Southern Africa Country Dossier

"For those in search of big game, outstanding landscape and cultural diversity unlike anywhere else, Southern Africa cannot be missed."

Nothing gets the heart pumping quite like the thrill of seeing lions hunting in the wild or noticing for the first time the bold lines of a zebra’s coat through the savannah haze. To hear the thunder of wildebeest hooves across the savannah is awe-inspiring and reminiscent of the Smoke that Thunders: the forever cascading Victoria Falls. Boasting some of the continent’s most stunning national parks teeming with an abundance of wildlife, the cultural richness of this region is equally fascinating. Whether walking with the Bushmen of the awesome Namib Desert or fishing with the Chewa on Lake Malawi, sharing the beauty of Southern Africa with local people is an incredible experience. Camping under the brilliant celestial display of the southern night sky has to be one of life’s essential experiences, and to hear a lion roar in the distance, unforgettable.

Sam Nixon – Tour Leader

Factfile
Preparing to go
Money
Cultural & Environmental Guidelines
Arrival
On Tour
General Information

Factfile

South Africa

Capital City: Pretoria
Official Language: actually has 11 official languages. Of these the most commonly spoken are Afrikaans, Xhosa, English, Zulu and Tswana
Religions: Christian 65%, Muslim 2%, Hindu 1.5%, Jewish 1%, traditional or animist 27.5%.
Voltage: This varies from country to country – you should bring a travel plug.

Namibia

Capital City: Windhoek
Official Language: English, Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
Religions: Christian 70%, traditional or animist 30%.
Voltage: This varies from country to country – you should bring a travel plug.

Botswana

Capital City: Gabarone
Official Language: Setswana and English
Religions: Christian 75%, traditional or animist 25%.
Voltage: This varies from country to country – you should bring a travel plug.

Zimbabwe

Capital City: Harare
Official Language: Shona and English
Religions: syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%.
Voltage: This varies from country to country – you should bring a travel plug.

Mozambique

Capital City: Maputo
Official Language: Portugese
Religions: Indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%.
Voltage: This varies from country to country – you should bring a travel plug.

Malawi

Capital City: Lilongwe
Official Language: English and Chichewa
Religions:Christian 80%, Muslim 13%, 7% Traditional beliefs.
Voltage: This varies from country to country – you should bring a travel plug.

Zambia

Capital City: Lusaka
Official Language: English and Chichewa
Religions: Christian 50-75%, indigenous beliefs 50-75% (many people follow both).
Voltage: This varies from country to country – you should bring a travel plug.

Preparing to go

Visas

Many nationalities, including those in the EU, the USA and Australia require a visa when visiting South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi or Zambia.

This information was correct at the time of writing. However it is advisable to re-check the latest information regarding your specific visa requirements with the relevant Embassies or Consulates a few weeks before your planned date of travel.

Money

Local Currency

The monetary unit in South Africa is the Rand. Approximate exchange rates (as at May 2008) are as follows:

1 Pound Sterling = 15.1 Rand
1 US Dollar = 7.7 Rand
1 Euro = 12 Rand

In Namibia, it is the Namibian Dollar (NAD). Approximate exchange rates (as at May 2008) are as follows:

1 Pound Sterling = 15.08 NAD
1 US Dollar = 8 NAD
1 Euro = 12 NAD

In Botswana, it is the Botswana Pula. Approximate exchange rates (as at May 2008) are as follows:

1 Pound Sterling = 12.5 Pula
1 US Dollar = 6.5 Pula
1 Euro = 10 Pula

In Zimbabwe, the preferred currency is US dollars. We advise that you have small denominations to hand. Please note we advise against the use of all credit cards in Zimbabwe. Approximate exchange rates (as at July 2009)

1 British Pound = 1.6 US Dollar
1 Euro = 1.4 US Dollar

In Malawi, it is the Malawi Kwacha (MK). Approximate exchange rates (as at June 2008) are as follows:

