BEST GAME TIME VIEWING AND REQUIREMENTS

Best time to view game
Game is best viewed during dry seasons when there is less vegetation to hinder your view.  In addition there will be less standing water and food, forcing animals to congregate in certain areas.  So animals are easier to find and easier to see.  The dry months are generally more popular with safari goers, although this is partly because it coincides with the long summer year break taken by the northern hemisphere countries.

 

Safety tips

* Don't wander around the streets after dark.
* Ask your hotel about unsafe areas and avoid them.
* Leave expensive jewellery at home and wear a cheap plastic watch.
* Keep your money and passport in a money belt and out of site or in a safe at your hotel.
* Dress like a local or at least dress casually
* Use your cell phone discreetly, and not while driving.

 

Money
Exchange about half of the money ($) for the local currency when you arrive at the airport or soon thereafter and ask your guide/driver for the best place to do so.  If you need to carry large amounts of money then bring a money belt and travellers cheques (smaller denominations), but remember that often only the larger cities have ATMs and travellers cheque exchange facilities.  We find that hard cash is best with US$ and Euro being accepted in most places, and most vendors either charge in those currencies or can work out exchange rates. 

 

Tipping
Tipping is often a sensitive issue. Usually we end up tipping about USD5 per day to our guide/tracker and about the same for general staff (porters, cooks, cleaners, fire makers, waiters, watchmen etc).  So USD10 per day usually covers one tourist for tips.  Some lodges have an anonymous tipping box for all staff. Some people prefer to tip directly and that's also fine.  An important point is that this is entirely at your discretion.  One golden rule:  never tell your guide/tracker that his tip is dependant on his finding certain animals, this is unfair on him and may force him to bend the rules in his efforts to please you.  This could cause damage to the environment and wildlife.

 

Insurance
Travel insurance is vital for travel anywhere in the world.  Make sure your insurance package includes cancellation or curtailment of the safari, emergency evacuation expenses, medical expenses, and repatriation expenses, damage/theft/loss of personal baggage, money and goods.

 

Age limits
Ask the agent if there are age restrictions at the accommodation units.  Generally well-behaved children over 8 are permitted although some lodges draw the line at 12.  Please be considerate of your fellow guests. There is no upper age limit on safaris.

 

Power and battery charging

 

Some larger lodges have mains power supply (220-240 volts) but smaller remote lodges often make do with solar power or generators linked to 12 volt battery power.  Generators are run during the day when guests are on game drives.  Some of the camps have no power at all (battery charging is via the game drive vehicle, if at all, and lighting is via paraffin lamps). Ask your lodge or agent about battery charging facilities and make sure you bring the necessary converters and adaptors (and spare batteries).