dragonfly tours south africa

Southern and East Africa offer virtually endless selections of inspiring locations for the intrepid incentive traveler, blending the best of local culture, cosmopolitan cities, natural beauty and unique wildlife into one unforgettable journey. Dragonfly Africa was founded by Rupert Jeffries and has been involved in providing a wide range of services across a broad spectrum of tourism for over 40 years. In 2010, Dragonfly Africa acquired 100% of Cape Town-based competitor Green Route, merging two of Southern Africa’s leading Travel and Destination Management companies. The Dragonfly Africa Group is well known in the industry for its creativity, high levels of service and pioneering of incentive travel to Africa. 

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For over 30 years, Dragonfly Africa has earned a reputation for building inspired travel experiences for the discerning traveler over 10 African countries.We have an assortment of itinerary options that will suit all budgets. Our expert team of seasoned travel consultant veterans creates world-class travel itineraries, tailor-made to meet your specific travel needs.From groups to individuals, we can assure you that we'll pack the "unforgettable" into your budget, whatever it is.

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I’ve never heard of them myself but I have used Rhino Africa in the past on several trips and had them take care of both SA and Victoria Falls, if that’s what you meant by Victoria?

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I’ve never heard of them myself but I have used Rhino Africa in the past on several trips and had them take care of both SA and Victoria Falls, if that’s what you meant by Victoria?

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I’ve never heard of them myself but I have used Rhino Africa in the past on several trips and had them take care of both SA and Victoria Falls, if that’s what you meant by Victoria?

• How much to take and exchange in Rand 02:17
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• My nightmare trip to South Africa today
• E-Visa Experience, South Africa today
• Airport transfer at night yesterday
• Money Exchange yesterday
• Maun to Johannesburg yesterday
• I would not recommend Travelstart to anyone yesterday
• Traveling solo as an Asian female? yesterday
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• A guide to booking and staying in Kruger National Park
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• The reality of lion cub petting
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A friend recommended Dragonfly as a travel agency for a trip to Africa. Anyone familiar with them? Planning South Africa & Victoria trip later this year.

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South Africa has 164 species of dragonflies and damselflies.

By June 2022, 19 species had been recorded in the KhoiSan Karoo Conservancy. These brightly coloured jewels of freshwater are quite easy to get to know. All you need to do is to download the list from this website . This gives you access to a lot of information about these 19 species. 

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The Best of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia & Zimbabwe

October 14 - 29, 2025

Group Size: 18 to 25 participants Price: Starting from $12,795 per person double occupancy, $19,490 single occupancy Co-sponsored with: Harvard Exclusive

Trip Overview

This South African adventure features culture, wildlife, natural history, and a three-night Chobe River cruise in Namibia and Botswana, offering uninterrupted views of Chobe National Park. Explore Victoria Falls, one of the Seven natural wonders of the world. Spend two nights at the acclaimed MalaMala Private Game Reserve, an unforgettable five-star African safari experience. Discover the rich natural and cultural heritage of Cape Town.

Schedule by Day

Overnight flight to Johannesburg, South Africa.

Arrive Johannesburg, remainder of the day is at leisure.

Overnight: Fairlawns Boutique Hotel

See Nelson Mandela’s home, Hector Pieterson Memorial, Apartheid Museum. Dinner, with hotel credit, at leisure at hotel.

Meals:  B, L, D

Fly to Kasane, Botswana, then transfer to the Chobe River, entering Namibia. Board the Zambezi Queen and enjoy game viewing.

Overnight: Zambezi Queen

Enjoy river-based safaris for game viewing.

Overnight: Z ambezi Queen

Transfer to Chobe National Park, then transfer to Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls.

Overnight: Victoria Falls Hotel

Meals:  B, L

Morning excursion to Victoria Falls, remainder of day at leisure.

Meals:  B, D

Fly to Cape Town. Afternoon discussion and introduction to Cape Town with David Bristow.

Overnight: V&A Waterfront Hotel

Discover the history of Robben Island and enjoy spectacular views from Table Mountain.

Visit Boulders Beach in Simonstown, explore Cape Point.

Meals : B, L, D

Travel the Stellenbosch Wine Route. Enjoy winetasting, special arranged lunch with wine pairings.

Meals : B, L

Fly to Skukusa Airport, transfer to Mala Mala Private Game Reserve. Afternoon game viewing.

Overnight: Mala Mala

Morning and afternoon game drives.

After morning game drive, transfer to Skukusa Airport. Depart for Johannesburg, then transfer to international flights.

