Delta to Gorillas Camping 2007
42 Days - Camping

COUNTRIES VISITED: SOUTH AFRICA, BOTSWANA, NAMIBIA, ZAMBIA, MALAWI, TANZANIA, ZANZIBAR, KENYA, UGANDA

Day 1 Botswana - Palapye
Camp L,D

We depart Johannesburg heading north to Botswana. After border formalities we continue towards Palapye, previously know as Phalatswe, where we’ll spend our first night. Palapye is located on the banks of the Lotsane River.

Day 2/3 Okavango Delta
Camp B,L,D

Our journey takes us through to Maun. We arrive in the afternoon where we leave our truck behind, board our planes, and head into the Delta. After a wonderful scenic flight we arrive at our base for the next two days. During our time in the Delta we enjoy the best nature has to offer. We go on nature walks and explore the Delta by mokoro. The Delta is truly spectacular and unforgettable experience.

Day 4 Namibia - Caprivi National Park
Camp B,L,D

We leave the Delta behind us and cross back into Namibia. We travel through the Caprivi National Park en-route to our destination beside the Zambezi River. The Caprivi National Park is home to 450 animal species. Animals travel freely across the border with Botswana where the Chobe National Park lies. We spend the night relaxing next to this mighty river.

Day 5 Botswana - Chobe National Park
Camp B,L,D

Today is a short drive back into Botswana to Kasane, on the banks of the Chobe River. Apart from being the 2nd biggest National Park in Botswana, Chobe National Park is renowned for it’s high population of migratory elephants. The afternoon river cruise is included in the tour price and many people take the chance to go on the optional morning game drive the following morning. Optional Activities: Chobe Game Drive.

Day 6 Zambia – Livingstone
Camp B,L,D

After crossing into Zambia by ferry, we arrive at our final destination of Livingstone. This afternoon you have the opportunity to visit the Victoria Falls, with a width of about 1,7 kilometers and height of about 128m the Falls is a not to be missed experience. The popular optional sunset cruise includes dinner and drinks. Optional Activities: Zambezi Sunset Cruise, Victoria Falls.

Day 7/8 Livingstone
Camp B

We spend the days enjoying the activities on offer in Livingstone, getting to know our equipment and one another before the trip leaves Livingstone the following morning. Optional Activities: Zambezi White Water Rafting, Bungee Jumping, Elephant Back Safari, Zambezi sunset cruise, Vic Falls NP.

Day 9/10 Lusaka - Luangwa River
Camp B,L,D

Leaving behind the excitement of Vic Falls we depart on our expedition. The journey towards the bustling Zambian capital of Lusaka takes us along an interesting route. We begin the following day with some shopping in Lusaka before heading northeast towards the Luangwa River where we spend the night. This is an interesting area full of friendly locals and a walk along the river is a rewarding experience.

Day 11/12 South Luangwa National Park
Camp B,L,D

Early in the morning we drive from the Luangwa River to the South Luangwa National Park where we spend two nights on the banks of the river. The second day is put aside for activities. You can choose between a morning or night game drive and a guided game walk accompanied by a professional local guide. If the South Luangwa NP is not for you, then relax by the pool. On occasion, in the rainy season it is impossible or inadvisable to attempt to reach South Luangwa NP, if this happens then an alternative itinerary will be chosen. Optional Activities: Game Drive, Night Drive and Game Walk in South Luangwa NP

Day 13 Malawi – Luwawa Forest
Camp B,L,D

Today we cross the Zambia-Malawi border after leaving South Luangwa National Park in the early morning. Heading north we enter the highlands of Malawi and spend the night at Luwawa Forest. There are some wonderful hikes in the area as well as other activities. Optional Activities: Fishing, Mountain Biking, Hiking.

