South Africa - entry restrictions and rules [merged thread]
#1111
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,115
Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but could someone check the Shindzela website for me? Are they operational/still exist? Everytime I try to access the website I get hotlinked to spam.
https://shindzela.co.za/
https://shindzela.co.za/
#1112
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,292
What happens when you click "view camp" on either of them? The website works for me, but either camp gets hotlinked to spam. (Sorry to the mods, feel free to delete this after, I'm trying to get back to SA after last summers trip was force-cancelled )
#1113
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,115
I am looking a the Thabamati game drive page right now.
#1114
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,292
#1115
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 630
Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but could someone check the Shindzela website for me? Are they operational/still exist? Everytime I try to access the website I get hotlinked to spam.
https://shindzela.co.za/
https://shindzela.co.za/
Their email is [email protected]
South Africa is allowing visitors now. I suspect for the foreseeable future you will still need to take a PCR covid test before entry, even if vaccinated. The biggest issue at the moment for US travellers seems to be the availability and changes in flight routings, particularly the postponement of the direct US services by United and Delta with the added complexities of transiting through Europe or the Middle East (ensuring you have the right to transit on through-tickets and additional or more onerous testing e.g. on the way back to the US if you flew directly you can use a rapid test, but flying through most European hubs you need a PCR).
#1116
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: 14.66m NbW of PHL
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 848
My wife and I have a trip to Cape Town booked for the last week in July (flying PHL-DOH-CPT).
Hopefully we will be ok to travel (we're vaccinated but understand at this point it's likely a test will still be required).
The question now is whether it's worth going. We would like to dine at some of the great restaurants, and visit the wineries etc. We also love to hike, but obviously that will be fine.
What are the restrictions currently like there? It seems restaurants etc are open.
Hopefully we will be ok to travel (we're vaccinated but understand at this point it's likely a test will still be required).
The question now is whether it's worth going. We would like to dine at some of the great restaurants, and visit the wineries etc. We also love to hike, but obviously that will be fine.
What are the restrictions currently like there? It seems restaurants etc are open.
#1117
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,251
My wife and I have a trip to Cape Town booked for the last week in July (flying PHL-DOH-CPT).
Hopefully we will be ok to travel (we're vaccinated but understand at this point it's likely a test will still be required).
The question now is whether it's worth going. We would like to dine at some of the great restaurants, and visit the wineries etc. We also love to hike, but obviously that will be fine.
What are the restrictions currently like there? It seems restaurants etc are open.
Hopefully we will be ok to travel (we're vaccinated but understand at this point it's likely a test will still be required).
The question now is whether it's worth going. We would like to dine at some of the great restaurants, and visit the wineries etc. We also love to hike, but obviously that will be fine.
What are the restrictions currently like there? It seems restaurants etc are open.
#1118
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: 14.66m NbW of PHL
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 848
From what I understand from family members there, life is almost normal with the exception that face masks are mandatory everywhere in public places. So when you go out for a walk, you have to wear a face mask. Same when entering a restaurant but you can take it off when you sit down. Hiking is fine, but beware the other (non- Covid) dangers of hiking in South Africa. Attacks on hikers are quite a big risk, always hike in a big group.
#1119
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Southern Cali
Programs: AA ExPlat, Marriott Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,018
From what I understand from family members there, life is almost normal with the exception that face masks are mandatory everywhere in public places. So when you go out for a walk, you have to wear a face mask. Same when entering a restaurant but you can take it off when you sit down. Hiking is fine, but beware the other (non- Covid) dangers of hiking in South Africa. Attacks on hikers are quite a big risk, always hike in a big group.
Fingers crossed the situation doesn't worsen
#1120
Join Date: May 2008
Location: "the world is my country"
Programs: Alaska 100K (aka OWS)
Posts: 806
Just arrived back from JNB and CPT. Easy entry and exit as long as your paperwork is in order (look on 'TIMATIC for the most up to date requirements). COVID tests are easy to find and efficient, there are pharmacies at JNB before check in where you can get your RT PCR within 2 hours or your rapid antigen within 15 minutes. Any flight to JNB has pre-flight questionaire review as well as several layers of test-result checking before you can even board the plane, and then the test results are checked prior to immigration at a health check station. Dates and names are matched to passports as well as the health questionaire. It adds a bit of time to your travel, but no issues seen at all. Had more problems traveling to hawaii than SA.
#1121
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Southern Cali
Programs: AA ExPlat, Marriott Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,018
Just arrived back from JNB and CPT. Easy entry and exit as long as your paperwork is in order (look on 'TIMATIC for the most up to date requirements). COVID tests are easy to find and efficient, there are pharmacies at JNB before check in where you can get your RT PCR within 2 hours or your rapid antigen within 15 minutes. Any flight to JNB has pre-flight questionaire review as well as several layers of test-result checking before you can even board the plane, and then the test results are checked prior to immigration at a health check station. Dates and names are matched to passports as well as the health questionaire. It adds a bit of time to your travel, but no issues seen at all. Had more problems traveling to hawaii than SA.
Do you happen to know if there is covid testing available at CPT?
#1122
Join Date: May 2008
Location: "the world is my country"
Programs: Alaska 100K (aka OWS)
Posts: 806
We were late for our flight in CPT and didn't look specifically - the testing pharmacies are pre-security and not well advertised throughout the airports - if you don't pass them, you'd not know they are there.
#1123
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: 14.66m NbW of PHL
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 848
The 72 hour requirement...it's before the last flight right?
We're transiting DOH for 9hrs and just wondering where the 72hrs lands. PHL-DOH or DOH-CPT?
Sorry as I realize this has probably been answered on the forum somewhere but finding exact info in thousands of pages just takes forever.
Edit: Just found info in post #1108 that indicates it will be from PHL, as we aren't leaving the airport in DOH, checked thru.
We're transiting DOH for 9hrs and just wondering where the 72hrs lands. PHL-DOH or DOH-CPT?
Sorry as I realize this has probably been answered on the forum somewhere but finding exact info in thousands of pages just takes forever.
Edit: Just found info in post #1108 that indicates it will be from PHL, as we aren't leaving the airport in DOH, checked thru.
Last edited by jeffers; May 12, 2021 at 11:05 am
#1125
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Marriott Lifetime, IHG Spire Elite
Posts: 8
Hi all! Has anyone traveled Tanzania to South Africa lately? We are scheduled to go from Kilimanjaro to Johannesburg on June 15, and I have a question about the testing/entry requirements. We are scheduled to take our COVID test mid-day on June 12, with our departure at 5pm June 15. Since Tanzania takes the full 72 hrs to turn PCR tests around, we have to take the test just over 72 hrs ahead of time. Additionally, I'm concerned about the medical provider signature, since Tanzania's tests are all government run, but that doesn't appear to be a criteria anymore. Appreciate any responses!