|
Useful information Formalities A passport is sufficient for departures from Belgium , France , Switzerland , Luxemburg or Canada , but it must be valid for at least 6 months. Any traveller not in possession of a return ticket, or whose stay will exceed 90 days, is required to obtain a visa. This visa can be obtained free of charge from the South African diplomatic service in your country (embassy): the application must be made at least 10 working days before the date of departure. Multiple entry visas are available to those who plan to return to South Africa after travelling in the neighbouring countries. Vaccinations No vaccinations are required to enter South Africa . It is however recommended that you get yourself vaccinated against hepatitis A and B (this requires 3 injections over a period of 6 months) and against tetanus. What to bring Clothing: body-warmer or sleeveless fleece, trousers (recommended for moving about in the bush), warm jumpers for cold evenings, boots which cover the ankles, neutral colours for tracking (beige, brown, khaki, blue), swimwear for leisure time by the pool. Don't overload your luggage with clothes; there is a laundry service on site. First aid: sun block and after sun, medication for headaches, backaches, sore throats, stomach aches, travel sickness, diarrhoea and constipation, plasters, disinfectant. And don't forget any prescription medication you may need! We also recommend you bring: a small rucksack for getting around the savannah, binoculars, a camera (protect it from the sand) and a small torch. Electricity: AC 220/230 volts and three-pin plugs. Adapters can be obtained at the lodge for any electrical equipment you require (our rooms are equipped for all your needs: hairdryer, hot drinks, etc.). Selecting your firearms and ammunition Selecting your camera and binoculars Transporting firearms and ammunition There is no problem for the temporary importation of hunting firearms into South Africa . The formalities will be carried out at Johannesburg airport. Your firearms should be transported in lockable hard cases, and the ammunition in a separate box (the weight must not exceed 5kg per luggage item). Regulations may vary from one airline to another and sometimes even depending on the individual captain. Bear in mind that in case of any difficulties there are always firearms and ammunition available to you on the reserve. Air France regulations South African Airways regulations Travel Departure Departures are from Paris or London Arrival at the airport Minimum 2 hours before the stated departure time. Duration The journey takes approximately 20 hours. Sample itinerary: Brussels – London (1 hour 10 minutes), London – Johannesburg (12 hours), Johannesburg – Kimberley (1 hour 20), Kimberley – Kalahari-Rangers (5 hours). Please note South Africa has an excellent road network. Driving is on the left, and an international driving licence is required. However, this should not be necessary since our team will fetch you directly from Kimberley airport and drive you to the lodge. Weight restrictions for luggage No more than 23 kg per person for hold baggage, and a maximum of 7kg for carry-on items. We advise you to keep to these limits as the excess baggage charges can be expensive! Air France regulations South African Airways regulations Tips It is customary to tip porters, waiters and taxi drivers. On-site Time difference South Africa is 1 hour ahead of Central European Time, but dos not operate daylight saving in summer. Weather and seasons Remember, South Africa is in the southern hemisphere. The seasons are therefore the inverse of European seasons. In summer, temperatures range from 16° to 34°C and can reach 40-45°C. However, nights are relatively cool. In winter, average temperatures are from 4° to 22°C, but sometimes drop to -10°C at night. The rainy season runs from January to April. Languages You can get by virtually everywhere speaking English, which is one of the 11 official languages of the country. The majority of signs, forms and information leaflets are bilingual in English and Afrikaans. Currency The rand (ZAR) is the currency in South Africa . With the exception of petrol stations, the vast majority of hotels, restaurants, shops and transport services accept international credit cards (Visa and Mastercard are the most common). It is possible to change money at Johannesburg airport, but this should not be necessary for your stay at Kalahari-Rangers: everything is payable in Euros (souvenirs, alcohol, other purchases). Telephone To call South Africa from Europe , dial: 00 27 + the area code, omitting the initial 0 + the number. From South Africa to Europe , dial: 09 + the country code + the number, omitting the initial 0. We don't recommend counting on regular use of your GSM on the reserve, as the signal is very weak. There is however reliable e-mail access. Souvenirs and gifts You will find everything you need at the airport and at the lodge. Value Added Tax (VAT) is payable on the majority of goods and services. There is an exemption for foreigners: you can claim a refund on all goods which remain unused upon leaving the country. You need to present the bill of sale (including the registered VAT number of the seller) along with the item itself. For more information, go to www.taxrefunds.co.za . |