1. Climate
East Africa :- Due
to its location
- close to the
Equator, night
and day are almost
equal all year
round. The coast
is often hot and
humid. Mornings
in the central
Highlands can be
cool while in the
North and North
East, the days
are dry as it is
neither too hot
nor too cold. In
general the long
rains are from
April to June and
the short rains
occur from late
October through
November. July
and August are
generally the coolest
months and most
popular time for
travel.
Indian Ocean Islands:
- The rains are from
November to April
with occasional cyclones
during this time.
The dry season is
from May to October
and ideal for a beach
holiday.
Southern Africa:
- In general the
rainy season is from
late November to
April.
2. Security
Take normal precautions
as in any other
countries worldwide.
Keep a close
watch on your
handbags, wallets,
and cameras at
all times. Avoid
walking at night,
use reliable
taxis recommended
by hotels. Place
all valuables
in safe deposit
boxes at hotels
and lodges and
only carry necessary
amounts of cash.
Wear as little
jewelry as possible
if any and never
leave valuables
in hotel rooms
or in an unattended
vehicle.
3.
Visa & Passport
You must have a
passport that
is valid for
not less than
6 months when
departing from
any of the African
countries. Visa
regulation depends
on the countries
you are visiting
and the country
of origin. If
you depart any
of the African
country and re-enter
for your return
flight or continuation
of your tour,
you may require
double or multiple
entry visas.
Please check
the regulations
with your nearest
diplomatic mission
4. Health Regulation
Visitors arriving
from yellow fever
and cholera infested
areas must have
a valid vaccination
certificate.
Please bear in
mind that you
may require the
vaccine if you
travel to multiple
destinations
in Africa. Malaria
is rare in the
highlands but
prevalent in
the hot and humid
low altitude
areas around
the coast, lakes
and grasslands.
Prescribed dosage
of Malaria Prophylactics
is recommended
and most are
required to be
taken week(s)
before travel,
during your stay
and after your
return home (consult
your doctor,
pharmacist).
We recommend
you to carry
an insect repellent.
It is safe to swim
in the sea and
swimming pools
but NOT in lakes,
rivers and open
reservoirs as they
may be infested
with bilharzias
parasites.
Drinking water
from these places
is not advisable.
Drinking bottled
water is recommended.
We advise you to
take emergency
evacuation coverage
and comprehensive
travel insurance.
5. Customs and
exit regulation
Personal possessions,
cameras and films
may be imported
temporarily without
a permit or duty.
However professional
video equipment,
tape recorders,
radios, musical
instruments, filming
equipment may require
a customs bond
to ensure that
these goods are
re-exported. Firearms
require special
permit that must
be obtained prior
to arrival. Customs
officials on arrival
and departure normally
inspect baggage.
Please adhere to
baggage limitations
by the airline
for international
carrier. Domestic
carrier allows
only 10-15 kilos
in soft bags depending
on the carrier.
Excess baggage
charges can be
quite expensive.
6. Airport Departure
Tax
Airport departure
taxes are generally
included in the
ticket cost for
international flights
however there are
exceptions for
some places such
as Zanzibar, Zambia
and also for local
flights (e.g. internal
flights to game
parks in Kenya,
Tanzania etc which
will be advised
when booking a
tour).
7. Currency
It is illegal to
depart or enter
most of the African
countries with
anything other
than nominal
amounts of local
currency. In
general there
is no restriction
to the amount
of foreign currency
a visitor may
import provided
that it is exchanged
through authorized
dealers only.
It is essential
to retain a receipt
for each transaction
to re-exchange
the local currency
on departure.
Well known credit
cards, travelers'
cheques are widely
accepted. It
is a legal offence
to deface local
currency. Please
bear in mind
that there maybe
a surcharge for
the use of credit
cards.
8. Banks
Banking hours are
generally 09h00
- 14h00 Monday
to Friday (except
public holidays).
Most hotels and
lodges change
money outside
these hours.
