HELP CENTER & TRAVEL TIPS

Helpful Information

Welcome to our Help Center. Browse to learn all about our services, special destinations and why we’re the right Travel Agency for you. If you have any additional questions that haven’t been answered on our FAQ page, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to assist you.

What clothing should we bring?

Comfortable Clothing, layers must be the best solution. Warm clothing in winter (May-August), Sun Protection: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, Footwear that can get wet (hiking shoes and sandals), Towel(s) and bathing suit.

Wildlife trips recommendations:

Keep a respectful distance, especially if they are in their natural habitat. A minimum distance of 5m is always required by law.
While pictures are great to have, ensure that these are taken from afar and do not threaten the animals.
No Feeding Allowed. Resist the urge to feed wild animals. Human food can be harmful to their health
and disrupt their natural foraging behaviours. Instead, donate to an animal organisation of your choice.
Keep noise to a minimum. Loud sounds can stress animals and interrupt their daily routines.
Avoid Direct Eye Contact - While it may seem like a friendly gesture, direct eye contact can sometimes be perceived as a threat. Keep a gentle gaze and let them go about their business undisturbed.
Secure Your Belongings - Wildlife is naturally curious. Keep a close eye on your belongings and secure any food or
items that might attract their attention.
Penalties - *Failure to act responsibly could result in an arrest, spot fine or both.
*Tour operators, tour guides and tourism establishments are encouraged to educate and inform their clients to avoid any penalties, and to ensure their safety

What is the weather like?

Winter months in South Africa starts in May up to August. The coldest temperatures are mostly experienced on the Highveld areas where Gauteng is located, but much more mild temperatures are prevalent in the Lowveld. Rain very occasionally occurs in these months.

Summer months are from September up to April. The warmest temperatures are mostly experienced in the Lowveld areas where Mpumalanga is located. Rain is prevalent in these months, except in the Southern Cape where it rains in the winter months.

Beach safety:

• Always choose a lifeguarded beach. Swim between the designated red and yellow lifeguard flags.
• Supervise your kids, family and friends in the water, even in the lifeguarded flagged zone.
• Take time to read the information signage when entering a beach.
• Teach your kids to always go to the lifeguards if they get lost.
• If you find yourself in trouble, do not panic. Try to float on your back, raise your arms and call for help. Never try to swim against a rip current.
• Never use inflatables such as small boats or mattresses at the beach.
• If you see someone in trouble, alert the lifeguards or call sea rescue.
• Never enter the water to rescue someone without calling emergency services first.

Also, never enter the water without emergency flotation like the NSRI pink rescue buoy, found at most beaches.
• Be sure to stay hydrated and protected from the sun.

Where can I stay when I arrive in South Africa before my tour starts?

You have a big variety and choice of places to stay in South Africa on your arrival. You can also contact us at any time for enquiries.

How can I ensure my safety?

STREET SAFETY:

• Don’t walk in deserted or dark areas. Stay in a group and on lit paths.
• Keep all possessions safely tucked away, including your cellphone, wallet, and jewellery.
• Plan your route.
• Don’t carry large sums of money and avoid counting it in public.
• Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.
ATM:
• Use ATMs in well-lit and safe places.
• Don’t accept help from strangers or give out your PIN, not even to persons claiming to be bank officials.
• Watch out for the people standing close to you and looking over your shoulder as you type in your PIN.
• Never leave your card in the ATM. If it gets stuck or swallowed, follow the instructions provided on the ATM machine.
• Be vigilant after making your transaction

TRAVEL TIPS

There are a few basic precautions all tourists should take to ensure their stay is as pleasant and as safe as possible. South Africa boasts a diversity of cultures, communities, sites and attractions. Most areas can be visited safely by tourists, provided they take basic common-sense precautions. Always ensure that you use a registered Tourist Guide for your travels. Some valuable travel tips follows:

Travel with certified copies of your valuable documents (e.g passports and visas) and keep the originals in a safe place (like a hotel for example).
Countersign no more than half of your traveller’s cheques.
Separate your cash and credit cards, and do not carry all your cash/traveller’s cheques with you during the day. Rather store half of them in your hotel-room safe.
Do not allow strangers to assist you with ATM transactions. If your card gets stuck, immediately call that ATM’s helpline number.
Be alert, and never turn your back while your ATM card is in the machine.
Report lost passports and visas without delay, to the South African Police Services (SAPS). Your country’s embassy or consulate can be contacted through the Tourist Safety and Support Programme.
It is compulsory to carry a translation of your driver’s licence, if it has been printed in a foreign language.
Take out medical insurance with your agent when you buy air tickets.
If you take prescription medication carry your doctor’s certificate with you to prevent with Customs.
If you have prescription spectacles, carry a copy of the prescription with you in order to replace them if they-are lost or broken.
Medical facilities in cities and large towns are world- class.
In the rural areas, hospitals and clinics deal mostly with primary and secondary health needs.
In case of an emergency, please follow these basic procedures:
Go to the nearest safe and public place.
Call the Police Emergency Number (10111). It is a free call from a telephone box or landline, and briefly explain what happened.
If you are using a mobile phone, call 112. Your call will be transferred to the appropriate emergency service.
If you have been injured, the call centre will dispatch an ambulance to take you to the nearest hospital.

It is recommended that you:

Never leave your luggage unattended.
Store valuables in your hotel’s safety deposit box.
Keep your room locked at all times.
Hand in the room keys or cards whenever you leave your hotels.
Obtain a map and plan your route before you set out on an excursion.
Consult your hotel or nearest Visitor Information Centre for a reliable taxi service.
When crossing the street, use pedestrian crossings where possible and be aware of oncoming motorists at all times. Look right, look left and look right again before crossing.
Please do not give money to street children. If you wish to assist them in a meaningful way, contact any Visitor Information Centre to obtain a list of organizations which would be most grateful for the assistance.
Familiarize yourself with local rules of the road. Remember, South Africa is a left-hand-side-drive country.
Plan your route and fuel consumption in advance. Note that certain bank credit cards (such as Diners Club) are not accepted to pay for fuel.
Have telephone numbers of your destination on hand, in case you get lost.
Keep the car doors locked at all times, the car windows wound up and any valuables locked in the boot.
Never pick up strangers or ask them for directions. Rather go to the nearest business or petrol station if you get lost.
Get Travel Insurance, itis highly recommended.
Pay special attention to speed limits, road signs and traffic markings.
Always swim in areas supervised by a lifeguard.
Never swim alone.
Do not dive into unfamiliar waters – what may seem deep could be very shallow. Feet first’ is safer.
Protect your skin from overexposure to UVA and UVB rays, by wearing waterproof sunscreen with a high protection factor of 20+. Avoid the sun during the hottest times of the day: 11:00 – 15:00.
Drink plenty of water regularly to avoid dehydration, even if you do not feel thirsty. Your body needs water to keep cool and to replace lost salts lost through sweating.
Do not walk alone. Always ensure that you are in a group.
Take your mobile phone with you, with the emergency number punched in.
Always let someone know which route you will take and how long you will be away.
Be aware of your surroundings.
Always take rain gear and a jersey with you.
Take water, sun block, wear a hat and take a snack.
Maps are available at leading bookstores and any Visitor Information Centre.
If a criminal confronts you, do not resist. Hand over your goods & remain calm.

If you have been injured, the call centre will dispatch an ambulance to take you to the nearest hospital.

Important numbers:

Public Emergency 107 Police (SAPS) 10111 Cellphone 112

Ambulance/Fire Number 10177 NSRI Sea Rescue 021 449 3500

Safety Tips for Tours to Kruger National Park and back: