absolute africa - on the go tours · the great zimbabwe ruins. this was the greatest medieval city...

TRIP NOTES

Absolute Africa50 days | Johannesburg to Nairobi

Absolute Africa - 50 days updated on 16-12-2015

www.onthegotours.comUK 020 7371 1113 [email protected] 1300 855 684 [email protected] 0800 44 77 69 CAN 1 866 890 7038 USA 1 866 377 6147 SA 0800 982 686

This information has been compiled with care and good faith. They give an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday.Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or other reasons could force us to make changes to thisitinerary. Any costs shown are subject to change, though are an accurate reflection of costs at time of writing. Please also note that visa requirementsare subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of On The Go Tours.

- 1 -

From Johannesburg to Nairobi,

travel through nine of Africa's most

diverse countries. Trek in search of

gorillas, spot the Big Five in premier

game parks, visit deep crater lakes

and the spectacular Victoria Falls,

discover Mozambique's colourful

coral reefs and kick back on idyllic

beaches.

HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS

Trip Highlights• South Africa: Kruger, South Africa's flagship

game reserve. The scenic Panorama Route.Johannesburg - extend your stay to explorethe city.

• Mozambique: Lake Chicamba.Mozambique's tropical coastline -Villanculous, gateway to the BazarutoArchipelago, Morrungulu resort andInhambane's beaches and reefs.

• Zimbabwe:UNESCO Listed Victoria Falls,one of the natural wonders of the world.Bulawayo city. Hwange National ParK,Zimbabwe's finest national park. Gweru andThe Antelope Park. The Eastern Highlands.

• Botswana:Chobe National Park, famous forits herds of elephants.

• Zambia: South Luangwa NP, Livingstone& Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, Zambia'sgateway to Victoria Falls.

• Malawi: Lake Malawi, one of the AfricanGreat Lakes, with beautiful beaches, baysand inlets.

• Zanzibar:(optional) Pristine beaches &historic Stone Town (UNESCO-listed).

• Tanzania: Arusha, the safari gateway.The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater (anoptional excursion). Views of Mt Meru andMt Kilimanjaro. Pangani, a historical coastaltown. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's largest city.Mikumi National Park (transit only).

• Gorilla Trekking (an optional excursion).Bwindi or Mgahinga Gorilla park in Ugandaor Ruhengeri (Rwanda) or Parc National desVirunga (DRC)

• Kenya: Nairobi, extend your stay to explorethe sites. The Great Rift Valley. Lake NakuruNational Park and lake, famous for itsflamingos. Meet the local children at theEast African Mission Organisation. LakeNaivasha, the highest Rift Valley lake. TheMasai Mara, Kenya's finest wildlife reserve.Masai Mara tribal lands.

• Uganda: Kampala, the lively capital. LakeBunyoni, spectacular scenery. Jinja, Nilerafting. The Equator Crossing.

What's Included• Arrival transfer from Johannesburg Airport

on day 1• 1st night dormitory accommodation at

Mufasa Backpackers (upgrade available), 45nights camping.

• A fully equipped overland truck fortransportation and game drives

• Services of 3 person crew (leader, driver,cook)

• All camping fees & appropriate equipment• 44 breakfasts, 42 lunches, 41 dinners• Park entry - Lake Naivasha NP and Victoria

Falls NP. Park entry & game drives - MasaiMara, Lake Nakuru NP, Chobe NP, SouthLuangwa NP, Hwange NP and Kruger NP

• Return ferry to Zanzibar• All road taxes & tolls

What's Not Included• Entrance Fees: Gorilla Permit + Transfer US

$720 - 815• Sleeping bag - please bring your own• Gorilla Permit and transfer fee: Please note

that Gorillas often move across the border,between the national parks in Rwanda,Uganda and DRC, therefore itineraries oftenhave to be changed at short notice in orderto track the Gorillas in whichever NationalPark they have migrated to. For this reasonthe cost of the Gorilla Permit and relevanttransfers varies, as do the applicable visacosts, dependent upon which country weneed to travel into.

• Accommodation in Zanzibar• International flights and visas• Tipping - an entirely personal gesture• Optional activities including the Serengeti/

Ngorongoro Crater 3 day excursion

TRIP NOTES

Absolute Africa




- 2 -

Local Payment2015: US$1345 / 2016: $1450

The local payment is a cost per person whichneeds to be paid in US Dollars cash only. It is thispayment which in part covers the park fees andother inclusions such as meals as detailed under‘what you get’. The local payment also covers yourarrival transfer and 1st night’s accommodation.Please note that due to exchange rate fluctuationsin the US dollar, the local payment amount may besubject to changes. This payment will be collectedby your tour leader at the Welcome Meeting onday 1.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 : JohannesburgSaturday. Welcome to South Africa! Upon arrivalat Johannesburg Airport, you will be met in thearrivals halls by our representative, holding anOn The Go Tours/Africa Travel Company signand transferred to the Mufasa Backpackers inJohannesburg. Please hand this voucher to ourrepresentative. On day 1 at 17.00hrs there willbe a pre departure meeting where you willmeet your tour leader. We do not take paymentfor pre tour accommodation. If requested, areservation will have been made, but you willneed to pay the hotel upon arrival. Overnight -Johannesburg

Days 2-3 : Kruger N.P.Included activity: Night Game Drive in KrugerJo'burg - Kruger. Leaving Johannesburg wehead towards the Lowveld and our campsituated within the border of the famous KrugerNational Park. On our way we pass through thesouthern section of the picturesque PanoramaRoute – famous for its breathtaking vistas.Our camp for the next two nights is a shortdrive from the Kruger Park Gate and has someinteresting local residents that include hippo,giraffe, zebra and impala. On day 2 we take anight game drive.

The following day we further explore theamazing Kruger National Park in the truck.Covering 19 485 km2 - 60 km wide and over350 km long, this conservation area has morethan 146 mammals, 500 bird, 114 reptile, 33amphibian & 49 fish species. 23 000 differenttypes of plants have been recorded. We spendthe day driving around the park keeping an

eye out for these. Overnight - Greater KrugerNational Park (B:1, L:2, D:2)

Days 4-5 : Inhambane

Kruger - Inhambane Region (Mozambique). Wehead off early and after crossing the border, weleave South Africa and head to the warm watersof the Mozambique coastline. Well known asan Ivory and slave trade centre in the colonialyears, Inhambane was the centre of trade for thethen Portuguese East Africa. Today Maputo isthe capital of Mozambique and the centre of itstrade industry. We travel along the scenic backroute bypassing the capital to Praia de ZavoraBay, one of the finest stretches of coastline in theInhambane region where we set up our campand enjoy the fantastic views and scenery.

The next day is spent at leisure enjoying thefantastic sea side activities on offer. Theseincluded swimming, snorkelling, fishing andscuba diving the nearby reefs. Alternativelyspend the day lazing on the long sandy beachenjoying the lulling sounds of the waves as theylap the shoreline.

Scuba diving in Inhambane is amongst the bestin the world with reefs close to every beachincluding the famous Manta Reef and Gallaria.Sightings include Manta Rays, Whale Sharks,Turtles and a host of other marine life are thenorm. Our campsite at Zavora Lodge is hometo a well kitted dive centre offering various diveopportunities that can be booked with them onarrival at the camp. For those wishing to see thespectacular marine life that are not able to dive,snorkelling is also excellent. Overnight - Praiade Zavora Bay (B:2, L:2, D:2)

Day 6 : Morrungulu resortInhambane Region - Morrungula. Today we takea leisurely drive up the coast to the picturesqueMorrungulu resort. Situated in among a coconut

palm plantation, this camp offers a truly tropicalisland feel – just watch out for the fallingcoconuts! Try your hand at deep-sea fishing, orsimply enjoy a relaxing walk along this stretch ofbeach. Overnight - Morrungulu (B, L, D)

Days 7-8 : Vilanculos

Morrungulu - Vilanculous. Vilanculous is thestepping stone to the 3 main islands of theBazaruto Archipelago. We spend 2 nights hereto give those who wish, the opportunity totake a boat charter out to the smaller island ofMagaruque on day 8. Other activities includeDhow trips, sunset cruises, horse riding, biggame fishing, whale watching (seasonal) andmore. Overnight - Vilanculos (B:2, L:2, D:2)

Day 9 : BandulaVilanculous to Bandula. Continuing northwardwe say farewell to the tropical coastline andhead inland to Bandula. Today’s drive takes usthrough the more rural parts of Mozambiqueand affords the opportunity to see localMozambican villages and farmsteads. Arriving inthe late afternoon, we set up camp on the banksof the Chicamba Dam. Overnight - Bandula (B,L, D)

Days 10-11 : Matobo NationalPark

Included Activities: Great Zimbabwe Ruins andMatobo National Park game drive in an opengame vehicle

TRIP NOTES

Absolute Africa




- 3 -

Bandula - Masvingo - Bulawayo. On day 10 weenter Zimbabwe - a beautiful country, rich insoul, culture and tradition. We make our wayto the town of Masvingo - on the outskirts ofthe Great Zimbabwe Ruins. This was the greatestmedieval city in sub-Saharan Africa, built byan ancient highly skilled civilization. The nameZimbabwe is derived from this ancient city andmeans “great stone houses” in Shona. The mostnotable artefacts found at the ruins were the 8Statues of stone birds carved out of soapstone.Wander around these amazing ruins, beforesetting up camp at the foot of the hills.

