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Popular Packing Lists | Other Packing Lists Tips | All Tips (54) I traveled to South Africa alone therefore tried to keep my luggage to a minimum. However, I took too much!!
Good walking shoes are a must. One pair of decent sandals for "dressing up" and a light jacket are important.
Bring something warm as it gets cold at night.
Much can be bought in SA at a reasonable price. I mostly wore light pants and tee shirts.
I took my own toiletries plus prescription medicines and aspirin. Remember North Americans, your hair dryer won't work there without an adapter.
I think a digital camera is a must. A video camera would have been a welcome bonus..
I went in May/June so no real beach wear was necessary. However the weather was around 20C but the South Africans considered it almost winter so nobody was swimming.
SA has wonderful malls so anything you forget, you can buy. Leave a Comment
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Definitely bring a cellphone a.k.a. mobile or GSM along when you. If you're coming from the US, Canada, or Latin America, make sure it's a tri-band, though, because it needs to function with the digital GSM system used there. And if yours happens to be locked into a system at home, they will be able to unlock it for a fee, which, believe me, would be pretty small based on the cost of the Vodacom SIMM card I bought while I was there. I paid a princely R10. You then buy top-up cards to add time. These come in rather strange increments of 29, 51, and 121 rands. There are bigger ones as well. Incredibly, my SIMM does not expire until Septermber 2005. This is great value for money! BTW, you can get top-up cards -- and SIMMs, too, for that matter -- just about anywhere. Leave a Comment
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South Africa is noted for its warm year-round climate. Summer brings inland temperatures that can shoot well over 110 degrees F, while winter temperatures are cool seaside and dip near freezing in some inland and mountainous regions.
Check the calendar. South African summers begin in November, with the peak months in December and January. Winter starts in May. Pack lightweight summer clothes when visiting during the hotter months. Take an assortment of shorts, T-shirts, skirts and sundresses. It's wise to have a sweater or long-sleeved button-down shirt for layering, should the evenings get cool, and to keep your skin protected from insect bites.
Pack a coat, sweaters and heavier socks when spending time inland during winter.
Take an umbrella for protection from the afternoon summer showers.
Check with your doctor about anti-malarial pills if you'll be in the northern inland areas.
Stash a swimsuit, sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat if you plan to hit any of South Africa's renowned beaches. Sunblock and a wider-brimmed hat are advised when spending time on the plains.
Bring long-sleeved shirts, long pants and a heavy windbreaker if you plan to visit any wild game reserves. Leave the bright colors at home; neutral tones make you less conspicuous to those you'll be observing.
Take sandals if you plan to visit the bigger cities or the beach towns. Comfortable walking shoes or athletic shoes will keep your feet happy while visiting the reserves or doing a light hike in the mountainous areas.
Well Once again , Just check out these link for Johannesburg and Cape Town and you`ll soon find out what`s the weathers like and so forth and what to bring along.
Well like I mentioned in my general tips how the weather varies in Various parts of South Africa. Leave a Comment
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I was in Zimbabwe and South Africa in September and beginning of October and my number one surprise was how the second that sun goes down, it gets surprisingly cool. I wasn't prepared, I took lots'o'shorts and t-shirts and like one jumper and a very light hooded shirt. I'd recommend taking another of each. Also chilly at the top of Table Mountain and other places you might end up at a higher altitude.
I got all of my film developed as the trip progressed. They have many foto first's in the different shopping centers, etc. around SA. And they take an hour and even though I can't give definite prices, it came out to a little less than US one-hour developing.
Definitely try to take enough film and batteries, especially when at safari lodges as they'll charge an arm and a leg as you're in the middle of the bush and simply MUST have a photo of that giraffe. Leave a Comment
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Soft hold all type bags are great for lugging around this country, bearing in mind you will be travelling a fair amount by road if you are not staying in one place.
Make sure you have good walking shoes, light weight clothing but something warm to throw on during the cooler evening depending what time of year you are travelling. A hat and shades a must of course
Plenty of sunscreen and mosquito repellent. Advisable to take ones own needles if possible, this is an aids rife country and in an emergency this could be a heaven sent gift.
Cameras, plenty of memory card, binoculars and digicam if you have one is a must Leave a Comment
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Buy the Malaria tabs in South Africa instead, they are WAY cheaper and they know what works in their area.
BUY YOUR BILLABONG GEAR HERE!!! I have wanted a billabong swimsuit forever but I could not justify $120 on a bikini, well in RSA my pretty little blue swimsuit was only $40!!
When I go again it will be with an empty suitcase, the stuff there is cheaper and hey, I like shopping. Leave a Comment
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South Africa has a varied climate depending on where you are at. It's hot and dry in the Northeast by Kruger NP but can be cold and wet in the Capetown area. You will need to make sure that you account for this. Particulary if you visit Capetown be prepared for numerous changes in weather while you visit. Leave a Comment
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If you go to the Kruger area, make sure you start taking malaria tablets in time. You can by these in South Africa, both Lariam and another (less agressive) brand that is very good (forgot the name).
Bring or buy loads of film! This country just makes you take photos again and again!
A zoom camera is great for photographing the wildlife, especially in the parks where you have to stay in your car. Leave a Comment
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Luggage with wheels is always a good idea, wherever you are travelling.
If you are doing a night hike, bring a backpack and a water bottle.
Some ideas:
Light coloured clothing that doesnt absorb the sun as much as dark clothing. If you're going on safari, pack comfortable walking shoes and khaki, brown or beige casual clothes.
Long-sleeved shirts and trousers will help protect you against the sun and insect bites.
Take a warm jacket for game drives; and, if you're going in summer, make sure it's water-proof.
A cap/hat that covers your head and neck.
Long socks if you are going hiking (extra protection against snakes if you come across one).
Sunglasses.
Comfortable sandals and tackies/trainers/sneakers.
Take your recommended Malaria tablets if in a malaria zone, sun screen (at LEAST Factor 35 I would say), headache tablets (from being in the car during the sun all day, may bring on a headache), and usual little things like some plasters for blisters, Tabard for the mossies (mosquitos), cotton wool, germolene etc.
: Your camera, with charger, and an appropriate plug extension/adaptor.
Bring along the best lens you can - a zoom lens will be needed as the animals are often in the distance and may only look like tiny specks in your photos when they are developed.
Have a map of the area handy, plus a local bird, flower and tree book. For this you also need a pair of good quality binoculars. Take a torch and some bog roll if you are doing outdoorsy things (just in case!). Leave a Comment
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Zam-Buk Kruisesalf is a mild antiseptic for burns, minor wounds, scalds, itch, chapped hands and insect bites. It also seems to help muscle pains.
It's real fun to be able to read the description in Afrikaans . Leave a Comment
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