Travel information
Here is some useful information and recommended websites about traveling to South Africa. Please don´t hesitate to contact us for further information.
Where will the course take place?
Wild Spirit courses are dynamic and involve a high level of real hands-on veterinarian work. During your time in South Africa, we will be travelling along to game reserves, rescue centres and national parks in South Africa. There are two main areas where the course take place, Gauteng (Johannesburg and Pretoria province) and the Garden Route (George, Plettenberg Bay, Knysna).
How does the transport work?
Transport by car is included in the course and is part of the experience.
Any special transport requests outside of the needs of the course will be negotiated as required.
International or national airfares are not included in the course fee, even if we take it during course time.
International Airfares: Do not book your plane tickets until course has been confirmed. Please send us an email once you have booked your international airfares.
National Airfares: As you know half of the course will take place in the center of South Africa and part in the south, that means we all need to take a plane from Johannesburg to George, which is not included in the course fee.
ATTENTION! A few weeks before the course commences we will confirm your details about the necessary plane ticket from Johannesburg to George. So don’t worry for now.
The first day of the course the Wild Spirit team will be at Johannesburg airport, waiting for you and to pick you up with the rest of the students. Please send us your international flight details.
Extra activities
We offer you the possibility to have others great experiences and adventures unique to South Africa. We recommend you participate in them to gain more knowledge and experiences useful for you both personally and professionally. We can organise these activities for you and we welcome your own suggestions, obviously the cost of it are not included on the course fee. These are approximate fees to give you an idea of how much money you may need.
Insurance
Private Travel & Medical Insurance are commissary requirements to attend this experience.
Please note working with wildlife can be dangerous. You are attending this course under your own responsibility and understanding of the risks. Please do not leave your country without MEDICAL and TRAVEL insurance. In South Africa the public hospitals are not recommended and private health is expensive.
The Wild Spirit indemnity form is required to be signed by the first day of the course, in addition game reserves and extra activities will often provide their own indemnity forms that require signing.
Money
The rand (sign: R; code: ZAR) is the currency of South Africa. You could change the money to ZAR in the bank of your originally country, or at the airport in Johannesburg. If during your time with us you need more money, we can take you to a bank, if necessary.
The value of the ZAR is about:
- 1€= 19 ZAR
- 1$ = 17 ZAR
- 1£ = 21 ZAR
This is some of the websites you can find more information about currency conversions.
What could you need money for during a Wild Spirit Course?
- Extra Meals: – Meals on the road during working time –
- Meals on free day or during extra activities
- Extra activities
- Cold and Alcoholic drinks
- Souvenirs
What should I bring along for personal use?
Most of the time we will be in game reserve or very relaxed environments so bring confortable and working clothes. During course time we will be traveling a lot so we recommend bring no more than one bag of luggage.
- Walking shoes (mountain boots), winter hat, cap, swimming wear, warm and waterproof coat, jersey, t-shirt, jeans or safari trousers, scarf, gloves, warm socks
- Early morning in the bush in South Africa can be really cold!! BE READY!!!
- Complete bath bag, sun blocks.
- Stethoscope
- Sleeping bag, (only if advised)
- Laptop (not compulsory)
- Digital Camera, GoPro; you will be glad to capture memories!!
- Small backpack for everyday water, snacks and camera.
How and what to wear?
We are professionals and so we consider you as one, is important dress-up professionally and appropriated according to the circumstances of the country we are at, it´s culture and our wildlife veterinary profession.
The bush in open vehicles at sunrise and sunset (working time) can be very, very cold!!!
June to August are the winter months in South Africa. The answer to this is dressing in layers.
Our recommendation is to dress up with a T-shirt, jeans or comfortable trousers and good boots. In the top a good jersey and a waterproof warm coat.
Some mornings can be FREEZING cold, so might be needed a warm hat, gloves and scarf.
How is the weather like?
Sunny days:
20º-25ºC
Rainy days:
5º-10ºC
Winter months in South Africa:
June to September
Nights/early morning:
0º-10ºC
Body feeling in open cars:
-5ºC
What kind of baggage should I bring?
We will recommend you bring medium site baggage and a small backpack.
The baggage can be backpacker kind or with wheels, in any case, remember that during the course we will be changing accommodations so the best will be to bring something easy for you to move and to pack.
Is sleeping bag necessary?
The reality is that in most occasions we never use it, but just in case we will recommended you to bring one.
Cellphone and WIFI
The best is to bring a phone where you could put any SIM card. In Johannesburg airport you could buy a Vodafone prepaid SIM card. This is not expensive (R400 included internet and calls) and will give you the opportunity to be connected all the time your friends and family. WIFI is not warranted everywhere. In remote areas it might not be any phone or internet signal.
USB and Hard-driver?
As you can imagine by the end of this experience you will have thousands of pictures and videos. Usually our students are happy to share each other’s pictures, so we will recommend you bring a high capacity USB or Hard-drive where to down loar yours or others pictures.
What do I need to know about my passport?
South Africa has the right to decide who may or may not enter its territory. A visa ensures that you have been properly screened before entering the country, and gives immigration officials the information they need to ensure you are admitted to South Africa for the correct purpose and length of time.
What Visa?
A visa does not guarantee your entry to the country – it only allows you to travel to a South African port of entry, where an immigration officer will check that you satisfy the basic requirements for entry into the country.
What are the requirements for entering South Africa?
A valid passport or travel document that will be valid for the length of your intended stay. Your passport should have at least TWO blank facing pages in it.
A valid visa, if required.
Sufficient funds.
A return or onward ticket.
Yellow fever certificate – if your journey starts or passes through the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America.
Do I need a visa to visit South Africa?
Depending on your nationality, and the purpose and duration of your visit, you may not need a visa to visit South Africa.
See the Department of Home Affairs’ list of countries exempt from South African visas
South Africa Languages
There are 11 official languages spoken in South Africa and many unofficial ones.
English is the official language of business, politics and media but on South Africa’s streets you’ll find a heady mix of languages spoken from all over the world, most notably Africa, Europe and Asia.
Vaccines and health information
We recommender you get advice from your doctor, and additionally you can find some useful information on the following websites:
PLEASE note you will be in Malaria Free Areas and we are going to be in hygienic places, however any precaution is recommended.
Travellers Health
Also visit the Ministy of Health website in your country of residence.
Drinking water in South Africa:
The water is safe to drink and cook with when taken from taps in urban areas. Not all tap water in rural areas is safe for consumption, so take precautions as necessary.
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry maintains that South Africa’s national standard of water quality compares well with World Health Organization standards.
Totally essential
Bring an open mind and be willing to enjoy, learn and feel with all the senses.