South African long-drop toilets are available outside of each home. These facilities are clean and well-kept. Homestay hosts supply guests with hot water every morning and evening via portable bucket baths.

Tap water is safe to drink in South Africa’s cities. However, drinking tap water in rural areas isn't recommended. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water.

Ask your leader where filtered water can be found. Some hotels we stay in may have drinking water available. It's also advisable to avoid ice in drinks and peel fruit and vegetables before eating.

For two nights of your trip, you will stay in a private room of a host family’s homestay accommodation. Each room has a double bed, with some hosts having two or three guestrooms. Upon arrival at your home and meeting your host, you will receive a homestay kit. Each kit is fitted with clean linen (duvet, pillow, towel, face cloth, sheet), toilet paper roll, hand sanitizer, mosquito repellent, tea, coffee, cup, sugar, and milk. South African long-drop toilets are situated outside of each home.

Credit cards are usually accepted by large hotels, modern shops, and Western-style restaurants rather than by smaller vendors. Ensure you have adequate cash to cover purchases not able to be made on credit.

There are many ATMs in the big cities and regional towns of South Africa. Rural areas, national parks, and small villages will have limited to no ATMs, so be sure to carry other payment options before traveling out of the big cities.

20 kg (44 lbs) for checked luggage and 6 kg (13 lbs) for carry-on.

You may find the best international deals by booking a round-trip flight in and out of Johannesburg Airport (JNB). Then you can book a separate domestic flight from Cape Town Airport (CPT) to Johannesburg. However, Cape Town Airport (CPT) is an international airport servicing multiple major airlines.

Yes. South Africa operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz. We recommend packing a universal travel adapter for your electronic devices.

We suggest bringing $350 USD in cash to be used at establishments that do not accept credit cards. This is not the total cash amount that you should expect to spend on your trip. Please consider your own spending habits for additional expenses such as snacks, souvenirs, and optional activities.

Credit cards, such as Mastercard and Visa, are widely accepted in Johannesburg and Cape Town. In local currency, cash will be needed to purchase souvenirs or any other items in the village. ATMs will be available in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Cape Town will be your best option for doing laundry. The hotel offers this service. Talk to the receptionist when you arrive in Cape Town on Day 6.

The Big Five animals are lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo.

Safari vehicles are 10-seater, open-air vehicles. Picture a pickup truck with rows of seats fastened in the bed and a canopy overhead to protect people from the sun and rain. There are no windows/doors on the back of the vehicles, which allows for open viewing.

Of course! This is your trip, and you don’t have to participate in anything you don’t want to. Just be aware that opting out of included activities will not change the price of the trip.