TRAVEL TIPS
Tips for travelling to South Africa
Check this page out for helpful tips on preparing for your trip to South Africa. We’ve added information you might need about clearing customs and travel insurance. Oh, and we’ve started a packing list for you.
Customs
When departing Canada and travelling to Johannesburg, you will clear customs at each point of entry.
When travelling home, you will clear customs at your first point of entry into Canada. You must declare all goods acquired abroad or bought at duty-free stores, whether they are for yourself or gifts. Keep your original receipts for possible inspection.
If you have been away from Canada for 48 hours to seven days, you can bring back goods (including alcoholic beverages and tobacco products) worth up to $800.00 CAD without paying duties. When calculating the number of days, you are absent, do not include the date you leave Canada, but do include the date you return.
Relevant links:
Out-of-country medical insurance for emergency care is included with your IG Wealth Management Personal Choice Benefits if you have medical coverage. If you have opted out of the Personal Choice medical coverage, please review your alternate coverage to ensure that both you and your travelling companion are adequately covered for the duration of your trip.
- Keep passports, cash and valuables in your hotel safe. Carry a photocopy of your passport and small change with you.
- Do not walk on empty streets or parks at night.
- Use taxis that are recommended by your hotel or tourist establishment.
What to Pack
- Passport/ID
- Document wallet
- Emergency information
- Travel insurance – ensure you have all pertinent phone numbers and policy numbers
- Consider getting some South African Rand (ZAR)
- Credit cards
- Photocopies of documentation (passport, insurance policy, airline ticket)
- Travel clothing (jacket for evenings; layering is key!)
- Appropriate shoes for all functions
- Visor or brimmed hat
- Phone and laptop/tablet chargers
- South African Power Adaptors
- For South Africa there are four associated plug types, types C, D, M and N. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins, plug type D is the plug which has three round pins in a triangular pattern and plug types M and N both have three round pins. South Africa operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.
- Reading materials
- Sunglasses
- Day bag to take on tours
- Personal prescriptions
- Aspirin/pain reliever
- Cold medicine
- Glasses/contact lens prescription & spare glasses
- Personal hygiene items
- Imodium/Pepto-Bismol
- Antiseptic cream (Ozonol)
- Antihistamine or anti-itch cream for insect bites
A convenient way to carry your first-aid supplies is in a small, sealed plastic container.
Consider taking duplicate prescription forms for essential medication and eyeglasses in the event they are lost.
Luggage Restrictions for flight from Johannesburg to Kapama
The luggage allowance per person is 1 checked piece of luggage not weighing more than 20kgs – 44 pounds. The maximum dimensions of any one piece of checked baggage permitted (H) 35 inches x (W)28 inches x (L)17 inches.
1 piece of hand luggage is allowed per person not exceeding 8 kgs – 17 pounds. (H) 22 Inches x (W) 14 inches x (L) 9 inches.
There are hold space restrictions on Airlink aircraft due to the nature of the smaller airports which Airlink serves. With medium-size aircrafts, hold space may be restricted on full flights and/or in certain weather conditions.
In such instances, Airlink will do everything possible to load all hold baggage but, in the interest of operational safety, may opt to carry some baggage on the next available flight to your destination. Extra baggage may also be carried at an additional charge. However, this may not guarantee that the baggage is carried on the same flight on which you travel, under the afore-mentioned circumstances.
