If you're an animal lover, don't despair of ever travelling with your pet ! At Europcar, we are more than happy to allow you to travel with your pets in our vehicles.
Before travelling with your pet, do check whether your hotel is pet-friendly. Also, be aware that most countries do have quarantine requirements, especially because of the easy transmission of rabies.
If you are travelling within your home country, you probably will not have to acquire any special documentation before transporting your pet. Some cities, however, have different regulations to others, so before you depart, it is advisable to check your destination city's animal regulations just in case.
If you are not travelling within your home country, it is important to check the regulations of the country (and individual cities) you plan to visit. You may be asked to visit your veterinarian for a Rabies Vaccination Certificate and a Health Certificate before your pet is allowed to travel with you.
General Guidelines
The following tips are a guide only. We recommend that you check your particular destination's specific rules on travelling with pets. Also, many of the regulations in southern Africa are specific to your type of pet, so be sure to check the regulations for each animal you plan to travel with.
Remember that acquiring health certificates and import permits can take up to six weeks, so be sure to request them timeously!
- If you are not from southern Africa (or if you are a southern African not travelling within your home country) you may be asked to provide an Import Permit for your pet. South Africa requires an import permit for all pets entering the country.
- Some cities have different quarantine regulations to other cities within the same country. In South Africa, for example, only Durban requires a rabies vaccination certificate for your pet. Other South African cities only require a Current Health Clearance Certificate, which can be completed by your vet.
- Zambia requires dogs to be quarantined for 30 days upon arrival in the country. Botswana and Namibia, however, do not request quarantine for dogs or cats.
- In most southern African countries, birds will usually require an import permit as well as a specific Health Clearance for Birds.
- When you arrive in the country you are holidaying in, especially if you are flying, be sure to declare your pets as Manifest Cargo. If you attempt to declare your pets as excess luggage, they may well be sent back to your country of departure!
Once you have obtained all the documentation you need, rest assured that Europcar is a pet-friendly zone!
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