Details

Trip Notes & Expectations

ACCOMMODATION

This trip includes 4 nights in hotels in comfortable twin rooms with en-suite bathrooms and 3 nights in lodges in standard rooms with en-suite bathrooms.

TRANSPORTATION

This is not a physically demanding journey; however, traveling can be difficult, with long drives and poor road conditions at times. We use a comfortable and safe air-conditioned touring vehicle for the long drives. Having our own private vehicle for most of the tour allows us the flexibility of making stops when needed. In addition, we are able to travel to out-of-the-way locations where public transportation does not reach.

LUGGAGE

Pack light and bring compact and lightweight luggage that you can easily transport. The carrying of your luggage remains your responsibility at all times.

ACTIVITY LEVEL & PACE

Please make sure you have thoroughly read the itinerary and can handle the group activities, which sometimes include day hikes with your daypacks. This trip includes moderate hiking and other activities that require an average/moderate level of fitness to enjoy. You can skip the longer hikes if you wish. We recommend always carrying snacks with you. Meals can sometimes be far apart.

YELLOW FEVER

According to the WHO and CDC, there is no risk of Yellow Fever in South Africa. It is compulsory to show a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate if you are traveling to South Africa from a Yellow Fever-endemic country. If required, Yellow Fever inoculations need to be administered at least 10 days prior to your entry into the country.

MONEY EXCHANGE

We strongly advise that you bring ZAR (South African Rand) and USD, or exchange money before the start of the tour, to avoid delays on tour. Be prepared to purchase most things with cash since credit cards are not widely accepted as payment. See the "Money Exchange" section for more details.

DRONES

The use of drones in national parks in South Africa is prohibited.

MEALS

Eating is a big part of traveling. While traveling with GEEO, you can experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available in South Africa. On this program, you will have some flexibility to decide where, what, and with whom to eat during some meals. This will also provide some budgeting flexibility. While our travelers often eat together and share dishes so that they can taste a larger variety of food and enjoy each other's company, there is no obligation to do so. Your tour leaders will be able to suggest some favorite restaurants. For the included meals, vegetarian meal requests and other dietary requirements need to be specified in Good to Go prior to arrival.

GROUP LEADER

All GEEO programs are led by a G Adventures Chief Experience Officer (CEO), whose role is to take the hassle out of travel and help you get the most from your trip. They’ll share information about the places you visit, suggest activities and restaurants, and introduce you to our local friends. While not traditional guides, CEOs have broad knowledge of the region’s history, culture, and daily life. On some excursions, local guides are used for deeper insight.

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PROGRAM DETAILS

Single Travelers

Traveling solo? You’re in good company—about half of our participants do the same. Shared room by default. The program fee covers one person in a twin room. We’ll pair you with a roommate of the same gender if you don’t have a travel companion. Want a private room? Most trips offer a “My Own Room” (single-supplement) upgrade. Check the price in the Extra Services section, then email travel@geeo.org to reserve it. You pay the single-supplement only if you request it.

Emergency Contacts

Should you need to contact the tour operator during an emergency, it is best to call the local G Adventures office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information so they can return your call and assist you as soon as possible. AIRPORT TRANSFER If you have purchased an arrival through G Adventures or if an arrival transfer is included in the cost of your tour, please note that your arrival transfer has been arranged based on flight information provided to us. If you are advised of a flight schedule change within 48 hours of your scheduled arrival time, we will do our best to rearrange your arrival transfer however we cannot guarantee this. If your arrival transfer does not arrive within 30 minutes after you have exited the arrivals area, please call the local emergency contact numbers listed below for more information. EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS: G Adventures Local Representative (South Africa) From outside South Africa: +27 713823286 From within South Africa: 071 3823286 If for any reason you are unable to reach the G Adventures local office, please call the numbers listed below, which will connect you directly with the 24-hour G Adventures Sales team, who will happily assist you and connect you with the right person. Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100

Packing List

See our blog post of staff-recommended gear to help you pack for your upcoming travels. You must be able to carry your own luggage—up stairs, on and off of transport, and during 15 to 20 minute walks. Bring one soft-sided bag (not hard-top), max 15kg and one daypack for daily items. Space is limited on transportation, so oversized bags cannot travel. Pack Light: You will be moving around a lot, so pack as lightly as possible. Airlines strictly enforce luggage limits, space on vehicles is tight, and you will be responsible for carrying your own luggage. Be Prepared: Be ready for warm days and cool evenings. Early morning safari drives can be chilly, so bring a warm jacket. From May to October, temperatures in Southern Africa can be especially cold, so pack layers for early mornings and nights. Also pack a set of smart casual clothes for evenings or city visits. IMPORTANT: Drones are not allowed in national parks in Southern Africa! As you prepare your packing list, we recommend checking average weather conditions for your destination. *Laundry: Please note that you will be on the move a lot, and as such there will not be a lot of time for same-day laundry service. Please consult your tour guide to arrange laundry services, if necessary, so that they can advise you or make arrangements.

