Health Considerations
In the different countries through which we travel you will in all likelihood be exposed to diseases and parasites you may not have come across before including malaria, tsetse fly, rabies and water borne parasites such as bilharzia. Remember there is also a tragically high incidence of HIV Aids in the countries en route.
It is vital that you speak to a medical professional who specialises in travel medicine before you depart to discuss where you will be travelling in regards to the above, your immunisation schedule and other requirements. Be aware travelling in malarial areas you will be required to take a course of antimalarial prophylactics and to adhere carefully to other preventative measures such as applying DEET mosquito repellent from dusk to dawn as well. We also ask that you carry a small personal medical kit.
Your crew are experienced travellers in Africa and will keep you informed and advise to the best of their ability. Our staff though are not doctors and if, on the off chance, you do feel unwell we will get you to the nearest medical facility as quickly as possible. The trucks are fitted out with a medical kit in the event of an emergency. It is also recommended that you have a medical check up that covers tropical diseases upon your return after your travels.
Adventure Travel
There is an inherent element of risk in adventure travel, particularly when travelling in third world destinations and as many of the places where we travel do not adhere to western safety standards. Basic infrastructures are regularly not of the same level as those in countries in the West including road, transport and building conditions, post and communications and medical facilities. Banking facilities are also often poor. There is a higher level of crime in many African countries often related to poverty and economic and political insecurity. In general then day to day standards and service delivery in camp grounds, restaurants, bars and hotels and from different local operators used during the trip, will at times not be the same as you might find at home.
Some countries where we travel are also subject to political and economic instability. Foreign Office Travel advisories are an important source of information and we would encourage you to keep yourself informed.
Flexible
Do be aware also that itineraries need to be treated with a level of flexibility due to operational uncertainties. Itineraries can change for a variety of reasons before or during your Africa trip. We cannot then, whilst it is unusual, guarantee that your crew have always been to a specific area en route nor always guarantee the arrival and departure dates. Departure and particularly arrival dates may vary by a few days. Please arrange flights accordingly allowing at least for two days overrun in particular. We regret that we cannot be responsible for any additional expenses incurred due to the late arrival or departure of any trip, however caused. Safari itineraries are presented as a guide only. We endeavour to maintain routes true to the published itinerary but changes are at times unavoidable.
Much work goes on behind the scenes to check and reconfirm arrangements. Where significant changes occur ahead of time we inform you of these at the earliest possible. At the same time to book on an adventure ‘tour’ you need to accept there are risks and a range of operational uncertainties are essentially part of the trip. Africa trips are not typical package holidays. Western safety standards may not be adhered to in the places where we travel and an inherent flexibility needs to be accepted as part and parcel of this style of travel which make tightly structured itineraries inappropriate.
Optional activities
Do also be aware that optional excursions such as white water rafting, scuba diving, horse riding, sky diving, quad biking are not included in the price and that these excursions are of an essentially adventurous nature with the accompanying risks. So that all runs smoothly our safari leaders may help organise these for you as a service to keep all running to schedule but they are not operated by us and we are not necessarily recommending these. When considering an optional activity once in Africa before booking and paying do take note of all the information available at the time. Excursions are operated by local operators and standards of safety are NOT always as you might find in the Western world.
If you would like more information as to any aspect of day to day life on the road or in regards to a specific overland trip you are considering including itineraries, the style and pace of a specific safari, possible security issues or route changes, or specific optional activities, feel free to ring our office or email for more information. We are more than happy to follow up your enquiries to the best of our abilities and advise where we can.