Arrive in the U.S.

* On-tour flights are priced separately and are estimated at $1,250 per person (subject to change)

Accommodations

• Two nights at Fairlawns Boutique Hotel
• Three nights aboard Zambezi Queen
• Two nights at Victoria Falls Hotel
• Four nights at V&A Waterfront Hotel
• Two nights at Mala Mala

What to Expect

This is a full, moderately strenuous program that is at times physically demanding and busy and requires you to be in good health and able to keep up with the group without assistance from tour staff. In order to make the most of what each locale has to offer, days will generally be long, with the daily program often beginning early in the morning and continuing into the early evening. We will cover rugged terrain and walks on daily excursions can range from one to two miles, often on uneven terrain in the warm sun, where handrails are not available. During the time in Johannesburg and Cape Town, travel will be by modern, air-conditioned motor coaches on paved roads. Land-based game drives will be by open-air safari vehicles, which can be dusty and bumpy, and that travelers will need to climb in and out of. The time spent at the game park includes early morning and late afternoon game drives, but there will be time midday to relax and enjoy a slower pace. Water-based game drives will be from small watercraft with chair-style seating; you will need to be able to get into and out of small watercraft with the assistance of tour staff and crew. Aboard the Zambezi Queen , there is no elevator, and you should feel comfortable walking on a rocking surface at times.

We will use commercial aircraft for the four on-tour flights: Johannesburg/Kasane, Victoria Falls/Cape Town, Cape Town/Skukuza, and Skukusa/Johannesburg.

Anyone with a serious medical condition or who has difficulty walking should not consider this trip. Please let us know if you have mobility issues that need special accommodation.

This promises to be a memorable journey, but as with all travel, a flexible attitude, a spirit of adventure, and a willingness to explore new areas will enhance your enjoyment of this program. You do not have to participate in all scheduled activities, except when traveling to the next destination. We are sure you will be pleased with the exciting educational program provided, but we want you to be aware of the pace and activity level.

Study Leader(s)

Mode of travel.

Related Trips

For more information.

Please email [email protected] or call our office at 800-422-1636 or 617-496-0806.

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The Pride of South Africa • Botswana Namibia • Zimbabwe

Trip Dates:  Saturday, January 14, 2023 - Saturday, January 28, 2023

Leader Name:  David B. Miller, Associate Professor, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences

Trip Pricing: 

• Double occupancy cabin start at $7,995 per person
• Single occupancy cabins start at $13,495

Trip Details & Highlights

Travel with us on an incredible journey to experience the wonders of four nations of southern Africa, where nature’s spectacle is at its  most dramatic, history is rich, the culture is diverse and the “Big Five” game viewing in pristine natural habitats is extraordinary. Witness the remarkable achievements of the young nations of Namibia and Botswana, striking in their culture and home to one of the densest game populations on the planet. Walk in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela in South Africa, and behold the majestic natural beauty of Zimbabwe.

Few experiences can match this exclusive, in-depth itinerary and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel the breadth of southern Africa. A highlight of your journey is a three-night river safari aboard the exclusively chartered Five-Star m.s. Zambezi Queen, an intimate river vessel featuring only 14 beautifully appointed Staterooms. On the legendary Chobe River in Namibia, enjoy naturalist-guided excursions by small watercraft, a unique alternative to traditional land safaris and an exceptional perspective from which to observe the magnificent wildlife along the Chobe’s shores. Your itinerary also includes the classic land safari—enjoy superb game viewing aboard four-wheel-drive safari vehicles in seldom-visited Botswana, a haven for nearly all of the southern African mammal species. Follow Mandela’s long road to freedom from Soweto to Robben Island and on to Johannesburg and the presidency of South Africa, “the rainbow nation.” Savor glorious Cape Town, dramatically situated between Table Mountain and its stunning harbor, while enjoying your stay in the historic, Five-Star Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel. Revel in spectacular seaside views, visits to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope and enjoy a scenic drive through South Africa’s winelands to view the distinctive Cape Dutch architecture. Visit three UNESCO World Heritage sites, including one of the world’s Seven Natural Wonders—Zimbabwe’s incomparable Victoria Falls. Stay steps away from “the smoke that thunders” in the legendary, Five-Star colonial Victoria Falls Hotel.

Contact Information

Sarah Doody  904.432.3141 [email protected]

Trip Terms and Conditions

Luminary Society Members

CWRU’s Luminary Society members may receive additional discounts on CWRU Educational Travel programs. For further information on Luminary Society travel discounts only, please contact The Office of Strategic Giving at 216.368.4460.

