South Africa Premier Sample

One of the most culturally and geographically diverse places on earth, South Africa, fondly known by locals as the 'Rainbow Nation,' boasts 11 official languages and its inhabitants are influenced by a fascinating mix of cultures. Discover the gourmet restaurants, impressive art scene, vibrant nightlife, and beautiful beaches of Cape Town. Enjoy a local braai (barbecue) in the Soweto township, browse the bustling Indian markets in Durban, or sample some of the world's finest wines at the myriad wine estates dotting the Cape Winelands. Some historical attractions to explore include the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg and Robben Island just off the coast of Cape Town. Above all else, its untamed wilderness is astonishing. Wildlife roams across massive game reserves such as the world-famous Kruger National Park, one of the largest national parks in the world, with an area of 19,485 km2 (7,523 sq mi). 

Drones

-Due to concerns over poaching, it is illegal to bring un-permitted drones into most national parks, as well as into the countries of Rwanda, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. For this reason, we highly advise against bringing a drone on your trip.

Travel Documents

-It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure they meet the entry and exit requirements of all countries being visited and transited through. Otherwise, entry into or exit from a country could be denied.

-Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond your date of travel.

-South Africa requires at least 2 consecutive/side by side blank visa pages (not endorsement pages) on entry for both visas and stamps.

-At immigration, you may be asked to provide proof of return flight to your country of residence and proof of accommodation (your itinerary). Parents traveling with children under 18 may be required to produce unabridged original birth certificates for their children depending on the country being entered.

Travel Insurance

-The lodges require that you have comprehensive travel insurance to cover yourself for the duration of your trip in Africa. This is the sole responsibility of the traveler to organize. See our “About Travel Insurance” document for more information.

Visas

-We do our best to keep the below as up to date as possible. However, please note that it is intended as a guideline only and meeting the visa requirements of the countries entered/transited through is the sole responsibility of the traveler. For up-to-date visa information, visit the country-specific government websites. Failure to comply can result in entry/exit being denied. The below applies to US and EU citizens traveling on a US/EU passport:

-South Africa: No advance visa required. Allowed to enter for stays of up to 90 days without a visa. Passports will be stamped upon entry and exit. You may be asked to present your return flight ticket and hotel reservations at immigration.

Cash

-Banks and foreign exchange bureaus are available at most airports. ATMs in Africa do not dispense USD notes. We recommend you bring sufficient small USD dollar bills to avoid having to draw cash while traveling. See tipping guideline below. 

Credit Cards

-AMEX is widely not accepted. We recommend bringing only Mastercard or VISA. Most shops, hotels, lodges, and restaurants accept credit cards.

Tipping

-USD/Euros/local currency can be used in all countries for tipping. It is important to get new, untorn bills that are not older than 2009 as the older bills may not be accepted. We recommend bringing small denomination notes for tipping. Most hotels and some lodges have credit card facilities and often tips can be accepted via credit card, but please note that cash is the preferred tender for tips. A day-by-day tipping guide will be provided in your final itinerary.

- The daily tipping guidelines listed in your itinerary are the total amounts recommended for your group total, not per person amounts. They serve just as a guideline based on what have become normal tipping amounts over time. Remember that you should not feel obligated to pay exact amounts. If you feel that the service you received warrants a larger or smaller tip than what is outlined, feel free to adjust accordingly.

-Cash (USD or local currency) is the preferred tender for tips. We recommend bringing a variety of denomination notes. If you would prefer to carry less cash, you can leave tips at the hotels and some safari lodges on credit/debit card. In the event you do so, we recommending leaving a note for your guide and tracker letting them know that you have left a tip on card and the amount left. We recommend bringing $100-200 extra cash per person in a variety of denomination bills for any miscellaneous tipping you may like to do.

-At safari lodges, it is customary to tip once at the end of your stay. At city/winelands hotels, you can tip the bellhops directly and leave a tip for the general staff with the front desk/reception when you settle the bill at the end of your stay. The tip for the general staff is shared across the entire staff (housekeeping, laundry, security, chefs, managers/hosts etc.) except the guiding team. Please note that lodge/camp managers/hosts do not expect a separate tip. 

-At some safari lodges, you may have a designated waiter/server/butler. If you would like to tip this person specifically, you should feel free to do so. We recommend giving this person 1/3 of the amount allocated for the general staff. 

-Most hotels and lodges provide stationery and envelopes in the room for guests to use for tipping. If you would like to include a thank you note with any of your tips, feel free to use the stationery and envelopes for this. 

-It is customary to tip 10-15% for spa treatments and at restaurants in cities. If you would like to tip people who may help you with luggage in airports, we recommend $3-$5.

-If you are doing any touring, ask your airport transfer driver if they will be your guide for the duration of your time in the city. If so, you can opt to give them one tip at the end of your time together. If not, we recommend tipping each driver/guide at the end of the service provided.

Charter Flights

-To maximize time spent in camp and on safari, some inter-camp transfers are done by light aircraft or helicopter. In most cases, the aircraft will make multiple stops enroute to your safari camp to pick up/drop off other passengers (typically no more than 2 stops). These stops may require changing aircraft. The lodges are typically only able to provide confirmed flight times the evening prior.

-The aircrafts used for these transfers are typically Cessna Caravan 208s for shared charter flights and Robinson R44s for helicopter flights.

-The flights can be warm and turbulent, so we recommend keeping your water bottle with you and taking anti-nausea medication if you get motion sickness.

Luggage

-If you plan on checking a bag, we recommend placing an Air Tag in it so that you can track the bag in the event its lost during transit. Do not place any essential items such as medications or valuables in checked bags.

Scheduled charter flights are often required to reach remote areas. These planes have small luggage holds and restrictive luggage allowances. We recommend packing in a soft-sided bag. The exact luggage allowances for your trip will be listed on the pack list.

-Keep in mind that most safari lodges offer free same day or next day laundry services, weather permitting.

Health

-It is the responsibility of the traveler to make sure they have any and all vaccines and meet all health requirements to enter any countries being visited or transited through. Please consult your medical practitioner or travel clinic at least 3 months prior to your departure date to make sure you meet all health requirements and have all necessary vaccines for the countries you are visiting.

-We recommend all travelers get an international certification of vaccination also known as a “yellow book,” which is issued by your travel clinic and approved by the WHO. This is a helpful way to keep a record of all vaccines received, such as yellow fever, cholera, hep A, hep B, typhoid, tetanus etc. The CDC advises that you be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination and that some vaccines may be required for specific destinations. You can find out which vaccines are required and/or recommended from your local travel clinic. You can also search the most up-to-date information per country on the CDC website.

-Entry into any foreign country may be denied if a traveler has a fever.

Malaria

-Malaria is present throughout Africa and can be prevented if you take basic precautions. There are several effective antimalarial drugs available. Please consult your travel clinic or doctor for the best drug for you.

Safety

-It is sensible to take basic precautions while traveling anywhere in the world. Below are recommendations that we feel hold true for travel in general and which we suggest are also followed while you are traveling in Africa.

• Ask hotel staff for information about the safety of the specific area.
• Avoid walking with your phone in your hand. If you’re not using it for photos etc., put it away in a pocket/bag.
• Secure all luggage with a suitable lock for flights. Do not check any valuables or chronic medication.
• Drive with doors locked and windows closed and handbags out of sight. Do not leave any bags in the car unattended or unattended in general (handbags on tables, on backs of chairs at restaurants etc.)
• Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.
• Separate cash and credit cards and do not carry all your cash with you. Avoid counting cash in public. Be vigilant around all ATMs. Never let a stranger assist you at an ATM and shield the keypad when entering your PIN. Keeping large amounts of foreign currency notes poses several risks; rather settle your bills via credit or debit card where possible.
• Store all valuables, travel documents (like passports), and cash in your camp/hotel safe.
• If you have any issues with safety at any time, please let us and your hotel know immediately.

Food and water safety: Standards of hygiene in relation to food health and safety are high in hotels, lodges, and restaurants. It is safe to eat fresh fruit, vegetables/salads, and put ice in your drinks. There is no need to limit yourself when enjoying the local cuisine at hotels and restaurants. 

Local cuisine: South African cuisine is diverse and flavourful, featuring dishes like biltong (dried, seasoned meat), bobotie (spiced minced meat baked with an egg-based topping), and boerewors (farmers' sausage). The culinary scene includes a strong tradition of barbecuing, known locally as "braai."

Drinks: Notable local drinks include Rooibos tea, craft beers, and South African wines. It is very important to drink plenty of water (2-3 liters per day) as you will spend large portions of the day in the sun. Proper hydration also greatly helps to diminish jet lag. 

Tipping: Customarily 10-15% in restaurants and for services.

The weather in South Africa is generally pleasant throughout the year with warm to hot days and cool to warm nights. With its highly variable topography and two extremely different ocean currents running along its coastlines, South Africa’s climate and weather vary drastically from one region to the next.

The Northern and Eastern parts of the country (Kruger National Park, Phinda Game Reserve, KwaZulu Natal), where most safaris take place lie at low altitude with a pleasant subtropical and tropical savanna climate. Dry winters (May to September) are warm and mild (reaching into the 70s and 80s F in the middle of the day) but days cool off considerably at night with virtually no rainfall. The wet summer months (October to April) are hot and often humid with temperatures reaching into the 90s F and rain coming in afternoon thunderstorms.

The Western Cape (Cape Town and the winelands) has a more Mediterranean climate and receives most of its rainfall in winter (May to September) with cool days and rain expected in scattered showers. This is opposite to the rainfall pattern in most of the country, including Kruger. Summer (October to April) in Cape Town is warm and mostly dry. Due to its proximity to two different oceans and mountainous topography, Cape Town’s weather can be extremely tough to predict—locals joke that Cape Town often experiences all four seasons in one day, no matter the time of year.

Winter (May to September)

• May:
•  Kruger & Surrounds: This month brings the end of summer. Rainfall dwindles down. Temperatures are pleasant; typically 12°C/54°F in the morning and 27°C/81°F in the afternoon.
• Cape Town & Surrounds: Rainfall increases with the start of winter. It cools down to an average of 20°C/68°F in the afternoon.
• June, July & August:
• Kruger & Surrounds: Morning game drives in open vehicles will be cold, so it's advisable to pack warm winter clothing. The average morning temperature is 10°C/50°F. Afternoons will be pleasant with temperatures around 26°C/79°F. Rain is extremely rare.
• Cape Town & Surrounds: There is regular rainfall and cloudy skies are common. Mornings are usually around 8°C/46°F and afternoons around 18°C/64°F.
• September:
• Kruger & Surrounds: The heat gradually builds up to about 29°C/84°F in the afternoons, and the first rains bring relief from very dry conditions. Mornings are pleasant with temperatures of around 14°C/57°F.
• Cape Town & Surrounds: Cloudy conditions are common, but daytime temperatures increase gradually at the end of winter. Afternoons reach temperatures of around 19°C/66°F.

Summer (October to April)

• October & November
• Kruger & Surrounds: It gets warmer and it starts to rain more often, mostly in the afternoons. Temperatures are between 18°C/64°F in the morning and 31°C/88°F in the afternoon.
• Cape Town & Surrounds: The average afternoon temperature in November is a pleasant 24°C/75°F. Most days are sunny and it only rains sporadically.
• December, January & February
• Kruger & Surrounds: These are the wettest months, characterized by torrential downpours in the afternoon. The heat can be oppressive with average afternoon temperatures around 32°C/90°F with high humidity. Peak temperatures are much higher.
• Cape Town & Surrounds: The weather is lovely; afternoons are around 26°C/79°F and the skies are mostly blue. It still rains occasionally, but usually not for long.
• March & April
• Kruger & Surrounds: Rainfall decreases, and it slowly gets cooler. This continues in April, which has lovely, clear weather. The nights get a bit colder but are still pleasant at about 18°C/64°F. Daytime temperatures are around 30°C/86°F and humidity drops in April.
• Cape Town & Surrounds: It cools down at the end of summer. The average high in April is 23°C/73°F and it drops to about 12°C/54°F at night. Rainfall and cloudy conditions increase, but there are still many lovely days with lower wind.

The Central ‘highveld’ plateau (Johannesburg, Marakele National Park) experiences dry, sunny winters (June to August) with chilly mornings and evenings, often dropping to around 4°C/39°F, but daytime temperatures are pleasantly mild, averaging 16–20°C/61–68°F. Summers (December to February) are warm and wet, with daytime highs around 25–30°C /77–86°F and frequent afternoon thunderstorms.

The Northwest of the country (Tswalu) is a semi-arid desert that has dry, crisp winters (June to August) with cold nights often dropping below 0°C /32°F, but clear, sunny days that warm up to around 20–25°C /68–77°F. Summers (December to February) are hot with daytime temperatures reaching 35–40°C /95–104°F, occasional dramatic thunderstorms, and warm nights.

The weather in South Africa is generally pleasant throughout the year with warm to hot days and cool to warm nights. In the Greater Kruger National Park in winter, it warms up nicely during the middle of the day, but it can be very cold in the early morning and at night, so we suggest dressing in layers for all activities, with a warm layer being essential in the early mornings and evenings. Winter is the dry season in the bush, so rain is uncommon. In the summer, it can get very hot during the middle of the day, with thunderstorms rolling in in the afternoon. The Western Cape, unlike everywhere else in South Africa, has a Mediterranean climate and gets winter rain. The city is well known for its unpredictable weather—locals joke that Cape Town often experiences all four seasons in one day, so you should never head out without a baseball cap and a down jacket. In winter, the Cape is characterized by cool days with rain showers and wind interspersed with sunny days. In summer, expect warm, sunny days with wind. Dressing for ease and comfort is key. We recommend that you pack according to the pack list provided. 

Cell Signal: Cell signal is strong in most major cities.  Most safari camps will not have cell phone signal.

Load Shedding: Some major cities experience load shedding (planned power cuts to high demand parts of the country during peak electricity use hours). You may experience power cuts during your time in cities. Most hotels and restaurants have backup generators to utilize during load shedding.

WiFi: Hotels in cities will have Wi-Fi. Most camps and lodges will have Wi-Fi, but it is not guaranteed, and they encourage you to enjoy the opportunity to disconnect. Where Wi-Fi is available in the bush, it is typically strong enough only for basic functions like email, but not for any streaming.