On day 11 we visit Matobo National Park, oneof the last strongholds of both the black andthe white rhino. This park is also well knownfor its high concentration of the elusive leopardand majestic black eagle. Rock paintings areto be found too, providing evidence of theancient San inhabitants of this area. Cecil JohnRhodes (after whom Rhodesia was named)asked to be buried at the top of one of thesacred hills, (although there is some controversyover whether he will stay!) We spend the dayexploring this unique geological, ecologicaland historic area. Overnight - Masvingo (1)Bulawayo (1) (B:2, L:2, D:2)

Days 12-13 : Hwange NationalParkIncluded Activities: Game drives in HwangeNational Park in an open game vehicle

Bulawayo - Hwange National Park. We continuenorth-west to Zimbabwe’s oldest and largestreserve – the Hwange National Park. Hwangeis well known for its abundance and varietyof wildlife species including thousands ofelephant, and rare antelope species such as theSable and Roan Antelope. We enjoy a gamedrive (either late afternoon or early morning) toexplore the wilderness in search of these, andthe other resident wildlife species. On day 13we have a full day in the Hwange area, and wepartake in another game drive through HwangeNational Park, in the hope that we spot as manywild animals as possible. Overnight - HwangeNational Park (B:2, L:2, D:2)

Days 14-16 : Victoria Falls

Hwange NP - Victoria Falls. Leaving Hwange, wehead to Victoria Falls. Named after the famousWorld Heritage site and Water Falls, the townof Victoria Falls is situated on the Zambezi Riverand surrounded by the Victoria Falls NationalPark. Our campsite is conveniently situated inthe centre of town, and within walking distanceof the adventure booking agents, restaurantsand shops. A 20 minute walk down the mainroad takes you to the entry point to view thefalls, which are situated between Zimbabwe andZambia. Victoria Falls, or Mosi-oa-Tunya (theSmoke that Thunders), was named by DavidLivingstone on his explorations, and is one of theSeven Natural Wonders of the World. At 1700mwide and around 100m high, this is the world'slargest sheet of falling water and a memorablesight on any African Safari! After our adventureactivities briefing (see price guide at the endof this Go Guide for options), the afternoon isspent relaxing at the campsite’s swimming pool,viewing the Victoria Falls, or exploring the manysights and delights of this town!

The next 2 days are spent relaxing orparticipating in a myriad of optional excursions.Some of our fellow passengers will leave us inVictoria Falls, to be replaced by new passengersjoining us for the next leg of our trek.

Optional Excursions include elephant backsafaris, horseback safaris, walking with lions, avisit to the crocodile ranch, boat cruises andgolf at The Elephant Hills Resort. Adrenalinjunkies can bungee from the Victoria FallsBridge connecting Zimbabwe and Zambia orabseil down the Batoka Gorge - neither activityis for the faint hearted! All year round, flightsin fixed wing, micro light and ultra light aircraftor helicopters provide an aerial perspectiveover this magnificent World Heritage Site. Whitewater rafting on the Zambezi is world class.

Beside the excitement of the Grade 5 rapids,there are the "floats," where there is time toadmire the scenic cliffs and the occasionalwildlife on the riverbanks. Overnight - VictoriaFalls (B:3, L:1)

Day 17 : Chobe National ParkVictoria Falls - Chobe NP (Botswana). We headout from Victoria Falls to the border crossingto Botswana. Once we’ve completed the borderformalities, we continue to the town of Kasane,situated on the banks of the Chobe River. TheChobe River forms a border between Botswanaand Namibia and Zambia and is the main watersource to the Chobe National Park.

Once we are packed and prepared, we leavefor our Chobe National Park overnight mobileexcursion – an overnight experience in the wildsof the Chobe National park. Chobe is one ofBotswana’s premier game parks, renowned forits large elephant herds. Spend the afternoonin search of wildlife while we game drive toour camp within the park where we spend theevening surrounded by the night-time noises ofthe local wildlife. Look out for the rare Sable andRoan Antelope on your game drive, with theirmajestic backward slanting horns, or try keep acount of the Lilac Breasted Roller’s that swoopby!

Please Note: Should we not be able to stay inChobe National Park due to lack of availability atthe bush camp, this excursion will be replacedwith an overnight trip in the bushveld of theLesoma Valley which is situated in the KasaneForest Reserve adjacent to the Chobe NP andthe Matsetsi Game area of Zimbabwe. Lesomais equally rich in wildlife and affords a similarexperience to the above. Overnight - ChobeNational Park (B, L, D)

Day 18 : Livingstone

TRIP NOTES

Absolute Africa




- 4 -

Chobe NP - Livingstone (Zambia). After ournight in the bush, we head out early to continueour search for wildlife, before packing up thecamp and heading back to Kasane wherewe get back on our truck and continue tothe town of Livingstone. This afternoon wehave the opportunity to view The Falls fromthe Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, Zambia orpartake in a sunset boat cruise on the ZambeziRiver. Another fantastic photo opportunity!Overnight - Livingstone (B, D)

Days 19-20 : LusakaLivingstone - Luangwa. An early morning startsees us head north through southern Zambia. Aswe drive, we pass through a few of the villagesand towns of Zambia along the way. Prosperousduring the copper boom in the 60’s, Zambia wasable to build infrastructure at the main miningand farming communities. After the fall of thecopper industry, the country was left virtuallybankrupt and existing infrastructure was leftto fall to ruin. Due to foreign investment anda rise in the mining industry, Zambia is todayonce again starting to prosper. The differenceis evident in the cities with the availability offoreign stores, banks and imported cars, whilethe villages and smaller towns are still to catchup.

On day 20 we head into South LuangwaNational Park. This breath taking park is situatedon the Luangwa River in the Eastern part ofZambia, and it is the southernmost of threenational parks in this region. South Luangwawas founded in 1938 as a game reserve, 1972was the year it was declared as a nationalpark, and today it covers over 9000 kilometressquared. Animals such as Giraffe, buffalo andElephants can be found in abundance. TheLuangwa river is home to many a hippo andcroc. Overnight - Luangwa (B:2, L:2, D:2)

Day 21 : ChipataLusaka - Chipata. From Luangwa we head northeast on the old ‘East Road’ to a beautiful littlecampsite located just 10 km before the Zambia/Malawi border. In the days of old, the route fromCairo to Cape Town passed through Lusaka andit’s along this route to Malawi we travel today.While today is mostly spent driving, we do crossthe impressive Luangwa River Bridge whichis heavily guarded due to its close proximity

to the Zimbabwean & Malawian borders. We’llalso stop off to purchase some fresh produceand coal from the local sellers along the way.Overnight - Chipata (B, L, D)

Days 22-24 : Lake MalawiBeaches

Chipata - Lake Malawi Beaches (Malawi). LeavingZambia we cross into Malawi, the ‘Warm Heartof Africa’. We stop off in the capital, Lilongwe, asmall city distinctively divided into the old townand the new administrative centre. Malawi is alandlocked country with 20% of its total areamade up of beautiful Lake Malawi. We camp firstat the central Lake, and then in the northern areaover the next 3 days.

Spend the days learning the game of bao fromthe locals, scour the markets for a bargain orsimply relax on the pristine beaches. Malawi’stemperate climate allows for swimming in theclear blue fresh-water lake all year round.Explore the beautiful shore where you’ll happenupon the local fishermen sorting their catch.Traditional fishing techniques are still practicedand to appreciate their boating skills, try topaddle a dugout canoe yourself! At night you’llsee the ‘fairy’ lights of the fishermen outon the lake. The various beachside campsitesalong Lake Malawi’s shores offer many optionalExcursions including a variety of water sports,horseback rides and a visit to the local villageand school (see pricing guide at the end of thisGo Guide).(B:3, L:3, D:3)

Day 25 : IringaLake Malawi Beaches - Iringa (Tanzania). Aftera relaxing 4 days, we leave Malawi, enteringTanzania through the border post at Songwe.Winding our way through the beauty of theTukuyu tea and banana plantations, we headtowards Iringa where we spend the night in thebeautiful rustic ‘Farmhouse’ campsite famous

for its Amarula Hot Chocolates and its steamyshowers! Overnight - Iringa (B, L, D)

Day 26 : Dar es SalaamIringa - Dar es Salaam. This morning we head offearly and make our way to Dar es Salaam. Wepass through the Mikumi National Park whereit is possible to view a range of wildlife fromthe roadside, totally impervious to the passingtraffic. Today’s drive time is extended due tothe heavier amount of traffic heading in to thecity, but the sights and sounds of Dar’s vibrantouter suburbs are sure to keep you entertained.Look out for the colourful shop-fronts with theirsometimes humorous ‘catch phrases’. On arrivalin Dar es Salaam, we make our way to our lovelyseaside campsite and prepare for our departureto Zanzibar the next morning. Overnight - Dares Salaam (B, L, D)

Days 27-29 : OptionalZanzibar excursion

Dar es Salaam - Zanzibar (optional). A ferry fromDar es Salaam takes us to the "Spice Island,”where we have the option to spend the next 3nights. Zanzibar is steeped in history and wasone of the major starting points for most EastAfrican explorers in their quest for new lands.New passengers may join us to replace thosethat will leave us at the end of our excursion toZanzibar.

