M ore information will be mailed to you as soon as full payment is received. This will include details regarding the preparation for your safari - a complete and comprehensive day to day itinerary, what to bring, advice on medical and other important matters to ensure that you will travel in the greatest possible comfort.
BOOKING
A nonrefundable deposit of 20% of the total tour price is due upon making a reservation. The balance is due 90 days prior to departure. Your booking will be confirmed when we issue you or your agent with our invoice in receipt of your deposit and indicating the balance outstanding. We will then mail you more details.
Cancellation of your booking must be in writing. Cancellations are only effective on receipt of written notification. In the event that your cancellation is received after the due date of full payment of your tour fare, charges will be levied as follows:
41-29 days: 40% of the total fare
28-14 days: 60% of the total fare
13-0 days: 100% of the total fare
If you hold a vacation insurance policy and the terms of your cancellation fall within the terms of the policy, the insurance company will refund these charges to you.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
All passport holders should verify with their travel agency or relevant consulate if any visa and/or health entry requirements for any of the countries visited exist.
CAMP LIFE
The accommodations range from park lodges to luxury tented camps. Each tent has en-suite facilities with a hygienic chemical toilet, hand basin and a guaranteed hot shower (there is nothing quite as refreshing as a shower under the stars!) Proper beds are provided, and the tents are high enough to stand upright in. Freshly laundered bedding and towels are provided.
Delicious meals and picnic lunches are provided throughout your safari: dinner is a two-course meal, and breakfast, lunch and/or brunch always offer a choice of dishes. Beverages are freely available, including bottled water. Meals are taken in a dining tent or - weather permitting - under the stars. The dining tent also provides ample shade during the day.
OUR VEHICLES
The vehicle is a comfortable 4x4, with roof hatches and windows that can be completely removed; ideal for photography. We never take more than 3 photographers per vehicle, ensuring an intimate atmosphere and adequate space for all equipment. Our philosophy is to make the tour as educational and comfortable as possible, tailoring it to your specific needs and interests.
There is ample space in the 4x4, and unobstructed views for photography. A no smoking policy is adhered to on all vehicles. We will, however, schedule regular stops for those needing smoke breaks.
SAFARI SPECIFICATIONS
There is a minimum age limit of 12 and a maximum age limit of 70 (health permitting) on all safaris conducted.
We recommend that you bring soft bags for your luggage – a maximum of two bags per person are allowed plus, a reasonable amount of camera equipment. Bright colours and white are not suitable for safari, neither is camouflage wear. Khaki and related colours are fine. Please study the attached list of what to bring.
Natural World Photography cannot be held liable for the loss, damage or theft of personal belongings, nor can they be held liable for any accidents, personal injury or illness. Please ensure that you have yourself and your belongings adequately insured before you depart on safari. Be sure to take out baggage insurance, especially if you carry valuable camera equipment. The airline liability is limited, so it is always best to take cameras as carry-on luggage rather than checked baggage. If you have to cancel your safari for any reason, particularly close to the departure date, your insurance company should also cover you for the loss of your tour deposit and all other accidental fees. If you anticipate any insurance claim upon your return, be sure to document as accurately as possible any injury, loss or accident. Police and/or medical reports will validate any claim.
FOOD
All meals are included in the price of your safari, with very few if any exceptions. Please check your itinerary for details. We pride ourselves on supplying you with a variety of delicious meals, and believe that an integral part of your safari is the opportunity to taste local cuisine. Your chef is an expert at outdoor cooking and has recently won the prestegious South African braii championship. Some meals will be taken in local restaurants, while the chef accompanying you on safari will prepare others. At lodges, all meals are prepared by the lodge staff. The drinking water provided is completely safe to drink, and bottled water is also available.
HEALTH
It is imperative that you travel with medical/accident insurance - ask your travel agent for details, alternatively your regular health insurance company may be able to supply you with a supplementary policy. Make sure that your medical insurance covers emergency repatriation as well. Expect to pay any medical costs on the spot and to be reimbursed by your insurance company later.
Namibia (except for Etosha and the northern areas) is not in a high risk malaria area, but we suggest that you use a malaria prophylactic for the duration of your stay. We suggest Doxycicline or Paludrine and Daramal.
If you are on any medication, make sure you have enough for the duration of your safari as there is nowhere to stock up on any medicine or supplies in the desert. If you suffer from any medical condition, make sure you get a medical certificate from your doctor to confirm that you are fit for the safari. Please present this certificate to your guide at the start of the safari, and make sure he/she is aware of any medication that you take.
