Vines, Views & the Big Five – South Africa

This safari begins at Cape Town and ends at Hoedspruit Airport (South Africa).

Please remember to keep weight to a minimum. Internal charter flights have a maximum weight allowance of 15 kg (approx. 33 lbs) per person, inclusive of hand luggage.

Avoid regular Samsonite suitcases on safari; instead, opt for a soft duffel bag that can be easily transported in small spaces. If you do not own a duffel bag, simply make sure that your suitcase has soft sides with fold-away handles, as opposed to hard casing.

There are new luggage requirements at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport which have been implemented since 25 March 2019. These requirements are designed to reduce delays with luggage movements.

All luggage checked in at O.R. Tambo must comply with the following requirements:

1. Bags must have at least one flat surface.

2. No long shoulder straps which can hamper movement on luggage belts.

3. If the soft bag has a shoulder strap, this needs to be taken off before checking in the luggage.

4. If the bag has more straps, like soft backpacks, they need to be wrapped in plastic.

All luggage that has been checked through from the destination of departure to Maun will not be affected, only luggage actually checked in at O.R. Tambo is affected.

South Africa’s requirements for tourist visas differ from country to country, and the requirements are subject to change. You should make enquiries with your nearest South African mission or consulate abroad or any office of the Department of Home Affairs to check for the current requirements.

Typical Requirements for entering South Africa

You will need the following if you wish to visit South Africa:

• A valid and acceptable passport or travel document for your intended stay valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of your intended visit)
• At least two unused/blank pages in your passport for endorsements
• A valid visa, if required
• Sufficient funds to pay for your day-to-day expenses during your stay
• A return or onward ticket
• Yellow fever certificates if your journey starts or entails passing through the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America.

More details at https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/types-of-visas

General documents required for obtaining a South African visa

If you require a visa for travel to South Africa, you will need to check the documents required from the local South African mission nearest to you. Documents required tend to change frequently. Please reconfirm the requirements prior to travel.

Please be sure you are up to date with all routine vaccinations. Commonly recommended vaccinations for travel to Africa include the following: Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Yellow Fever, Rabies, and Meningitis. Visit your doctor several weeks before your trip to ensure that you have all the vaccines and medications you need.

Yellow Fever Vaccination –

South Africa requires a valid yellow fever certificate from all foreign visitors and citizens over 1 year of age travelling from an infected area or having been in transit through infected areas (>12 hours) in the last 6 days (this does not include the US). So in case you are travelling from or transiting via another country (apart from the US), do check if this affects you.

There is no risk of contracting yellow fever in South Africa. If you are travelling directly from USA or India and are not transiting through a country with the risk of yellow fever, you do not need the yellow fever vaccination certificate.

Malaria –

While the Eastern Cape Reserves are malaria free, Kruger National Park and other reserves in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu Natal lie in a low-risk zone.

Therefore, it is recommended you consult your doctor to see whether you should take malaria prophylaxis before entering South Africa. The course should start 24 hours before entering South Africa and should be taken for 6 weeks after leaving the country.

Other prevention methods such as using mosquito repellent and sleeping under a mosquito net are also recommended.

The official currency is the South African Rand. Visitors to South Africa should change foreign currency at banks, bureaux de change, or authorized hotels. The easiest currencies to exchange are the US dollar (must be dated after 2007), the British pound sterling, and the euro.

Please note that in most African countries, only US dollar notes from 2007 onwards are accepted. Because of the risk of forgeries, people are sometimes suspicious of larger denomination notes so USD$100 and even USD$50 may sometimes be rejected in shops and it is advisable to carry lower denominations which are also more practical.

In South Africa, Type N plug type are commonly used. Plug types N has three round pins. South Africa operates on a 220 – 240V supply voltage and 50Hz.

All international visitors to South Africa need to make sure that they have the appropriate medical insurance before they travel. Please also make sure that you are covered for “Repatriation Cover” to get you home to your country of residence if necessary. Insurance coverage is mandatory for this trip.

Medical, emergency evacuation and repatriation coverage is mandatory for all trips booked with Chalo Africa Inc. Trip cancellation & interruption coverage is highly recommended and Chalo Africa Inc. shall not be held liable for any damages or losses arising from the absence thereof.

Do contact your cell phone carrier if they have any international data / roaming packages that you may wish to subscribe to for the time that you are in South Africa. You can also purchase a calling card locally in South Africa.

Cell service, specially when you are in the bush, will be spotty at best since you will be remote locations. However, most camps will have Wi-Fi services either in the tents or main areas.