PLEASE NOTE: Accommodation and meals arefor your own account whilst on Zanzibar, asit is our experience that passengers preferto explore the island on their own, andin accordance with their own budget. TheTrip Leader joins you and can arrange youraccommodation, while meals can be enjoyedfrom a wide selection of restaurants. There arealso a wide variety of optional excursions onoffer – please see the price guide on the end ofthis document for more details.

TRIP NOTES

Absolute Africa




- 5 -

History aside, Zanzibar offers a wealth ofexperiences for the visitor. Today the quietstreets of the old Stone Town still retain theirArabic influence, from the Medina-like shops tothe palaces of the Sultans, who founded theirvast empires on the spoils of the slave and ivorytrade. The island is famous for its spices and anexcursion around a spice plantation is always afascinating experience. Other options include atrip to the beautiful beaches and giant tortoisesof Prison Island, a full day scuba dive in Nungweor a fishing trip in a traditional dhow. Mopedsare available for hire if you’d like to explore themore remote areas of the island. Zanzibar is aseafood lover’s paradise. Numerous restaurantsoffer a great variety of the freshest catch fromthe ocean - crayfish being a popular speciality.Alternatively, mingle with the locals for dinner atthe Forodhani Gardens seafront market, wheredelicious, inexpensive seafood is on offer.

For those not opting to visit the island ofZanzibar, the next 3 days are spent at leisure atthe beach campsite in Dar es Salaam. There arevarious optional excursions available from thecamp including diving, snorkelling and fishingtrips. The driver and cook remain behind in Dares Salaam during the excursion. Overnight -Dar es Salaam OR Zanzibar (optional) (B:1)

Day 30 : ZanzibarZanzibar - Dar es Salaam. Leaving Zanzibar inthe afternoon, we return to the mainland andanother night in Dar es Salaam. Arrival back tocamp is usually in the late afternoon, or earlyevening. Overnight - Dar es Salaam

Day 31 : Pangani

Dar es Salaam - Pangani. This morning we leaveearly and leave the hustle and bustle of thismajor Tanzanian city, and head towards thefarmlands of this beautiful country. Today is

used as a transit day to get us closer to Serengeti.Overnight - Pangani (B, L, D)

Days 32-34 : OptionalSerengeti & NgorongoroArusha is a pleasant town situated at the baseof Mount Meru, and is the starting point forsafaris into the Serengeti, Tarangire and LakeManyara National Parks, and the NgorongoroConservation Area. This morning we have theopportunity to explore this thriving town whilewe stock up on provisions needed for ourexcursion. You may chose to wander the vibrantcraft markets, stock up on supplies or perhapscatch up on the news back home at one ofthe small internet cafe available. Heading backto our base camp, Meserani Snake Park, thosethat are participating in the optional excursionsto Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti NationalPark can start to prepare for their departure thisafternoon. The excursion is offered by a localTanzanian operator who conducts the trip intothe Parks in 4WD vehicles (In peak season, theremay be a minivan or bus transfer to Karatu),which are adapted for safari use.

For those not opting to visit the NgorongoroCrater or Serengeti National Park, the nextdays are spent at leisure enjoying the Meseranireptile park, Masai Cultural Museum andthe surrounding villages and craft markets.Alternatively the town of Arusha is close by toexplore. The driver and cook remain behind inDar es Salaam during the excursion.

The Optional Ngorongoro/Serengeti excursiontakes us via the Masai town of Mtu Wa Mbu(Mosquito River) that lies adjacent to the LakeManyara National Park and up the Rift ValleyEscarpment to the higher lying village ofKaratu. Karatu offers magnificent views over thesurrounding hills and has many well establishedwheat farms that add to the picturesquepanoramas. We spend the evening at a pleasantcampsite in Karatu. The following morning wedepart early for the Ngorongoro Conservationarea and head into the wildlife rich NgorongoroCrater. This World Heritage Site boasts some ofthe best game viewing in Africa – including theelusive Black Rhino.

After our game drive in the Crater, we continuedown the Crater rim and past the ‘Cradle of

Mankind’ on our way to the Serengeti NationalPark. We cross the vast plains as we gamedrive through the southern and central areas inthe park. Tonight we bush camp (no ablutions)in the wild surrounded by the sounds of theAfrican wilderness. In the morning, we headoff for another game drive and explore thelandscape in search of the resident wildlife. Withsome luck, we may see some of Africa’s ‘Big 5’!

After our morning drive, we head back acrossthe plains and the lush Crater rim to our truckat Arusha, where we spend the evening musingover our thrilling wildlife experience. Overnight- Arusha (3), OR optional Karatu & Serengeti(B:3, L:3, D:3)

Days 35-36 : NairobiArusha - Nairobi (Kenya). We set off early thismorning and make our way to the Tanzania/Kenyan border and the small border townof Namanga. After completing the borderformalities, we continue on our journey tothe Capital City Nairobi and our campsite onthe outskirts of the city. Acacia Camp Nairobiis ideally situated right next to the NairobiNational Park, and is close to the giraffesanctuary and elephant orphanage. The famousCarnivore Restaurant is also in close proximity.

The following day is yours at leisure to enjoysome of the many options available in thisbustling city; visit The David Sheldrick WildlifeTrust, where you can view the orphaned babyElephants at feeding time, heading o to theGiraffe Centre in Langata, if you haven’t hadyour fill of game viewing, then Nairobi NationalPark offers some great day trips or if you haven’tquite got all those souvenirs you wanted, takea “Matatu” to the local curio markets close bythe campsite. This evening why not try the fairon offer at the famous Carnivores restaurant.Overnight - Nairobi (B:1, L:1, D:1)

TRIP NOTES

Absolute Africa




- 6 -

Days 37-38 : Masai Mara

Nairobi - Masai Mara. Leaving the hustle andbustle of Nairobi we climb the escarpmentto our first stop, a viewpoint overlooking asection of the spectacular Great Rift Valley.Descending into the Rift Valley, we enter Masailand where these habitual pastoralists are oftenseen tending their cattle from the side of theroad. We pass through the town of Narok, andcontinue our drive possibly getting a glimpse ofsome wildlife along the way. We arrive at ourcampsite, Acacia Camp in the late afternoon.Acacia Camp looks on to the Meguarra hills andthe stream that meanders by on the bottomend forms a natural border to the Masai MaraNational Reserve.

The next morning we depart shortly aftersunrise on our game drive into the Masai MaraReserve. The Masai Mara is well known as one ofEast Africa’s best National Reserves and is hometo a wide variety of wildlife species. Most famousfor the Annual Migration, that consists of theimpressive herds of over 1 million wildebeest,zebra and Thomson’s gazelle that cross overfrom the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania;the Masai Mara is most popular between Julyand October when these vast herds feast on thefresh grazing here. Following these herbivoresare Africa’s predators that are often seen at akill during this period. We game drive througha section of the park in search of the ‘Big 5’-elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion & leopard; alongwith the many other species of animals, reptilesand birds who make call this wilderness home.

After our game drive, we have the option to visitone of the nearby Masai Manyatta’s – this is atraditional hamlet where the Masai still live intheir traditional way. This evening we sit aroundthe camp fire, and watch the sun set over this“Garden of Eden”.(B:1, L:2, D:2)

Day 39 : EldoretMasai Mara - Eldoret. Leaving the Masai Maraearly, we head out of Masai Land pass throughthe scenic tea plantations of Kericho beforedescending the Rift Valley Plateau, on ourway to Eldoret. We replenish our supplies andovernight here. Overnight - Eldoret (B, L, D)

Day 40 : KampalaEldoret - Kampala (Uganda). This morning,we cross the border into Uganda where weovernight it the capital city, Kampala. Ugandais a small country of striking physical beauty.Its landscapes vary from the fertile green areasaround the northern shores of Lake Victoriato the snow capped Ruwenzori Mountains inthe west and the semi-desert region in thenorth. The political instability that has hauntedUganda in the past has actually had thepositive effect of leaving the country free ofthe over commercialism so common in otherparts of Africa. The current administration underPresident Museveni has devoted considerableeffort and funds to return Uganda to its formerstatus as one of Africa's most prosperous and,from a tourist’s point of view, one of the mostappealing and interesting countries to visit.(B, L,D)

Days 41-44 : Lake Bunyoni &Gorilla Trekking

Kampala - Lake Bunyoni. After an early morningdeparture from Kampala we drive west into thedepths of Uganda to our base at the tranquilLake Bunyoni.

