The Best of Southern Africa: South Africa, Zimbabwe & Botswana

After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.

A signed liability waiver is required before travel by the program provider (EXPLORE, Inc); this form is found at the back of the first informational mailing. During the program, you will be asked to sign indemnity waivers on-site at the safari lodges; examples of these are included in the first informational mailing. U.S. passports need a minimum of 5 blank visa pages (not amendment/endorsement pages at the back) given the number of border crossings and country requirements; Canadian passports need a minimum of 7 blank pages. The visa for Zimbabwe will be purchased for you at the border (included in program cost). No visa needed for South Africa or Botswana.

A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

Zimbabwe

• Your passport must have 2 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is required and it must be obtained in advance.

• This visa is included in the cost of your trip.

• You’ll receive detailed information about your required entry documents in the information packet we send after you enroll.

Please note: The Zimbabwe visa is included in your program cost and will be paid on your behalf when you cross into the country. However, the immigration form for Zimbabwe must be filled out electronically in advance of the trip. Step-by-step instructions are provided in your informational packets. Please contact EXPLORE (Program Provider) with any questions; email: roadscholar.programs@exploreinc.com or phone: 800-303-6002.

Botswana

• Your passport must have 1 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is not required

• The cost of this visa is not included in the cost of your trip.

South Africa

• Your passport must have 2 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is required and it may be obtained upon arrival.

• This visa is included in the cost of your trip.

• You’ll receive detailed information about your required entry documents in the information packet we send after you enroll.

Please note: South Africa does not require a visa for American or Canadian citizens, however you must have two blank visa pages in your passport, plus one blank visa page each for every other country visited on the trip, to gain entry to South Africa. South Africa requires a customs/declaration form to be filled out online within 24 hours of departure for South Africa. Your airline should provide the link when you check in, otherwise you can find the form online here: https://www.sars.gov.za/travellerdeclaration/. You do NOT need to make an account/register in order to fill out this form, it is a simple customs form asking for your mode of travel/arrival into South Africa, passport information and where you are staying - you can simply put the name of the hotel and city where you are staying when first in the country, you do not need the full address. Only fields marked with an asterisk need to be filled out. We suggest choosing “no goods to declare” when filling out the form.

Malaria does occur in Southern Africa. It is essential that you consult your health care professional as to which medications are recommended against malaria. They will probably suggest a prophylactic course of one of the anti-malarial drugs, which may need to be started two weeks prior to departure. For this reason, you should consult with your doctor well in advance of your departure. Tell your physician that you will spend 10 days in malarial areas. Your travel doctor may recommend other vaccinations besides malaria precautions - any vaccinations are your personal preference if you would like to get them or not. If you are doing any pre-program travel in a Yellow Fever infected country, then proof of Yellow Fever vaccination will be required upon entry in South Africa; if you are simply flying to South Africa from the USA or Europe, then Yellow Fever proof is not needed. Clean, potable water is provided throughout the program, and food at all of the lodges and restaurants is prepared to a high hygienic standard; cholera precautions are not needed unless your medical professional advises otherwise based on your personal health. Since game drives can be bumpy, pack motion sickness medication if you are sensitive. If you have any unusual prescriptions, carry a letter from your physician explaining your need for the drug. Make sure your medication supply will be sufficient to last the entire trip. Avoiding scented bath products will deter bugs, but if you are allergic to bee stings or other insect bites be sure to bring a sufficient supply of antidote. Safari camps will have basic first-aid kits for minor medical needs. In case of more serious matters, evacuation to a hospital will be arranged. Contact EXPLORE, Inc. with questions or concerns.

If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Arrival day is on September 20, 2027

Meet the group at Vineyard Hotel in Cape Town

Start of Trip:  2:00 p.m. hotel check-in; 7:00 p.m. Welcome Dinner followed by Orientation.

Getting to the site: The arrival transfer from the Cape Town Airport to the first hotel in Cape Town is provided for all participants, including "Program Only Participants"; transfer time is approximately 30 minutes. Transfers are also provided even if arriving early to the program. If you have booked your own international flights, please send full flight details to EXPLORE, Inc for coordination purposes. Flight details can be emailed to roadscholar.programs@exploreinc.com. Taking a taxi is not recommended for safety reasons.

Your trip ends on: Monday, October 4, 2027 in Chobe National Park at Kachana Lodge

End of Trip: 4:00 p.m. at the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, after arrival of flight from Kasane, Botswana.

Getting to the airport: A group transfer from the final lodge to the Kasane airport is included for everyone. The flight from Kasane, Botswana to Johannesburg is also included in the program price for all participants. Upon arrival in Johannesburg, you connect to international departures; no further ground transfers are needed unless ongoing travel is planned. EXPLORE, Inc can help with ongoing travel arrangements if needed.

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: Arrival airport transfers are provided for all participants in Cape Town, regardless of booking status and even if arriving early to the program. If you have chosen the Program Only Option (POP option), please be sure to send flight details to the Program Provider (EXPLORE, Inc) so that appropriate airport transfers can be arranged; email flight information to roadscholar.programs@exploreinc.com. Please note the correct start and end dates in Cape Town/Johannesburg when booking your international flights. Contact EXPLORE with any questions. For departure, independent travelers do not need to arrange any separate transfers from the group. The group is transferred from your final lodge to the Kasane airport. The flight from Kasane to Johannesburg is also included for everyone in the program price. Once in Johannesburg, you will connect to international flights home; no further ground transfers are needed unless ongoing travel is planned. EXPLORE can help with extra travel arrangements if interested.