SOUTH AFRICA - Travel & Safari Information

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Camouflage clothing, is in some cases, illegal to wear. Some small flights limited to 15 kilograms of luggage, preferably soft-sided / duffle bag types. Other safari operators REQUIRE soft, duffle type bags. Dinner (jacket and tie required) for Mt. Kenya Safari Club COLORS to WEAR and to AVOID and Other Precautions

ACRONYMS / TERMS

al-fresco dining = In the fresh air; outdoors: B/B = Bed and Breakfast "Big Five" - lion, leopard, elephant, water buffalo and rhino. B,L,D = (Breakfast, Lunch & Diner). Plus other variations (B,D),... INCLUDED MEALS B/O = Bed Only Bongo = antelope CBD - Central Business District (Johannesburg) AVOID IT Cherry, Stuk or Goose = All three mean girlfriend (South African slang) Ensuite = yours alone and connected to the room. F/B = Full board. it is providing three meals/day/person But you have to watch out: 1-it does (usually)not come with alcohol. 2- it is usually a set menu, so u can not change you meal. thats the big catch!! your travel agent should state clearly what kind of full board he is offering! Is alcohol included? is it a buffet style or a set menu? Full English Breakfast - Four courses of way too much food (my opinion) H/B = Half board, it is breakfast and lunch or dinner Jbg = Johannesburg, South Africa Joburg = Johannesburg, South Africa mozzies - mosquitoes PPS = Per person Sharing room - based on a minimum of two persons together. Private = yours alone but you have to leave your room to access it. robot - South African S L A N G U A G E ... Robot = Traffic light STS = Single Traveler Supplement - additional cost to One person in an accomodation for PPS. SRS = STS ? = Single Room Supplement TIA = This Is Africa (anything is possible) Alpha Dictionary - free travel dictionary Travel Terminology Travel Dictionary

AIRLINES

American Airlines British Airways Kenya Airways - VERY WELL THOUGHT OF Lots more PHONE NUMBERS for KENYA AIRWAYS South African Airlines Reservations (in South Africa): 0861 359 722 US Reservations: 800-722-9675

AIRPORTS - South Africa

OR TAMBO International Airport - Johannesburg

OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg) O R Tambo International Airport Guide OR Tambo Airport - joburg.org To & from OR Tambo Airport Suburbs around TAMBO Airport (MAP) Johanesburg MAP of OR TAMBO International Airport TAMBO is NORTH and EAST of JOHANNESBURG TAMBO is NORTH and EAST of BEDFORDVIEW (within 10 Km) TAMBO is NORTH and a very little WEST of BOKSBURG (within 10 Km) TAMBO is SOUTH and a very little WEST of KEMPTON PARK (within 10 Km) MAP of OR Tambo International Airport - INTERSECTION OF R24 & R21 MAP of the TAMBO Airport, ITSELF

BACKGROUND INFORMATION - SOUTH AFRICA

Travel Facts - South Africa South Africa - southafrica.net South Africa - Wikipedia Introducing South Africa - Lonely Planet South Africa borders: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique & surrounds Swaziland.

BAGGAGE

LIBERTY TRAVEL - small flights limited to 15 kilograms of luggage, preferably soft-sided / duffle bag types. 15 kilograms = 33.0693393 pounds

CITIES & DESTINATIONS of SOUTH AFRICA

Places - South Africa - Lonely Planet (temporarily here - source is Wikipedia.org): Code Rank City Population Province Annual Growth Rate GP - Gauteng Megalopolis 20,000,000[95] Gauteng 2.47% JHB 1 Johannesburg 8,837,000 Gauteng 2.47% CPT 2 Cape Town 3,653,000 Western Cape 1.43% ETH 3 Durban 3,192,000 Kwazulu-Natal 1.36% EKU 4 Germiston 2,724,229 Gauteng 1.36% TSH 5 Pretoria 2,450,000 Gauteng 1.41% NMA 6 Port Elizabeth 1,572,000 Eastern Cape 0.41% JHB 7 Vereeniging 1,074,000 Gauteng 0.41% EC125 8 East London 958,000 Eastern Cape 0.32% FS172 9 Bloemfontein 752,906 Free State 0.21% GT421 10 Vanderbijlpark 650,867 Gauteng 0.13%

CONVERSIONS (NON-monetary)

METRIC CONVERSIONS ORG DISTANCE: Meters to Feet (convert). Feet to Meters conversion calculator Kilometers to Miles conversion calculator Miles to Kilometers conversion calculator WEIGHT: Kilograms to Pounds conversion calculator Pounds to Kilograms conversion calculator

CURRENCY CONVERTERS,...

