South Africa: Cultural Cities & Wildlife Safaris

• In order to enter South Africa and Swaziland (plus Zimbabwe on the tour extension), U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
• We recommend having at least three blank passport pages for entry stamps.
• There is no visa required for U.S. and Canadian citizens traveling to South Africa and Swaziland.
• U.S. and Canadian passport holders must obtain a visa in order to enter Zimbabwe. U.S. Passport holders may purchase an individual visa for $30USD at the airport upon arrival; this can only be paid in cash, please be sure to have exact change. Canadian passport holders may purchase a single entry visa on arrival or through an e-visa service for $75USD per person.
• If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
• If you are or will be accompanied by a minor (under the age of 18), additional documents will be required to travel through South African ports of entry. Visit the South African Department of Home Affairs website for the most-up-to-date requirements for minors traveling to or from South Africa.
• You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code SAF.

• Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Cape Town and depart from Johannesburg.
• Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who booked their own flights are responsible for securing their own airport transfers.
• When you arrive in Cape Town, a Go Ahead representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a Go Ahead sign or a sign with your name(s). If you don’t see a representative immediately, please be patient and stay in the arrivals area. They may be assisting another traveler who has also just arrived and will be back shortly.

Physical Activity Level

This is a high physical activity-level tour. You can expect to be on the move on a regular basis throughout the course of the tour.

Tour Pacing

This is a very fast-paced tour. The pace of a tour itinerary considers how often you’ll switch hotels, the amount of planned daily activities, and how you’ll get from place to place. You can expect:

• Two 1-night stays
• Most days and evenings full of included activities (more if you add excursions)
• Most transportation by motor coach, some by flights
• Daily drive time varies and can be lengthy

Walking, Terrain & Physical Requirements

• Travelers should be prepared to walk 2-3 miles per day—this includes city streets, dirt paths, stairs, and hills.
• Travelers should feel comfortable stepping up and down or climbing a small ladder to get in an our of the vehicles.
• On the tour extension, pathways around Victoria Falls can be very slippery.
• Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance.
• Please Note: Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on tour.

Climate Considerations

• Countries visited on this tour are in the Southern hemisphere so their seasons are opposite of those in North America.
• Summer months are considered December- February, while winter is June - August.
• Summer months tend to have a high temperature of 80F, while winter months have a high temperature of 60F.

Physical Activity & Tour Pace Questions

• Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special mobility or luggage handling assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group enjoys a smooth and informative journey, and they can’t be relied on to provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
• This tour moves at a reasonable pace to avoid missing scheduled stops. The rest of the group cannot miss any scheduled activities because of the needs of an individual.
• Due to the pace and physical activity level of this tour, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers will be difficult to use and are not recommended. Please notify Go Ahead Tours before your departure if you plan to bring these on tour with you.
• If you have mobility concerns or tour pacing questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team.

• This tour includes various modes of transportation, including planes, boats, safari vehicles and private motor coach. Some modes of transportation will have raised platforms or steps and often not provide access to ramps or lifts.
• A flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg as well as a boat ride to Robben Island are included in the price of your tour. (The tour extension also includes a round trip flight between Johannesburg and Victoria Falls.)
• During game drives, you will be traveling in a specially equipped safari van, which have high step(s) to board the vehicle. The vehicle is open, allowing for panoramic views.
• Game drives can be long and cross bumpy terrain, so we recommend bringing a small pillow to ease the ride and the impact that may have on a body.
• All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.

• Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag each due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers.
• Some airlines may impose additional charges if you exceed baggage size and weight restrictions, and you’ll be responsible for any fees incurred.
• Contact your airline(s) for the baggage size and weight restrictions on your flights. Please note that the flights included on the tour extension may have baggage restrictions as low as 44lbs for checked bags and 18lbs for carry-on bags. You will be responsible for any costs associated with overweight baggage.
• Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
• Travelers must be able to manage their luggage throughout tour; porters aren’t guaranteed at hotels or airports.

