CLOTHING GUIDE
No formal clothing is required at any of the Botswana Camps. Bright colours and white are not really advised and Army camouflage uniforms or hats are FORBIDDEN. Muted colours are best.
WINTER
Long trousers
Warm Jacket
Long sleeved shirt
Jersey
Scarf
Socks
Shorts
Shirts/Blouses
Skirts
Comfortable shoes
Sandals
Swimming gear
Hats
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
|
SUMMER
Long trousers
Shorts
Shirts/blouses
Skirts
Socks
Comfortable shoes
Sandals
Swimming gear
Hats
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Jersey |
Personal Toiletries including a basic medical kit. If you wear contact lenses, bring a spare pair of glasses in case of dust irritation.
LAUNDRY
All the Camps offer a laundry service that is included in your total safari cost. However, the camp staff do not like to wash underwear owing to local traditions.
VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE
There is a very strict weight restriction on all light aircraft. The limit is 10kgs per person that MUST be packed into soft bags. This is to make it easy for the luggage to be stowed on the aircraft. Rigid suitcases will be rejected and left behind with our representative. This luggage will be safely taken care of and forwarded to your point of departure at your expense if necessary, or returned to you if you depart through the same point.
PHOTOGRAPHY
The choice of camera equipment and film will determine the quality of your photographs of the trip. For good photography of birds and animals, a good SLR camera and telephoto lens is necessary. The minimum recommended size is 200mm and a zoom lens can be extremely useful. The slower film, 100ASA is generally on sale in the curio shops, but if you are using different speed film, it is recommended that you bring your own. Also please bring a spare camera battery!
For video cameras, it is possible to recharge batteries at all the camps but it is wise to bring your own adapters as we work on the 220v system here. Also bring a spare video battery, as most recharging will be done during the day whilst you are out on game excursions. Our camps all have generated power that runs during the day, recharging solar batteries, fridges, freezers etc. and are switched off at night.
Please bring your own binoculars.
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HEALTH
The northern part of Botswana is considered a malaria area and as such it is imperative that you take prophylaxis for it. It is best to consult your General Practitioner or The British Airways Travel clinics for the best prophylaxis to use. Although malaria is prevalent during the summer months, it is wise to take prophylaxis throughout. The lodges do provide sprays and creams.
With most prophylaxis, it is essential to continue taking them after leaving here, please do follow this. Should you feel any odd symptoms on your return home whilst on or off the prophylaxis, please ensure that your Doctor does everything necessary to establish that it is not malaria.
Botswana does not require any inoculations to be done prior to entry. However conditions can change and it is best to check for each visit.
It is recommended that you take precautions against tetanus and hepatitis.
Due to the intensity of heat during our summer months, it is important that you drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Water in the Camps is generally bottled but it is SAFE to drink the Okavango water.
Hats, sunscreen and sun glasses are a MUST at all times and during the whole year.
VISAS
It is generally unnecessary for most passport holders to have visas prior to arrival in Botswana, BUT you must check for sure with your ticketing agent. This goes also for our neighbouring countries that you are visiting together with Botswana. Neither The Booking Company nor our agents or suppliers can be held responsible for any errors.
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MONEY
The majority of lodges here accept the major credit cards such as Visa, Master Card and Diners Club. They also accept USD$ or UK£ cash or travellers cheques. Either credit cards or the foreign currency can be used to pay for extras at the lodges such as drinks, curios, gratuities etc. It is NOT necessary to have Botswana Pula currency.
Most of the lodges have small curio shops that also sell items of a personal nature.
With regard to gratuities, it is best to discuss this with the Management of each camp concerned. However the following can be used as a guideline:
GUIDES
We recommend USD$5.00 per guest per day for a job well done.
MOKORO POLERS
We recommend USD$3.00 per guest per day for a job well done.
GENERAL CAMP STAFF
We recommend USD$3.00 per guest per day which should be handed to the Management to put into the general tip box. This goes to all the staff you don’t see, i.e. the tent ladies, kitchen staff, groundstaff etc etc.
WILD ANIMALS
You are on safari in Africa where we have lots of wild animals! Please heed with due care and pay attention to the advice given by each Camp Manager as to where and when you are allowed to move around within the camp confines. Do not approach any wild animal on foot.
We, nor our associate agents or suppliers can be held liable for any injuries caused during an incident involving the behaviour of wild animals.
We would ask also that you respect our wildlife whilst out on game excursions:
Observe the animals silently with a minimum of disturbance. Loud talking, clapping hands to attract attention or imitating them is unnecessary.
Please respect your guide’s judgement as to how close he can take the vehicle/boat/mokoro to the animal that you wish to photograph.
Litter thrown on the ground can choke or poison animals and birds apart from the fact of being unsightly. Smoking is not advised, as it is too easy to ignite the dry African bush with cigarette ends.
Please do not feed animals.
We suggest that you bring with you a small flashlight/torch as you may encounter wild animals in the camp at night. The majority of Camps supply torches but it is good to have your own as a backup. Bring spare batteries and bulbs for them too!
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SATELLITE AND IRIDIUM PHONES
None of the camps have telephones as they are situated in very remote areas. However they are in daily radio contact with their operations offices in Maun through whom messages can be passed. Should you happen to bring your telephone with you, we would ask that you bear in mind that most guests come to Africa to get away from phones/faxes/emails and therefore the least disturbance to your fellow guests would be appreciated.
MOVEMENTS BETWEEN CAMPS
The timing of aircraft movements between camps, is advised via the radio to the camp managers each day. They will advise you of your time of departure and what time you need to be ready to go to the airstrip. All flying is worked on ‘a seat in plane basis’, therefore it is not possible to give exact times of departure when you are booking your safari.
We try our utmost to ensure that movements between camps take place during non-game activity sessions, giving you the benefit of the morning activity in your last camp and the afternoon activity in your next one. But there are exceptions to the rule and we ask that you bear with us.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is strongly recommended that each person carry their own personal travel insurance covering them for: cancellation or curtailment of the safari, emergency evacuation expenses, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, damage/theft/loss of personal baggage, money and goods. The majority of lodges here carry medical evacuation insurance however it is better to have your own locally purchased one that should cover you for repatriation.
We have a Medical Rescue International team available 24 hours a day in Maun. They are trained in emergency and trauma work and are able to arrange for evacuation to either Gaborone or Johannesburg.
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