Frequently Asked Questions

Airport – will we meet you at the Airport?

Yes. Upon arrival at either Durban International Airport or Johannesburg [Oliver Tambo] International Airport. Your personal guide will be there to meet you.

Alcohol

Alcohol and animals do NOT mix well. Do not buy any alcohol from any unlicensed liquor stores or in unsealed bottles.

Banks

You will find South Africa an easy destination for Banking. From the time that you step off the plane, you will notice banks, Bureaus de Change, Automatic Teller Machines [ATM’s] conveniently positioned on Tourist Routes. Banks in South Africa are on a par with their European/US counterparts and generally are open from 8:30am to 3:30pm – Mondays through Fridays and until 11:00am on Saturdays, but those at Airports adjust their hours to accommodate international flights.

Big 5

There is every chance that you will see, Elephant, Lion, Rhino, Buffalo and Leopard in game Reserves where these animals occur. Each day on safari will bring something different. You will encounter predators, antelope, Hippo, Crocodile and primates as well as many of the over 500 species of birds that occur in the region.

Billing

All major Credit Cards accepted

Border post

Tours that take us to other countries such as Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland, Mozambique etc, require us to pass through Border Posts. You should check with the Embassy of the Country or Countries in Africa that you will travel for the correct information on Visa requirements. If you are traveling on a US Passport you may not require a Visa. However, your Passport needs to be valid for 6 months after your return.

Certificate

John is a Certified Tour Guide

Children – Are children welcome on Tour?

The age limit for children on walking safaris in game parks is 12 [twelve] years. Most lodges and camps accommodate children under the age of 12 [twelve]. Family safaris should be the “Best Family Vacation ever” and of tremendous educational value to children. However, small children are not recommended for this type of holiday.

Clothing

You may experience very hot days and cold nights so we do recommend the following:

Long trousers, fleece lined sweater, windbreaker and shorts. Shirts and T-shirts for during the day. Brown or beige colours are preferred during a game drive or walk as white will increase your visibility to animals. Other requirements are Lip Balm, sunglasses, a wide brimmed hat, insect repellent, comfortable walking shoes, and camera with zoom/wide angle lens, spare film or memory for the digital cameras. Binoculars, we recommend light weight 10x40 for general game and bird viewing. For those that wear contact lenses please bring glasses as dust can be a problem.

Contact lenses

Because of the dust experienced whilst driving in the reserves, we recommend that you bring your glasses too.

Credit card

All major Credit Cards accepted

Creepy Crawlies

Although Africa is known to be home to potentially very dangerous species especially snakes, scorpions, spiders and insects visitors are very seldom adversely affected. Snakes are generally shy and stay away from buildings and activity. Lodges and camps generally have insect proofing [especially mosquito]. If going for a walk it is best to wear a comfortable pair of shoes and long trousers.

Currency

The currency used is the Rand which is equal to 100cents. You will find a very favorable exchange rate for most international currencies. South Africa is at the moment, a very inexpensive destination.

Dangerous

You will always be safe in the hands of an experienced and licensed tour guide. If walking on arranged game trails you will be led by trained rangers and trackers. Rangers are armed and safety is their greatest concern. Animals do, however, always have the right of way and are sometimes very unpredictable.

Guests – will we be with other guests on Safari?

While you will not be traveling with other guests, you will meet other travelers at the various Lodges and Camps.

Hides

A hide is a structure built to blend in to some extent with the environment, which accommodates visitors to a reserve enabling them to observe animals at a water hole without themselves being observed.

HIV/AIDS – what about HIV and AIDS?

As in other countries always take precautions if engaging in casual sexual intercourse. Africa has one of the highest rates of HIV/Aids in the world and abstinence from sexual activity is recommended during your stay.

Health – What health precautions do we need?

Consult your medical doctor on this issue.

Information – how accurate is the information we provide?

We pride ourselves in being absolutely as factually correct as possible. We strive to keep abreast of events and our website is regularly updated to ensure information is accurate.

Language – will I be able to understand my Tour Guide?

Your Guide’s home language is English. Unfortunately we do not speak Eastern or European languages. However you r guides will be fluent in Afrikaans and Zulu.