1 Pound Sterling = 275.5 MK
1 US Dollar = 140.5 MK
1 Euro = 220 MK

In Zambia, it is the Zambian Kwacha (ZK). Approximate exchange rates (as at June 2008) are as follows:

1 Pound Sterling = 6,477 ZK
1 US Dollar = 3305 ZK
1 Euro = 5,176 ZK

In South Africa there is a limit of 5000 Rand that can be brought into the country, and a limit of 500 Rand that can be exported. In Namibia the limit for imported currency is 50,000 NAD. In Botswana there is no import limit, but there is an export limit of 50 Pula. In Zimbabwe the import limit is 50,000 Zimbabwe Dollars. Malawi and Zambia have extremely low import/export limits of local currency: in Malawi it is 100MK and in Zambia 200ZK.

Note: It is not usually possible to obtain the Namibian Dollar or the Zimbabwe Dollar in South Africa. We would therefore recommend that you either bring some of those currencies with you, or change money up when in those countries.

The Imaginative Traveller Recommends: During your stay in Southern Africa, you may notice a general lack of small change. We recommend maintaining a small supply of coins and small denomination notes.

XE.com is a useful site for currency conversion.

Changing Money, Credit Cards & ATMs

In South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia Banks and Bureau de Change facilities can generally be found in most towns and provincial capitals. ATM’s are common (less so in Malawi and Zambia) and traveller’s cheques or cash in US$, GB£ or Euros are changeable in cities and provincial capitals, but may prove difficult away from these larger cities. Do bear in mind that in terms of neighbouring countries’ currencies, you will only be able to get hold of the Botswana Pula in South Africa.

We would recommend that you bring cash in Euros or US$ to ensure you have access to enough funds during your stay.

The Pre Departure Booklet that you will receive once you have booked your tour contains general information about organising your spending money. Your Tour Leader will be able to advise you on local facilities.

Working out your Budget

The Pre-Departure Information contains general information about the things you will need to consider when budgeting for your holiday. Below are some specific notes relevant to our tours in Southern Africa

Entrance Fees

Entrance fees are included for all sites listed as part of the itinerary. There are a number of sites in Cape Town that you might want to visit if you are arriving before the tour starts or departing after it ends.

Optional Excursions

All of our itineraries include some free time, the amount of which usually depends on the style of tour you are travelling on (Adventurer trips generally have more than Traveller). If you wish to take optional excursions your Tour Leader will be able to advise you of the possibilities in each area.

Approximate costs (per person unless otherwise stated) for popular excursions and activities are shown below:

Swakopmund:

Quad Biking - US$60
Deep Sea Fishing - US$60
Dolphin Cruise (min. 4 persons) - US$40
Paragliding - US$55
Microlighting - US$70
Scenic flight over Skeleton Coast - From US$216 - US542
Sandboarding - US$30-40
Skydiving - US$165-210

Gariep River:

Full day canoeing - R205
Half day canoeing - R125

Victoria Falls:

Full day white water rafting - US$95
Elephant back safari - US$100
Riverboarding - US$135

Chobe:

Game drive - US$35

Waterberg:

Game drive - R220

Cape Town:

Winelands tour - R400
Robben Island - R100
Township tour - R255
Table Mountain Cable Car (return) - R110

Meals

You will find the meal plan for your tour clearly indicated in the brochure and on your Trip Dossier. As you may be staying in areas where there are limited options for meals, we have chosen to include many meals as part of the itinerary. However, there may be occasions when a meal is not included, such as in Etosha National Park or Swakopmund. Approximate costs for meals not included are shown below;:

Simple snack - US$1-5
Light meal - US$5-10
3 course meal - US$10+

For a guide to the type of food you will find in Southern Africa see the Local Food & Drink section of this dossier.

Drinks
Tea and Coffee is always provided with breakfast. All other drinks (i.e. bottled water, soft drinks) are at your own expense. Approximate costs for drinks bought in a shop in the street are shown below.

