Sampling the fruits of the Winelands... climbing a towering sand dune in the world’s oldest desert... spotting lions and rhinos in a private reserve... South Africa and Namibia are all this and more.

2010 pricing starts at US $6,290 per person double.  Maximum group size is 16. 

Explore below to learn more about the Culturious South Africa & Namibia itinerary, or select one of the links to the right to see exactly where you'll explore, request a brochure, or check trip pricing and availability to schedule your Culturious South Africa & Namibia adventure.

Elevation

The maximum elevation on this itinerary is 3774 feet at Ongava Reserve, Namibia.

If you are a U.S. citizen, you will need a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the completion of the tour

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A passport and visa are normally required for travel to Namibia. Bearers of U.S. passports who plan to visit Namibia for tourism for less than 90 days can obtain visas at the port of entry and do not need visas prior to entering the country. All travelers traveling to or from Namibia via South Africa are strongly encouraged to have several unstamped visa pages left in their passports. Visitors to South Africa for tourism, short business meetings, or those in transit do not require visas for stays of up to 90 days. South Africa requires two unstamped visa pages, and Namibia usually also requires an unstamped page to stamp a visa upon arrival. Visitors who do not have enough free visa pages in their passport risk being denied entry and returned to the U.S. at their own expense. Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.

If you are a U.S. citizen

Tauck Culturious has partnered with Zierer Visa Service for processing visas to destinations in which U.S. citizens are required to have an entry visa. Over the past several years, Zierer Visa Service has effectively processed hundreds of visas for Tauck travelers. Tauck Culturious will automatically send you a visa application once a reservation is made and the deposit received. The visa fee, as well as any applicable consular fees and shipping fees are not included in the tour cost, and payment should be mailed with the completed application directly to Zierer Visa Service. The amount of the visa fee varies by destination and will be stated on the application. For more information, or to download a Zierer Visa Service application, please log on to the Internet website, ZVS: Tauck World Discovery. To speak directly with ZVS Customer Service, call 866-788-1100 (toll-free in the U.S.). Please note that visas cannot be processed more than 90 days prior to departure and that the process will take several weeks. If you are a citizen of another country, you should contact a consulate or embassy of each of the countries on this itinerary to determine what travel documentation is required. Tauck Culturious strongly recommends that your passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of your tour. Also, we recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, date of expiration and your citizenship, as well as the front and back sides of your driver’s license. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Luggage Note

All light aircraft transfers in Namibia have a maximum luggage allowance of 20 kg (45 pounds) per person in soft carry-all bags. This is strictly adhered to and includes all camera equipment and carry-on baggage. If guests exceed this limit, they will have to pay considerable amounts to have a privately chartered plane to fly their excess bags around. If guests are unable to adhere, or do not want to adhere, to these baggage restrictions, then please advise us in advance. We do have a facility where guests can purchase an additional seat for carrying excess luggage. As the inter-camp transfers are done by light aircraft, the guests' weight is a criteria. If any guests weigh in excess of 100 kg (220 pounds), please advise us as an additional seat needs to be booked and costed. We will provide each guest with a duffel bag to use for the five nights on safari in Namibia. The other luggage will be in safe storage in Windhoek – and reunited on the final day upon arrival at Windhoek Airport. Additional information regarding these luggage restricitons will be provided at time of booking.

Special Considerations

Age Limitations: Bushman's Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat has a no-children-under-ten policy. As a result, we are not able to accommodation children under 10. This program is not designed with children in mind.

Walking Difficulties: This is an active tour with active (walking / kayaking) components most days. This tour is not recommended for persons with walking challenges. We are unable to accommodate wheelchairs on this tour – limited access to sites makes it impractical

Journey Start and End Times

These are provided at the time of booking. The tour begins at 3:00 PM at the first hotel. Transfers from Cape Town International Airport are provided. You or your booking agent will be advised of any change to this schedule. The tour ends at Windhoek's Eros Airport at 10:00 AM; those flying home have a 45-minute transfer to Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport (allow at least 2½ hours for flight check-in). Additional night stays are available at the Olive Grove Hotel in Windhoek with an included transfer to the International Airport; guests will be dropped off at the Olive Grove at approximately 12:00 PM.

Currency and Exchange Rates

American Express, Diners Club, Visa, and MasterCard are all widely recognized credit cards and are accepted at most hotels, shops, and restaurants in South Africa. Guests should use credit cards for purchases as much as possible. Thomas Cook, Visa and MasterCard Traveler’s Checks are widely accepted as well (US Dollars or South African Rand checks are recommended). As in most countries, we suggest you do not carry large amounts of cash. Additionally, ATM machines are becoming increasingly popular; contact your bank in advance of departure to determine whether you will be able to use your card while visiting South Africa. The small amount of cash you bring with you for incidental purchases should be in small denominations. Exchanging large denominations has been made difficult – even at banks – due to counterfeiting. The South African Rand is accepted as legal currency in Namibia, which uses the Namibian dollar as legal currency. To obtain the up-to-date currency exchange rate, you may want to check your local newspaper or log on to the Internet website www.oanda.com.

Electrical Current

The electrical current is generally 220/230v, 15 amps, and is supplied through either 15-amp three-prong or 5-amp two-prong plugs, in both cases with round pins. If you bring anything electrical, bring an adapter – or you could buy one in South Africa. Generally, the 110v video chargers work safely on the 220v supply.

Time Zones

South Africa is two hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time). Namibia is one hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time) from the first Sunday of April through to the first Sunday of September, and is two hours ahead from the first Sunday in September to the first Sunday in April. To determine current time in major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, www.timeanddate.com

Weather

South Africa is a year-round destination, as frequently the climate features bright, sunny days. Temperatures in the summer (November to February) and autumn (March and April) typically range from the mid-50s to the high-70s degrees Fahrenheit , or 10 to 21 degrees Celsius, in South Africa, and from the low 70s to mid-80s F, or high teens to low 20s C, in Namibia.

South Africa is generally considered to be an arid region, with two-thirds of the country receiving less than 22 inches, or 56 centimeters, of rain per year. The central part of the country typically sees rainfall in the summer. Meanwhile, in Cape Town and its surroundings, it is typically most rainy in the winter months. Safaris in Namibia are available year-round; spring or fall months such as October or April are the mildest; the best months for bird viewing are November to April. To determine current weather conditions, go to www.weather.com.