nearly every stop, they only weighted the duffel and if it was ~ 10 kg they didn't even look at the backpack. We were prepared to pay extra for weight or carry a camera around our necks and I had a vest that I never used. I am not a professional photographer came back with some very worthy photographs with that setup. One thing we found was that the "locals" traveling on the same planes as us could literally bring whatever luggage they wanted. We didn't argue.

 

[Windy]

6 weeks!! Wonderful!

Thank you! I think I'm working it out. I did check and they allow a purse, so I'm bringing a very light large purse that I can fit my z9, two lenses, and cards in. Will put everything I can in my duffel. I'm sure I won't have even 8 kg of clothing, etc. I'll also will wear a jacket with pockets to stuff all the travel docs, batteries and miscellany.

You all have been very helpful.

 

[BFinkelstein]

6 weeks!! Wonderful!

Thank you! I think I'm working it out. I did check and they allow a purse, so I'm bringing a very light large purse that I can fit my z9, two lenses, and cards in. Will put everything I can in my duffel. I'm sure I won't have even 8 kg of clothing, etc. I'll also will wear a jacket with pockets to stuff all the travel docs, batteries and miscellany.

You all have been very helpful.

So we probably overpacked clothes because every camp we were at had laundry service. Keep weight down by wearing your "hiking shoes." Evenvthough the temps were supposedly very hot, it got real chilly at night and we had to buy a fleece at one of the camps. But the Masai provided plenty of warm blankets in the land cruiser for the early game drives. The trip was so fantastic that I'm glad I didn't get so focused on the camera that I missed the rest of the adventure. Photo'd all our mammal and large targets, except the painted dogs (because of were we were) and all my target birds and then some. I was surprised on the number of raptors and especially vultures we encountered.

 

[French Avocado]

On our trips from Rwanda to Tanzania and then over to Zanzibar, we were limited to 32 lbs each total for all luggage. However, they never weighed the 30 lb camera backpacks! It was very loose.

 

[kg3200]

We just got back from a 6 week Safari (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa) for a total of 7 camps (including Gorilla trekking.). We had 13 bush plane trips (6-12 passengers) and a total weight being 22kg. There was no checked luggage and other than what was on your back or person had to be in a duffel bag that could be jammed into a small cargo door opening. We kept our "luggage" to 10 Kg and bought the smallest camera bag we could to hold a z50 and z7ii plus a Tamron 18-400 mm. My sister had a Sony 7 something and a 100 to 400 lens in the same kind of backpack. My wife isn't a photographer so she took same on my camera weight into her backpack. I put all non-essential and back up camera supplies in the duffel. At nearly every stop, they only weighted the duffel and if it was ~ 10 kg they didn't even look at the backpack. We were prepared to pay extra for weight or carry a camera around our necks and I had a vest that I never used. I am not a professional photographer came back with some very worthy photographs with that setup. One thing we found was that the "locals" traveling on the same planes as us could literally bring whatever luggage they wanted. We didn't argue.

Great info, thanks!

 

[Calson]

When I was flying where my gear weight was severely restricted I resorted to wearing a Domke photographer's jacket. A 80-400mm went in the rear pocket and a camera body went into each of the front pockes along with spare batteries. I could put a teleconverter and two wide angle lenses in the inside pockets. Once on the plane I would transfer everthing to my carry-on bags. In a pinch I could leave everything in the coat and it could be stuffed into small nooks where a piece of luggage would not.

At this time the best jackets like this I have found are the game jackets that have large pockets for shotgun shell and a large game pocket in the rear. I bought the Game technical apparel jacket in the UK and it does not have a liner and is 100% waterproof which is a plus over the Domke jacket. Not as conspicuous as a photographer's vest stuffed with equipment.

 

[DHL]

I am going on a 3 week photo safari in October. I've got all my equipment and just bought the Gura Gear Kiboko 30L that Steve raved about. Loaded it weighs close to 30 #s. I have one flight on FastJet from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg. Carry-on is limited to 1 bag weighing no more than 7kg or 15.4 pounds. How do you handle that? I've taken everything out of my bag except lenses, cameras and iPad without the case. I'll put batteries, wallet, memory cards, etc, in my pockets and everything else in checked bag. It still weighs over 20 pounds. Any suggestions other than eliminating a camera and lens?

I was in Botswana last month and flew to and from Maun on Airlink. I carried two Z9s, a Z400mm f2.8 TC S, 14 inch MacBook Pro, chargers and batteries in a medium sized backpack, and a Z70-200mm f2.8 S, Z24-70mm f2.8 S, teleconverters (1.4X and 2X), an IPad and a CamRanger2 in a 13l shoulder bag (with some toiletries and spare clothing). Backpack weighed ~25 lbs and the shoulder bag ~13 lbs. I had no issues with Airlink or security at all in either Jo’burg or Maun.

 

[billklipp]

We always buy an extra seat on flights inside Africa to get extra weight limits

 

[Gov]

Has anybody tried carrying on one long lens (like a 80-400 or 500pf) in its individual case with shoulder strap in addition to a carry-on carmera backpack and a computer bag?

 

[billklipp]

Has anybody tried carrying on one long lens (like a 80-400 or 500pf) in its individual case with shoulder strap in addition to a carry-on carmera backpack and a computer bag?

That would be 3 Carry ons and most airlines will not permit that. Having said that for flights inside Africa between camps on Cessna Caravan type planes you have a lot more leeway

 

[Gov]

That would be 3 Carry ons and most airlines will not permit that. Having said that for flights inside Africa between camps on Cessna Caravan type planes you have a lot more leeway

I was thinking since the bag would not be much larger than a large beverage, which is allowed to be carried on, it may not be considered a "bag" or "personal item." It doesn't seem much different than putting in the pocket of a vest, which some have reported works. Another possibility would be to attach it to the outside of the carry-on camera bag. In that case it might not be counted toward the size restriction, although it would be counted toward the weight restriction.

 

[Rassie]

I

Has anybody tried carrying on one long lens (like a 80-400 or 500pf) in its individual case with shoulder strap in addition to a carry-on carmera backpack and a computer bag?

I have. You are usually allowed one carry-on bag and one "personal item" . Many camera backpacks have a compartment for a laptop or tablet, so a bag with all the camera gear as well as a laptop is possible provided it meets size and weigh limits for carry-on. I carried my 2.3 kg 200-500mm lens in its own separate case slung over my neck, and that constituted my "personal item". Again, there are size limits for that as well, but in my case everything was within limits.

 

[Patrick M]

Lowepro fastback 250 with z6, z14-24, z24-120, z70-200 and z24-200 plus batteries, filters etc weighs in at under 8k gas which easily met BA and Iceland Air carry on weights.