Going to Cape Town, can I bring an orchid back to the USA?
 

We are going to Cape Town, South Africa next month and I'm wondering if I can bring an orchid back to the USA? If not, I won't get my hopes up. Just curious. Would be a GREAT souvenir to add to my 50+ orchid collection.

I don't know if you can bring back orchids from South Africa, but if you are in Cape Town you can't miss Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. It's a garden of plants all native to Southern Africa.

Kirstenbosch | SANBI

If you happen to be in the Cape Town/Western Cape area in late August/early September the wildflowers are in bloom along the West Coast. If interested below is a link to my pictures from my trip a couple years ago.

https://rncollins.shutterfly.com/242

Oh thank you!!!! My daughter graduated college and is there volunteering at Sanccob with the endangered birds (mainly penguins) so we thought we'd go see her. I would love to go to this botanical garden!! Thanks for sharing your pictures too!

Yes you can, and as long as you bring back 12 or fewer plants, no import permit is required. However you MUST obtain phytosanitary certification from the seller for each plant, and declare them when you go through customs. The plants will need to be inspected, which if you re enter the US at JFK is no problem. Otherwise the plants will need to be sent to an APHIS inspection station and from there to your house, at your expense.

Ok, so a reputable seller would know what that certificate is, I would assume. I'm not even sure I'll bring one home, but if I happen to stumble upon an orchid nursery there, then all bets are on.

Cape Town is a beautiful city. Imagine a city with a mountain right in the middle of it! Be sure to take a tour of the cape pennsinula... You'll stop at Boulder's Beach and see the Penguins. I can recommend a tour guide/company if you need one.

Be sure to check out the travel forum on tripadvisor.

I agree, Cape Town and area is wonderful. Tour down to cape point as well (the very tip). We really liked Cape Town. Check out some wineries and I believe there is one there where they keep orphaned cheetahs that you can go see and be with. It is a conservation project aimed at raising awareness. I don't know the name but someone should once there if you ask. Or do some Googling before you go. Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden was well worth seeing.

Go to exotic plant company in franshoek

Why no CITES and import permits for South Africa?

If the species are listed under CITES then yes, CITES paperwork would also be required. No import permit is ever required by the country the plants are exported from. I don't know if any export paperwork is required by South Africa, but under US law importation of 12 or fewer plants requires only the phytosanitary certification and official inspection.