TRANS AFRICA - EXTENDED ITINERARY AND PRE DEPARTURE

London to Cape Town

Week 1 – 4: Europe, Morocco, Mauritania

We start the trip at Malaga in Spain. Crossing the straits of Gibraltar to Morocco, we visit the coastal capital city of Rabat and visit Casablanca.  Meknes, on the high plains is of the many ancient walled cities with covered markets and a labyrinth of narrow winding streets. We visit the ancient Roman ruin of Volubilis, followed by Fes, Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains. We pass into the Sahara Desert and follow the Atlantic Coast - it is never forgotten; oases with cool water surrounded by palms, stretches of sand as big as a small country, old forts, camel trains following centuries old trading routes, and a night sky undiluted by city lights. We go hundreds of miles off road, sometimes digging the truck out of the soft sands to get through.

Week 5 – 10: Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana

We enter the Sahel; the vast semi arid desert that separates the Sahara from the forests of black Africa and follow the Niger River, visiting the old mud towns of Mopti & Djenne. On the Bandiagara escarpment we trek to the small villages of the Dogon. Burkina Faso is famous for its beautiful lost wax bronze statues. In Ghana we cross the jungle to the beaches of the Gold Coast and visit the slaving forts.

Week 11 – 12: Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon

Togo and Benin are only fifty miles wide. Here the religion is the African tradition of Voodoo. On Nakoue Lagoon you can take canoes to visit the fishing villages built high above the water on bamboo stilts. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with 100 million people. We visit Lagos, the commercial capital and largest city in West Africa and head on to Abuja the political capital, then time at Wikki Warm Springs to relax for a few days. Leaving the warm springs we head to Calabar, passing the outskirts of the Cross-River National Park. 

Week 13: Cameroon

Entering Cameroon, we stay on the beach at Limbe.  For those that are adventurous, you can climb West Africa’s largest mountain, Mount Cameroon.  From the coast we visit the capital Yaounde. 

Week 14 – 15: Gabon, Republic of Congo, Cabinda (Angola)

Leaving Yaounde, we cross into Gabon and the capital city of Libreville.  Gabon is famous for it’s populations of lowland gorilla, though most people prefer to see the mountain gorillas in East Africa.  From the capital there are several excursions you can take into surrounding nature reserves and Africa’s largest bush meat market.  Leaving Libreville, we pass through Lambarene, home to the famous Dr. Albert Schweitzer, Nobel peace prize winner for founding the Lambarene Leprosy Hospital and his work with the downtrodden locals. We enter The Republic of Congo

Driving through bamboo forest tunnels we make our way back to the coast reaching Point Noire.  Here you can visit the Jane Goodall Chimp sanctuary, or relax on the beach.  We enter Cabinda the oil rich exclave of Angola with the Congo to the East and the Atlantic to the west; where you can watch the flames burning off from the offshore oil rigs.

Week 16: Democratic Republic of Congo

We then enter DR Congo crossing the mighty Congo River by a massive bridge overlooking Matadi town; a sea port over 100km upriver from the ocean

Week 17 – 18: Angola

Angola only opened up to tourism in 2004, With the closure of the routes through Sudan, African Trails started going this way through one of the largest and least visited countries in Africa.. The people are friendly and the views astounding. Driving along the red mud roads we reach the coast and the capital Luanda, its very Portuguese in its buildings and Brazilian in its beach attire with a line of beach bars and restaurants in the bay.  We follow the coast passing lots of waterfalls on the way to Lubango town 2000 meters high on a plateau. It is home to the third of the great statues of Jesus; the others being in Rio and Lisbon.

Week 19 – 20: Namibia

Entering Namibia, we encounter a vast array of environments and cultures.  Once occupied by Germany, Namibia produces a blend of German, African and Afrikaans influences.  The Himba peoples of the North are most noted for their red ochre body paint and their traditional lifestyle.  Next stop is Etosha Pan National Park. Thousands of years ago this vast saltpan was a lake, until the Kunene River changed its course and deprived the lake of its water source. Now the pan and surrounding bush support large numbers and a wide range of wildlife. We spend a couple of day's game viewing from the truck during the day and spend the evenings around the floodlit water holes at the park's campsites. These water holes provide an excellent opportunity to observe animals that are hard to find during the day, particularly rhino and also smaller animals such as the genet. Elephant, lion, giraffe, zebra, oryx, ostrich, springbok, jackals, hyenas and meercats are also likely to be seen at Etosha.

