Safari Advice

What to Bring

Passport, visas, money, tickets, itinerary
Neutral bush coloured clothing (there is laundry in all camps so 3 sets is fine)
Warm jacket/fleece and long trousers for early morning and evening for most areas
Swim wear
Hat or cap, sunglasses
One pair sturdy shoes
Camera with plenty of spare film, or disc and batteries
Flashlight or torch with spare batteries
Binoculars per person
High factor sunscreen and after sun lotion
Insect repellent
Personal medications
Light rain jacket (if travelling in the rainy season)

Visa Requirements

The visa requirements vary for each country depending on your nationality, so please check with the lodge or your travel agent to confirm visa requirements for your travels.

If entering South Africa, please note that you will need 6 blank facing pages in your passport.

Health

Malaria is prevalent in Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and some parts of South Africa. It is highly recommended that you obtain a malaria prophylactic from your local physician prior to travel.

You must also have a yellow fever vaccination if entering Tanzania, Zambia or Zimbabwe after coming from an infected area.

Up to date Tetanus and Hepatitis injections are required for some countries, but recommended for all.

Please ensure that you have medical insurance for your travels. All of the lodges have First Aid trained staff and medical insurance for emergencies, but in many places, like Namibia, you may need to pay up front to receive medical attention, due to the remoteness of many of the lodges.

Luggage

Please make sure to lock all of your bags when travelling and to obtain travel insurance prior to departure. It is recommended that you travel with a set of clothes and essential items in your carry-on bags in case of luggage being lost.

Most airlines travelling to Classic Safari Camp destinations have a luggage limit between 12-20 KG and require luggage be packed in soft bags, please confirm prior to departure.

General

Lodges accept all major currencies (USD, GBP, and Euro). If using USD, please make sure to bring new notes as most countries do not accept old notes (with smaller heads). Many lodges accept credit cards, but generally only Visa and MasterCard, please check with the lodge if they accept your particular card and if any fees will be incurred. Cash is the easiest form of payment during your stay.

In some countries like Tanzania and Zambia, you may be required to pay departure tax when departing from the airport on an international or domestic flight. Please confirm with the lodge prior to departure if you will need to pay departure tax and what the current rates are.

Voltage is AC 220V at all lodges, but plugs vary from country to country, so make sure to travel with a set of adapters to ensure your ability to charge and use your appliances on your safari. Some bush camps may not have power in the rooms, but do have a facility to charge cameras, etc.

Water which is served is safe to drink at all of the camps, but if you would prefer bottled water, please request from staff and they will be happy to accommodate your wishes. Please be careful when consuming water in rural areas.

Please make sure to inform the lodge staff of any dietary requirements or allergies prior to travel.

Tipping is not required at any of the lodges, but if you feel the service was deserving of a tip, a general guideline is $5-$10 per person per day for guides, valets, and general lodge staff.

Country Specific Information

Botswana
Official Language: English with Setswana being most commonly spoken African Language.
Climate: Summer (Sept-Apr) temperatures between 18ºC (65ºF)- 35ºC (86ºF). Rains occur between Nov and March. Winter (May-Aug) temperatures between 5ºC (41ºF)- 23ºC (75ºF)

Kenya
Official Language: Swahili and English
Climate: Kenya is on the equator and therefore does not have seasonal weather variations. Generally in the Highlands the climate is cool, elsewhere the temperatures can reach approximately 35ºC during the day. The coast is humid and balmy.
Over most of the country there are two rainy seasons:
• the ‘Short’ rains which occur from late October through November
• the ‘Long’ rains which occur from late March to early June. July and August are the coolest months and are often overcast especially in the morning. December – Mid March is the warmest time of the year.

Mozambique
Official Language: Portuguese
Climate: Jan-Feb are hot (28ºC - 38ºC) and rainy, Mar-Apr are a bit cooler (25ºC - 30ºC) with light rains, May-Sept are the cooler months (15ºC – 28ºC), and Oct-Dec are getting hotter (23ºC - 36ºC) with a possibility of rain.

It is possible to go diving in Mozambique, so make sure to bring your log book and certification if you intend to go diving.

Namibia
Official Language: English, Afrikaans and German widely spoken
Climate: Temperatures from Sept to April can rise to over 38ºC and from May to Aug can vary between 18ºC – 25ºC, with temperatures below freezing in the early mornings and evenings. Rains occur between Nov-April. Please pack clothing for hot and cold conditions year round.

Rwanda
Official Language: French, English and Rwandese. Swahili influence.
Climate: The climate does not change much throughout the year. The rainy seasons tend to be March and April, October and November. 90% of rainfall in Rwanda falls around the Virunga Mountains. In the mountainous area it is much colder than on the plains and the rainfall is much greater. The temperatures tend to be between 21ºC and 30ºC but in the mountainous areas the temperature can drop to 10ºc. Please pack clothing for hot and wet conditions all year round. Light waterproof clothing and good walking boots are essential for Gorilla trekking.

South Africa
Official Language: Afrikaans, English, and a variety of Local African languages
Climate: Summer (Nov to Mar) warm temperatures between 28ºC- 32ºC, with chances of thunderstorms in the evenings. Autumn (Apr-May) warm days 22ºC – 28ºC and cool evenings 10ºC - 15ºC. Winter (June-Aug) days are warm with temperatures in the mid 20’s and mornings and evenings very cold with temperatures between 5ºC- 12ºC. Weather starts to warm up again in Sept and Oct.

Tanzania
Official Language: Swahili
Climate: Tanzania’s climate is predominantly tropical. For the whole country, the hottest months are from October to February. The long rains are from mid-March to late May, and the short rains from November to January. The coolest months are June to August when the nights and early mornings can be cold. In high-altitude areas such as Kilimanjaro, temperatures can fall below freezing. Coastal areas are hot and humid with an average daytime temperature of 30ºC. Sea breezes make the climate very pleasant from June to September.

When going on chimpanzee and gorilla treks, please ensure that you have hiking boots with good ankle support, long sleeve shirts and trousers (preferably older items as can get dirty and torn in the jungle), long socks, and at least 400-800 ASA film due to very low light conditions. Please note that flashes are not permitted while photographing the gorillas. Also please make sure your fitness level is good before attempting a gorilla trek, the routes can often be steep and slippery and it can take between 30 mins - 9 hours to find the gorillas. People with heart conditions or back problems should not attempt the trek.

Zambia
Official Language: English
Climate: August to April have warm temperatures, with October and November reaching highs of 45ºC. Rains occur from November through to March. May to July are winter months with days being warm and mornings and evenings very cool, with temperatures between 5ºC - 10ºC.

Zimbabwe
Official Language: English
Climate: Temperatures ranging from 18ºC – 45ºC from Sept to May with rains occurring from Nov to Mar. June to Aug are cooler months with temperatures between 10ºC to 30ºC.