© 2024 The Real South Africa. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy
© 2024 The Real South Africa. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy
Frequently Asked Questions
Do trip schedules or activities ever change after my booking?
Yes. While we try to stay as close to the schedule as possible everything on the trip is subject to change due to weather and local factors.
Will I be safe?
Your safety is our number one concern. All the places on the tour we have frequented several times on our own and with groups. Our goal is to keep you safe by keeping you informed.
What makes RSA Experiences different from another travel company?
Our experiences focus on immersive opportunities to live like a local, learn about a new culture and make meaningful connections with fellow travelers. This combination of travel is known as essence traveling. Essence traveling dives deep into the soul of a destination and its people. Your experience is what you make it: explore by day and relax by night. For individuals looking to learn more about themselves and the world through shared experiences that allow them to build lifelong friendships, RSA Experiences is a perfect fit.
What do I do if I want to explore on my own?
Each experience has built-in free time, allowing you to participate in activities of your choosing. We’ve taken time to curate experiences for your enjoyment, but we also understand that travelers may have their own bucket lists. We want to give you the freedom to cross items off as you see fit.
What if I don’t fit in with the group?
Before each experience, you’ll be introduced to your group via our designated social platform, which will help ease the shock of meeting a group of new people on the first day of your trip. We’ve also designed several conversation starters to introduce participants to one another. We want to create a comfortable environment whereby people can connect with one another before exploring a new land together.
The truth is, we have an uncanny ability to attract positive and generous people from all around the world. Our guests always share with us that they aren’t group tour type of people, but that they are surprised at how well The Real South Africa makes it transformative and easy.
What if I don’t have anyone to go with?
RSA Experiences will give you the opportunity to explore a new land with other likeminded individuals who are passionate about travel. After your trip, you’ll have a list of new people you can reach out to when the urge to explore presents itself again.
Who should come on a RSA Experience?
RSA Experiences are crafted with our diverse audience in mind. However, there are few characteristics that we think all participants should have:
- A sense of adventure – RSA challenges your notions and expectations of South Africa and asks you to push out of your comfort zone; the ideal participant will embrace this challenge with open arms.
- Personable – Our group experiences will put you in touch with new people; we hope that you will connect with each other and potentially form friendships that will lead to family.
Do I book my own flight?
Yes, you will need to book your own international flight to and from the province you are visiting
Why should I purchase travel insurance?
Please try to make sure that you can attend all of the dates before booking it.
Not all is lost, however! We strongly encourage you to purchase comprehensive cancel for any reason insurance (CFAR) within 10 days of your purchase, so that you’ll be able to recover your investment from your insurance provider, should you need to cancel. This website provides a variety of comprehensive cancel for any reason insurance options. Many CFAR insurance plans include medical insurance.
COMPREHENSIVE CANCEL FOR ANY REASON INSURANCE MAY ONLY BE AVAILABLE TO CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CANADA. CITIZENS OF OTHER COUNTRIES MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RECOVER THE COSTS OF THEIR EXPERIENCE IF THEY HAVE TO CANCEL AFTER PURCHASING.
What is a Cultural Surety?
TRSA Cultural surety’s offer any of our passengers forced to delay a departure to retain their initial surety for use at a later date at no extra charge—and with no questions asked. The RSA Cultural Surety policy allows you to save your initial deposit if delay greater than 30 days (one per person, per confirmed tour) for use at a later time during the same calendar year towards another experience. We understand that your travel preferences can change over time, so your RSA Cultural Surety can be used on any future travel or transferred to another person with proper notification and information. The RSA Cultural Surety – is non-refundable if delay is less than 30 days to arrival.
Are Cultural Surety’s refundable?
Because RSA has to prepay vendors for the time you plan to spend with us; therefore, we cannot offer refunds after participants make deposits. However, your travel insurance should cover a myriad of situations in which you may need to cancel your trip.
Do you offer a guarantee?
While our mission is to help you discover your next journey, we understand that life happens. If you cancel your experience less than 30 days prior to your arrival, your deposit (also known as a Cultural Surety) cannot be transferred to another trip or person. If your experience is cancelled less more 30 days prior to your arrival your deposit can be transferred to another experience or person used within the same calendar year.
Is there an application process?
No, there is no application before traveling with RSA.
What’s included?
- Transportation to and from Hotel
- Accommodations
- All activities listed on the itinerary
- Majority of meals (see itinerary for exclusions),
- Transportation in-country
- Local expert guide on activities where they are required
- Domestic flights in country for those participating in a multi-city tour
What’s not included?
- Alcoholic beverages
- Incidental room charges in hotels
- Travel insurance
- Individual activities outside of itinerary or on your free days
- international flights in/out of the country
What insurance is required?
Travel medical insurance is required. For travel medical insurance, our minimum insurance policy coverage for medical emergency evacuation and repatriation is USD $200,000 (or equivalent in other currencies). We will verify that all travelers have such insurance in place and coverage as per the requirements listed above.
We recommend the Insuremytrip marketplace where you will find a variety travel insurance options. You have the choice to use any travel insurance provider you’d like, as long as you send us proof of insurance at least one month before the scheduled departure. Failure to provide accurate proof of insurance prior to attending our trips will result in cancellation.
Please note many comprehensive cancel for any reason insurance plans include medical insurance.
What insurance is strongly recommended?
Due to the involved logistics, we do not offer refunds – therefore we strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive cancel for any reason insurance. By having comprehensive cancel for any reason insurance, you won’t need to worry about emergencies that can happen before or during your experience. Insuremytrip is a website we recommend that offers a variety of comprehensive cancel for any reason insurance plans that will allow you to cancel your trip and obtain a refund from the insurance provider.
COMPREHENSIVE CANCEL FOR ANY REASON INSURANCE MAY ONLY BE AVAILABLE TO CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CANADA. CITIZENS OF OTHER COUNTRIES MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RECOVER THE COSTS OF THEIR EXPERIENCE IF THEY HAVE TO CANCEL AFTER PURCHASING.
Will I have a roommate?
Only if you are traveling with a person that you want to room with. OR if you are part of a group and request double occupancy where you are requesting a roommate. Otherwise, if you are traveling alone, you will not.
What if I don’t want to share a room with a stranger in a group?
Should you desire a room to yourself, you will be required to pay the single occupancy fee for any group trip you are a part of.
Who will be my point of contact after booking?
We have a dedicated customer service specialist who will assist you with all your needs. Please contact us as at info@therealsouthafrica.com. We will respond to your inquiry within 24 hours. In addition to that, you’ll receive frequent email communication and other opportunities to connect with your experience cohort in the months leading up to your trip.
Will I have to get shots?
NO. No shots are required to travel to the Republic of South Africa. Not Yellow Fever or Malaria.
Will I need a visa to visit?
No Visa prior to arrival is required. A Free TOURIST Visa is issued upon entry into the country and is good for period of 90 days.
