Do
- visit this beautiful country. Despite all negative reporting, we never experienced
- anything bad and found the people there very friendly. Be smart, however, avoid
- places you shouldn't go to and be cautious at all times (for example, we always
- locked our car when we were driving);
- arrange everything on your own through the internet. It not only gives you
- flexibility over a fixed itinerary but also saves money. Many car rental companies
- have offices at the Johannesburg airport. We booked through Budget and were
- very satisfied. We advise you to rent at least the second smallest car;
- stay at one of the 'airport' hotels, they are close by, safe and most of them have
- a free shuttle service (check upfront). This way you don't have to go into
- Johannesburg if you are leaving the following day and don't want to visit the city;
- bring your debit/credit card. ATM's are available (also at Letaba en Skukuza
- restcamps in Kruger NP);
- take a flashlight and your binoculars, you'll need them;
- buy a good roadmap in your home country before you leave;

- bring a book on animals if you want more information on the animals that you
- might encounter;
- make an adventurous whale watch trip from St Lucia. You might need sea
- sickness tablets though as the sea can get rough (www.advantagetours.co.za);
- stay at Leopard Walk Lodge near Hluhluwe town or Pezulu Tree House Lodge near
- Hoedspruit, both have friendly staff and nice accommodation;
- drive through Swaziland to Kruger National Park (Malelane gate) if coming from
- Hluhluwe. It takes a long day but it is certainly possible. Bordercrossings take
- about 30 minutes each border;
- stay in the national parks of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi and Kruger. You will not loose
- driving time to and from the parks, and it is special to be close to animals and
- nature. For information, accommodation and reservations at Kruger National Park,
- look at www.sanparks.org. For Hluhluwe-iMfolozi in the Kwazulu Natal province
- check www.kznwildlife.com;
- use the sighting boards at the reception of all the restcamps in the wildparks:
- they can be helpful in animalspotting;
- buy the detailed map booklet (R30) of the camps you are visiting, they are very
- helpful in choosing your itinerary and give you pictures of most common animals;
- tip friendly gaspump attendants, they will check your oil, tyre pressure, and clean
- your window.


Don't
- rush this huge country (size of Spain and France together), better to visit a small
- part well, than visiting too much and see only half;
- forget an electric adapter. Be aware that Dutch travel adapters do not include the
- adapter for South Africa. Buy one, the moment you drive by a large Spar or
- Build-It store or at one of the restcamps in Kruger National Park;
- drive after dark (in wintertime at 6pm it will be dark) as many people in South
- Africa drive around without (working) headlights. Crime is another reason why
- driving by daylight
is preferred;
- be fooled by the highway sign. People and animals might cross roads where you
- don't expect them;

- exit your car or come too close to wildlife in the national parks (unfortunately
- still many people do it); you will not only scare away or upset the animals, you
- will also put yourself at risk and annoy other patient viewers;
- feed the squirrels, baboons, starlings or bushbucks (in short all animals), even if
- they appear cute or hungry. They will become aggressive and have to be put
- down because of it;
- drop your cigarette ashes in the park, we saw too many people do it;
- forget driving on the left side of the road!

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