For Namibia, South Africa and Botswana, no pre-issued visas are required for travelers with German citizenship for stays of up to 90 days. Visas for Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi are available on arrival.
Travelers with other citizenship must inform themselves in time at the respective embassy about the entry formalities.
In any case, a passport valid for at least six months beyond the return date with at least two free pages, as well as a valid airline ticket for home or onward travel are required.
Children and adolescents under the age of 18 who are not traveling to Namibia, South Africa or Botwana accompanied by their parents or with only one legal guardian must carry a declaration of consent in English signed by both parents or the absent legal guardian in addition to the required entry documents.
The declaration must contain the passport number of the juvenile. Passport copies of the absent parent(s) and an international birth certificate of the child/adolescent (translated into English) naming the parents are also required. If one parent has sole custody, the court order on this must be shown on request; in the event of the death of one parent, the death certificate. Children traveling alone must also carry a letter of confirmation from the person with whom the minor traveling alone is staying in Namibia, South Africa and Botswana, copies of their passport and residence permit, if applicable.
The background to the stricter regulations is the growing number of kidnappings, human trafficking and human robbery in southern Africa.