TRIP NOTES BELIEVE ACHIEVE INSPIRE GRIEF ENCOUNTER ULTIMATE CHALLENGE NAMIBIA NAMIBIA Sun 08 Oct Thu 19 Oct 2017
OVERVIEW GRIEF ENCOUNTER ULTIMATE CHALLENGE NAMIBIA NAMIBIA 2 In aid of Grief Encounter Project 08 Oct 19 Oct 2017 12 DAYS NAMIBIA CHALLENGING Welcome to Namibia, formerly known as SW Africa! This terrain is semi desert bushveld, except for the Namib Desert, which is true sand dune, shaped by the wind, the oldest desert on earth! The northern regions have a great variety of landscapes, including spectacular Etendekas or flat topped mountains split by deep gorges and dry river lines also home to a variety of wild animals. You will spend 8 days trekking through this changing landscape from Kamanjab to the Hoarisib Gorge experiencing life in the bush and sleeping out under the stars. Trek one of the world s oldest deserts and fundraise for Grief Encounter Led by acclaimed exsas soldier and broadcaster Ken Hames Scale sand dunes, trek through the desert and across mountain outcrops Experience the vast array of Namib Desert wildlife in their natural habitat Sleep under the desert sky strewn with glimmering stars Led by Ken Hames who has completed major expeditions across Namibia along with his TV work.
ITINERARY GRIEF ENCOUNTER ULTIMATE CHALLENGE NAMIBIA NAMIBIA 3 YOUR CHALLENGE DAY BY DAY DAY 1 Sun 08 Oct International departure from London Meet the rest of the team and a Charity Challenge representative at the airport for the longawaited night flight to Windhoek Airport. DAY 2 Mon 09 Oct Arrive in Namibia and drive north Arrive in Windhoek and drive to Kamanjab and the amazing Film House Base Camp to rest and prepare for your week long trekking challenge. DAY 3 Tue 10 Oct Visit the local community Meet the local Himbas (Himba tribe) and their bush orphanage. This is for Himba children and women who have been abandoned by their families for various reasons. At lunchtime you will move into the bush to make your first camp and have a couple of hours acclimatisation walk. DAY 4 Wed 11 Oct Trek the Ombonde dry river bed (approximately 25km) You will walk down the Ombonde dry river bed on the lookout for the 3 brothers; bull elephants that make this place their home. After about 6/7 hours we stop for the night at the famous waterfall camp in the Khovarib gorge home to eagles and soaring cliffs whrere you will meet a remote Damara family who live in the gorge and help the kids with their reading and writing. DAY 5 Thu 12 Oct Trek though the Khovarib gorge (approximately 25km) You will leave the spectacular Khovarib gorge behind, drive to Sesfontein and resupply with water and enter the Hoanib river system famous for the desert elephant and desert giraffe you camp about half way down. DAY 6 Fri 13 Oct Trek to Amspoort home to the Desert Elephants (approximately 25km) You will walk the Hoanib dry river bed to Amspoort the home to desert elephants. From here you will follow the sand dunes and look at settlements left by ancient bush men.
ITINERARY GRIEF ENCOUNTER ULTIMATE CHALLENGE NAMIBIA NAMIBIA 4 DAY 7 Sat 14 Oct Trek across sand dunes (approximately 30km) Walk to the enormous landmark of the 742 mountain over shifting dunes and mountainous country with elephants and giraffe around you. There will be a chance to climb it at dusk for spectacular views. DAY 8 Sun 15 Oct Trek towards the Onkongwe water hole (approximately 35km) Today you will walk to the ancient water hole of Onkongwe where lions, leopards and elephants gravitate to on their route across the wilderness. You will camp on high ground and stalk out the waterhole with night viewing aids to watch the wildlife coming to water. DAY 9 Mon 16 Oct Trek to the Hoarisib Gorge (approximately 40km) Today you walk through the spectacular rock portal to the high ground above your penultimate objective the Hoarisib Gorge where you will meet Herero cattle herders and possibly play football with the locals before setting up camp. This high camp is used by rhino on their way to the river for water. DAY 10 Tue 17 Oct Trek the Namibian Bush (approximately 10km) On the last day you will walk down to the gorge (5km) then move out of the area for your final 5km walk a secret route but highly memorable. You then return to the Film House and base camp for your celebration dinner and to toast your achievements! DAY 11 Wed 18 Oct Depart Namibia for the UK You wave goodbye to Namibia, having completed an incredible challenge and forged some strong friendships along the way. Feeling elated, the flight home is a great time to reflect on the achievement and swap details with your amazing Grief Encounter teammates. DAY 12 Thu 19 Oct Arrive Home Saying goodbye will not be easy, but the memories you've made together will stay with you forever. NB
ITINERARY GRIEF ENCOUNTER ULTIMATE CHALLENGE NAMIBIA NAMIBIA 5 The itinerary is there as a guide and may change due to unusual weather patterns, wildlife movements, the strength of the group, and so on. We will do our very best to keep to the set itinerary; however we cannot be held responsible for any last minute changes that might occur. In all such circumstances, your expedition leader will have the final say.