From wild animals to tame ones, we spend a night at the Cheetah Farm where you can scratch the big cats behind the ears before watching them tuck in to their evening meal. Heading for the Atlantic Ocean Coast, we visit Africa’s largest cape fur seal colony, Cape Cross.  

Swakopmund is an old German colonial seaside resort with plenty of things to do for the energetic and plenty of beer cellars for those after a more relaxing time. The energetic can go horse-riding or sand boarding on the dunes, deep sea fishing in the Atlantic or scenic flights over the coastline. Heading inland, we enter the Namib Desert, famous for the 300m high sand dunes.  We enjoy sunrise at the top of the most photographed dune, Dune 45 before taking a tour with local guides into the remote parts of Sossusvlei.   

After an overnight stay in the desert we drive south to Fish River Canyon, at 85km long and 400m deep it's second in size only to the Grand Canyon. You can trek down to the bottom of the canyon and, from the viewpoints at the top, watch the setting or rising of the sun. There are seasonal hot springs in the south at Ai Ais. Our last stop in Namibia is the Orange River, which forms the border with South Africa.

Week 21 – 22: South Africa

Crossing the river we arrive in South Africa and travel south through Namaqualand, South Africa’s prime farming areas.  We drive through the mountain valleys of the Cederberg and stony semi-deserts before arriving in Stellenbosch, the centre of one of the Cape's many wine routes. A wine tour with plenty of tasting makes for a great day out.

Week 23: Cape Town

We have a weeks break from the trip in Cape Town. It’s a beautiful city, nestled at the foot of Table Mountain; plenty of cafes, pubs, clubs, markets and sights. You can climb the mountain or take the cable car to the top for some wonderful views of the city and the Cape Peninsula and visit Robben Island

Cape Town to Nairobi & Gorillas 8 Weeks, including a week break in Cape Town

Week 23 – 24: South Africa, Botswana

Departing Cape Town we head north towards Botswana and the Kalahari Desert via Kimberly. We travel along the edge of the Kalahari Desert to Maun. A small town on the edge of the Okavango Delta, and the starting point for the Mokoro trip. A Mokoro is a traditional dugout canoe and your transport into the Delta. As you glide through the waterways, you will see a fantastic array of wetland wildlife, birds in particular and you are also likely to come across hippos or elephants taking a drink from the shore. You can go on a walking safari to look for giraffe, buffalo and rare antelope such as the tsessebe. This overnight stay is a great wilderness experience.

We spend a night by the banks of the Chobe River, in Kasane.  Here hippo, buffalo and crocodiles share the river bank and occasionally pay us a visit through the night.  Here you can take a sunset cruise on the river or take an afternoon game drive through the park, and see some of Africa’s largest elephants and big cats.

Week 25: Zambia, Malawi

Entering Zambia, we reach the Victoria Falls, where the Zambezi River plunges 100 metres down a mile wide chasm, creating one of the most incredible natural wonders of the world. The local name for the Falls is 'Mosi-oa-Tunya' which means 'the smoke that thunders' and you'll soon find out why. When the river is in full flow, the falling water causes a huge roar and sends a cloud of spray up to 500 metres into the air.

We stay near Livingstone beside the Zambezi and above Victoria Falls, for a few days, as there is so much to see and do. Adventure activities abound - you can bungee jump, white water raft, take a Microlite flight above the falls, sky-dive and go game-viewing on horse back. More sedate excursions include canoeing, light aircraft or helicopter flights over the falls, and the sunset cruise on the Zambezi. Of course, the falls themselves are the main attraction and you can walk through the rain forest along the cliff opposite for an excellent view.

Crossing the border into Malawi, we soon reach the shores of its huge lake. The campsites and small resorts along Lake Malawi offer sandy beaches, swimming and snorkeling, water skiing and walking in the surrounding countryside. You will also find markets selling beautifully carved Malawi chairs, tables and other souvenirs.

