Important Things to Know Before You Go: South Africa, Botswana Safari and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe & Zambia)

(Updated 1/25/25)

Passport / Visa Requirements

You must have a passport valid for six (6) months beyond the END OF YOUR TRIP. Be sure to check the expiration date of your passport to make sure of this as your entry can be denied if you do not meet this requirement. 

Visas are not required for U.S. or Canadian citizens to enter South Africa, Botswana or Zambia. A visa is required for entry into Zimbabwe. You can obtain one at the port of entry for $30 U.S. You should get a double entry visa for $45 U.S. if you plan to visit the Zambia side of the Falls. 

Although a visa is not required for entry into South Africa, South Africa requires two (2) blank passport pages to be available for each entry into the country; therefore, if you plan to arrive in South Africa and then leave to go to another country and subsequently return to South Africa, you must have at least four (4) blank pages available for South Africa. In addition, you are required to have at least one (1) blank page for each other country you plan to visit. For a trip with two entries into South Africa, one entry into Botswana, one entry into Zambia and one entry into Zimbabwe, you will need A MINIMUM OF six (6) blank pages (the last two Amendment and Endorsement pages in some passports do NOT count toward the required number of blank pages). 

Medical

You are responsible for providing your own medication needs. Make sure you have adequate supplies of any required prescription and/or non-prescription medication. If you are on any medication, please check with your physician before departure to determine if there are potential reactions to the anti-malarial medication or the shots you will need to have.

Anti-malarial tablets are essential and strongly recommended. Some anti-malarial medications need to be started prior to travel (usually two days before entering the country) and taken for a period of one week after you return. Please consult your physician for details. We are including a pamphlet on Malaria put out by the CDC. These are for information only. Consult your health care provider to determine which anti-malarial medication is right for you! (There are drug interaction considerations, allergies, etc. which make it essential that each person discuss with their own health care professional which anti-malarial drug is right for them.) We suggest that you mark your calendar and set a reminder so you remember when during your trip you should begin taking your malaria medication.

No other immunizations or medications are REQUIRED to enter the countries being visited: however, we offer the following as information only – not a recommendation: We at BJ Adventures generally make sure to have up-to-date tetanus/diphtheria, typhoid, and adult polio booster. We also protect against Hepatitis A with Havrix (which requires two shots spread over several months and lasts up to 20 years).

We recommend that you carry a small travel first aid kit. Include travel sizes of antacid, antidiarrheal, antihistamine, decongestant, anti-motion sickness, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, mild laxative, cough suppressant, cough drops, saline nose spray and eye drops, 1% hydrocortisone cream, Hibiclens antimicrobial skin cleanser, antibacterial and antifungal ointment or cream, gauze, cotton swabs, assorted sized waterproof Band-Aids, digital thermometer, tweezers, a pair of nitrile gloves, meds for UTI/yeast/ear/stye infections if prone to those, and a broad-spectrum antibiotic (e.g. Cipro). Other potentially useful items include ear plugs, eye mask, tampons/pads, powdered rehydration electrolyte/mineral packets, and a good digestion/immunity probiotic.

We do not recommend drinking water from the tap. Even brushing your teeth with bottled water is a safe precaution. You will have ample bottled or purified water in all locations. Hygienic conditions may not be what we are accustomed to in all locations. Remember to drink plenty of water especially when you are outside during the day. It is very dry and you can get dehydrated quickly.

You can visit the CDC site here for more information, and we recommend an appointment with a travel clinic.

Luggage Requirements

We will provide you with a BJ Adventures duffle bag to take with you on safari. This bag meets all requirements as listed below. We recommend that you TRAVEL LIGHTLY! Luggage and storage space are extremely limited – only 1 soft, hold-all bag per person (your BJA duffle), plus 1 carry-on bag (eg: small backpack or camera bag that can fit under the seat or in the overhead), plus a personal bag (your BJA tote is perfect!). 

Charter Restrictions

Scheduled charter flights to all camps within Botswana, allow each guest a luggage allowance of 20kg (44 lbs) – this includes your camera equipment and had luggage. 

• Luggage must be soft bags - no hard suitcases and no bags with wheels can be transported as they physically cannot fit into the aircraft. 

• The maximum dimensions of the soft bags which can be accommodated are: 25cm (10 inches) wide x 30cm (12 inches) high and 62cm (24 inches) long. Please keep in mind that the baggage compartments on many of the light aircraft are only 25cm (10 inches) high, so the pilots must have the ability to manipulate the bag into the compartment. 

• The limit of 20 kg (44 lbs) includes camera equipment and hand luggage. 

• Passengers weighing more than 100kg (220 lbs) must please advise us in advance as an extra seat must then be costed into the package for safety purposes. 