Passports and Visas

Travelers are responsible for securing all required travel documents and meeting the entry requirements for every country on their itinerary, including applicable transit/layover countries. PASSPORT All travelers must have a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your trip dates with enough blank pages for stamps. Need to apply or renew? Start here. ENTRY/VISA REQUIREMENTS Visa rules change frequently—always verify the latest requirements on the U.S. State Department Country Information Pages. Non-U.S. passport holders should verify requirements with your country's official government resources. Use the tool below to see entry requirements for your specific itinerary. Entry information below is provided by Sherpa, a third-party service and trusted G Adventures partner. You must search each of your destination countries separately; “Add connection” solely searches transit visa requirements. Additional fees apply if you choose to purchase any services through Sherpa.

Money Exchange

Currency: The local currency in South Africa is the South African rand (ZAR). For current exchange rates, visit www.xe.com. Cash Requirements: This trip involves extensive tipping throughout, so you will want to have cash on hand. Bring small denomination bills ($1, $5, $10, $20) as large bills are difficult to break. Consider keeping some USD rather than converting everything to ZAR. Your tour leader will tell you where you can exchange money throughout the tour and approximately how much cash you will need. Please note that due to past problems with forgery, US dollar notes that are older than the year 2006 are not accepted in Africa. Credit/Debit Cards: Credit cards can be used in major cities and towns, but please do not rely on them as a method of payment, because they are generally not widely accepted. Visa/Plus cards are the most widely accepted; it can be more difficult to locate ATMs and businesses that accept Mastercard/Cirrus cards. When purchasing products or services on a credit card, a fee of 3%-10% often applies. Power Outages: There may be occasional power outages when there will be no electricity for hours at a time. In addition, ATMs outside of larger centers often run out of cash or can be out of order unexpectedly. As such, please do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only source of money. Emergency Funds: Bring at least $200 USD (or the equivalent in local currency) in cash for emergencies in case of ATM or card issues. Always carry more rather than less to avoid feeling short of funds while traveling. See the Estimated Trip Costs section at the bottom of this page for budgeting guidance. For more advice, see our post, Smart Travel Finances: Your Guide to Money, ATMs, Fees, and Safety Abroad

Tipping

Tipping is optional but appreciated and goes a long way for the people who look after you on the trip. If you are happy with the service, use these ballpark amounts and adjust as you see fit: - Service providers/Waiters: 10-15% of the bill. - Local guides and drivers: $2-3 USD per person per day. - Safari Guide/Driver: $2-3 USD per person per day. - G Adventures tour leader (CEO): $5-8 USD per person per day. (We suggest pooling contributions in an envelope and presenting it as a group) Tipping Kitty: On some trips, your CEO may suggest a “tipping kitty” where everyone contributes at the start of the tour, and the CEO uses that pooled amount to tip service providers for the group as a whole (not including your CEO). If your CEO doesn’t mention it and you’d like to use a kitty, we recommend asking about it early in the trip. Your CEO will advise the suggested amount and preferred currency for the kitty.

Vaccinations

GEEO cannot provide any medical advice, so it is very important to consult your doctor or a travel clinic about which vaccinations you will need for your trip. We recommend contacting Passport Health, which has travel clinics located throughout the United States. You can also check the CDC's recommended vaccinations for your destination. Please take this seriously! Yellow Fever Note: Some countries on GEEO programs may require proof of Yellow Fever vaccination if you are arriving from or transiting through countries with risk of Yellow Fever transmission. This includes long layovers (typically over 12 hours) in affected countries. The vaccine must be administered at least 10 days before entry to be considered valid. Always check with your health provider and the official entry requirements of each country to determine if you need a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate.

Flights

Wait for official trip confirmation via email from GEEO before booking your flights. Prices tend to be lowest 90–120 days out, but that window varies by route and year. Neither GEEO nor G Adventures bears responsibility for any flights purchased before the trip is confirmed. This program begins and ends in Johannesburg. Check the itinerary for the required arrival date. Aim to arrive no later than mid-afternoon for the 6 p.m. Day-1 welcome meeting, and consider arriving a day or two early to buffer flight delays and see more of Johannesburg. You can depart Johannesburg any time on the final day of the program, or stay longer to see more of the area.

Plugs and Converters

The places visited on this program use Type C, Type D, and Type G outlets, and the voltage is 220-230V. To use your electronics safely, you’ll need to consider: 1. Adapter (plug shape) Adapts your U.S. plug to fit another type of socket. See our recommended all-in-one travel adapter in our Gear Recommendations post. 2. Converter / transformer (voltage) Steps the outlet voltage down to 120V for U.S. appliances that can’t handle higher voltage. Check what you need: Look on your device's plug or power brick. “Input: 100-240V” works worldwide—you only need a plug adapter. Any range narrower (e.g., "110-120V" or “Input: 120V”) means you need an adapter and a voltage converter to avoid damage. Converters are inexpensive and available online or in travel stores.

Weather

This trip takes place over the Southern Hemisphere's winter. It is a great time to travel in this region as it will be relatively dry and the days will be comfortable temperatures between the high 50s and 80s. Early morning safari drives can be quite cold - pack thermal underwear, gloves, warm hat, and multiple warm layers for dawn game drives. At night in the desert it can get quite cold, so make sure you pack warm clothes.

Advice From Past Participants

Money & Tipping: I think it's important to let everyone know to have plenty of money for tips - they get used fast! Make sure you have small bills for tips. I wish I knew that info in the states to make it easier to obtain smaller bills. Packing Essentials: It is COLD in the morning and night so bring scarf and layers. Thermal underwear for sleeping, gloves for climbing rocks. Bring snacks - it's a good idea. A swimsuit is NOT needed.