1.
Can a suitcase be left in storage at Johannesburg International
Airport while we are on safari in the bush?
A. Yes. If you
go to Lock-up-Luggage at Terminal 2 in the basement below
International Airrivals at Johannesburg Airport, they will
store your suitcases there for approx US$35 per item per week,
or approx. US$5 per day.
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2.
What about the other airports?
A. The
other international airports offering a lock-up facility
are Cape Town, Durban and Windhoek.
3.
What is the typical number of people on a safari in
the bush?
A. The
camps we use are mostly small and intimate, geared
around personal service and comfort and are very luxurious.
These camps cater to between 16 and 24 guests. Larger,
less expensive game lodges have between 50 and 100
rooms. |
4.
How large are safari tents?
A. The tents
in permanent tented camps are large and spacious, beautifully
decorated, with two three-quarter beds, floor rugs and adequate
space to hang and pack clothing, with private facilities and
viewing deck. On luxury overland camping tours, tents are
either larger Hemingway or Meru style tents. On participation
camping tours, tents are igloo style and sleep 2, usually
on stretchers.
5.
Is the washroom arrangement very far away?
A. Luxury safari
tents all have their own en-suite bathroom facility with flush
toilet. Many tents also have a private outdoor shower.
6.
Is there a high quality lodge that might be used for a day
or so in the middle of the tour rather than tenting the entire
time?
A. As said before,
these are high quality lodges. Do not be misled by the word
tent, these are not your average camping tents, unless you
are planing a participation overland adventure. Rather, they
are high luxury Bedouin style canvas cottages. There is also
a central lodge facility with dinning areas, lounge and decks.
Some even have libraries. You will love it!!
| 7.
What does a typical day consist of while on safari?
A. Early start to the
day / light breakfast / early morning game drive (+-
2-3 hours) / beverages and biscuits on game activity
/ late morning hot & cold full brunch / rest period
/ tea & savouries / afternoon game activity with sundowners
& snacks / generous dinner in evening, usually in
boma (open air, enclosed dining area with large fire
and fine dining under the stars. Background music
courtesy of the African wildlife.
8.
What activities are there?
A. Game drives, guided
walks, birdwatching, boating, canoeing etc.
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9.
What is the likely type of vehicle? Is there good visibility?
A. On private
safaris, you will be travelling in on open Landrover or similar
4x4 vehicle, which offers excellent visibility and outstanding
photo opportunities. On overland tours, vehicles are either
landrovers or larger Unimog-type vehicles.
10.
How many passengers are accommodated on the vehicles?
A. The exclusive
lodges use Landrovers with three rows of tiered seating, and
carry six or seven passengers. No-one is squashed into the
middle!! Unimogs and large overlanders carry between 20 and
30 people.
11.
Do the vehicles allow for periodic pit stops for the passengers?
A. As for the
pit stops, the guests' requirements and comfort are paramount.
There will be coffee and drinks breaks on your drives and
everyone will make sure you have a great time, so yes pit
stops are definitely allowed.
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12.
Is there any reason we might wish a private vehicle
on any particular day?
A. A
private vehicle is nice if you are set on doing something
specific. People with young children are forced to
have their own vehicle so as not to inconvenience
other passengers. The guides try to accommodate everyone
on the game drives. So a private vehicle is usually
not necessary.
13.
Do you supply bottled water or is there a need to
bring some with us?
A. Bottled
water is supplied at all the top camps and lodges.
14.
Is local currency available on landing by air in Botswana?
A. You
do not need local currency as US$ are accepted in
Botswana. |
15.
Are US$ the easiest to use for tipping on the tour?
A. Yes, they
will actually prefer US$
16.
Is a safari an exhausting experience?
A. A safari
is not without it own set of rigours and demands. Besides
the heat, that is another reason for the few hours of "siesta"
every afternoon. If you are planning an extensive Southern
African safari, it is often a good idea to stop off for a
day or two in Johannesburg to rest, revive, shop etc between
lodges.
17.
What clothing should I take on safari?
A. The light
aircraft used to charter guests into lodges only permit 8
kg of luggage per person. That means, one should carry only
a few items of light clothing, preferably cottons, for your
stay in the bush. Clothing should be in neutral colours, eg,
khaki, beige, bush green. NO bright colours - they scare away
the animals! Besides, shocking pink or lime green looks plain
dumb in the bush. Khaki rules, okay! A good guideline is two
of everything - socks, underwear, slacks/shorts, shirts, but
ONE pullover or cardigan. A hat is essential!
18.
Who washes my clothing?
A. The lodge
will usually see to your laundry requirements.
19.
Can I buy photographic equipment in the bush?
A. No, take enough
with you. However, film is available in all types and makes
in the cities and towns. Cameras, lenses, camcorders (standard
and digital) can be bought in all the cities in South Africa.
Prices are comparable to Europe, but more expensive that the
USA or the East. All the top names are represented. Equipment
can also be repaired.
20.
Can I get film developed in Southern Africa?
A. The cities
have many One Hour Processing labs - ask at your hotel. Prices
are reasonable, approx. 9 UD$ for 36 exposures.
21.
What camera equipment is essential on safari?
A. Binoculars
are vital, preferably wide angle. A good 35mm camera with
a powerful zoom or telephoto lens will reward you with superb
shots.
| 22.
Are medical supplies available?
A. It is best to bring
prescription medication with you. But cities and towns
all have drugstores/pharmacies equipped with everything
one requires, from aspirin and aftershave to Xanax
and Zambuk. Bear in mind that South Africa has a first
world infrastructure, but the further north one travels,
the more difficult it may become to acquire a specific
medication. |
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23.
Are there doctors?
A. Yes, many.
But once again, the further north, the fewer there are.
24.
