South Africa Humanitarian Trip

September 10 - 17, 2023

The total price includes humanitarian trip expenses, supplies, most meals, transportation (not flights), and hotel stay on clinic days.

With the help of our partners, Hearing the Call, and generous donors, we are able to make our humanitarian trips more affordable and accessible to our members, students, and volunteers.

Humanitarian Trip Price: $5,545

Entheos members, please contact us directly for discounted pricing.

* All prices are for double rooms and are subject to change *
South Africa Application
South Africa Waiver
South Africa Payment

Sept 10 - Arrive Cape Town

Sept 11 - Training Day / Clinic Day

Sept 12 - Clinic Day

Sept 13 - Travel to Knysna / Sunset Cruise

Entheos Will Book Roundtrip Ticket from George to Cape Town

Sept 14- Clinic Day

Sept 15 - Clinic Day

Sept 16 - Retreat Day Belle Balance Bush Lodge

Sept 17 - Return to Cape Town / Depart for Home

Flight Information

What You Need to Know to Book Your Flight

  1. Confirmation from Entheos that you are on the humanitarian trip.
  2. Arrive Day 1 into Cape Town (CPT). All travelers should book their round-trip flights to Cape Town.
  3. Try to arrive midday or earlier to allow for the possibility of delayed flights.   
  4. Please enter your flight information by clicking the button to your right that says “Flight Info”.
Flight Info

Tips / Additional Info

  • Give yourself plenty of time at the airport to check in. The FAA recommends that you arrive 2 hours prior to international flights. Don’t forget to pack any scissors, pocketknives, or liquids over 3 oz. in your checked baggage. For any liquids less than 3 ounces that you will be carrying on, please make sure you put them in 1 quart size Ziploc bag. Whatever liquid items that do not fit in 1 quart size Ziploc bag will be thrown away. Please visit the TSA website for the most up-to-date restrictions prior to packing:
    http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm.
  • Make sure you have a name-tag with a current name, address, and phone number attached to each luggage item.
  • If you use luggage locks (highly suggested on ALL bags to avoid tampering), make sure all locks are TSA approved (it will say on the lock and/or package).
  • Please check at the web site of the Airlines that you are flying the Policy on Checked Luggage
  • For luggage that weighs over 50 pounds due to personal items, the overage fee is the responsibility of each delegate.
  • Entheos may ask to use some of “your space” to transport supplies and we thank you in advance for your willingness to help transport needed project supplies to Ecuador.
  • Your carry-on bag should contain all your essentials in case your check-on baggage is lost in transit. Include at least one change of clothes and all necessary medicines and toiletries.

VISAS AND TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18

South Africa does not require a visa to enter for citizens of the United States but does require two blank consecutive pages in your passport.

However, it is important to note that if you are traveling to or through South Africa with a child under 18, you are required to carry an officially stamped passport along with a notarized affidavit from the other parent allowing the travel. They will not let you board the plane in the U.S. to South Africa if you do not have these items.

Disclaimer: Submitting an application for a humanitarian trip does not guarantee a spot on the trip. A completed application enters your name into the selection process. You will be notified if you are selected.

Entheos Audiology Cooperative is not a registered 501(c)(3) exempt organization, therefore the trip fee is not deductible as a donation or a charitable contribution. 

Please consult your tax advisor if you are deducting any portion of the trip as a business expense. There are limitations as to the deductibility of expenses associated with meals and entertainment.

General Dress Code Rules

Clinic Dress Code
  • Please wear long pants and the team t-shirts provided by our partners. We have found that breathable type pants by Eddie Bauer or Columbia are a good option for hot clinic days (jeans are fine). You will receive TWO clinic t-shirts on the first day of the trip. You may be able to do laundry (for a small fee) at the hotel; we also recommend bringing a mini bottle of detergent (can be purchased at the travel section) to do laundry in your room.
  • Bring comfortable shoes to wear. No open toe shoes for clinics.
  • No shorts in the clinic.

Before/After Clinic

  • There will be time for recreation (going out, dinner, etc.) after clinic days.
  • Bring a fleece jacket for the mornings and evenings when it could get cool. Days will be fairly warm.
Day-Off
  • On our day off, it is fine to dress like an American tourist.  Please keep jewelry to a minimum.

One Week Recommended Packing List

Clothing

  • 4 – Pants
  • 5 – Shirts
  • 8 – Pairs Socks
  • 2 – Clinic Shirts (will be provided)
  • 2 – PJ’s
  • Walking Shoes
  • Windbreaker or Light Jacket
  • Swimsuit (if needed)
  • Sandals

Toiletries

  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Razor
  • Hair Things
  • Brushes
  • Sunscreen
  • Bug Spray
  • Lotion
  • Sunglasses
  • Kleenex
  • Imodium
  • Advil
  • Any Medications Needed

Misc.

