Safety & Guest Care

What we do about safety.

Document: Guest Safety & Movement Protocol
Version: 1.1
Last reviewed: 10 October 2026
Reviewed by: Sydney Hall, Founder & Partner

The disclosure

US State Department advisory. Guests are asked to review the current US State Department travel advisory for South Africa before departure. The official advisory is available at travel.state.gov.

Colourful painted houses lining a cobbled street in Bo-Kaap, Cape Town, with Table Mountain behind — Bo-Kaap, Cape Town — walked with a host, never alone

The ledger

Phases 01 to 03 change with your package. From phase 04 — ground transport and hotel onward — the two paths converge and the trip is identical.

Safety Ledger — phases from wheels-down to wheels-up, the party responsible for each phase, and what happens.
№	Phase	Responsible	What happens
01	Departure, US gatewayResponsibleOne CSTA travelling hostWhat happensOne of the two CSTA hosts meets the group at Atlanta and flies with you to South Africa. You are not travelling alone from the first gate. The second host is waiting in Johannesburg.	One CSTA travelling host	One of the two CSTA hosts meets the group at Atlanta and flies with you to South Africa. You are not travelling alone from the first gate. The second host is waiting in Johannesburg.
02	Arrival, OR Tambo InternationalResponsibleThe travelling host + the Johannesburg hostWhat happensThe host who flew with you stays with the group off the aircraft. The second host meets the group inside the terminal. From here both hosts are with you for the rest of the trip.	The travelling host + the Johannesburg host	The host who flew with you stays with the group off the aircraft. The second host meets the group inside the terminal. From here both hosts are with you for the rest of the trip.
03	Immigration and baggageResponsibleThe travelling host + the Johannesburg hostWhat happensBoth hosts walk the group through immigration and baggage claim. No independent taxi rank. No shuttle desks.	The travelling host + the Johannesburg host	Both hosts walk the group through immigration and baggage claim. No independent taxi rank. No shuttle desks.
04	Airport-to-hotel transfers and full ground logisticsResponsibleBoth CSTA hosts + ground logisticsWhat happensPrivate vehicle, pre-cleared driver, direct route. Vehicle and route logged with CSTA operations before you land.	Both CSTA hosts + ground logistics	Private vehicle, pre-cleared driver, direct route. Vehicle and route logged with CSTA operations before you land.
05	Hosted evenings outResponsibleBoth CSTA hosts + vetted driverWhat happensPrivate transport to and from the venue, both hosts present throughout, and the group returns together.	Both CSTA hosts + vetted driver	Private transport to and from the venue, both hosts present throughout, and the group returns together.
06	Hotel arrival and check-inResponsibleBoth CSTA hosts + hotel duty managerWhat happensRoom assigned in advance. Both hosts walk the group to rooms on arrival and stay at the same hotel as the group. Room and floor selected against CSTA's standing hotel brief.	Both CSTA hosts + hotel duty manager	Room assigned in advance. Both hosts walk the group to rooms on arrival and stay at the same hotel as the group. Room and floor selected against CSTA's standing hotel brief.
07	Daily movementResponsibleBoth CSTA hosts + driverWhat happensAll movement is in vetted vehicles with vetted drivers. Guests are not asked to hail transport, walk unfamiliar routes at night, or carry passports outside the hotel safe.	Both CSTA hosts + driver	All movement is in vetted vehicles with vetted drivers. Guests are not asked to hail transport, walk unfamiliar routes at night, or carry passports outside the hotel safe.
08	Township and cultural site visitsResponsibleBoth CSTA hosts + local partnerWhat happensVisits are pre-coordinated with local hosts on site. You arrive with a name, not as a stranger. No unscheduled stops.	Both CSTA hosts + local partner	Visits are pre-coordinated with local hosts on site. You arrive with a name, not as a stranger. No unscheduled stops.
09	Medical or emergency eventResponsibleBoth CSTA hosts + 24-hour emergency protocolWhat happensBoth hosts carry a 24-hour emergency contact line. The nearest private hospital is identified in advance for every night of the itinerary, and guests are routed there directly in an emergency.	Both CSTA hosts + 24-hour emergency protocol	Both hosts carry a 24-hour emergency contact line. The nearest private hospital is identified in advance for every night of the itinerary, and guests are routed there directly in an emergency.
10	Internal flights and inter-city transferResponsibleBoth CSTA hostsWhat happensBooked on your behalf. Both hosts fly with the group between Johannesburg and Cape Town and back. Escorted airside on the departure end, met at the aircraft door on the arrival end.	Both CSTA hosts	Booked on your behalf. Both hosts fly with the group between Johannesburg and Cape Town and back. Escorted airside on the departure end, met at the aircraft door on the arrival end.
11	Return to airport, departureResponsibleBoth CSTA hostsWhat happensBoth hosts see the group off at OR Tambo — driven to the airport, walked through check-in, and left at the international departures security line, not before. One host flies home with the group.	Both CSTA hosts	Both hosts see the group off at OR Tambo — driven to the airport, walked through check-in, and left at the international departures security line, not before. One host flies home with the group.

People viewing paintings displayed on a brick wall at a street art market in Maboneng, Johannesburg — Maboneng, Johannesburg — pre-coordinated with local partners on site

What we will not do

— No unescorted evening movement.
— No unvetted local transport.
— No township or community visit without a contracted local partner on site.
— No itinerary improvisation. Changes are made by the hosts, not by the group.

If something changes

Itineraries are built in advance, but travel is live and occasional adjustments happen — a site visit may be rescheduled, a day reordered, or an activity substituted for reasons of safety, weather, or local conditions. When this happens, CSTA arranges an equivalent alternative and you are informed by your host. Any change that affects your departure date or triggers a refund is governed by the refund and cancellation policy.

Guest and family contact line, 24/7

WhatsApp +1 202 271 1656

Monitored by a CSTA host. Same number for guests on the ground and family at home.

Pedestrian plaza at Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, with modern buildings and outdoor cafes — Melrose Arch, Johannesburg — secured precinct, vetted vehicles to the door

Insurance

Travel and flight insurance is included; policy details are sent after booking. Guests may add extra cover. Any insurance claim is subject to the policy terms; CSTA’s refund and cancellation policy still applies. How trip protection works with refunds.

Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, Johannesburg, lit up at night with the city skyline behind — Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton at night — evening movement is escorted

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