Ericka

Has anyone been able to "use" a SA friend to book an accomodation at a cheaper rate? Successes? Failures?

We have someone who would be willing to do this for us, but I have to wonder if there are issues when you show up and you are clearly not a resident.

pattysuericia

Hello Ericka,
Yes, I had SA friends book accommodations for me at a cheaper rate but they came with me as well. Absolutely nothing happened so it was indeed successful.

safarinut

Leopardman

Isn't Jaco Buys the best ranger you've ever seen?

welltraveledbrit

Erika,
Like Patty I've had friends book in Zimbabwe and we've gone together on the local rate. Even the local rate is expensive for them.

As of a few years ago in Harare if you booked on a local rate (with a local agent) you had to show a residency visa unless they knew you were really local. When I lived in Zim I booked the local rate all the time but had to show my temporary employment permit to agent.

As I understood it, the local agents wouldn't knowingly book foriegners on a local rate because it was considered "bad form" and created tensions with the lodges. I was never asked for local id at the lodges as in my experience they relied on agents to enforce the rules

ArthurSA

I've seen advertisements from the likes of the Southern Sun Group that say that an S.A. Identity Document must be produced when checking in, for "S.A. Resident Rates".