| Giraffes towering
over acacia trees, lionesses nursing cubs in the
shelter of rock outcroppings, massive Cape Buffaloes
grazing on coarse grasses, Leopards moving silently
on their nocturnal hunts, rhinos skulking along
river edges - the bushvelt of South Africa has long
been known as Big Game Country. |
 |
| |
The many highlights
include
|
| |
Kruger National Park * Cape
Town * "big five" mammals - Lion, Elephant,
Cape Buffalo, Leopard and Rhino * Spectacular
scenery including Table Mountain *Fascinating
people
|
| Q. |
When is the
best time to go to South Africa? |
| A. |
Midwinter occurs
in June and July, and midsummer in December and
January. The climate ranges from "Mediterranean"
in the Cape Peninsula to subtropical on the Natal
coast and northeastern Transvaal and temperate conditions
on the Highvelt. Average high temperatures range
from 18 C to 28 C in most areas and at Kruger NP
temperatures of 38 C+ are possible It can also be
quite cool at times and temperatures in the 10 C
and above range are not unknown. Average max/min
temperatures in Oct - Johannesburg: 24 C/14 C, Capetown:
21 C/11 C, Durban: 24 C/17 C. |
| Q. |
What is the
size of the group? |
| A. |
If you are traveling
on one of our featured group departures, the participation
is limited to 16. |
| Q. |
Can we have
exclusive arrangements? |
| A. |
All our tours
are designed to operate with a minimum of 2 participants.
All arrangements are made exclusively to suit your
travel schedule, interest and budget
Note: You do not join a group at any stage, but
enjoy private arrangements. |
| Q. |
What is the
mode of travel? |
| A. |
All local transportation
is by private air-conditioned cars, mini-vans or
buses. While on safari, special vehicles are used
to provide excellent animal viewing. Every passenger
is guarantees a window seat. We recommend that you
wear comfortable walking shoes. |
| Q. |
Where will
I stay? |
| A. |
Accommodations
are chosen on the basis of the level of comfort,
quality, and in-house service, a touch of the local
charm with en-suite facilities. In South Africa
we generally stay at comfortable hotels that have
been chosen for their location, amenities and friendly
service. |
| Q. |
How can I
register for a tour? |
| A. |
We require a deposit
of US$ 400/C$ 500 to ensure a place on a tour. The
balance payment is due 90 days prior to departure.
|
| Q. |
How about
meals? |
| A. |
In South Africa
a range of international food is available. Meals
are generally buffet style with a mix of mainly
Western and local cuisine. All meals, while on safari,
are included in our South Africa trips. In major
cities breakfast is generally included. |
| Q. |
Can you book
our flights? |
| A. |
We have a full
service air-ticketing division who will be glad
to assist you with your international flight arrangements.
However please note that if you are traveling on
frequent flyer mileage you will have to make reservations
yourself. The cost of the internal flights ( unless
otherwise stated) is generally included in the tour
price |
| Q. |
Will someone
pick me up from the airport? |
| A. |
If you are making
your own flight arrangements, please let us know
the flight details and we will make arrangements
for the pick-up. |
| Q. |
Do I need
a visa to go to South Africa? |
| A. |
American &
Canadian citizens do not a visa for both Kenya and
Tanzania. You will require a passport for your trip.
Please make sure that it is valid for six months
after the date of your tour. It is advisable to
take a photocopy of the information page of your
passport and keep it in a separate part of your
luggage. We also recommend leaving a copy of it
with your contact person at home. If you lose your
passport, this will make it easier to replace. |
| Q. |
Do I require
inoculations? |
| A. |
There are no required
inoculations for South Africa at this time. However,
it is a good idea to ensure that your tetanus, diphtheria
and polio booster is up to date. Since we will be
travelling the eastern Transvaal Lowvelt and northern
Natal, anti-malarial tablets are recommended. Frequent
hand washing helps prevent infections and diseases. |
| Q. |
Do I need
insurance? |
| A. |
You have made
an investment into your trip; we strongly recommend
that you purchase comprehensive travel insurance.
We will be pleased to provide you with a quote. |
| Q. |
How much luggage
can I bring? |
| A. |
If your travel
originates in North America you are allowed 2 suitcases
plus a handbag. Suitcases must not weigh more than
32 kilograms (70lbs) each. Some domestic flights
may only permit 15 kilograms, so we recommend that
you stick to one soft suitcase with a maximum of
20kgs. |
| Q. |
What about
tipping? |
| A. |
Tips are not included
in the tour price and tipping is entirely at your
discretion. However, we suggest you budget between
US$ 10 per day to cover gratuities for the local
guides and drivers. |
| Q. |
Can I use
my hair dryer? |
| A. |
Electricity throughout
South Africa is 220-230 volts AC so you will need
a converter and adapter. If you are bringing a video
camera or digital camera, outlets for re-charging
batteries are usually available in the safari vehicles
and hotels. However, don't forget to bring along
the necessary converters and plugs. Plugs are round
three-pin. Your camera shop should be able to give
you advice on this. |
| Q. |
Should I worry
about food or water? |
| A. |
All establishments
we use have high standards of hygiene while preparing
food. For drinking use bottled water only. If you
have a really fragile constitution, use bottled
water for brushing your teeth as well and stay away
from salads. |
| Q. |
But I have
special meal requirements? |
| A. |
Please inform
our travel consultants at the time of booking and
we will ensure that your requests are forwarded
to the providers. We have handled vegetarian, kosher
or similar requests. We ask you to reconfirm the
same while visiting the dining area. |
| Q. |
How much money
should I carry? |
| A. |
Your package tour
includes accommodations, sightseeing, entrance fees,
transportations and most meals. So you really require
enough money for tipping and sundry expenses. US$
20- US$40 a day will take care of the above. As
far as shopping is concerned, that is another matter.
|
| Q. |
Can I use
my Credit Cards? Are there ATMs? |
| A. |
Most reputable
establishments accept Visa, Mastercard, American
Express or Diners Club cards. Major metropolitan
centers have Automated Teller Machines (ATM) as
well; however do not count on them as the primary
source of money. |
| Q. |
Do I need
formal clothes? |
| A. |
While in the major
cities, casual clothes are the norm. While on safari,
we recommend a appropriate clothing including a
wide brimmed hat, plenty of sunscreen and walking
shoes. You may like to carry smart casual clothes
for evenings and dinners. |
|
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