Questions, answered
Payments, weather, malaria and the best month to come.
Payments
When do I pay?
A 30% deposit confirms the booking. The balance is due 30 days before you arrive, or 14 days before if the total is under R20,000.
Which cards and transfers?
PayFast for cards, Yoco online, and Wise for larger international transfers. Prices are in rand.
Cancellation
What if I cancel?
More than 45 days: credit for 12 months or an 80% cash refund. 15–45 days: 50%. 8–14 days: 25%. Inside 7 days: no refund.
What if the mountain is closed?
We swap the activity or hold the value as credit. We do not refund a day you already travelled.
Included
What does the package price cover?
Your guide, the partner vehicle, lunch and dinner on touring days, and the activities written in the plan. Hotels are extra, except listed Wild lodge nights.
Are flights included?
International flights are not. On some Wild itineraries the domestic hop is part of the plan and is listed on that package.
Safety
Do I need insurance?
Yes. Medical cover and trip cancellation cover are a condition of booking. You buy the policy.
Is Cape Town safe?
Tourist areas are well looked after. You travel in our partner vehicle with a registered guide. Keep valuables out of sight, as you would in any city.
Malaria
Where is there malaria?
Kruger and Sabi Sand: year-round risk, higher from November to April. Eastern Cape and the Karoo lodges we use are malaria-free. Families who want to avoid malaria medicine should take the Eastern Cape track.
Season
When should I come?
November to March is warm and busy. April, May, September and October are easier. June to August is wetter, with whales along the coast. Mid-December to mid-January needs an early booking. A peak surcharge of about 10–15% can apply.
When are the whales?
Along Hermanus and False Bay, roughly June to November, often busiest in September and October.
Visas
Do I need a visa?
It depends on your passport. Many visitors from the UK, US, EU and much of the Commonwealth do not need one for a short tourist stay. Check Home Affairs or your embassy.
Languages
Will the guide speak my language?
Yes. Tell us English, French, Portuguese or Spanish on the form. WhatsApp support follows the same languages.
Family
Can children join every activity?
No. The Family package is built for children. Other packages list age limits: Cableway, aquarium, Acrobranch, horse rides (about 12+), sandboarding and quads (older teens).
Stay
Do you book the hotel?
On request. It is an add-on, except on Wild, where the listed lodge nights are inside the price.
Plans
What is itinerary-only?
A written day-by-day plan and tips, without a guide or a car. If you book a guided package within 30 days, half of that fee comes off the trip.