Security

The overwhelming majority of our travelers to Africa have truly amazing trips with very few issues.

Overall, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia and Botswana are safe countries to travel to as long as you remain vigilant. In South Africa, the crime rate is high and incidents including petty theft, armed robberies and carjacking are common. Protests and political demonstrations can also become violent. It's unlikely that travelers will experience violent crime in major tourist areas, but it's possible.

In developing economies like Zambia, Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe, the wearing of ostentatious wealth (gold and diamonds, etc.) is not recommended at any time.

Victoria Falls is a safe hub in Africa, but always be aware of opportunistic crime as you would be aware anywhere in the world.

During daylight hours the Cape Town Central District and the V&A Waterfront are perfectly safe for visitors to walk about and enjoy the city. After dark, the V&A Waterfront and surrounds is completely safe. For all other evening destinations, take a taxi.

We work very hard to achieve this high quality of service and safety. We travel to Africa regularly, inspecting and staying at camps and lodges that we book. We have usually stayed in the rooms and tents – and experienced the activities – before we recommend them to you. This personal experience is crucial: it enables us to help you decide what’s going to be right for you.

We retain industry-leading, dedicated travel health and safety consultants who work on our behalf, regularly monitoring the fundamental standards of the properties that we most frequently recommend to our travelers.

Despite the best laid plans, however, very occasionally issues do crop up. We can plan your itinerary carefully around your needs and have some of the best people in the business to look after you, but we can’t predict everything. No trip is without its element of risk and Africa is no different. If you encounter any problem, then you can rest assured we’ll work hard to help you, working closely with our networks in Africa to help solve any issue for you as quickly as possible.

Urgent concerns are responded to swiftly and when you travel to Africa, you’ll have the personal contact details of our senior team members available 24/7/365, including our Managing Director.

In the extremely rare case of a medical emergency, we retain the services of a top Africa-based company that specializes in emergency medical situations. Their job is to step in to provide immediate medical care, including emergency evacuation by aircraft where necessary. Their specialist medical teams are empowered to expedite whatever measures are required, whilst liaising with your own medical insurers. In such a rare eventuality, this essential backup provides real peace of mind.

Wild Environments

In taking a trip to Africa, you acknowledge that it involves risk. Many of our trips spend time in wild, uncontrolled environments. Wild animals present threats, plants and insects can pose risks to your safety, and things may even drop out of apparently harmless trees – so please don’t touch any of them, however innocuous they may seem. While all of these risks are your responsibility, you can minimize them by following the advice of your hosts and guides.

Most of our camps in Africa are unfenced. Dangerous, large animals will often come into camp, moving around in between the various pathways, rooms and buildings. Always remain vigilant and don’t hesitate to request a guide to escort you when walking around your camp. Most camps insist on guests being escorted at night and you should never venture out of your tent after dark without being accompanied by a member of staff.

Most safari lodges and camps will give you a safety and orientation briefing when you arrive. Be prepared to listen carefully and take heed of such briefings – if you can’t do that then we’d advise you against travelling to Africa.

Many will also require you to sign a record of the briefings that you have been given and some will also include a personal indemnity. That said, the contract for your holiday is between you and Memories of Africa, so nothing you sign in Africa can absolve any camp or lodge from its responsibilities.

Children & Infants

We arrange many Africa trips for families with children, and they can be hugely rewarding, life-affirming experiences. Multi-generations trips, where an extended family might fill a small safari camp for a truly private experience, can be particularly magical. But whatever the size of your family, we’ll always guide you to make the best choices possible – and help you to select camps which will welcome your family warmly.

Of course children, especially younger ones, can act unpredictably and many won’t fully understand the risks that they’re taking in an unfamiliar environment. Hence interactions with animals, both large and small, can be particularly dangerous.

So if you travel with children then you will need to be constantly vigilant and closely supervise them at all times – taking full responsibility for their safety. Neither Memories of Africa, nor any of our colleagues in Africa, can accept responsibility for any accident which befalls a child unless caused by our own negligence.

Theft & Insurance cover

Theft is a problem in many countries and opportunistic mugging can also be prevalent in cities. It is your responsibility to take sensible precautions. Theft from safari camps and lodges is exceedingly rare, and they usually provide electronic room safes or lockers for peace of mind. We recommend you always use these to store your valuables.

