How much cash do we need for our tour?

Most guests ask this question at some point in the booking process. Find below, a list of extra costs you may encounter during your holiday with Tailor Made Safaris.
Self-drive Related costs

Additional costs from AVIS

​​These costs cannot be paid in advance by Tailor Made Safaris and therefore will be charged to your credit card on collection by Avis.

    AVIS charges
​
    Price

    Contract fees
​
    ZAR 90

    Additional driver
​
    ZAR 415

    Car seat
​
    From ZAR 440
     plus ZAR 2000 deposit

    One-way fee
  • ​when the pick-up and drop-off destinations are different
​​
    Up to ZAR 1700
     Rate varies depending on distance

    Deposit
  • if all is well, this will be deposited back into your account after returning the car
​​
    From ZAR 4000
    depending on the number of rental days

    Fuel
  • when returning the car with an empty fuel tank.
​​
    Varies depending on how empty the tank is.
These are generally the only additional costs relevant to vehicle rental. Contact us if you would like to receive a list of all AVIS' potencial extra charges. 

Fuel

Fuel costs around ZAR 15 per litre. Expect to spend roughly ZAR 1 per kilometre. Our Elephant Coast or Cape and Garden  
Route tours usually won’t drive more than 800 kilometres. Our other tours generally won't exceed 2000 kilometres.

Toll roads

Many of South Africa’s major roads are toll roads and, depending on where you travel, the following toll fees apply. 
Please note, toll fees are only payable in cash.

    Destination
​
    Price
​    Elephant Coast
  • ​Richards Bay to the north
  • ​Durban to the north

  • No toll roads
  • From ZAR 59 one way
    Drakensberg Mountains
​     Johannesburg to Durban
    From ZAR 225 one-way
    Northern South Africa​
    From ZAR 380 total costs
    Northern Cape​
    No toll roads
    Garden Route​
    From ZAR 45 one-way
    Swaziland to Johannesburg
    From ZAR 53 one-way
Crossing borders

    Border
​
    Cost

    Mozambique
​
    Approximately ZAR 850
     price changes regularly

    Swaziland
​
    Approximately ZAR 50 for the car, no visa needed
National Parks Entrance Fees
You will need to pay entrance fees (per person per day) for most national parks. At Mkhuze Game Reserve, Ithala Game Reserve, Tembe Elephant Park, and iSimangaliso Wetland Park you can expect to pay an average of ZAR 45 per person and ZAR 45 per car. Fees are higher at better-known parks: ZAR 210 
per person for Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, ZAR 240 for Addo Elephant Park, and ZAR 305 per person for Kruger Park.

​Click here for a full list of entrance fees.
Optional activities
Most of your activities are included in our tours, but you might want to book extra. Prices are roughly as follows:

    Activity
​
    Price per person
    Full day game drive
    ZAR 1000
    Half day game drive
    ZAR 700
    Night drive (3 hours)
    ZAR 485
    Walking safari (3 hours)
    ZAR 350
    Dolphin tour (3 hours)
    ZAR 450
    Whale watching tour (3 hours)
    ZAR 950
    Horse riding
    ZAR 400 per hour
    Boat tour on estuary or lake
    ZAR 200 - 350
    Cultural evening
    ZAR 250
    Cultural day tour
    ZAR 600
    Bungee jump
    ZAR 900
Grocery Shopping
This lists contains average prices of some items, so you have a general idea of groceries costs.

    Product
​
    Average price
    Milk (1 litre)
    ZAR 15
    Bread
    ZAR 12
    Juice (1 litre)
    ZAR 18
    Coke (2 litre)
    ZAR 18
    Chips
    ZAR 15
    Chocolate bar
    ZAR 15
Internet - Laundry - Souvenirs

Internet & WiFi

​Most lodges have WIFI, often this is free of charge but sometimes there will be a small fee of around ZAR 50.

Laundry services

​Many guesthouses and lodges offer laundry services; usually this costs ZAR 50-120 per load. 
In higher end lodges you'll be charged per item, so the total price can add up to about ZAR 350.

Souvenirs

​Most people like to bring some souvenirs home with them. Prices vary from ZAR 20 to ZAR 20.000 depending on whether 
you buy a simple bracelet or South African art. ​
Restaurants
Restaurant prices largely depend on what you order and location (a trendy restaurant in Cape Town or a simple 
restaurant on the Elephant Coast). Please find the average prices of a meal below.

    Meal
​
    Average price
    Lunch
    ZAR 60 - 100
    Dinner
    ZAR 100 - 200
    Beer
    ZAR 20 - 25
Tipping
​If you go out for dinner in a restaurant and the service is good, a tip of 10% of the total bill is the norm. 
 
To petrol and parking attendants, ZAR 2 is appropriate.
 
On arrival you might be approached by someone asking to help you with your luggage. If you accept these services, a tip between 5 and 10 rand is sufficient.
 
It is also customary to tip your activities guide (game drives, boat trips etc) if he/she is cordial and sufficiently 
knowledgeable. A rate of 20 rand per person per activity is the norm.
 
If you stay at 4 or 5 star lodges, tips are usually higher. You tip around ZAR 50 per person per day for the housekeeping and the same amount for the guide.
 
If you have booked a guided tour and wish to tip the Tailor Made Safaris guide you are welcome to. How much is up to you. Generally speaking people give around ZAR 1000 per week, regardless of group size.