COST GRIEF ENCOUNTER ULTIMATE CHALLENGE NAMIBIA NAMIBIA 6 HOW TO FUND YOUR CHALLENGE This page provides you details of the costs of your challenge. SELF FUNDER Pay a registration fee of 400.00 when you book Then a balance of 2100.00 (8 weeks before your challenge) Raise as much as you can for your charity. MINIMUM SPONSORSHIP Registration fee of 400.00 when you book Raise a minimum of 4450.00 for your charity. WHAT'S INCLUDED Before you go 15% off Cotswold Outdoor, Cycle Surgery, Snow and Rock, and Runners Need 15% off Cotswold Outdoor, Cycle Surgery, Snow and Rock, and Runners Need Access to your own password protected account including support materials and training schedules Risk assessment and emergency management planning Public liability insurance Access to training weekends (optional and at additional expense) 16 and 20 week trek/bike training schedule Fundraising advice Support materials (itinerary, kit list, fact file, Q&As, health notes, travel tips, responsible travel policy and guidance) On your challenge International flights to and from the UK (including all known UK air taxes, and fuel surcharges, at the time of costing) Drinking water on challenge days Three meals a day (unless otherwise stated in the itinerary) Accommodation during the challenge (usually in twin share) Internal road and air transfers as per the itinerary Full backup support including firstaid qualified staff and firstaid supplies A donation to a community project in one of the countries in which we operate A contribution towards funding the reduction of carbon emissions through Climate Care s portfolio of award winning projects All challenge management before, during and post event An English speaking first aid trained challenge leader and full local support team (assistant, drivers, mechanic, medic All ground staff including English speaking guide, drivers, cooks, and porters WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED Before you go Travel to and from the UK airport of departure Clothing and equipment listed on your Kit List On your challenge Specialist comprehensive travel insurance Tips Any other specific items listed as not included in
COST GRIEF ENCOUNTER ULTIMATE CHALLENGE NAMIBIA NAMIBIA 7 THE DETAILS your Trip Notes Fundraising deadlines You will need to send your sponsorship money to the charity as you raise it. At least 80% of the minimum sponsorship required must be sent to the charity 10 weeks before departure (by 30/07/2017), and the remaining 20% within 4 weeks of completing the challenge (by 16/11/2017).If you have raised the necessary funds, the charity will then pay the balance of your challenge costs. The charity benefits by keeping the remaining sponsorship money and every pound over and above that you raise. Prices include all known air taxes We include ALL known air taxes (including fuel) at the time of costing. Many companies do not include air taxes at all, and clients are therefore hit with a surcharge of three or four hundreds of pounds just before departure. If the air taxes increase between the time of costing and your departure, we will absorb up to 50 (depending on the challenge) before passing on any increased costs. Our aim is to provide you with transparent pricing and clear instructions as to what is included in our prices and if applicable what isn't. Typical group size The typical group size is 10 14 participants Optional extras Business class upgrades* Single room supplements* (*subject to availability) Travel insurance We can provide a comprehensive travel insurance policy for this challenge which provides cover for medical (emergency, evacuation and repatriation), cancellation and curtailment and specifically covers the activities undertaken during the challenge. You can take this out when booking. The cost is 80.