Note: Prices in restaurants, hotels, and in remote areas can be double those specified.

1.5l of water - US$1.50
30cl bottle of soft drink - US$0.80
33cl bottle of beer - US$1-2

It is not recommended that you drink the local tap water in Southern Africa however bottled water and carbonated soft drinks are widely available throughout the country.

Local Transport

n South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia, the most common method of getting around town is by taxi – either shared or private. Private taxis are more expensive than shared taxis, but do have the advantage of leaving when you want them to – shared taxis only leave when they have their full quota of passengers and can take some time to fill up depending upon the destination. These are often small minibuses known as kombis or commuter omnibuses. As a rough guideline, taxi journeys should not cost much more than US$50 per hour in South Africa and around US$20-30 per hour in Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia. A taxi from Livingstone airport, Zambia, to the town would cost between US$15 - 20. However, as prices can often change, it is a good idea to find out in advance from your Tour Leader or the hotel receptionist approximately how much the fare should be for the journey you propose. You will almost certainly have to accept that you will pay more than locals do.

What to take

The Pre-Departure Information that you will receive once you have booked your tour contains a comprehensive list of items that you should consider bringing with you. There are certain items of equipment (e.g. sleeping bags, towels) that you will need on some tours and not on others. Check your Trip Dossier for any special requirements.

Clothing

As a general guideline, clothing should be lightweight, loose fitting, hard-wearing and easily washed. As these Southern Africa is warm during the day all year round, cotton clothing is much more comfortable and practical than man-made materials like nylon.

While in the National Parks, you should wear natural, neutral colours – bright colours can make you stand out, meaning that you’re less likely to spot wildlife.

In general, shorts are acceptable, although there may be occasions when it is appropriate to where long trousers. Your tour leader will be able to offer the best advice on this.

The Imaginative Traveller Recommends: Make sure you bring a few items of clothing which cover your shoulders and knees and also several outfits which cover your legs to the ankles and your arms past the elbows. A sarong is an invaluable item to carry as it can be used to instantly cover any exposed areas (i.e. head, legs). It also doesn’t go amiss to bring along a set of smart/casual clothes for the occasional night out.

In certain areas your Tour Leader may ask you to dress conservatively. Out of respect for local values, we ask that you follow your Tour Leader’s advice at all times. Make sure you allow for climate changes and remember that even in very hot countries, night-time and early morning temperatures will be cooler so it is worth taking a fleece along.

Please note that you DO NOT need a mosquito net on any of our tours in Southern Africa.

Prepare Yourself
Whilst few of our tours can be described as physically demanding you will find all activities more enjoyable if you are reasonably fit and active.

As our Northern Quest trip includes some trekking, you will need to be reasonably fit and we recommend that you do some physical preparation before your trip. The more physically fit you are, the more easily your body will adapt to trekking and the more you will enjoy the experience. Hill walking and aerobic activities like jogging, tennis, swimming and aerobics classes are all excellent forms of exercise to prepare yourself.

Cultural & Environmental Guidelines

The Environment

Toilet Paper
Whenever you use a squat style toilet please place your toilet paper in the rubbish bin provided – DO NOT flush it down the toilet as this may block the sewerage system. You may also want to carry your own toilet paper as not all toilets will supply it.

The Imaginative Traveller Recommends: You may find it useful to take a supply of antiseptic wet wipes and sealable plastic bags to put your toilet paper in if it cannot be burnt / placed in a bin.

Litter
It is particularly important to take all rubbish and non-biodegradable items with you when you leave camp sites. Try to leave camp sites even cleaner than you found them! Although you may see many local people dropping litter in towns and villages, we would ask that you refrain from this and use proper waste disposal facilities.

Religion

South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia all have a mainly Christian population – a remnant from their days as European colonies. However, there are sizeable numbers practising traditional, Muslim or other beliefs.

