Question: What is the best time of the year to go to Africa?
Answer: Africa is a great place to visit all year-round. Winter is popular for game viewing, as it is dry and the game tends to congregate around the limited water sources, making the animals easier to spot. The weather is also cooler during the day and roads are in their best condition for 4 wheel driving. June to October is regarded as the ‘Safari Season / Peak Season’ but also note that African nights can get chilly so warm clothing is a necessity for early morning and night game drives. Cape Town in the winter months can be cold from June to August with temperatures ranging from 7 to 18 degrees Celsius.

Question: How is the Mobile Phone coverage in Africa?
Answer:  In metro areas service will be excellent, the quality will deteriorate once you move to more remote places. Before leaving for your South African Safari, check with your current provider to ensure you have global roaming enabled and that your carrier is supported through the local networks. It may be a cheaper option to purchase a local prepaid phone card.

Question:  Is travelling in Africa Safe?
Answer: Most countries in Africa are quite safe to visit especially areas close to tourist attractions. When travelling abroad the same travel safety guidelines apply for any large cities around the world.

Some of these are:

·         Don’t carry valuables in plain view.
·         Keep wallets and purses safely on your body in crowded areas.
·         Leave passports, air fares and excess cash in the hotel safe or safety deposit boxes.
·         Don’t walk alone at night.
·         Ask hotel staff about areas not commonly visited by tourists.
·         Be aware of your surroundings, get directions before you leave and always have a map.
·         When on safari tour pay attention to briefings from your guide or ranger.

Question: What is “The Big Five”?
Answer: “The Big Five” are the main animals that people come to see on a safari tour. It consists of the buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino and is a reference from colonial trophy hunting days when hunters ranked African animals as to how dangerous and difficult they were to hunt.

Question: What clothing will I require in Africa?
Answer: 
Casual clothing is all that is required in most of Africa. Some restaurants have dress codes so check with the hotel you are staying with in case you are required to wear a dinner jacket or dress. If you are camping outdoors you will require more durable clothing, preferably cottons, for your walking tours. Clothing should be in neutral colours nothing bright to attract the game – browns, creams and greens are ideal. A wide brim hat is recommended and In winter take warm clothing for the evenings – polar fleece and long pants to protect from insects.

Question: How is the Medical services in Africa
Answer: Doctors will prepare you for the worst case and will advise you on what medication and vaccinations are required. Like with any other holiday overseas, it is best to take some prescription medication with you.Most cities and towns have pharmacies equipped with everything one requires.  Before venturing to a remote part of Africa, stock up on your basic medical supplies.
Basic medication you should have with you are: Lip balm, Cold and Flu tablets, Buscopan for stomach aches, Diarrhea tablets, Paracetamol and Aspirin and your basic first aid kit.

Question: Is medical attention widely available in Africa?

Answer: Yes it is available but the further north you travel, the fewer doctors and nurses there are. South Africa has many private hospitals, excellent specialists and state of the art medical equipment and facilities. If you require an emergency rescue, ambulance and helicopters are available on call.

Question: What about malaria?
Answer: Malaria is a common disease in Africa, but if you are prepared and take your anti-malarial drugs, you can avoid contracting the disease.  Malaria is a potentially fatal blood disease caused by a parasite that is transmitted to human and animal hosts by certain mosquitoes. It is dangerous not only because it digests the red blood cells’ hemoglobin, but also because it changes the properties of the cell it inhabits.

Question: Bottled water vs. Tap water in Africa.

Answer: Most water in major hotels and lodges in South Africa is safe to drink, but in other regions bottled or mineral water is recommended.  The taste of water may not be what you are accustomed to so test this out when you arrive at your hotel.

Question: What kinds of foods are available on Safari?
Answer: It is possible to get vegetarian and most other food preferences in Africa. As a rule, be careful of eating anything purchased at the side of the road and wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly before consuming. When on a Africa Safari Tour, the choice will be limited so check before leaving to ensure there is food you can eat.

Question: What camera equipment is essential while on safari?
Answer:  A digital SLR camera with wide angle lens for the landscape shots and a telephoto lens for close up shots of wild animals. Also bring lots of memory cards.

Question: Do we require Insurance whilst travelling in Africa?
Answer: As with any holiday all travelers should be adequately insured against any unforeseen circumstances. Travel insurance varies based on the stay duration and destination.

Question: Is the Internet available in Africa?

Answer: Major hotels will have internet connection either in the room or in a business centre. This may be an additional cost. Internet cafes are be readily found in metro areas. Some safari lodges and camps also offer this facility. Check with the hotel at check in for this service.

Question: What activities are available during safaris?
Answer: Most activities are in the open and are adventure based but there is something suit most people’s taste.

These include:

* Open vehicle game drives
* Guided walks,
*  Bird watching
* Boating, Canoeing and White Water Rafting
* Helicopter rides over Victoria Falls
* Balloon trips over National Parks
* Elephant Treks and Lion Walking.
*  Cultural village visits.

Question: What currency is used in Africa?
Answer: US dollars, Euro or Pounds Sterling are the most common currencies for most of Africa, and Rand is used in South Africa or Namibia. Have change for tips and other minor expenditure. Avoid the larger bills as they are often unacceptable and quite hard for change to be given. In the city areas there are currency exchange prices. The other alternative is to withdrawal funds from ATM machines