There are some who may still believe that a trip to Southern Africa is only to be undertaken by the most adventurous and travel-wise. Nothing could be further from the truth. You can vacation in exactly the style you are accustomed to, and enjoy a wide spectrum of experiences...it’s simply a case of being equipped with all the necessary information.
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All visitors are required to carry a passport that is valid for six months beyond the intended length of stay with two consecutive and adjacent blank passport pages in it. Passengers traveling to South Africa with passports that do not comply with these requirements will either be stopped from boarding the aircraft or risk deportation on arrival in South Africa. All visitors may be requested to show proof of sufficient funds and an onward travel/return ticket. U.S. passport holders do not need visas for a vacation or business visit of less than 90 days. No visa is required for U.S. citizens traveling to South Africa, Botswana or Namibia, but Zimbabwe does require a visa. U.S. citizens traveling to Zimbabwe for tourism, business and transit can obtain a visa at the airports and border points of entry (no photos required), or in advance by contacting the Embassy of Zimbabwe in Washington, D.C. (202) 332-7100. The cost for the visa is US $30 per person. There is also an airport departure tax of US $20 payable by all U.S. citizens.
If you have traveled through any yellow fever zone in South America or Africa, you will be required to show an International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever, obtainable from your local Department of Health.
Firearms are allowed for hunting purposes; you will need a temporary permit valid for the duration of the hunt. No prior clearance is required, but contact the airline at least two to three weeks before departure to establish their requirements for shipping firearms and ammunition.
South Africa boasts excellent medical facilities. Medical treatment must be paid for, so travel insurance (including medical insurance) is a wise investment. Private health care standards in Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe are high, with the best hospitals being in the major cities. All main towns have well-stocked pharmacies, but take any medicines you may require with you. No vaccinations are required of visitors from the United States or Canada. You should take anti-malaria tablets before visiting game reserves and parks in Northern Province, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal. These are available without prescription in South African drugstores. You also need to take anti-malaria tablets before entering Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. top
South Africa has eleven official languages, but English is the language of administration and is widely spoken. English is the official language of Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. All guided tours and safaris are conducted in English. top
Any valid drivers license is accepted in Southern Africa; provided it bears the photograph and signature of the holder, and is printed in English. You can also obtain an International Driving Permit before departure. Excluding the national parks and game reserves, South Africa has excellent roads; the road conditions in Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe are good and they are well-signposted. Four-wheel drive vehicles are advisable for traveling within the national parks and game reserves. Drive on the left. Road sign numbers are in kilometers (km x .6 = miles e.g.: 40 km x .6 = 24 miles). Seat belts are required. top
South African Airways provides passenger aid units at major airports. Many hotels offer facilities for the disabled, as do most rest camps in national parks. You can rent wheelchairs and other aids in most cities. Larger car rental companies can provide vehicles with hand controls. top
Power systems in Southern Africa
are generally 220/230 volts AC, 50Hz. You may need an adaptor which can
be purchased in South Africa. Hotels usually provide dual voltage razor
sockets, 110 to 210 volts or 220 to 250 volts. Some game lodges run on
generator power for lighting and refrigeration and do not have regular
electricity.
Internet cafés are to be found in most major cities and towns in South
Africa. Major hotels have a fax and Internet service. top
For general use, 200 speed film is recommended. It works inside, outside and at dawn or dusk (with slower shutter speeds). Be sure to pack enough film, as it is very expensive in Africa. Also pack an extra camera battery. Film under 1000ISO can safely pass through X-ray machines in South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Equipment: a simple point and click camera will capture the places you go and the people you see. For most wildlife shots you will need a telephoto lens. For a single all-purpose lens, a 70-210mm lens will enable you to shoot most landscape shots, while providing enough zoom to capture animals on safari. Photographing birds will require a more powerful lens of 300-600mm. Remember that telephoto lenses require higher speed film (400-1000ISO). To improve lighting, a skylight or UV filter and a polarizing filter can help remove the washed out effect of bright sunlight. A flash is necessary for photographing animals on night game drives.
Most visitors will find the exchange rate is in their
favor. Generally, you will find that fine cuisine, wine, and entertainment cost a fraction of the tariff charged
by equivalent establishments elsewhere in the world.
Major hotels have foreign exchange facilities and most shops, lodges and travel
agencies will accept traveler's checks. Most banks operate from 9 a.m. to
3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Major
national banks and automatic teller machines (ATMs) are found in large
towns, and international banks have branches in major cities. top
Currency Converter
Visit the Web's most popular multi-lingual Foreign Exchange Calculator, the FX Currency Site, to get your current rate of exchange. Simply key-in your information and click on "convert now" to get the results of your currency conversion.
How much cash should I have on hand when traveling?
Most camps, lodges, and hotels have facilities for accepting payment by credit card. On safari, almost all major expenses (all meals, activities, and often drinks) are
covered in the costs of accommodation so that any extras will tend to be limited, and can generally be paid by credit card. In urban
areas, particularly in South Africa, there are ATMs in most shopping malls and banks, that accept
U.S. cash cards using the Cirrus and Plus systems, as well as Visa, Mastercard, or American Express credit cards (provided your credit account has a cash withdrawal facility). Both Johannesburg and Cape Town airports also have ATMs, and you can withdraw money as soon as you land (generally at a better exchange rate than if you were to exchange cash or
travelers checks at a bank). Don't carry a lot of cash around as expenses that cannot be charged to a credit card (departure taxes, curio purchases, tips) will amount to very little. Apart from a small emergency reserve of travelers checks, you should never need more than $100 with you.
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Major credit cards are widely accepted, with some restrictions in small towns and rural areas. Certain lodges and restaurants do not accept payment by Diners or American Express. Gasoline must be purchased with cash. top
Service is not usually included in the bill. It is usual to tip hotel and railway porters, waiters, taxi drivers, room attendants, golf caddies, game rangers, tour guides and trackers. Generally speaking, gratuities should amount to around 10-15% of the cost of the service. top
Cape Town and Johannesburg both have
excellent stores and markets with curios and art from all over Africa. Unique souvenirs are available in small shops at the Cape Town V&A Waterfront and at Sandton City, Johannesburg. Knysna on the Garden Route offers outstanding craft shopping in South Africa.
In Durban, visit the colorful Indian Market for beautiful jewelry, silk
saris and ornaments. Shop the clothing stores for rugged safari-wear,
haute couture, crocodile bags and brightly colored ethnic wear.
In Zimbabwe, the best craft shopping is at Victoria Falls. Local artists are everywhere, including on the path to the falls. More upscale, gallery-quality art and sculpture is for sale at the hotels.
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Value Added Tax (VAT) of 14% is levied in South Africa. Overseas visitors taking goods out of South Africa are able to reclaim the
VAT which they paid on these goods. Reclaiming VAT is only applicable for goods that you are able to produce at the airport and not for any services whatsoever. VAT
Booklets are available on arrival at the airport.
When purchasing your products, you should request a tax invoice. The shop’s VAT
number must appear on this invoice. As you are checking in at the airport ready to depart from South Africa, you should approach the customs official who will compare your invoices with the goods purchased. Once your invoices have been approved and stamped, the VAT Reclaim Office will refund you the appropriate amount. VAT Reclaim Offices are found at Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town airports.
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Standard Time in Southern Africa is seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard (Winter) Time. top
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