Accommodation

Wherever possible, we stay in the camps and lodges as described in our brochured itinerary. However, there may be times when the itinerary accommodation is not available. We reserve the right to alter the accommodation in these circumstances, and we will book a suitable alternative. Please make sure to check your itinerary for any changes, as the correct final itinerary will be given to your agent at the time you are booked on the safari.

Problems

We pride ourselves on running quality experiences, offering you the best there is in such remote locations. If you feel that there is anything we can do to enhance your experience, please do not hesitate to ask your guide.

Health

There are a few basic health matters that require care and attention. We are obviously not medical practitioners and the following points are recommended guidelines only. Please consult your doctor and also check with your health department prior to departure for any changes in health regulations.
a) Malaria

Northern Namibia is also a malarious area. Should you be visiting these areas malaria precautions are advised.

Malaria transmission is at its highest during the warmer and wetter months of November through to April. From May through to October the risks of acquiring malaria are reduced.

The malaria parasite requires a human host in order to complete its life cycle. In most cases, our camps are situated in remote, unpopulated areas, so the chances of contracting malaria are very slim. Nonetheless, it is worth taking preventative measures.

Both chloroquine-resistant and normal strains of malaria are prevalent in Africa. Malaria is transmitted by a very small percentage of female Anopheles mosquitoes. They are only active in the early evening and throughout the night, at the times when one is usually sleeping or sitting around the campfire.

MALARIA prophylactic recommendations for southern African travellers:

Expert opinion differs regarding the best approach to malaria prophylaxis. It is important to bear in mind that malaria may be contracted despite chemoprophylaxis, especially in areas where chloroquine resistance has been reported. Please remember that the best insurance is the preventative kind: avoid being bitten by using mosquito repellents liberally. Wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers/slacks in the evenings. If staying in a bungalow or tent, spray with an insecticide like DOOM to kill any mosquitoes that may have flown into your room. Mosquito coils are effective.

If you become ill on your return, while still on prophylaxis or even once you have stopped taking them, ensure that your doctor does everything to establish that your illness is not malaria.

Malaria is not a serious problem if people are sensible and take basic precautions. There have been very few cases of our guests contracting malaria during the years we have been operating.

b) 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.

c) Other Health Issues

There are no other health issues that one needs to be overly concerned with.

Insurance

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 Southern Africa. This insurance should include cover in respect of, but not limited to, the following eventualities: cancellation or curtailment of the safari, emergency evacuation expenses, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, damage/theft/loss of personal baggage, money and goods. The Safari Operator, including their representatives, employees and agents will take no responsibility for any costs, losses incurred or suffered by the guest, or guest’s dependants or travelling companions, with regards to, but not limited to, any of the above mentioned eventualities. Guests will be charged directly by the relevant service providers for any emergency services they may require, and may find themselves in a position unable to access such services should they not be carrying the relevant insurance cover.

The safari operator and its agents, staff and associates can be held responsible or liable for loss, damage, or theft of personal luggage and belongings, nor can they be held liable for personal injury, accident or illness. Please ensure that you and your belongings are adequately insured before your departure. Insurance is compulsory when participating in any of our trips. If you do not possess a policy, we can issue insurance at competitive rates. However, it is better to purchase a policy locally, as this will cover repatriation back to your home country. We cannot be held liable for any losses or damages incurred.

a) Health Insurance

It is compulsory to have full medical, emergency evacuation and repatriation cover for the period of time you are away.

b) 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.

c) 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!

d) 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.

Tipping

Tipping is at the sole discretion or the guests and is not compulsory. Tipping should only be done if you have received good service. However, guests often want to know what is appropriate, so we have included a brief guideline to assist you.

1. Guide

We recommend that if he has done a good job, then between US$5-US$10 per person per day for the guide is a recommended tip.

2. Camp & Lodge Staff (where applicable)

Staff should be tipped communally, and we recommend about US$5 per person per day to be split amongst the staff.

Recommended Reading

a) Africa's Top Wildlife Countries - Mark Nolting
b) This is Namibia - Gerald Cubitt & Peter Joyce
c) Behaviour Guide to African Mammals - Richard Estes
d Birds of Namibia, a Photographic Guide - Ian & Jackie Sinclair
e) Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - Ken Newman
f) Birds of Prey of Southern, Central, and East Africa - David Allan
g) Skeleton Coast - Ami Schoeman
h) Etosha Visual Souvenir - Darryl Balfour
I) Namibia: The Beautiful Land - David Bristow
j) Field Guide to the Mammals of Southern Africa - Chris & Tilde Stuart
k) Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa - Bill Branch
l) Namibia: African Adventurers Guide - Olivier and Olivier
m) Globetrotter Travel Map and Travel Guide to Namibia
n) Waterberg, Namib & Damaraland Flora - Craven
o) Desert Adventure: In Search of Wilderness in Namibia and Botswana - Paul Augustinus
p) The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals - Jonathan Kingdon

If you are a keen birder we recommend that you bring your OWN Newman's bird book. Everyone must bring their own pair of BINOCULARS in order to get the most out of the safari.

