Frequently asked questions

For travel to South Africa, required vaccinations include proof of yellow fever vaccination if coming from a risk country. Recommended vaccinations encompass routine shots (diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, measles-mumps-rubella, polio), Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, typhoid, and influenza. Additional precautions for rabies, meningitis, and malaria may be necessary based on your itinerary and activities. It is also important to ensure your COVID-19 vaccination is current.

Before booking your next trip, it’s essential to check with your insurance provider regarding your coverage. We advise having both cancellation and travel insurance for added protection during your travels.

Safety deposit boxes are available in all River Bungalows, Luxury Rhino Tents, Olifant Villa Suites and Private Cheetah Camp at Nyati Safari Lodge. It is advisable to bring some South African Rand (ZAR) for purchasing souvenirs during tours and tipping the staff at the end of your stay. Master and Visa Cards are accepted for all other purchases at Nyati Safari Lodge.

At Nyati Safari Lodge, you can easily book and pay for all activities using a master or visa card. Please be aware that certain tours have minimum and maximum participant requirements, and all tours are subject to a 48-hour cancellation policy.

Local mosquito repellant is available in all bungalows and villas at Nyati Safari. For other destinations we recommend bringing your own mosquito repellant – e.g. Autan, which you can buy in pharmacies.

Long pants – optimally with detachable pant legs – a jacket and practical shoes for the safari excursions is a good idea, all year round. In the dry season (European summer) you will need a hat, maybe gloves and warm and wind resistant upper body clothing, but as soon as the sun comes out, it quickly heats up to 20-25 degrees Celsius, so you will also need shorts, t-shirt and sandals.

In the green period (European winter) it is warmer, so here you will need summer clothing, sandals and a sunhat. Still, we recommend that you bring a warm sweater and a wind resistant jacket along for the evenings and early morning departures. Khaki, white and black clothing is recommended for all safari excursions and a pair of good walking shoes/sneakers for all bush walks.

You will find ATM machines in all bigger cities, but in rural areas there are fewer ATMs, and at Nyati Safari Lodge you cannot withdraw cash. In Johannesburg airport you can withdraw and exchange cash, but we recommend that you make any exchanges from home. You will need to bring South African Rand (ZAR) to South Africa, while it is best to bring US dollars to for example Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

As in most other places of the world, it is good practice to tip when you are satisfied with the service.

At most our destinations you do not have to be worried about crime, with just Johannesburg as the exception. Here you should only go downtown on an arranged tour with experienced guides. In the bigger cities you must act sensibly as in any big city and it is very peaceful out in the rural areas where for example Nyati Safari Lodge is located.

The general advice is to drink bottled water, except at Nyati Safari Lodge, as the Lodge has its own drinking well with the finest drinking water that you can drink directly from the tap. There will also be thermos available for free in every bedroom with fresh water every day.

The safari lodge has only a few binoculars. So it is a good idea to bring your own and remember to bring it for the safari excursions, so you have the best opportunities to spot wildlife.

Cell phones usually work fine although you may have to walk around to find a good signal. Today the Internet is perhaps the best way of communication. You can also make calls from fixed-line telephones at Nyati Safari Lodge.

Wireless Internet is available for free all across Nyati Safari Lodge.

There is generally 220V AC. At Nyati Safari Lodge, you can borrow converters in the reception, if there are none in the room

At Nyati Safari Lodge there is laundry service (payable). When you leave your clothes for laundry in the morning, it will be returned to you the same evening.

Please be informed that new requirements for children travelling to or from South Africa took effect on 1 June 2015. The requirements are aimed at establishing the principle that all minors (any person younger than 18 years) require the consent of their parents when traveling into or out of South Africa.

The following documents are required for travelling through a port of entry of South Africa when travelling with minors:

1. Where both parents are travelling accompanied by one or more of their children, such children have to produce:

A valid passports and an Unabridged Birth Certificate (UBC) UBC or Equivalent Document for each child travelling. In South Africa a UBC is an extract from the Birth Register containing the particulars of a minor and those of his or her parent or parents.

2. Where only one parent is travelling with a child, (or children), each child has to produce:

A valid passport, an UBC or Equivalent Document for each travelling child and the Parental Consent Affidavit from the non-travelling parent whose details are recorded on the UBC or Equivalent Document. A suggested format of the Parental Consent Affidavit can be found here: http://www.dha.gov.za/files/ParentalConsentAffidavit.pdf.

A South African Embassy in the traveller’s country of residence may be approached to commission the oath or solemn declaration required in the Affidavit free of charge. The Affidavit must not be older than 4 months when presented. Please note that the same affidavit will still be valid for the departure or return in relation to the same journey regardless of the duration of the journey.

3. A person who is travelling with a child who is not his or her biological child, such child must produce:

A valid passport, an UBC or Equivalent Document and Parental Consent Affidavit.