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Step 1
Get a passport. Remember that passports can take up to 9 weeks to process, so prepare for this purchase early.
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Step 2
Go to your doctor to receive any necessary vaccinations. It is recommended that you are up to date on routine vaccinations and that in addition you receive vaccinations for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Rabies and Polio. Some of these vaccinations require more than one visit, so again prepare for vaccinations early. In many parts of South Africa, malaria medication is recommended. Malaria medication should be first taken 1 month before arriving in the country.
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Step 3
Buy your plane ticket early. Check various websites every so often to notice any changes in the rates. Wednesday evenings are the best time to purchase plane tickets. Although you can get a straight shot from Washington, D.C. to Johannesburg, it is much less expensive to stop in England first. Your travel time will be extended, but the money you save makes it worth it.
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Step 4
Prepare for a day in London if your trip includes a layover. Many of the tickets require a layover of 12 hours or more. When packing your carry-on, remember to bring enough to keep you busy either in the city if you choose to go downtown or at the airport if you choose to sit and wait it out.
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Step 5
Sleep on the plane, if possible. The flight from London to Johannesburg is long and may be overnight. Drink some wine and try to sleep for the majority of the flight so you will have energy left for your first day in Africa.
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Step 6
Avoid anyone who wants to help you with your bags or with directions when you arrive in the airport. These people flood the airports in South Africa and will follow you--if you let them--until you give them money. The shorter you are with them, the faster they will understand that you are not fooled by them.
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Step 7
Travel by “taxi” if you are leaving the city and going to a village within the countryside. The ride will be rough and overly crowded, but the experience itself will give you a lovely taste of South Africa. Be friendly to those around you. They will be friendly in return.
