Durban - Post Report Question and Answers
Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
Veterinarians are available. We haven't used an kenneling services, but a former colleague did and said it was a like a spa for their 80 lb dog. They had to leave their dog in the kennel while the transferred out of Durban and then hired a local pet shipper to help get the dog out of Durban a couple months afterwards. There is no quarantine. It is highly complex to get your pet into South Africa, but it is doable. Start the process early and double check every step of the process. Trust your vet in the US, hire a US pet shipper (it's required) and the pet must go via cargo. Hiring a South African pet shipper to import the dog is optional, but will make the process easier. We had a family member ship our dog two weeks after our arrival since we were in a hotel at first and hotels do not allow pets. Reminder: START EARLY! - Sep 2024
There is a very complicated and expensive procedure for getting pets into South Africa. The can arrive only as cargo, not as accompanied baggage or in the passenger compartment. You need to be well-informed and prepared a few months in advance to avoid possible disaster. Use a good South African pet-shipper to advise you and help handle the details. - Sep 2010