Oakland County judge's trainings in Dubai, South Africa, Panama covered by public money

Most every job requires more training these days, and that includes being a judge. New rules in Michigan require that judges take at least 24 hours of “continuing judicial education” every two years.

The new training is on the internet so judges don’t need to leave their courthouses. And it’s free. But some who wear judicial robes may wish to keep visiting distant locales for costly professional conferences, as they’ve quietly been doing for years.

Take the Honorable Debra Nance, a district judge in Southfield. According to expense records obtained by the Free Press, Nance in January traveled to a 10-day professional conference, one that’s not required by the state of Michigan, in the African nation of Ghana — more than 5,000 miles from Detroit. The cost? More than $4,800, all of it covered by Nance’s employer, the 46th District Court.

Last year, Nance traveled to a conference in Dubai, a city of luxury hotels in the United Arab Emirates, more than 7,000 miles from Detroit. That tab? Over $4,600. In previous years, Nance traveled to judicial conferences in Panama, the Dominican Republic and South Africa, each trip costing thousands of dollars, and each charged to the court’s budget, according to expense records obtained by the Free Press.

So, how might flying to Africa improve Nance’s ability to administer justice? Documents obtained by the Free Press show that two seminars were held at the lengthy conference in Ghana. One was called “Comparative Law: Commonalities & Differences between U.S. & Ghahaian Law.” The other was “Domestic Violence at Home and Abroad.” It may seem odd that a district judge in Michigan, who is often focused on driving violations and landlord-tenant cases, would need training in the legal systems of foreign nations.

Traveling jurists

Luxury travel for judges has come under scrutiny at the nation’s highest level. That happened with news coverage of the lack of oversight for U.S. Supreme Court justices. The spotlight for much of that coverage fell on Justice Clarence Thomas who, reporters revealed, had for decades taken luxury vacations as the guest of a real-estate billionaire. Thomas’ trips, while inviting conflicts of interest, occurred at no public cost. Neither did they involve training or professional networking. As well, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was outed for being a hedge-fund billionaire’s guest on an Alaskan fishing trip that ProPublica reporters estimated would’ve cost well over $100,000, had Alito paid his way. Alito neither disclosed the trip on his annual financial disclosures to the court nor did he recuse himself from voting several years later in favor of the hedge fund boss, in a case that came before the court and ultimately brought a payment of $2.4 billion to the hedge fund.

In Michigan, Nance isn't the only judge taking trips at public expense. In a yearlong investigation, the Free Press requested records for travel expenses at numerous courthouses in Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties, in circuit as well as district courts. The investigation found that, although most judges seek modest reimbursements for traveling to conferences and training sites, a handful in metro Detroit have charged costly trips to their courthouse budgets.

I n 2019, Oakland Circuit Judge Denise Langford-Morris, who has since retired, attended a convention of lawyers and judges in New York City for $1,940.26. In the same year, Macomb County Circuit Judge Joseph Toia attended a conference of the National Association of Drug Court Personnel in Nashville, Tennessee for $1,634.54. And although travel expenses in many courthouses dropped during and after the pandemic, there are other examples.

Still, among judges in metro Detroit, the Free Press found that Southfield’s courthouse was the biggest and most consistent spender of public dollars on travel, and Nance was the main traveler. Because courts are funded from various revenue streams, it’s not possible to say that Nance’s trips were entirely covered by taxpayer dollars. It is possible to say, however, that they were covered by public money — taxpayer dollars along with the fines and costs paid by members of the public, such as motorists paying traffic tickets and defendants paying criminal fines and court costs. About two-thirds of the annual budget of 46 th District Court is covered by fines and court costs paid by the public.

In other words, when Nance imposes fines and costs on defendants, she knows she is bringing revenue to the court. The rest of the revenue to fund the courthouse comes from Southfield’s taxpayers, an amount that recently has totaled more than $1.6 million per year, according to budget figures provided by the Southfield city fiscal director. The cost of the trips irks Southfield Mayor Ken Siver.

“The taxpayers of Southfield are not only paying for the court’s expenses. We’re paying for Nance’s trips. And her trips are not approved by the city, but we still have to cover them,” Siver said. Nance’s travel expenses need only the signed approval of the court’s chief judge, according to the court’s expense records.

Siver continued: “I’ve made a stink about this every year at budget time. Our city administrator has talked to the court administrator and the chief judge on it, but as long as the money flows, they don’t care.”