Week 26 – 28: Tanzania, Kenya

Heading north through Tanzania, our route takes us through Mikumi National Park where we may well see giraffe or pygmy elephants grazing along the roadside.
At Dar es Salaam on the Indian Ocean coast, we can cross to Zanzibar Island. Here is the old stone capital of the Omani Sultanate and away from the town are stunning beaches, and World Heritage Listed buildings, forests and ruins.  You can take a spice tour of the island, go diving, swimming with dolphins or visit remote islands by the traditional dhow boats.
Heading inland we pass Africa’s highest peak, that of Mt Kilimanjaro.  From Arusha we hire Landrovers to visit the Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti National Park, which has the heaviest concentration of plains game found all over East Africa.  From Tanzania we cross in Kenya the Athi Plains, passing gazelle, giraffe and troops of baboons on our way to Nairobi.

Week 29 – 30: Uganda, Kenya

Leaving Nairobi we pass the dramatic landscape of the Rift Valley to the highlands of Kenya. Crossing the border at Malaba we drive through rain forests and tea and sugar plantations to Uganda’s capital, Kampala. Crossing the equator we camp on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi, the deepest crater lake in Uganda. We climb through lush terraced hills to Kisoro, from here we trek the famed mountain gorillas or you could visit Mgahinga National Park for a day hike up a volcano or a guided nature trail. We meander back to Lake Bunyonyi to relax, canoe, mountain bike and swim.

In the modern bustling city of Kampala you may wish to visit the National Museum, the Kasubi Tombs of the Buganda people. Crossing the Owen Falls dam we arrive at Jinja on the shores of Lake Victoria. Spend an action-filled day white water rafting down the Nile, bungee jump, fish on Lake Victoria, take a guided village walk; or give up a day of your holiday to volunteer for the local community education project.
Returning to Kenya and Nakuru Town, the capital of the Rift Valley Province, we stay at Kembu Camp a working farm. We spend a full day at Lake Nakuru, viewing game in a park famous for its soda lake surrounded by thousands, sometimes millions of pink flamingoes. We move on to camp on the shores of Lake Naivasha where hippos come to graze in the evenings.
Close by is Hell's Gate National Park and Elsamere, once the home of Joy Adamson and Elsa the lion of 'Born Free' fame. From here we return to Nairobi with the chance to feast at the renowned Carnivores Game Restaurant.

Nairobi to Istanbul 12 Weeks

Week 1 – 2: Kenya

We visit Samburu Park & the base of Mount Kenya. And continue north through the “Northern Frontier District” of Kenya, a restricted area; semi arid with a spectacular diversity of people, wild game on the road side and a pleasant dry climate

Week 3 – 4: Ethiopia

We enter Ethiopia and we climb the mountains into the highlands and follow the Rift Valley Lakes to Addis Ababa.  Take boats to visit Bahir Dar Monasteries on islands on Lake Tana the source of the Blue Nile, with hippos and crocs at the outflow of the river. Tissisat Falls is the source of the Blue Nile.  We visit Gondar; a city of castles and churches.   In the Simien Mountains you can horse trek and see grazing Gelada Baboons.  Then on to Axum, the home of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon.

Week 5 – 6: Sudan

We pass the Gezira cotton region to Kassala a market town overlooked by Sugar Loaf Mountains In Khartoum where the Blue & White Nile join, watch dervish dancing or even join in the Nubian wrestling - safer just to watch.  We visit the Pharonic Pyramids of Meroe in an un-spoilt, little visited desert setting.  We drive across the Nubian Desert sands through friendly villages on the Nile.  From Wadi Halfa we take a ferry across Lake Nasser to Aswan in Egypt

Week 7 – 8: Egypt - Cairo – Pyramids & Sphinx.

In Aswan we visit the High Dam & Philae Island Temple.  Luxor, we visit Karnak Temple the Colossi of Memnon & Valley of the Kings & Tutankhamen's Tomb on donkeys.  From Luxor, we take the overnight train to Cairo where we spent a few days to look at the great pyramids in Giza and the immense collections of the Cairo Museum.