INFORMATION GRIEF ENCOUNTER ULTIMATE CHALLENGE NAMIBIA NAMIBIA 8 Leadership You will be led by Ken Hames and we employ a number of first aid qualified challenge leaders, all of whom speak fluent English. They will be ultimately responsible for the running of the itinerary and the safety of your group. The itinerary is there as a guide and may change due to unusual weather patterns, the strength of the group, and so on. While we will do our very best to keep to the set itinerary, we cannot be held responsible for any last minute changes that may occur. In all such circumstances, your challenge leader will have the final say. Ken is an exsas soldier and motivational speaker who has done plenty of TV work. He has previously led 6 major expeditions in Namibia and knows the country well. About Ken Hames From humble beginnings as a boy working on his grandfather s hill farm, he eventually rose to the rank of Major in the Army, commanding an elite mountain unit. Ken has seen action on many parts of the world and has led more than 20 major expeditions. As a young soldier Ken originally went to Berlin at the height of the Cold War and was stationed at Spandau Prison guarding Rudolf Hess (while simultaneously Vladimir Putin cut his teeth in the KGB on the other side of the Berlin wall). He recalls driving his tank right up to Checkpoint Charlie and parking it there if anybody understands the Iron Curtain, he does! Later he returned in the years of perestroika to work in the east in a continuous game of cat and mouse with the Russians. He finally witnessed the breakup of the Warsaw Pact and after a frantic exchange of spies in Berlin saw the wall finally collapse. Ken s military service took him all over the world and into some tight spots and he recalls in particular the difficulties he faced in Northern Ireland and the Falklands War. However he is the first to admit that it s not just soldiers who face challenging circumstances and he has witnessed incredible courage and resilience from ordinary people achieving extraordinary things in remote and dangerous places. After years of military service Ken decided to call it a day and join the even more dangerous world of television and broadcasting. His credits and achievement are impressive where he produced and presented many of his programmes focussing on getting people to reconnect with the great outdoors. His first TV show in 1995 (while still in uniform) was The Trek, Meridian with the help of Princess Diana; he took 12 disadvantaged youngsters to the heart of Africa on a 500mile journey over desert and mountainous terrain. Diana described Hames as the master practitioner. In 1997 again while still in uniform Ken fronted the famous show from Anglia TV, Battle Stripes even after 18 years this still airs!! Since then Ken has created and fronted exploratory and adventure programmes for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, CBBC, Sky and the Discovery Channel. Of note is his work with fly on a wall legend Paul Watson on shows like Jungle Janes and Desert Darlings and actions shows like SAS Secrets and Northern Ireland, The Soldier s Story. Responsible Tourism
INFORMATION GRIEF ENCOUNTER ULTIMATE CHALLENGE NAMIBIA NAMIBIA 9 At Charity Challenge we are committed to sustainable and responsible tourism, and work closely with bodies such as the International Porter Protection Group and Climate Care to ensure that our challenges benefit the local environments and communities in which they take place. We ensure that all rubbish is disposed of responsibly, and following local guidelines on cultural and environmental protection and respect, we aim to limit our impact on the natural environment. In addition to taking these practical steps to ensure that our challenges are sustainable, we also make a contribution each year to a number of local community projects, so as to give something back directly to the communities that we visit. Since 2000 we have donated almost 200,000 to such projects, supporting a range of initiatives, including schooling for children in Africa, shelter for street children in Brazil, and Orangutan conservation in Indonesia. We recommend that any gifts brought over for children are given to the UK challenge leader and distributed where needed by them and our local Ground Agent. If you wish to do more, you should consider buying drinks, postcards and souvenirs from the local vendors. For many, it is their sole source of income. For more information, please visit our Responsible Tourism pages section. Should I take gifts or clothes for the locals? It is a nice gesture to give the local children small gifts, but we actively discourage the giving of sweets or money, however small, because this encourages begging. It is better to bring pencils and notebooks for the schools in the villages you will be passing through. Please give any gifts or donations to the tour leader as they will know who to distribute it to. Glass black beads (available in costume jewellery shops) are popular with the local Himba tribe. We will be investing money into a local community project to help improve local living conditions. Typical Day You will trek for about 8 hours a day in the heat. You will sometimes get up early and leave at first light to make best of the coolest time of the day stopping for breakfast at about 1030hrs. You stop well before last light in order for people to relax and get ready for dinner. We do have drinks available and we always have a fantastic campfire where we chat, sing songs and play games. What happens if I fall ill, can t keep up or there is an emergency? The event is not run as a race and there is always a large discrepancy in people s walking ability. This is allowed for. There will be a staff member at the back of the group at all times to ensure that you are not left behind and can take things at your own pace. In the event of an emergency, one of our backup vehicles will take you to the nearest clinic or to simply rest in. We are always in contact with the backup vehicles by radio and quality medical services are available in the nearby towns. Accommodation It is traditional to not use tents in Namibia, especially in October when it doesn't rain. You will sleep on sleeping mats, head to head and get the opportunity to sleep under the stars and breathe the night air. The vehicles form a three sided fence and the drivers and our guard dogs do the rest. You do not need to fear predators as they will not come close and we are always warned by our dogs if anything comes close. It's far more hygenic and comfortable to sleep outdoors in the desert as tents can be like ovens and uncomfortable.