No rule prohibiting travel

During a visit to Nance’s courtroom in late March, a Free Press reporter asked Nance what she felt she gained from her overseas trips, either personally or professionally. She said she had no comment. Nance’s supervisor, Chief Judge Shelia Johnson, who approved Nance’s trips, defended them.

“I think the trips for Judge Nance come under the category of judicial education,” Johnson said in a telephone interview.

“There is no rule that says this has to be in the state of Michigan. As long as you’re taking conferences that relate to judicial education, it’s justified and I would encourage that."

Nance's costly trips were organized by the National Bar Association, a nationwide group of mainly African American lawyers and judges. This year, the NBA scheduled three big trips for judges and lawyers: a 16-day one scheduled in May to the French Riviera and Barcelona, Spain; a weeklong annual meeting at a luxury Las Vegas hotel in July, and earlier this year, the 10-day African trip to Ghana that Nance attended in January.

Asked about traveling to Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean for lengthy trips whose agendas show they are primarily about sightseeing and resort vacationing, Johnson was politely insistent that such trips were fine with her. The overseas trips give participants “an emphasis on comparing judicial practices from country to country,” and they can provide “a broad perspective that does help you in your day-to-day work as a judge," she said.

Regarding the educational value of Johnson’s own trip, to New Orleans in 2018, for which she charged the courthouse $1,788.36, she said: “I can’t remember. That’s so long ago. I could look it up in my records and see what the seminars covered.”

She concluded: “It sounds like people want to embarrass judges for traveling to these conferences. ... These things keep you engaged as a judge.”

It’s Johnson’s signature that appears on Nance’s expense reports, approving her reimbursement for attending overseas conferences, which are listed as “City of Southfield Business Travel Expense.” On the forms, above Johnson’s signature, are these words: “I hereby certify that the travel indicated hereon was accomplished according to proper authorization, that the information is correct, and that no part of the compensation claimed was of a personal nature.”

Networking and education

The National Bar Association calls itself “the nation’s oldest and largest global network of predominantly Black American attorneys and judges.” It was founded in 1925 because Black lawyers were being denied membership in the all-white American Bar Association, according to online histories. The group provides scholarships for Black law students and helps them land internships at the start of their careers, according to the group’s website. As for the sponsored trips, online agendas show that many are mainly about networking and the theme “Relax, Rejuvenate and Explore.”

Asked to comment on its trips, NBA officials declined to return email and phone messages left by the Free Press at their offices in Washington, D.C. But the president of the NBA's affiliate group in Michigan, the Wolverine Bar Association, said the group is known for its educational trips as well as for aiding Black law students who seek internships and tutoring.

The NBA offers numerous credits in continuing legal education "at various conferences around the United States and overseas as well," said Diane Hutcherson, who is staff counsel to the Auto Club Insurance Association, known as AAA. Hutcherson said that, as a single parent, she had been unable to participate in overseas trips, but she said "there are many people who have and they're generally able to avail themselves of networking and educational opportunities."

"It may be pretty in Dubai but it's also educational," she said, referring to last year's NBA trip.

Virtually all judges incur some travel costs at public expense, doing so for training and to attend events for professional networking. As chief judge in Southfield, Johnson has taken trips at public expense, although none of the expense vouchers provided to the Free Press showed her traveling overseas. Her travel vouchers were signed by the court administrator, according to documents that the Free Press obtained via the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. Johnson incurred only modest travel expenses, according to those documents.

A third judge at 46th District Court in Southfield, Cynthia Arvant, expensed a bill for $1,291.74 in late 2022 for a conference held in Detroit. Arvant, who by law must live in Oakland County to serve as a judge in the county, charged her courthouse for a two-night stay at Detroit’s Westin Book Cadillac so that she could attend a weekend conference of the National Association of Women Judges without needing to drive home each night. District court judges in Michigan earn $172,134.62 per year, according to a spokesman for the Michigan Supreme Court.

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What's reasonably necessary?

Southfield city officials told the Free Press they felt they had no choice but to cover all costs submitted by the courthouse located behind their city hall, even if those costs include overseas trips to luxury hotels. Yet, according to state law and regulations of the Michigan Supreme Court, local units of government are responsible only for “adequately funding” courthouses. That seems to leave room for interpretation and, potentially, for challenging any high travel expense of court employees, including judges. State law is equally nonspecific as to defining what should be considered “adequate.” Officials at the Michigan Supreme Court and the State Court Administrator’s Office said that no one at those institutions could give legal advice on courthouse expenses. They suggested viewing the guidance delivered in a 2004 state Supreme Court decision, a case between Crawford County and its circuit court. ( 46th Circuit Trial Court v Crawford Co., 261 Mich. App 477; 682 NW2d 519 2004. )

That case established “that the inherent-power doctrine supplies a court with the authority to take whatever steps are reasonably necessary to fulfill the judicial function.” A key word is “reasonably.” It calls for a judgment about what is “reasonable” to spend for operating a courthouse. If the city of Southfield were to challenge its judges over travel expenses, and refuse to pay some of those expenses, the judges could sue and cite this case.

