General Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to South Africa. Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they took this tour. Although we do our best to make sure what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document which will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.
TRAVEL TO JOHANNESBURG: This tour is organized by our British company, Sunbird, and starts and ends in London. The cost of the group flights between London and South Africa are included in the tour cost. We recommend that you join the tour in London as it removes a range of possible problems that might occur if you attempt to meet the group in the tour country. Most people, however, choose to make their own travel arrangements to South Africa from the US. If you make your own flight arrangements you would receive a corresponding discount in the tour price. Please read the Important Travel Information for Participants on Sunbird Tours.
ENTERING SOUTH AFRICA: United States citizens will need a passport that is valid for six months beyond the intended length of stay. Visitors for tourism do not require visas. Travelers entering South Africa from countries where yellow fever is endemic are often required to present their yellow World Health Organization (WHO) vaccination record or other proof of inoculation, or they must be inoculated at the airport in order to be permitted entry. Travelers may obtain further information from the Embassy of South Africa, 3051 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 232-4400,, or, the South African consulates in Los Angeles, Chicago, or New York. Overseas, inquiries should be made at the nearest South African embassy or consulate.
MAP AND COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can view maps of South Africa in the University of Texas series here. Click in the lower right corner of the map to alter sizeYou can review the U.S. department of State background notes on South Africa here.
CLIMATE: The weather in September, spring in South Africa, can be variable and very difficult to predict. Although it will be generally warm and dry with maximum temperatures in the low to mid 20° C (60°s-70°s F), we can experience some very cold temperatures in the northwestern deserts, even down to freezing during the night and early morning. If the spring is late, then cool daytime temperatures and especially cool winds can be experienced. Rain is possible once we begin to travel down the west coast. If we manage to put to sea for the pelagic the weather could be surprisingly cool and there will probably be a fair amount of spray.
PACE OF TOUR AND DAILY ROUTINE: The first thing to realise about this tour is that there is a fair amount of driving involved as we need to travel long distances to cover all the important habitats. In some of the habitats, such as the dry open Bushmanland around Poffadder, we use the vehicles as mobile hides. A lot of time is spent in the vehicles.
There are some very early starts on this tour. These are usually because of the need to be on site at dawn or shortly after and to take advantage of the early morning bird activity. On a few days we take packed breakfasts. When we have had a particularly early start, we will try to have a break in the middle of the day, which is often a quiet period for birds anyway. On most days we will finish in good time to allow an hour or so for washing and changing before the checklist and evening meal.
The tour is not a strenuous one. There are no particularly long walks and anyone with a reasonable degree of fitness will be able to take part fully in the tour. If the weather allows we will be going to sea on a pelagic trip. This will be on an 80-foot ex-naval strike vessel. Anyone who suffers from seasickness should be prepared for choppy seas, although if it is too rough, we will not go out.
HEALTH: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently recommend up-to-date inoculations against Hepatitis A, typhoid, polio, yellow fever and, as needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles. The CDC does not consider malaria to be a risk in the areas we shall be visiting. Biting insects are almost non-existent on this tour .As the situation changes fairly quickly we suggest consulting your doctor for the latest advice well in advance of the tour. You can review the latest CDC latest advisories here.
ACCOMMODATION: Hotels and lodges in South Africa are generally very good throughout. All rooms will have private baths, and hot water is usually constantly available. Food is excellent and plentiful and usually very European, although hot and spicy food is available at some centers.
DRESS: Will be informal throughout the tour.
TRANSPORT: Transportation will be in minibuses driven by the leaders. There will be an organized seat-rotation system
SMOKING: Smoking is not allowed in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, do so well away and downwind from the group. If any location where the group is gathered has a stricter policy than the WINGS policy, that stricter policy will prevail.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS OF WINGS TOURS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information & Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Western South Africa will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary. If you have any questions, please let us know.
MAP: View South Africa Tour Map
NOTE: Viewing this map requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. Most recent computers have this software in place. If yours doesn’t and you wish to acquire it, go to Adobe’s site to download.
Updated: September 2008