SOUTH AFRICA & VICTORIA FALLS: PRE TRIP INFO

390,757 sq km (about 1.6 times bigger than UK / about 4% size of US)!
Its neighbors include Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa and Botswana.
Victoria Falls is located in the north-west of the country on the Zambezi River, forming the border with Zambia.

Language

English (alongside Shona and Ndebele)

Currency

A new local currency Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) was introduced in 2024 to replace the Zimbabwean Dollar, but the US Dollar is also legal tender in this country and is the predominant currency used.

Religion

Predominantly Christian, alongside traditional African beliefs.

Two zebras spotted during a safari drive in South Africa

1.2 WHERE WE VISIT

Cape Town (3 nights)

Cape Town is South Africa’s Mother City and one of the most visually striking cities in the world. Set between the ocean and the mountains, it’s a place where dramatic scenery meets a relaxed coastal lifestyle. While here, you’ll explore the surrounding Cape Peninsula, kayak alongside marine life, meet the famous African penguins at Boulders Beach, and take in sweeping coastal views at the Cape of Good Hope. You’ll also ride the cable car up Table Mountain and experience the city from above, with time to explore neighborhoods, beaches, or simply soak it all in at your own pace.

Stellenbosch (2 nights)

Stellenbosch sits in the heart of South Africa’s Cape Winelands and offers a slower, more refined contrast to city life. Surrounded by rolling vineyards and mountain backdrops, this area is all about good wine, beautiful settings, and long lunches. We’ll spend a full day exploring the nearby Franschhoek Valley aboard the famous Wine Tram, hopping between hand-picked wine estates to taste award-winning wines and enjoy the scenery. Evenings here are relaxed, with time to unwind and enjoy the calm rhythm of wine country.

Kruger National Park (2 nights)

Kruger National Park is one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife reserves and a true highlight of the journey. Staying inside the reserve, you’ll fully immerse yourself in safari life. From guided bush walks to open-air game drives, you’ll explore vast landscapes home to an incredible range of wildlife, including the famous Big Five. Early mornings and golden afternoons are spent tracking animals, learning about the ecosystem, and experiencing the raw beauty of the African bush, before returning to the lodge for dinners under the stars.

Victoria Falls (2 nights)

Victoria Falls, straddling the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, is one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. Known locally as “The Smoke That Thunders,” the sheer power and scale of the falls is something you feel as much as see. You’ll explore the falls on foot along rainforest trails, getting close enough to feel the spray rising from the gorge below. To round off our time here, we’ll cruise along the Zambezi River at sunset, keeping an eye out for wildlife along the banks while enjoying a relaxed and memorable final evening together.

1.3 WEATHER

This trip covers a wide range of landscapes, from coastal South Africa to the bush of Kruger National Park and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. The weather is similar-ish in each place and so we’ve shown weather graphs for Cape Town and Victoria Falls below to give you an idea.

At the times of year we travel, Cape Town is generally equivalent to late-Spring weather, with Stellenbosch and Kruger National Park typically a few degrees higher, and then Victoria Falls being more hot and humid. So the trip will generally get warmer as it progresses.

Some important notes:

the temperature does drop in the evenings so it’s important to have a small selection of warmer clothes to cover this.

there is a reasonable chance that you encounter some rain during the trip, so it’s good to have a waterproof jacket or similar.

South Africa – Cape Town

Celsius:

Average High and Low Temperature in Cape Town

Fahrenheit:

Zimbabwe – Victoria Falls

Celsius:

Fahrenheit:

1.4 ITINERARY OVERVIEW

A summary version of the itinerary. You can find the more detailed version here.

Day	Where	Activities
1	Cape Town	Arrivals + Dinner
2	Cape Town	Cape Peninsula + Kayaking + Cape of Good Hope
3	Cape Town	Table Mountain + Free Afternoon
4	Stellenbosch	Bo-Kaap Cooking Class + District 6 Museum + Drive to Stellenbosch
5	Stellenbosch	Franschhoek Wine Tram (wine tasting)
6	Kruger National Park	Fly to Kruger + Guided Bush Walk
7	Kruger National Park	Morning + Afternoon Game Drives
8	Victoria Falls	Fly to Victoria Falls
9	Victoria Falls	Victoria Falls Visit + Zambezi Sunset Cruise
10	Victoria Falls	Departures

A detailed hour-by-hour schedule will be provided 10 days before the trip.

