Welcome to AH from another Michigander; where abouts in the state are you located?
As to your questions,:
1.) I would check with your current health insurance and see if they will cover you abroad. Having said that, if not, I think you can find short term health policies from various agencies. AS for global rescue: I would not go abroad, to ANY foreign country, without some means of getting my arse back here in the event of a medical issue. If you don't like global rescue, I believe there are others out there. In addition to being trampled by a rhino or elephant, getting snake bit, or being bitten by a lion or croc, there are those "little things" that can sneak up on you........like a blood clot that can travel to your lung after spending 15 hours on a flight to SA.....or a cardiac condition that suddenly decides to make it's presence known while you're thousands of miles from home (especially after being seen by the doctor a week before and being pronounced "fit as a fiddle"
) See it all the time at work........healthy, younger people who suddenly come in with life/death matters without warning. Not meaning to scare you, but in this day and age of 'availabliitly', I can't see not having some method of transport back to the States.
2.) Funding: When I went in 2014, our outfitter agreed to take traveler's checks prior to our departure and did accept them for final payment. However, it appears that travelers checks are now going the way of the dinosaur.......we used them for a trip to California a few years back, and nobody would accept them. We stopped at a AAA office to cash them out (they were issued by AAA), and THEY even refused to cash them!!! And they are the ones who issued them!!
If I were going today, I would pay for the hunt up front, take some US currency, and some Rand for small purchases, such as coffee, snacks, etc. I found that most everyone prefered US dollars to Rand. IIRC, I think that I had $100-$200 changed to Rand PRIOR to going over; I did not use the ATMs prior to going to the SAP office to pick up my firearms; there were too many shady looking people standing around the ATM/banking centers who would then follow people who used them.......seemed like most were looking to "handle your bags" for a tip, but I didn't want to take any chances. One last thought: some outfitters do not accept credit cards! As someone else said, check with your PH PRIOR to leaving the US. Also, as someone pointed out, call your credit card company and let them know you will be traveling abroad prior to departing.
3.) I would suggest a meet & greet service: They will help you get your firearms out of the SAP and get you on your way to where you wish to stay, safely. We stayed at Afton house, and I have no complaints.
PLease realize that this is all based on my personal experiences, and that others may have other (and maybe better) ideas...........good luck on your trip, and don't forget to give us a hunting report when you return. BTW: What species are you planning on hunting?
