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Passport / Travel Documents:
- Passports should be
valid for no less than 30 days after expiry of the intended
stay.
- Ensure that there are
at least two unused pages in your passport as you may be denied
entry if your passport if full.
- A written authority
from an absent parent is not a requirement if you have entered
the country on a visitor’s permit.
- For more information,
please contact your local South African embassy or
consulate. We recommend this anyway since the regulations
change regularly and we thus cannot be held liable for the
accuracy this information.
Travel
Insurance:
- Before travelling,
you should check what your insurance policy/health policy
will be covering overseas.
- If the health insurance
policy provides coverage outside your country of origin, travellers
should be advised to carry both the insurance policy identity
card (as proof of insurance) and a claim form.
- Although some health
insurance companies will pay "customary and reasonable"
hospital costs abroad, very few will pay for medical evacuation
back to the country of origin. Medical evacuation can easily
cost $10,000-00 or more, depending on the location and medical
condition.
- Travel/health
insurance is compulsory on all our safaris due to the health
care system at state facilities in South Africa – it
is in your own interest.
- For more information,
please have a look at the “Useful Links” page
on our website for a link to a comprehensive travel medical
plan that has been designed specifically for overseas visitors
travelling into Southern Africa.
Money:
- Credit cards are accepted
at most places
- Cash can be drawn with
most cards from the cash machines in South Africa (as long
as part of Maestro/Cirrus network, etc; best to confirm with
your bank before leaving if concerned).
- These are the two best
ways of paying/getting cash while here, and the exchange rates
are usually quite good, with minimal bank charges (please
also confirm these with your bank before departing).
- Traveller’s cheques
are often a bit of a nightmare, especially in the far out
places! However, exchanging them at major tourist centres
and airports is not a problem.
- Some forex (SA Rands
in cash) may be useful, but we do not recommend carrying vast
amounts of cash around, rather draw while here, as needed.
A safe bet is always to draw money at the airport
upon arrival.
- Remember, if heading
straight for the bush, there are no banks/cash machines in
most of these spots since the elephants take offence!
Gratuities:
- Whilst tipping is certainly
not obligatory, the amount of the gratuity should express
the degree of satisfaction that you have obtained and is normally
10 - 15% of the service fee (e.g. restaurant bills, taxi fares
etc.). The above are merely guidelines and you should be comfortable
with the gratuity you give.
- On safari it is customary
to tip your guide and tracker, and this is variable based
on the length of your stay, group size, experience, service,
etc. Ask your Brothers Safaris guide or lodge management for
guidelines if necessary.
Clothing/Climate:
- If you go on safari,
there is no need to extravagantly indulge in stylish safari
clothing - basic neutral-coloured clothing, which you can
wear again at a later stage, will be just fine. Although we
do always enjoy watching our first time guests arrive at the
airports with freshly ironed and pressed safari outfits- from
the hunter's waistcoats to the pith helmets!
- Remember to
pack sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, mosquito/bug repellent,
warm clothes for the evening and winter (Africa can get very
cold, contrary to what most people think), cool cotton clothes
for the hotter times of the day (even in winter), a lightweight
waterproof jacket, some dull/neutral coloured clothes you
don't mind getting grubby if you are participating in an African
Vet Safari, or bush walks, good comfortable walking shoes,
bathing suite, binoculars, camera (preferably with zoom lens)
with plenty of film (extra supplies readily available here)
or memory, video camera, personal items such as toiletries
and medication – you may not be near shops or
pharmacies for long periods of time.
- Please follow the policy
of packing practically and pack no more than you are willing
to carry!
Drivers
Licence:
- Should you be self-driving
during your stay, we recommend that you contact your local
Automobile Association to check on the validity of your licence
before departing.
Health
issues:
- While we do
make a few comments for you to consider, we strongly advise
that you consult your regular doctor/pharmacist on all of
these, and accept no responsibility for health issues/advice
taken.
- Regarding vaccinations
most doctors recommend more than is generally necessary; ensure
that you are being advised on southern Africa/South Africa,
and not Africa as a whole.
- Regarding malaria,
firstly confirm that you will be entering a malaria area on
your safari with us. Even though the incidence of malaria
has decreased markedly in many areas, we still strongly recommend
prophylaxis.
- Many foreign doctors
recommend a drug called “Larium” which has no
resistance, but has been known to cause marked side effects.
These include insomnia, hallucinations, mood swings, and personality
changes, and can ruin a safari for you. We have seen these
personally, so know they do occur. Some countries have now
brought out strict measures regarding the use of this drug,
notably the US where it is produced.
- There are several new
prophylactic drugs available in different countries without
resistance and minimal side effects, and we recommend using
one of these.
- Remember no prophylaxis
is 100% and common sense measures to avoid being bitten are
most important (insect repellents, long sleeves, etc)
- For more information,
please have a look at the “Useful Links” page
on our website for a link to a comprehensive malaria
website.
Once
again, the above are comments for you to consider and discuss
with your doctor. Brothers Safaris accepts no liability in this
regard whatsoever.
If you have
any other questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact
us!
HAPPY
PACKING!!!
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