INFORMATION GRIEF ENCOUNTER ULTIMATE CHALLENGE NAMIBIA NAMIBIA 10 Don't forget to bring a foldable camping stool to sit on at the campsites. Do we need to take our own sleeping bags and mats? Yes, you will need to bring a light sleeping bag. A sleeping bag liner, which can be used in place of your sleeping bag if you get too hot, is also advisable. You are also advised to bring a foam sleeping mat. Also see Kit List. Food & Drink This is the land of the braii and this means there is a lot of steak, chicken, other meats and vegetarian options. All meals are provided and everyday will be varied with plenty of fruit and veg. You will have fresh bread every day. Don't forget to bring a set of camping plate, bowl and mug for you to use and clean each day. Clothing and equipment Good quality, durable kit could mean the difference between a fantastic challenge experience and an uncomfortable one. For this challenge, wellworn in boots will be indispensable, particularly coupled with some really good quality walking socks. You don t need a clean pair every day, but enough to make sure you have dry socks each morning. The benefits of a comfortable day sack cannot be underestimated, so make sure that you train with this. Other essentials are high quality light weight waterproof jacket and trousers, and technical/wicking t shirts rather than cotton shirts. Walking poles are also recommended, as a preventative as well as for anyone with any preexisting leg injuries or niggles. A full kit list for this challenge can be found here and once you book you will have access to kit discounts with our partners The Outdoor Shop, Outdoor Hire and Cotswold Outdoor. Toilets We arrange basic long drop toilets in the camps. Your camp team will provide the supplies needed to keep up group hygiene. There will be no showers other than the first and last nights. Please take plenty of wet wipes and antibacterial hand gel with you. There are no toilets on the trek route during the day, so you must make sure you bury all waste, and carry out wet wipes. Phone and WiFi Phone signal is available, but intermittent. There is no opportunity to recharge any electrical equipment during the trek, but if you want to bring a solar charger these can work well to charge phones. There are charge points in your rooms at the hotel. Safety
INFORMATION GRIEF ENCOUNTER ULTIMATE CHALLENGE NAMIBIA NAMIBIA 11 Charity Challenge considers the safety of all of its participants and staff to be a top priority, and as such we have set up one of the most advanced and thorough safety management systems in the industry. In a nutshell, Our Challenge Safe brand formalises our ethos when it comes to safety, and brings together the procedures and risk management strategies that we use to audit all aspects of our challenges, from vehicles to accommodation to the activity itself. Your welfare is paramount! In terms of your Namibia trek, there are a couple of important points that you should be aware of: You will be trekking through African Bush Terrain can be rocky Basic toilet facilities Wildlife roam freely You will be in the heat Training A good level of fitness is definitely required. Anyone who leads a fairly active and moderately healthy lifestyle should be able to complete the challenge, as long as they train regularly over a period of at least three months leading up to it. Don t forget that the temperature and climate will be different from the UK, and that you will be exercising constantly for a number of days. In your Charity Challenge account you will find more comprehensive Fitness Training Notes. You can also look to join one of our training weekends. Training weekends We offer superb training weekends across various locations in the UK, from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon. These training weekends not only help you become physically prepared for the challenge, but our experienced instructors and leaders will talk you through your clothing and equipment, camp craft, health and wellbeing, trekking skills (walking on different terrain/at altitude/at night/using walking poles), teamwork on expedition and many more themes designed to make you get the most out of your challenge. The weekends are great ways for you to get out into the mountains of the UK, while also meeting other Charity Challengers and sharing your experiences. To read more about our training weekends, including dates and prices, check out our dedicated page here. Level of Difficulty The Grief Encounter Namibia Challenge is graded as challenging. You can tell your supporters that on your Namibia challenge you will be: Trekking 8 12 hours a day Battling the sand dunes of the Namibia bush Sleeping under the stars Money
