disregard my last comment. i thought flights from DC (IAD) were included.

craig

Thanks Craig,

I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my post. My friend and I are still considering travelling with AA. I like the idea of travelling with a well known company that many people on Fodors.com have used. We have also been in touch with Wild Wings Safaris. Do you know anything about this small, South African company?

Thanks again,

Karen

karen - i know of wild wings as their owner and i have traded emails before but that is all.

AA is a good company so if you are looking for a company that has been around a long time they will be fine. My late mother (i bought my business from her) has known marc notling for years. you will be in good hands. i just thought that price you posted sounds a bit high. i am not sure if it included flights to/from Livingstone, Zambia.

craig

ok i have a question to anyone who has been to south africa from the states.......im being told to be careful what medications i bring with me.......im also being told not to put all the meds i need in one container but to leave them in their original containers. usually when i travel i take exactly what i need put it all in one container........also being told that some medications are considered illegal even though they are prescribed and there are severe penalties whether you know it or not.......anyone familiar with what they are........i have been doing lots of research on the subject but cant find anything

All I can tell you is that no one looked at my stuff upon arrival in SA and I had plenty of medicines/vitamins in different sorts of containers.

I think you are worrying too much!

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p.../cis_1008.html

ok thanks ekscrunchy...........just want to make sure im safe........i usually just put all meds in a large vitamin bottle.just enough for the trip which includes prescription meds like valium, vicodin and ambien........according to the cdc and a few other websites everything should be in the original containers etc......thanks for the reply.....

I know they always say that but really, I had some of those type things in my luggage--I jumble many of the vitamins together and often the pills are not in the original containers.

What you could do (I do this sometimes) is go to your drugstore and get them to print out a list of your prescriptions...then just take the list along and store the pills anyway you like.

Really, though, do not worry--South Africa will astound you! So beautiful and such lovely people! And the food is out of this world!

That medicine warning is often given. I've never heard about it being enforced anywhere. If you can keep things in their original bottles that's good. I rip off the printed part of the perscription that is part of my receipt and tape it to a baggie with the drugs inside.

But did you see the thread on no Benadryl cough medicine in Zambia? People were jailed over it.

NO! I did not see that!

Come to think of it, I had Benadryl with me when I visited Zambia! I always carry it for allergic reactions!

where is that thread?

Typed in Benadryl and up it popped.
http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...d-benadryl.cfm

wow........now im wondering if this can occur in johannesburg and capetown.........unbelievable

nicolino -

i shouldn't worry too much about a lack of Benadryl - a pharmacist friend of mine reminds me of the advert - "NOTHING works better than Benadryl".

think about it.

regards, ann

Nicolino, don't worry. Or maybe you should worry--worry that your personal medicine chest will soon be subject to searches for Benadryl by your local police and if any is found you'll be required to do community service that might include picking up litter along highways and with all the tires flying off of trucks lately one might come bouncing your way as you're picking up the litter and...

Just start anticipating all of the wonderful things on your upcoming holiday.

If you go to the US State Dept website and click on Zambia, they explain the Benadryl issue and recommend that Americans take no over the counter drugs with them into Zambia, to avoid being jailed. Yikes, doesn't sound very tourist friendly, does it?

Everything about Zambia except the Benadryl policy is great.