Dates, Travel, & documentation

Official Program Dates

Fall 2026 Semester

• U.S. Departure Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026

• Program Start (Arrive Johannesburg): Sunday, August 16, 2026

• Program End (Depart Windhoek): Saturday, November 14, 2026

See the Full Fall 2026 Itinerary & Timeline (PDF)

Spring 2027 Semseter

• U.S. Departure Date: Saturday, January 23, 2027

• Program Start (Arrive Johannesburg): Sunday, January 24, 2027

• Program End (Depart Windhoek): Saturday, May 08, 2027

See the Full Spring 2027 Itinerary & Timeline (PDF)

Core Routing & Flight Logistics

Required Airport Routing

• Arrival Airport: O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) – Johannesburg, South Africa

• Departure Airport: Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) – Windhoek, Namibia

Intra-Program Flight 

• The flight from South Africa to Namibia is purchased and managed entirely by the program. Do not book this leg independently.

Target Flight Windows

• Arrivals: Aim to land in Johannesburg between 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM on your program's start date.

• Departures: Book your return flight out of Windhoek no earlier than 11:00 AM on your program's end date.

• Note: If you choose to arrive ahead of the designated start date, you assume full responsibility for your own ground transportation, lodging, and meals.

Mandatory Action Item

• Once your international flights are finalized, you must submit your details via the Flight Information Questionnaire in your Global Gateway account. 

Booking Advisories & Strategy

Flight Coordination 

Please consult with your program coordinator prior to finalizing your booking. We attempt to align cohort arrival windows as closely as possible and may have specific recommended itineraries.

Preferred Travel Agency 

You are welcome to utilize our designated partner, Northstar Travel Company. Booking through our agency ensures dedicated institutional support in the event of airline delays, cancellations, or missed connections.

Layover & Fare Strategy 

While budget is a factor, we strongly advise reviewing connection times carefully. Excessive layovers (e.g., 10+ hours at London Heathrow or Amsterdam Schiphol) significantly compound travel fatigue prior to orientation. Historically, published international fares tend to be most competitive when searched on Tuesdays.

Managing Jet Lag & Long-Haul Flights

International travel to Southern Africa involves significant transit times, and jet lag can impact your initial energy levels. Depending on your home time zone, South Africa and Namibia will be 6 to 10 hours ahead of your local time. We recommend utilizing the following strategies to minimize travel fatigue and ensure a smooth transition.

Pre-Departure Preparation 

• Two to three weeks prior to your departure, begin incrementally adjusting your internal clock. Attempting to go to bed earlier and waking up earlier will help align your body closer to local regional time before you board your flight.

In-Flight Strategies

• Time Zone Alignment: As soon as you board your flight departing the U.S., set your watch and devices to South African Standard Time (SAST). Plan your onboard sleep and waking hours to match the daytime and nighttime schedule of your destination.

• Hydration: Dehydration significantly worsens the physical effects of jet lag. Avoid caffeine and alcohol while in transit, and aim to consume 2 to 3 liters of water during the journey. We strongly recommend bringing a reusable, empty water bottle through airport security to fill before boarding so you do not have to rely on airline beverage service.

• Mobility: Do not remain seated for the duration of the flight. Periodically walk up and down the aisles to maintain circulation and reduce physical stiffness.

Post-Arrival Routine 

• To adjust as rapidly as possible, avoid napping upon arrival during your first day. Force yourself to stay awake until a reasonable local bedtime that evening to reset your circadian rhythm.

Passports

Be sure to obtain a passport if you do not have one. If you have one, be sure that it is valid until at least six months past your departure from the program.

To obtain a new passport, you will need to submit materials at an in-person appointment:

• Follow the Steps to Apply for a Passport In Person on the U.S. Department of State Website.

• Along with submitting materials, you will also need to pay for the passport fee. To see the most up-to-date costs please visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/fees.html 

To renew your passport, you can renew by mail:

• Follow the steps to Renew (Your Passport) by Mail on the U.S. Department of State Website.

• Along with submitting materials, you will also need to pay for the passport fee. To see the most up-to-date costs please visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/fees.html 

For complete information and application forms, see https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html    

Once you receive your passport, make a copy of the photo page to carry with you (in a separate place from your passport) when you travel. You will also need to upload a copy to your Global Gateway account (Passport Information questionnaire).

As a further safeguard, we require that you also bring a certified copy of your birth certificate (see above where this is described) in case you need to reapply for a lost passport during the semester. 