Week 9 – 10: Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon

Back on the train to Luxor to collect the truck then it’s up through Hurghada and across the Sinai Peninsular to Dahab and a few days to relax on the beach of the Red Sea.  This is one of the best places to go scuba diving in the world.  From there it’s an overnight ferry to Jordan and into Wadi Rum, and memories from “Lawrence of Arabia” then a quick dip in the Dead Sea before heading up to Petra, then across the border to Syria.  Here we see crusader castles and the myriad of things to buy in the many souks of Damascus and Aleppo.  From Damascus we also spend a day in Lebanon, a chance to see Baalbeck Ruins, the Temple of Jupiter, the Peace Memorial and then onto Beirut.

Week 11 – 12: Syria, Turkey

Heading out of Aleppo and leaving Syria, we enter Turkey with it’s olive groves and sweet baklava.  Heading into Cappadocia we visit the fairy tale land carved by the weather into the volcanic ash.  Try a Turkish bath and some belly dancing whilst you’re here.  Then to Olympus to visit the Chimera Eternal flame and the Turquoise Coast at Kas.  It’s now off past the limestone curtain of Pamukkale and to Selcuk and the ancient city of Ephesus, before we spot the wooden horse at Troy.  From here we cross to Europe and stop at Gallipoli to pay our respects, before ending the trip in Istanbul, not Constantinople! From Istanbul the adventures can catch the Orient Express back tot London.

Africa is an unpredictable continent. We do not have a fixed itinerary so please treat the information given as a guideline only. Although our information is written in good faith at the time of printing, our route may vary at any time due to weather, politics or road conditions.

For an updated dossier containing a more detailed itinerary and information on visas, vaccinations, spending money, optional excursions and other useful information please contact us.

Of all the trips we run this is the most likely to have a change of route due to local conditions and visa requirements.

 

PRE-DEPARTURE INFORMATION
Passports and Visas

Visas are required for most countries visited on the first leg of the trip. That is from Morocco to Kenya and Tanzania. We obtain all these on route. For most nationalities the total visa cost will be approx. £500. You'll need 18 blank pages in your passport, which must be valid for at least 9 months from the date of travel. If you don’t have enough pages in your passport you will need to get another passport o the way which with new security regulations on the issue of new passports may be difficult. This coupled with the lack of western embassies in African countries means you really must leave with enough pages in your passport to do the trip.
Passports and inoculation cards with any Israeli stamps must be replaced.
If you require a Spanish, that is a Shengan visa for Europe, you must get it before you fly to join the trip in Malaga, Spain. If you do need this visa you cannot get this visa at the border but from the Spanish Consul where you normally live.
Passport Photos

Bring 25 passports with you for getting visas on the way. If you run out of photos there are lots of photo shops on the way to get more done.

Local Payment

Payable in £ Pounds Sterling cash but you can pay in $US dollars or Euros cash at the current cross exchange rate on date of departure, check with office for the rate.  Please pay this to the driver on departure. Travellers cheques, cards or other forms of payment are not accepted.

Insurance

Please be aware that once you are booked your deposit and balance is non refundable, so insure yourself accordingly. You must be insured against personal accident, medical expenses and repatriation expenses. We only carry passengers on the understanding that, in most African countries through which we travel no passenger or vehicle liability is available whatsoever. You should take out insurance when you pay your deposit for the tour or for flights so that you are insured against cancellation, for medical reasons, for example. We can organise insurance for you. Bring your policy with you. Be aware if you travel without insurance and you need to get home urgently due to ill health or family problems, you or those responsible for you could incur bills running into many thousands. We can supply you with insurance, please ask when booking.