But Southfield might prevail. The Crawford County dispute was about something far more important and considered more "reasonable" than travel expenses. It involved the refusal of Crawford County to stand by its agreement to increase the health and retirement benefits of the court’s employees. Such expenses were reasonable, the county’s circuit court argued. And the Michigan Supreme Court agreed. Travel expenses for judges, in comparison, seem trivial, even if they represent trips that are hardly relevant to a judge’s duties. Still, the city of Southfield would seem to have a case if it refused to pay for costly travel.

Mackinac Island trips

Besides taking luxurious overseas trips, Nance has attended Michigan’s annual conference of judges, held each summer on Mackinac Island. For more than a decade, scores of judges have attended the conference, formerly held each August at one of Michigan’s priciest resorts, the Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island. After prices rose — a typical summer night’s lodging there this year costs more than $1,000 — the state court administrator’s office switched the conference to the less expensive Mission Point Resort for the three-day conference of the Michigan Judges Association. According to judges who’ve attended, important training and lectures do take place at these yearly meetings.

It was an incident at that conference on Mackinac Island in 2019 that led to an investigation of Nance by the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission. The JTC’s investigation stems from misconduct allegations involving a dispute that Nance and a Detroit judge had over a bicycle rental. In the investigation of the dispute, in which the Detroit judge was accused of misusing her position outside a courtroom, Nance was accused of lying to investigators in July 2020 and again in September 2021. The Detroit judge told police that she had been assaulted by the bike shop owner. But when police viewed the shop’s surveillance video, they wrote in their police report — obtained by the Free Press — that the Detroit judge had been the assailant, not the shop owner. That led the JTC to investigate both Nance and the Detroit judge, 36th District Court Judge Demetria Brue.

With Michigan judges now required to take considerably more training, they have choices to make. Judges can obtain it free via online courses, received in their courthouses from the Michigan Judicial Institute, a state agency. Or they can, instead, choose to take the new training in person, perhaps in Michigan, but maybe at distant locales that require overnight or even overseas travel.

Judges who travel for their training can be a costly public expense. With little public scrutiny, they get to choose. Michigan judges “have options” about where they will get their new training, said John Nevin, communications director for the Michigan Supreme Court.

Contact Bill Laytner: [email protected]

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Travel Insurance For South Africa: Everything You Need To Know

Updated: Apr 30, 2024, 1:13pm

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Do I Need Travel Insurance for South Africa?

What does travel insurance for south africa cover, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Tourism is on the rise in South Africa according to the local government , with more than four million tourists visiting the nation in the first half of 2023 alone. Australians form a sizable chunk of those numbers, with an estimated 125,000 Australians touring the country each year pre-pandemic.

With travel still high on the agenda for many Australians, that figure is expected to rise in the coming years.

If you’re considering a trip to South Africa, you’ll want to purchase travel insurance. Our guide explains everything you need to know.

Fast Cover Travel Insurance

On Fast Cover’s Secure Website

Medical cover

Unlimited, 24/7 Emergency Assistance

Cancellations

Unlimited, (Trip Disruption $50,000)

Key Features

25-Day Cooling Off Period, Australian Based Call Centre, 4.6 Star Product Review Rating

Cover-More Travel Insurance

On Cover-more’s secure website

Unlimited, with a $2000 limit to dental

Yes, amount chosen by customer

Southern Cross Travel Insurance

Medical Cover

Including medical treatment, doctors’ visits, prescribed medication, specialist treatment & medical transport costs

$2,500 with option to increase to unlimited

Yes, Australians should purchase travel insurance for South Africa. While not a legal requirement to enter the country, it is highly recommended from the Australian government—especially for medical care.

The standard of medical facilities in South Africa can vary by region, but medical facilities are generally of a much lower standard than Australia. In fact, many regional hospitals only provide basic facilities, meaning you may have to be relocated in order to receive the right medical attention.

