GENERAL INFORMATION

PAYMENT:

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At time of booking and confirmation, a deposit of 50% is payable. The balance must be paid at least 30 days before your departure. If booking is not made within 30 days before departure, the full amount is payable upon confirmation.

We take bank transfers, cheques and the following credit cards.​​​​​​​​

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CANCELLATIONS:

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PRIOR TO 6 MONTHS: 100% (minus administration and bank fees)(Also depending on the difference in exchange rate at time of cancellation/booking)
3-6 MONTHS: 50%
1-3 MONTHS: 25%
0-3 MONTHS: 0%

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PASSPORTS AND VISAS:

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All visitors from abroad must be in possession of a passport. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your return date. Please ensure your passport has sufficient blank pages (at least two double pages) for any visas required and for entry/departure stamps. You will also require a return air ticket. A valid passport is the only documentation required of US/Canadian citizens for entry into Botswana, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, and South Africa .

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• Visas for the following countries can be obtained on arrival and are payable in US dollars: Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe .

• Please note that if you depart and then re-enter Kenya , Zimbabwe or Zambia during the course of your holiday, you must obtain a double entry visa.

• For entry into South Africa , a parent traveling with children, WITHOUT the other parent, will need a letter of consent from the absent parent. The letter of consent must be certified by the police.

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Entry formalities vary by country and by nationality of the traveler. We suggest you check the applicable requirements with the airlines, tourist office, diplomatic mission or passport processing agency. Names of agencies can be obtained from the Internet.

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INSURANCE:

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That you have Comprehensive Travel Insurance

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That you take out Traveller’s Medical Insurance​​​​​​​​​​​​

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Medical or security emergencies can happen at any time and an evacuation can cost over $100,000. Global Rescue is the only company that will conduct a Field Rescue, no matter how remote, and evacuate you back home. African Dreams Hunting and Photo Safaris strongly recommend that you enroll with Global Rescue prior to embarking on your trip.

Membership Benefits:

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• Field Rescue from the point of illness or injury

• Evacuation back to the member’s home hospital of choice

• 24hr medical advisory services from critical care paramedics and in-house physicians

• Specialists at Johns Hopkins Medicine available in real-time

• Global network of medical Centers Of Excellence

• Paramedics deployed overseas to the member’s bedside

• Medical evacuation services provided up to $500,000

• Option to upgrade to include security extraction

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For more information, please go to www.globalrescue.com/africandreams/

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YOUR SAFETY AND SECURITY:

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Safety and security is a matter of common sense. Therefore, take the same precautions while traveling, that you would in any major city at home. Do not carry large sums of cash with you, keep a close watch on handbags, purses, wallets etc. when walking in crowded areas, avoid walking alone at night, lock up valuables in hotel safe deposit boxes and never leave valuables in view in an unattended car or tour bus. In safari camps that do not have safes or locked doors, please keep tempting valuables out of sight. Word of advice: make copies of passports, credit cards, airline tickets and other pertinent identification and documents. Keep one copy with you, and leave one copy with your contact at home.

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TIME CHANGE AND ALTITUDE:

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Southern Africa is 7 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (6 hours during Daylight Savings Time). East and Central Africa is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (5 hours during Daylight Savings Time). For the first few days on safari, your body will be adjusting not only to this time change, but also to the altitude. If you experience adverse health effects at higher than normal altitudes, please consult your doctor for further advice.

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HEALTH REQUIREMENTS:

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You will need to make an appointment with your personal physician or travel clinic at least one month prior to departure to review pertinent health precautions including necessary vaccinations and medications. Please discuss any other health-related questions with your health practitioner at this time.

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• Yellow Fever:
  No vaccinations or health certificates are required unless you are arriving within 6 days after leaving a Yellow Fever infected area. Note: A Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required for entry into Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia (if traveling from an infected area). A Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required for ALL visitors to Zanzibar.

• Malaria:
  A course of malaria prophylactics is advisable for all non-African visitors if you are planning to visit a malaria area.

• Bilharzia:
  Bilharzia is a disease caused by tiny parasites (small snails) present in lakes, rivers and dams. There is no prophylactic available against Bilharzia, which is treated by drugs or an injection. The condition can be unpleasant so it’s better not to swim in rivers or streams where the water is stagnant.