1.5 INCLUDED/EXCLUDED

Included:-

10-days / 9-nights: 3 Cape Town, 2 Stellenbosch, 2 Kruger National Park, 2 Victoria Falls
Accommodation in hand-picked hotels (based on sharing twin room)
Meals – All breakfasts, 2 lunches & 4 dinners
Airport transfers on arrival and departure
All transportation & activities within itinerary (excluding optional activities)
A trip host (“Tour Leader”) plus various local experts

Excluded:-

International flights to get you to South Africa and from Zimbabwe
Alcoholic drinks
Water & soft drinks (outside of those provided with meals)
Additional meals (outside of those explicitly stated as included)
Optional activities during free time
Tips (for Tour Leaders, local guides, bus drivers etc…)
Travel insurance

Bo-Kaap, the vibrant neighbourhood known for candy-coloured houses and Cape Malay heritage.

1.6 HOTELS

As standard, we use the hotels listed at the bottom of our itinerary page.

From time to time we may need to change a specific hotel if for example it’s not available on those given dates. But in such situations, we will always replace with another hotel at the same quality.

Some special notes regarding hotels:-

Hotel check-in is not until 3pm. Sometimes earlier check-in is possible, however, it won’t be possible to know in advance because it will depend on hotel availability that day (and what time other hotel guests check-out). The only way to guarantee an early check-in is if you’re willing to pay for the hotel from the night before.

You will be sharing a twin room with a fellow traveler of the same gender, unless you specifically paid extra for a private room (these are dependent on availability, see prices in FAQ section of itinerary page).

If you are planning to tag on extra days on either side of the trip, we can help book you into our hotels. We can only guarantee this if you let us know more than 70 days before the trip and we can only do this for a maximum of 2 nights on either side. Any longer and we recommend you book directly with the hotels. Note – contact us for rates for pre and post-trip accommodation.

1.7 ROOM SHARING

As standard, the default on all of our trips is that you will share a room with another traveler. These will be twin rooms, with 2 separate beds, and shared by a max of 2 people.

You will always share with another traveler of the same gender, and we will typically pair you with someone around the same age. You will share with this person for the duration of the itinerary.

Note that we operate this way because – by splitting the room cost between two people – it allows us to keep the overall OWR trip price down.

It is however possible for you to pay extra for a private room if you prefer. Prices for this are shown in the FAQ section of the itinerary page. We hold a limited number of private rooms and these will be allocated on a first come, first served basis (therefore please check in with us for availability).

In our experience, most people are happy sharing a twin room and it typically works out well.

Some Important Things to Consider:-

SNORING

If you snore, then we highly recommend that you book a private room. While we understand that this will cost you more, it is important to think of the negative impact/experience the snoring could have on any potential roommate.

LIGHT SLEEPERS

Likewise, if you consider yourself to be a light sleeper and are easily woken by the sounds or movements or others, then we also recommend you also consider booking a private room in order to get the most out of the experience.

In addition…

If you would like to book a private room then it is much better to do this in advance of the trip! If you originally signed up for a shared room and then request to move to a private room during the trip, it will be much more challenging because:-

We cannot guarantee that there will still be rooms available (since we will have released our OWR allocation by then).

Our quoted OWR rates will no longer apply (it will be whatever last-minute rates the hotels provide).

Therefore, it is much better for you if you can make this decision ahead of time!

2. Getting Prepared

2.1 TRIP COUNTDOWN TIMELINE

This is what you should expect in the lead up to your trip.

