The South African Rand (ZAR).

U.S. passport holders visiting the Republic of South Africa for ninety (90) days or less for tourism purposes do not need visas.

South Africa’s shoulder seasons (April-May, September-October) see smaller crowds and better opportunities for wild-watching. During the shoulder seasons, you can also find better budget-friendly deals on accommodations and activities.
‍
November through March is summertime in South Africa. This is also the peak season for tourism, so it’s best to plan ahead if you want to visit during these months. 

South Africa has 11 official languages and a multilingual population fluent in at least two. IsiZulu and isiXhosa are the largest languages. English is an urban language of public life, widely used in the media, business, and government.

The lighter, the better! If you only have a rolling suitcase, that will work, but if you can get your hands on a more mobile bag, like a large backpack, that would be better. We take private and public transportation, including a domestic flight. We move often on this trip, changing locations every 2-3 days. Loading your suitcase on and off all these modes of transportation can be challenging. 
‍
You'll also want a daypack for your personal gear, food, and drinks for the day.

South Africa's climatic conditions generally range from Mediterranean in the southwestern corner of South Africa to temperate in the interior plateau and subtropical in the northeast. Most of the country has warm, sunny days and cool nights. 

The mean annual temperature for South Africa as a whole is 64 Fahrenheit (17 Celsius), with average monthly temperatures ranging between 70 Fahrenheit (22 Celsius) during December and January, and 51 Fahrenheit  (11 Celsius) during June and July.

Kruger National Park is year-round destination, with each season bringing its own highlights. Whatever time you decide to go on a safari in Kruger National Park--you will not be disappointed!Game viewing can be at its best during the dry winter months.
‍
However, the wet summer season brings full waterholes, lush bush, much newborn wildlife, and the summer migrant birds arrive. Kruger National Park has a hot, subtropical climate, and most of the year, it is hot during the day (above 80 Fahrenheit or 25 Celsius).

Travelers will be able to access the internet quite easily in the internet cafes of South Africa’s large cities but limited to no access should be expected in rural areas.

South African long-drop toilets situated outside of each home are available. These facilities are clean and well-kept. Homestay hosts supply guests with hot water every morning and evening via portable bucket baths.

Tap water can be drunk in South Africa’s cities. However, drinking tap water in rural areas isn't recommended. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water. Ask your Trip Leader where filtered water can be found. Some hotels we stay in may have drinking water available. It's also advisable to avoid ice in drinks and peel fruit and vegetables before eating.

Eat like a local with delicious South African dishes, including a renowned selection of grilled meats.

A mixture of African, Dutch, French, and Malay, among others, have influenced South African cuisine through the decades. We’ll do our best to introduce you to as many different dishes as possible.

When staying in hotels, you can expect continental breakfasts to be buffet style. Eggs, bread, fruits, and salads will be common offerings.

When dining in restaurants for dinner, you can expect grilled meats and/or steaks on the menu. Pizzas and pasta are also common, as well as fresh salads and vegetable stir-fries.

Meals in the village homestay:

Trying new things to tickle your taste buds is always a must. Traditional South African meals are served in the village, and even though you do not have to try everything, we encourage everyone to experience the cultural delicacies.

Please note that dietary restrictions like vegetarian and vegan diets will be met as best as possible while in the village homestay, though you should plan on bringing supplemental food/snacks as vegetarian/vegan meals while at the homestay will be very basic.

All meals are included during this cultural experience, and your host family will do their best to cater according to your dietary requirements.

Some of the traditional meals you will come across in the village are:

• Pap: traditional staple food. It is very filling and can keep your tummy full for the rest of the day. It is made of mielie meal and cooked with water until thick. This usually serves as a main dish on the plate.
• Mashonzha: Mopani worms. Mopani worms are a delicacy in the village. It is full of protein and can be enjoyed crunchy or in a stew with tomato relish and onion.
• Mala: Mala is chicken intestines, boiled and deep fried. This may sound strange, but it tastes like onion rings, the perfect side to every meal.
• Chicken feet: as locals call them, runaways or walkie-talkies.

Must-try South African dishes:

• Vetkoek: fried donuts stuffed with minced meat.
• Boerewors:  a rich, spicy sausage that originates from both South Africa and Namibia. The name means “farmer sausage.”
• Bobotie: the dish originates back to Roman times. Ancient Roman chefs would blend and season a combination of tender meats and crunchy nuts, then top it with a layer of milk and egg.
• Biltong: If you’re a lover of beef jerky, you’ll definitely love the intense taste of biltong.

For 1 night of your trip, you will stay in a private room of a host family’s homestay accommodation. Each room is equipped with a double bed, with some hosts having two or three guestrooms. On arrival at your home and upon meeting your host, you will receive a homestay kit. Each kit is fitted with clean linen (duvet, pillow, towel, face cloth, sheet), a roll of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, mosquito repellent, tea, coffee, cup, sugar, and milk. 

South African long-drop toilets situated outside of each home are available. These facilities are clean and well-kept. Homestay hosts supply guests with hot water every morning and evening via portable bucket baths.

Credit cards are usually accepted by large hotels, modern shops, and western-style restaurants but not by smaller vendors. Ensure you have adequate cash to cover purchases not able to be made on credit.

There are many ATMs in the big cities and regional towns of South Africa. Rural areas, national parks, and small villages will have limited to no ATMs, so be sure to carry other payment options before traveling out of the big cities.

20 kg (44 lbs) for checked luggage and 6 kg (13 lbs) for carry-on.

You may find the best international deals by booking a round-trip flight in and out of Johannesburg Airport (JNB). Then you can book a separate domestic flight from Cape Town Airport (CPT) to Johannesburg. However, Cape Town Airport (CPT) is an international airport servicing multiple major airlines.

Yes. The power plugs and sockets in South Africa consist of four associated plug types, types C, D, M, and N. Plug type C is the plug that has two round pins, plug type D is the plug that has three round pins in a triangular pattern, and plug types M and N both have three round pins. South Africa operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz. We recommend packing a universal travel adapter for your electronic devices. 

We suggest bringing 250 USD in cash to be used at establishments that do not accept credit cards. This is not the total cash amount that you should expect to spend on your trip. Please consider your own spending habits for additional expenses such as snacks, souvenirs, and optional activities.
‍
Credit cards, such as Mastercard and Visa, are widely accepted in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Cash, in local currency, will be needed for purchasing souvenirs or any other items in the village. ATMs will be available in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

If you are looking to relax on your trip without exerting yourself too much, we have a number of trips that are good picks. Trips marked as "Light" activity level are:

• Spain
• Prague, Vienna, Budapest
• South Korea
• India

Remember, all activities on our trips are optional, so if you feel like doing something less strenuous one day, our Trip Leader can help provide alternative options. If you have concerns about your ability to participate in any activities on a trip, please let us know at bookings@under30experiences.com, and we'd be happy to accommodate.

Yes. The safari lodge and the hotel in Cape Town offer laundry services. Talk to the receptionist when you arrive at these accommodations for more details.

The Big Five animals are Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino, and Buffalo.

Our local partner uses 10-seater, open-air vehicles. Picture a pickup truck with rows of seats fastened in the bed and a canopy overhead to protect people from the sun and rain. There are no windows/doors on the back of the vehicles, which allows for open viewing.

Yes! Last-minute slots open up on sold-out trips. Visit our Trips On Sale page for the latest last-minute deals. Sign up to the list to be notified.

Feel free to reach out to our all-star customer service team at bookings@under30experiences.com or by calling +1 (888) 839-2086.