Lake Bunyoni, the deepest Crater Lake in Africaand home to a large and varied number ofbeautiful birds, is the base from which theoptional Gorilla trek takes place. Dependenton where trekking permits are available, wetrek in the Magahinga or Bwindi National Parksin Uganda, the Virunga National Park in the

Democratic Republic of Congo, or the RuhengeriNational Park in Rwanda. For further informationabout gorilla trekking and the costs involvedplease refer to Gorilla Permits under the UgandaCountry Guide section of this Go Guide.

For trekking in the DRC or Rwanda (the tripleader will advise at the pre departure meetingas to where the permits have been secured, andwill assist with the online visa application forRwanda en-route if needed), we will also haveto purchase an additional visa to enter eithercountry, as well as renewing our Ugandan visaupon re-entry. We also advise budgeting a littleextra for tips for the local guides and rangers.Please budget accordingly as payment for thepermit must be made in US$ cash at the predeparture meeting.

Trekking Procedures: The mountain gorilla(Gorilla Gorilla Berengei), of which there are stillonly about 700 remaining, are one of our closestliving relatives. A visit to these gentle giantsin their natural environment is a unique andwonderful experience - one you’ll never forget.The park rangers monitor the gorillas on a dailybasis and have a fairly good idea of where theyare. However, they are free roaming animals,and their sighting cannot be guaranteed. As thegorillas share much of our DNA, anyone witheven the slightest cold or transferable illness willnot be permitted to trek. Trekking is also onlyopen to people over 16 years old.

Due to the restrictions on the daily numbers ofvisitors to these incredible animals, we departfrom our base in Bunyoni in small groups over3-4 days, depending on the group size. Wewind our way through arguably some of themost picturesque scenery in Africa en-routeto the National Park. Dependent on wherepermits are available, we may spend a nightin either Kisoro or in Rwanda. The followingmorning, after packing our picnic lunch, we aretransferred to a ranger’s station where the trekcommences. Your rangers will lead you throughthe cultivated lands and then into the denserain forest and on to a gorilla family. Trekkingcan take anywhere from 45 minutes to 8 hours(not including transfer time) and it can be quitestrenuous, so a reasonable level of fitness isrequired. To ensure the gorillas do not get tooused to the presence of humans and because

TRIP NOTES

Absolute Africa




- 7 -

they share many of our genes (and thereforeable to catch our diseases), the maximum timepermitted to spend with them is 1 hour. You willhave plenty of time to watch their activity andto take photographs. The rangers will be ableto provide you with a background to the familyyou are visiting. Once your hour is up, you trekback out of the rain forest to your meeting pointwhere you will be transferred back to the LakeBunyoni campsite.

You needn’t feel like you’re exploiting theseanimals. The ever-growing number of touriststrekking them each day play a vital role in theirsurvival. For years they have been ruthlesslyhunted for their hands and heads, which havebeen sold as ashtrays and lampshades! Inaddition, large numbers have been killed whilsttrying to stop poachers stealing the babiesfor sale to zoos, where they have never livedlong. 100% of the gorilla permit cost is usedto by the parks authorities to finance patrolsthat are instrumental in protecting the gorillasfrom poachers and their lethal snares and onpromoting these wonderful animals.

Depending on where the trek takes placeyou may also pass through some of the localvillages that have settled in this region dueto the high number of refugees fleeing fromthe Rwandan Genocide, or from the continuedunrest in the DRC. The villagers in this area aremostly subsistence farmers, and families thatfarm against the slopes of the volcanoes. It isimpressive to see how they have ploughed,planted and harvest their crops in such anunlikely landscape. Overnight - Lake Bunyoni(B:4, L:4, D:4)

Day 45 : KampalaLake Bunyoni - Kampala. After marvelling atthe experience of our gorilla encounters andenjoying the peaceful Lake Bunyoni, we beginour drive back to Kampala. We cross theEquator for the second time and stop for theclassic “one foot in each hemisphere” photoopportunity. We overnight in Kampala andhave the opportunity to sample its night life!Overnight - Kampala (B, L, D)

Day 46 : JinjaKampala - Jinja. Today we have the optionof visiting the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee

Sanctuary or heading to Jinja for a selectionof adventure activities including white waterrafting at the source of the White Nile, quadbiking or visiting a volunteer and communityproject. Spend the afternoon relaxing on thebanks of the river, or ticking off the wide varietyof water birds in this area. Overnight - Jinja (B,L, D)

Days 47-48 : Lake Nakuru

Jinja - Lake Nakuru (Kenya). Departing early, wehead back to Kenya, stopping for lunch andsupplies en route. We overnight outside Nakuruat a lovely campsite on a local farm. Nakuruis Kenya’s 4th largest town and capital of theRift Valley Province and lies adjacent to thesmall but wildlife rich Lake Nakuru National Park.Overnight - Lake Nakuru (B:2, L:2, D:2)

Day 49 : Lake NaivashaLake Nakuru - Lake Naivasha. In the morningwe begin our exploration of the Lake NakuruNational Park - famous for the thousands oflesser and greater flamingos that flock to thissoda lake’s edge. The numbers vary dependingon the water level, and when it’s low, the lakealmost turns pink. A truly spectacular sight!The park was established as a sanctuary forblack and white rhino, which are often seen. Wespend the day searching for these pre-historiclooking beasts as well as the elusive leopard,encountering buffalo, giraffe, various antelopeand the occasional hippo along the way. Afterour game drive, we head to Lake Naivashaarriving in the late afternoon.

Lake Naivasha, is home to a multitude of birdlife, the most magnificent being the AfricanFish Eagle with his regal cry. At 1880 m, this isthe highest of the Rift Valley lakes. We spendthe next day enjoying optional excursionslike Elsamere (former home to Joy & GeorgeAdamson of Born Free fame), a boat ride to the

Crescent Island Game Sanctuary or a bike ridearound Hell’s Gate National Park. Overnight -Lake Naivasha (B, L, D)

Day 50 : NairobiSaturday. Lake Naivasha - Nairobi. Afterbreakfast, we head back to Nairobi usuallyarriving by late morning, or early afternoon. Onarrival to Nairobi, we exchange addresses andpart ways, having just experienced a trip of alifetime!

(B)

Please NoteThis expedition is run in conjunction withAfrica Travel Company.

This itinerary should be used as a guide onlyand may vary from day to day depending onroad & weather conditions, political situationsand group decisions.

All prices & Local Payments are subject tochange.

Due to Tourism Laws in some of the countrieswe visit, there may be a truck and crew changeduring the trip.

This safari is modular and a portion of this tripmay coincide with a family departure whichwelcomes children aged 6 and over.

Things To Bring• A sleeping bag• For extra comfort, bring a travel pillow• Spare camera batteries/film and dustbag• Mosquito spray (with active DEET ingredient)• Your own personal first aid kit• A torch• A small daypack for your day-to-day needs.• Antibacterial wipes• A photocopy of your passport data pages• Your Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate• Your travel insurance policy details• Hat, sunglasses & sunscreen• Warm clothing - raincoat, warm hat, socks etc

as across Africa wet/dry and hot/cool climaticperiods change invariably.

TRIP NOTES

Absolute Africa




- 8 -

BudgetingAfrica is not as cheap as many people believeand we recommend that you budget betweenUS $30-35 per day for expenses such as drinks,snacks and curios. Budget more if you plan onbuying a lot of souvenirs and budget for youroptional excursions and visas separately.

Transport on TourOur overland vehicles are custom builtconverted Mercedes Benz or MAN trucks thathave seatingspace for our passengers and a storage areas forluggage and all trip equipment. The trucks seatbetween 27-30 passengers on our campingtrips. Most seats are forward facing, thoughsome models have a combination of forward,backward and some inward facing seats withtables. Vehicles have sliding glass windows, andthe seating area is raised providing a greatadvantage for game viewing and photography.Seats are cushioned and there is storage spacefor personal items like cameras, snacks and daypacks in the seating area.

Meals on TourMeals and menus vary as food is purchased en-route, and is subject to produce that is availableseasonally in the areas we travel through. Aswe support the local communities along theway, fresh produce is mostly purchased directfrom the producer or local grower and thereforehas an organic appearance. Our safari cooks areable to offer a wide variety of menus with theingredients available, even if the produce onoffer is not of the same selection as what youmay be used to back home. The breakfast spreadconsists of bread (toast when time allows),spreads and cereals with a hot breakfast everyfew days. Lunches are mostly prepared en-routewith a supply of ‘build your own’ sandwichingredients available. Dinners are cooked in theevenings on arrival at the campsite. A wide arrayof dinner menus are on offer during your safari,consisting of curries, stews, pastas, BBQs andeven roasts!

Participation on TourAll of our overland safaris are participation tripsmeaning that all passengers are expected tohelp out around camp. The crew membersrunning the trip will set up a rota system that willbe followed. One day you may be on cleaning

duty, the next day you may be on cooking dutyand so forth. This is not only to make the tripeasier for all involved but also for you as thepassengers to get to know one another while ontrip.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Passports & VisasPlease ensure that you have at least two blankpages in your passport, plus an additional blankpage for each visa/African country you a visiting.If travelling on one of our longer overland safariswe recommend that you have at least 12 blankpages in your passport.

