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Poll: East African Safaris

Which Is the Best East African Safari In Your Opinion?

Mozambique Travel Tips|General Information Wildlife Tours|Insurance in Mozambique|Satellite Telephones

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Africa's allure lays in the pristine, unspoilt nature of her wildlife sanctuaries and for this reason, all the safaris are selected to ensure that tourists will be in the company of informed, experienced and responsible ranger guides.

The safaris are selected according to certain criteria which will preserve Africa’s natural environment and maintain the dignity of her indigenous people. Explore the range of African safaris.

To ensure that tourists’ holidays are everything they dream of, they are asked to take a moment to consider the travel advice.

GENERAL INFORMATION.

You are advised to wear neutral colours; khaki, olive-green, grey, brown so as to blend in with the environment.

Carry binoculars at least a pair per person.

Bring sufficient film and spare batteries for your cameras. Some camps have 220/240V electrical supplies for recharging video and digital camera batteries, but others do not. Either carry along with you 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.

You should always ask the locals for permission before taking their photographs.

Give support to local business and community initiatives by buying local items rather than imported goods, but be aware of public transportation, especially "mini-taxis", which are frequently overloaded and under-serviced.

Read up (guidebooks, historical novels, travel articles) about the country you are visiting familiarize 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, coloring 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 familiarize 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.

HEALTH

Malaria

Please consult your doctor as to which malaria prophylaxis you should take and carry along with you some malaria tablets.

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 tourists, who have taken preventative measures, contracting malaria.

Water

It is very important to drink plenty of water especially during the warmer months. It is advisable for the guests to drink at least 2 to 3 litres (4 to 6 pints) of water per day to prevent dehydration. This excludes tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages, which act as diuretics and also 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 and preventative medication where necessary. Wear sunscreens and cover up during the hottest time of day.

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.

INSURANCE

This 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/traveling 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 equipment. You should always carry such equipment as "carry-on" luggage and you are advised not put anything of value in your checked-in baggage!

Cancellation and Curtailment

A tourist might have to cancel or curtail the journey due to unforeseen circumstances. If for any reason he/she cancels a trip close to departure date, could lose the entire cost of the holiday. Should he/she have to leave before the holiday is finished, there is no refund for 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.

MONEY

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.

PASSPORT & VISAS

International visitors require a valid passport together with onward travel documents.

If traveling 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 addition if parents are traveling with their children alone then a letter of consent, certified by their local police, must be signed by the mother /father and should be carried with them.

Please ensure that you have all the necessary visas prior to departure (unless available on entry).

SATELLITE & IRIDIUM TELEPHONES

Telecommunications in the urban areas are easily accessible but you may be visiting in very remote areas which may not have telephones.

An increasing number of travelers 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.

WILDLIFE

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 while in the park especially when carrying out game drives, approach animals on foot, or leave your vehicle to do so, unless you are with a qualified guide.

You are advised not to swim in rivers unless your guide recommends it. Crocodiles, hippos and bilharzias are potential dangers.

Always observe animals silently and with a minimum disturbance to their natural activities. Loud talking on game drives can frighten the animals away and never attempt to attract the attention of these animals. Don't imitate animal sounds, clap your hands, pound the vehicle or throw objects at them. Erratic movements will frighten or disturb the wildlife.

Please ensure to respect your host-driver-guide's judgment about proximity to lions, cheetahs and leopards. Don't insist that he takes 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.

You should not smoke while 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 travelers 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 at the International Fund for Animal Welfare on who in turn will notify the relevant authorities or CITES.

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