Inoculations & Malaria

Inoculations - You have to be vaccinated against Yellow Fever and will need an International Vaccination Certificate to prove this when we cross some borders.
It is also advisable to be vaccinated against Typhoid; Rabies; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; Tetanus; Polio and Meningitis.
If possible start your vaccinations two months, but as late as two weeks before departure.
Your GP can also inoculate but may take a while to get to get the vaccine in.
The following centres are amongst the many which can supply up-to-date medical advice and also administer vaccinations.  Most of these centres need you to book in before you go In London we recommend:
Nomad Travellers Store and Medical Centre. They can be contacted on 0208 889 7014 and are across the road from Turnpike Lane tube. They give African Trails clients a 10% discount on jabs, medical kits and camping equipment
British Airways Travel Clinic. 213 Piccadilly London, W1J 9HQ Tel: 0845 600 2236 Walk-in service opening hours: Monday to Friday 09.30 to 18.00 Saturday 10.00 to 17.00
Travel Clinic for Hospital of Tropical Diseases. Mortimer Market Centre, Capper St London WC1. Tel. 020 7388 9600.
In Scotland - Ailsa Travel Clinic. 42 Admiral St, Kinning Park, Glasgow, Tel 0141 429 0913.
Clinics and doctors don't give detailed advice over the phone. It is best to check opening hours and go and see them
Malaria - The risk of contracting malaria in the areas we visit is high. You should be aware that malaria tablets offer only partial protection against malaria and that you should couple taking the tablets with mosquito bite avoidance. The malarial mosquitoes come out at night that is from the beginning of sunset onwards, so from this time you should cover up in long sleeves, jeans or track suit pants plus socks, as mosquitoes tend to bite around the feet and ankles. You must also use insect repellent containing Deet, bring some you will need it. The use of repellents and covering up can be as effective as the use of tablets, so by coupling both methods of protection together you should be malaria free. Whatever type of prophylactic you choose to use you should try a sample of it well before you go as adverse reactions can occur. This often happens with the Larium or Mephloquine type of drug. A can of fly spray is handy for clearing your tent of mosquitoes and bugs before you go to bed.

Medical Kits

We carry First Aid kits on board for emergency use only. However, the crew is not entitled to recommend or prescribe any medicine. We advise a health check with your GP and Dentist before you start your journey, and that you carry your own medical kit with you.

Video Cameras

In most campsites you can charge from the mains so bring a travel adaptor plug, as you'll come across virtually every type of socket ever invented plus a few others. Most countries run on 220/240 V current. You should also bring at least one spare battery with you, as you will not be able to purchase spares en-route.

Mobile Phones

Your own mobile phone will work abroad if you have roam facility enabled on a dual band phone. Coverage is generally good. Although convenient for outgoing calls at rates of around $2 per minute, incoming calls can cost up to $10 per minute to receive. In most campsites you can charge from the mains using a travel adaptor plug. You can charge off the truck if you have a 24 volt in-car charger though charging from the vehicle will reduce the life of your batteries.

Time Zones

Most countries are on the same time up to 3 hours ahead of GMT or UK time.  East Africa is 2 hours ahead of GMT.

Life on the road

There are times when we will have some long drives in order to cover big distances, but on most days that we travel, we only move for half the day. The African landscape and people you pass are never boring and most find it hard to put their head down and read whilst on the road, for fear of missing something. Most evenings we pull into camp and you and your tent partner will put up your tent, then either relax with a cool drink, or get involved in a local activity. Breakfast is usually cereal, toast, tea, and coffee, with the occasional cooked breakfast. Lunch, if we eat on the truck is cold.

Maps

We use and recommend the Michelin maps of Africa - west, central and south.

Language

Learning any basic French would be to your advantage as most West African countries are French speaking. The following languages tend to predominate in the following countries.  There may be up to 200 other languages in common use on the way, but the following will get you by.
1st leg Malaga to Cape Town
Morocco & Mauritania - French & Arabic.
Mali & Burkina Faso - French.
Ghana - English.
Togo & Benin - French.
Nigeria - English.
Cameroon - English & French.
Gabon, Congo & DR Congo – French
Angola - Portuguese
Namibia & South Africa – English
2nd leg Cape town toNairobi
Botswana, Zambia, Malawi – English
Tanzania, Kenya & Uganda - English &Swahili
3rd leg  Nairobi to Istanbul
Kenya, - English & Swahili
Ethiopia - Ahmeric & English
Sudan, Egypt, Jordan, Syria - English & Arabic
Turkey – Turkish & English

Currency

It is easier to change money along the way if you have cash in US Dollars and Euros. But of course if you lose your cash you are lost. So the best bet is to carry a third each of: Sterling travellers cheques in small denominations; Euros cash or travellers cheques, we will be in Euros countries for around eight weeks so budget your Euros accordingly and US Dollars cash. From Cameroon onwards US Dollars give more spending power. Don't bring Scottish money! Bring your US$ cash in a mix of clean new notes. The smaller notes are handy for paying things such as bar bills whereas the bigger US$ ie 50 and 100 give you a better rate of exchange. Only bring dollars with the small head, 1996 onwards.