Book trip (secure your spot with a deposit)

Book international flights (these can be booked at any point after we’ve confirmed your spot – don’t leave too late as price will go up closer to trip)

Purchase travel insurance (this will cover for issues leading up to trip as well as during)

> 70 Days Before Trip (cancellation penalties kick-in beyond this point)

Full balance must be paid
OWR sends survey: requests flight information, dietary requirements, health conditions, emergency contacts etc…(must be returned within 7 days)

> 10 Days Before Trip

OWR sends day-by-day schedule, optional activity recommendations & some final info to prepare you for trip

> 3 Days Before Trip

WhatsApp group created with all trip attendees + Tour Leader

> Trip Start Date

Welcome meeting is typically scheduled for 6pm on first day. This is where you will meet your Tour Leader and other guests (note – we may change this time depending on overall group arrival times. If it changes we will notify you).

2.2 CANCELLATIONS / TRIP MOVES

The £200/$250 deposit is non-refundable. However, if you need to cancel at any point, you can put this towards any future trip you book with us (in any location).

The rest of the balance is refundable up until 70 days before the trip. From that point the following cancellation terms will apply:-

> 30-70 days before trip – 50% refund

> 0–30 days before trip – 0% refund

Important Note – it is not possible for us to make exceptions to these terms since from the 70 days mark we will commit payments to our local suppliers in South Africa and Victoria Falls and will be bound by their strict cancellation terms. This is why it’s very important for you take take out a travel insurance policy which includes trip cancellation (from the point of booking the trip).

This applies also to requests to change to an alternative future OWR trip, when such requests are made within 70 days of your scheduled trip departure.

2.3.1 VISA REQUIREMENTS

UK Citizens

South Africa – you DO NOT need a visa (as long as your visit is less than 90 days).
Zimbabwe – you DO need an e-visa to enter the country. You can apply at the following link:
https://www.evisa.gov.zw (see this guide on how to complete application)
Cost is US$55
Apply for Single Entry

US Citizens

South Africa – you DO NOT need a visa (as long as your visit is less than 90 days).

Zimbabwe – you DO need a visa to enter the country.
Visa can be obtained on arrival or online via e-visa.
https://www.evisa.gov.zw (see this guide on how to complete application)
Cost is US$30
Apply for Single Entry

(if you are from a different country, please check requirements specific to your country).

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE – As part of the OWR itinerary we will only ever be in Zimbabwe, we will NOT cross the border into Zambia. However, if you have some extra time in the area and would like to visit Zambia or you plan to fly home from the LVI airport in Zambia (rather than VFA in Victoria Falls), then it’s a much better option to apply for the KAZA UNIVISA which covers both countries (we do not cover this process in this document).

2.3.2 PASSPORT

To enter South Africa and Zimbabwe, your passport must meet the following conditions:-

Be valid for at least 6 months from the date you arrive
Have at least 2 blank pages and no damage.
(entry can be refused if you do not meet these conditions)

2.4 VACCINATIONS

There are no mandatory vaccinations for entering South Africa or Zimbabwe, however, there are recommendations and it’s important you review and consider these.

Information online tends to vary, and we recommend checking with a reputable source such as those below (or the equivalent from your own country) before you travel.

South Africa

US:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/travel/none/south-africa

UK:
https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/201/south-africa#Vaccine_Recommendations

Zimbabwe

US:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/Zimbabwe

UK:
https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/248/zimbabwe

Please read through these and compare with your current vaccination status (it is your responsibility to ensure you are adequately vaccinated).

Two very important points to highlight.

If you are arriving from a yellow fever infected country, you may be required to show proof of your yellow fever vaccination.

Some areas in this itinerary are flagged as high risk of Malaria (Kruger National Park + Victoria Falls) and most health agencies recommend taking Anti-Malarial medication while visiting. It is very important that you consider this and take the necessary precautions.

Penguins on Boulders Beach, South Africa

2.5 TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is mandatory that all guests have travel insurance in place prior to joining our trips.

