Africa Safari Direct

GENERAL INFORMATION KEY
All safaris will include an English speaking driver/guide, guaranteed window seat and hotel tax/service charges.
Tanzania safaris are all available from Nairobi. Travel to and from Arusha is either by scheduled flight or road transfer.
Some itineraries may be amended to fit in with the best wildlife viewing at the time.
All safaris can be combined with visits to the coast or climbs up Mount Kilimanjaro.
Hot-air balloon safaris in the Serengeti or Masai Mara are possible. It is usually wise to pre-book before departure.

Abbreviations

Trsf	Transfer in town
BB	Bed and English breakfast
HB	Half board (breakfast and dinner)
FB	All meals
FI	All meals and most drinks (excluding imported beverages)
E	Early morning game drive
A	Morning game drive
P	Afternoon game drive
N	Night game drive
INC	Includes local game viewing activities. Generally 3 a day: walks, drives or boating
ANM	Includes all non-motorised activities (ie sailing, canoeing, snorkeling etc)
HD	Half-day excursion/local sightseeing
FD	Full-day excursion
4x4	Four-wheel drive vehicle
Big-5	Commonly include buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino

Some meals may be taken in restaurants en route, or in the bush. These will generally be full buffet-style meals, or picnics. Some morning game drives may also end in a bush breakfast or brunch. Please check before departure.

To discuss options available, or to receive a complete overview of any itinerary or add-on itinerary, please give us a call.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Baggage
Baggage on safari should be carefully considered. One soft-sided bag and one smaller piece of hand luggage per person is recommended. In total this should not weigh more than 15kgs for most East Africa domestic flights, and not more than 12kgs on small Southern Africa flights. (This includes camera equipment.) Suitcases and other heavier items can usually be stored in city hotels while clients are on safari.

Children
We love taking children on safari and they are welcome throughout Africa. However some more esoteric accommodation do not accept children under 12 years old. Therefore, please call us if you have any concerns regarding a childs suitability to a specific safari.

Climbing Porters
Porters are the backbone of climber's trips. They are the silent ones; the ones who carry the loads, have your equipment set up hours before you arrive, and sweat the same vertical path to the summit. They too are human and suffer from various mountain sicknesses. Please advise us if you see porters being treated unfairly, under dressed or over loaded on your mountain expedition.

Clothing
Dress is usually informal and should be comfortable. Some lodges have a dress code, but this is usually quite liberal, with some restrictions on shorts and swimsuits in the evening. Essential items would be a wide-brimmed sun hat, long-sleeved cotton shirts, shorts and casual trousers.

Currency
Most people travel with travellers’ cheques, however major credit cards are now widely accepted. Please adhere to official money-changing bureau and avoid street-dealers.

Drinking Water
You will find many differences of opinion regarding what is safe and what is not. We therefore recommend that, for peace of mind, you drink filtered water provided in the rooms or stick to bottled water wherever possible.

Electricity
Apart from some of the bush camps and mobile safaris, all accommodation has some form of permanent electricity, albeit sometimes erratic and often switched off between 2300 hours and 0500 hours. The supply is generally 220-240v, and plugs are three-pin square or round, so it is a good idea to bring an adaptor if needed. If you have a video camera, make sure that the battery charger is of the same voltage, otherwise you will need a transformer.

Entry Requirements
Please consult the appropriate embassy or high commission on entry visa requirements.

Health
Malaria is prevalent throughout Africa and we cannot stress too highly the importance of taking the correct precautions against it. For this, we suggest that you consult your doctor well before departure. Also, please obtain the appropriate medication/vaccinations for the specific country travelling to.

Hotel Check In/Out Times
Rooms are generally not available for occupation until 1300 hours. Check out is normally around 1000 hours. Guaranteed early check in or a day room, is sometimes available at an extra charge.

Insurance
Adequate travel insurance is a condition of booking. Please ensure that all persons take out full insurance to include medical, repatriation and baggage damage/loss charges etc.

Language
English is widely spoken in all cities and tourist areas, however other European languages are less commonly understood.

Meals and Drinks
Today, food on safari is usually above people’s expectations. The day starts with pre safari tea/coffee and cookies, then back to the lodge for a cooked American-style breakfast, with lots of tropical fruit and juices. Lunch is normally buffet-style, with hot and cold dishes, and dinner generally features silver service, in the dining room or ‘boma-style’, around the campfire. Alcoholic spirits, beer or wine are readily available.

Photography
We suggest that you take enough film and spare batteries with you, as both are usually very expensive. Also, bring a dust-proof bag to cover all equipment. For good bird and animal photography, a 200mm lens is the minimum recommendation. A good polariser is also useful for bright conditions. You will see many incredible sights and some fascinating subjects to photograph, so here are some basic rules to abide by. It is normally prohibited to photograph the head of state or his entourage, police in uniform, airports, harbours or prisons. Also, please ask permission before filming the local population, who may become belligerent if they do not want to be photographed.

Security
Africa is no different from anywhere else, just follow the common-sense rules. Remember that excessive displays of jewellery or cash will attract undesirable elements. Do not leave valuables lying around, so use room safes or leave valuables with the hotel/camp manager for safety. We also recommend that you do not walk around unfamiliar streets at any time.

Telecommunications
Most city hotels and larger camps have international communication facilities. However, please make sure of the charges before using, as costs can be as much more than normal rates. Some remote accommodations do not have telephones and can only be contacted at certain times of the day, by radiophone.

Tipping
Tipping is not compulsory and is recommended only if the service has deserved it. We recommend this be done directly or through a staff tip-box, whichever guests feel more comfortable with. Also, a small supply of low-denomination notes should be kept available for these purposes.

Transport and Driver/Guides
Click HERE for information

One Last Word of Advice
Life is sometimes a little slower on the African Continent. Local people are generally polite, hospitable and eager to assist but may not always understand everything in your terms. If you are patient, we are sure you will come away pleased, with wonderful lasting memories.