South Africa uses the RAND (abbreviated ZAR or sometimes, just "R", for currency. Convert South African RAND (ZAR) to US Dollars (USD) Convert to US Dollars (USD) to South African RAND (ZAR) Convert South African RAND (ZAR) to KENYAN SHILLINGS Convert KENYAN SHILLINGS to South African RAND (ZAR) Currency Converters WATCH OUT - SOME TRIPS ARE PRICED PER DAY, PER ONE PERSON, DOUBLE OCCUPANCY. THERE ARE ALWAYS HIDDEN "AIRPORT" FEES, ENTRANCE FEES, TIPS, etc.. Perhaps hidden transportation charges? DISCOVER charges us TWO PERCENT (2%) foreign exchange rate on the TOTAL Discover does NOT have "Banks" in Africa ALL OUR CITIBANK Master Card & Visa Accounts charge 3% foreign exchange rate on the TOTAL NO banks NOR ATMs in South Africa NOR in Kenya. HSBC Master Card charge 3% foreign exchange rate on the TOTAL. HSBC does have "Banks" in South Africa, but don't know about Kenya Outside the US, dial 702 243 1575 (US country code needed ???)

Electric Plugs, Sockets, Voltages and Frequencies

Mostly 220/230 VAC, 50 Hz (our 60 Hz clocks won't work here) Grahamstad & Port Elizabeth 250V; also found in King Williams - can also be found in some areas OR can also be found in some areas South Africa's electricity supply mostly: 220/230 volts AC 50 Hz - Type M Exceptions: Pretoria (230 V) and Port Elizabeth (200/250 V) Most plugs have three round pins but some plugs with two smaller pins are also found on appliances. Adaptors can be purchased but may be in short supply. US-made appliances may need a transformer. NOTE that most of our US appliances are NOT dual voltage (120 VAC & 240 VAC), so your adapter must both: 1] Convert from 220/230 VAC to 120 VAC and 2] To the appropriate South African electrical socket (M, C & G, Any US motors used will run more slowly (on 50 Hz than on 60 Hz) - for example, your electric razor. Your US Clock will run at 5/6ths normal speed. South African Electricity - kropla.com Electricity around the world

EVENTS - Johannesburg

Top Events in South Africa during 2010 Johannesburg Events, Festivals in 2010 / 2011, Things to Do Johannesburg Events September 2010 Calendar

HEALTH & SAFETY

Africa Traveler's Health Information COLORS to WEAR and to AVOID and Other Precautions MALARIA in SOUTH AFRICA - Details - Vaccinations Health Information for Travelers to South Africa Health & safety - lonelyplanet International Help for BLUE CROSS - BLUE SHIELD Members MALARIA - more information

PASSPORT HEALTH (passports & Vaccinations)

passporthealthusa - Website

Cary

8450 Chapel Hill Road Suite 205 Cary, NC 27513 Phone: 919-781-0053 Fax: 919-481-0455 Website: http://www.passporthealthusa.com/triangle/

Raleigh

3100 Duraleigh Road Suite 107 (Ral. Medical Center) Raleigh, NC 27612 Phone: 919-781-0053 Fax: 919-481-0455 Website

Durham

100 Park Drive Suite 201 (TEER Building) Durham, NC 27709 Phone: 919-781-0053 Fax: 919-481-0455

HOLIDAYS - National South African Holidays

September 24th: Heritage Day AND all US offices that Close on September 22, 2010, will ALSO be CLOSED on Wednesday and Thursday, September 23 and 24. HOLIDAYS - South African National Holidays Public holidays in South Africa - Wikipedia