If you are under the age of 18 or are not a U.S. citizen, please contact our Minneapolis office, as there are special documentation procedures you will need to follow.

Republic of South Africa:  The South African government does not require U.S. citizens to have pre-approved visas before entering South Africa. You need only a valid passport as proof of citizenship. If you are a citizen of another country, you may need to acquire your own visa for South Africa if necessary. Please contact the Minneapolis office ASAP if you are not a U.S. citizen.

Namibia: CGEE will obtain a Namibian group visa for you. Instructions and the forms required for your visa requests can be found in your Global Gateway account. These are due by November 1 (Spring program)/June 1 (Fall program). Please respect these deadlines; Namibia is very strict about documentation and requires foreign students to have a visa before entering the country. The Namibian Ministry of Home Affairs can be very slow in processing these visas, so it is particularly vital that you complete the required forms in a timely fashion. If you do not return your visa application by the stated deadline you may be required to apply for your own visa. 

If you plan on visiting countries other than Namibia (before/after the semester program) you are responsible for acquiring the necessary documentation.

If you plan to stay in Namibia after the end of the program, please bring this to our attention with your visa application. We will try (but cannot guarantee) to make your visa good beyond the last day of the program.  If we cannot validate your visa beyond that date you may need to travel briefly outside of the country and then return as a tourist.

Our staff will have your Namibian visa ready for you when you get to

South Africa.

YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE IT BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE U.S.

South Africa Seminar

The program officially begins in Johannesburg. Since a lot of the orientation and group-building activities occur during the first days, late arrival can detract from these aspects of the program. The first few weeks of the semester will be orientation to the program in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Windhoek. This time has several purposes: 1) to begin developing a living-learning community; 2) to become familiar with some basic information about the two countries; and 3) to become familiar with the coursework and the program's methodology.

You will find that the programming is intense and that the schedule is very full, so rest when you can on the flight to South Africa.

During the first week of the program students will be in Johannesburg, and then travel on to Cape Town. The travel seminar in South Africa provides students with a chance to fit their educational experiences in Namibia into the larger context of Southern Africa. Students will again have the opportunity to incorporate real life experience with academic work, experiencing how the issues raised in the classroom, as well as in meetings and visits, relate to the lives of South Africans.

In the past, the daily itinerary in Johannesburg has included visits with speakers who were active in the liberation struggle, as well as the Freedom Park Monument, and the Apartheid Museum. Students interact with the community of Soweto to gain some experience with Johannesburg’s largest former Black township. In addition to program activities you will have some free time. 

The schedule in South Africa is very full, which leaves little time for free time. In Jo’burg, students find they have the least amount of free time, as they go through orientation sessions and academic programming. In Cape Town, students will have at least one free day, during which they usually climb the infamous Table Mountain, visit the Waterfront, or relax on the beautiful Camps Bay beach among other activities.

Excursions in  Namibia

• Luderitz: this coastal town in Namibia, situated about 800 kilometers south of Windhoek, was the entry point for European colonizers to Namibia. The biggest concentration camp during the German- Namibia genocide was in Luderitz.  During this programming,  we focus our learning  on racial identity in Namibia, the genocide chapter of the 21st century. 

• Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Etosha: important programming takes place in these coastal towns.  

  • Swakopmund is a stronghold of Namibia's tourism. The second biggest concentration camp during the German-Namibia genocide was also in Swakopmund.  Here we learn more about monuments and the legacy of the 1904-1908 genocide.  

  • Walvis Bay is the biggest port in Namibia.  Here, we learn more about foreign investment in Namibia, export processing,  housing matters for local population,  diversity and human rights violations for minority groups.  

• Etosha National Park: In addition to seeing various species of wild animals, including the Big 5, we visit the park to learn about wildlife conservation in Namibia and how this is a biggest contributor to the country's Gross Domestic  Product  (GDP). Here, we also learn about land politics in Namibia and how the park affects the indigenous communities such as the San. 

• Namib desert: we will visit an environmental trust (NaDeeT), situated in the Namib desert to learn about the environmental challenges and its effects on biodiversity,  recycling as a new environmental sustainable activity in Namibia,  scarcity of water resources,  climate change,  solar energy resources,  etc.

Visits by Family and Friends

You are welcome to have family and friends visit while you are in Namibia. Visitors are encouraged to stay in nearby hotels and guesthouses, which offer convenient and comfortable accommodations. But please note that having visitors is not an excuse to miss classes and excursions, and activities with your visitors must be planned during times you are not engaged with program-related activities. The best time for family and friends to visit you would be Fall or Spring Break, or after the program ends. 

