What
do I have to arrange?
Make copies of your important documents
It is very important to make copies of your most important documents (passport,
drivers licence, bankcards). In South-Africa you do not want to walk around
with your official documents so you should rather carry your copies with
you. When you need to identify yourself with your driver's licence or
passport, copies will generally be fine. Having a copy of your credit
cards or banks cards can be helpful in case they get stolen.
Inform at your bank about your bankcards
It is of great importance to be informed by your bank about certain things
before you go to South-Africa. This is because tricks at ATM's are one
of the most popular criminal practices.
Let the bank inform you about the maximum amount of money you can withdraw
daily, so if your card does get stolen you know how much money they can
take from your account. If possible, let the maximum amount be changed
to about 300 Euro a day.
Authorize somebody in your family to have signing power on your bank
account as this can safe you a lot of trouble if things do go wrong.
Find out what the procedure is if your card gets stolen. How long will
it take to get a new card, do you need a special code, etc. Put the emergency
number of your bank in your phone, so that you can easily block your card
if it gets stolen. Also write down your card number and make a copy of
the card.
Take an extra bank card or take a credit card with you, so if things
do go wrong you will not get in financial problems.
What do I take with me?
Travel Insurance
Take a good travel insurance and read it carefully, paying special attention
to the amount of money for electrical equipment, this is often to low. To
insure a laptop is always a problem, so if you are going to take one with
you be sure that you are also covered in South Africa.
Studentcard
In South-Africa you often get discount prices at events, cinemas
or museums when you show your studentcard (international student card is
not neccerary but recommended).
Towels
Old ones so you can leave them behind
Sleeping bag
If you are planning on travelling or to go camping, it is
good idea to bring a sleeping bag with you. Another option is to buy one
here cheaply.
Cell phone (sim lock free)
You can bring your European cell-phone with
you to South Africa and use it here. When you arrive, you can easily buy
a South African Sim-card. they work the same way as abroad and cost hardly
anything.
Backpack
Take your hand luggage with you in a daypack. A daypack is very
usefull here if you go on a daytrip or travel around. If you are planning
to do an overland tour you should consider to take a large backpack with
you rather than using a suitcase.
Laptop
If you have a laptop at home we recommend you to take it with you.
Computer facilities are not as modern and easily to get to as in Europe.
Credit card
It is wise to take a credit card with you. If you lose your
bankcard, you can use your credit card as your second option. Also, credit
cards are a good solution if you want to hire or insure a car for example.
International drivers license
If you want to drive a car here, you will
need your normal drivers licence and in addition, an international drivers
licence.They are generally quite easy to obtain and relatively cheap. We
suggest you make some inquiries in your home country.
Fleecejacket
In the evening it can cool down very quickly and the houses
do not have central heating here. So bring something warm with you, even
if you are staying here during the summer
International Plug
Do not bring an international plug with you, it is not suitable for the 3-plug system, which is used in South Africa. In the Lodge there are European plugs and you can also buy them here cheaply. The voltage used is 230 Voltage, so you can use your European equipment here.
Clothes
Do not bring to much clothes and toiletries with you, because you can get everything you need here. As clothing is very cheap here you will probably end up buying a lot of stuff, resulting in an overweight suitcase when you return home.
Bedding
You do not need to bring sheets and bedding with you, as the lodge supplies bedding.Bedding is change once a week.
No medical injections/ malaria pills
A lot of docters in Europe will advise you to take some injections against foreign illnesses. In Cape Town and surroundings it is not neccerary at all. And if you do insist on getting them, you can buy them cheaply at the pharmacy here. Also, there are a lot of medical students staying in the Lodge so there is always somebody willing to give you the injection. For malaria pills the same applies. Buy the pills here as they are much cheaper.
