If you need accommodation in Johannesburg we would recommend the Airport Lodge; Plot 6/273 Koppie Road, Pomona, Kempton Park, www.airportlodge.co.za. The Lodge, which is conveniently near the airport, can arrange transfers, when you book with them ask to be met at the airport and you will be transferred directly to the Lodge which is set in its own grounds with internet facilities, restaurant and bar.  Tel: +27 (0)11 979 2365, email airportlodge@worldonline.co.za.   

At present an entry permit for South Africa entitling a 90-day stay is issued free of charge on arrival. This applies to citizens from the UK, the US and Canada as well as a number of other countries and you will need to ensure that there are 2 clear pages left in your passport. You may well be asked to show your onward or return air tickets upon arrival at Johannesburg, and may also be asked if you are in the country for tourist or business purposes. You should state that your visit is for tourist purposes. If you are a citizen of a country other than the UK, the US, or Canada, and are unsure about specific visa requirements, please contact the Opwall office in the UK on +44 (0) 1790 763194 or check with the South African Embassy website www.southafricahouse.com.

For Mozambique, 30 day visas can be obtained on entry to the country - the price is variable but typically around $80 (approx £50).  Visas can also be obtained in advance from the Mozambique Embassy for UK students for £40 (3 day service) or higher sums for express services. We do recommend applying for visas prior to the expedition as the application process on the border can be relatively time consuming, although is very simple. For those volunteers who will be in Mozambique for longer than 30 days organising a visa before travelling is a necessity; you'll need either a multiple entry visa or one that covers the entire length of your time there. Students from the USA or Canada can apply through the Mozambique Embassy in Washington DC.

Passport

Your passport must have at least 6 months left (counting from your proposed departure date from South Africa) before the expiry date and have two empty pages, otherwise you will be refused entry.  It is worthwhile carrying a photocopy of your passport with you because if it is lost you will have a much easier time getting a replacement. 

You will need enough spending money to cover personal on-site expenditure i.e. phone calls, soft drinks, dive equipment hire etc. The unit of currency is the South African Rand (ZAR) or the Mozambique Metical (MZM). Depending upon your location (and how much you want to spend on extra dive training, at the bar etc), this could range from the equivalent of 5 to 80 pounds sterling per week.  

You need to have all the cash you are going to need with you by the time you leave Johannesburg airport because you can't use your credit or debit cards to pay bills at any of the sites and there are no cash-points near any of the sites you are going to.   You are best advised to bring dollars or pounds sterling and change it at the airport but the money changers tend to charge 10% commission on changing pounds sterling to Rands.  There are cashpoints in the airport but they don't always work for non South African issued cards. You can change American Express traveller’s cheques at the airport with no commission according to the signs.  For the Mozambique site you can still use Rands, although the official currency is Meticals.

Remember to carry all personal documents and cash safely in a concealed money belt

The expedition costs cover all the accommodation and food costs from the start to the end of the official expedition, transfers between sites (excludes transfer between South Africa and South Africa/Mozambique projects), on-site dive training and participation in any of the research projects or training courses. 

The costs paid to Operation Wallacea do not include:

• Transfers from and to Johannesburg outside the official 'Start' and 'End' dates (see above for prices)

• Any hotel, food or transport costs outside the official expedition ‘Start’ and ‘End’ dates.

• Insurance costs beyond the medical and repatriation cover

• Visa costs  

• For diving projects - Purchase of PADI Open Water Crew Pack with PIC (£55 or £52 for purchases of ten or more, if bought through us) - this can be ordered here. 

• Dive equipment hire - budget £40 per week. For those diving in Sodwana Bay the costs are payable in advance to WEI whilst for Mozambique the costs are payable in advance to Reef Divers

• Entry to National Parks.  This sum varies enormously and can be up to £10 a day in some reserves!  Please budget £40  for the entire expedition for each volunteer to cover all Park entry fees. 

• Spending money for drinks and gifts.  Please also consider arranging a contingency fund to cover any emergencies, and check with your bank that your card will work in South Africa if you plan on using it.

Cultural Advice

South Africa has 11 official languages, but nearly all people in South Africa speak English. The “first” language of many of the staff you will encounter is Afrikaans, but all speak excellent English, as it is often English that is used up and down the country to converse across the tremendous spectrum of cultures.

As a rule you will find nothing but a very warm welcome from the local people. However areas such as the Johannesburg International Airport can be prime spots for pickpockets. Keep your wallet hidden at all times, and make sure that you don't leave your bags unattended. Pack all valuables in your carry-on hand luggage. Operation Wallacea staff with first hand experience of the South African and Mozambique surveys or WEI (Wildlife and Ecological Investments) staff would be more than happy to speak with you directly to talk through any safety concerns you may have. 

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provide comprehensive travel advice, and we must stress that this is just 'advice'.  The FCO states that 'the terrorism threat is low, but you should be aware of indiscriminate attacks from terrorists in public places ..... throughout the world'.  We are continually monitoring the situation in South Africa and will update our advice according to the latest information available. See our "general travel and health advice page" for more information.