Recommended shots for South Africa
Hep A – Recommended for most travelers
Typhoid – Food & Water (how it spreads)
Tetanus
Malaria: Protection against mosquito bites is essential and where the risk is considered high, anti-malarial medications are recommended. Anti-malaria medications should be discussed with experts as there are different medications available and not all medications suit all people or all destinations. Pregnant or very young children are not advised to travel to malaria areas. You are strongly advised to consult your doctor prior to travel and get accurate up-to-date advice on anti-malarial precautions. Mosquitos can transmit Malaria & Yellow fever. Most mosquito bites occur in the evening.
Avoid mosquito bites, especially after sunset. Wear long-sleeved clothing, long trousers, socks and closed shoes to avoid mosquito bites. Use insect repellent. Freshen up regularly and avoid smelling scents that may attract insects.
Sun Protection
Wear sunscreen and a wide brimmed hat or baseball cap to protect yourself against the intense African sun. Also, drink plenty of water to combat dehydration.
Shopping
It is good to shop in local marketplaces and purchase handicrafts. It is important to have local currency in small denominations. Be aware of restricted products such as carvings from protected woods, animal products and shells.
Tipping/service charges: Tipping is entirely at your discretion. The following is a guideline and suggests: Safari guide: $10/per/day. USD: $5/per/day at the end of your stay at each lodge/hotel. Suggested to tip general hotel/lodge staff in Rands, not US, if possible.
Documentation
General information related to passport requirements: All visitors require a passport for entry into South Africa, which must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended stay in the country and have enough pages for entry/exit immigration stamps & any necessary visas (where required).
Camera & Binocular Guideline
Camera: Check that your camera is in full working order before leaving on your trip. Camera protection – bring a waterproof bag to stop your camera from getting wet & a lens cleaning cloth to keep the camera & binocular lenses dust free. Batteries/Charger: Remember to pack your charger and extra batteries. Memory cards: Bring a few extra memory cards in case a memory card fails, or you need to take more pictures. Binoculars: A pair of good/high-quality binoculars is recommended. Many wildlife binoculars allow you to see a wider area making it easier to spot wildlife. Etiquette: Before taking pictures of people, always ask permission first. Flash photography: The use of flashes is not permitted in some areas or it might be inappropriate around certain animals. Drones: Customer’s responsibility to apply for any licenses & to check before arriving in the park regarding restrictions.
Internet & Wi-Fi: Internet access is available at some hotels & lodges. Please ask at reception as it may be password protected and/or only available in designated areas on the property.
What to pack
It is suggested that you pack a variety of light to medium-weight linen/cotten clothing in neutral colors (such as khaki & army green). We recommend long sleeves and lightweight long trousers to avoid being bitten and for protection from the African sun. Do include warm clothing such as gloves, fleece jacket, warm trousers, warm socks & boots, hat for the cold mornings & evenings. Layers are a good option to cover the range of temperatures plus rainwear in case of inclement weather. South Africa generally has a conservative dress code.
For men, shorts, (long ones), are usually fine on safari camps, but long trousers are more socially acceptable in towns and rural villages. For ladies, knee-length skirts or trousers are more socially acceptable outside of safari camps. Please avoid camouflage clothing as this may only be worn by the military. Please use closed toe walking shoes/boots (with a good grip) on game drives as well as sunscreen and hat. It is recommended to pack a change of clothes (and other essentials) in your hand luggage, and/or if you are traveling with someone, to divide your clothing between your checked suitcases/bags. Thus in the event of delayed luggage, you will have a change of clothing available, until you receive your luggage. Recommended packing items: Sunglasses, wide brimmed hat, high factor sunscreen, personal medication, swimwear, camera, binoculars, flashlight earplugs, earphones, cell phone chargers, insect repellent, spare memory cards or film & charger/batteries, universal adapter & a small water resistant backpack for day use.
All the above should be used as a guideline only.
The above pictures were taken from the same trip. Beginning of the trip it snowed – yes – it snowed and I had to buy a puffy jacket and wear 4 layers, by the end of the trip it was shorts & tee shirt.
I always suggest – check the weather forecast prior to departure.