Security in General

There is a lockable safe bolted onto the floor of the truck for your money belts, however, the Company takes no responsibility for such or for any passengers' belongings. It is very important to remember that if a loss of a passport or travellers cheques occurs it is not always possible for the expedition to wait for those involved. Therefore, when you are looking after your valuables off the truck e.g. changing money in the bank, it is essential to wear a money belt that fits under your shirt. Do not wear a bum bag around your waist, or a money belt that hangs from your neck. In certain problem areas known to us a passenger roster will be drawn up to guard the vehicle during the day. We advise you not to take any items of value that are not essential for your journey, e.g. jewellery.

Spending Money

£200 a month is a good start. Of course this varies considerably from person to person depending on how much you drink, eat and how many souvenirs you buy. Do not rely on credit cards/switch type cards until you get to Southern and eastern Africa as money machines in the rest of Africa are almost non-existent. All up you will be looking at between £2000 - 5000 for the whole trip. As a guide to help you budget your spending money, below are approximate costs for the side trips.

Side Trips & Optional Excursions

Are paid for on the spot. As a guide to help you budget your spending money, below are approximate costs for the side trips ($US). These prices are only a guide and may vary.

Ethiopia
Temple and monastery visited one by one	$5
Gondor monastery and castle guided tour	$25
Lake Tana boat trip.	$20/$40
Uganda
Mountain Gorillas	$350
Rwanda entry if visited there	$20
White water rafting on the White Nile below Bujagali Falls	$95
Booze cruise - Lake Victoria	$10
Bungee	$55
Kenya
Lake Naivasha , Hell's Gate National Park , Entry and Bike Hire to cycle around the park	$30
Lake Naivasha , Elsamere Museum & afternoon tea	$8
Climb to Longonot Mountain	$50
Green Crater Lake trip	$10
Kakamega forest walk	$5
Tanzania
Ngorongoro Crater	$170
Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater	$330
Please note: with park entry increase in 2007 it is expected for Ngorongoro Crater overnight trip to cost $220 and the Serengeti and Crater two night trip to cost $410
Zanzibar
Return Ferry to Zanzibar Island , slow ferry there, fast ferry back	$60
Accommodation	$12.50 - $20
Taxi to North of Island	$4
Cost of Meals	$2 - 7
Spice Tour - includes tour of Stonetown, Slave Market, Ruins, Plantations & traditional lunch	$10
Sensation Divers Nungwi
Full day diving at Mnemba Atoll, includes 2 dives & lunch	$80
Full day snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll, includes lunch	$25
Swim with the Dolphins at Kisimzikazi - full day, including lunch	$25
Prison Island - includes boat ride, entry & snorkel hire	$15
Malawi
Abseiling (Chitimba) Full day with unlimited jumps, light breakfast, lunch, beer and sodas	$40
Paddleboat Hire - includes snorkel hire (Kande)	$2
Catamaran / Windsurfer / Sailboat / Canoe Hire (Kande)	$1-$4 p/hour
Recreational dive (Kande)	$25
Two hour horse ride - forest / village / beach, including swim (Kande)	$40
Half day horse ride ( 6am – lunchtime), includes breakfast	$70
Village Walk - includes visit to school, hospital & local house	$2
Victoria Falls
Rafting - Full day includes breakfast, lunch, BBQ dinner, drinks, visa, transfer & park fees	$95
Jet Boat	$60
Abseil / Gorge Swing - full day	$95
Bungee Jump	$90
15 min Helicopter flight over Victoria Falls	$80
Game / Sunset / Booze Cruise - 2 to 3 hours - drink as much as you can - beers, spirits & soft drinks. BBQ Dinner & snacks	$30
The Boma - eat as much game meat, (cooked in front of you) as you like	$25
Zimbabwe
Antelope Park
Walk with the Lions	$35
Elephant Ride - 1 hour	$40
Horse back	$20
Gliding	$35
Fishing - launching of boat	$4
Entrance to Great Zimbabwe Ruins + Guide	$6
Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage Includes entrance fee and guided walk	$5
Matopos National Park Full Day with transport and guides - includes lunch, soft drinks, park entrance fees, Rhodes ' grave	$60
Botswana
Chobe Sunset Cruise - includes park entrance fee and guides.	$35
Chobe Game Drive - includes park entrance fee and guides.	$35
Okavango Delta - 3 Days and 2 nights on an island in the Southern Delta Mokoros and polers, park entrance and camping fees	$140
Walking Crocodile Farm Tour (Maun)	$2
One Hour flight over the Delta from Maun - min/max 5 pax per plane	$55
Namibia
Swakopmund scenic flight	$120
Swakopmund sand boarding lie down	$25
Swakopmund sand boarding stand up	$35
Swakopmund deep sea fishing	$100
Swakopmund tandem sky diving	$160
Swakopmund horse riding	$45
Swakopmund dolphin & seal cruise – champagne & oysters on board	$40
Swakopmund beach buggy tour	$70 per buggy
South Africa
StellenboschWine Tour	$25
Shark cage dive	$200
Robbin Island Tour	$25