Local Representation

Memories of Africa offers specialist, tailor-made itineraries designed for more independent and experienced travelers. We do not have agents or representatives everywhere. We do, however, have close contacts in every country which we deal with, and in some countries we have a local agent. You will always be given contact details of someone who can assist you immediately should you need assistance.

Medical emergencies

Memories of Africa retains the services of a specialist, emergency medical company. They will step in to assist you if you have any medical need. They work across Africa, in every country to which we send travellers, partnering with some of the better safari camps as well as Memories of Africa.

Having the coverage of comprehensive medical insurance covering you for all of your time in Africa with us is so important that we make this requirement of booking with us. But even with this, the extra coverage of our emergency medical team offers huge peace of mind. You can be sure that in a real medical emergency, our specialist partner will act first, coordinating medical and evacuation teams across Africa, even as they liaise with your insurance company.

Safety standards & regulations

Safety standards and regulations overseas are often different to what you’re used to at home. Monitoring, enforcement and compliance with local regulations is a matter for the authorities in each country. Liability requirements also vary from country to country, as does the responsibility placed on an organisation by local law. You should therefore take all precautions to protect yourself and your party while you’re travelling in Africa.

In particular, you should always familiarise yourself with fire escape routes and the safety guidance for any wild areas you visit. We also recommend you review the advice given by your country’s foreign ministry on any country that you are visiting, both just before you book and just before you travel.

Transport

Taxis are cheap and reliable for all your local needs. Although they are metered, ask the driver for a close approximation for the distance before accepting the ride. Any cab with the yellow TAXI sign on the roof will be licensed to carry fare-paying passengers, BUT – take a good look at the vehicle in question! Cape Town has a large fleet of excellent vehicles, but one or two “bangers” are out there plying their trade!

Trains are not recommended in South Africa, other than the safe and efficient Southern Suburbs Line, leaving from Cape Town Central Station and calling in at all stops to Simonstown on the Cape Peninsula.

The new MyCity Bus services are a really excellent way to get around the city. They are reliable, efficient, safe and smart, and travel to virtually every destination in the city, including the V&A Waterfront. Purchase and pre-load a Smartcard in order to use this service.

Money

While all international credit cards are valid, foreign currency in cash is very welcome in Zimbabwe and seldom welcome in South Africa, Botswana or Zambia. Most shops and restaurants accept USD in Zimbabwe, whilst one or two of the tourist shops might accept foreign notes, but you will need ZAR while in South Africa, BWP in Botswana and ZMW in Zambia. Currency exchange is best done at any branch of Foreign Exchange or the banks. You will need your passport and a little patience for any currency conversion.

Gratuities

If you are satisfied with the service in restaurants, etc., the standard gratuity would be 10 – 15%. Please note that this should be added to the credit card slip before the transaction is processed. Porters, doormen, etc., would be happy with a R20 note (about USD 2).

Value added tax

South Africa imposes a 14% VAT upon all purchases of goods, but not on services or accommodation. Visitors may reclaim this value on exiting the country. You will need to have on hand: your passport, your air ticket, the invoices, and, at random times, the clerk might ask to view the actual goods. Best therefore to pack claimable items in a separate carry-on bag.

Are diamonds cheaper in South Africa? What about gold?

The price of diamonds and gold is set as a worldwide standard, so the answer would appear to be “No”. However, because visitors qualify for the 14% VAT refund on departure, South African jewellery becomes that much cheaper than anywhere else in the world.

Health

Malaria: not all areas in Southern Africa are prone to malaria. Tablets or insect repellent? Ask your local travel clinic, then make the decision!

Water

Cape Town city tap water is pure and wonderful! Water is not recycled. You will be the first and the last person to use the water, which achieved first place in a recent blind tasting of the world’s most prestigious bottled waters!

Everywhere else we would recommend you drink bottled water.

Weather

Victoria Falls enjoys very mild winters and hot summers.

Summer: 27-35°C / 80-95°F
Winter: 7-20°C / 45-70°F

Cape Town enjoys mild winters and pleasant summers.

Summer: 15-27°C / 60-80°F
Winter: 7-20°C / 45-70°F

Not sure what to wear? It is advisable to dress in layers. Look out your window every morning, but be aware that the weather can change, and always bring something warm for Cape Town or early morning game drives in Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia.