Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What travel documentation do I need?

UNITED STATES CITIZENS

All United States citizens must have a Government Issued Passport, valid for at least six months beyond the return date of your trip, in order to travel to South Africa. South Africa requires travelers to have two consecutive blank visa pages in their passports upon arrival. You will be denied entry if you do not have two consecutive blank visa pages in your passport. This does not include the endorsement pages. More information for United States citizens can be found HERE.

NON-UNITED STATES CITIZENS

If you are NOT a United States citizen (are traveling on a non-United States passport), please verify your specific documentation and vaccination requirements with your country's consulate before departing. Please note that non-United States citizens may require a visa to enter South Africa and may require passports be valid for at least six months beyond your return date, and may require blank passport pages.

ALL GUESTS

It is the sole responsibility of the attendee to verify and obtain all necessary documentation and vaccination requirements when traveling to another country. Many countries require passports to be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected return and may require multiple consecutive blank passport pages. Some citizens may be required to obtain a Visa and/or have specific vaccinations to enter certain countries.

We also recommend packing a photocopy of the picture and signature pages of your passport. If your passport should get lost, the photocopies will make it much easier to get an emergency replacement.

Q. How do I get a Passport? (United States Citizens)

Click HERE to learn everything you need to know about how to obtain or renew a United States Passport.

Q. When should I leave for the airport?

The recommended airport check-in time for international flights is three hours prior to departure.

Please check with your airline for schedule changes or flight delays and confirm the recommended check-in time prior to leaving for the airport. Please remember to allow extra time if you are unfamiliar with the airport, are leaving during heavy traffic times, or have excess baggage.

For general travel information issued by the State Department, please visit the U.S. Department of State website at http://travel.state.gov/.

Q. Should I purchase Travel Insurance?

Because unforeseen circumstances may arise, we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. Travel Insurance gives you access to a 24-hour assistance hotline for expert, personalized support in a crisis. Travel insurance can reimburse you for prepaid, non-refundable trip costs - including vacation rentals, car rentals, hotels and flights - if you have to cancel for a covered reason, and can reimburse you for eligible meals, accommodation and transportation expenses during a covered delay. Travel insurance can also reimburse you for care following a covered medical emergency while traveling. Travel insurance can even arrange and pay for a medical evacuation if needed. Coverage is only available for United States citizens.

Please email your Destinations Travel Partner and advise you are interested in purchasing Travel insurance. They will provide Sequel Travel Vacation Department the necessary information for your travel insurance quote and connect you with an agent.

Q. How much luggage can I take?

Carry-On Bags

Most airlines permit each passenger to take one carry-on bag and one additional personal carry-on item, such as a purse or briefcase/laptop case. All carry-on items must fit under the seat in front of you or in the overhead compartment. Carry-on baggage size requirements differ between airlines so please check with your airline before traveling to make sure your carry-on bags fit your airline's specified dimensions.

Checked Bags

Most airlines will allow you to check bags as well. Please check with your airline to confirm the current luggage limitations and any applicable fees for carry-on and checked baggage. Please note that many airlines charge significant fees for overweight or oversized luggage.

Important Items

Be sure that all baggage and personal belongings are properly insured. Items such as medications, jewelry, or other valuables, breakable or perishable items, and travel documents should be hand-carried. Responsibility will not be assumed by the airline for loss of or damage to these items.

*Please note that all baggage fees are at your own expense.

Q. What items can I carry on?

Due to potential security issues on flights, the Transportation Security Administration has updated its aviation security measures. For the latest information regarding what to bring, what to leave at home, and what to generally expect while traveling, please visit the Transportation Security Administration website at http://www.tsa.gov/.

Q. Can I travel with my medication?

One of the more popular questions we get from travelers is: “Can I travel with my medication?” The answer is yes, with some qualifiers. Here are a few tips that you might find helpful.

It is not necessary to present your medication to, or notify an officer about any medication you are traveling with unless it is in liquid form (See next bullet).
Medication in liquid form is allowed in carry-on bags in excess of 3.4 ounces in reasonable quantities for the flight. It is not necessary to place medically required liquids in a zip-top bag. However, you must tell the officer that you have medically necessary liquids at the start of the screening checkpoint process. Medically required liquids will be subject to additional screening that could include being asked to open the container.
You can bring your medication in pill or solid form in unlimited amounts as long as it is screened.
You can travel with your medication in both carry-on and checked baggage. It’s highly recommended you place these items in your carry-on in the event that you need immediate access.
TSA does not require passengers to have medications in prescription bottles, but states have individual laws regarding the labeling of prescription medication with which passengers need to comply.
Medication is usually screened by X-ray; however, if a passenger does not want a medication X-rayed, he or she may ask for a visual inspection instead. This request must be made before any items are sent through the X-ray tunnel.
Nitroglycerin tablets and spray (used to treat episodes of angina in people who have coronary artery disease) are permitted and have never been prohibited.

Additional Information

Q. What is the weather like South Africa?

Cape Town: Cape Town has a temperate, Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. The geography of the peninsula means we have several microclimates. Locals often joke that it’s possible to experience all four seasons in one day. During the summer months, Cape Town has warm, sunny weather with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s to mid-30s Celsius. The city experiences very little rain during this time, making it the perfect season to enjoy the outdoors. The summer wind - known lo locals as "the Cape Dr" can be strong, blowing mainly from the North-East, providing a refreshing cool breeze to the hot summer days. In the summer months, December to February, the temperature ranges from around 20-26°C (68-78°F) during the day and 13-18°C (55-64°F) during the night. The sun in Cape Town shines bright and warm for around 7.5-9.5 hours a day with around 300 days of sunshine per year, making it perfect for outdoor activities like beach trips, hikes, sports and sightseeing throughout the year. Be sure to lather on a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor) sunscreen and enjoy the magnificent sunshine.

Safari: Click HERE for weather information while we are on Safari

Q. What should I pack?

General:

Shorts and skirts
T–shirts and long-sleeved shirts
Long pants
Underwear and socks
Sandals
Sleepwear
Toiletries
Good walking shoes
Light weight jacket (for chilly nights)

Safari:

Insect repellent that contains DEET
Camera
Binoculars
Contact lenses and glasses
Brimmed hat

Click HERE for additional important packing information for Safari

Beach or Pool:

Bathing suit and cover-up
Suntan lotion
Good quality sunglasses

Other:

International adaptor plugs - the common plug in South Africa is a 15-amp plug, and it has three round prongs that form a triangle
Camera
Medications and prescriptions

Q. What currency is used in South Africa?

The Rand is the official whole currency unit in South Africa. A Rand is the equivalent of 100 cents. Currency denominations include 5 cent, 10 cent, 20 cent and 50 cent coins, as well as 1, 2 and 5 Rand coins. 1 Rand is the equivalent of 100 cents. Bank notes include denominations of R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200.

Q. Can I drink the water in South Africa?

In urban areas, such as Cape Town, South Africa is known for having some of the safest and cleanest drinking water in the world. In more rural areas travelers should use bottled water which is available from most shops.

Cape Town: Tap and bottled water are readily available throughout the city. It is also perfectly safe to drink tap water in Cape Town – the water is rated as being of a top global standard.

Q. What if I have a special health concern?

If you have any health concerns that may require special attention, please contact us prior to departure. Passengers requiring prescription medications are advised to keep them in their carry-on luggage. While we don't require information about the extent of your health concern or disability, the more information you can share with us about your specific needs, the better we are able to assist you.