What language is spoken in South Africa?
Although there are 11 different languages spoken in South Africa, English - with a local South African flavor - is the most widely spoken. The other 10 include Afrikaans (a derivative dialect of Dutch), Ndebele, North Sotho, South Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.

What is the time difference?
South Africa is seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the U.S., except during Daylight Savings Time, when it is six hours ahead.

Where exactly is South Africa and how long does it take to get there?
South Africa covers the southern tip of the African continent. It borders Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe to the north, and Mozambique and Swaziland to the northeast. Flight time from the U.S. averages 17.5 hours.

Will I need a visa?
A valid passport is all that is required for a stay of up to 90 days. All visitors from the U.S. need to present a valid passport during check-in at the airport before embarking the aircraft, to immigration upon arrival, and once more upon departure. During your flight, you will fill out a form detailing the length and purpose of your visit. When you arrive, present this form along with your passport to the immigration officer. After immigration, go through customs. Items for personal use are duty free.

What currency is in use? Are taxes added to purchases?
The unit of currency in South Africa is the rand. Bills come in R10, R20, R50, R100, and R200 denominations. Currently, one U.S. dollar equals approximately R8.00. A value-added tax (VAT) is included in the price of most goods and services, but a refund for foreign visitors is available at the airport.

Will I get Malaria?
Malaria, which can be spread via the Anopheles mosquito, is rare but deadly. The CDC currently recommends that if you are going to be in the prime game viewing areas of Mpumalanga or the Northern Province or in northern KwaZulu-Natal that you take a few precautions. These include taking a prescription anti-malaria drug, spraying yourself and your clothing with insect repellent containing 30 percent DEET, and wearing long light-colored pants and shirts with long sleeves in the evenings. It is also important to wear shoes and socks, and keep a fan going in your room at night. See a travel medicine specialist for more information on these and other precautions.
NOTE: This tour is going to Malaria Free areas only.

What other health precautions should I take?
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta currently recommends that travelers vaccinated against Hepatitis A and are up-to-date with other routine immunizations such as polio and tetanus. For more information, contact your local Travel Clinic or Family Doctor.

Is the country safe?
The large majority of South Africa is safe, and the people you will meet are very warm and welcoming. However, like any country, there are certain areas where petty crime is a problem, including downtown Johannesburg and some areas of Soweto, Pretoria and Cape Town. Tourists are not advised to visit these areas by themselves or at night. In all other areas, tourists should practice good common sense safety habits, such as not wearing flashy jewelry and not appearing lost.

Is the water safe?
The tap water throughout South Africa is perfectly safe to drink.

What is the weather like?
The seasons in South Africa are reversed from those in the U.S.; i.e., when it's summer here, it's winter there. However, winters are generally more mild, and summers are more hot than in the northeastern U.S. In Cape Town, 45° F is the lowest average daily temperature (occurs in July); 81° F is the highest (occurs in February). In Durban, which is generally more mild than any other South African city, the lower average daily temperature is 52° F (occurs in July); 82° F is the highest (occurs January through March). Johannesburg experiences a lowest average daily temperature of 39° F (occurs in July); 79° F is the highest (occurs in January). In Kruger National Park, where days can be very hot and humid and nights can be quite chilly, the lowest average daily temperature is 43° F (occurs in June and July); the highest is 91° F (occurs in January).

How strong is the sun?
The sun throughout South Africa is very strong all year round. Travelers are advised to wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 and more if you sunburn easily.

What type of clothes should I pack for my trip?
Temperatures can fluctuate wildly in South Africa. In fact, Capetonians sometimes experience four seasons in one day! Therefore, travelers should pack lightweight clothes that can be worn in layers, as well as a sweater and a jacket. The style of dress is mostly smart casual, but dinner at some of the more expensive restaurants can be a little more formal.

What kind of photo equipment should I bring?
When visiting other countries, it may be fine to bring along any kind of camera, but in the South African bush, travelers need a good camera to accurately record their experiences. Disposable cameras just don't do the landscape justice, and you won't be able to effectively capture the action of the animals without a telephoto lens. Most rangers recommend a 200 mm SLR camera with a zoom lens. They also prefer slower Fuji film (either 50 or 100 ASA), which gives almost perfect quality photos in normal light.

What is the food like?
South Africa cuisine comprises ethnic specialties such as spicy curries, popular in KwaZulu-Natal, fragrant Malay cuisine, especially in the Western Cape, and hearty Cape Dutch cooking, also in the Western Cape, featuring meals of wild game, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin. English-style breakfasts and afternoon teas are found in hotel dining rooms and country manor houses, and an increasing number of restaurants specialize in authentic African dishes from across the country. A treat not to be missed is a traditional South African barbecue, called "braai," literally translated to mean "grilled meat," although fresh fish braais along the coastal beaches are very popular.

Can I use my electrical appliances from the U.S.?
Wall outlets in most of South Africa take 15-amp plugs with three round prongs, similar to the old British outlets. Adaptors with these prongs are somewhat difficult to find in the U.S., but most upscale hotels in South Africa will provide you with one during your stay.

What are the medical facilities like?
The private hospitals in South Africa are some of the best in the world. In fact, doctors at the Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town performed the world's first heart transplant in 1967. Private hospitals are more advanced than public hospitals and tend to be less crowded. Tourists are advised to visit private hospitals in the event of an emergency and are expected to pay cash for medical services rendered.

Should I get travel insurance?
Yes. Most medical facilities require cash for services rendered, and many health plans in the U.S. will not reimburse expenses incurred out of the country. Check with your health plan well before traveling.