Some important info relating to this:-

You must have travel insurance in place to join the trip. No exceptions.
We will ask you to provide your policy number and 24hr emergency contact number (this will be part of the OWR survey 70 days pre trip).
At a minimum it must cover the mandatory elements mentioned in our booking terms (personal accident, death, medical expenses and emergency repatriation).
However, we strongly recommend you also include the “trip cancellation” coverage. This will cover you for things that can happen between booking the trip and the trip actually starting. Examples are: changes to your personal circumstances, destinations becoming unsafe to travel, flight issues stopping you from joining the tour etc…
We recommend that you start your coverage from the point of booking the tour.
It is your responsibility to ensure your policy covers all of the activities specified on the trip itinerary, in addition to any optional activities you plan to do.

There are numerous policies on the market and you should choose whichever is most appropriate for you. Here’s a small selection to consider:-

World Nomads

Allianz Travel Insurance

BattleFace

Tru Traveller

Please ensure that your travel insurance policy explicitly covers you for all of the activities you will do during this tour (including kayaking, abseiling, safari, etc.).

2.6 LUGGAGE

You can travel with a suitcase or backpack, the choice is completely yours (fyi most people typically do suitcase).
There is one domestic flight during this itinerary – from Kruger/Nelspruit Airport to Victoria Falls on Day 8 – where you will be restricted to one standard piece of checked luggage weighing no more than 20kg/45lbs.
It’s worth considering whether you could do the trip with cabin luggage only – this would mitigate any risk of lost luggage by the airlines on your international flights (which is not frequent but does happen from time-to-time).

2.7 LOCAL CURRENCY

The local currency in South Africa is the South African Rand (ZAR) and around Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe the most commonly used currency is the US Dollar (USD). 

If you bring pounds, dollars or euros, you can exchange them at banks, official bureaux de change, or use ATMs in South Africa to withdraw Rand.  Card payment is widely accepted throughout South Africa in shops, restaurants, and hotels, although some smaller vendors may only take cash. 

In Zimbabwe it is best to bring US Dollars in cash, preferably in small denominations ($1, $5, $10), as many smaller businesses, markets, and safari camps prefer cash and Zimbabwean local currency is not widely used.  You will be able to use you debit/credit cards at the hotel.

2.8 PHONE, INTERNET & WHATSAPP

In most locations there is good phone signal and internet access and WIFI is available in hotels & restaurants.

Check out the plan of your phone provider to understand if data roaming is included as part of your package. If not, it is very easy to buy an e-sim, in which case we recommend Holafly or Airalo services.

Alternatively it is possible to buy a local prepay sim upon arrival into the airport in Cape Town.

We will use WhatsApp as a means of communicating with the group while on tour and recommend you download this to your phone if you don’t already have it.

2.9 ARRIVAL INFO & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

This tour starts in Cape Town and ends in Victoria Falls (we will get you between the two cities over the 10 days).

To join the trip you will arrive into Cape Town International Airport (airport code CPT)

Ideally you should arrive at the hotel by 6pm on the first day. This is when we have our welcome meeting and afterwards go for dinner (although if you arrive later it’s fine to catch up).

There will be someone there to meet you upon arrival as you walk through the gates (they will have a sign with your name on it).

Hotel check-in is not until 3pm but if arriving earlier you can drop off your bags and go explore the surrounding area.

Please ensure that you have read all of the South Africa and Zimbabwe entry requirements (it is your responsibility to ensure you comply):-

US Citizens

South Africa Entry Requirements

Zimbabwe Entry Requirements

UK Citizens

South Africa Entry Requirements

Zimbabwe Entry Requirements

>> (if from a different country, please check those requirements specific to your home country)

When going through passport control in South Africa you may be asked to show the following:-

Passport (should be valid for at least 6 months from the date you arrive)
Evidence of return flight leaving Zimbabwe
South Africa hotel address: The President Hotel, 4 Alexander Rd, Bantry Bay, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa

Please have this information on hand.

2.10 DEPARTURE INFO

There are two airport options for flying home from Victoria Falls.

1 – Victoria Falls International Airport, Zimbabwe (airport code VFA).

2 – Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport, Zambia (airport code LVI) – Note if you use this airport you will need the visa for Zambia (see visa section of this document)

We can arrange departure airport transfers to any of these two airports.