LODGING - Near Johannesburg

AFRICAN LODGE - near Sandton (Johannesburg), SOUTH AFRICA

LODGING - Near O.R. TAMBO AIRPORT - Johannesburg South Africa

Suburbs around TAMBO Airport (MAP) Johanesburg TAMBO is NORTH and EAST of JOHANNESBURG TAMBO is NORTH and EAST of BEDFORDVIEW (within 10 Km) TAMBO is NORTH and a very little WEST of BOKSBURG (within 10 Km) TAMBO is SOUTH and a very little WEST of KEMPTON PARK (within 10 Km) MAP of OR Tambo International Airport - INTERSECTION OF R24 & R21 MAP of the TAMBO Airport, ITSELF

Checking these Lodges/Hotels out - no recommendations at this point

Africa Centre Airport Leisure Hotel - *** - Breakfast - R800/double - free SHUTTLE - NO Restaurant Use Internet Explorer else site doesn't work correctly. Only review I saw, was not good. Welcome to Airport Game Lodge Table in every room Airport Game Lodge - Breakfast only? - $118 Can take us to nearby restaurant for R125 (R125 for the group? what restaurant? round-trip?) Nile restaurant?? at the Emperor's casino. 10 REVIEWS - Airport Game Lodge - ***1/2 Serves Breakfast. NO Lunch NOR Dinner. NO food service available apart from some microwave meals and crisps from the vending machine (1/2009). REVIEW - Airport Game Lodge Standard Double (double bed) R 900 Standard Single (single bed) R 600 Superior Double (double bed) R 1,000 Superior Single (single bed) R 650 Luxury Double (queen bed) R 1,100 Free Airport Shuttle - Free Buffet Breakfast Airport Game Lodge 21 Fourth Road Bredell Johannesburg South Africa QUESTIONS??? PHONE: +27 11 396 2969 FAX: +27 11 396 2968 CELL: 082 410 5532 Airport Grand (Boksburg) - Legacy Hotels - Restaurant - shuttle - NOISY - $185??/$133?? Queen - 24HrRmSrvc REVIEWS - Airport Grand Finally the shuttle came, but he did tell me when we got to the hotel that had we missed that one we would have been stuck overnight in Joburg airport. 4 masked gunmen robbed the hotel & lobby guests for the second time, around 7 pm. best rate was at: HOTELS.COM Airport Inn B & B - on-site Restaurant - - $160 Birchwood Hotel - Boksburg - REVIEWS - *** NOISY - Breakfast ONLY - 3.2miles LATE SHUTTLE - missed flight. Chamonix Guest Lodge - $105/Queen Chamonix Guest Lodge, Kempton Park (TAMBO) - Booking.com REVIEWS - Chamonix Guest Lodge, Kempton Park - **** Note that Welna Vosloo is the new owner manager, having bought the business from Felix Huyl (see management comments below) at the beginning of 2009. Dinner arranged in advance was simple but good e.g. backed chicken, salad etc. with wine available. Shuttle - Chamonix is just 10 minutes away from the airport but it takes more than 45 minutes to go from the lodge to the airport because transport had to go to other Guest Houses to pick up more people, so we arrived late to the airport and South African Airways had closed our flight - MISSED FLIGHT - STUCK IN sa FOR TWO EXTRA DAYS. OTHER REVIEWS SEEMED TO HAVE NO TROUBLE WITH SHUTTLE SEREVICE. Michelle Heymans - Hostess at Chamonix Guest Lodge email: chamonixguesthouse@telkomsa.net Cell: 079 529 7260 - (0027 79 925 7260) [ Cherry Tree Guest House - KEMPTON PARK (near TAMBO Airport) - Johannesburg, South Africa - **** Cherry Tree Cottage B&B - tripadvisor 14 Kersboom St | Glen Marais Ext 1, Kempton Park 1619, South Africa MAP of KEPTON PARK, Johannesburg, South Africa Kempton Park is NORTH EAST of the TAMBO airport Only 8km from the OR Tambo International Airport - Johannesburg 14 Kersboom Ave, Glen Marais X1. Kempton Park RATES: R400 per person sharing: = R800.00 PER NIGHT = $103 USD (NON-World Cup rates) R480 = $62 USD per person single reservation. Luxury Double Bedrooms available - Bed? Cost? AIRPORT SHUTTLE = R150 ($19.27 USD) PER TRIP. VW microbus accommodates at least Five (5) people & luggage in ONE trip. Small table where Four or Five people could play card games? A big entertainment room! Full English