Included in the trip price and local payment

The tour cost and local payment includes transport in a fully equipped expedition vehicle, road taxes and tolls, services of the driver-leader, use of camping and cooking equipment, campsite fees, entrance to gameparks as specified, and two meals a day while on the truck. This means in places such as Dar es Salaam, Victoria Falls or Swakopmund, where the vehicle will be parked up, although the kitchen will be available for you to cook with, food during this time will not come out of the Local Payment. Generally at lunchtimes we eat at small cafes or restaurants where you can try cheap and tasty local food. If no local food is available we eat on the truck.

Not included in the trip price and local payment

The price does not include flights; ask us for a flight and personal insurance quote, we have very competitive rates. Nor does it include visas, side trips, lunches and meals out. There are a number of optional side trips that you can choose from and pay for on the route.
Please be aware that once you are booked, your deposit and balance is non refundable. Insure yourself when you book for the full duration of the trip and your whole time away.

Local Payment

Payable in £ Pounds Sterling cash but you can pay in $US dollars or Euros cash at the current cross exchange rate on date of departure, check with the driver for the rate. Please pay this to the driver on departure. Travellers cheques, cards or other forms of payment are not accepted.

Buying your Flight

Ensure when you buy your flight that you don't go just on price. Also check conditions and flexibility. Take into consideration that you may be buying your flight well ahead of time and the nature of your trip you are doing. It may be worthwhile paying more to have a flexible flight with a better airline that flies frequently to your destination. We can obtain competitive fares for you, please ask when booking your trip.

Return Flight

Although it is our intention to finish the trip on the finishing date, in case of delays en route you should allow a couple days at the end of the trip before you fly out.

Flying into Nairobi

After immigration control and customs you will find two currency exchange points, their rates are the same as in town. The best way to get to town is to book a transfer as this is safer and easier. You can book a transfer through Karen Camp via the link below or with us. Transfers cost $20 per person. By taxi from the booths in the arrival terminal at the airport, they will tell you the price of the taxi to your hotel and you pay the driver when you arrive at the hotel. To town or the campsite costs about $20 to $40. Don't go with a taxi run by one of the numerous touts who approach you at the airport.

Accommodation - Trips departing from Nairobi

We depart from Karen Camp, Marula Lane, off Karen Road, Karen Nairobi. Tel. 254 (0) 733 703510, 254 (0) 723 314053, 254 (0) 20 883475 e mail: booking@karencamp.com
Nairobi: If you would like to stay at the Karen Camp, please mention it at the time of booking and we can book it for you or book via the above link. An ensuite room costs £15, a room without a bathroom is £12 and a dorm bed £3.

Airport pick up in Nairobi to Karen Camp

If you would like the security of an airport pickup provide us with your flight details at the time of booking - cost $US20 per person, payable locally. Once you have cleared customs and immigration, collect your luggage and pass through the big glass doors. Turn right and on the right hand side you will see Planet Safari’s at whose counter you will meet the driver. You pay for the taxi when you arrive at the campsite. We advise you for your safety and convenience to use this service. Make sure you actually reach the Planet counter and ignore the taxi touts at the airport; they will over charge you and may not even know where Karen camp is.

Seeing the Gorillas and Gorilla permits

We see the gorillas in either; Uganda, Rwanda or DR Congo. The gorilla permits are payable on the spot and can only be paid in US dollars cash. The cost of the permit is approx: $500 payable directly to the park authorities. There is also a small charge to get up to the gorilla viewing area. The price of the gorilla permits often changes without notice. Seeing the gorillas may involve you having to get extra visas on the borders, this changes with each trip and each different place or country we see them.

Serengeti Park and Ngorongoro Crater

The options for seeing these parks are either (1) an overnight trip to Ngorongoro Crater or (2) a two night trip to both Serengeti Park and Ngorongoro Crater. The Serengeti can only be reached by twice passing through Ngorongoro Crater. To do this trip we arrange to hire 4x4 vehicles from Arusha to the parks and back. While in the region it is well worth seeing both parks; they are the best wildlife parks in the world. The side trip is a bit expensive, though most of the charges goes towards park entrance fees and therefore to park upkeep and anti poaching. The Tanzanian Park Authority continually changes or raises their entry fees with short notice so prices can increase.

Visas

Please see the Visa Information

Insurance

You must be insured against personal accident, medical expenses and repatriation expenses. We only carry passengers on the understanding that, in most African countries through which we travel no passenger or vehicle liability is available whatsoever. You should take out insurance when you pay your deposit for the tour or for flights so that you are insured against cancellation (for medical reasons, for example). We can organise insurance for you. Bring your policy with you. Be aware if you travel without insurance and you need to get home urgently due to ill health or family problems, you or those responsible for you could incur bills running into many thousands. We can supply you with insurance, please ask when booking.