Please also note that your passport must bevalid for a minimum of six months from the enddate of your trip.

Any visa information provided in this documentis for general guidance purposes only, visarequirements and fees are subject to change.It is essential that you check current entryrequirements with each relevant embassy/consulate prior to departure. Visa procurementis the responsibility of the traveller and not of OnThe Go.

Booking Your FlightsWhen booking your departure flight you shouldallow time at the end of your African safari forany unexpected delays. We recommend thatyou book your onward flight no earlier than24 hours after the end of your safari. In thecase of our longer overland camping safaris(22 days or more) we advise against makingany firm arrangements for at least 48 hoursafter the scheduled departure date. We canhelp to arrange post tour accommodation uponrequest.

Botswana Country Guide

VisaPlease be advised that visa requirements aresubject to change and that visa procurementis the responsibility of the traveller and notOn The Go Tours, therefore it is essential thatyou check current visa requirements with theembassy before travel. Please also ensure thatyour passport is valid for at least 6 months fromyour planned date of departure from Africa.

UK, Ireland, Australian, New Zealand, USA,Canadian and South African citizens do notrequire a visa for entrance into Botswana.

The few countries that do require visas; mostlyEastern European and Asian Nationals, need toobtain them prior to arrival at the border. Visasare not issued at Botswana ports of entry, if youarrive without a visa, immigration officials willrefuse you entry to Botswana.

VaccinationsYou should seek medical advice beforetravelling to Botswana from your local healthpractitioner and ensure that you receive allof the appropriate vaccinations. As a guidePolio, Diphtheria, Hepatitis A and Tetanus isstrongly recommended. Rabies may also berecommended.There is the risk of malaria in certain areasof Botswana so it is very important to checkwith your doctor before you go, to see whethermalarial medication is required for the areas youare visiting. A valid Yellow Fever vaccinationcertificate is also required if travelling intoBotswana and you have previously been in aninfected country.

Currency & BankingThe currency of Botswana is the BotswanaPulas (BWP) 1 Pula = 100 Thebe. Notes are indenominations of BWP10, 20, 50 and 100.Coins are in denominations of BWP1, 50, 25, 10,5, 1.

There are no restrictions on the import of local orforeign currencies, provided they are declaredon arrival. Export of local currency is limited toBWP50 and foreign currencies up to the amountdeclared on arrival. It is easy to change mostforms of currency including US$, GB£, Euros andSouth African Rand. The best place to changemoney in Botswana is the bureau de changesas banks charge commission to change eithercash or travellers cheques. ATMs are availablein all main towns, cities, shopping centres andmost petrol stations. MasterCard, Visa, AmericanExpress and Diners Club are all widely accepted.Travellers cheques should be in US Dollars orPound Sterling to avoid additional exchangerate charges. Proof of identity may be requestedin some instances, so it’s useful to carry a

TRIP NOTES

Absolute Africa




- 9 -

passport or some form of photo identification.In large cities travellers cheques can incur a highsurcharge.

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1530, Sat0830-1100.

Time & VoltageTime Zone - Botswana is 2 hours ahead of GMT.Daylight saving time is not observed.

The standard voltage is 220 - 240V. Primarysockets require a ‘Type M’ - South African,electrical plug which has three thick circularpins. You will need a voltage converter, and plugadapter in order to use U.S. appliances.

ClimateBotswana’s climate is mainly temperate.During the summer months (October-April)the weather can be very hot with daytimetemperatures of around 30 Celsius and higher.The rainy season (typically lasting from Januaryto March) can be hot with temperaturesstill in the mid 30’s and only dropping toaround the mid 20’s overnight. Winter (May-September) brings a cool change yet is stillreasonably warm and mostly pleasant withan average temperature of around 25°C. Earlymornings and evenings may be cold and frostyespecially in the Kalahari region. The amount ofrainfall decreases the further you travel west orsouthwards during the winter and rainy seasonmonths.

Kenya Country Guide

VisasPlease be advised that visa requirements aresubject to change and that visa procurementis the responsibility of the traveller and notOn The Go Tours, therefore it is essential thatyou check current visa requirements with theembassy before travel. Please also ensure thatyour passport is valid for at least 6 months fromyour planned date of departure from Africa.South African passport holders do not requirea visa to visit Kenya for up to 30 days. Mostother nationalities, including UK, USA, Canadian,Australian and New Zealand passport holders,do require a visa to enter Kenya.</p>

On 1st July 2015 the government of Kenyaintroduced an electronic visa application. It isstill possible to purchase a visa upon arrival upuntil 31 August 2015. From 01 September 2015ALL tourists wishing to visit Kenya need to applyfor a visa online at www.ecitizen.go.ke. The visaprocess can take up to 7 working days. Forfurther details please visit our Kenya visa page -http://www.onthegotours.com/Kenya/Visas.

All passengers require an onward/return ticketsand sufficient funds for length of intended stay(at least US$500).

VaccinationsYou should seek medical advice beforetravelling to Kenya from your local healthpractitioner and ensure that you receive allof the appropriate vaccinations. As a guidePolio, Diphtheria, Hepatitis A&B and Tetanus isstrongly recommended. Rabies and Menengitisare also recommended.

There is the risk of malaria in Kenya so it isvery important to check with your doctor beforeyou go, to see whether malarial medication isrequired for the areas you are visiting. A YellowFever vaccination is also required for travel tomany areas of Kenya.

Time & VoltageKenya is 3 hours ahead of GMT. Daylight savingtime is not observed.

In Kenya the standard voltage is 220-240V.Primary sockets require a ‘Type G’ - BritishBS-1363 type, three pin plug. You will need avoltage converter, and plug adapter in order touse U.S. appliances. We recommend packing auniversal adapter.

CurrencyThe currency of Kenya is the Kenyan Shilling(code KES, symbol KSh).1 KSh = 100 cents. Notes are in denominationsof: KSh1,000, 500, 200, 100 and 50.Coins are in denominations of KSh20, 10 and 5.

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1500, Sat0900-1100. You can exchange money in banksor bureau de changes. Be aware that oldpre-2003 US$ banknotes or torn or markedbanknotes are difficult to exchange in Africa so

make sure you take crisp new notes! In majortowns/cities most banks have an ATM. AmericanExpress, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa cardsare all widely accepted.

Travellers cheques can be changed at banks,these should be in US Dollars or Pound Sterlingto avoid additional exchange rate charges.Most banks will want to see your passportand proof of purchase receipt before cashingyour travellers cheques. Please Note: Travellerscheques can be difficult to cash and often haverestrictions of about US$100 a day maximum.They also tend to attract high commissioncharges, especially when exchanging for hardcurrency.

ClimateKenya is an excellent year round destinationwith a favourable climate and reasonably lowrainfall. In general the hottest months areDecember to March, although the climate variesenormously from place to place. The lowlandcoastal areas are tropical, with year roundhigh temperatures and humidity, which is atits peak in April and May, although temperedby monsoon winds. The highlands are moretemperate with four seasons. Nairobi has a verypleasant climate throughout the year due to itsaltitude. Near Lake Victoria, the temperaturesare much higher and rainfall can be heavy.

Malawi Country Guide

VisasPlease be advised that visa requirements aresubject to change and that visa procurementis the responsibility of the traveller and notOn The Go Tours, therefore it is essential thatyou check current visa requirements with theembassy before travel. Please also ensure thatyour passport is valid for at least 6 months fromyour planned date of departure from Africa.

As of the 1st October 2015 passport holders of(but not limited to) UK, USA, Canada, Australiaand New Zealand will be charged a visa fee atthe border into Malawi. The cost is $50 for a 7 daytransit visa and $75 for a 90 day single entry visa.

Please check with your local Malawi Embassy orHigh Commission prior to departure.

TRIP NOTES

Absolute Africa




- 10 -

VaccinationsSeek advice from your doctor or travel clinicat least six weeks prior to departure aboutwhat vaccinations you require. Typically the listincludes typhoid, tetanus, polio, hepatitis A andB and meningitis.

A malaria risk exists throughout the country, westrongly recommend that you take anti-malariamedication.

A Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate isrequired from travellers over one year of agecoming from infected areas.

CurrencyThe currency of Malawi is the Malawian Kwacha(MWK, symbol MK).1 MWK = 100 tambala.

Notes are in denominations of Mk500, 200, 100,50, 20, 10 and 5.Coins are in denominations of Mk1 and 20, 10, 5,2 and 1 tambala.

On arrival in Lilongwe you will be able to convertmoney into MKW. The bureau de changes arethe easiest place to change money, and US$ andGB£ are accepted in both cash and travellerscheque format. Travellers cheques attract acommission charge and a lower exchangerate than cash, which is changed with nocommission.

If coming south from Tanzania, MKW can bepurchased on the border using US$ cash. ATMsare effectively non-existent for foreign cards inMalawi.