Breakfast included. Home cooked 3-course Dinners - R 90 = $11.56 USD per person Telephone 011 972-7591 27 11 972-7591 27 72 766-9100 Sue Becker's Cell 072 766-9100 Charlie's Cell 082 657-4077 Fax 086 514-2632 Email cbecker@wol.co.za KEMPTON PARK Location Cherry Tree Cottage B&B, LINDEN, (Johannesburg) SA Cherry Tree Cottage B&B - LINDEN - tripadvisor NOTE: - This one is IN LINDEN, not KEMPTON PARK, Johannesburg 57 Ninth Street Linden, Johannesburg 2195, South Africa 19 Kilometers to TAMBO Airport LINDEN MAP - Johannesburg, South Africa LINDEN is FURTHER AWAY from TAMBO than is SANDTON We do NOT want be stay at the Linden location Don Johannesburg International - ala cart Restaurant - I'd say NO Restaurant - $135 - *** REVIEWS - Don Johannesburg International Airport (Isando. SA) Emerald Guest House - Kempton Park - ZAR 900? or ZAR 700 ?? confusing Garden Court - O.R. Tambo international airport hotel - *** - 3km from Tambo Intercontinental Hotel - Southern Sun - EXPENSIVE - $432 USD Life Hotels JHB International - Restaurant - ***1/2 & *** - $87 - poor area? REVIEWS - Life Hotels JHB International Dinner is either the selection the hotel offers, or order takeout, as there is no restaurant at the hotel or close. Packed Lunches available. Mercure Hotel Suites Bedfordview - *** & 8/10 - $137 Queen / refundable REVIEWS - Mercure Hotel *** - 1 very good, 5 average - TWO TERRIBLE Metcourt Laural at Emperor's Palace (Casino) - KEMPTON -CREW STAY HERE - 400 rooms - Restaurant Attempted breakin apparently by a staff member, at 5 AM - HAD working pass key - phoenixCoimbatore - May 25, 2010 Shuttle it's on the back side of the Intercontinental Hotel - 10 minute walk. Clean. Protea Hotel - OR AIRPORT - coffee shop/cafe - AIR - 1/2mile - 24hr RmSrvc - ****1/2 - King $189 - FOUR Expedia ROOMS LEFT $189 Average = Expedia;; $208 = Bookings.com ;; $180 average = ORBITZ Safari Club's web page - $130 - $165 - KEMPTON PARK, SA - ****1/2 REVIEWS - (Airport) Safari Club - restaurant - dinner on request - shuttle ****1/2 REVIEWS - SAFARI CLUB 4 Minutes to airport - shuttle - NO Restaurant. So dinner is either the selection the hotel offers, or order takeout, as there is no restaurant at the hotel or close. 12 kilometers to the Emperor's Casino Dinner @ R 140 pp ( $18 USD) ON REQUEST 1 double room with a double bed and 1 Double room with a Queen bed and a Twin for single occupancy. Twin Room Rate R 900.00 ( $116 USD) per Night Single Room Rate R 600.00 ( $ 77 )per Night SAFARI CLUB 68 Pomona Rd | OR Tambo International Airport, Kempton Park 0056, South Africa QUESTIONS? Telephone: +27 (0)11 979 0321 +27 (0)11 979 2636 Fax: +27 (0)86 619 0365 Cell: +27 (0)72 673 0010 Shanguni Lodge, Edenvale, Gauteng - $108 - Breakfast, dinner &light meals - no reviews Southern Sun OR TAMBO - From $160 - Restaurant/wine - 1/3mile - ***1/2 REVIEWS - Southern Sun OR TAMBO $153/Double - Expedia ;; no rooms at = Orbitz SUNROCK GUEST HOUSE - Home page - Kempton Park, Johannesburg, South Africa Sunrock Guest House - KEMPTON PARK - AAtravel Sunrock Guesthouse (Kempton Park, South Africa) - Hotel Reviews - TripAdvisor Sunrock Guesthouse - accommodation in Kempton park, Johannesburg - johannesburg-direct Reviews of Sunrock Guesthouse in Kempton Park MAP - KEMPTON PARK 4 Km to TAMBO airport. FREE airport transfers. VISA & MASTER CARD Accepted All rooms have en suite bathrooms. Each room has its own TV and 8 DSTV channels installed. Breakfast Included. Lunch and Dinners on request. Dinner on Request - R95.00 ($ 12.35 USD) No smoking in the rooms. Sharing Room - per person = R395 = $ $51.33 = $ 102.66 / couple Single Room - R550 = $71.47 USD Sunrock Guest House 11 Park Street Kempton Park, 1619 (or 1620 ???) Gauteng, South Africa Arthur or Ina Johnson E-mail: sunrock@telkomsa.net Tel: +27 11 394 3772 Cell: +27 83 407 5964 Fax: 088 011 394 3772