Is it expensive to visit South Africa?
With one U.S. dollar being roughly equal to R8.00, visiting South Africa has never been cheaper! A glorious night's stay at a five star hotel with every possible amenity will range from $200 to $300 a night (double occupancy), and a typical dinner for two at a fine restaurant with a superb bottle of wine will range from only $50 to $100.

Whom do I tip and how much do I tip?
As in the U.S., tipping is expected in South Africa when good service is provided. Generally, waiters and waitresses receive a 15 percent tip. Bartenders and taxi drivers should receive the same amount. Hotel porters should receive about R5.00 a bag, and housekeeping staff should receive about R20.00 a day. Tour guides should receive about R50.00 per person for a half day tour and R70.00 per person for a full day tour. Bush rangers at private game lodges typically get larger tips, mostly because they take guests under their wing for their entire stay, treating them to exciting game drives, escorting them to and from their rooms, and hosting them during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Tip rangers anywhere from R50.00 to R100.00 per person per day. Trackers should also be tipped; R20 per person per day is appropriate.

Are the animals dangerous?
During game drives in the bush, predatory animals like lions, leopards, and hyena often come so close to your vehicle that danger would seem imminent. Amazingly, the animals who live in and around the private game reserves are accustomed to the sight and sound of a Land Rover filled with people, and will often appear not even to notice you. However, anything could happen in the wild, so guests are instructed not to stand up in the vehicle or make any sudden movements, and all rangers are trained to handle an attack situation and are armed with loaded shotguns.

What are the hotels like?
South Africa is home to some of the most luxurious hotels in the world. In fact, the Cape Grace in Cape Town was voted "Best Hotel in the World" by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler in 2000. Other five-star properties that have received international acclaim include the magnificent Saxon in Johannesburg, the historic Royal Hotel in Durban, and the elegant Steenberg Country Hotel in the Winelands. An entirely different kind of luxury is found in the bush, where guests can spend an afternoon immersed in their private plunge pool to the sound of elephants in the distance and enjoy dinner by candlelit lanterns in an authentic African boma. There are many bush lodges of note, include Sabi Sabi's romantic Selati Lodge and the more architecturally fascinating Earth Lodge, as well as Richard Branson's celebrity magnet, Ulusaba Safari Lodge. 

What is the nightlife like?
The nightlife in South Africa varies from region to region and city to city. In the bush, the only real nightlife involves an exciting evening game drive followed by a traditional African dinner around a smoldering fire in an open-air boma. In Cape Town, long, lingering dinners with plenty of local wine is enough nightlife for some people, but others can take advantage of the many bars and pubs located in the waterfront. Clubs with live music are also popular in Cape Town, as are a number of jazz clubs that double as restaurants. Visitors to Johannesburg can get a taste of traditional and township South African jazz at Kippies in the Market Theatre complex in Newton. Jo-Burg's Rosebank suburb is also rich in nightlife, offering visitors the chance to experience "kwaito," South Africa's version of "house" music at the Palladium. In Durban, some of the best jazz can be heard at Rivets in the Hilton Hotel, and Zoom is a club featuring celebrity DJs. There are also a number of bars and pubs scattered throughout the city.

What is a township?
During apartheid, black South Africans were forced to live in areas set apart from whites. These areas, which came to be known as townships, remain today even though apartheid has disappeared, and many are struggling to overcome poverty, poor housing, and overcrowding. Soweto, which is an acronym for the South Western Township, is home to an estimated two to four million people and is by far the largest township in South Africa. It is also the most developed, boasting 48 high schools, the largest hospital in the world, and a thriving middle class. Other townships throughout South Africa may not be as large as Soweto, but they still have the same warmth, spirit and vibrancy that make a visit unforgettable.

How is the shopping?
Whether you are looking for homemade crafts, authentic African art, or the latest in clothing fashion trends, South Africa will not disappoint. Flea markets and roadside stands are the best venues for homemade crafts, while museums and galleries sell the best work by South African artists. Pretoria and the Johannesburg suburbs of Sandton and Rosebank are home to a number of upscale shopping malls where Americans can buy practically anything under the sun, from leather handbags to beaded Zulu dolls.

Is South Africa a good place to take kids?
South Africa is the most child-friendly country in Africa, but care should be taken when entering the bush. In fact, most private game reserves will not accept children under 12, which is understandable given that three-hour game drives can be tedious for restless kids. Outside of the bush, however, most hotels offer special amenities for children, and most restaurants have an abundant child's menu.

How are the roads?
All major roads and highways in South Africa are excellent and typical of any first-world country. Some of South Africa's back roads aren't as well maintained, so care should be taken while driving on them. Driving in South Africa occurs on the left-hand side of the road, and the speed limit is 75 miles per hour. Care should be taken when driving during national holidays, as drunk driving is unfortunately a problem, as it is everywhere. Also, be on the look out for animals in the bush and in rural areas.

Can I direct dial my phone calls and use my own long distance service?
Long distance calls can be direct dialed by using the appropriate country code (91 for the U.S.). AT&T, MCI, and Sprint all make calling long distance relatively easy, but you may find the local access number blocked in many hotel rooms. A way around this problem is to ask the hotel operator to connect you to the access number instead of placing the call through the hotel operator.
Remember: Stay connected to family, friends and your job, ask for the FREE rental of a cell phone which includes free service for all incoming calls. You can arrange to have your cell phone number prior to departure.

What can I expect at the airport when I leave?
Upon departure, you may want to claim your VAT refund. You can do this at the airport as long as you have the receipts and the merchandise you purchased with you. You will also have to go through customs again.