| :: Useful Information
:: Health & Malaria
Malaria is not present throughout the whole
of South Africa, but areas where prophylaxis
should be taken include KwaZulu-Natal, areas
of the north coast, Kruger National Park
and the Botswana & Mozambique border
areas. Your doctor can advise you on the
best type for the area of travel and your
personal requirements. However, taking prophylaxis
will not guarantee that you will not contract
malaria! The best way to avoid malaria is
to avoid being bitten by the mosquitoes
that carry the parasite. Only the females
of one species of mosquito (Anopheles) carry
the tiny parasite, and the greatest incidence
of malaria is in areas of high population
where there are many people for the mosquito
to bite and pass the parasite between.
Mosquitoes usually bite between sunset
and sunrise, so make sure that you are covered
up during this time! Wear loose fitting,
long sleeved shirts and trousers, use a
good insect repellent and sleep underneath
a mosquito net or in a tent/ room sealed
with netting.
If you do develop flu-like symptoms, or
feel at all unwell, during your holiday
or after your return home, you must make
sure that your doctor knows that you have
recently travelled in a malaria area. Malaria
is not a serious problem provided people
take adequate precautions and seek advice
and treatment immediately if they feel unwell.
South Africa's private hospitals are of
a good standard with clean and safe facilities.
However, serious medical cases will be evacuated
by air to the closest major city where further
facilities are available. For this reason
you must make sure that comprehensive travel
insurance is taken out before you travel,
this insurance should cover any medical
expenses, air evacuation and repatriation
if necessary.
:: Water
The water is safe to drink throughout most
of South Africa. In the remote areas, purification
tablets or bottled mineral water should
be used. Plenty of water must be drunk to
prevent dehydration. We recommend 2-3 litres
minimum, excluding beverages such as tea,
coffee, juice and alcohol. Dehydration can
cause very serious problems, it is totally
avoidable, so don't let this spoil your
holiday!
:: Climate
| Rainy season: |
Late November to late
March in most of the country. The Western
Cape has more of a temperate climate
with rain all year round and a cooler
average temperature than the tropical
regions of the north and east coast. |
| Summer: |
October to March with a high of 30°
C and a low of 17° C. |
| Winter: |
June to September with a high of 20°
C and a low of 5° C. |
There is no "best time" to visit
South Africa as the different seasons all
offer completely different experiences!
However, you may like to consider the following
when planning your trip:
|
:: Season Summer rainy
season (October to March) |
| Pros: |
Lush green landscape, quieter
tourism except for Christmas &
Easter. |
| Cons: |
Wildlife is more spread out,
very warm temperatures in the
tropical areas, activities may
be interrupted by rain. |
| ::
Season Winter dry season
(June to September) |
| Pros: |
Higher chances of excellent
game viewing, cooler, few mosquitoes,
great spring wildflowers in September,
whale watching at the coast. |
| Cons: |
Busiest tourism period, especially
in the SA school holidays of July
& August, cold mornings and
evenings, drier environment. |
|
Our personal preference would be for either
March - April, except Easter, or September
- October as these times are neither too
hot nor too cool and the tourist areas are
generally quieter. In March-April the game
viewing is usually excellent and in September
the spring flowers are riotously beautiful,
whale sightings are at their best off the
coast and the rains have not usually begun.
:: Photography
Bring plenty of film and a spare camera
battery as these items may not be available
in some of the more remote areas of South
Africa.
100 ASA film is recommended for normal
light conditions, 200 may be used for low
lighting conditions. A good zoom lens (minimum
200 mm) is essential for wildlife photography.
:: Clothing
Neutral, muted colours such as khaki, dark
green or beige ensure as little disturbance
to wildlife as possible whilst on game drives
or walks. White or bright colours are not
advised, neither are army camouflage uniforms
or army hats. Normal beach wear such a shorts
& T-shirts are useful for the coast,
as are sarongs and hats as the sun is very
strong.
:: Recommended Packing
Neutral coloured casual clothing (shorts/shirts)
for everyday wear, stout shoes (with soles
thick enough to protect against thorns and
for walking), light waterproof jacket for
the rainy season, warm jumper/ fleece for
winter or for the more temperate regions,
warm long trousers for winter, two sets
of good casual clothes for evening dining
where appropriate, towel, broad brimmed
hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, camera, plenty
of film & spare battery, binoculars,
reliable torch, sleeping bag if camping.
It is also worth noting that if you are
travelling by light aircraft or as part
of a guided safari, you should carry no
more than 10-15kg of luggage in a soft bag
for ease of packing.
:: Currency
The South African Rand is split into 100
cents. US$ can be easily exchanged throughout
the country, as can Euro and pounds sterling.
Travellers cheques can also be changed in
banks and most hotels, lodges & shops
accept credit cards, mainly Visa or Mastercard.
:: Visa Requirements
Visitors from most British Commonwealth
countries and some others can obtain tourist
visas for up to 3 months at the border.
Please contact us for details regarding
your personal visa requirements.
|