MALARIA

It is my understanding, that mosquitoes in South Africa can carry a form of malaria that is resistant to the preferred anti-malaria drug (although there are alternative drugs). Check with some place like: PASSPORT HEALTH. MALARIA in SOUTH AFRICA - Details - Vaccinations METOFLUTHRIN - Used in OFF's Clip-On Mosquito Repellent

MAPS - Relevant parts of AFRICA

South African National & Regional Parks - MAPS - places.co.za MAP of South Africa - Lonely Planet South Africa Map - c2a.co.za South Africa Maps - sa-venues.com MAP - KEMPTON PARK MAP of SANDTON Sandton, South Africa - MAP Suburbs around TAMBO Airport (MAP) Johanesburg

PARKS in South Africa

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

Kruger National Park has more game species than any other African game park. NO open vehicles are allowed in the actual Kruger National Park - you have to go to a private (check with them) reserve surrounding Kruger, if you wish to safari in open vehicles. Park rangers DO provide some night viewing in open vehicles (but not daytime). Private vehicles are not allowed to drive at night (in Kruger). The best game viewing in Kruger is from May to October - during the sunny, dry season. The best game viewing experiences are in the surrounding private game reserves - these usually have open vehicle tours (day & night) and even have walking tours. Game viewing in the private reserves is actually good all year round, because the Guides locate the animals and tell each other where to take guests. Of course, it is much more expensive in the private game preserves. Kruger is IN the malaria zone. see also: Malaria Kruger National Park Warnings or Dangers Kruger National Park may be divided into three major sections: 1] Northern (less developed than the other regions) Best for spotting Elephants, tsessebe antelope, sable antelop & roan antelope. Mopane trees dominate this area of the park. Can be a shrub or a tall tree up to 30 meters. 2] Central / Southeastern More of the lions, zebra & (gnu) are in this region. 3] Southwestern Calving, most species, is in the Summer (November and December).

KRUGER LODGES

Kruger National Park Game Lodges LUXERY Kruger Lodging: Sabi Sabi Game Lodges Singita Game Lodges Ulusaba Game Lodges Lion Sands Ivory Lodge Royal Malewane Kwa-Mbili Game Lodge - 4 1/2 STARS STANDARD Kruger Lodging: Thornybush Game Lodge - 4 STARS 13 Authentic thatched roof chalets. En suite facilities, overhead fans and mosquito nets. all TENTS will be renewed by the end of 2009. REVIEWS: Thornybush Game Lodge = 4 1/2 STARS Game Drive Vehicle - Typical Open Air MAP of location of Thornybush Game Lodge Hamilton's Tented Camp Exeter River Lodge Lion Sands River Lodge Kirkman's Kamp ECONOMY CLASS Kruger GAME LODGES Djuma Bush Lodge Arathusa Safari Lodge Protea Hotel Kruger Gate Pestana Kruger Lodge

Thornybush Game Reserve (adjacent to Kruger National Park) - South Africa

Jackalberry Safari Lodge (Thornybush Game Reserve

Jackalberry Safari Lodge (Thornybush Private Game Reserve, South Africa) - FIVE STARS Chalets, each with its own en-suite bathroom. Each chalet is fully air-conditioned and has its own private patio. Big Five (Rhino, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo and Lion). Jackalberry Safari Lodge is situated in a malaria area (Kruger). Allows children (a drawback).

