1. Passports & Visas
Please ensure that you are aware of all visa and passport requirements for all the countries that you will be visiting, especially if you have a multi-destination itinerary! We have compiled a small page to get you started on the visa application process.
Read More About Passport & Visa Requirements
2. Documentation for Minors
Regulations around the necessary documentation when travelling with minors has become more stringent; we would strongly advise that the following documentation be presented for all itineraries where children will be travelling:
- All children travelling with their parents must carry a birth certificate that shows both parents’ names (unabridged) – this must match the passports carried by the parents.
- Where one or both parents are not travelling, an affidavit showing parental consent for the trip (dated for the particular trip and signed by a notary) must be presented with a certified copy of the parent(s) passports.
- Where parents are not available to give consent, a court order to this effect must be provided.
Sometimes the documentation requirements can vary, based on your circumstances. We’d advise reading our page on documentation requirements for travelling with minors, particularly to South Africa and Botswana.
Read More About Requirements for Travelling with Minors
3. Travel Insurance
We advise all travellers to ensure that they are appropriately covered against any possible cancellation fees and curtailment costs in case of medical or private reasons preventing them from travelling after confirming their itinerary. In addition to cancellation cover, you need to make sure that you have adequate medical cover in case of a medical emergency during your travel period outside of your home country, and sufficient insurance cover for this and any other loss of personal belongings and documentation during your holiday travel period is absolutely essential.
4. Health Requirements
The main medical concerns when travelling to Southern and East Africa is to be aware of Malaria risks and the countries that require a Yellow Fever Vaccination certificate.
If you are travelling to a malaria risk area, it is important that you consult with your medical practitioner as to the best prophylactic for your personal suitability prior to travel depending on the areas you are travelling to, and the time of year, and especially if you are taking any other chronic medication.
If you are travelling from a Yellow Fever infected country you will be required to produce a Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate when entering any Southern or East African country. For travel to Tanzania(although not always enforced) and Kenya, regardless of whether or not you are travelling from an infected country or not, you are required to produce a Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate as a prerequisite for entry. You will be required to have the vaccination a minimum of 10 days before arrival.
5. Packing in Accordance with Safari Luggage Restrictions
International and official regional carriers have standard luggage allowances, but when travelling to Southern or East Africa there are often additional light aircraft flights/ transfers that carry different luggage weight and carrier restrictions that you will need to be aware of before you start packing.
For light aircraft/ charter flight transfers in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, there is a luggage restriction of 20kg (44 lbs) maximum per person.
For light aircraft/ charter flight transfers in Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, luggage is restricted to 15kg (33lbs) maximum per person for travel.
And please remember:
- Only soft bags (no hard suitcases can be transported as they physically cannot fit into the aircraft) will be accepted. This includes camera equipment and hand luggage.
- The maximum dimensions of the soft bags which can be accommodated are as follows: 25cm (10 inches) wide x 30cm (12 inches) high and 62cm (24 inches) long.
For those who absolutely must bring more than the maximum allowance of luggage, an extra seat may be purchased in advance but the bags must still be soft bags only. Be sure to pre-arrange any extra seats at the time of booking. These limits are applicable to guests travelling on a seat rate basis so may differ if guests have booked on a sole use or private charter option in which case the maximum’s depend on the type of aircraft and the number of passengers booked.
Passengers weighing more than 100kg (220 lbs) must please advise us in advance as an extra seat might then need to be costed in to the package for safety purposes. Please note that these weight restrictions and limitations on the baggage are very strictly adhered to, and the pilot often has a pocket size scale to check, so no chance-takers at the airstrip!
Restrictions can vary, based on your charter airline. Your travel consultant will provide assistance with this, but more specific guidelines as to light aircraft luggage restrictions can be read in our Travel Advice section.
