A trip to Southern Africa requires some preparation. We understand that you can run into a number of questions. Below you will find the frequently asked questions
Is your question not listed? Please contact us by email or telephone!
You do not need a visa for a trip to Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The visa for the various countries are to obtain at the border and you will receive a sticker in your passport. The visa is free in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. You pay for the visa in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi.
Please do notice that it is important that your international passport is valid for a minimum of six months on returning home from Africa.
In advance you can contact your doctor. On the website of disease control and prevention you will find a clear overview per country which vaccinations you will need for the trip.
Malaria occurs in areas in Southern Africa. The advice here is to contact your doctor before going on your trip. Covering clothing for the evening and sufficient insect repellents can prevent you from being stabbed by mosquitoes.
We recommend a number of items for a trip to Southern Africa. We have compiled a packing list for you with the most essential requirements.
Clothing
Hiking boots
Slippers or rafters (hiking sandals)
Raincoat/windbreaker
Long pants or zipper pants
Shorts
T-shirts, long and short
Pullover
Underwear and socks
Hat and gloves (for the winter months May to August)
Towels
Swimwear
Snorkel gear (only for Mozambique or Malawi)
Plastic bag for dirty laundry
Laundry detergent
It is advisable to pack the clothes in plastic bags against the dust.
Care and protection
Good sunburn (factor 20-30-50)
Lip balm with sunblock
Head covering, cap or hat
Insect repellent (with DEET)
First aid kit (painkillers, bandages, diarrhea inhibitors etc.)
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Hairbrush
Vaccination booklet (check the necessary vaccinations on the website)
For contact lens wearer: spare glasses
Passport + copy
Debit card + credit card
Cash – good to have some cash before you arrive in Africa
Daypack for excursions and walks
Sunglasses
Binoculars
Flashlight and / or headlight (a mini Maglite type AA with white bright LED (s) is recommended)
Spare light for flashlight and batteries
Field bottle / water bottle
Something to read (books, travel guide etc.)
Electronics
Mobile phone
Camera with spare batteries or second battery and memory – separate storage for the files is recommended in case your camera loses
Charging cord 220V and / or 12V for film camera / battery charger (lighter plug)
World plug (an adapter is sometimes available in stores on site)
The entrance fees of the wild parks differ per country. See the rates below.
Botswana
Entry fees for the parks in Botswana are 270 Pula (ca. 22 Euro) per person per day and 75 Pula (ca. 6 Euro) per day for the car.
Namibia
Entry fees for the parks in Namibia are N$ 80 (ca. 6 Euro) per person per day and N$ 10 (ca. 1 Euro) per day for the car.
South Africa
Entry fees for the parks in South Africa are ca. R264 (ca. 18 Euro) per person per day. When you stay more than 7 days, it could be cheaper to buy a Wildcard. Find more information about this Wildcard here.
Zambia
Entry fees for the parks in Zambia are USD 20-25 per person per day.
Zimbabwe
Entry fees for the parks in Zimbabwe are USD 10-25 per person per day.
Our partners in Africa use different minimum ages. This can be 18 or 21 years. Ask us when booking the 4×4 rental car in Southern Africa.
It is advisable to bring an international driving license. It is not necessary for every rental company, but it is quite possible that in case of an unexpected calamity an English version of the driving license is requested.
We advise to take a GPS with you when you are travelling with a 4×4 vehicle. It is possible to rent a GPS with latest Tracks4Africa software with us. A GPS is always included in our self drive package trips.
For most locations, a satellite phone is not necessary. There is a decent GSM network. In wild parks and more areas, a satellite phone is recommended.
Travel insurance is a condition to participate in one of the Selfdrive4x4 safaris. We also advise you to take out cancellation insurance. If you want to take out an expiring insurance policy with the Europeesche in combination with a safari trip to Southern Africa, please contact us. Also we recommend to take out insurance for damage and accidents to the rental car. However, is it never possible to exclude 100% of the excess.
Every season has its charms. In general, all self drive trips can be made the whole year around. In the green season (December till March) you can expect warm temperatures and a lot of rain. The surroundings are greener and there is less dust. The change of spotting young animals is bigger!
If you are not dependent of summer holidays, April and May are great months to travel. The European summer months are winter months in Southern Africa, which means that the mornings and evenings are cold.
The most popular travel period is in July and August. If you want to travel in these months, we recommend to start planning a year in advance.
September and October are dry months with high temperatures. October is the warmest month with temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius and no rain. The sandy roads in the wild parks are full with loose sand.
In Southern Africa you drive on the left side of the road. The steering wheel is placed on the right side of your rental car. Usually, drivers who are used to drive a left-hand drive car get used to the situation quite fast. The biggest difference is changing gears with your left hand (both manual and automatic vehicles).
We recommend Lonely Planet travel guide for Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. For Zambia, the Bradt travel guide is a good option.
Yes, we mediate for travel insurance, cancellation insurance and excess insurance for hull damage on the rental car. We receive a commission from Europeesche Verzekeringen.