Kwa-Mbili Game Lodge - Thornybush game reserve

Kwa -Mbili Game Lodge

PASSPORTS - Click HERE for Passport Information

You must have at least TWO BLANK PAGES remaining in your Passport Book. You should have SIX MONTHS remaining on your Passport.

PASSPORTS with RFID CHIPS Have Been HACKED - Click HERE

RESTAURANTS near (NOT in) JOHANNESBURG

RESTAURANTs at the EMPEROR's CASINO, KEMPTON

DINING at EMPEROR's CASINO Aurelias Restaurant - Cafa Roma - Gold Rush Spur - Ocean Basket - Mugg and Bean - Oriana Restaurant - Queen of the Nile - Squisito Ristorante - Tribes African Grill - Fu Li Hua - Wimpy Queen Of The Nile Restaurant (Emperors Palace), Kempton 1619 Quuen of the Nile - dining-out Cost/Head: R75+ ???? R85 ???? - CASUAL buffet restaurant featuring over one hundred and twenty dishes from around the world. 64 Jones Road, Kempton Park (in the Emperor's Casino) Tel: 011- 928 1367/53 for reservations

SAFARI OPERATORS - South Africa

TIME

South Africa operates two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time throughout the year. CURRENT TIME THERE - South Africa current local time from WorldTimeServer.com Botswana current local time KENYA current local time from WorldTimeServer.com Tanzania, United Republic of - current local time from WorldTimeServer.com United Kingdom - London - current local time Zambia - current local time from WorldTimeServer.com ZIMBABWE current local time from WorldTimeServer.com

TOP TOURISM PICKS

not yet

TRANSPORTATION - JOHANNESBURG AREA

ALWAYS use official ACSA taxis with the ACSA LOGO on it for airport travel. Tip Poorters 5 RAND per bag at the airport.

TRAVEL GUIDES, TRAVEL SAFARI COMPANIES & TOURS - South Africa

African Safari Journals - REVIEWS affordabletours.com - South Africa African Budget Safaris Only Africa Tours Wilderness Safaries Truly Africa Tours Jenman (African) Safaris BigFive - Luxury Tours - recommended by Lonely Planet Wilderness Safaris – Luxury African safaris, accommodation & camps ...

TRAVEL INSURANCE

I don't know who owns travelinsurancereview.net

Articles, Reviews & Links to Help You Buy Travel Insurance - travelinsurancereview Comparison web sites - Travel Insurance travelinsurancereview We went with a Travel Guard's Savy Traveler Insurance policy.

TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANIES

AAA of the Carolinas - RESELLS IMG Travel Insurance Access America CSA Travel Protection Elvia Travel Insurance Global Alert Global Underwriters HTH Worldwide IMG - International Medical Group Medex M.H.Ross Ins. Services Seven Corners Travel Guard Travel Insurance Services Travel Insured International Travelex Travelsafe

TRAVEL WARNINGS - TERRORIST WARNINGS - US State Department

The MOST Dangerous place for Tourists is at ATM Machines. Never use ATMs in small stores (they have no security guards), nor in non-really public places. Try to find an ATM in a bank or in a large mall with security guards. Current US Travel Warnings Kenya WARNING ISSUED: 07/24/2009 Somalia WARNING ISSUED: 12/31/2009 Sudan WARNING ISSUED: 12/31/2009 NO CURRENT TERRORIST TRAVEL WARNINGS (just High Crime): Botswana - US Department of State Namibia - US Department of State Mozambique - US Department of State SOUTH AFRICA - US Department of State Swaziland - US Department of State Zimbabwe - US Department of State US Department of State: Travel Warnings & Consular Information Sheets US State Department, Bureau of Consular Affairs Preparing for a Trip Abroad?: Sign Up for Email Travel Warnings

VISA INFORMATION - SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa does NOT require Visas for US citizens for less than a six month stay. PASSPORT validity should be at least SIX MONTHS BEYOND the intended period of stay. You must have at least TWO BLANK PAGES remaining in your Passport Book. Visas - South Africa - Lonely Planet Entry and Visa Requirements - South Africa

WEATHER

South Africa Weather in FAHRENHEIT South Africa's weather and climate - SouthAfrica.info South Africa - Weather Underground Geography and climate of South Africa - wikipedia

OTHER INFORMATION