• AIDS:
  The HIV virus and AIDS are serious health issues in many African countries. However, the risk to travelers is negligible assuming proper precautions are taken. Transmission of HIV is by bodily fluids only. Use the same precautions while in Africa as in your home country to protect against contracting this virus.

• General recommendations:
  Always take precautions against the persistent overhead sun. Proximity to the equator makes the African sun particularly strong so ensure you use the proper level of protection. In the winter months, the big game areas can be dusty. Contact lens wearers may be advised to bring eye drops. Wrap-around sunglasses provide the best protection from dust and other eye irritants. Sun protective Chap Stick, sunscreens, moisturizing creams and insect repellents are recommended.

• Personal Health History:
  Please make us aware of any specific health restrictions that may affect your choice of accommodation or style of travel.​

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PACKING FOR YOUR TRIP:

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Dress comfortable while on safari. Keep your luggage to a minimum. Lightweight clothing in neutral colors is suitable for the bush. No white or black. You need a light long sleeve shirt to protect you from the sun. Long pants are also advisable for the evenings for protection from mosquitoes. Comfortable boots, hat, a warm jacket and a light raincoat is advised.

Laundry can be done in most lodges, so the over packing is unnecessary.

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ESSENTIALS:

Camera/film/Flashlight/batteries/Sunglasses/Zip lock bags/Tissues/Wet one’s/Electrical
Converter and plug adapter/Lock for baggage/Sewing kit/diary/books/pen

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IMPORTANT TO PACK A BROAD SPECTRUM ANTIBIOTIC, PAIN PILLS, ALLERGY PILLS, EYE DROPS, SUNCREEN, MOSQUITO SPRAY. SUGGESTED

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RESPECTING WILDLIFE AND SAFETY:

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The wild animals you will encounter are not tame. Most camps that you will be staying in are not fenced and dangerous animals can and do wander through the camps. Many of the animals and reptiles you will see are potentially dangerous. Attacks are rare, but there are no guarantees that such incidents will not occur.

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We, at AFRICAN DREAMS, cannot be held liable for any injuries caused during an incident involving the behaviour of wild animals.

Please listen to your guide and the staff at the various camps and adhere strictly to the safety precautions.

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Do not go wandering on your own anywhere without your guide or a guide. Be silent when observing animals and try not to disturb their natural activities. No loud talking on game drives.

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Never, ever make animal’s sounds or attempt to attract an animal’s attentions by clapping your hands or throwing objects at them.

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It is very important that you trust your guide and his judgement on how close you can get to animals. Getting to close can hinder animals on their hunts and abandon them from a hard-earned meal.

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PLEASE do not litter, animals can choke and get poisoned and we all strive to keep Africa clean.

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Wild animals get accustomed to humans in Africa, so do not try to feed or approach them.

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NO SMOKING on game drives, please, the dry African bush ignites easily and lots of animals can be killed.

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CLIMATE:

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Long rains from early April-early June

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Short rains from Late November through December.

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The dry season have more reliable road conditions and the visibility is great. Game tends to gather around waterholes, making the animals easy to find.

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January-March and July and August offer comfortable temperatures.

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The rainy season runs mainly from late November through mid-April in the safari regions; however, South Africa is experiencing summer in the eastern and western cape and that is a wonderful time to visit. The Cape area can be cold and rainy during the southern hemisphere winter months from June – August.

May and June can be great months for a photo safari.

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Generally the weather is similar to that of Southern Africa , with the summer rains lasting from November through April, with occasional cyclones during that time. The dry season from May to October is ideal.

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FOOD:

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Please make us aware of any specific dietary preferences or restrictions.

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WATER:

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Tap water is safe to drink in most places, but bottled water is also available. Your tour guide will advise you of the specific water situation pertaining to your accommodation.

 

ELECTRIC CURRENT:

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Electricity in Africa is generally at 220 volts AC; therefore, for most 110 appliances you will need both an adapter for the proper plug configuration and a converter for the correct current. Both round and rectangular three pronged plug sockets are in use. Most safari camps do not have individual electrical outlets in the tents.

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ADVICE:

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Africa is a unique travel destination for the adventurous at heart. Please bear in mind that AFRICAN DREAMS has done everything possible to ensure that your trip runs smoothly and is an absolute success. However, occasionally problems do occur and changes may be required that are completely out of our control. Your tour guide will assist in solving any hurdles you encounter along the way. They will endeavor to do so as economically and efficiently as they possibly can.