Passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of your return. In addition there must be at least three blank pages in the passport. You may be refused entry into the country if your passport does not meet these 2 requirements. We recommend that you view www.smarttraveller.gov.au for specific clarification. You will need to produce your passport at check-in as well as carry a copy of your itinerary in case you need to prove that you have a return booked within the visa free period (90 days for Australians, possibly less for other countries)

The South African Department of Health has advised that passengers returning from or travelling to Zambia (Vic Falls) no longer require proof of a Yellow Fever vaccination. In-transit passengers, irrespective of the time period in transit in Johannesburg, still require proof of the Yellow Fever vaccination. Please note that Australian authorities require visitors who’ve been to East Africa to hold valid Yellow Fever certificates upon re-entry.

We highly recommend you obtain comprehensive medical and travel insurance to cover your time away from home, including: medical costs and personal accident, loss or damage to baggage, loss of traveller’s cheques and credit cards.

Antimalarial medication is suggested for some remote areas of South Africa such as the Kruger National Park. Although there are few cases reported from this area, there is still a risk and you should see your doctor or visit a travel clinic at least eight weeks before you travel if you plan to take antimalarial medication.

A copy of your prescriptions is essential in case of any health problems. Ask your doctor to assist you by preparing a list of your medications. If you have health issues, your doctor can prepare your medical history for a foreign doctor. It should include your name, address, emergency contact, blood type, medical history, current medications and dosages, drug allergies, reasons for prior hospitalisations and list of immunisations and dates. Pack sufficient medication for the duration of your tour. Try to ensure that your medication is always close at hand. It is a good idea to pack it in your carry-on luggage and to carry a list of your medications in case they are lost. If you have lost your medication, most pharmacies in South Africa will provide minimal replacement without a prescription for many medications if you produce your passport at the counter, but it if this fails you can obtain prescriptions from a South African doctor provided you have sufficient documentation from your doctor back home.

A useful tip – Most chemists or drug stores sell travel-size toiletries which can be taken in carry-on luggage. In addition, all South African hotels supply basic toiletry items although you may want to bring your own items that suit your personal taste. 

Items to consider bringing:

• Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, comb or hair brush, razor, feminine products, cosmetics
• Tissues, washcloths, antibacterial wipes
• Travel alarm clock, money pouch
• Medications such as prescriptions, antacid, immodium, aspirin, flu medicine, vitamins, Band-Aids
• Prescription glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses
• Flashlight, batteries, pocket calculator, electrical converters/adaptors, luggage lock
• Essential – Sunscreen and mosquito repellent

Medicines
For your own safety, pack your prescription medicines in their original container showing the prescription label along with your doctor’s contact number. If you forget or run out of a prescription drug, you can usually get a minimal dose from most chemists in South Africa, however this should only be in an emergency situation. Useful tip – If you get diarrhoea on tour, increase your fluid intake, avoid alcoholic and caffeinated drinks and tell your Tour Director. 

Water 
Whenever traveling it is always best to drink bottled water. Well-known brands of beverages are safe too.

If you have a food allergy or another condition that needs to be managed on tour, please advise us as well as your cruise tour director upon arrival, because most suppliers require advance notice to accommodate this. Some operators may ask you to fill out a form or waiver.

Although international air baggage limitations can be 30kg, the maximum baggage allowance for travel within Africa is usually one bag per person with a maximum of 23 kg and a small carry-on bag. A small carry-on bag is suggested for game drives. Daytime temperatures (May to August) in winter are generally mild but evenings can be cool, so pack multiple layers of clothing to ensure you stay comfortable and warm on afternoon game drives. Avoid bright colours too. Bring a pair of gloves and a hat, as sometimes the winter game drives can be chilly. Standard safari gear must include a broad-brimmed hat, sunscreen and mosquito repellent. For walking comfortable shoes are fine, there is no need for heavy boots on safari. For those travelling on the Blue train or Rovos Rail tour extension, the day dress is smart, casual and comfortable. More formal attire is required in the evening, jacket and tie minimum.

