South Africa Travel Guide

With more options and resources out there than ever before, most disabilities shouldn't stop anyone from traveling. While not as sophisticated as those in first-world countries, facilities here are generally satisfactory, with a growing number of tourist attractions designed to be disability-friendly. All major airlines can provide assistance, and Avis and Budget offer cars with automatic transmissions and hand controls. Note that many of the national parks, including the Kruger, as well as the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service (KN NCS) camps, have specially adapted huts. Titch Tours (tel. 27/21/686-5501; titcheve@iafrica.com) plots tailor-made trips, from car hire to arranging guides, for the physically and visually challenged throughout southern Africa. Other companies specializing in tours throughout the country for travelers with disabilities are Flamingo Adventure Tours (tel. 27/21/557-4496; www.flamingotours.co.za).

Organizations that offer assistance to travelers with disabilities include MossRehab (www.mossresourcenet.org), the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB; tel. 800/232-5463; www.afb.org), and SATH (Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality; tel. 212/447-7284; www.sath.org). AirAmbulanceCard.com is now partnered with SATH and allows you to preselect top-notch hospitals in case of an emergency.