9. Hotel Check-in
/Checkout
The normal checkout
time is 10h00 therefore
rooms may not be
ready for habitation
until 12h00. If
one is arriving
very early morning,
we recommend that
rooms be reserved
from the preceding
night (an extra
night). Dayrooms
are generally reserved
from 10h00 - 18h00.
10. Children
Children are generally
welcome at most
places however
please check
before booking
the tour as there
are restrictions
at some lodges
and certain activities
also have restrictions
for younger children.
Please carry
enough baby food
and accessories,
as these may
not be available
on safari. Special
meals for babies
cannot be guaranteed.
11.
Clothing, Laundry & Luggage
Clothing should
be comfortable
and casual on safaris.
Light weight and
light colour clothing
is suitable for
the bush. We recommend
long sleeves for
protection for
mosquitoes in the
evening and sun
protection during
the day. Certain
restaurants and
d hotels may require
smart casual dress
and a tie for the
men. At high altitudes,
where early mornings
and evenings can
be chilly, warm
sweaters, socks
and comfortable
shoes are recommended.
Hat, sunglasses,
toothpaste, toothbrush,
shampoo, combs,
suntan lotion,
swimwear, small
first aid kit,
a flashlight, an
alarm clock, films,
camera, batteries,
notebook are some
items which should
not be forgotten
when packing for
your trip.
Most hotels and
lodges offer laundry
services, therefore
limit your luggage
to a soft, and
preferably water
proof duffel bag
of 12 kg (27 lb)
for safari.
We strongly recommend
that luggage is
limited to one
piece per person.
A soft duffel bag
for safari is strongly
recommended. All
city hotels provide
secure storage
for left luggage.
Journeys on light
aircrafts donot
permit more than
15kgs (33 lb) per
person. At Treehotels
in Kenya, only
a small overnight
bag is permitted,
and rest of the
luggage is stored
at the base hotel
(storage is secure).
We donot accept
any liability for
loss or damage
to luggage whilst
on safari and clients
are strongly recommended
to effect personal
luggage insurance
before leaving
home.
12. Electricity
Electricity in
most African
countries is
240 volts/50
cycles therefore
for most 110
appliances you
will need an
adapter for the
proper plug configuration
and converter
for the correct
current. Most
of the tented
camps donot have
outlets in the
tent and some
hotels and lodges
have power only
in the early
mornings and
evenings.
13. Photography
Films of common
type are generally
available at
safari camps,
hotels and lodges
even in remote
areas though
the cost is usually
higher than in
your home country.
Please bring
a plentiful supply
of special films
as these will
be difficult
to obtain. For
wildlife photography
a 35mm single
reflex camera
with telephoto
lens of 200mm
or 300mm is recommended.
Large lenses,
which require
a tripod stand,
are impractical
as one cannot
step out of the
vehicle in game
parks. An ultraviolet
filter, water
and dustproof
covers and spare
batteries are
essential. A
pair of good
quality binoculars
is a great asset.
Taking photos at
airports, near
military installations,
State House, state
lodges, soldiers,
prisons, prisoners,
policemen, The
President and his
convoy or national
flag is prohibited.
We suggest that
you ask your driver
for the other countries
before taking any
pictures.
14. Insurance
Travel insurance
is highly recommended.
All travelers
should have an
adequate accident,
baggage, medical
evacuation and
interruption
insurance before
the tour begins.
Carry all insurance
documents and
emergency numbers
on the trip at
all times.
15. Tipping
Tipping is not
included in your
quote and is
completely at
your own discretion.
Our general recommendation
is to tip moderately.
Below is just
a guideline for
tips per person:
-10% of your
bill at restaurants$1
to porters and
waiters$5-10
for safari guides$3-8
for driver/guide
16. Shopping
Africa is well
known for its
art and handicraft
markets where
one can find
beadwork, carvings,
local sarongs,
spices, teas
and coffees.
Most hotels and
lodges have souvenir
shops. Local
drivers and guides
offer useful
tips for shopping.