  • Cash
  • Passport
  • Passport Holder
  • Bank Card
  • Credit Card
  • Pen (to fill out forms)
  • Neck Pillow
  • Phone Chargers
Printable List

Electricity in South Africa

In South Africa, the power sockets are of type D, M, and N. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

Which power plugs and sockets in South Africa?

In South Africa, the power sockets are of type D, M, and N. Check out the following pictures.

  • Type D: mainly used in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and some African countries. This socket only works with plug D.
  • Type M: looks like plug D, but with larger pins. The socket only works with plug M
  • Type N: used in Brazil and South Africa. This socket also works with plug C.

Most sockets in South Africa are D, M or N.

Hotel Information (Tentative)

Crowthorne Lodge

12 Jupiter Avenue, Crowthorne
1685, Midrand, South Africa
Phone: +27 79 503 0235

Click Here for More Info (you do NOT need to book any rooms)

This is the hotel you will stay at during your clinic time.

Money / Currency / Expenses

  • Most expenses will be prepaid for you including: ground transportation, medical evacuation insurance, hotel room accommodations, translators and team meals.
  • Each volunteer is financially responsible for paying for and obtaining a passport and visa (it is not necessary to travel to South Africa), receiving any necessary immunizations, all food/beverage items in all airports and outside team meals, and any other personal expenditures/shopping during the trip.
  • You will want to take enough cash with you for personal shopping in Johannesburg, South Africa. Bring U.S. currency that is as new as possible and undamaged. Traveler’s checks and credit cards (VISA or Master Card) will be good in airports, major hotels and many shops, but cash is the easiest and most convenient method of payment.
  • You will be able to exchange money in Johannesburg.
  • To find the most up-to-date currency conversions, please go to http://www.xe.com/ucc/. The currency in South Africa is the Rand and is typically around $1 USD to R15.00- local currency exchange-.
  • Some of the best exchanges rates can be using your ATM card at an ATM machine so you may want to contact your local bank.

Safety / Security

Here are some helpful guidelines concerning the safety and security of your personal items:

  • Be mindful of how you carry your purse or where you place your wallet. Men, keep your wallets in a front or zippered pocket, as keeping it in your back pocket will make it susceptible to pickpockets. Ladies, keep purses across your chest or use a fanny pack (keeping your hands free is also wise).
  • An under garment money belt worn around your waist is a safe way to carry your personal cash or passport.
  • Stay with a group of people at all times – always go somewhere in pairs.
  • Take a minimal amount of jewelry with you – nothing flashy.
  • Be a confident traveler even if you are unsure or uneasy in a certain situation; confidence and calmness is key.
  • We also suggest that you make copies of all flight itineraries, wallet contents, passport, visa, etc. and carry copies in a separate, secure location. It would also be a good idea to leave copies of everything with someone at home also, just in case. These copies could prove invaluable should your personal documents be lost or stolen.

Food

We hope you will enjoy the local cuisine. Most meals will be eaten at a hotel or local restaurant. All foods that will be provided to you should be well prepared and safe for you to eat.

Meals are supplied on clinic days, but not on travel or recreation days.

  • As far as drinking water is concerned, to be on the safe side, always drink bottled water and brush your teeth with bottled water at the hotel. Avoid ice. Bottled water will be available.
  • You may want to take some personal snack items with you – good items to take include granola bars, dried fruit, and trail mix.

Time Zone / Weather

WEATHER:
February is the fall for South Africa and it can get cooler in the morning and at night.  The average high is 78F and the average low is 58F.

TIME ZONE:
South Africa is in the South Africa Standard Time zone and does not observe daylight-savings time. South Africa is 5 hours ahead of the East Coast and 8 hours ahead of the West Coast of the United States.

Vaccines

One of the first things you have to be aware of on any international trip is the necessary vaccines.  Some of the vaccines are hard to get in a quick time frame. Please make sure you read and check the CDC website for information on vaccines immediately.

As we travel internationally, we may be exposed to certain diseases that are rare in the United States. Fortunately, the risk of catching these diseases is still quite low since we will be on site for only a short time and will be eating properly prepared food, etc. However, since it is impossible to eliminate all risk, there are a variety of vaccines and immunizations that provide prevention against many of the most serious infectious diseases in the world that we ask each delegation member consider receiving.

Please consult the Centers for Disease Control website for vaccines and immunizations that are recommended. The CDC recommends most travelers be up-to-date on measles as well as your routine vaccines such as MMR. In addition, most travelers get Hepatitis A and Typhoid.

 

Malaria is now present in parts of South Africa such as Kruger National Park so you should consult your physician about the potential of a prophylactic.

Always consult your physician on vaccines and immunizations prior to travel.

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