You can leave at any time on the last day. There are no activities scheduled for that day.

2.11 AIRPORT TRANSFERS

Airport transfers are included at both the start and end of the trip.

The following conditions apply:-

We only do transfers between airports and our selected hotels. No other locations (other hotels, Airbnbs etc…)
For those tagging on extra days, we will endeavour to include transfers up to 2 days outside of official tour dates. Beyond this we will not include transfers.

2.12 PACKING GUIDELINES / CHECKLIST

The weather during the trip will generally be warm and dry so it’s better to have the majority of your clothing for these conditions.

In Cape Town and Stellenbosch you can wear whatever you would normally wear when visiting a coastal city in the late-spring. For Kruger National Park and Victoria Falls you ideally want some lightweight, breathable activewear suitable for spending time in the outdoors and also keeping in mind clothing for mosquito protection.

Closed toe and sturdy trainers, trail shoes or lightweight hiking shoes will be important for the safari and its also important to bring some warmer clothing for chilly nights.

And a lightweight rain jacket is always a good idea!

(see weather predictions above).

We don’t recommend specific clothing items – because everyone has their own personal style – but below are some things to think about.

Documents

Flight info (important to be able to show you have a flight leaving Zimbabwe)
Travel Insurance info (especially your policy number & 24hr emergency number)
Passport
Supporting documentation for medications – see advice here
Visas (see section 2.3.1)

Things To Think About

Swimsuits for hotel pools
Comfortable shoes/trainers for walking day-to-day
Day backpack/bag
Activewear for bush walk
Longer lightweight clothing for mosquito protection
Sunglasses
Hat for sun protection
Power supplies/batteries – for phones, laptops, cameras etc…
Power adapters (to convert to local supply) – see type required for South Africa and type required for Zimbabwe
Sunscreen
Camera
Mosquito/bug spray
Ear Plugs (if sensitive sleeper)
Personal entertainment (books, podcasts etc… for travel time)
Toiletries
Personal Medication
Travel sickness pills (if necessary)
Light rain jacket
Sweater for evenings
Refillable Water bottle

Other

Download WhatsApp on phone (to be used for group comms while on tour)
Set up data roaming

Safari game drives in Kruger National Park

3. During Tour

3.1 TRIP EXECUTION & TOUR LEADER

You Tour Leader is responsible for leading the group throughout the trip, they will be there from the welcome meeting at the start until the last morning when the trip ends. We will connect you with your Tour Leader – via WhatsApp – in the days leading up to the trip.

They will be your first point of contact for any issues during the trip but you can also contact us at [email protected]

3.2 FREE TIME

At various points during the trip the trip schedule will show ‘Downtime’ and ‘Free Time’

Downtime is where there are a couple of hours or so free between activities. There is probably enough time to go for a coffee, relax or go for a wander but not quite enough time to go do another activity.

Free Time is where there is a sizeable chunk of time available – half day or full day – where you could feasibly go off and do another activity (outside of the OWR itinerary). It is there to give you flexibility to go do your own thing and explore your own interests.

We will provide recommendations of possible activities for you to do during Free Time (we will send this 10 days before the trip).

We don’t recommend booking anything prior to arriving in South Africa as typically most things can be arranged at short notice and often our guests decide to do things with other people in the group.

3.3 SCHEDULE CHANGES

While we endeavour to operate all trips as described in the published itineraries we always reserve the right to change the trip itinerary.

Changes may be necessary as a result of unforeseen circumstances, operational concerns, concerns for your health, safety, enjoyment or comfort.

Any changes are at the discretion of OWR.

This includes the right to replace Tour Leaders, alter accommodations, change transport, modify the order in which places are to visited, and make any other changes to the itinerary.

We will inform you of any such changes as soon as reasonably possible.

