Safari Preparation Manual

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Cecil Bridges
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Safari Preparation Manual If you visit only two continents in your life, visit Africa twice Thank you for deciding to travel Africa with Letaka Safaris, this journey will change your life.

1 Safari Preparation Manual If you visit only two continents in your life, visit Africa twice Thank you for deciding to travel Africa with Letaka Safaris, this journey will change your life. This document will help you get the most out of it. If you got this document from our website then you have already read some of this but some of the information is important enough to read twice. The information below will help you pack sensibly for your safari and ensure you get the most out of it. If you are traveling to Africa for the first time you won t get it 100% right this time but the next time you travel with us, you will be an old hand Pack this stuff in your hand luggage so it can t get lost. Headlamp and flashlight! Don t buy a lucky packet flashlight, spending a bit of money on these essential camping items will save you plenty of heartache. A headlamp will allow you to read in bed at night and also to scratch around in your bag before sunrise for that missing sock. If you decide that you don t want to bring both a headlamp and a flashlight then choose a decent headlamp. Binoculars don t leave home without them! A digital camera (yes, the age of film is really over) with spare batteries, battery charger and plenty of memory cards to capture all those magical safari moments. There we go that s the important stuff, now read on for the rest.

2 Health We carry a comprehensive First Aid kit on board our vehicles; we cannot however cover everything, if you have any medical problems or existing medical conditions please bring enough medication and inform us of these problems as soon as possible, preferably prior to your arrival. For inoculations, please consult your local GP or health provider. Malaria The areas you will be travelling in are malaria areas. We suggest you speak to your local GP or healthcare provider and take the action he/she recommends, as there are differing ideas about what prophylactics to take, if any. Some malaria prophylactics can cause side effects such as nausea, headaches and a lowering of your resistance to the sun. We provide insect repellent on safari but you are welcome to bring your own and please use them liberally, particularly during the warmer spring and summer months (October- April). The Sun You will be spending a good deal of your day outdoors and sometimes when travelling you will find yourself in a sunny seat. Please be prepared for this by bringing plenty of nuclear factor sun- screen, wide- brimmed hats and long- sleeved shirts. Weather In Botswana we are not really that fussed about spring and autumn and we really have only two seasons, temperatures are given in Celsius (water boils at 100, freezes at 0 it makes sense, come on America!): September through April is summer. In the hottest month of summer, October, daytime temperatures can reach the mid- forties although this is very uncommon. Average daytime temperatures are in the mid- thirties with night- time temperatures dropping into the low twenties. May through August is winter. In the coldest month of winter, July, night- time temperatures can sink to freezing but this is very uncommon. Single figure nocturnal temperatures are not uncommon though and early mornings on an open game drive vehicle can be especially chilly. What clothes should I pack for safari? Whatever you decide to pack based on the information below you should try to pack neutral, earth- tone colours (yes, that s how you spell colour, it really does have a u ) like khaki, stone, olive, grey etc. If you are walking through the bush in a group, you don t want to be the one who stands out in the crowd J

3 In both summer and winter you should bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes or boots as well as sandals (like Crocs or Teva s) but make sure these have a reasonably sturdy sole that can large thorns. You will use your sandals when doing boating excursions where you may have to get your feet wet getting on or off the boat. The bog standard Crocs are not suitable for safari as the sole is too soft. Summer Botswana is a summer rainfall region and late afternoon showers are common from December to April but infrequent showers may start as early as October. If you are travelling in this time period bring a waterproof poncho or raincoat for those surprise showers that catch us out on game drive. A dry bag for your camera gear and other digital equipment is a good idea, these are very light and take virtually no space in your luggage and can be a very useful piece of kit on safari. Summer Safari Chic T- shirts and light cotton long- sleeve shirts (UV- resistant fishing shirts are great as they dry very quickly after being washed). Light cotton shorts and long pants (for evenings when mosquitos are about). A wide- brimmed hat, Tilley make great hats that can take a beating. Bring a bathing suit, you never know when the opportunity for a cooling swim might arise. In winter temperatures can go below zero degrees C at night but during the day it warms up substantially to about degrees. Dressing in layers is the best way to deal with the varying temperatures during the winter months. Winter Safari Chic heavy cotton long- sleeve shirts. A fleece and a wind- breaking jacket, gloves, fleece headwear that will cover your ears and a scarf to stop the breeze going down your neck. It might seem like overkill for Africa but you will thank us on those early morning game drives! Bring T- shirts and shorts for the warmer days or parts thereof, T- shirts are also good to wear underneath your long- sleeve shirt as an additional layer. Water Although Botswana s water is generally safe to drink, we supply filtered water on all our safaris. It is important to remember to drink enough water while on safari. If you are travelling in the summer months you should bring rehydration salts to add to your water. One sachet per person per day will be sufficient and will prevent any dehydration problems. Rehydration salts are available in most pharmacies in powder- form which is the most suitable for travel. Food and Drinks All meals and drinks are provided; please inform us if you have any special requirements or if you are allergic to any food. The earlier we have this information the better we are able to cater for you. Wine, gin, local beer and soft drinks are provided. Water, tea and coffee are available all day.

4 Luggage Restrictions On a safari where bush flights are included, the maximum luggage weight is 12.5kg. This does not include flights from Johannesburg Maun Johannesburg or Maun Kasane Maun, where the weight restriction is 20kg (plus 7kg hand luggage). Duffel/soft bags are recommended as these pack easier into aircraft and vehicles, if your hard case does not fit into the pod of the light aircraft you will find yourself packing into plastic bags! If you feel you are not able to pack to these weight requirements an additional seat on the charter flight can be purchased ahead of time please contact our offices for a quotation or for further details on luggage restrictions. Electronics In this digital age of ipads, ipods, Kindles, laptops, video cameras and digital compact and SLR cameras, access to electricity is essential. To this end we have fitted all our safari vehicles with 220V inverters, a plug point is provided in every seat row for your convenience. Bring your normal chargers that you would use at home (check that these are rated up to 220 some American and Canadian equipment will only work on 110/120V). You will also need to bring an adapter for the South African M- type plug which is a three- prong plug with round prongs. General Information Books Your guide will have books on the fauna and flora of Botswana. Bring along a novel or other reading material as there is often time in the middle of the day to relax. You may also want to bring a pack of cards or some other game for siesta time between morning and afternoon activities if you are not into the whole siesta thing. Money The best currencies to bring to Botswana, in no particular order are, British Pounds, Euro and US Dollars. Since your safari is prepaid and there are no hidden extras on your safari, you will not need to travel with much cash besides that which you may need for the following paragraph.

00 per couple per day General Staff: USD5.

5 Tipping We are often asked to provide guidelines on tipping so please be aware that the following are strictly that guidelines. Tipping is entirely optional and the amount or whether you tip at all is up to you but these are the industry standards. Guides: USD10.00 per person per day Safari Chef: USD5.00 per couple per day General Staff: USD5.00 per couple per day This works out as follows: If you are a couple travelling together on a ten day safari and working on the guidelines above you would tip USD to the guide, USD50.00 to the chef and USD50.00 to be shared amongst general staff. If you have any questions which are not answered by this document please contact our office with your queries. Find Letaka Safaris on Facebook at facebook.com/letakasafaris /

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION KENYA

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION KENYA ESSENTIAL INFORMATION PASSPORT AND VISA INFORMATION Your passport needs to be valid for at least six (6) months after your journey ends, and should have a minimum of two (2) blank visa pages for entry