Welcome to Run South Africa!

Please see below for pretty much everything that you need to know in advance of your upcoming adventure. You can also click "My Trips" at the top of this page to access and edit your personal information, register for early arrival and view/pay your remaining balance at any time.

 And of course, feel free to refresh yourself on the full itinerary and inclusions/exclusions any time at this link: https://www.roguexpeditions.com/running-tours/africa/south-africa/

GUIDES

Your main RE contact for any pre-trip questions or concerns is [email protected].  Your lead Rogue Expeditions guide for this trip will be Kara Folkerts; contact info for your guides will be sent out prior to departure.

FLIGHTS

Once you have booked your flight, please submit your flight details here. 

For this trip you will need to arrive in Cape Town (CPT) no later than 3pm on Saturday, October 4th and depart Port Elizabeth (PLZ / FAPE) no earlier than 2pm on Monday, October 13th.  We will be there to meet you at the airport, and we will take you back there at the end of the trip. If you are having trouble finding flight options from PLZ, a great option is to book a short domestic flight with Safair to either Cape Town or Johannesburg on the 24th, then catch your international flight home that night (there are typically lots of late evening departures).

Please note that If you book flight times outside of these parameters you will be responsible for arranging your own airport transfers.

US citizens will need a passport with at least 30 days of validity remaining beyond your return date; participants from other countries should check with their consulate for entry requirements. 

Country: South Africa

Language: There are 11 official languages in South Africa, though the most widely spoken are Zulu. Xhosa, Afrikaans & English. As a visitor, you'll nearly always be approached in English.

Currency: South African Rand (ZAR)

Landscapes: Rugged coastal cliffs, rolling vineyards, dramatic mountain ranges, indigineous forest, rivers, lagoons and lush vegetation.

Food: Menus will focus on a diverse mix of regional specialties and traditions. Breakfasts tend to be hearty, with plenty of savory and sweet options available and traditional rusks (biscuits) served alongside your coffee or tea. Lunches will be fresh, filling picnics or boutique cafe fare while dinners will feature a mix of restaurants and home cooked meals. You will have the chance to experience a traditional South African braai (bbq), local game meats and poike pot (think campfire stew cooked in a cast iron pot). If you haven't guessed, South Africans are enthusiastic carnivores, though vegetarians will be well-fed as well. Come hungry!

Drinks: South Africa has become renowned for its wine, and you’ll be able to fully indulge with two nights spent in Stellenbosch, right in the heart of wine country. You’ll find many varieties, but Chenin Blanc and Pinotage are top local specialties. There is a healthy craft beer scene, and good coffee & tea are easily found.

Weather: October is springtime in South Africa. Generally, you can expect clear nights with temperatures around 60F/15C,  bright, sunny days with high temperatures around 80F/26C and a comfortable, moderate level of humidity. Rain is rare this time of year, but always possible.

A few fun facts:

South Africans drive on the left side of the road, and stoplights are locally referred to as "robots!"

At 260 million years old, Table Mountain is one of the oldest mountains on earth and home to more plant species (1500) than are found in the entire United Kingdom.

South Africa has the longest continuous wine route in the world - 528 miles!

A long, tragic period of history in a nutshell: Dutch traders established the city of Cape Town as a stopover on the spice trade route in 1652 and were later pushed north by the British. The discovery of diamonds and gold in the late 1800s drew more European immigration and further worsened the subjugation of native people as the Dutch and Britsh took power. In 1948 the policy of apartheid was instituted, mandating racial segregation and giving favor to the white minority over the black majority. Top opposition leaders including Nelson Mandela spent decades in prison until international pressures led to the eventual end of apartheid in 1994.

A common misconception is that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa; Cape Agulhas is actually the southernmost tip, though the meeting point of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans fluctuates between the two capes.

80% of Africa’s electricity is produced in South Africa

South Africa is home to the “Big 5” - lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos and buffalo.