O R Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg

Johannesburg is not only the most common gateway to South Africa but also for most Southern African countries. Many tours begin here, right in the arrivals area at O R Tambo International Airport. Although this is a modern airport, operated in the same manner as most of the world’s international airports, it is still Africa and you will notice the difference as soon as you arrive at immigration. There is a different tempo accompanied by thick African accents as well as a different feel that becomes more and more apparent as you progress through the terminal. This is Africa! Relax and enjoy the ride.

Upon arrival at OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg, it is usually a straight forward transit through immigration and customs. On average, it’s about a 5 minute walk from the plane to immigration, about a 10 minute queue & processing through immigration, about further 10 minute wait for luggage and walk through customs who seldom seem to inspect anyone. Walking out of the secure area into a large atrium, travellers will encounter waiting friends and family here. If you are meeting a host or escort, this is where they will be waiting for you. Look for your name or the company name of your transport provider on a sign being held by your host or guide.

Red arrow indicates exit doors for international arrivals into the arrivals hall

Should you be travelling by train (the Gautrain), cross the floor to the elevators or escalators on the opposite side of the arrival atrium and go to level 2. The train station is very near the elevator exit on level 2. Turn left as you exit the elevator and you will see signs directing you to the station.

Red arrow indicates the elevators as viewed from arrivals. There is another set of elevators about 30m to the left of these if this set is busy. Escalators are to the right of the elevators. Exit to taxis, parking and hotels is visible to the left of the elevators.

The escalators are located to the right of the elevators. Both the elevators and escalators will take you to level 1 (hotels and parking) as well as level 2 (Gautrain station)

During the Covid-19 pandemic, exits and entrances have been restricted with sometimes only one access door on either level being open. As you are probably well aware, processes change continually during this pandemic so you may have to ask a staff member where the open exit(s) are upon arrival.

When I travel, and believe most people are like this, I like to get through the airport and into my accommodation as soon as possible. Once I am settled in ‘base camp’ I can then plan the rest of the day or my next day. Sometimes the accommodation is only a few steps away in the airport terminal and sometimes it is a 5 hour drive away into the wilderness. Either one should be a comfortable and memorable experience.

If you are staying in an airport hotel, there are 3 within the airport/parking area and 7 more within a 5 minute drive of the terminal.

Now, before you knock staying at an airport hotel because it ‘doesn’t give you the true feel of the place’ or it’s noisy or unattractive, bear these few points in mind;

• You never have to worry about traffic or some other obstacle delaying or preventing you from making your flight on time. It’s definitely the least stressful location to await departure time.
• The accommodation is frequently as good as you will get in terms of attentive staff, cleanliness and organisation. This is because many guests are business travellers as well as tourists which means they need to cater to business travellers’ expectations.
• The location is probably the easiest to find in the city you are visiting. Almost everyone knows where the airport is, so returning to your hotel after an outing in a foreign city should never be a problem.
• While the saying goes ‘all roads lead to Rome’, not all roads lead to the airport but many do and virtually all major roads have signs indicating directions to the airport. Plus most airports have train service which also ensures simple and quick transport to and from your accommodation.
• Many tours begin at the airport and any operator would be very happy to collect you here.

A piece of local knowledge that may assist your navigation around the terminal is that as you leave the arrivals area, you will most likely be approached by taxi drivers who will ‘guide’ you to transport which is usually their vehicle or individuals posing as officials who ‘assist’ you with directions and then expect to compensated for their services. They pose as airport employees but have no authority or accreditation. Only accept advice from genuine staff to avoid time wasting and unnecessary tipping. There are 2 information booths in the arrivals area with helpful staff.

Uber operates at the airport. The Uber app uses the usual ‘pin’ to locate your pick-up position when you request a trip or you can call/text your driver to arrange a specific location. The international and domestic terminals are connected, so both are essentially in one long building. The exit/entrance doors are labelled with location numbers outside and are clearly visible to drivers as they pass. The airport is also divided into 2 levels, the higher level is for departures and the lower level is for arrivals.

So, an example pickup point would be UPPER 5 which is located at the far end of the international terminal on the upper level or LOWER 3 which is located directly in front of the international arrivals atrium.

International Departures level, Upper 5 pickup point

International Arrivals level, Lower 3 pickup point

The hotels within the airport are the Protea Hotel by Marriott Transit O.R. Tambo Airport located within Terminal A (the International Terminal), City Lodge Hotel at OR Tambo International Airport located on the far side of the parking complex and InterContinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport, also located adjacent to the parking complex. However, the Protea Hotel by Marriott Transit O.R. Tambo Airport is within the secure passenger area and only available to transiting passengers.

The City Lodge is best accessed via level 1. The access is located between the 2 elevator sets, directly opposite the arrivals door on level 1.

Walkway to parking and City Lodge Hotel. The elevators to City Lodge Hotel are located at the end of this walkway, about 200m.

Elevators to City Lodge Hotel

Red arrow shows outside exit doors and access to InterContinental Hotel

The access to the InterContinental is through the outside exit doors opposite the arrivals. Once outside, simply cross the crosswalk and the hotel is now in front of you.

Again, due to the pandemic, not all hotels are functioning as normal so check with your anticipated hotel in advance to ensure your accommodation and transport are operating. Uber and the Gautrain have not stopped operation during the pandemic.

The hotels not within the airport but within the vicinity offer shuttle services. Most are within walking distance but there are no footpaths to allow this, hence the necessity for shuttle service. Only about 200m from the domestic terminal is Southern Sun O R Tambo International Hotel which it is possible to walk to but it is a long walk if you are carrying luggage all the way from the international terminal and the route brings you to the back of the hotel. The entrance is a further 100m around the hotel grounds so the shuttle service is recommended. Also, don’t trust your ‘maps’ and attempt to walk there – Google maps shows the hotel on the opposite side of the airport.

A major Casino complex, Emperors Palace, is next door to the airport and has 3 hotels within its grounds, Peermont D’oreale Grande at Emperors Palace, Peermont Mondior Hotel and Peermont Metcourt Suites At Emperors Palace. The complex has numerous restaurants, bars and shops as well as a theatre and other forms of entertainment.

The Gautrain and Sandton

The name ‘Gautrain’ is a play on words – Johannesburg and Pretoria are located within the province of Gauteng (pronounced with a guttural, hard G) hence the simple change to create a memorable pun.

The Gautrain airport station is very conveniently located on the 2^nd level, very near the elevators from the arrivals area.

Entrance to Gautrain station at O R Tambo airport

You can purchase a one way or a return trip from automated machines at the station entrance which will give you a transit card as well. This card can be ‘topped up’ with additional funds should you decide to make multiple trips on the train. You simply touch the card at the automated entrance and walk through to the platform. Trains depart at 10 minute intervals during peak times and at 15 minute intervals during off-peak times. On weekends and public holidays, trains on the North-South line operate at 30-minute intervals and on the East-West line (the airport – Sandton line) at 20-minute intervals.

The train itself is modern, quick, smooth and safe with staff and guards at the stations as well as on the trains. For schedules or additional information, go to https://www.gautrain.co.za/

It’s about a 15 minute ride into Sandton, the tourist and commercial centre of Johannesburg. Sandton is the vibrant heart of South Africa, probably the most valuable real estate in Africa full of modern office buildings and shopping centres. In addition, there are several hotels in the area making Sandton the most popular destination in Johannesburg.

Comfortable, clean and modern

Gautrain platform in Sandton station

The Gautrain station is located on the corner of Rivonia Road and West Street, a block away from Mandela Square and Sandton City.

Gautrain station in Sandton

Mandela Square is a very busy tourist area and here you will find a large statue of Nelson Mandela, usually amongst a throng of people posing for photos in front of it.

Statue of Nelson Mandela in Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton

The square is encompassed by restaurants and adjoins Sandton City Shopping Centre, a huge mall with a variety of shops and restaurants.