• If you bring extra luggage, you may be charged an additional fee. 

• Current excess luggage policies are as below. 

Excess Luggage on Charters

You have several options if you bring excess luggage:

1. If you want the excess luggage to be transferred with you, you can purchase an extra seatin the aircraft. This extra seat allows for a maximum of 70 kg (154 lbs) excess weight, provided that the bag(s) can fit onto the actual seat. A guideline is maximum 40 x 40 x 80 cm (16 x 16 x 31 inches). Cost: TBD.

2. If you do not require the excess luggage to accompany you and are arriving at Maun but departing from Kasane Airport (or vice versa), we can arrange for the excess luggage to be transferred between the two. This extra seat allows for a maximum of 70 kg (154 lbs) excess weight, provided the bag(s) can fit onto the actual seat. A guideline is maximum 40 x 40 x 80 cms (16 x 16 x 31 inches). The luggage will be returned to you on the day of departure at either Kasane or Maun Airport (as applicable). Cost: TBD.

3. If you do not require the excess luggage to accompany you and you are arriving as well as departing from Maun Airport, we can arrange for the excess luggage to be stored in our Maun operations office. The luggage is handed back to you at Maun Airport on the day of departure. No extra cost involved.

Private charters may be booked. Further information and pricing is available upon request.

Luggage Safety and Security

Unfortunately, there has been a general increase in incidents of theft of personal belongings from checked luggage in southern Africa. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you do not put anything of high value (personal or financial value) in your checked baggage since it can be tampered with, and valuables can be removed. This includes, but is not limited to, jewelry, cameras, video equipment, reading/sunglasses, laptops or other computer/electronic equipment, and important medications. 

Weather

Southern Africa has the same four seasons as the U.S., but they experience them in reverse. 

The rains come principally in December, January, February and March; the further north you are, the earlier the precipitation arrives and the later it leaves. Higher eastern areas usually receive more rainfall than the lower-lying western areas. 

By April and May most of the rain is gone, leaving an amazing green landscape which will quickly begin to dry out. Night-time temperatures start to drop, especially in more southerly and in higher elevation locations. 

The nights and mornings in June, July and August become much cooler requiring extra layers of clothing; the days are still clear and warm. Days are often cloudless and game sightings continually increase. 

Into September and October, the temperatures rise once again, and November is unpredictable; it can be hot and dry, and it can also see the season’s first rainfalls – in this respect it is a very interesting month because on successive days, you can see both weather patterns. 

CAPE TOWN: Summers are warm and dry and winters can be downright cold with the majority of the rain occurring at this time. 

JOHANNESBURG: At an altitude of 5000 ft, summers can be very warm and winters are moderate with dry sunny days and chilly mornings and evenings 

Photography

Only you can determine the correct camera equipment to take, depending on the quality of photographs you wish to have. A good telephoto lens is necessary for quality photography of animals and birds. Be aware that the dust often experienced on safari can be very damaging to camera equipment. If you choose to bring a camera, bring plenty of memory cards and batteries as they are expensive in Africa, and you will use more than you think! Equipment can be charged in camp. 

Money

A common question is: “How much money should I take and in what form?” While it is impossible to give the same answer for every person, following is some guidance. We travel with a mix of U.S. cash and at least two major credit cards (at least one Visa and/or MasterCard as American Express is not as widely accepted). More and more it is possible, and advantageous from an exchange rate standpoint, to use local ATM machines to obtain local currency using your U.S. ATM card. This is not always possible (particularly in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia) but is a very good option when available. ATM machines are available (and hopefully working!) at your port of entry, and it is wise to take advantage of this and exchange $100 – $200 U.S. dollars. It is a good idea to call your bank and credit card providers to let them know you will be traveling and using your card(s) in a foreign country. 

We recommend that you bring a mix of U.S. dollar denominations, and be sure that they are clean, crisp, unmarked and post-1996 (the ones with oversized pictures). U.S. $1 bills are always good to carry to use as tips for extra small personal services performed for you in case you don’t have the proper local currency. 

Approximate exchange rates:

For planning purposes, you will be responsible for the following costs:

• Meals and beverages in South Africa (except for breakfast)

• Gratuities (we will provide guidelines)

• Optional activities and tips if applicable

• Optional services (e.g., laundry, transportation services outside the itinerary)

• Phone calls, faxes, visas, departure taxes or other personal expenses

• Personal purchases – even people who claim not to be shoppers love to buy the arts and crafts along the way. Most stores accept credit cards, but sometimes the best treasures are found in markets or from small vendors. For these purchases, some form of cash is necessary (also note that shopkeepers may offer a discount for cash).

