Travel Tips for Your Journey
SAFARI ADVICE
Choosing an African Safari holiday can be daunting, even if you are an experienced traveller.
The first and most important step is developing an idea of the kind of holiday you are looking for.
Consider how busy or relaxed you wish your holiday to be, how much safari you wish to include and which ‘non-safari’ activities appeal to you (if any). Keep in mind that distances in Namibia are vast and rushing from highlight to highlight will leave you exhausted and unsatisfied.
Watching wildlife requires time – we recommend spending more time in fewer places.
Some responsible travel tips to remember
Respect the environment and respect local cultures. It is also a good idea to familiarise yourself with the local culture, politics, beliefs and etiquette.
Be as unobtrusive as possible; wear the correct coloured clothing whilst walking in the bush and avoid dressing or acting in a way which might cause offence to local residents.
Water supplies are scarce in many destinations – use water sparingly.
Do not litter. Please think about what you really need to take and remove all packaging before you travel, the less rubbish left behind the better. Waste disposal can be difficult in remote areas and recycling is often not possible.
Do not interfere with the wildlife and habitat by: encouraging your guide to take you too close to animals at sightings, encouraging your driver to depart from the usual track, travel off road, picking flowers or plants, making noises to attract or frighten the wildlife.
Be as quiet as you can at all times and do not be afraid of the animals. Even the biggest will move quietly away if given the space and opportunity.
Do not buy, or trade for, any articles, which are covered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) including ivory, turtle products, rhino horn, furs, butterflies and plant species.
Buy locally crafted souvenirs and if bartering over the price don’t drive too hard a bargain. An amount which may be fairly insignificant to you, can represent a lot more to others
Do not give any gifts, even sweets, directly to children you may pass on the street as it can encourage begging and may undermine parental authority. It is more appropriate to give through a local organisation.
Be courteous and ask before you take a photograph of someone as many people do not like having their picture taken. If they ask you to pay then we would discourage you from taking the picture.
Report any poor behaviour of guides/safari staff immediately to the management of the property and to us on your return.
A List of Common Questions and Their Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
We tailor your holiday itinerary from scratch which means we will need the following information to start – when you wish to travel (rough dates for arrival and departure dates are fine), how many of you will be travelling, the ages of children if any will accompany you as well as a rough budget per person. Single travellers will generally pay a supplement depending on the season.
Yes. We can assist you with booking international and regional flights.
No – our business relies on commissions from suppliers and we do not add any fees or charges on top of our quotes.
A 20% deposit payment is required as confirmation of your tour. This payment is used to pay deposits to the service providers detailed in your itinerary and secure your bookings with them.
Covid-19 Cancellation Policy from 1 Jan 2020 until further notice: Confirmed bookings for which we have received a deposit or full payment, will be secured should a client not be able to arrive in Namibia due to Covid-19 related instances. Bookings can be amended up to 12 months at the quoted rates (2020 / 2021). If guests do not have future travel dates as yet and are not sure when they will travel, we will issue a voucher for future use (no expiry date). Should they decide to travel after December 2021, the quote will be amended to reflect the applicable year’s supplier rates.
Once a confirmation deposit has been received – outright cancellation and refund of the confirmation deposit will be considered should a guest not be able to arrive in Namibia due to Covid-19 related instances (e.g. being suspected of carrying the Corona Virus and not being allowed to board the plane to Namibia, border closures, either in Namibia or abroad, inclusive of neighbouring borders if it is a cross border itinerary, quarantine advice, fresh lockdown etc.) and where this inability to travel is beyond the control of the guest(s). The guest(s) in question need to provide reasonable support for the failure to travel.
Namibia uses the Namibian Dollar (N$). This is linked to a one to one exchange with the South African Rand (ZAR).
The national currency of Botswana is the Pula – a regionally strong currency – but the US dollar is widely accepted at lodges and hotels throughout the country and quotes will often be in US$.
Namibia is a stable democracy and is safe to visit. It is sensible to take basic precautions whilst travelling like anywhere in the world. Be careful in bigger urban areas and never leave anything unattended in your vehicle. Make sure the bags you carry on you are closed and carried where you can see them. We advise that you ask camp/lodge and hotel staff and local residents for the latest advice.
Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Namibia and have at least 1 completely blank page for Namibian immigration to use. If you are going to travel through South Africa, you should be aware that although South African authorities state they require 1 blank passport page for entry, some officials insist on 2 blank pages. If you plan to take this route, make sure you have a total of 3 blank pages.
Please find more info at this link VISA Requirements for Namibia
The answer varies according to the family involved and the destination chosen. Bear in mind that game viewing is a patient exercise so the ability to sit in a vehicle for two to three hours is a great benefit. However, a gentle safari for a couple of days is suitable for children of all ages – imagine the excitement of a three year old spotting their first giraffe or elephant! At the other end of the scale, a two week wilderness safari involving adventurous walking, canoeing and fly-camping is only going to be suitable for much older children (min. 14/15 years). As a general rule, our opinion is that with children under 10 years old, you need to plan fairly carefully, and factors such as how long you spend on safari and how many areas you visit are important. Baby-sitting and nanny services are rarely available but staff at family-friendly lodges are very happy to engage with the children and keep them entertained.
Visa and MasterCard cards are accepted at most lodges. It is advisable to always carry a small amount of cash for incidentals.
For Namibia there are two associated plug types, types D and M. Plug type D is the plug which has three round pins in a triangular pattern and plug type M is the plug which has three round pins. Namibia operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.
In Botswana the power plugs and sockets are of type D, G and M. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
Many camps have large enough individual units to be suitable for a family of three or four to share, though this can sometimes mean less space for the parents. Many properties offer specific family units, often with separate bedrooms for the children. Such units can include inter-leading rooms which are suited for families with younger children, or in some cases rooms may be joined either by a walkway or exterior deck (making the second room more independent).
Northern Namibia and Botswana are high-risk malaria areas; however please consult your medical practitioner regarding any antimalarial pills. Please check with your health department/travel clinic several weeks prior to departure, as some courses of medication need to be begun in advance of your arrival.
No – it is definitely not advisable to get out of your vehicle inside National Parks and a good idea to remember that these areas belong to the wild animals.