Capitals: Pretoria, Bloemfontein and Cape Town

Time Difference: GMT +2 hours

International Dialling Code: +27

Main languages: English is most widely spoken across South Africa, but there are also 10 other official languages.

Electricity: 220-230V, 15 amps AC 50Hz.  Round 3 pin type outlets. If you bring any electrical devices, including camera battery chargers, you may need to purchase adapters, which are widely available at electrical stores and airports. Travellers from North America will need to purchase a foreign travel voltage converter, which are available from electrical stores.

Climate/Best time to visit: Generally speaking, South Africa has a warm and sunny climate for most of the year but being such a large country there are several distinct regional climates. In the southwest the climate is often described as being Mediterranean, in the interior it is temperate and in the northeast it is sub tropical. Near the border with Namibia is the only part of the country that can be said to have a desert climate.

Summertime temperatures can be as high as 35C and can get down to freezing during the winter. Altitude affects the temperature more so than latitude in South Africa and snowfall is not uncommon in mountainous areas, so come prepared.

Malaria. The chances of contracting malaria in South Africa are negligible as the disease is more or less under control, with only a few pockets where it can still be contracted. These include parts of KwaZulu Natal, the Northern Province, Mpumalanga and Zululand. Bear in mind that Kruger National Park lies within one of these zones. Take sensible precautions in these areas by wearing long sleeves and trousers, using insect repellent and taking malaria tablets.

Clothing. To get the best from your holiday it is advisable to bring loose fitting cotton clothing. Long shorts are fine for men, although long trousers are considered the norm in most towns and villages. For women, knee length skirts or shorts are advised as Namibians generally dress conservatively.

Make sure you pack something warm, such as a fleece, for the chillier evenings or rides back to camp in open-sided vehicles. Desert areas can get very cold at night, so consider this when packing and bring a long-sleeved jacket or jumper. There are numerous stores in cities and larger towns sell excellent safari clothing.

Also, make sure you bring a hat to keep the sun off you as sun stroke is always a risk in southern Africa.

Duty free: Each traveller is allowed to bring 400 cigarettes, 2 litres of wine and 1 litre of spirits into the country without paying tax.

Tipping: Leaving a small gratuity for service staff is commonplace in South Africa. As a general guideline, porters should receive R5 per item, waiters 10-15 percent of the bill and taxi drivers 10 percent of the fare. On safari it is also customary to tip the guide around 10USD per day if they have done a good job.

Visa and entry requirements: Travellers from most countries do not require a visa to enter South Africa if they intend to stay for 90 days or less. To meet the entry requirements you must however possess a valid passport, sufficient funds for your stay and an onward ticket.

Luggage allowances: On flights into and out of southern Africa the usual luggage allowance is 20kg (44lbs) of checked in baggage. On buses between long distance destinations on your safari holiday some drivers will not accept more than two suitcases per passenger, but there are no hard and fast rules and many will accept more. Be aware that if you are taking a flight on a light aircraft the rules are much stricter and you will probably only be allowed to bring 15kg maximum of ‘soft’ luggage i.e. no suitcases.

Remember to pack:

-          The right clothing

-          Sun block and lip salve

-          Insect repellent

-          Camera, with any extra memory cards, lenses etc.

-          Simple medical kit with any medication

-          A cheap waterproof watch

-          A good guidebook to the country

Please enquire about renting binoculars if you are not planning to bring your own.

Cancellation policy

If you have to cancel your tour the following general cancellation terms apply regarding refunds. These may vary slightly depending upon the type of tour and number of rooms booked, so please contact us for further details which relate to a specific tour:

More than 60 days before arrival: no fee unless special conditions apply

60-30 days before arrival: 50% of the rooms may be cancelled at no charge; the rest will be charged 20%.

29-15 days before arrival: 10% of the rooms may be cancelled at 20% charge. The rest will be charged 100%.

14-0 days before arrival: no refund given.

Extending your trip. If you want to recharge on a beach for a few days at the end of your safari holiday you can book a beach extension. Just ask us for details

Tour Information

Arrival: Cape Town International Airport, Cape Town
Departure: Cape Town International Airport, Cape Town or OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg

Departures: Daily departures