Gratuities

Tipping is a personal matter. While individual expectations and preferences and the level of service provided will vary, we offer the following as a guideline on gratuities. The staff in Africa is terrific, lots of fun, and they work extraordinarily hard to look after everyone’s needs. We suggest planning on $40-$50 per person per day as an average. Some days will require less (in South Africa for instance) and some days more (on safari), but the $40-$50 per day average works for planning purposes. We will provide more specifics guidelines as your trip approaches. 

Communications

The easiest option for phone calls and internet access through your cell phone is to get a plan with your carrier in your home country that allows you to make calls, send and receive texts and use data. Most airports and hotels and more and more cafes and other public establishments have free Wi-Fi. There is NO cellular access for your personal devices while you are in the bush. 

Electricity

Electricity is supplied at 220/230 volts AC, 50 Hz frequency. 

Plugs/Sockets for Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia:

Plugs/Sockets for South Africa:

What to Bring

Days will be warm and sunny, but evenings and mornings (especially early morning game drives) can be cool, so pack a sweater and/or light jacket. Layering is key as it will ensure comfort at any temperature. We dress mostly in natural fabrics; cotton and linen, but you may prefer more athletic fabrics for certain activities. 

Muted neutral colors work best on safari – khaki, grey, brown, beige, green – to blend in with your surroundings. Zip off or roll up pants are good to have so you can start off in the cool mornings and be able to adjust as the days warm up. Shorts, t-shirts or tank tops, and sandals or sneakers are the uniform of the day when you are on game drives – with a jacket, sweater or over shirt handy for mornings and evening when it is cool. 

You can have laundry done on a complementary basis daily on safari (both mobile and permanent camps), and at your personal expense in other locations at hotels along the way. Be sure to arrange to turn in your laundry to housekeeping in time so it will be ready before you are scheduled to leave! 

Attire is casual in the major cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town, but we suggest bringing a couple of “smart casual” outfits for dinners. Comfortable walking shoes are a must.

Following is a list of items that we remember to take with us. Your own needs, desires and individual preferences should be considered as you pack. Be sure to include any personal or special items you feel you cannot do without. But remember, the less you bring, the easier it will be to unpack and re-pack it, store it and find it! Almost every person who returns from Africa has said that they wish they had taken less!! And don’t forget the luggage restrictions as you pack. A great deal of the list refers to being on safari so only take things that you think you might need during your specific itinerary.

• Passport (valid for 6 months past your return date and with sufficient blank pages for visas)

• A good pair of binoculars (ideally compact) for game and bird viewing

• If you wear contact lenses, bring along glasses too (sometimes dust can cause irritation)

• An extra pair of prescription glasses if you wear them (or at least a repair kit!)

• A quality pair of sunglasses (ideally polarized)

• Camera equipment

• Memory cards and batteries for your camera (bring plenty as it is very expensive in Africa… and you’ll be surprised at how much you use!)

• Charge plugs and charge cords for all your devices

• Electrical plug adapters

• Compact travel charger

• Insect repellent (most places provide it but you may wish your brand of choice)

• Hat or sun visor (very important)

• Sunscreen (very important – the African sun is strong!)

• Bandana (to protect against dust on game drives)

• Journal and pen or pencil

• A small pack of tissues or hand wipes to keep in your tote/backpack

• Toiletries (remember moisturizer and lip balm as it is dry in Africa)

• TSA approved locks for your suitcases

• Anti-nausea wristbands or medication (If you are susceptible to air sickness in small aircraft)

• Traveler’s First Aid Medical Kit (see details above)

• Flashlight or headlamp

• The solar lantern BJA will be sending you if you are on mobile safari

• Washcloths (some places do not have them, so if you like to use them, bring one)

Suggested Clothing List

• Short and long sleeve T-shirts, tank tops, and a long sleeve cotton button down over shirt 

• Shorts, capris 

• Long pants or leggings for mornings and cooler evenings (zip-off or roll-up styles work well) 

• Sundress or skirt 

• Smart casual dinner outfits (for South Africa) 

• Swimsuit and sarong or coverup 

• Warmer jacket, sweater or fleece (weight will depend on the season in which you are visiting) 

• Light wind/rain jacket 

• Flip flops (for shower) and Teva/Keen type sandals (if whitewater rafting) 

• Comfortable closed toe walking shoes/sneakers or low lightweight low boots 

• Socks, sports bras, underwear, (enough for the whole safari – they don’t wash “smalls” on safari) 

• Sun hat, baseball cap or visor 

• Scarves (one cotton and one warmer) 

• Hat and light weight gloves for chilly mornings/nights 

Clothing – particularly shoes – get very dirty, so you may want to bring old ones! Many of our guests choose to leave clothes behind for the African staff. 

Some of our guests bring small gifts for children – items like pens, pencils, books, notebooks, plastic sunglasses, games, etc. are very popular!