• Loose-fitting, layered clothing that can accommodate varying temperatures will be most comfortable. Quick-dry material is best for hot days outside and a warmer layer may be needed for chilly evenings and early mornings.
• Comfortable closed-toes shoes, such as sneakers or lightweight hiking boots, are best for walking during the day.
• Sun protection is very important. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a broad-brimmed hat to protect your face and the back of your neck from the sun.
• Occasional rain showers are common from April through August, so lightweight rainwear may be necessary depending on the timing of your trip.
• Insect repellent, binoculars, and a flashlight are highly recommended.
• We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
• In case of emergencies, we also recommend packing your medical insurance card in your carry-on.

• Go Ahead handpicks every hotel you’ll stay at, striking a balance between comfort, location, and local charm.
• Specific properties will vary based on your departure date, but are typically three-to-four-star hotels; always include private bathrooms; and usually have in-room safes for valuables. Additionally, your hotels will have Wi-Fi, but access may be limited to common areas. There may also not be elevators.
• Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that your accommodations will have laundry services or facilities. We recommend checking directly with your hotels once they’ve been confirmed, about 30 days prior to departure.
• Some hotels on this tour are situated on narrow streets; as such, our buses can’t drop you off right out front. In these instances, you’ll have to walk your luggage to the property, no more than a few blocks.
• Please be advised that the air conditioning in African hotels and buildings is often not as strong or cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada.
• South Africa operates on 220–240 volts and uses a Type M plug with two small round pins and one larger round pin.
• South Africa experiences multiple periods of load shedding, or rolling blackouts, due to the demand for electricity exceeding its ability to produce. Travelers should only be impacted for brief moments as all accommodations are equipped with generators and tour activities should not be impacted.
• Zimbabwe (on the tour extension) operates on 220-240 volts and uses a Type G plug with three large, flat pins.
• Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date.

• Excursions are available for purchase prior to departure, and most excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour directly through your mobile app for an additional $10 USD.
• We recommend purchasing excursions at least 3 days prior to your tour departure. Please note some excursions have advance booking deadlines. Check your tour itinerary for more information to ensure you don’t miss the deadline to add them.
• Optional excursions may be canceled on tour due to reasons like low enrollment, weather or unexpected closures. If an excursion you signed up for is canceled by Go Ahead Tours, you will be refunded the full cost of the excursion. Please note it may take up to 60 days for your refund to be processed.
• Your Tour Director may offer their own optional excursions which can only be purchased on tour via cash (in local currency).

• At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
• If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
• If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
• Local governments may require proof of a yellow fever vaccination (often referred to as a “yellow card”) or a statement of medical exemption from the vaccine. This is only required of travelers arriving from a country with a risk of yellow fever virus transmission (Please note: This does not include the U.S. or Canada). Visit cdc.gov/yellowfeverfor more information. Travelers flying with South African Airways with a fuel-stop in Dakar, Senegal will not be exiting the aircraft and therefore will not be required to present proof of vaccination due to this stop.
• Bring a small first aid kit, including antacids, anti-diarrhea medication, motion sickness medication, and any prescription medications in your carry on luggage.
• Drink bottled water only. Refrain from drinking tap water, including when brushing your teeth.
• Avoid eating fresh fruits and vegetables unless they are cooked or washed in clean water and peeled.

• This tour includes six lunches and six dinners: They may be set menus, buffets, or family-style meals, depending on the location. Dinners also include one glass of beer, wine, or a soft drink, as well as water.
• Breakfast each morning is also included at the hotel and is typically buffet style with hot and cold options.
• You’ll find that most cuisine in South Africa reflects the region’s British, German, and Dutch colonial periods as well as Afrikaner influences. High-quality meats, vegetables, and fruits are sourced from the surrounding area’s farmland.
• On the tour extension in Zimbabwe, cornmeal is an important staple used for making porridge and sadza, which is thicker and resembles Italy’s polenta. Rice, greens, potato, pumpkin, peanuts, black-eyed peas, and local fruits are popular additions to any meal.

• At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in USD.
• We recommend tipping $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and $4USD per person per day for your driver.
• If applicable, we also recommend tipping $5USD per person for your local wildlife guides per game excursion and $2USD per local guide.
• Tips can only be paid in cash.
• Gratuities for baggage handling are included in the price of your tour.