There will be a basic first aid kit on all vehicles and the guides have attended first aid courses, but it is always a good idea to bring your own medical kit, including sterile needles and your own medication.
Drinking water and food supplied during the duration of your safari will be safe. It is important to drink a lot of water throughout the day, as dehydration is the cause of most medical conditions experienced in the desert. Three litres per day is the recommended minimum.
CLIMATE AND WEATHER CONDITIONS
Namibia has a dry climate typical of a semi-desert country. During the months of November to March, some rain might be expected in the northern regions, including Etosha. Average rainfall figures vary from less than 50 mm along the coast to 350 mm in the central areas. In the far north-eastern regions it can be as much as 700 mm. It is therefore difficult to estimate a true annual average for the whole of Namibia. Days are mostly warm to very hot, while the nights are cool. Interior temperatures are higher because of the altitude, while the coastal regions are milder, due to the influence of the Benguela current. This current also causes fog along the coast for about 100 days of the year. Average summer day temperatures: 20-34 °C (68-93 °F). Average winter night temperatures: 0-10 °C (23-50 °F). Bring lightweight cotton shorts and shirts for days, and warmer gear for the evenings. The coast, Walvis Bay and Swakopmund can be very cold if the fog comes in and quite wet, so be prepared for all conditions. Please see the attached list of what to bring on safari.
MONEY
Personal expenditure, curios, tips to your guide and camp staff, certain meals in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay and airport taxes/transfers are excluded. We suggest that you allow US$ 35 per day for incidentals. Windhoek is a shopping haven and if you forget to bring anything with you, there's a good chance you'll find it here.
The Namibian dollar is fixed to equal the South African rand, which can also be freely used in Namibia. Major credit cards are accepted, as well as US$ travelers cheques and US$ cash. There are plenty of banks and hotels at which to exchange foreign currency. The current exchange rate as of 12/00 is 1 USD to 7.7 Rand.
Tipping is common practice in Southern Africa, but never compulsory. We suggest that if you are happy with the service you receive, that you tip as follows:
All restaurant staff: 10 % of the restaurant bill
Taxi drivers: 10 % of the fare
Your guide: US$ 50 - US$ 100 per person for the safari
Your camp staff: US$ 30 per person for the safari
If you have any problems or queries with this, please feel free to raise the matter with your guide.
VISAS
All passport holders should verify with their travel agency or relevant consulate if any visa entry requirement exist for Namibia. Currently as of 1/01 all US passport holders are not required a visa to enter Namibia. If you are traveling elsewhere in Africa, make sure you are aware of the visa requirements in all countries that you intend visiting. Natural World Photography can be held liable for any errors.
WILD ANIMALS
Many of the animals and reptiles we will see are potentially dangerous. No fences exist around our camp sites, so walking off on your own is never a good idea. Always check with your guide before venturing anywhere. Attacks by wild animals are rare, but we cannot guarantee that such incidents will not occur. Neither Natural World Photography nor any of their staff members or agents can be held liable or responsible for any accidents or injuries caused by the behaviour of wild animals.
DRIVING CONDITIONS
Most roads in Namibia are gravel, making the journey often bumpy and rough. Natural World Photography cannot be held liable or responsible for any injuries or damages that might occur due to rough road circumstances.
ITINERARY
The above itinerary is intended as a guide only and the route we follow may vary. We do our very best to keep to the scheduled itinerary, but it may change subject to conditions beyond our control, such as the availability of accommodation, or the weather. The safari is planned to include as large a variety of different landscapes and animals, and it is our philosophy to make sure that you get to see and photograph as much as possible.
INCLUDED IN YOUR SAFARI COST
All accommodations.
All beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), except in the restaurants and hotels in Swakopmund and Windhoek.
Tea, coffee and snacks while on safari.
All bedding and towels.
The use of GAVA Explorations' vehicles and guides, and all camp facilities.
All park fees.
EXCLUDED FROM YOUR SAFARI COST
Airfare (around $1500 from US)
Curios and other personal shopping.
Personal and medical insurance.
Airport taxes
Airport transfers
Tips
LITERATURE
We also recommend the following photography books.
CONTACTS
For any questions you may have please contact your photo guide at:
James
J. Stachecki
131 Hawthorne Ct
Rockaway, NJ 07866
Phone
(973) 361-1189
james@naturalworldphotos.com