Travelling Companions

On our scheduled cross country safaris, you will be travelling with a small number of people, possibly from a range of age groups and usually from several different areas of the world. To get the most out of your safari experience, cooperation and harmony with fellow passengers is essential. If you are a naturally grumpy person and do not enjoy the company of others, please do not book this safari. Should any member of the group behave in such a way that it affects either the enjoyment or safety of others in the group, that member will be warned, and eventually taken off the safari.

Photography

The choice of the correct camera equipment and film will determine the quality of your photographs on the trip. For good photography of birds and animals, a good SLR camera and telephoto lens is necessary. A zoom lens can be extremely useful on safari and the minimum recommended size is 200mm. Consideration should be given before travelling with any lens bigger than 400 mm as most interesting shots are taken using hand held equipment. The new high-resolution digital cameras are outstanding and give great quality images, especially if you are using a digital camera body which takes normal camera lenses. Camera bodies like the Canon D60 and 1D are superb. The advantage of digital photography is that one can get instant feedback and adjustments can be made in the field to your techniques to ensure that your photographs are the quality that you would like. Colour reversal film (slides) will give far better quality than prints. The guides have found that they are getting the best results using Fuji film. Fuji has brought out a good high-speed film that gives good colour with very little grain (less so than any of their competitors). This is especially useful when using a big lens in low light situations. The guides' personal preference is the slower film (either 50 or 100 ASA) as this gives almost perfect quality for normal light. However, you may consider going to 200 ASA for a larger lens in low lighting conditions. The new Fuji 400, we believe is giving great results too. The only disadvantage with the low ASA film is that you need a tripod for the early morning and evening shots. IMPORTANT: BRING SPARE FILM (ALTHOUGH IT IS AVAILABLE IN MOST CAMPS/LODGES) AND A SPARE CAMERA BATTERY

Passports & Visa

A valid passport together with onward travel documents. All passport holders should verify with their travel agent or relevant consulate concerning visa entry requirements. If you are extending your journey to other countries, please establish entry requirements for those countries as well. Please ensure that you have all the necessary visas prior to departure (unless available on entry)

Problem Solving

If there is anything you feel that we can do to enhance your experience, please do not hesitate to contact the camp and/or hotel manager or your guide. If you have a problem, please bring it to our attention at the time, giving us a chance to try and correct it immediately. If you do not bring the problem to our attention at the time, you will not receive a sympathetic ear after your safari.

Loss of articles

Please note that we cannot accept any responsibility for the misplacement of any articles whilst on your travels. Naturally, we will endeavour to re-unite you with your misplaced items. However, logistics may not be favourable for the returning of articles unless you are prepared to pay for the cost to get your goods to you. Any costs incurred will be for your own account. This issue is possibly the single biggest form of stress for guests who have left their goods behind somewhere en route and who are not prepared to pay for the costs to be reunited with their possessions. So please make sure you keep your goods with you.

Driving conditions

If visiting remote areas or national parks and reserves, the roads could be rough and bumpy and occasionally we will travel "off road", where it is possible that injuries may occur - if for example a hidden pothole is struck. The safari operator their staff members, associates nor agents can be held liable for any accidents or any damages!

Respecting wildlife & safety

· The wild animals are not like those found in theme parks – they aren’t tame.
· Most of the safari camps are unfenced and dangerous animals can (and do!) wander through the camps. Many of the animals and reptiles you will see are potentially dangerous. Attacks by wild animals are rare. However, there are no guarantees that such incidents will not occur. None of the Wilderness Safaris group of companies, their staff members, associates, agents, or their suppliers can be held liable for any injuries caused during an incident involving the behaviour of wild animals.
· Please listen to the camp staff and guides. The safety precautions need to be taken seriously, and strictly adhered to.
· Don’t go wandering off on your own without a guide – even to your rooms. After retiring to your rooms at night, don’t leave them.
· 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.
· Please respect your 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.
· Never attempt to feed or approach any wild animal on foot. This is especially important near lodges or in campsites where animals may have become accustomed to human visitors.
· Refrain from smoking on game drives. The dry African bush ignites very easily, and a flash fire can kill animals.

Tax & Customs

Value Added Tax (VAT) in Namibia is 15% all round. Bona fide tourists to Namibia are exempt from paying sales duty or excise duty on luxury items such as jewellery or Swakara (fur) garments.

Time

Namibia operates on daylight savings time as follows:
Summer: From the first Sunday in September to the first Sunday in April - two hours ahead of GMT Winter: From the first Sunday in April to the first Sunday in September - one hour ahead GMT

Credit Cards

International Visa and MasterCard credit cards are generally accepted throughout Namibia. Holders of other cards are advised to clarify with a commercial bank whether their card is acceptable in Namibia.

Currency

The currency in Namibia is the Namibian Dollar, which is fixed to and equals the South African Rand on a one-to-one basis. The Namibian Dollar and South African Rand are the only legal tender in Namibia and can be used freely to purchase goods and services in the country. The Namibian Dollar, however, is not legal tender in South Africa. Traveller’s cheques and foreign currency can be exchanged at any of the commercial banks, which are well represented throughout the country. Visitors may bring any amount of foreign currency into the country. Further information and assistance can be obtained from any commercial bank in Namibia.