Time & VoltageTime Zone - Malawi is 2 hours ahead of GMT.Daylight saving time is not observed

Standard voltage is 220-240V. Electrical socketsin Malawi are the "Type G " British BS-1363 type.You will need a voltage converter, and plugadapter in order to use U.S. appliances

ClimateThere are three seasons in Malawi. The rainyseason extends from November to April, thecool season from May to July and the dry seasonfrom August to October. Temperatures and

rainfall are greatly influenced by Lake Malawiand altitude, which varies from 37 metres (inthe Lower Shire Valley) to 3050 metres (MountMulanje). Along the lakeshore, the mean annualtemperature is 24°C, and humidity can be highduring the rainy season.

Mozambique Country Guide

Mozambique VisasA visa is required to enter Mozambique. Somenationalities are able to obtain a visa at theborder but as regulations change frequentlyand without notice it is prudent to obtainyour visa in advance of travel. It is essentialthat all nationalities check the latest advisewith the Mozambique embassy when planningtheir trip. Mozambique visa regulations changefrequently and without notice.

Australian, New Zealand and Canadian passportholders cannot get a visa upon arrival inMozambique. If you are unable to obtain a visaprior to departure, it can be obtained from theMozambique Embassy in Johannesburg whichis open Monday – Friday. You will need to arriveinto Johannesburg a few days prior to yourtour departure date in order to get the visaprocessed. For more information please contactthe embassy or visit: www.embamoc.co.za/visa-applications

If you are unable to obtain a visa priorto departure, it can be obtained fromthe Mozambique Embassy in Johannesburgwhich is open Monday - Friday, but theapplication must be submitted at 8am. For moreinformation please visit www.embamoc.co.za/visa-applications. If you need to obtain a visa inJohannesburg then we recommend arriving 3days prior to your tour departure date in orderto get the visa processed.

Citizens of South Africa do not require a visa forMozambique.

For visa applications please note: on ouroverland safaris we enter Mozambique fromSouth Africa through Komatie Poort Border andexit into Zimbabwe at the Bandala Border.

Please ensure that you have at least two blankpages in your passport, plus an additional blank

page for each visa, and that your passport isvalid for a minimum of six months from the enddate of your trip.

Visa procurement is the responsibility of thetraveller and not of On The Go.

VaccinationsYou should seek medical advice beforetravelling to Mozambique from your local healthpractitioner and ensure that all you receive allof the appropriate vaccinations. Typically thelist includes Tetanus, diphtheria, polio, hepatitisA, hepatitis B (for stays over 3 months) andoptionally anti-rabies inoculation, typhoid andmeningococci.

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is requiredfrom travellers arriving from infected areas orwho were in transit through infected areas(unless they remained onboard or at the airport).

There is a malaria risk throughout the year acrossMozambique, therefore anti-malaria medicationis essential.

Currency & BankingThe currency in Mozambique is theMozambique Meticais(MZN; symbol R)

1 Meticais = 100 centavos. Notes are indenominations of MZN 20, 50,100, 200, 500 and 1000 Meticais. Coins are indenominations of 1, 5, 10,20 and 50 centavos and 1, 2, 5, 10 Meticais.

ATM facilities in Mozambique are limited andtend to be unreliable so it is advisable to carrycash or travellers cheques. Local banks havebranches in most cities but it is best to stock upon cash when you get the opportunity.

Traveller’s cheques can be changed at banks.These should be in US Dollars or Pound Sterlingto avoid additional exchange rate charges. Proofof identity may be requested in some instances,so it’s useful to carry a passport or some form ofphoto identification.

Banking hours: Mon - Fri 0800-1500.

TRIP NOTES

Absolute Africa




- 11 -

Time & VoltageTime Zone - Mozambique is 2 hours ahead ofGMT. Daylight saving time is not observed.

Standard voltage is 220-230V. In Mozambiquethere are a variety of sockets, therefore it isbest to pack an international adaptors. Primarysockets require a ‘Type M’ - South African type,type ‘C’ - European type and a type ‘F’ - ‘Schuko’type (2 pronged with earth connectors on theside). You will need a voltage converter and plugadapter in order to use U.S. appliances.

ClimateMozambique’s climate is typically tropical, witha wet season during summer between themonths of October and March. The dry seasonis between April to September. There is notmuch variation of temperature between theseasons except at higher altitudes and a greaterhumidity during the wet season.

The coolest months to visit Mozambique areusually between June and August howeverthe weather can still get above 30 degreesCelsius during the daylight hours. The rainyseason generally starts earlier in the north of thecountry. During the wet season the coastusually experiences the heaviest rainfall andcyclones are also not unheardof during this period.

Tanzania Country Guide

VisasPlease be advised that visa requirements aresubject to change and that visa procurementis the responsibility of the traveller and notOn The Go Tours, therefore it is essential thatyou check current visa requirements with theembassy before travel. Please also ensure thatyour passport is valid for at least 6 months fromyour planned date of departure from Africa.UK, Irish, Australian, New Zealand, USA,Canadian and RSA citizens require a visa forTanzania. A single entry visas can be obtainedby most nationalities upon arrival at Dar esSalaam, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar Airport orat Namanga border crossing point, betweenTanzania and Kenya. The current visa cost is U$50 for all nationalities, which can be paid inUS$, GB£ or Euro cash. The three East Africancountries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have

an agreement that you can travel freely betweenthese countries and do not have to get anothervisa when returning to each. If you exit thisregion and enter any other country, includingRwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo,you will need to get new visas to re enter Kenya,Tanzania and Uganda.

VaccinationsYou should seek medical advice beforetravelling to Tanzania from your local healthpractitioner and ensure that you receive allof the appropriate vaccinations. As a guidePolio, Diphtheria, Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid andTetanus is strongly recommended. Meningitisand Rabies are also recommended.

There is the risk of malaria in Tanzania so it isvery important to check with your doctor beforeyou go, to see whether malarial medication isrequired for the areas you are visiting.A Yellow Fever International Certificate ofVaccination is required from travellers over one,arriving from countries infected with yellowfever or who were in transit through infectedareas (unless they remained onboard or at theairport); this is particularly relevant if travelingfrom neighbouring African countries. If visitingZanzibar from mainland Tanzania, a yellow fevercertificate must be produced to gain entry.

CurrencyThe currency of Tanzania is the TanzanianShilling (code TZS, symbol TSh).1 TSh = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations ofTSh10,000, 5000, 2,000, 1,000 and 500. Coins arein denominations of TSh200, 100, 50, 20 and 10.

The Tanzanian Shilling is non exportable orimportable. You can exchange US Dollars,Pound Sterling or Euro cash at bureau dechanges or banks in larger towns/cities. Cash ischanged with no commission. Exchange ratesvary depending upon the denomination of thenote that you want to change and generallysmaller notes attract a lower exchange ratethan high ones. Be aware that old pre-2003US$ banknotes or torn or marked banknotesare difficult to exchange in Africa so make sureyou take crisp new notes. Alternatively mostlarge towns/cities have an ATM where cashcan be withdrawn using Visa or MasterCard.

Credit cards are very rarely accepted for makingpurchases.

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1230; Sat0830-1300. Bureaux de change have longerhours and in the cities open on Sundays.

Travellers cheques are more difficult to changeand require proof of purchase and often haverestrictions of about US$100 a day maximum.Please note that there is a surcharge whenpaying by travellers cheques.

Time & VoltageTanzania Time Zone - 3 hours ahead of GMT.Daylight saving time is not observed.

Standard voltage is 220-240V. Primary socketsrequire a Type G British BS-1363 or Type D IndianBS-546 type, three pin plug. You will need avoltage converter, and plug adapter in order touse U.S. appliances. We recommend getting auniversal adapter.

ClimateTanzania is sunny and tropical (accept in themountain regions). Given the sheer size ofthe country, the climate varies dramatically indifferent regions. In coastal regions and on theislands of Zanzibar and Pemba it is hot andhumid year-round with higher rainfall, whilstinland, the central plateau is dry and hot and thenorth-western highlands are cooler. The longrains occur between mid-March and the end ofMay and there are also short, lighter rains duringNovember and December. The driest monthsare June to October.

Uganda Country Guide

VisaPlease be advised that visa requirements aresubject to change and that visa procurementis the responsibility of the traveller and notOn The Go Tours, therefore it is essential thatyou check current visa requirements with theembassy before travel. Please also ensure thatyour passport is valid for at least 6 months fromyour planned date of departure from Africa.UK, Irish, Australian, New Zealand, USA,Canadian and RSA citizens require a visa forUganda. This can be obtained upon arrival at all

TRIP NOTES

Absolute Africa




- 12 -

entry and exit points. Currently a 3 month singleentry visa costs - US$50.

VaccinationsYou should seek medical advice beforetravelling to Uganda from your local healthpractitioner and ensure that all you receiveall of the appropriate vaccinations. As a guidediphtheria, hepatitis A, polio, tetanus andtyphoid are strongly recommended. Meningitisand hepatitis B are sometimes recommended.

