Hello John,
hello Gentlemen,

sorry I do come back now for the 2023 story, but it was a not-optimal-experienence (=> small-scale desaster)

My son (11 years), his uncle and I checked the rifles in at the Munich airport, no problems here.
The only stop in Frankfurt brought a delay of three hours due to heavy rain, and we waited.

At 23.20 o´clock we were allowed to board again, only to sit on the runway for 40minutes for whatever reason.
At 23:59 the pilot announced that night-flights after midnight are not allowed in Frankfurt, and we will return to the airport.

We spent the night in the airport, and due to the fact that I stole a blanket from the aircraft, at least my son could sleep covered in the airport building (airport was locked, no one could go out)
Uncle and I were sitting on benches, trying to sleep.
Next day the replacement flight was also late, but at least started at 9 pm.
We arrived in the next morning at Hosea Kutako, and after the passport check it was discovered that my suitcase with gear and ammunition and my gun case were missing, maybe in lying Johannsesburg?
We waited one day at the airport, but after two flights from Johannesburg arrived before and after noon, the luggage did not arrive, maybe the luggage was dircted to Doha (???).

Going on a hunt without the selected and tailored rifles and ammunition was a spoil-sport, because one rifle was especially stocked for my son (Savage Model 10 in 7mm-08 Rem.) as there was no rifle with a short stock and adequate caliber in the camp.

So we made a shopping tour in Svakopmund and a day on a fishing boat, which was great.
Did you ever experience a temperature of 4° Celsius in Africa?
In case not, I can recommend Swakopmund in August, preferably with luggage missing...

back to medium mishaps:
I made photos, but the cloud-data (?) was transferred to a server in Namibia, which is - of course - not accessible in Germany. So all photos are lost.

On the second to last day I was offered a meat-hunt for an Oryx, as we wanted some barbecue with this fantastic meat. I shot one Oryx with a loan-rifle in 300 Win Mag, but was told afterwards that the meat was for the next hunting party as a welcome. No Oryx steak for us...

At the departure day on the airport I got my luggage and rifle case back, checked it (all bits and pieces were there and untouched, with the exception of my Zeiss binoculars.
As I had to check-in my baggage, there was no time for the report of stolen goods. I was told that I can do this in Frankfurt or Munich...

We flew back to Munich via Frankfurt, and in Munich - after the passport check - it was discovered that MY LUGGAGE AND GUN CASE WAS MISSING - AGAIN!
We spent six hours at the airport waiting for the luggage, which was announced to be in Namibia, or Frankfurt, or Doha, or ...and coming with the next or the next, or the next flight. It did not come.
And for the report on the stolen binoculars: airport security informed me this I should have been reported at the airport in Namibia, because the correct and filled forms should have been collected there. No, it is not possible to report the stolen goods in Munich...

I got a call from the airport five days after our return, and was asked to come to the airport (80 kilometers distance), because the luggage and gun case was waiting already for two days for me.
My answer could be heard without telephone, as I was shouting my anger directly.
Three hours later the luggage and the rilfe case arrived at my house, brought directly by an airport employee (he got a nice tip, as my rifles were ok).

For all my expenses for the missing luggage I received an offer of a royalty of 65 € compensation in total, which I declined in colorful language.
The process of getting a refund for a 22hours flight delay is still ongoing.
The binoculars are still missing.

I do learn very slowly, so in 2026 we will try again for a hunt in Namibia :-)

kind regards
Rolf