Africa's allure lies in the pristine, unspoilt nature of her wildlife sanctuaries and for this reason, all our safaris are selected to ensure that you will be in the company of informed, experienced and responsible ranger guides.
Have you looked into the wonderful vacations Africa has to offer? Our safaris are selected according to certain criteria which, we believe, will preserve Africa’s natural environment and maintain the dignity of her indigenous people.
To ensure your holiday is everything you dream of we ask that you take a moment to consider our travel advice.
Wear neutral colours; khaki, olive-green, grey, brown so as to blend in with the environment.
Bring binoculars - one pair per person.
Bring sufficient film (and spare batteries) for your camera. Some camps have 220/240V electrical supplies for recharging video and digital camera batteries, but others do not. Either bring a good supply of batteries to keep you going at the camps where you can’t charge, or better, obtain a 12 volt charger which can be used from vehicles.
Ask permission before taking photographs of locals.
Support local business and community initiatives by buying local items rather than imported goods, but be wary of informal transportation, especially "mini-taxis", which are frequently overloaded and under-serviced.
Read up (guidebooks, historical novels, travel articles) about the country you are visiting - familiarise yourself with the local climate, customs and cultures. The latter will earn you respect and diminish the chances of inadvertently offending the locals.
Please use water sparingly - water is a scarce resource.
As a thoughtful gesture, bring gifts for local children or people that will be useful or educational. Sweets rot the teeth and dentists are few and far between and unaffordable to most rural people. We suggest magazines, books, colouring pencils and paper.
Join us in preserving human dignity and conserving Africa's natural heritage.
Don't litter.
If you do come to Africa on an unguided trip, please read up about your destination, and familiarise yourself with potential health and safety hazards.
When you pack your bag please bear in mind the luggage restrictions of 12kg (26lbs) on light aircraft transfers and 20kg (44lbs) on scheduled airline flights.
Malaria
Please consult your doctor as to which malaria prophylaxis you should
take.
If you become ill on your return, please ensure that your doctor knows
you have been in a malarial area and does everything to establish that
your illness is not malaria.
Malaria is not a serious problem if you are sensible and take basic
precautions. There are very few incidents of travellers, who have
taken preventative measures, contracting malaria.
Water
It is very important that you drink plenty of water especially during
the warmer months. It is generally recommended that guests drink at
least 2 to 3 litres (4 to 6 pints) of water per day to limit the
effects of dehydration. This excludes tea, coffee and alcoholic
beverages, which act as diuretics and can actually contribute to
dehydration.
Generally, water throughout Southern Africa is safe to drink directly
from the tap. However, bottled water is readily available, so please
do not allow yourself to become dehydrated.
Other Health Issues
Please check with your local travel clinic for advice on other
health requirements.
Bring sunglasses, sunscreen (SPF15 or higher) and preventative
medication (where appropriate). Wear sunscreens and cover up during
the hottest time of day - between 11H00 and 15H00.
Check your skin after walks in nature to identify ticks and remove by
smothering in an oily substance like petroleum jelly and removing
after 20 minutes.
It is a condition of booking, that the sole responsibility lies with the guest to ensure that they carry the correct comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover themselves, as well as any dependants/travelling companions for the duration of their trip to Africa.
Baggage & Money Insurance
It is advisable to take out baggage and money insurance,
especially if you are carrying a lot of cash or expensive and valuable
camera equipment. You should always carry such equipment as "carry-on"
luggage. Do not put anything of value in your checked-in baggage!
Cancellation and Curtailment
You might have to cancel or curtail your journey due to unforeseen
circumstances. If for any reason you cancel a trip close to departure
date, you could lose the entire cost of your holiday. Should you have
to leave before your holiday is finished, we cannot refund you the
cost of the portion of the package you do not complete. In the
eventuality of this happening, insurance may cover you, depending on
the reason for cancellation and curtailment.
Claims
If you anticipate an insurance claim upon your return, be sure to
document as accurately as possible any accident, injury or loss.
Doctor’s notes and police reports will aid any claim.
Health Insurance
It is compulsory to have full medical, emergency evacuation and
repatriation cover for the period of time you are away.
If you are on a fully inclusive pre-paid safari you shouldn’t need much more than for bar bills, tips and souvenirs. US Dollars or the local currency are the preferred currency. In some countries other currencies are nearly impossible to use or exchange. Travelers cheques should be accepted by most lodges but neither lodges nor banks will exchange them for cash.
Credit card and cash point machine facilities are available in the urban centres. But many remote locations will not accept them due to limited banking facilities in those areas.
International visitors require a valid passport together with onward travel documents.
If travelling to South Africa then guests must please ensure that their passport is valid for at least 6 months after their entry date and that they have a minimum of 2 blank pages (if there is insufficient space in the passport then entry will be denied) in their passport to enable the entry visa to be issued. In addition if a father (or mother) is travelling with his (her) children alone then a letter of consent, certified by their local police, must be signed by the mother (father) and carried with them.
Please ensure that you have all the necessary visas prior to departure (unless available on entry).
Telecommunications in the urban areas are easily accessible but you may be visiting in very remote parts of Africa which may not have telephones.
An increasing number of travellers are bringing
satellite phones along with them. As most people come on safari
to “get away from it all”, we feel that it is considerate to follow
some guidelines on the use of satellite phones:
- Please ensure the ring tone is kept at a low volume to avoid
disturbing other guests.
- Please use your phone in the privacy of your room and not any
of the common areas: dining room, bar/lounge area, or on any of the
vehicles or on game drives.
It is important to note that Africa’s wildlife is just that – wild.
In many places there are no fences and potentially dangerous animals can (and do!) wander through. Attacks by wild animals are rare, however.
Please listen to your guides and hosts. The safety precautions need to be taken seriously.
Don't go wandering off on your own, approach animals on foot, or leave your vehicle to do so, unless you are with a qualified guide.
Don't swim in rivers unless your guide recommends it. Crocodiles, hippos and bilharzia are potential dangers.
Always observe animals silently and with a minimum of disturbance to their natural activities. Loud talking on game drives can frighten the animals away.
Never attempt to attract an animal's attention. Don't imitate animal sounds, clap your hands, pound the vehicle or throw objects. Erratic movements will frighten or disturb the wildlife.
Please respect your host-driver-guide's judgment about proximity to lions, cheetahs and leopards. Don't insist that he take the vehicle closer so you can get a better photograph. A vehicle driven too close can hinder a hunt or cause animals to abandon a hard-earned meal.
Litter tossed on the ground can choke or poison animals and birds and is unsightly.
Refrain from smoking on game drives. The dry African bush ignites very easily, and a flash fire can kill animals.
Don't drive off the roads in game reserves and National Parks.
Don't feed animals or birds (especially baboons and hyenas) - this creates dependency, so they become a threat to travellers and rangers have to shoot them!
Don't buy products made from endangered fauna or flora. If you see such curios for sale on your trip please notify Neil Greenwood (ngreenwood @ ifaw.org) at the International Fund for Animal Welfare on who in turn will notify the relevant authorities or CITES.