Shipping from Africa

Ordering product from the category “wholesale (direct from Africa)” means that the items are ex-stock and require manufacture in Africa by our independent contractors. At checkout, the following message will display at Step 3 “There are no shipping services available to your Shipping Address. Please verify that the address is correct and complete.” as a reminder that shipping from Africa is not included.

On completion of manufacture, the buyer is notified that the order or parts thereof are ready to ship. Buyer arranges and pays all import/export costs to take delivery. Our responsibility ends when the product (with documentation for ex/import) is delivered to the buyer’s shipping agent.

Quantity ordered and the mode of shipping from Africa will affect the landed cost of an item. Rule-of-thumb is cost of item will double but the increase could be as small as 25% or as high as 400% in cost with so many variables and options to consider. The faster the delivery, the higher the cost. Planning ahead with long lead times can bring significant cost reductions and savings.

Most of our product shipments arrive via air or sea freight. The latter takes minimum 12 to 16 weeks and best suited to orders that are not time sensitive and exceed one cubic meter (35.3 cubic feet) or are heavy, or bulky (large volume low mass (weight)) items. Sea or ground rates are often a third of equivalent airmail charges with significant cost savings.

Smaller quantities (one or two packages) usually sent by mail, airfreight, or courier service. The former can be air or ground (sea) to the US (i.e. import) but not available for export from the US. Likewise, sea or ground rates are often a third of equivalent airmail charges with significant cost savings.

A number of shipping options are available to the buyer:

1. Appoint an agent to receive the order in Africa. Negotiate your preferred method of export/import with them to best suit your needs. (NOTE: all wildlife and some animal and vegetable products require a US Federal Fish and wildlife Permit). DHL, FedEx, and UPS are present at all localities where we are located in Africa as well as many independent and international freight agents. Agent responsible for packing, shipping, handling, and delivery and will charge accordingly for those services.

2. Our local people in Africa can arrange shipping from origin to buyer’s destination as a separate paid assignment. Knowing the local agents assures you of a competitive rate and good reliable service as we use the same companies regularly.

3. Add the order to one of our regular shipments, we do all ex/import and ship to our Colorado facility. Order is unpacked and if required re-packaged and forwarded to you by the domestic service of your choice; all costs for buyers account. More cost effective that 1 or 2 above with caveat that shipping moves according to our timeline. Although we ship regularly, it could take up to 12 weeks depending on the time of the year (slow shipping season is October through February; peak is March through September) or any unscheduled interruptions or delays by circumstances beyond our control.

4. Small shipments, of less than one cubic meter and under US$2000 can be packed by us and shipped direct to you or via our Colorado; facility depending on what best suits your needs. Regular air and ground mail and airfreight have proven to be as reliable as and less expensive than regular courier services as one can clear customs without an agent if FOB value less than US$2000. Ground (sea) mail takes 6 to 16 weeks and costs about one third of airmail rates. Airmail usually takes less than two weeks. With tracking and insurance, it costs about 50% less than airfreight that takes about five days. The advantage of airfreight is that it is more secure and reliable than mail. However, an added advantage of mail is delivery with regular USPS mail service. Airfreight and courier services are the speediest and most secure. Choice of shipping between courier and airfreight is based on the cost savings made by doing customs clearance and collection of freight from nearest international airport (door-to-door delivery increases costs) versus courier charges for import and door delivery.

Contact us about shipping from Africa.