Inoculations and Malaria

Inoculations
You have to be vaccinated against Yellow Fever and will need an International Vaccination Certificate to prove this when we cross some borders. It is also advisable to be vaccinated against Typhoid; Rabies; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; Tetanus; Polio and Meningitis.

If possible start your vaccinations two months, but as late as two weeks before departure. Your GP can also inoculate but may take a while to get to get the vaccine in. The following centres are amongst the many which can supply up-to-date medical advice and also administer vaccinations. Most of these centres need you to book in before you go In London we recommend:

Nomad Travellers Store and Medical Centre.
They can be contacted on 0208 889 7014 and are across the road from Turnpike Lane tube. They give African Trails clients a 10discount on jabs, medical kits and camping equipment.

British Airways Travel Clinic.
213 Piccadilly London, W1J 9HQ Tel: 0845 600 2236 Walk-in service opening hours: Monday to Friday 09.30 to 18.00 Saturday 10.00 to 17.00 Travel Clinic for Hospital of Tropical Diseases. Mortimer Market Centre, Capper St London WC1. Tel. 020 7388 9600.

In Scotland
Ailsa Travel Clinic. 42 Admiral St, Kinning Park, Glasgow, Tel 0141 429 0913. Clinics and doctors don't give detailed advice over the phone. It is best to check opening hours and go and see them.

Malaria

The risk of contracting malaria in the areas we visit is high. You should be aware that malaria tablets offer only partial protection against malaria and that you should couple taking the tablets with mosquito bite avoidance. The malarial mosquitoes come out at night that is from the beginning of sunset onwards, so from this time you should cover up in long sleeves, jeans or track suit pants plus socks, as mosquitoes tend to bite around the feet and ankles. You must also use insect repellent containing Deet, bring some you will need it.

The use of repellents and covering up can be as effective as the use of tablets, so by coupling both methods of protection together you should be malaria free. Whatever type of prophylactic you choose to use you should try a sample of it well before you go as adverse reactions can occur. This often happens with the Larium or Mephloquine type of drug. A can of fly spray is handy for clearing your tent of mosquitoes and bugs before you go to bed.

Medical Kits

We carry First Aid kits on board for emergency use only. However, the crew is not entitled to recommend or prescribe any medicine. We advise a health check with your GP and Dentist before you start your journey, and that you carry your own medical kit with you.

Video Cameras

In most campsites you can charge from the mains so bring a travel adaptor plug, as you'll come across virtually every type of socket ever invented plus a few others. Most countries run on 220 or 240 volt current. You should also bring at least one spare battery with you as you will not be able to purchase spares en-route.

Mobile Phones

Your own mobile phone will work abroad if you have roam facility enabled on a dual band phone. Coverage is generally good. Although convenient for outgoing calls at rates of around $2 per minute, incoming calls can cost up to $10 per minute to receive. In most campsites you can charge from the mains using a travel adaptor plug. You can charge off the truck if you have a 24 volt in-car charger though charging from the vehicle will reduce the life of your batteries.

Time Zones

Most countries are on the same time up to 3 hours ahead of GMT or UK time. East Africa is 2 hours ahead of GMT.

Life on the road

There are times when we will have some long drives in order to cover big distances, but on most days that we travel, we only move for half the day. The African landscape and people you pass are never boring and most find it hard to put their head down and read whilst on the road, for fear of missing something. Most evenings we pull into camp and you and your tent partner will put up your tent, then either relax with a cool drink, or get involved in a local activity. Breakfast is usually cereal, toast, tea, and coffee, with the occasional cooked breakfast. Lunch, if we eat on the truck is cold.

Language

English is the predominant second language on route but Swahili is also spoken extensively in East Africa.

Security in General

There is a lockable safe bolted onto the floor of the truck for your money belts, however, the Company takes no responsibility for such or for any passengers' belongings. It is very important to remember that if a loss of a passport or travellers cheques occurs it is not always possible for the expedition to wait for those involved. Therefore, when you are looking after your valuables off the truck e.g. changing money in the bank, it is essential to wear a money belt that fits under your shirt. Do not wear a bum bag around your waist, or a money belt that hangs from your neck. In certain problem areas known to us a passenger roster will be drawn up to guard the vehicle during the day. We advise you not to take any items of value that are not essential for your journey, e.g. jewellery.