In the past families and friends who visited during semester break hired vehicles and did their own tours. By that time you will have an idea of good places to visit and lodge. However, below are some sites you can browse for more information on tours: 

• Truly African Tours

• AIT Holidays

• Lonely Planet Namibia

For accommodation in Windhoek our staff recommend the Rivendell Guest House which is located two blocks from the CGEE house and within walking distance of downtown.  CGEE has used Rivendell to house visiting professors and short-term programs. If it is fully booked, there are a few other reasonably priced places in the neighborhood that we could suggest. 

The Furstenhoff Hotel is also close to the Center, about five minutes from CGEE house and five minutes to downtown, although it is more expensive. Contact details are available on the above website.

With regard to transportation:  for a public transportation option, see Namibia Shuttle.  Otherwise, we recommend a private transport company by the name of Oryx Transfers and Tours, email sshikale@yahoo.com.na Cell. (011) 264 81 202 9137 or (011) 264 81 226 9552. They can provide a vehicle only or a vehicle with a driver.

Another option would be a car hire company: Car Hire Namibia or Dial-a-Driver. 

You will have opportunities to travel on your own during the weekends and the independent travel week during Spring/Fall Break.  For travel that requires more time than the semester break allows, you should consider remaining in the region longer, as students are responsible for attending all CGEE classes and program functions independent of their personal travel. (Keep in mind that you can possibly stay at the CGEE – Namibia house after the last program day for a minimum fee). When doing independent travel, students are responsible for their own accommodation, transportation, food, and other expenses. The information provided below and more can be found in any of the travel guides, or is accessible online from sites such as www.lonelyplanet.com.

While traveling in Namibia can involve long distances, there are a number of places that provide special experiences and can be reached easily for short visits.  There are also other places that provide unique experiences that really require at least a 4-day weekend and a little more effort (but effort that's well worth it), and finally others still that can't be done in less than one week.

Possible Weekend Trips from Windhoek:

• Gross Barmen: Located in a hot springs area with indoor thermal pool as well as an outdoor pool and good bird watching.

• Waterberg Plateau: North of Windhoek in a lovely setting with trips to the top available for sighting many kinds of wildlife, especially endangered species which have been re-established there.

• Hardap Dam Lake and Game Reserve: South of Windhoek with a large lake and extensive hiking trails.

• Brandberg (the highest mountain in Namibia) and Spitzkoppe (a renowned granite outcropping): Both provide interesting viewing, hiking, and ancient rock paintings but have only camping accommodations nearby.

• Africat or the Cheetah Conservation Fund – Both organizations are dedicated to the preservation of cheetahs and leopards in Namibia, have overnight accommodation on the premises or nearby, include predator education centers,  and offer opportunities to see cats very close up.

Longer breaks (a few days - one week+) allow time for visits to:

• Etosha Pan National Park is not only Namibia's premier wildlife reserve, but also one of Africa’s largest with over 100 types of mammals and 300 plus kinds of birds. (Please note that we often include a visit to the park as part of the program schedule.)

• Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world, is in the extreme southern part of the country. The hiking trails are not considered feasible during the hot summer months of October through April.

• The Namib Desert, with many unique and fascinating aspects, can be encountered on many drives. Soussesvlei, within the Namib, is an area of outstanding, colorful sand dunes, the highest in the world, and is 60 km. from the nearest campsite.

• The Orange (or Gariep) River divides Namibia from South Africa, and flows through some stunning desert scenery.  Several tour companies offer 3-6 day canoe trips along the river for about US$500.

• Victoria Falls is a popular destination, and can be visited from both the Zimbabwe and Zambia side. As well as the renowned falls, there are many options of adventure activities and viewing wildlife. If planning on traveling to Victoria Falls, budget around US$500-800 (of that, bring US$200 in cash for Visa and hostel payment).

Getting to most of these places requires private transportation or taking advantage of one of the many tour groups. In planning personal travel, we remind you to plan a budget according to your travel plans. You may want to travel in small groups by bus or train.

When traveling over-land and economizing on food and lodging, a budget of US$30 per day is sufficient (in addition to transportation costs).  You may want to allot extra funds (US$300-1,000 recommended) for souvenir purchases, adventure activities (rafting, bungee jumping, etc.) and emergencies.