Hospitals?
A. Same as above.
South Africa has many top private hospitals, excellent specialists
and state of the art equipment and facilities, including emergency
rescue and air ambulance. Government facilities are overcrowded.
25.
What about Insurance?
A. All travellers
should be adequately insured against all eventualities and
circumstances. This applies anywhere in the world. There are
many companies offering travel insurance, so ask your travel
agent to recommend the best one for you.
26.
What about safety in Africa - the press makes it out to be
a somewhat dangerous and violent place. What precautions must
we take?
A. While on safari
in the bush, the only dangerous creatures are wild animals.
The people are gracious and hospitable. But as in many cities
around the world, there is a need to be careful and vigilant.
Never walk in deserted areas at night, try not to look too
much like a rich tourist with six cameras hanging around your
neck, pockets bulging with dollars and gold chains, rings
and diamonds dripping from your person. Be sensible. As in
most cities, there are areas which are safe and areas where
gangsters and criminals lurk. So choose the safe spots. Ask
at your hotel, or ask some locals.
27.
Are there carjackings?
A. In most of
Africa, it is not as bad as in Los Angeles. However, it does
occur, especially in Johannesburg and Lusaka. Always drive
with windows closed, doors locked and watch for suspicious
looking people hanging around at traffic lights and intersections.
Don't offer lifts to hitchhikers, unless it's your nephew
backpacking through Africa!
28.
We want to do a self-drive. What are the conditions of the
roads?
A. South Africa
has a superb network of tarred freeways, highways and roads,
comparable to any first world country. There are large filling
stations along the freeways, with restaurants, restrooms and
rest areas under shade. Of course, in the remote areas, the
roads are sometimes gravel surfaced, so driving there requires
less speed and more care. The roads in Zimbabwe and Namibia
are all good, and most are tarred. We do not offer any self
drive packages in Zambia, Mozambique or Malawi.
29.
What are the roads in the wildlife reserves like?
A. Most reserves
have a good network of gravel roads, well maintained and easy
to drive with a standard vehicle, so you don't need a 4 wheel
drive car. The majority of roads in Kruger National Park are
tarred. Don't leave your windows open when baboons or monkeys
jump onto your car - and don't feed them! There are no self-drive
options in private reserves and lodges.
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30.
Will there be hairdryers available for use at the lodges?
A. Some
lodges do supply these. If you bring your own, remember
that Southern Africa has 220 Volt electricity, so if
your hairdryer is made for 110 Volt, you will need a
converter, otherwise it will blow up! You will also
need an adaptor for the plug. If you are still determined
to have a blow dryer, then buy one at a convenience
store in South Africa - prices range from 8USD to 20USD
for the Rolls Royce version! However, in all the top
city hotels, there are hair dryers in the bathrooms.
But bush life is casual, so don't get obsessed about
this one, honey! |
31.
Can my cellphone work in Africa?
A. Yes, there
is extensive coverage throughout Southern Africa. In some
countries, this may be primarily in and around major urban
areas. However, in South Africa, networks cover all national
roads, towns and cities. Before travelling, ask your cellphone
service provider to open your phone to allow international
roaming.
32.
Can I hire a cellphone (handy) at an airport?
A Yes. There
are rental companies at the major international airports and
some car hire companies also rent out cellphones. However,
please note that you will not be able to use it on safari,
as most camps are out of range of transmitters. Where there
is coverage, guests are not allowed to use cellphones while
on game drives. The camps are equipped with radios.
33.
What about satellite phones?
A. Travellers
can use Satellite phones thoughout the Region. Remember, however,
that it is very rude to use a phone while game viewing with
other safari enthusiasts. Use these phones in the privacy
of your own room.
| 34.
Is there internet connection in Africa?
A. Certainly.
Most city hotels will have either internet connection
in your bedroom, or a business centre where you can
spend time online. There are also some safari lodges
and camps in South Africa which offer this facility.
In remote areas, however, there is no internet connection.
35.
Is the water safe to bath in?
A. Yes.
In South Africa, all piped water supplied by local authorities,
is potable (drinkable). In the bush, lodges often have
to pump water from underground, so ask the hotel staff
whether it is potable. But is is always good enough
for bathing. |
 |
36.
But is the water safe to drink?
A. Unlike some
countries in Europe, tap water in South Africa, Namibia and
Zimbabwe is potable (drinkable). However, some travellers
do get a bit of a tummy bug from our water, just as some of
us do when we go to your countries. That's because our respective
bodies have all got used to the various bacteria which are
in our respective tap waters. So it's best to drink bottled
water - it's available everywhere. But NEVER drink water,
and NEVER swim in, any pond or dam where the water is stagnant,
smelly, polluted or where the fish are lying dead on the banks.
Water like that often carries bilharzia, a parasite which
makes anyone very sick!
37.
Are there lions in the streets?
A. If you're
lucky, they might cross the road in front of you while you're
on a game drive. Sorry, did you mean are there lions in the
city streets? No, absolutely not. You won't see a lion outside
of a wildlife reserve, unless you go to a zoo. The only lines
are the ones on the roads - centre lines, dotted lines, yellow
lines - all the things you're used to. But just remember that
all over Southern Africa, we drive on the left side of the
road. Except in the bush, your ranger and tracker will go
just about anywhere to show you the lions!
| 38.
Can I feed the wild animals?
A. Feeding
wild animals is not a desirable way to conserve wildlife,
nor is such a practice allowed in any game reserve.
If you try to feed the wild animals, you place your
own life and other people's lives at risk. Remember
that wild animals are Wild Animals.
39.
Is it true that passions run high when one is in the
bush?
A. Absolutely!
This is sometimes referred to as Khaki Fever.
40.
Sounds like a great place to be?
A. It is!
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