Security in Nairobi

Being a city in a third world country care must be taken with your valuables as you are prone to lose them in your first few days if you don't take care. You're best off leaving your valuables in a hotel safety deposit box or judiciously with the hotel management. Don't walk around with camera, shoulder bags or bum bags showing, they only identify you as a tourist. If you go out at night, catch a taxi.

There are a few scams operating in town, which have the gullible robbed time and time again. The first is the willingness of a complete stranger to share cash with you that he has found on the street. The second is the offer to change money on the street at fantastic rates. The third is 'plain clothes police' asking to check your money on the street. The fourth is requests for money from glib students... just walk away from all these situations as they will only result in you losing your money.

Spending Money

£10 - £20 a day is a good start excluding side trips. Of course this varies from person to person depending on how much you drink, eat and how many souvenirs you buy. In most parts of Africa it is difficult to change travellers cheques and to use ATMs so we suggest for ease of exchange and better rates of exchange take your money as 50travellers cheques and 50cash. As travelling with cash is risky please ensure that you have adequate insurance to hedge against the risk of loss. Be aware that if your cash is lost it is very unlikely you will recover it.

In Zimbabwe you need $US cash to change at the banks and they can ask for proof of purchase. A credit card is handy for emergency spending only, but useless for day-to-day spending. Do not rely on credit cards/switch type cards until you get to Southern Africa as money machines are almost non-existent. For spending in Namibia it is best to start the trip with £100 changed into South African Rand as you can't change money for the first few days. You can spend rand all over Namibia and of course in South Africa at the end of the trip, get it before leaving home or at the airport as you fly out.

Side trips/optional excursions

Are paid for on the spot. Please see Side trips and extras

Maps

It's good to have your own map to follow the trip as you go. In Africa use the Michelin 955 of Africa, central and south.

Washing

Most of the time you can wash every day and at camp sites you can do your laundry or often have it done for you quite cheaply.

E-mail

Can be collected approx every week or two, from £1-£5 to connect.
Phoning Home
It can be very expensive to call home from Africa, sometimes as high as £20 for 3 minutes. A lot of the campsites don't have telephones.

Camping

Tents are provided and all have sewn in floors and mosquito netting. You will need to bring with you a sleeping bag, sleep sheet, foam roll mat or airbed. Bring a mosquito net only if you want to sleep outside of your tent, these can be bought in Africa.

Discman and CD's

An amplifier is provided in the rear of the truck for you to plug your Discmans / I-Pods into. Although the amp is powered off the truck, your Discman isn't, so bring along extra batteries.

Photography

African authorities require that tourists do not take pictures of airports, railway stations or military installations. We are often in areas where locals are not used to being photographed and we ask you to show them every respect and courtesy. For SLR cameras we recommend a telephoto of around 120mm or an 80-200 zoom. High-speed film is usually necessary for photographing gorillas or game in early morning or late afternoon particularly if using a long lens. It is best to purchase all film prior to arrival in Africa.

Accommodation at the end of the trip - Dar and Zanzibar

In Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar there are numerous cheap backpacker hostels so there is no need to book.

Suggested list of clothing and equipment

The less you take the less you have to pack, wash, lug home and you'll always pick up extras along the way. You'll be travelling in the heat and camping in the cool, so bring clothes for all climates, rough stuff is best. The best type of carrier is a rucksack (with an internal frame) or a kit bag.
Sleeping bag and sleeping mat
Medical kit - Bring your own simple kit
Re-hydration sachets available from any chemist
Insect repellent containing Deet e.g. Jungle Juice
Sun cream
Headache tablets
Plasters
Malaria tablets
Toiletries - You can buy most basic toiletries easily in Africa
Toothbrush and toothpaste, dental floss
Soap in a container and razors
Towel and shampoo
Tampons/condoms; enough for the trip
Clothes
Socks
Shirts
Jeans/long trousers
Underwear
Sweatshirt/jumper
Shorts, T-shirts, swimsuit
Skirt
Sandals/flip flops/jandals/thongs
Walking shoes
Small day-pack or bag to carry your daily items
Hat and sunglasses
Camera (in a protective case), spare batteries and all the film you think nece-ssary
Money belt or pouch to hold your passport
Vaccination book
Travellers cheques
Books, personal CD player and CD's
Torch and spare batteries
Water bottle at least 1.5 litres, any old water bottle is fine and these are available in most shops on the way
The easiest and best way to travel is as lightly as possible, taking just what is necessary. Most people make the mistake of bringing too much luggage.