There is no shared healthcare agreement between Australia and South Africa, which makes travel insurance even more essential. If you need to be transferred by air evacuation to a major city in order to receive treatment, and you don’t have travel insurance, you’ll likely face a hefty bill out of your own pocket.

As Smartraveller advises all Australians, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel.

Vaccinations to Consider for Your Trip to South Africa

There is a high risk of certain diseases in South Africa, so it is worth making sure your vaccinations are up to date before you travel and taking any preventative measures with you, such as medications.

This can help reduce your chances of needing to seek medical attention.

There is a risk of Hepatitis A and B throughout South Africa, so vaccinations for Australian travellers are recommended. There is also a moderate risk for most travellers of typhoid, so a vaccination is also recommended if you are travelling to smaller cities, villages and rural areas.

Malaria is present throughout the country, so it could be a good idea to equip yourself with malaria tablets before you travel.

It is essential that you consult a medical practitioner regarding your need for vaccinations before you travel to South Africa, especially as some medical conditions can predispose travellers to certain infections.

When purchasing a travel insurance policy for South Africa, you will have the option to choose a basic policy or a comprehensive policy. A basic policy is cheaper , but may turn out to be more expensive in the long run if you aren’t covered for the things you need.

While a basic policy will usually cover medical needs, it may not provide cover for things such as lost luggage and cancellations (or, if it does, will provide it at a much lower claim level).

That’s why a comprehensive policy is highly recommended for travel to South Africa, as you will receive cover for stolen items, lost luggage, delays and more, in addition to medical and emergency dental care.

Smartraveller asks Australians to exercise a high degree of caution due to the threat of violent crime in South Africa, which includes robbery and carjacking.

The government website warns that opportunistic criminals will target travellers at the approaches to tourist-hotspot Kruger National Park, at well-known resorts, and on public transport.

Additionally, as ATM and credit card fraud are common crimes in South Africa, a comprehensive policy can be the more financially sound choice to give you peace of mind.

Going on a Safari?

South Africa is a popular tourist region for many reasons, including wildlife safaris. If you wish to partake in a safari or a game walk—walking with wild animals and a professional guide—you will need to ensure that these activities are covered in your policy’s list of included sports and activities.

If they are not, you will not receive cover for anything that occurs during the safari.

However, your policy may offer the option for you to choose an ‘adventure pack’ at an additional cost, which can include many activities that aren’t covered in the standard offering.

This can also include hiking or trekking to certain altitudes.

It’s important to consider which activities you may be participating in during your trip to South Africa in order to ensure you have the appropriate coverage, and purchase an additional add-on if necessary.

What Travel Insurance Won’t Cover

Your travel insurance policy won’t cover anything that is set out in its exclusions, as per the product disclosure statement (PDS). This could include certain sports and activities (such as a safari), or travel to certain regions in South Africa due to safety.

While each travel insurance policy differs on the fine-print, it is standard for most policies not to cover:

• Cancellations due to ‘disinclination to travel’, being if you change your mind about your holiday;
• Accidents or injuries that occur when not following the appropriate safety guidance or official guidelines;
• Intoxicated behaviour, including recreational drugs;
• Any illegal activity.

Be sure to carefully read the PDS of your policy so you know exactly what you can and cannot claim on your trip to South Africa.

Is it safe to travel to South Africa?

Smartraveller recommends that Australians exercise a high degree of caution when travelling to South Africa, due to the threat of violent crime. This includes armed robbery, mugging, carjacking, credit card theft, and more.

There is a higher risk of violent crime in major cities after dark, or during “rolling blackout” periods.

For these reasons (and more), Smartraveller urges Australians to take out a travel insurance policy before travelling to South Africa.

Do Australians need a visa for South Africa?

No, Australians do not need a visa for South Africa if they are visiting for tourism for stays of up to 90 days.

Where can I buy travel insurance for South Africa?

Most Australian travel insurance providers will cover Aussies wanting to head abroad to South Africa. When shopping around for a policy, you will be able to choose your destination when you request a quote. If there is no option to choose South Africa, this would be a clear indicator that the insurance provider does not provide policies to this region.

At the time of writing, a few of our top picks for comprehensive travel insurance cover South Africa, including Allianz and Cover-More .

Travel insurance providers can revoke the issuing of new policies to certain destinations at any time, especially if Smartraveller changes the alert warning for a country to ‘Do Not Travel’.

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Sophie Venz is an experienced editor and features reporter, and has previously worked in the small business and start-up reporting space. Previously the Associate Editor of SmartCompany, Sophie has worked closely with finance experts and columnists around Australia and internationally.

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