Worth knowing about Travelling to East & Southern Africa

In the event that you thinking about a new and amazing destination, you can visit this year, the only place which must come to your mind is Africa. Africa is among the best and amazing continents on the planet blessed with amazing weather, stunning wildlife, and many other amazing things to see and do. However, in case you have thought of visiting Africa for a vacation/safari, there are some things you have to prepare and consider before you fly to the country. Here are some of the things you should know before traveling to Africa.

Dress

The dress code in the bush is safari casual. During the day are T-shirts, wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses and short pants usual. Footwear and game drives should only be worn in neutral and muted colors (no bright colors or white). For dinner, and campfire, we recommend casual, long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt (also protects against mosquito bites). Jeans can always be worn, a tie will leave you better at home. In the south winter (July / August) it can cool from 20 ° C during the day to 0 ° C at night. In the morning and in the evening, a woolen cap, thin wool gloves, and a windproof jacket and/or sweater are recommended for game drives.

Entry

Some African destinations are not safe for travelers. Get information from your embassy before traveling to some destinations that you may think not secure for you. You can also find updates on the current situation of a destination on the internet. Also, you must know the destination regulations such as visa requirements.

Luggage

For safaris especially in southern, and eastern Africa, the following items should miss on your packing list; sun hat, strong sun protection cream (at least factor 15 or higher), sunglasses, swimming trunks/suit, solid shoes, e.g. Hiking boots, torch with spare batteries and spare bulb, binoculars and pocket knives (do not carry in hand luggage during international and domestic flights!)

A small travel pharmacy with personal medication, insect repellents, common remedies for typical holiday diseases, and elastic bandages and bandages highly recommended.

Take more movies or memory cards than planned. Also, think of replacement batteries for your camera!

Health

Please note: You should inform yourself about infection and vaccination protection as well as other prophylaxis measures in good time; Where appropriate, medical advice on thrombosis, yellow fever, and other health risks should be sought. General information, especially for health care offices, physicians experienced in tropical medicine, rice medication, or the Federal Center for Health Education is expressly referred to.

Accommodation

You have the choice between different types of accommodation: hotels, resorts, guest houses, Motels, Bush lodges, and safari camps as well as rest camps. Even within the same type of accommodation, the quality can range from simple and rustic to very high quality and luxurious. A guesthouse in a lower category can provide great service, a luxurious guest house may not meet your expectations. The following ratings are designed to help you select the right accommodation. Please note that changes may occur during the year. Changing the chef or manager in the middle of the season can have a positive or negative effect.

Hotels and Resorts: * – *****

These are larger and smaller units, some with international standards, with restaurants, and usually with pools and other amenities. The resorts are located directly on the beach or close to the sea or on a lake.

For all other types of accommodation, the quality of the facilities, the service, the food, and the general ambiance determine the value of the respective accommodation. Instead of stars, you will find the following quality:

Basic – very simple, partly with sanitary community facilities

Standard – functional with private bathroom

Standard Plus – good middle class

Superior – superior middle class

Deluxe – luxurious, with high comfort and service standardleisure

Travel insurance
Please check the validity of your foreign health and luggage insurance. We strongly recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance, foreign travel insurance, insofar as these insurances are not included in the travel price.

Laundry service

Many accommodations offer a laundry service for a minimum of two days. If the accommodation is in the countryside or in the bush, it is mostly hand wash (no washing machine, no dry cleaning). In many lodges and camps in Southern and Eastern Africa, underwear is excluded from the laundry service.

A day in the bush on game

In southern and eastern Africa the food is generally excellent, tasty, and plentiful. This also applies to lodges and camps in the bush. At the first dusk is awakened, often with a morning tea or coffee. Before the departure to the morning game drive to the sunrise – usually in the open safari vehicle – there are biscuits, a biscuit with coffee and tea. A rich brunch (combined, rich breakfast/lunch) is available around 11.00 am after your return. Afterward, there is sometimes even a light, additional lunch. The time until the next activity is for relaxation and for a little nap. After the siesta at around 3.30 pm, you are served with something like; Cakes, cookies, hearty snacks, some fruit as well as tea and coffee. At about 4:00 pm, the second game drive starts, which can end with a night game. Just in time for the sunset, a stop is put in and the end of an eventful day and the downfall of the sun is celebrated with a Sundowner drink. After returning, a 3-course menu is served, often followed by drinks in a cozy round at the campfire. Some camps and lodges in private concession areas can offer their guests even after dark, still game drives, the focus is then on the spraying of the nocturnal animals.nature-walk

Why book a private game lodge/camp?

Some game lodges and camps in southern and Eastern Africa seem to be expensive at first glance if you see the prices per night. So why should you book these accommodations when there are, for example, cheaper public camps?
What is crucial is that you are looked after and looked after by a private company and can rely on quality standards. In the case of state camps, they are not necessarily given. The private accommodations are generous, very well, and often luxuriously appointed. The food is excellent and the service is generally excellent. During animal watching trips you are guided by well-trained, expert rangers and trackers (tracker). okavango-delta-game-drive-botswanaAs many of these accommodations are located on private land or concession areas, it is also possible to go off the road, taking into account nature conservation. Bus tours are also possible. A safari walk through the bush with an armed ranger is a very special experience; You often see interesting details that you can quickly see from the car. Read More

Common technical terms

Plunge Pool is not a swimming pool, but a small water pool, where you can go to refresh yourself. Usually, they are for your own use and border the terrace of your room.

Sala: is a small, mostly straw-covered seat with a sofa or a bed. A sala is meant for lunch or rest after the swimming pool visit.

Premium Brands: In some luxurious camps/lodges, especially in Botswana, almost all non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages such as beer, house wines, and regional spirits are included in the overnight price, but not premium brands. With premium brands are expensive foreign spirits, liqueurs, booze, champagne, and wines, which must be imported from Europe or America. The included beverages are usually referred to as local beverages.

Boma: is a place surrounded by a fence of tree trunks or reed mats, with a campfire in the middle. There, depending on the weather conditions, the dinner is served in the circle around the fire at stylishly decorated tables under the starry sky. It is very special to listen to the sounds of the wilderness!

Lapa: is a mostly straw-covered, open-sided habitat with a view of the bush or the savannah, often with a small library, comfortable armchairs, and a dining area.swimming-pool-romance

Baggage restrictions for flying safaris

If you are flying with small aircraft during a journey, usually the main luggage is limited to 12 kg in a soft bag per person. In addition, a normal photo bag, and small hand luggage can be carried along. Exceptions are mentioned in the respective product. Suitcases with a rigid frame are not transported in any case, unless an additional flight seat is paid extra.