• The currency you will be using on your tour is the South African rand. (In Zimbabwe on the tour extension, you will use the U.S. dollar.)
• You may be able to purchase South African rand in advance from your local bank or a foreign currency exchange retailer, such as Travelex.
• Please note, travelers cannot import or export more than $25,000 in South African rand and may be required to claim any additional foreign currency at customs.
• ATMs are not readily available in the more rural areas and connection can be poor (especially in Zimbabwe on the tour extension), so plan ahead while in the bigger cities.
• Major North American credit cards are accepted but can be difficult to use in remote locations (Visa is the most widely accepted).
• Having small amounts of US Dollars for tipping (and shopping on the tour extension) is recommended, but you should plan to limit the total amount of cash you carry throughout tour.
• International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
• We suggest that you inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans, so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
• Plan ahead and bring cash to tip your tour director, local guides, and bus drivers.

• To help you feel prepared before traveling on tour, we strongly recommend downloading the EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app. It’s free and provides information about important deadlines and entry requirements, as well as your detailed itinerary, packing tips, and more. You can also connect with fellow travelers through the app’s chat feature.
• Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
• There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
• Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

• Your Tour Director will be leading your group throughout your journey in South Africa.
• You will have a different Tour Director for your tour extension in Zimbabwe than on your main tour.
• The role of the Tour Director is not only to provide information and context on the destinations you visit, but also to confirm services, coordinate inclusions, prepare each days’ activities and support travelers while on tour. As such, they must focus on the success of the group, and cannot provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.

• One of the benefits of traveling with EF Go Ahead Tours is our on tour emergency support team.
• Our extensive network of offices around the world, and our integration of ISO 31000: Risk Management Guidelines, help our dedicated 24/7 Emergency Service teams anticipate and address on-tour challenges in a flexible and iterative way.
• This team supports travelers and Tour Directors using a combination of extensive training, simulations, incident response planning, and decades of experience to help manage emergencies if they arise, ranging from personal health concerns or injuries to major world events.
• As needed, On Tour Support can facilitate additional support for travelers on tour, arrange assistance from outside specialists, and liaise with local and international authorities to help solve on-the-ground issues. In addition, the team is dedicated to supporting and facilitating communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency while on the road or at home.

• South Africa and Swaziland (plus Zimbabwe on the tour extension) are two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and six hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET). South Africa and Swaziland (plus Zimbabwe on the tour extension) do not observe Daylight Saving Time.
• From November through March, when it’s noon in New York, it’s 7pm on tour. From April through October, when it’s noon in New York, it’s 6pm on tour.

• When you travel with Go Ahead Tours, you’ll make a positive impact on the places you visit and the people and animals you meet along the way. That’s because our three core Responsible Travel commitments—protecting the environment, supporting local communities, and promoting animal welfare—are at the heart of every tour we offer.
• Travel, when done responsibly, can have an enormous socioeconomic impact on communities. To maximize your impact, eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at small businesses. Ask your Tour Director to point out restaurants they recommend.
• Prepare for your trip: Be aware of monetary norms such as tipping and negotiating in a market; learn about the destination’s forms of etiquette; and take some time to learn a few words in the local language.
• When interacting with locals, make sure to ask people for permission before you take their picture, and approach cultural differences with empathy and an open mind.
• Go Ahead Tours encourages travelers to limit their waste while on the road, especially single-use plastics. You can cut back on generating plastic waste by packing your own toiletries, using electronic documents, and bringing a reusable water bottle and shopping bag. If you need to use plastics or paper, please recycle.
• When visiting national parks, reserves, or other protected areas, please do not remove anything from the natural environment or leave any litter. Carry out what you carried in.
• When you come across wild animals on tour, take the philosophies of World Animal Protection to heart: Don’t touch or feed them, and maintain a respectful distance. The animals you encounter on your trip should be able to exhibit natural forms of behavior.
• Furthermore, avoid buying exploitative animal products, like crafts made from tortoiseshell or meals such as shark fin soup.
• If you feel we aren’t meeting any of these commitments, please let us know.