Essentials for high season travel to Africa
Tips and travel advice for Africa
The High season for Southern Africa, namely Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia and Zambia is upon us and we would like to share some important details to remember when planning your safari holiday.
We’ve divided it up into sections to make it easier.
Arriving into Africa
For Southern Africa, our guests mostly arrive into Johannesburg. The queues at O.R. Tambo International Airport are getting long so we usually include a VIP Airport meet and greet to assist you getting through quicker and effortlessly. Check your itinerary. If it has not been included please let us know if you would like it. There is a cost attached to it, but if you’re not great with being patient after coming off a long international flight it is worth every rand.
Travel Africa with Kids
Parents travelling with children under the age of 18 years of age will be required to produce an unabridged birth certificate (including both parents details) for all children. We have a separate blog on this and document available to ensure you have no issues. Please liaise with your African safari specialist for more details.
Passports and Visas
Your passport must have 6 months validity before the expiry date and six empty pages (not including the endorsement pages). The onus is upon you to ensure your passport and visas are valid for all of the countries you are visiting. We can certainly give you necessary information and the rest is up to you.
Travel Safe in Africa
Our first priority is your safety and Africa safari enjoyment. To stay fit, healthy and safe we recommend the following.
- Great travel insurance is essential. Please remember to have your details with you in carry on luggage. Be aware of what is and is not covered.
- Prescription medication is to be carried in your carry on luggage and not your checked in luggage, especially on flights within Africa. Nothing worse than bags going missing and you lose your medication!
- Precautions because prevention is better than cure. Take your malaria medication as per the recommendations from your doctor, wear daily sunscreen and insect repellent and you will have a much less chance of getting sick.
- Water is your friend. Stay hydrated in Africa. It gets hot and when you are thirsty, it’s already too late for the impact and potential onset if headaches and dehydration. A bottle of water and rehydration salts should always be with you.
- Listening ears – your guides are there to provide a wonderful time and it’s best if you listen and do as instructed. Failure to do so could result in injury or accident and you will be liable. It is common sense really, but you would be surprised the number of stories we hear of guests not listening and doing silly things that result in an accident.
Holiday in Africa
Importantly, you are on holidays. So do not stress, be prepared, read your itinerary and all the day by day details so you know what you have to look forward to.
Make the most of our safari concierge because information there is really helpful.
Take what you would on any holiday
- hat and sunscreen
- a good book
- camera
Best Camera for Africa
We are often asked about the best camera and lenses to take to Africa. It all depends on what you are interested in photographing and what you have. For detailed information on photography in Africa, refer to our Safari Concierge (exclusive access to guests only).
Self driving in Africa
Some of our guests love to self drive and we simply organise the car and all accommodation and logistics. When you arrive, we provide self drive directions and maps to ensure you have a great time without getting lost.
Our top tips for self driving in Africa
- Always follow road rules, it’s common sense and the law and will keep you safe
- Do not drive at night. In Africa it’s the wildlife that wander often across roads and streets and it causes accidents often – best not be you
- Know your limits. How many hours do you enjoy being behind the wheel? Don’t push yourself and in the planning we talk to you about distances. It’s important to enjoy the holiday and not resent being behind the wheel. We always recommend a maximum of 3 – 4 hours in any given day.
- Say yes to extras. Safety is paramount and so we always recommend you either take your own sat nav if you have international maps loaded or hire one. Other extras for comfort and safety are also available, varies per hire company so ask your Africa safari specialist.
- Pack snacks. Just like road trips back home, it’s great to have water and snacks in the car so if you do get hungry you don’t necessarily have to stop in a small town you are not familiar with. We love to recommend places to stop along the way so ask your African safari specialist for details.
Are you ready for Africa?
We tailor holidays to suit you.