INFORMATION GRIEF ENCOUNTER ULTIMATE CHALLENGE NAMIBIA NAMIBIA 12 Currency: The best currency to take is the South African Rand and it is wise to get some before you travel. Exchange: For up to date currency exchange, go to: http://www.xe.com/ Credit cards: Major credit cards are only accepted at the airport. Spending money: You will not need to carry a large amount of money during this trip, and other than at the start and end of the trek, you will be in the bush away from any foreign exchanges or banks. We recommend that you take a sufficient amount of cash. Somewhere in the region of 200 in should be enough to cover presents, tips, and drinks. Tips: Tipping is personal and at your sole discretion. You should only tip if you feel that you have received good service. We recommend approx. US$70 for the entire trip which should be given to the challenge leader at the end of the challenge, who will distribute it among the support team. Visa Your full tenyear passport must have at least six months left to run from the end of the challenge. You will need a Tourist Visa which you can get upon arrival at no cost. Vaccinations For the latest information please see www.nomadtravel.co.uk/pages/travelvaccinationcountryguide or www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk. Vaccines sometimes advised: malaria pfophylaxis and rabies. Malaria precautions are essential in all areas below 1800m, all year round. Avoid mosquito bites by covering up with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers especially after sunset, using insect repellents on exposed skin and, when necessary, sleeping under a mosquito net. Flights You will be flying overnight with KLM from London to Windhoek via Amsterdam. Your flight tickets will be issued to you upon departure at the airport by our airport representatives. Insurance It is a condition of booking that you have a suitable travel insurance policy whilst participating on the challenge. We have a special policy which covers among other things, medical (emergency, evacuation and repatriation) arrangements, cancellation and curtailment of the challenge, and more specifically for the adventurous activities undertaken on this challenge. If you have your own travel insurance policy, you must ensure that it provides at least the same level of cover as our recommended policy, including protecting the charity in the event of your cancellation 56 days or less prior to departure. If you choose not to purchase our recommended policy when you
INFORMATION GRIEF ENCOUNTER ULTIMATE CHALLENGE NAMIBIA NAMIBIA 13 book we will send you a disclaimer which you should complete and return. For more general travel insurance questions, please refer to our main FAQs page. Group Size This group is intended to run with 10 14 people. Climate You will be walking though semi desert and for the first part it will be through a reasonable cover of trees and vegetation. The second half will be through arid dune and hard packed gravel plain where there is little cover from the sun. Temperatures vary at this time of year and can be anything from 3040 degrees. The beauty of trekking west is that the cool breeze of the sea is in your face and makes the temperatures bearable. Terrain This trek is generally flat through gorges and across plains. The second half is rolling hills and in some places heavy sand. There is some ascent and descent toward the end of the trek and while it does not look much on paper any walking uphill in the hot sun can be arduous. Luggage allowance and valuables Luggage should be kept to the absolute minimum details of what to pack are provided in your Kit List. You will need to carry a daypack during the day while the luggage vehicle will carry your main rucksack. Your daypack should be about 35litre capacity. NB. You should take a softsided bag or rucksack as hard suitcases are too unwieldy. Your main pack should be 60 litres capacity. On your outward journey, please wear your trekking gear, hiking boots, and carry a spare change of clothing in your hand luggage. No formal clothes are needed. While we will do everything to provide adequate safety for the group and security for your possessions, the general rule is that if you don t need it, don t bring it. This includes jewellery, necklaces, rings and even watches. Your passport and money should be kept on you at all times. The camps will be watched over by guards at night.
Any more questions? Contact us: + 44 (0)20 8346 0500