Travel Tips

TRANSPORT:

South Africa is quite a big country, and our major Tourist attractions are difficult to reach in some cases. Cape Town and Johannesburg are over 1400 km’s apart and connected by over 20 domestic flights per day. Many people hire cars in Cape Town and travel at their own pace, however, some people prefer the relaxation of having a professional guide to show them around. In most cities getting around can be challenging, due to the fact that it is not recommended to use public taxis or busses. We suggest staying in Tourist areas where modes of transport are of a higher standard.

It might be a good idea to use the services of a Tour operator that could arrange private transfers. Please contact us regarding this service.

TELEPHONES:

Communication in South Africa is of an international standard and it is easy to contact the rest of the world. All hotels have international dialling facilities and it is fairly inexpensive. South Africa supports the GSM cell phone / mobile phone system. International Roaming coverage throughout the country is very good. A good idea would be to hire a phone from Vodacom stores (ask you travel agent). They are based at most airports and tourist venues around the country.

HEALTH:

South Africa has no health restrictions and is safe to visit any time of the year. However it is recommended that Malaria precautions are to be taken if the Eastern part of the country is to be visited. These areas are not high-risk Malaria areas however these precautions are recommended. Furthermore it is similar to travelling in Europe and in case of emergencies, we have some of the best doctors in the world. It is highly recommended to make use of international medical insurance in order to go to private hospitals, in the event of an emergency. In some cases the Government Hospitals are not up to international standard.

SAFETY:

Tourists are very seldom the victims of theft or personal injury. Tourist areas have good security and the areas are monitored by the Tourist Protection unit of our Metro Police Services. In general there are only one or two rules and we suggest that you keep to these. Every city in the world has good areas and bad areas, find out which areas to avoid, from your hotel or Tour leader. The other important point is to keep your valuables in a safe place, do not carry all your cash, passports and other valuables in the same bag. Travel wisely, use credit cards if you can and do not trust anybody. Most of our staff have travelled extensively and noted that these rules are the same when you travel anywhere in the world and not only in South Africa.

CLIMATE:

South Africa has a moderate climate and being in the Sub-tropics you can expect good weather. However, we could have all 4 seasons in one day, so travel accordingly. Bring a warm Jacket, raincoat and a swimsuit. In some areas the winters might get a little chilly, down to -2 to -3 degrees Celsius at night, so make sure you come prepared

MONEY:

Our currency is called Rand and is worth approx. R 6 - 8 to the US$1 and R10-12 to the £1. It is recommended that you change money at a financial institution like Thomas Cooke or American Express at the airport. You can also draw money from your credit cards at ATMs countrywide. It is our suggestion to use your credit card as much as possible, thus making it easier to check your expenditure once back home. Credit cards are widely accepted and are probably the safest way to pay for goods and services.

SHOPPING:

Most visitors to South Africa spend thousands of Rand’s on African Art and other crafts. Most tourist areas have small craft markets and are pleasant to visit. We always recommend that our clients support the local people, especially in rural areas that are much poorer than the cities and towns. A good idea if you want to take these often large crafts (elephants, hippos and giraffes) home with you, it might be worth your while to ship it. We have many services like DHL and FedEx that will deliver your purchases right to your doorstep. It may also cheaper to send it by ship

GOVERNMENT TAXES:

South Africa has VAT (Value added Tax) on all goods and services, which is currently 14%. VAT on certain goods and services can be claimed back upon your departure from Johannesburg International Airport or Cape Town International Airport. However there are certain rules and regulations. One of these is that you have to present both the goods and the original invoice. It is advisable to get a booklet from the VAT Return Office upon your arrival in South Africa. We look forward to seeing you in South Africa soon and trust that we could assist in making this your "Dream-come-true" Holiday.

For your convenience we have compiled a list of necessities that you might need when travelling in South Africa.

DRESS:

It is recommended that you travel light - casual clothing for the day and a warm jacket for the evenings. It is essential to take enough warm clothes as the evenings might get a little cooler. If possible, it is recommended that neutral coloured clothing be worn on safaris, for bright coloured clothing often disturb wild animals. During winter months a warm jacket would be recommended. During summer months, from November to March, bring a light raincoat. Johannesburg has summer rain and Cape Town during the winter.

DRINKING WATER:

All drinking water in South Africa is highly purified to the highest standards and guaranteed perfectly safe. However bottled mineral water is quite inexpensive and widely available. It might be a good idea to keep to your own travel pattern

HEALTH:

All drinking water in South Africa is highly purified to the highest standards and guaranteed perfectly safe. However bottled mineral water is quite inexpensive and widely available. It might be a good idea to keep to your own travel pattern.

PHOTOGRAPHY:

A 200mm telephoto lens is the minimum recommended for birds and wild animals. Most photographers favour the versatility of a zoom lens. However, in many cases we get quite close to some of the animals and a normal 35mm camera would also do.

SHOPPING:

South Africa is renowned for our Arts & Craft and these are found all over the country. General necessities can be bought in all cities and towns, and all our tours make provisions for stops where these can be bought. We also have many major shopping centres where you can purchase anything from an apple to the latest Gucci and Prada designs

GRATUITIES:

Gratuities are based upon services rendered and provided you are totally satisfied with the performance of support staff, please feel free to tip them accordingly, understanding that you are under no obligation to do so.

WHAT TO BRING: