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GOOD TO KNOW, BEFORE YOU GO……..
Passport and visa
- Travellers to South Africa need a passport which
must be valid for at least six months after their
return home
- Take a copy of your passport as well as your flight
ticket with you on tour, and keep these separate from
the originals while travelling
- Also leave a copy with your contact person at home
Customs
- Remember to remove all sharp objects from your hand
luggage before checking in - it will be too late to
do so when going through customs!!
- During the flight you will receive an Arrival/Departure
Form to be filled in
- Travellers are allowed to bring taxfree into the
country a number of small presents, cigarettes and
alcohol - information at your airport before departure
- Electronic apparatus and jewellery, other than for
own use, must be declared on arrival
- Weapons, fireworks, drugs and other subversive materials
are strictly forbidden
- Before your return flight, at the airport from which
you depart, you may claim back VAT on purchases such
as books, jewellery and other expensive items, but
not for small presents such as t-shirts etc. Make
sure to keep all sales dockets showing the company's
VAT number when paying for your purchases. The articles
must be shown on request, so keep them separate and
take with you to the VAT desk.
- When buying gold and diamonds, info regarding VAT
will be supplied by the dealer
Insurances
- Medical- and accident insurances are compulsory
by most travel companies. This will cover you for
theft, accidents, illness and hospitalization
- A cancellation insurance is also very strongly advised,
in the event that your tour be cancelled or interrupted
for a valid reason
- While travelling, keep these insurance policies
handy at all times, and make sure that you have all
relevant telephone numbers and, if possible, the names
of contact persons
- In the event of an illness, obtain detailed accounts
from doctors and hospitals to submit to your insurance
company on return
- In the event of theft, report to the police and
obtain a case number
Luggage
- Most important : travel light!
- Because of limited space in the microbus, you are
allowed one suitcase of appr. 65 x 45 x 20 cm plus
a small overnight bag on all our tours
Clothing
- This will depend on the areas you will visit, as
well as the time of the year (see also Climate)
- Normally light cotton clothing will be adequate,
also bring a pair of warm trousers, a jersey and a
jacket for colder days and open vehicle gamedrives
- At most guesthouses/lodges it is possible to have
your washing done
- Good walking shoes are a necessity (not heavy mountain
climbing shoes)
- You will also need sunglasses, a cap (petje), sunscreen
oil, a small torch
Money matters
- The currency in South Africa is SA RAND, the rate
of exchange can be viewed at currency
converter
- All prices are given in SA Rand, and payments may
be made by cash or credit card
- Travellers' cheques are not necessary, rather use
a valid credit card for payments in shops and restaurants,
and to draw cash (pinnen). It is also wise to keep
a small amount of Euro's and/or US Dollars which can
be exchanged for SA Rand at airports, banks, forex
offices or hotels - note that the rate of exchange
is less favourable at hotels
- ATM's (Automated Teller Machines) where cash may
be drawn (pinnen) by means of a valid credit card
or bankpass with Cirrus logo, are located in all cities
and even smaller towns around the country
- Foreign cheques are not accepted anywhere
- Foreign credit cards are not accepted at petrol
stations or tollgates, only cash
Electricity
- Electricity is 220 volt
- Adaptors in SA are different from all others and
can only be bought here at appr. R30,00 each
- The world adaptors available in Europe do
not fit here!
Tips
- In restaurants a 10% tip for good service is normal
and expected!
- In hotels/guesthouses a small fee for room cleaning
services is customary
- Porterage at airports and hotels is R5 per piece
of luggage
- A tip for your tour guide at the end of the tour,
as well as for local guides conducting day excursions,
is customary - the amount is at your own discretion
Telephone/fax/e-mail
- It is best to bring your own mobile phone, most
of these will be connected to the SA network, provided
that you have arranged for International Roaming with
your service provider at home. You will get a signal
almost everywhere in the country, except in some rural
areas e.g. the Great Karoo and the Kalahari Desert
- For those at home: the international code number
to South Africa is + 27
- When phoning from SA the code number to The Netherlands
is 0931, Belgium is 0932, and the 0 in front of the
first digit is left out, e.g. a call to Amsterdam
from SA will start with 0931 20 + the subscriber's
number
- Faxes and e-mails may be sent from most hotels/lodges/gueshouses,
a fee will be charged by the establishment
- Internet café's are located in larger towns/cities
Post
- Post to Europe takes approximately 10-14 days. It
is best to post your letters and postcards at an airport,
it may also be handed in at the hotel reception
- SA postage stamps are most colourful and worth collecting!
Television
- Most hotels and some guesthouses have satellite
television with CNN and BBC World. The SA TV network
(SABC) offers a large selection of programmes on a
number of channels
Photography and video
- Bring your own camera and video apparatus, these
are not for hire in SA. Look well after your property
at all times!
- Camera- and video film are for sale everywhere,
at normal prices
- Photo's can be developed in most shopping centres,
it takes only a few hours
- Be sensitive when taking photo's/video's of the
local people, for instance in townships. First ask
their permission and be sure to give them a small
fee. Children love small presents such as pens and
pencils, crayons, or a t-shirt. Do not give them sweets!
If you promise to send them a photo afterwards, ask
for their address and make sure that you keep this
promise!!
Traffic
- Rule of the road: keep left, pass right!
- Be especially careful when turning a corner, keep
left!
- At a 4-way crossing: the first vehicle to stop is
the first to go!
- In SA a traffic light is called a "robot"
- Always be on the look-out for taxi's - they stop
anywhere, often without warning!
- Pedestrians: when crossing a road, first look left,
then right, then left again
Taxi's
- Are available at hotels and airports, they are reliable
and not expensive
- Always use a metered taxi.
Public transport
- For long distance transport, luxury coaches are
reasonably priced and offer scheduled departures.
· In the cities, if public transport is available,
the quality varies from acceptable to bad - rather
take a metered taxi!
- Metro (local) trains between cities are very crowded
and not very reliable
- Long distance trains offer hours of sightseeing,
but are slow and not always comfortable
- SA has a number of luxury trains which are renowned
worldwide, e.g. the Blue Train and Rovos Rail
- Domestic flights are very popular and a number of
airlines offer "no frills" flights between
the main cities, at rockbottom prices
Climate
- With regard to holidays in South Africa, the country
can be divided into two regions: north and south,
with two distinct rainfall seasons
- The northern region, where the most gameparks
are located, has summer rainfall, normally from October
to March. Temperatures vary from 28°C - 40°C
during the day and cools down slightly at night. Because
of the rain there is water everywhere, the veld is
thickly overgrown and it is difficult to spot the
animals
- The cooler months from April to August are mostly
dry and sunny and temperatures vary from ±25°C
during the day, to ±7°C at night. During
these dry months the trees shed their leaves and it
is easier to spot the animals when they gather at
the waterholes
- Best time to visit the northern parts for gameviewing
is April to July, when malaria is also a very low
risk
- The southern region, which is known for its
magnificent scenery, the Garden Route (nature's garden)
and Cape Town, has winter rainfall, normally from
May to August. The spring and summer months from October
to February are the most popular, the climate is moderate
to hot, but it is high season and very crowded
- The best months for a COUNTRYWIDE visit is between
the rainy seasons, i.e. March/April/May
Language
- SA has 11 official languages!
- English is the main language, but Afrikaans which
used to be the second official language, is still
widely spoken
- Of the Bantu languages Zulu and Xhoza are mostly
spoken
- Besoekers uit Nederland en België kan byna
orals hulle eie taal gebruik, praat net stadig (langzaam!)
- Die Afrikaanse taal is maklik om te verstaan en
prettig om na te luister!
Time difference
- The local time is GMT, and during winter in Europe
plus 1 hour
- Between March and October there is no time difference
Health
- For a visit to South Africa no vaccinations are
necessary
- The far northern region, the Kruger Park and Swaziland
are known as malaria areas, especially during the
summer months. But if the following rules are observed,
the chance that visitors may contract malaria is almost
nil
- The best preventative against malaria is to make
sure that you are not bitten by a mosquito! This can
easily be done by wearing long sleeves, trousers and
socks in the evenings when you are outside, and rub
or spray mosquito repellent on all open parts of your
body. If you observe this rule at all times, we can
almost guarantee that you will be safe from malaria
- If you prefer, prophylaxis against malaria may be
taken. It is best to consult your doctor, or better
still - buy prophylaxis when you arrive in SA, our
doctors know best what to prescribe for the areas
you will visit
- But you may rest assured - in more than 15 years
of conducting safaris to the Kruger Park, Exclusiv
Safaris have not had one single case of malaria!
- If you are on medication, bring along a double quantity
and put the extra in your travel companion's luggage
- just in case your luggage gets lost
- Also ask your doctor for an English description
of your medicine
- Also bring along some plasters and asprins, medication
against diahrroea, and sunscreen oil
- Be especially careful of the African sun, even on
cloudy days at the beach!! It is much stronger than
you are used to in Europe
Water
- In South Africa it is safe to drink water from the
tap, unless you are specifically warned not to do
so. However, use sparingly (also ice blocks) the first
couple of days to allow your body to adapt to the
difference
- Mineral water can be bought everywhere, be sure
to take some along when travelling, and drink frequently
especially in summertime
Food and drinks
- The SA table is influenced by the many different
cultures in our country
- Try some of the interesting dishes, you will be
pleasantly surprised!
- Many restaurants are of international standard,
and their prices sometimes high. Be sure to ask for
a menu to check on the prices, especially seafood
- However, you will find that in most restaurants
the prices are much less than in Europe, and the food
of a high standard
- SA is wellknown for its wines, most of which are
very reasonably priced
Safety
- When on tour with Exclusiv Safaris, the safety of
our guests is of the highest priority and every effort
is made so that you can enjoy a safe trip
- However, as is the case all over the world, it is
your own responsibility to look after your possessions,
to be on the lookout when walking alone, and not to
go to areas which are not safe, especially at night
We look forward to
welcoming you soon on one of our tours!
We promise you an
unforgettable holiday with Exclusiv Safaris!!
Contact us by info@exclusivsafaris.co.za
for more information
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