Medical, Insurance & Vaccinations

Although some websites may indicate that travel insurance is not compulsory when travelling to South Africa, you may be refused entry to South Africa without it.

• If you have not already arranged insurance, we can suggest looking at the links below for some insurance options and quotes, however, please do your own research as well, as our information may not always be up to date or applicable, nor available to all countries:

www.gocompare.com - Travel Insurance South Africa

https://vetsandwildlife.co.za - Insurance

• Should you require any medical treatment whilst with us, you will need to pay the doctors or hospital up front at the time of treatment. You can then claim from your insurance company.
• Please ensure that you have access to sufficient funds, should this be required.
• It is also extremely important that you let us know of ALL and ANY allergies of any nature, including, but not limited to food and medicines, on your application form and/or in writing to us, ahead of your arrival.
• We will not check any insurance/medical documents on your behalf and cannot accept any liability or responsibility for missing and/or inaccurate information given to us, whether on your application form or in any other documents.
• It is your responsibility to ensure that your travel and/or medical cover is accurate and meets all your requirements.   

Aside from your own personal research, we highly recommend that the following is included in your policy:

• Full medical cover for ALL medical requirements which could arise during your trip.
• Any additional costs that you could incur should you be required to extend your stay due to illness or injury.
• Full air evacuation and repatriation (which is compulsory to enter South Africa), in the unlikely event of this being necessary.
• That your medical/travel insurance company are fully aware that you will be working with wild animals.
• We also suggest that you check the wording of your policy/policies, to ensure that other activities you may decide to take part in whilst with us are covered.
• We also suggest that you bring a hard copy of any travel insurance documents with you.

We have excellent doctors and Private Hospital(s) however, as indicated above, you will need to pay for any treatment and medicine you receive immediately and up front.

You should consult your local doctor with regards to immunisations, as we cannot give professional medical advice, however, below are our personal recommendations for consideration purposes only. There could be other vaccinations, which may be recommended by your doctor, so once again please ensure you check thoroughly with your representatives.

• Tetanus: A recent tetanus injection is highly recommended.
• Hepatitis A and B: Recommended.
• Yellow fever: Only if travelling through a yellow fever designated country on your way to South Africa and if this is the case, you will be required to carry proof of a yellow fever vaccination (certificate) on entering South Africa.
• Malaria: The Western Cape, the province in which Oudtshoorn and the Ranch is situated, is generally known as Malaria free and therefore this vaccination should not be required, unless you are travelling into a Malaria area after or before your stay with us.
• Rabies: Although Oudtshoorn is in a rabies free area, we highly recommended this due to you working with wild animals.

Oudtshoorn is in the semi-arid Little Karoo and has a wonderfully sunny climate, which can get very hot in the summer months of December to February, so we strongly advise you to use sun block and keep hydrated during the day. It can also get extremely cold at night from June-August, so bring a warm jacket during the winter months.