South African Holidays

South Africa is an exhilarating and complex country. With its post-apartheid identity still in the process of definition, there is undoubtedly an abundance of energy and a sense of progress about the place. Travellers are returning to a remarkable land that has been off the trail for way too long.

The infrastructure is constantly improving, the climate is kind and there are few better places to see Africa's wildlife. But if you want to understand South Africa, you'll have to deal with the full spectrum; poverty, the AIDS pandemic and violence remain a problem..

When To Go

South Africa can be visited comfortably any time. Winter (June to September) is cooler, drier and ideal for hiking and outdoor pursuits. This is also the best time for wildlife-watching. Spring is the best time to see vast expanses of Northern Cape carpeted with wildflowers.

More of a consideration than weather are school holidays when waves of vacation-hungry South Africans stream out of the cities, with visitors from Europe and North America adding to the crush. Accommodation is heavily booked, and prices can more than double. It's essential to book in advance. On the plus side, the high summer months offer some great festivals, including the Cape Town New Year Karnaval, and Swaziland's Incwala ceremony.

Climate

Since South Africa lies south of the equator, its seasons are the reverse of those in the northern hemisphere.  Midwinter occurs in June and July; midsummer occurs in December and January.  The Western Cape has a Mediterranean climate with generally dry summers (October - March) when the temperature averages around 25°C - 30°C. Most of the annual rainfall is during winter (June – September).  The Natal coast can be extremely humid in February with temperatures of around 30°C.  On the highveld in summer, rain tends to fall in thundershowers. In the winter the nights are cold and crisp with the days warm and dry.  In and around Johannesburg winter daytime temperatures average 15°C but the nights are cold and can go down as low as 0°C.  Snow may fall over the Drakensberg and the Southern Cape mountains in winter.  Overall, the best time to visit is between September and May.

Currency

In South Africa, the unit of currency is the Rand (ZAR), which is divided into 100 cents.  There are many commercial banks in South Africa and most are easily accessible.

Bank hours are Mondays to Fridays 09:00 – 15:30 and on Saturdays 09:00 – 11:00.  Major hotels have foreign currency facilities.  Most shops, lodges and travel agencies will accept traveller’s cheques and credit cards. Although smaller, remote camps may not accept credit cards.

Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners Club credit cards are accepted almost everywhere except petrol stations.  Fuel payments must be made in cash.  Debit cards are generally not accepted.

Dress

For travel to South Africa in summer (September to April) lightweight clothes are essential, with a light sweater sometimes for the evenings.  Pack an umbrella and/or lightweight raincoat.
Smart casual clothing is suitable for most hotels and restaurants. In the winter temperatures can drop to zero. Always take precautions against the sun (even in winter). At lodges and safari camps, dress is entirely casual.  Neutral colours are best for game viewing.

Health

No vaccinations are currently required for entry into South Africa when arrival is directly from North America or Europe. We recommend that boosters of tetanus for children and adults are up to date; courses or boosters that are usually advised are diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis A and typhoid. Consult your doctor or a specialist travel clinic for further advice.

Yellow fever certificate is required if the visitor is over one year old and arriving in South Africa from an infected area or a country where yellow fever is endemic (such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda or Zaire). It must be administered at least ten days before arrival (or re-entry) into South Africa.

Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended – there are several safe and effective options for adults and children alike. Malaria precautions are recommended mainly in low altitude areas of northern and eastern Mpumalanga (including Kruger National Park and other game parks in the region), Northern Province and northeastern Kwa-Zulu Natal as far south as the Tugela River. Epidemics occur during the warmer and wetter months of October to May. The tourist centre of Sun City is not a malaria area nor are the game parks close to this resort nor are the parks in the Eastern Cape. Avoid mosquito bites by covering up with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers especially after sunset. It is advised to use insect repellents on exposed skin and, when necessary, sleeping under a mosquito net.

As with all travel to remote places in developing countries, it is worth spending a little time to make sure you are well-prepared, and have a small supply of any medicines you might need to treat minor ailments.

Languages

English (which is widely spoken and understood throughout the country) and Afrikaans are among South Africa’s eleven official languages.  Of the nine official African languages in the country, the most widely spoken are Xhosa, Zulu and Sesotho.

Charter Aircraft

Please note that all charter transfers are in light aircraft that carry between five and seven passengers. These planes are limited with regards to the weight that they can safely carry. It is therefore vital that all passengers adhere to the luggage restriction of twelve (12) kilogram's per person in a soft bag. This excludes a reasonable amount of camera equipment and carry on luggage (15 kilogram's in total). In addition, please let us know if you are over 1.82 meters (6’2”) tall or weigh over 100kg (220lbs).

Tickets are generally not issued tickets for charter flights; you will however, receive a voucher.

Local time

GMT + 2 hours

Park Closing Times

Please be advised that the Kruger National Park, Natal Parks and other Game Reserves close their gates at approximately 18:00 year round.  To be on the safe side, you should arrive at your destination well before dark.

Visas/Passports

Each visitor must be in possession of a valid, signed passport that is valid for at least six months beyond his/her scheduled departure date.  Citizens of the following countries do NOT require visas:  Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA.

PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE AT LEAST FOUR BLANK PAGES IN YOUR PASSPORT FOR STAMPS/VISAS ETC, IF NOT, YOU MAY GET REFUSED ENTRY INTO SOUTH AFRICA.

FOR SECURITY PURPOSES, WE SUGGEST THAT YOU CARRY A PHOTOCOPY OF THE RELEVANT PAGES OF YOUR PASSPORT AND ANY OTHER IMPORTANT TRAVEL DOCUMENTS WITH YOU. WE ALSO RECOMMEND THAT IN ADDITION, YOU LEAVE COPIES WITH SOMEONE AT HOME.