Travel information
Visas
Travel to South Africa for most citizens of the EU, United States and Australia do not require a visa for stays shorter than 90 days; while various other countries do require a tourist visa. To check whether you need a visa you can visit South Africa’s Home Affairs website at http://www.home-affairs.gov.za/visas.asp
If a visa is required, information regarding what documentation is needed and where to apply is also listed on the Home Affairs website. Bear in mind that visas take time to be issued, so allow sufficient time for this before your trip.
If information regarding where you are staying is required for your visa application, the following details can be given:
Samara Private Game Reserve
P O Box 649, Graaff-Reinet 6280
+27 (0)49 891 0880 +27 (0)49 891 0880
Getting to Samara
Flights
The closest airport to Samara is in the coastal city of Port Elizabeth, appromixately two and a half hours’ drive from Samara. While international flights usually arrive in Johannesburg or Cape Town, most airlines offer connecting flights to Port Elizabeth. Alternatively, listed below are several airlines that fly domestically in South Africa.
www.kulula.com
www.flymango.com
www.1time.co.za
www.flysaa.com
www.brittishairways.co.za
Kulula, Mango and 1time are usually the cheapest.
Samara offers a a pickup/drop-off service from Port Elizabeth airport every second Friday, at no additional cost . Airport pick-ups are at 14h00 and airport drop-offs are at 13h00. There are plenty of morning flights to Port Elizabeth, however, if you are only able to come in the afternoon, we advise you fly to Port Elizabeth the day before and spend a night at a backpacker lodge or airport hotel. When leaving, we recommend that volunteers book flights from Port Elizabeth after 16h00 on the day we drop you off, to allow for unforeseen delays.
Bus
Catching a bus is also an option in getting to Samara, which gives you an opportunity to see the surrounding countryside. Buses are inexpensive and fairly convenient in South Africa, and a variety of companies exist. Check out www.intercape.co.za, www.greyhound.co.za, www.translux.co.za. Translux have a stop in Graaff-Reinet (25 kms from Samara). It is possible to catch a bus from Graaff-Reinet to Knysna, George or Port Elizabeth on weekends.
Samara offers a pick-up service from the bus station in Graaff-Reinet, on request.
Health considerations
Samara is situated in a malaria-free area and so no anti-malaria prophylactics are required. It is important to check that your vaccinations are up to date before you come (Hepatitis A and B and Tetanus). Please also ensure you have adequate travel insurance for your trip, we unfortunately cannot accept you onto our programme unless you have adequate insurance. This should cover illness, injury, theft, loss and repatriation in the event of a medical injury. Insurance can be obtained at a reasonable price and is often offered in a package deal with your airfare. Check outwww.sta.com for some good deals. Tap water is safe to drink at Samara and in the majority of places in South Africa. We have a good health care infrastructure in South Africa with clinics and hospitals which are clean, well-equipped and run by well-trained doctors. Your volunteer co-ordinators are First Aid qualified and have access to First Aid kits. The nearest medical facilities to Samara are in Graaff-Reinet.
Safety at Samara
As a volunteer on our programme your safety is of top priority to us. We are situated on a fenced private game reserve that is extremely safe. Volunteers are always in contact with other volunteers and project co-ordinators. In terms of field work, project co-ordinators are trained to work in a dangerous game environment, always have radios when out in the field and are First Aid qualified.
