SOUTH AFRICA & BOTSWANA SAFARI

Day 1 – Emperors Palace Mondior Hotel – Johannesburg.

KRUGER – SOUTH AFRICA

Day 2 – Kapama Buffalo Camp – Kapama Private Game & Safari Reserve

Day 3 – Kapama Buffalo Camp – Kapama Private Game & Safari Reserve

Day 4 – Kapama Buffalo Camp – Kapama Private Game & Safari Reserve

BOTSWANA – OKAVANGO DELTA.

Day 5 – Moremi Crossing Camp – Okavango Delta

Day 6 – Moremi Crossing Camp – Okavango Delta

Day 7 – Moremi Crossing Camp – Okavango Delta

JOHANNESBURG – SOUTH AFRICA.

Day 8 – Johannesburg then departure

COST:   USD 5,650.- PER PERSON SHARING

Included in Johannesburg –

• Arrival/departure airport transfers
• 1 night accommodation at Emperors Palace Mondior Hotel on bed and breakfast

Included in Kruger –

• 2 domestic flights from Johannesburg to Kruger and back
• Arrival/departure airport transfers
• 3 nights’ accommodation on all inclusive basis
• Three meals per day
• Two game drives per day in open shared 4×4 safari vehicles
• Tea / Coffee / Cakes and Pastries / Afternoon Tea Snacks
• A selection of local beverages including alcoholic beverages.
• Twice daily housekeeping service

Included in Botswana-

• 3 nights’ accommodation and meals on all inclusive – All meals, local drinks, park fees and government tax, laundry and wifi at the lodge. Unlimited game activities – game drives, game walks, night drives, boat cruise included in full day activity, Muchenje village visit.
• Shared Game drives
• 2 regional flights from Johannesburg to Maun to Johannesburg

Not included-

• International flights: i.e. USA to Johannesburg and back to USA
• Visa fees for South Africa and Botswana
• Personal insurance policy
• Personal effects and toiletries
• Laundry and telephones.
• Drinks
•  

Safety tips for travelers in South Africa

Crime in South Africa, like many other places in today’s world, can be a problem, but all you really need to do is take the usual sensible precautions and follow some basic safety rules.  Know where you’re going before you set off, particularly at night, watch your possessions, don’t walk alone in dodgy areas, lock your doors at night.  And, like anywhere else, there are some areas of the major cities which are known to be more risky than others. It is easy to avoid these and still have a good time.  If you cannot avoid such areas, then avoid wearing visible jewellery or carrying cameras and bags over your shoulder. Keep mobile phones and wallets tucked away where no one can see them. Check beforehand that the areas you plan to visit are safe by asking hotel staff or police. Other sensible advice is not to hitchhike, or accept or carry items for strangers.

ATM safety

When using automatic teller machines (ATMs) in South Africa, practice the generally accepted safety precautions you would employ when at home. Never accept an offer from a stranger to help you with your transaction. If your ATM card is withheld by the machine, you can approach the bank to release it, or call the helpline number that can be found at the ATM.

Banks and foreign exchange in SA

With a favourable exchange rate for many international currencies, you’ll find South Africa a very inexpensive destination. And an easy one – our financial institutions are world-class, with no shortage of banks, bureaux de change and automatic tellers.

Rands and cents

South Africa’s unit of currency is the rand, which is divided into 100 cents. Coins come in denominations of 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2 and R5, and notes in denominations of R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200.

How far will my money go?

A long, long way. With a favourable exchange rate for the major international currencies, you’ll find South Africa a very inexpensive destination.

Banking made easy

You’ll also find South Africa an easy destination. From the moment you step off the plane you’ll start seeing banks, bureaux de change

and automatic tellers all over.The banks are generally open from 9am to 3.30pm Mondays through Fridays, and 8.30am to 11am on Saturdays, but those at the airports adjust their hours to accommodate international flights. The major banks have branches as well as automated teller machines (ATMs) in most large towns – and all over the cities. International banks (see the “foreign exchange services” links below) have branches in the major cities. Thomas Cook (represented by Rennies Travel) and American Express foreign exchange offices are also available in the major cities.

Credit cards and cash

All major credit cards can be used in South Africa, with American Express and Diners Club enjoying less universal acceptance than MasterCard and Visa. In some small towns, you may find you’ll need to use cash.