3.4 BEHAVIOUR ON TOUR

We request that all guests take responsibility for their personal behaviour on the tour, specifically to:-

Respect the decisions of the Tour Leader (and raise concerns respectfully)
Show respect and consideration for the other members of the group
Drink alcohol responsibly
In addition we have an absolutely zero tolerance no drugs policy.
Be on time to start activities as per the schedule (be respectful of the time of other members of the group)

We also ask that you read about our OWR Trip Style prior to joining the trip.

3.5 SAFETY ADVICE

Millions of foreigners visit both countries every year and the vast majority of those are trouble free.

However, we do recommend taking some extra precautions and being more vigilant than you typically would in your home country.

Leave jewellery / expensive handbags etc… at home
Don’t go wandering outside the tourist areas without a local
Don’t flag taxis – get the hotel / restaurant to call them
Use ATMs inside banks / shopping malls rather than on the street
Keep only small amounts of cash on you when out and about
Drink alcohol moderately, avoid making yourself vulnerable (and don’t leave drinks unattended)
Avoid walking alone at night
Don’t go off to party with people you’ve just met!

We also strongly recommend reading the travel advice provided by your government / consulate / foreign office.

23.6 SPENDING MONEY

We include include just about everything on the tour.

The itinerary was designed so that while you’re in South Africa and Victoria Falls all you need to do is focus on enjoying yourself.

With that said you will likely need a little spending money which we estimate as follows:

$250 – $400 (US)
£200 – £300 (UK)

(for other currencies please convert)

These estimates factor in lunches and dinners not included within the itinerary; snacks and water; a couple of alcoholic drinks each day; tips and optional activities during free time.

You may need more depending on your tastes and for additional items such as souvenirs.

We also recommend you have access to additional funds in case of emergency.

3.7 TIPPING

There is a very strong tipping culture in South Africa and Zimbabwe, and it is widely expected by locals that they will be tipped for their efforts — particularly drivers, tour guides and lodge staff. Our past guests have told us they prefer for us to collect a tipping kitty at the start of the tour so that the Tour Leader can distribute the tips throughout the trip, rather than guests having to remember to tip individually and have the correct local currency available each day.

The tipping kitty for this tour will be $77 per person, and shortly before departure we will send you a detailed breakdown of how this amount is calculated and distributed.

Please note that tipping is always optional, and if you would prefer to manage your own tips rather than join the kitty, that is absolutely fine. We offer this simply to make the process easier and more convenient for everyone.

At the end of the trip you may also want to tip your Tour Leader who would have been with you for the full duration of the trip. A recommended amount is $5-$10 (£4-£8) per day (per person), but this is completely up to you and you should only tip what you feel comfortable with.

3.8 LAUNDRY

We know that some travellers prefer to pack light and do laundry while on tour. Laundry services are common and pretty cheap in South Africa and Victoria Falls, speak to your Tour Leader who can recommend some spots along the way.

3.9 POST TRIP

We will send you a survey asking for feedback on your experience.

If you enjoyed the tour we would love it if you could recommend us on Google and/or Facebook.

We also have some special offers to those on our trips:

If you book a new trip within 2 weeks of your current trip ending, you get a £200 / $250 discount.

If you book a new trip after this point, we still offer a £100 / $125 discount.

4. Readiness Checklist

We know this is a lot of information to digest, therefore, here’s a quick checklist to ensure you’re ready for your upcoming trip.

Have you:-

Purchased your international flights to South Africa and from Victoria Falls?
Purchased travel insurance?
Paid your full balance with OWR?
Checked your passport validity? (at least 6 months from the date you arrive + 2 blank pages with no damage)
Checked that you have the recommended vaccines? And malaria protection?
Obtained visas if necessary? (specifically for Zimbabwe and possibly Zambia depending on return flight home)
Completed the OWR survey (will be sent 70 days before the trip)
Checked our packing guidelines?
Set up your data roaming + downloaded WhatsApp?
Made plans for how you will access cash in South Africa and Victoria Falls for tips etc…
Read our OWR Trip Style document to ensure you are comfortable with what to expect?

If so – you are good to go!

Yen river with rowing boat harvesting waterlily in Ninh Binh, Vietnam