General Info - Budget Tours 50 years +
PASSPORT & VISAS
A valid passport is required for all tours. Depending on your tour and nationality you may require visas for certain countries you will travel through. Please ensure you possess all relevant documents before travelling.
INSURANCE
All clients must be covered by Travel Insurance. We offer an insurance scheme which is designed for safari and overland travel. Contact our office if you wish AFRICAN ROUTES to arrange this for you.
PARTICIPATION
A willingness to participate is fundamental to all our tours. Passengers will be asked to pitch their own tent, help pack the vehicle, assist with meal preparation and wash up afterwards. We expect all passengers to share the attitude that it’s fun to be involved. Joining in means you’ll get far more out of your tour at the end of the day. In the interest of your enjoyment and that of your fellow passengers, please ensure you have decided to travel with AFRICAN ROUTES because you are attracted by the style and itinerary of the tour and not just the reasonable price.
AGE LIMIT
The tours are designed for those aged between 18 and 35. This helps to create a young, fun group with which to share an action packed holiday. It's a social experience as well as a travel experience. Seeing so much in a relatively short space of time, often in hot and perhaps dusty conditions (as can be experienced in the desert for example) also requires a certain amount of stamina, a sense of humour and a degree of flexibility.
DRIVING DISTANCES
All our tours aim to show you as many highlights as possible within a relatively short time. Some tours cover greater distances than others so be prepared for some long travelling days.
PRE & POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation can be organised for before and after your tour, at the departure and arrival points. The tours generally begin and end at youth hostels, which offer dorm-bedded accommodation at +/- R60 and private rooms at +/- R150. Booking in for the night prior to departure has the advantage of enabling our passengers to meet one another and be on site for the early morning pick up. Booking in after your tour avoids a rush to meet flight times on your last day and most groups enjoy a meal together, even though the tour has finished. Contact the office for current accommodation rates.
AIRPORT ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE
We can arrange airport pick ups and drop offs for a nominal fee.
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE POINTS
Joining instructions, detailing the location of departure and arrival points, will be included in your "Tour Confirmation Voucher". This is issued on receipt of full payment.
CHARTERS
We can organise private expeditions/tours for clubs, societies and student groups. Please write with details of your interest and we will be happy to send you a quote.
TRIP REPORTS
In order to maintain a good standard of service, we request that passengers take a few moments to complete an evaluation questionnaire at the end of their tour. Feedback and comments are always appreciated.
FELLOW PASSENGERS
Your group is likely to be a mix of several nationalities. The majority of our passengers are from the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
SINGLE TRAVELLERS
There is no single supplement charge if you join a tour alone. You will simply share accommodation with another tour member. Don’t worry about coming on your own, most of our passengers do.
LUGGAGE
A backpack or soft hold-all is much easier to pack than a suitcase. We request that luggage size is kept to a minimum. i.e. one backpack per person.
WHAT TO BRING
Torch, binoculars, comfortable walking shoes, swimming costume, hat and sunscreen, mosquito repellent, camera, music tapes, etc. are useful items.
SLEEPING BAG
You are required to bring a sleeping bag. Your bag should be a warm one for tours which travel during the winter months.
WEATHER/CLOTHING
The winter lasts for approximately 3 months of the year - June to August. Days are pleasantly warm but nights can be cold. A warm jacket and good sleeping bag are required. Summer months are hot and shorts, T-shirts and sandals are the order of the day. A smarter set of clothes is required for the occasional evening out.
FIRST AID
All vehicles are equipped with a basic first aid kit. It is advisable for you to carry a personal medical kit, especially if you are travelling on the NORTHERN / SOUTHERN TREK. As a precaution your travel insurance should include cover for medical expenses.
MALARIA
You will pass through possible malarial areas on a number of the tours so prophylactics should be taken. Up-to-date advice can be sought from your doctor or a local pharmacist. Mosquito repellent is a useful item.
DRINKS
Juice, tea and coffee are provided. Alcoholic drinks are not included in the tour price. You are welcome to purchase your own drinks en route from a bottle store or supermarket. Occasionally we may visit a pub in the evening.
SMOKING POLICY
For the comfort and safety of everyone, we do not allow smoking in the vehicles or inside our tents. However, there will be ample opportunity for those who wish to smoke during the many stops en route.
ITINERARIES
Whilst we endeavour to adhere to itineraries as they are published in this brochure, we are travelling in Africa and occasionally things happen which may require changes to be made. In such instances we will do our best to minimise the impact any changes may have on your itinerary.