Phoning to, from, and in South Africa

South Africa has extremely well-developed communications infrastructure, with extensive fixed-line phone networks and six mobile phone service providers – two of them virtual mobile providers – with widespread coverage.

You can rent mobile phones – we call them cellphones – from the airport on arrival.

Telkom and Neotel provide fixed-line services, with Neotel focusing more on commercial services.

Telkom public telephones use coins, phonecards or Worldcall. Phonecards and Worldcall can be purchased at most retail stores, petrol stations, post offices and airports.

Health tips for travellers

Nothing can spoil a holiday more than feeling off-colour, and nothing can dull the pleasure of your holiday memories more than getting ill far from home. There are a number of health issues that you should be aware of, particularly if you’re from the northern hemisphere. However, while there are risks anywhere, South Africa has a relatively salubrious climate and our levels of water treatment, hygiene and such make it a pretty safe destination.

Inoculations

If you’re an adult, you won’t need any inoculations unless you’re travelling from a yellow-fever endemic area (the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America), in which case you will need certification to prove your inoculation status when you arrive in South Africa. It is recommended that you have the required inoculations four to six weeks before you travel to South Africa (a yellow fever inoculation certificate only becomes valid 10 days after inoculation – after which

it remains valid for 10 years). Hepatitis B inoculations are recommended for children up to the age of 12 who have not completed the series of injections as infants. Booster doses for tetanus and measles can also be administered.

Medical facilities

Medical facilities in cities and larger towns are world-class, but you will find that in rural areas the clinics and hospitals deal with primary health needs, and therefore do not offer the range of medical care that the large metropolitan hospitals do. Trained medical caregivers are deployed round the country, so help is never far away.

The sun

We have a warm sunny climate and sunscreen and a hat are recommended whenever you are out of doors during the day, particularly between 10:00 and 16:00, regardless of whether there is cloud cover or not. Even if you have a dark complexion, you can still get sunburned if you are from a cooler climate and have not had much exposure to the sun. Sunglasses are also recommended wear, as the glare of the African sun can be strong.

Can I drink the water?

High-quality tap (faucet) water is available almost everywhere in South Africa, treated so as to be free of harmful micro-organisms, and in any area other than informal or shack settlements, is both palatable and safe to drink straight from the tap. In some areas, the water is mineral-rich, and you may experience a bit of gastric distress for a day or two until you get used to it. Bottled mineral water, both sparkling and still, is readily available in most places. Drinking water straight from rivers and streams could put you at risk of waterborne diseases – especially downstream of human settlements. The water in mountain streams, however, is usually pure and wonderful.

In the Cape, particularly, the water contains humic acid, which stains it the colour of diluted Coca-Cola – this is absolutely harmless, and the water is wonderful. You may also find this colouring in tap water in some areas. It’s fine – it just looks a bit weird in the bath.

Do I need to take malaria tablets?

Many of the main tourist areas are malaria-free, so you need not worry at all. However, the Kruger National Park, the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, and the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal do pose a malaria risk in the summer months. Many local people and some travellers do not take malaria prophylaxis, but most health professionals recommend you do. Consult your doctor or a specialist travel clinic for the latest advice concerning malaria prophylaxis, as it changes regularly. Whether you take oral prophylaxis or not, always use mosquito repellent, wear long pants, closed shoes and light long-sleeved shirts at night, and sleep under a mosquito net in

endemic areas (the anopheles mosquito, which carries malaria, operates almost exclusively after dark). It is advisable to avoid malarial areas if you are pregnant.

Where can I smoke?

The law prohibits smoking in most public spaces, including airports and railway stations. Most restaurants have designated smoking and non-smoking areas.

South African time

South Africa does not change its clocks during the year, and there are no regional variations within the country. South African Standard Time is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean (or Universal Standard) Time, one hour ahead of Central European Winter Time, and seven hours ahead of the USA’s Eastern Standard Winter Time.

Tipping

Tipping is common practice in South Africa for a range of services. In restaurants the accepted standard is around 10% of the bill, although sometimes a gratuity will be included (often in the case of a large party). Barmen are tipped a similar percentage.

The seasons

Summer – mid-October to mid-February

Autumn – February to April

Winter – May to July

Spring – August to October

Don’t leave home without…

The best way to travel is plan ahead. Your trip will be easier, safer and more enjoyable.