Phoning Home

It can be very expensive to call home from Africa, sometimes as high as £20 for 3 minutes. A lot of the campsites don't have telephones.

E-mail

Can be collected approx every week or two, from £1-£5 to connect.

Washing

Most of the time you can wash every day but in the desert we can go a week without seeing water. There aren't many campsites on route, so grab your towel and bar of soap when you see a river.
Flying Home

You should buy your fare home in from Africa, in Africa from either Nairobi or Cape Town. Do not buy your flight home before you leave on the trip as the route might change, the trip might be delayed or you might find you want to fly home from a different place than you intended.
Camping

Tents are provided and all have sewn in floors and mosquito netting. You will need to bring with you a sleeping bag, sleep sheet, foam roll mat or air bed and a mosquito net for those nights you sleep out under the stars.
Games

If you have a Frisbee, chess board, cards, backgammon, scrabble board, etc., that isn't too valuable, bring it along. It's also worthwhile bringing about ten books so that you can exchange books with everyone on the trip. Books are hard to find in some parts.

Discman & CD's

An amplifier is provided in the rear of the truck for you to plug your Discmans / I-Pods into. Although the amp is powered off the truck, your Discman isn't, so bring along extra batteries.
Photography

African authorities require that tourists do not take pictures of airports, railway stations or military installations. We are often in areas where locals are not used to being photographed and we ask you to show them every respect and courtesy. For SLR cameras we recommend a telephoto of 120mm (or similar) or an 80-200 zoom. High-speed film is usually necessary for photographing gorillas, or any game in early morning or late afternoon, particularly if using a long lens. It is best to purchase all film prior to arrival in Africa. Even when using a digital camera you will need loads of floppies and a good lens, these are great fun to e mail home photos while on the trip.

Suggested list of clothing and equipment

The less you take the less you have to pack, wash and lug home and you'll always pick up extras along the way. You'll be travelling in the heat, lazing on beaches and camping in the cool, so bring clothes for all climates, rough stuff is best.
Sleeping bag & Sleeping mat
Medical kit (bring your own sample kit)
Rehydration sachets available from any chemist
insect repellent e.g. "Jungle Juice"
suntan cream and block out, lip balm, headache tablets
plaster, vitamin tablets, malaria tablets
Toiletries (you can buy most basic toiletries easily in Africa)
Toothbrush and toothpaste, dental floss
Soap (in a container), razors, moisturisers
Towel, flannel
Tampons (enough for the trip), shampoo and conditioner
Clothes (you can buy most clothes easily in Africa, including good second hand stuff)
Some warm clothes
Jacket, socks, shirts, jeans
Underwear, sweatshirt/jumper
Cool clothes
Shorts, skirt, T-shirts, swimsuit
Sandals/flip flops/jandals/thongs
Small day-pack or bag to carry your daily items
Airmail paper and envelopes
Hat and sunglasses
Camera (in a protective case), spare batteries and all the film you think necessary
Money belt or pouch to hold your passport, vaccination book and travellers cheques
Books, Discman and CD's
Torch and spare batteries
The best type of carrier is a rucksack (with an internal frame) or a kit bag
Water bottle at least 1 litre, empty 2 litre coke bottle is best, buy it on the way
The easiest and best way to travel is as lightly as possible, taking just what is necessary.
Most people make the mistake of bringing too much luggage.