A Yellow Fever Certificate of Vaccination isrequired if arriving from an infected areaand vaccination recommended for all travellersvisiting endemic areas.

Uganda is affected by malaria – westrongly recommend that you take anti-malaria medication. Adequate measures toavoid mosquito bites include: insect repellent,sleeping under a mosquito net and wearinglong sleeve clothing and long trousers in theevenings.

CurrencyThe currency of Uganda is the Uganda Shilling(UGX).Notes are in denominations of UGX50,000,20,000, 10,000, 5,000 and 1,000. Coins are indenominations of UGX500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10,5, 2 and 1.

The import and export of local currency isprohibited. It is possible to change moneyand use ATMs in large cities. Please note thattravellers cheques are not widely accepted andcan only be exchanged in Kampala.

Time & VoltageUganda is 3 hours ahead of GMT. Daylightsaving time is not observed.

In Uganda the standard voltage is 240V. Primarysockets require a ‘Type G’ - British BS-1363type, three pin plug. You will need a voltageconverter, and plug adapter in order to use U.S.appliances. We recommend packing a universaladapter.

ClimateDespite being located on the Equator, Uganda israther temperate, with the lowlands remaining

warm year round and temperatures averagingaround 26°C. In the mountain regions, due tothe high altitude, it is much cooler. The climatein Uganda is tropical and the country has twomain wet and dry seasons; it is typically dryfrom December to February and June to August,and wet from March to May and October toNovember.

Gorilla PermitsGorilla trekking is a wonderful experience,allowing you the opportunity to have a closeencounter with these gentle giants of thejungle in their natural habitat. The trekkingwill take place either in Uganda, Rwanda orDemocratic Republic of Congo - depending onlocal conditions and the availability of the gorillapermits.

The cost and availability of gorilla permits variesby country and park. Current permits cost US$600 in Uganda and the DRC, and US$750 inRwanda. There is also an additional booking &transfer fee of US$120. You will also need tobudget for visa fees (costs vary) and to renewyour Kenyan and Ugandan visa upon re-entryshould we have to go to Rwanda or DR Congo.The government often increases the permit andtransfer costs without notice, so we ask thatyou budget for the highest amount, so that youdon't suddenly have to find additional moneyto partake in this wonderful experience. Werecommend you budget a total of US$1000. TheGorilla Permit payment will be collected fromyou at the Welcome Meeting on day 1 in USdollars cash. We also advise budgeting a littleextra for tips for the local guides and rangers.

The reason that we don’t include the gorillatrekking excursion in our Gorilla Safaris isbecause it is offered by a local operatorand they are unable to confirm these pricesand availability of permits. If we did, we’dhave to make allowances for the government’sunexpected price increases, and, possibly,charge our passengers far more than the priceof the actual permit. This way you get to pay thecorrect price for the permit.

The reason that the permits are so costly isbecause each park only issues 10 permits pergorilla family per day, so as to ensure that the

gorilla’s exposure to humans is limited. 100%of the gorilla permit cost is used to by thegovernment to continue in the excellent workthey do in protecting and promoting thesewonderful animals.

On The Go are not in control of the price ofgorilla permits and therefore cannot be heldresponsible for any increase in fees.

South Africa Country Guide

VisasPlease be advised that visa requirements aresubject to change and that visa procurementis the responsibility of the traveller and notOn The Go Tours, therefore it is essential thatyou check current visa requirements with theembassy before travel. Please also ensure thatyour passport is valid for at least 6 months fromyour planned date of departure from Africa.UK, Australian, New Zealand, USA and Canadiancitizens do not require a tourist visa for SouthAfrica for stays of up to 90 days.

Very few nationalities require South Africanvisas prior to entry into the country. Mostnationalities are able to get an entry stampat the border on entering South Africa. Pleasecontact your local South African embassy tofind out if you require a visa prior to enteringSA. If you are subject to visa requirements, youmust apply and receive your visa before yourdeparture for South Africa, visas are not issuedat South African ports of entry.

Travelling with Children to orthrough South AfricaFrom 1 June 2015 parents travelling withchildren into or out of South Africa, or transitingin South Africa will be asked to show the child’sunabridged (full) birth certificate which liststhe child’s details and both parents’ details.The abridged (short) birth certificate whichonly lists the child’s details won’t be accepted.Uncertified copies of birth certificates or copiesof the parents/guardians identification will notbe accepted. A parental contact affidavit (PCA)must have a certified copy of the parent’s/guardian’s identification (ie passport) attachedto it.

TRIP NOTES

Absolute Africa




- 13 -

Where only one parent is accompanying a child,parental or legal consent for the child to travel(eg an affidavit from the other parent or –if applicable – a death certificate) is requiredand there are other requirements for childrentravelling unaccompanied or with adults whoare not their parents.

If you are travelling with children (under18) it is essential that you contact theSouth African High Commission or the SouthAfrican Department of Home Affairs for furtherinformation relating to these regulations. If youdo not carry the correct documentation you willnot be allowed to enter the country. Obtainingthe correct paperwork is the responsibility of thetraveller and not On The Go Tours.

Health & VaccinationsYou should seek medical advice beforetravelling to South Africa from your local healthpractitioner and ensure that all you receiveall of the appropriate vaccinations. As a guidetetanus, diphtheria, polio, hepatitis A (for staysover 4 weeks) and hepatitis B (for stays over 3months) are recommended.

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is requiredfrom travellers over one, coming from infectedareas.

A low malaria risk occurs in northern parts ofMpumalanga (as well as Kruger National park,northern and northeastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal). If travelling to these regions and/or thecountries north of South Africa, where there is ahigh malaria risk, we strongly recommend thatyou take anti-malaria medication. Precautionarymeasures to take to prevent contact withmosquitoes include: insect repellent, cover upat sundown, sleep under a mosquito net andwear long sleeve clothing and long trousers inthe evenings.

CurrencyThe currency in South Africa is Rand (ZAR;symbol R)1 Rand = 100 cents. Notes are in denominationsof R200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are indenominations of R5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and5 cents.

Obtaining local currency within South Africa isvery easy. ATMs are widely accessible and veryreliable and offer the best rates of exchange.International credit cards are accepted in almostall shops, restaurants, hotels and game reserves.

Bureau de changes offer a quick andcommission free service but are only foundin the main centres such as Cape Townand Johannesburg. Travellers cheques can bechanged at banks. These should be in US Dollarsor Pound Sterling to avoid additional exchangerate charges. Please note that proof of identitymay be requested in some instances, so it’suseful to carry a passport or some form ofphoto identification. Travellers cheques can bedifficult to exchange and tend to attract highcommission fees.

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1530, Sat0830-1100.

Rand can be used in Botswana, Namibiaand South Africa, so if you are travelling onone of our overland safaris ample moneyfor these three countries can be obtainedprior to beginning your trip in Cape Town orJohannesburg. The Rand and Namibian dollarare tied to each other on an equal level and canbe used interchangeably in Namibia. The Randcan also be easily converted to Pula in Botswanaat good rates.

Time & VoltageTime Zone - South Africa is 2 hours ahead ofGMT. Daylight saving time is not observed

Standard voltage is 220-230V. Primary socketsrequire a ‘Type M’ - South African, electrical plugwhich has three thick circular pins. You will needa voltage converter, and plug adapter in orderto use U.S. appliances.

ClimateClimatic conditions generally range fromMediterranean in the south western corner ofthe country to temperate in the interior plateau,and subtropical in the northeast. A small areain the northwest has a desert climate. Mostof the country has warm, sunny days andcool nights. Rainfall generally occurs duringsummer (November-March), although in thesouthwest, around Cape Town, rainfall occurs

in winter (from June-August). Temperatures areinfluenced by variations in elevation, terrain,and ocean currents.

Zambia Country Guide

Visas & Departure TaxPlease be advised that visa requirements aresubject to change and that visa procurementis the responsibility of the traveller and notOn The Go Tours, therefore it is essential thatyou check current visa requirements with theembassy before travel. Please also ensure thatyour passport is valid for at least 6 months fromyour planned date of departure from Africa.UK, Australian, New Zealand, USA, Canadiancitizens require a visa for Zambia. Visas can beobtained by most nationalities upon arrival atthe airport/border. A single entry visa currentlycosts US $50 and a double/multiple entry costs$80. Irish and South African passport holders donot require a visa.

VaccinationsYou should seek medical advice beforetravelling to Zambia from your local healthpractitioner and ensure that all you receiveall of the appropriate vaccinations. As a guideTetanus, diphtheria, polio, hepatitis A andhepatitis B (for stays over 4 weeks) are stronglyrecommended.

Zambia has a malaria risk throughout theyear in the whole country, therefore westrongly recommend that you take anti-malariamedication.

The yellow fever vaccination is required forpassengers travelling to and from Zambia. All in-transit passengers travelling between Zambiaand South Africa, irrespective of the time periodin transit, will also be required to present theirYellow Fever Vaccination Certificate.

CurrencyZambia’s currency is the Zambia Kwacha (ZMK)Notes are in denominations of ZMK100, 50, 20,10, 5, and 2.

