Faculty-Led South Africa FAQs
Will my students need to apply for visas prior to arriving in South Africa?
No, provided that the duration of your faculty-led program in South Africa is less than 90 days. When you and your students pass through South African customs, you will be issued tourist visas, valid for up to 90 days, after presenting a copy of your flight itinerary to immigration officials.
What type of accommodation will we be staying in?
We will select accommodation based upon your teaching requirements and budget. Every professor/school we have worked with in the past has different budgetary requirements, and generally speaking, bigger program budgets will allow for a greater range of accommodation choices. Backpacker-style accommodation is the most cost-effective solution, whereas hotels are more luxurious but will make a sizeable dent in any program's budget. For programs based in Cape Town, we have access to several large, fully-furnished houses that can be rented out on a short term basis. This housing option is quite popular because students stay in individual rooms and have more personal space. The lounge area also provides a nice space for evening reflection sessions with students and their faculty leader.
Is it safe to bring a group of students to South Africa?
When designing trip itineraries, we place a premium on group safety and security. Our organization has an excellent safety record because we understand that "knowing the facts" is the most effective way to avoid becoming a victim of crime in South Africa. All of our faculty-led groups receive a comprehensive safety and security briefing during a welcome orientation and a staff member and/or professional guide lead all group excursions. Our program drivers are all in possession of a South African Professional Driving Permit.
Can you arrange short-term internships for my students?
Absolutely. Faculty-Led South Africa is a division of the Volunteer Adventure Corps, a professional internship program based in Cape Town, South Africa. We have an extensive in-country internship site network and often recommend to professors that an internship or volunteer opportunity be incorporated into a trip itinerary.
How do you arrange transportation?
We generally rent a van (or two, depending on group size) for the duration of your faculty-led program in South Africa. The vehicle is driven by one of our staff drivers.
How do you coordinate meals for larger student groups?
This is a question that varies from program to program. Some faculty leaders prefer to dine exclusively at restaurants whereas others prefer to dine-in to save money. The Faculty-Led South Africa cook, Ivy Ndwanya, is available to prepare any meals necessary, from breakfast to dinner. Ivy generally prepares South African meals (e.g., vegetarian casserole, smoked chicken & avocado salad with a maize meal pudding desert) and will prepare individual meals for students with special dietary requirements.
How will I manage payments and the budget while in South Africa?
We will manage all payments and monitor your budget for you. Prior to departure, we will have extensive conversations about your budget and itinerary. After finalizing an itinerary, we will agree upon a final budget for your trip and your institution will be invoiced for a single amount that covers all expenses. We will manage your budget within the country and a member of our staff will meet with you on a daily basis to review the budget status. Our staff will take care of all accommodation payments, deposit requests, vehicle bookings, fuel payments, etc.
I would like to conduct academic research while traveling with my students to South Africa. Is this possible?
Yes. We encourage professors with this objective to pursue independent research during their trip to South Africa. We design itineraries that allow you to frequently break away from the group if necessary. Our staff members keep students under frequent supervision and are ready and willing to assume leadership duties when you need a break from your students.
Can you arrange meetings with local professors, NGOs or politicians?
Yes. We have extensive connections to all of the above, particularly in the city of Cape Town, where South African Parliament is located.
