Flying A Dog Internationally
Ever wonder how to fly a dog within Africa from Uganda to South Africa? To date, this has been the most frustrating and stressful move we have done. I thought that since these two countries are relatively close the move would be easy, but unfortunately I was wrong.
Based on mistakes and frustrations from previous moves, I knew more than a month would be needed to get Milo organized. I started inquiring in January with the intention of moving in April or May, giving myself a good 3-4 months to prepare. I thought because Uganda and South Africa are on the same continent the move would be simple, however it was actually very stressful.
Requirements for Leaving Uganda
Uganda suffers from a rather disorganized bureaucratic system. Obtaining the appropriate animal import and export documents is next to impossible unless you personally know someone who can get them for you. There is one vet in Uganda who handles animal transport making his company the only available option. Consequently, this also means he is very busy.
From left to right: Dr. Alex picking up Milo at Entebbe Airport, Me picking up Milo in Kampala at the Vetluv Pet Travel offices.
I had worked with Dr. Alex at Vetluv Pet Travel when I brought Milo into Uganda, so I contacted him again about what we needed to do in order to leave. He said Milo would need a blood test sent to South Africa 30 days before travel in addition to a health certificate signed within 10 days of travel. He would handle the other export documents required for leaving Uganda.
Requirements for Entering South Africa
If you are coming to South Africa from another African country you will find the import requirements are quite strict and slightly complicated.
In order to bring your dog to South Africa you must first apply for a permit. When the permit is approved you can start the import paperwork. Dogs entering from an African country that does not border South Africa are not allowed to enter through a land border and must be quarantined on arrival. The law says they must be flown into Cape Town or Johannesburg international airports as cargo where they will be quarantined. See here to see the detailed list of requirements and here for my advice on how to prepare your dog for a flight in cargo.
Because this process requires multiple time sensitive steps, I hired the assistance of a pet relocation company on the South African side. Animal Travel Services is a Cape Town based company with branches in Johannesburg, Durban and Port Elizabeth. Their lovely representative Melanie assisted me with all the documents necessary and gave me information on the quarantine process.
Leaving Uganda
Now I’m not sure if Dr. Alex was just too busy and perhaps took on more work than he could handle, but getting in touch with him this time around was hard. I had to email and call several times before he ever responded and I never got a breakdown of the services I was paying for. Vetluv sent the request of final payment a week before Milo was scheduled to fly and it was $1000 over the initial estimate. Apparently Milo’s crate was larger than he had budgeted for.
I drove Milo to the airport in Entebbe myself. I could have dropped him off at the Vetluv offices in Kampala but my friend had offered to drive with me so I was happier to be there with him since it can be a stressful experience.
Left to right: Driving through Kampala to the airport, Milo in his crate waiting to leave.
Complications
I have my suspicions that Milo was never properly booked on the flight from Uganda to South Africa. Dr. Alex didn’t come to the airport and the representative he sent kept changing flight times on me. I was initially supposed to bring him to the airport at 3am, but got a text the night before saying the flight had been changed and to come at noon instead. We ended up spending 3-4 hours at the airport just waiting around. The majority of that time was me wondering when Milo was going to fly. The rep kept saying there were complications and that he was going to sort it out.
During the 3-4 hour period I was at the airport waiting around in limbo I kept calling Dr. Alex on his cell phone. To my immense frustration he never answered. The rep eventually came to collect Milo and check him in. After an entire day of waiting around in stress I cried when they took him away. But then again I cry every time I put him on a flight.
Entering South Africa
I was so relieved when Melanie notified me that Milo had arrived in Johannesburg and was in quarantine. While there is normally a 14 day quarantine, after some testing they let Milo out in 7 days. This was perfect because I could then coordinate our arrivals in Durban to be at the same time.
Often times when your dog flies cargo through a relocation service, you need to collect them at the cargo facility. The facility is usually a separate building to the main airport. Brett met me at the airport and then we drove to the cargo facility where Milo was waiting for us. We had a chuckle when the guys thought Milo was some fancy hunting dog we had specially imported.
Animal Travel Services
I was very happy with Animal Travel Services and their team. Melanie was attentive and quick to answer my questions. She also gave me a financial breakdown of the services I was paying for. I would highly recommend their services if you are thinking of importing or exporting a pet in South Africa.
Vetluv Pet Travel
Vetluv Pet Travel is your only option if you want to import or export a dog in Uganda. Because of this, you can either just accept what comes your way or not move your pet. Dr. Alex eventually called me back and claimed that the problem was because of disorganization from South African Airways. Even if this was the truth, he should have been better at keeping me informed of the situation. It also doesn’t excuse the last minute $1000 price increase.
Because they are the only company in Uganda that can help you move your pet I can’t not recommend them. Maybe the majority of their moves run smoothly and my case just slipped through the cracks. Dr. Alex has always been very nice and curtious, so I will choose to believe that this case was just unlucky.
Pricing
In the end the only real damage that was done was to my bank account. In total this move cost me $4500 USD which is $500 less than moving him from the US to Uganda. The price of flying your dog as freight is based on volume not on distance, which is why the prices were so similar. This is something I didn’t know beforehand and will keep in mind for the future.
Safe Arrival
Milo arrived from Uganda to South Africa safely which is what matters most. Traveling within Africa can be rather complicated and confusing so hiring a pet relocation company to assist you is a good idea.
I learned a lot from this disorganized mess of a move and hope any future trips will run far smoother.
A very happy Milo on his first day in South Africa.
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Have questions about traveling internationally with your dog? Need some advice or reassurance on what to do? Feel free to send me a message! I’m happy to share my knowledge and put you in touch with the right people.
