- South Africa
Points of Interest
- Game Viewing
- The Cape of Good Hope
- The Winelands
- The Fairest Cape
- The Vast Heartland
- Considerations & Concerns
- Why our Africa is different
- The People of Southern Africa
Home > Southern Africa > Considerations & Concerns
Considerations and Concerns
Yes, the flight is long.
Figure about 14-16 hours. Daily direct flights operate from Atlanta to Capetown and from JFK to Johannesburg / Pretoria or to Cape Town. Southern African Air has comfortable airplanes with large business-class and first-class sections and a reputation for excellent service. Most European carriers offer convenient flights through their hub cities and may allow you a stopover en route. Is it worth sitting on a plane for so long to see what Southern Africa has to offer? We certainly think so.
Yes, there are health issues. But Southern Africa's health standards are much closer to that of America and Europe than to the rest of Africa.
To the surprise of most foreigners, tap water is generally clean and safe. In the better restaurants, food (including salads and fruits) are quite safe. They are also, in fact, quite fresh and delicious.
The major health concern when visiting Southern Africa is malaria in the north, where many game reserves are located. Anti-malarial medicine is widely available in Southern Africa as an over-the-counter item. Side effects for most people are generally not as strong as those of the medications prescribed years ago. In any case, you should always consult your doctor prior to your departure or avoid these areas.
Yes, unfortunately like anywhere else, there is crime in Southern Africa.
Is there really that much crime? No, we don't think so. And neither do the fashionable Europeans who are just beginning to discover Southern Africa as a new destination. A bit of common sense and good judgment will get you a long way: avoid carrying large sums of cash or jewelry. Avoid large groups of American tourists and places like McDonalds. Follow the advise of your guide and our ground office about where to go and where not to go.
The overwhelming majority of tourists to Southern Africa have a wonderful time and sing the praises of Southern Africa and its people. Heritage Tours—here in the U.S. and our ground office in Johannesburg—is proud of our reputation for the care we give our clients to make their trip exciting, memorable and completely safe.
The best way to insure that your trip is safe and worry-free is through good planning with the guidance of a professional organization experienced in private travel. Heritage Tours is proud of the reputation we have developed for taking care of our clients from all over the world. We are at your disposal prior to your departure to ensure that everything is well-planned. Our professionals in Johannesburg and Cape Town are there (24-hour emergency line) to help you in any way from the minute you land on Southern African soil to your final departure.