Banking hours vary but most are open from Mon- Fri 0815-1430

TRIP NOTES

Absolute Africa




- 14 -

ATMs are available at Standard Chartered andBarclays Bank which accept Visa. Most largestores and hotels accept credit cards.

If travelling on one of our overland safaris thereis no real need to convert any of your money toZMK, as you will only be in Zambia for a shortperiod of time. Campsites readily accept US$cash for food and beverages.

Time & VoltageTime Zone - Zambia is 2 hours ahead of GMT.Daylight saving time is not observed.

Standard voltage is 230V. Zambia has severalvarieties of electrical sockets. The 3 primarysockets are ‘Type C’ - European, ‘Type D’ - Indianand ‘Type G’ - British. You will need a voltageconverter and plug adapter in order to use U.S.appliances.

ClimateZambia is warm all year round, but has threedistinct seasons. Between December and Aprilthe weather is hot and wet; from May to Augustit is cooler and dry; between September andNovember conditions are hot and dry. Averagesummer temperatures range between 25°C to35°C, while in winter they can fall as low as 6°C atnight, although daytime temperatures average24°C.

Zambian Airport Departure TaxNOTES FOR THOSE FLYING OUT OFLIVINGSTONE AIRPORT IN ZAMBIA

An airport departure tax is in place for all flightsdeparting from Zambian airports. It will nolonger be included on the ticket and will now becollected in Zambian Kwacha cash direct fromthe passenger. The amount payable is currentlyK28,000 for Domestic Flights and K56,000for International Flights and is payable ondeparture from all Zambian airports. Passengersneed to have ZMK cash available for this tax.Please note, departure taxes are subject tochange.

Zimbabwe Country Guide

VisasPlease be advised that visa requirements aresubject to change and that visa procurement

is the responsibility of the traveller and notOn The Go Tours, therefore it is essential thatyou check current visa requirements with theembassy before travel. Please also ensure thatyour passport is valid for at least 6 months fromyour planned date of departure from Africa.

UK, Ireland, Australian, New Zealand, USA andCanadian passport holders require a visa toenter Zimbabwe, these visas are available atthe border for the following costs: Australian,New Zealand and US citizens: US$30 single/$45 double entry visa. British and Irish is US$55single/$70 double. Canadians can only obtain asingle entry visa at the border for US $75. SouthAfrican passport holders can obtain a visa forfree. Visas can be brought using post 2003 US$notes, GB£ or South African Rand.

VaccinationsSeek advice from your doctor or travel clinicat least six weeks prior to departure aboutwhat vaccinations you require. Typically thelist includes typhoid, tetanus, diphtheria, polio,hepatitis A and B (for stays over 4 weeks).

In Zimbabwe a malarial risk exists fromNovember to June in all areas below 1200mand throughout the year in the Zambezi Valley.We strongly recommend that you take youranti-malaria medication. Other precautionarymeasures to prevent contact with mosquitoesinclude: insect repellent, cover up at sundown,sleep under a mosquito net and wear longsleeve clothing and long trousers in theevenings.

Yellow fever: A yellow fever vaccinationcertificate is required from travellers over oneyear of age coming from infected areas.

CurrencyThe Zimbabwean Dollar was abandoned in April2009. The country has adopted a multi-currencyscheme; the US Dollar and South African Randcan be used for domestic transactions.

Banking hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri -0800-1500 , Wed 0800-1300 and Sat -0800-1130. In major towns/cities most bankshave an ATM. American Express, Diners Club andVisa cards are widely accepted. Major foreign

currencies can be exchanged at bureaux dechange and banks at the official exchange rate.

Travellers cheques are accepted at banks, theseshould be in US Dollars or Pound Sterlingto avoid additional exchange rate charges.Most banks will want to see your passportand proof of purchase receipt before cashingyour travellers cheques. Please Note: Travellerscheques can be difficult to cash so do not relyupon them as your sole source of funds.

Time & VoltageStandard voltage is 220-240V. Primary socketsrequire a ‘Type G’ - British plug, or ‘Type D’ -old English plug or Indian plug. You will need avoltage converter and plug adapter in order touse U.S. appliances.

Zimbabwe is 2 hours ahead of GMT. Daylightsaving time is not observed.

ClimateAlthough located in the tropics, temperateconditions prevail all year round in Zimbabweas the climate is moderated by altitude and theinland position of the country.

Zimbabwe has a rainy season from November/December to March, during this time daysare hot and sunny with possible afternoonthunderstorms. By April and May most ofthe rain is gone, skies are clear anddays are sunny and warm. Night timetemperatures drop dramatically between Juneand August although daytime temperaturesremain pleasantly warm. Late August sees thestart of the hot and dry season which continuesuntil October.

Zambian Airport Departure TaxNOTES FOR THOSE FLYING OUT OFLIVINGSTONE AIRPORT IN ZAMBIA

An airport departure tax is in place for all flightsdeparting from Zambian airports. It will nolonger be included on the ticket and will now becollected in Zambian Kwacha cash direct fromthe passenger. The amount payable is currentlyK28,000 for Domestic Flights and K56,000for International Flights and is payable ondeparture from all Zambian airports. Passengersneed to have ZMK cash available for this tax.

TRIP NOTES

Absolute Africa




- 15 -

Please note, departure taxes are subject tochange.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

We offer a number of locally operated optionalactivities and excursions on each of ourexpeditions. We feel that offering optionalexcursions affords a greater degree of flexibility,independence and choice to our travellers. Tohelp you budget, below is a selection of optionalexcursions available on this trip.

Please note the following:All prices are in US Dollars and are subject tochange. Where activities occur away from yourbase, there may be an additional transfer cost.

Serengeti/Ngorongoro Excursions (ifapplicable) - travellers cheques may beaccepted although they are subject to asurcharge of at least 5%.

Victoria Falls activities (if applicable) - must bepaid for in US$ cash (GBP & ZAR also accepted ata lower rate).

Gorilla Trekking (if applicable) - the price variesdependant on where gorilla trek takes place ieUganda, DRC or Rwanda.

We offer camping and accommodatedexcursions in the Serengeti/Ngorongoro Craterand Okavango Delta. These operate separately.Please note that a minimum of 4 passengersare required for the accommodated excursionsto run and if camping a sleeping bag will berequired.All optional excursions are offered by 3rd partiesand independently of On The Go Tours. Theyare undertaken at your own risk and On The GoTours take no responsibility for personal loss/injury caused.

Kenya

Crescent Island US $40

Elsamere Visit, home of Joy Adamson US $25

Giraffe Centre. Pre/Post tour US $25

Hells Gate National Park US $65

Masai Hot Air Balloon US $550

Masai Village Cultural Visit US $15

Masai Warrior Dancing US $10

Nairobi National Park half day. Pre/Post tour US$125

Naivasha Boat Hire (max 7 pax) US $60 per hour

Naivasha Horse Riding per hour US $25 per hour

Malawi

Fresh Water Diving at Kande Beach US $55

Full Day Snorkelling US $35

Horse Riding 2 - 3 hours US $70 - $100

Livingstonia Mission Hike 30km rtn US $20

Traditional Healer Visit US $10

Village Walk & Meal US $20

Mozambique

Fishing Trip US $200

Horse Riding US $60

Island Kayak Trip US $80

Magaruque Island Dhow Trip US $75

Ocean Safari US $70

Scuba Diving from US $120

Snorkelling US $40

Surfboard Rental US$20

South Africa

Jo'burg City Tour. Pre/Post Tour from from US$100

Kruger Park Open Vehicle Game Drive US $50

Soweto Tour - J'burg/Pretoria - from from US$60

Tanzania

3 day Serengeti/Ngorongoro Excursion(camping) from US $500

Olduvai Gorge US $10

Uganda

Adrift/Softpower Community Project US $35

Chimpanzee Sanctuary (excl transfer) from US$80

Gorilla Trek (inc. permit & transfer fee) from US$720

Horse Riding 2 hours (excl transfer) US $60

Jinja Quad Bike 2 hours US $100

Nile River Bungee US $120

White Water Rafting On The Nile US $160

Zambia

Zambezi Sunset Dinner Cruise US $80

Zanzibar

Dhow Fishing Trip US $40

Dhow Sunset Cruise US $40

Dolphin Trip US $40

Moped Hire Us $80

Nungwe Half Day Snorkel Trip US $40

Prison Island Snorkelling Trip US $30

Scuba Diving from US $100

Spice Tour US $40

Stone Town Tour US $50

Zanzibar Accommodation p.p.p.n US $40-$60

Zimbabwe

Bungee Jump (111m) US $170

Elephant Back Safari US $150

Full Day Adrenaline (min. 10) US $160

Helicopter Over The Falls 15 mins US $155

Horse Riding 3 hours US $80

Microlight Over The Falls 15 mins US $170

Rafting & Boarding Combo US $180

Rafting On The Zambezi US $200

absolute africa - on the go tours · the great zimbabwe ruins. this was the greatest medieval city...

Documents