Etiquette & Customs

There are several simple rules of etiquette in Southern Africa and in most cases your Tour Leader will brief you accordingly. An important issue to remember is that pointing with your finger is considered to be very rude, and should definitely be avoided.

Photography

You should always ask permission before taking anyone's photograph and respect their decision if they say no. In more remote areas women and older people often do not want to be photographed. Some people may also ask for some money – sometimes a little, sometimes a lot - in return for a photo. Taking photos of military installations, state buildings, and airports can lead to problems with local authorities. You should also be aware that in these countries photography is not viewed in the same way as it is in your home country, and can sometimes give rise to suspicion – you should always seek your tour leader’s advice on guidelines for photography.

Begging

Begging is quite common in some areas of Southern Africa, especially those more frequently visited by tourists. Ultimately donations are a traveller's personal choice but in line with initiatives and government policy in many of our destinations, our recommendation is NOT to give money, pens, gifts or sweets as this encourages a begging mentality. If you do want to help it is probably better to give to a recognized charity. If you choose not to give simply say no with a smile and keep on walking. If you learn nothing else of the local language, learn to say ‘no thank you’!

Haggling

In many shops prices are not negotiable; however, haggling is expected for tourist souvenirs. The shop keeper or market trader will start with a high price which you are then expected to bargain down until you reach a fair price. If the seller accepts your price it is very bad form to not go through with the sale. Haggling should always be relaxed and can be a lot of fun – it’s a great way of interacting with the local people.

Arrival

Arrival Transfers

An arrival transfer is not included in the cost of our tours in Southern Africa, however these can be pre-booked at the same time as you book your tour. Upon arrival at the airport, please look out for our representative who will be holding a sign with your name on it. They will usually be waiting after the customs area. Please make sure you take time to look around carefully for our representative with the sign. There may be a large crowd of people waiting, and it may take time to find them.

If several travellers on Imaginative Traveller tours are arriving on the same flight, the transfer representative may be taking you all together to the meeting point. Please be patient if you need to wait a few minutes for other travellers from the same flight.

The Imaginative Traveller Recommends: If you experience any problems with your luggage and are delayed in the baggage/customs area, please try to make contact with the transfer representative immediately to advise them of the problem and ensure they wait for you. You may need to ask permission of security to exit the customs/baggage hall and then re-enter.

Making Your Own Way

The Meeting Point for your tour should be clearly marked on your travel vouchers.

If you have not arranged an arrival transfer, then you should take a taxi to the meeting point hotel. Taxis can be found outside of the airport building. As prices can vary wildly, it’s worth asking around to obtain the best deal. Don’t be afraid to bargain! You should agree a fare with the driver before getting in. As a general rule, at the time of writing taxis cost around 100-150 Rand, or the equivalent, for the trip to the hotels in either South Africa, Namibia or Zimbabwe.

On Tour

Safety

South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia are generally safe countries to travel around providing travellers exercise a reasonable degree of common sense.

Try not to carry obvious valuables upon your person such as a camera around the neck, expensive wristwatches, or a bum bag containing your funds. Brand new clothes can also mark you out as a new arrival, and therefore, a prime target.

Tour Leaders & Guides

Your Tour Leader's role is to ensure all aspects of the trip run smoothly. He/she will share their local knowledge, advise on how to fill your free time and co-ordinate the day to day running of the tour – although occasionally he/she may need your understanding if things do not go according to plan. If you have any problems on the tour, please let your Tour Leader know so that steps can be taken to put it right. Tour Leaders are supported by our regionally based office staff and, in most cases, a locally based manager.

Please note that some styles of trip, such as Imaginative Escapes or Imaginative Honeymoons, do not have a Tour Leader. However, there will be representatives on hand who will be able to assist you in arranging any excursions that you wish you take.