Malaria

The North Eastern parts of South Africa have varying prevalence levels of malaria and most other countries in Africa are malarial. Although malaria is a potentially fatal disease, it poses no threat in South African tourist destinations if precautions are strictly adhered to. In recent times the prevalence of malaria has been reduced by 78% in Mpumalanga Province [KNP] and by 96% in KZN. Please ensure that your doctor recommends to you the correct prophylactics for the area you are visiting.

Medical condition - what if I have a medical condition?

Please consult with your doctor to ensure that you have sufficient amounts of your prescribed medication. As some of our destinations are fairly far from Doctors and Hospitals we recommend that you be in reasonably good health when booking on our Tours.

Medical Insurance

It is always advisable to take out Medical Insurance prior to any international travel.

Mobile phones/Cell phones – can I use mine in South Africa?

South Africa has an advanced GSM network and all GSM enabled phones will work within this network. Be aware that the cost of calling in South Africa is higher than most countries.

Health Issues – are there any other health issues to be aware of?

Bilharzia can be a problem in some slow flowing rivers but it is easily detected and treated if it is caught early. Perhaps it would be a good idea to have a routine test a month or two after you get home – just to reassure yourself.

Internet connectivity

South Africa has a good Internet infrastructure although you may find it can be slow in certain areas. There are usually Internet Cafes in Tourist areas and many Hotels and Lodges have Internet facilities. Banks are fully Internet compatible.

Power and Plug Points – what voltage in RSA?

South African power is 220-240 volts delivered through a three [3] pin socket. This is unique to South Africa and an adaptor is often needed. Most hotels and Airport shops have adaptors for foreign plugs.

Safety – General safety tips

If you are on a guided tour your chances of encountering problems are very scarce. We are very well acquainted with the areas and the people inhabiting them that we travel to. We recommend that you consult your guide if you intend doing anything that deviates from your itinerary. In fact we encourage you to ask as much as you can from your guide when dealing with cultures different from your own. Much of our crime relates to opportunistic incidents.

[A] Travel documents/money

Always have a photocopy of your Passport and any Visas on you kept separate from the originals. It is never a very good idea to carry large amounts of cash. Most Hotels and shops accept credit cards [VISA MasterCard and Diners Club being the most common] as well as International travelers Cheques.

[B] Luggage

Never leave cameras and hand luggage unattended, even in a vehicle or Hotel foyer. Never pack your valuables [including medication] in your check-in luggage

[C] Game viewing

Your guide will always give you a safety briefing whether your game viewing is to be done in a vehicle or on foot. Wildlife is potentially very dangerous, but as long as you adhere to what your guide advises you, there is very little to worry about. At viewpoints, hides and picnic spots wildlife may be familiar with people and not intimidated by your presence. Never corner wild animals – it may cause an unpredictable response and a potentially dangerous situation. Never feed any animals – this can cause them to lose their fear of humans. Wild animals in our Game Reserves are accustomed to vehicles and may give the impression of being harmless. This is definitely not the case and all wild animals must be respected.

Sun bloc – how strong is the Sun?

We have a warm climate and you should wear sunscreen and a hat whenever you are outdoors during the day particularly between 10am and 4pm regardless of whether there is cloud cover or not. Sunglasses are also recommended as the glare of the African sun can be very strong.

Time – when is the best time of year to come to Africa?

All year round depending on what you are coming to Africa for. However, no matter what time of year you go on Safari, you will always see wildlife. KwaZulu Natal and the Kruger National Park are best in the Autumn/Winter months [April to August] when the weather is cooler. the heat and humidity can be unbearable to travelers who are from milder climes. Chalets and game drive vehicles are mostly are mostly however air-conditioned. The Okavango Swamps in Botswana are best visited in late June – September as this is when the flood waters reach.

Tips – how much should I tip?

It is customary to tip 10% + for good service and although you may use your discretion we recommend you do not tip less than R2.00

Tourists – will we be swamped by hordes of other tourists?

Most definitely not! Our Tours are personal and consist of your group only unless by other arrangement.

Water – Is the water safe to drink?

High quality tap [faucet] water is available almost everywhere in South Africa. The water in all the camps and lodges is safe to drink and there is always bottled water available. Drinking water from rivers and streams could put you in danger from water borne diseases – especially downstream from human settlements, and is not recommended.

Zulu

Zulu is spoken predominantly by Zulus which is only 1 of 11 official languages in the country. Many other language speakers however understand some Zulu.