First, get the tiresome but important admin bits out of the way. Check your passport isn’t about to expire and whether you’ll need visas. Organise travellers’ cheques well in advance as well as travel and medical insurance. Check and double-check your travel details and don’t forget to confirm your flights – including onward connections and returns. Put in your order for special meals on flights, or children’s meals, if necessary.

What to pack

Given our moderate climate, you’ll be comfortable during the summer months in light, summer-weight clothes most of the time, but do pack a jacket, socks, good shoes and a rain jacket. Pack sunscreen – lots of it – as well as a hat, sunglasses and beach wear. Make sure you have at least one cotton shirt, with a collar, for sun protection. Stock up on insect repellent and, if you’re planning to be in a malaria area, plan to wear long sleeves and long pants for evenings. Bring good walking shoes.  If you’re visiting in winter, pack

warm clothes, including a fleece, as it can get nippy in mornings and at night. South Africans don’t generally use central heating and the cold can take visitors by surprise. Pack a bandanna or cotton scarf as well as a versatile wrap, sarong or kikoi. If you’ll be watching game, aim for reasonably neutral colours but it’s not compulsory to look like an extra on the set of Out of Africa. Pack something warm for game drives: a windbreaker or hoodie is ideal. South Africans are relatively casual, but you’ll need something more formal to change into on the Blue Train and at exclusive hotels.

Drugs and medication

If you are on any pharmaceutical drugs, or medication as it is known here, bring them along as well as a spare prescription. Custom regulations allow you to bring in one month’s supply for your personal use. It’s a good idea to get a letter from your doctor, confirming your medication. Drugstores are known as “pharmacies” here.

Important documents

Make two copies of all your important documents, such as your passports, itinerary and emergency contact information. Take one copy with you, packed in a different bag to the original, and leave a copy at home with an easily contactable person. Try to memorise all your important details – passport numbers, credit card numbers, etc. If you lose your bag, this information will be very useful.

Can I use my hairdryer?

Electricity is generally 220/230 volts, 15 amps, and is supplied through either 15- amp three-prong or 5-amp two-prong plugs, in both cases with round pins. If you’re bringing anything electrical, bring an adapter – or buy one here. Generally, 110V video chargers work safely on the 220V supply. Television is on the PAL system.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON ZAMBIA.

Health Requirements

Visitors from or passing through a yellow fever and cholera zone (most of tropical Africa and South America) must be able to produce a valid International Certificate of Vaccination. Air travellers who only pass through the airports of such a zone are exempt from the requirement.

Medical services

 Medical services are underdeveloped and only in Lusaka, Ndola and Livingstone can you find anything resembling western standards. There are a number of small clinics in Lusaka which are better than the general hospitals, but the clinics in the rural areas have little more than quinine, aspirin and band aids. Medical

insurance should be purchased before you leave your own country and should include emergency air evacuation coverage if you’re spending any time in remote parts of the country.

Time

 Zambia is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, one hour ahead of Central European Time, seven hours ahead of Eastern USA time and ten hours ahead of Western USA time.

Language

There are over 73 dialects spoken in Zambia, but the official language is English. All media and business is in English and most Zambians speak it fairly well. Bemba is the next most commonly understood language, followed by Nyanja Tonga, Luvale, Lozi, Mambwe and Tumbuka.

Security

 Petty theft is as common as any major city where unemployment is high. Be very awake when walking around carrying anything of value, there are master pickpockets here and there. Never leave your vehicle unlocked and never change money on the streets. For the most part, however, Zambians are very friendly and helpful.

Currency

The Kwacha has denominations of 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000 and 10 000, 20 000 and 50 000 kwacha notes. There is no limit to the importation of foreign currency, provided it is declared on arrival through a currency declaration form.

Credit Cards

 Most hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and the bigger shops will take credit cards. Most of the bigger banks will advance local currency against a credit card. Standard Chartered, Stanbic and Barclays Banks have ATM’s which accept Visa cards for cash.

Banks

 Operational hours are 0815 to 1430 hours Mondays through to Fridays and 0815 to 1030 hours on 1st and last Saturdays of the month.

Climate & Clothing

 Zambia has mild winters and the summer days can get quite hot. Lightweight casual clothes can be worn all year round, with a jacket or jersey for early winter mornings and evenings. On safari keep clothes to a minimum and mostly of neutral colouring – khakis, browns and greens. A sunhat, sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellant are a must.