Accommodation

Our trips use a variety of accommodation, from hotels through to tents, which we feel gives our travellers a real experience of the African bush. These would normally be two man dome tents. Mattresses are provided but you will need to bring a sleeping bag, and perhaps an inflatable pillow or fleece to use as a pillow – it is NOT possible to hire sleeping bags. Please bear in mind that washing facilities can often be very basic while camping.

We will also spend some nights staying in simple guesthouses. Please note that on these nights facilities will be fairly basic, but we believe that the fantastic surroundings will more than make up for this!

Our main criterion for choosing hotels is cleanliness and location. In Southern Africa the standard of hotels may vary from region to region, however most will have private bathrooms, and some have bar / restaurant facilities. Please bear in mind that hotels can sometimes suffer from minor problems and technical difficulties.

At each hotel your Tour Leader will try to organise the rooming arrangements to suit everyone's requirements. If you are travelling alone you will be allocated a room with another group member of the same sex (unless you have paid a single supplement). If you are travelling as a couple please note that we cannot guarantee the availability of double beds.

Local Food & Drink

Food
Traditional meals in Southern Africa consist of a serving of starch, typically maize porridge with a meat of fish stew called sadza, or in Afrikkans, mealie pap. Sauces will feature a range of different ingredients as each region has its own culinary specialities but common ingredients would be fish or meats, tomatoes, spinach and baobab leaves. A common form of cooking meats is on the braai, barbecue. Local specialties include gemsbok steak in a cream and pepper sauce, seafood. Common snacks include biltong - wind-dried strips of meat and edible creepy crawlies such as mopane worms and dried caterpillars.

Drinks
The usual collection of soft drinks can be found in Southern Africa, and are widely available, as is bottled water. Tea and coffee are also readily available. Tea tends to be of the green variety, and coffee will almost always come from a jar – ‘real’ coffee is quite hard to come by.

Southern Africa has a good selection of local beers, perhaps the best of which are Lion, Castle or Amstel. The wines of South Africa are very good and are well known across the globe although they are often expensive to get hold of in other countries of Southern Africa. Imported beers and spirits are available in larger towns, but almost always cost more than their local equivalents.

Special Dietary Requirements

Vegetarians
Meat is often the main feature of a meal, and can be found in many dishes, even if only as a stock. Therefore, if you are a vegetarian you may experience a distinct lack of variety in the food available at meal times. Your Tour Leader will do their best to offer a vegetarian alternative, but your patience and understanding is requested.

Food Allergies
If you have food allergies or preferences, please make them known to your Tour Leader who will do their best to ensure that your requirements are met.

Please note: Unfortunately we can give no guarantee that special requirements can always be met.

The Imaginative Traveller Recommends: You should advise us at time of booking if you have any special dietary requirements. You may like to bring some snacks or supplements in case food choices are limited.

Communications

Email
Internet cafes can now be found in many towns in Southern Africa, although connection times can be slow and unreliable. The cost for an hour is generally around US$1-2 per hour.

Phone
The phone system in Southern Africa is improving, although international calls are expensive. A 5 minute call (to the UK) can cost up to approx. US$4-5. Your tour leader will be able to advise you on the best way to call home.

Post
The postal service is relatively good and is best described as cheap and slow. Stamps are available everywhere. An overseas stamp for postcards will cost approx. US$0.80.

Cameras

Video Cameras
If you intend on bringing a video camera, please be aware that there may not be facilities to recharge them while camping.

Availability of Film
Colour print camera film can be found in the larger towns in Southern Africa, however you should always check the expiry dates. Slide film, black and white film and video film can be more difficult to come by so it is best to bring your supply from home. Ensure that you carry adequate memory cards for digital cameras.

General Information

Weather

In the interior of southern Africa there is a broad contrast between east and west weather systems. Total rainfall is greatest in the east and gradually decreases westward so that much of the west is semi-desert with low and unreliable rainfall. The wettest regions are the eastern parts, where both altitude and exposure to the moist air coming off the Indian Ocean produce the heaviest and most reliable rainfall. Because of the altitude and the "continental" influence there is a large daily and seasonal range of temperature so that frost is a frequent occurrence in winter. Winters are mostly dry and sunny and the summers are warm and hot.

The greater part of southern Africa has a very sunny climate with much fine and settled weather. The southern coastal regions have their most disturbed and changeable weather in winter whilst the eastern coastlands and the interior have their most disturbed and rainy weather in summer. In very few parts of southern Africa are the weather and climate unhealthy or likely to cause great discomfort or stress. Daily sunshine levels are high over most of South Africa, averaging eight to 10 hours a day all year round.

The following chart shows average daily temperatures (in degrees celsius):

City / Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Cape Town	26	26	25	22	19	18	17	18	18	21	23	24
Johannesburg	26	25	24	22	19	17	17	20	23	25	25	26
Windhoek	29	28	27	25	22	20	20	23	25	29	29	30
Maputo	30	31	29	28	27	25	24	26	27	28	28	29
Lilongwe	27	27	27	27	25	23	23	25	27	30	29	28
Lusaka	26	26	26	26	25	23	23	25	29	31	29	27

Southern Africa Meteorological Authority

Holidays

National Holidays (South Africa)

New Year's Day - 1 Jan
Human Rights’ Day - 22 Mar
Good Friday - 25 Mar
Easter Monday - 28 Mar
Workers’ Day - 1 May
Heritage Day - 24 Sep
Day of Reconciliation - 16 Dec
Christmas Day - 25 Dec
Day of Goodwill - 26 Dec

National Holidays (Namibia)

New Year's Day - 1 Jan
Independence Day - 21 Mar
Good Friday - 25 Mar
Easter Monday - 28 Mar
Workers’ Day - 1 May
Cassinga Day - 4 May
Africa Day - 25 May
Heroes Day - 26 Aug
Christmas Day - 25 Dec
Family Day - 26 Dec

National Holidays (Botswana)

Public Holiday - 3 Jan
Good Friday - 25 Mar
Easter Monday - 28 Mar
Ascension Day - 5 May
Sir Siretse Khama - 1 July
Presidents Day - 18 July
Public Holiday - 19 July
Botswana Day - 30 Sep
Christmas Day - 25 Dec
Family Day - 26 Dec
Public Holiday - 27 Dec

National Holidays (Zimbabwe)

New Year's Day - 1 Jan
Good Friday - 25 Mar
Easter Monday - 28 Mar
Independence Day - 18 Apr
Labor Day - 1 May
Africa Day - 25 May
Heroes Day - 11 Aug
Army Day - 12 Aug
Unity Day - 22 Dec
Christmas Day - 25 Dec
Boxing Day - 26 Dec

National Holidays (Mozambique)

New Year's Day - 1 Jan
Heroes Day - 3 Feb
Day of the Mozambican Woman - 7 Apr
Worker’s Day - 1 May
Independence Day - 25 Jun
Lusaka Agreement Day - 7 Sep
Armed Forces Day - 25 Sep
Christmas Day - 25 Dec

National Holidays (Malawi)

New Year's Day - 1 Jan
John Chilibwe Day - 15 Jan
Martyrs Day - 3 Mar
Good Friday - 25 Mar
Easter Monday - 28 Mar
Labor Day - 1 May
Freedom Day - 14 June
Republic Day - 16 July
Mothers Day - 10 Oct
Arbor Day - 12 Dec
Christmas Day - 25 Dec
Boxing Day - 26 Dec

National Holidays (Zambia)

New Year's Day - 1 Jan
Good Friday - 25 Mar
Easter Monday - 28 Mar
Labour Day - 1 May
Africa Day - 25 May
Heroes Day - 4 July
Unity Day - 5 July
Farmers Day - 1 Aug
Independence Day - 24 Oct
Christmas Day - 25 Dec
Boxing Day - 26 Dec

Southern Africa Public Holidays