Day14/15/16/17 Central Lake Malawi and Northern Malawi
Camp B,L,D

Lake Malawi used to be called Lake Nyasa and is the southernmost of the Great Rift Valley lakes. The lake is at an altitude of around 500 metres and has a tropical climate. We will spend the next couple of carefree days relaxing on the white sandy beaches. For the more adventurous there are endless leisure and water sport activities. Alternatively, soak up the atmosphere and relax in one of the most scenic and memorable holiday destinations in Africa! The evenings are spent beside the tranquil waters. Optional Activities: Scuba diving, parasailing, windsurfing, fishing, canoeing, horse riding, craft shopping, hiking and more.

Day 18/19 Tanzania – Iringa - Dar es Salaam
Camp B,L,D

Today we make the border crossing out of Malawi. Leaving the lake behind us, we head for our first night in Tanzania, as we ascend out of the Great Rift Valley through some spectacular mountain passes, we pass the vast tea plantations in the highlands to our camp outside Iringa. The next day we transit through Mikumi National Park to the historical port city of Dar es Salaam.

Day 20/21/22 Zanzibar
Flexible Arrangements B (day 20 only)

On this optional activity a transfer by ferry takes us to Zanzibar where we will spend the next few days exploring this fascinating island with its renowned architecture, beautiful beaches, colourful people and history. The excursion is at your own expense and costs can be adjusted depending on your preferred level of accommodation and activities. Optional Activities: Zanzibar Excursion: Ferry, Food, Accommodation, Spice Tours, Dolphin Tours, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling.

Day 23/24 Zanzibar/Dar es Salaam – Arusha
Camp B,L,D (B, L Day 24 only)

Today we leave Zanzibar and catch a late ferry (or flight) back to Dar es Salaam and return to our campsite. The evening can be spent reminiscing about our days on the island. The next day we take a long and scenic drive to Arusha, the safari capital of Tanzania. If the weather is favourable and skies are clear we might see Mt Kilimanjaro. After arriving in Arusha, those who are going to explore the Serengeti National Park, prepare for their excursion.

Day 25/26 Serengeti/Ngorongoro
Camp B,L,D

There are many options available, ranging from a one-day trip to the Ngorongoro crater, to a three-day trip into the Serengeti. As this is for your own expense, we give you every opportunity to match the activity to your budget. For those not going to the parks, take this opportunity to absorb some of the fascinating local culture. One of the guides will remain with those that decide to stay in Arusha. Optional Activities: Serengeti, Ngorongoro Excursion.

Day 27/28 Arusha/Kenya – Nairobi
Camp B,L,D (B day 28 only)

Getting together again after our various game viewing activities in the game parks, we spend our last night in this beautiful country exchanging 'big game' stories around the campfire. After crossing the border into Kenya the next day we continue to travel towards Nairobi. Optional Activities: Dinner at Carnivore.

Day 29 – Lake Naivasha National Park
Camp L,D

The tour will leave the capital city of Kenya and travel north to Lake Naivasha where we spend the day at Hells Gate National Park that lies next to this shallow lake. Hell’s Gate is named for the huge red-coloured cliffs that form the entrance to the geothermal interior. This is the only National Park where you can go hiking in and activities also include game and bird watching. The park entry fees are included in the tour and a popular optional activity is game viewing on bicycles. Another optional way to spend your afternoon is to take high-tea at Elsamere – the former home of Joy Adams, best known for her autobiographical novel Born Free. Optional Activities: Cycle hire, high tea at Elsamere

Day 30 – Masai Mara National Reserve
Camp B,L,D

The Masai Mara National Reserve is the Kenyan side of the Serengeti National Park (located in Tanzania). Today the tour will be entering this 2430 square kilometre area of spectacular game viewing to photograph some of Africa’s most abundant wildlife. Best known for the annual migration of around 1.5 million wildebeest, the Masai Mara is also home to many other plains animals including lions. In addition to what we hope will be a successful day’s game viewing, cultural interaction with Kenya’s native Masaai people will round off your experience.

Day 31 – Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru National Park
Camp B,L,D

After some further game viewing in the Masai Mara, the tour will travel towards central Kenya and Lake Nakuru, home of the greater and lesser flamingo. Originally created as a bird sanctuary, Lake Nakuru was upgraded to National Park status in 1968. Although the shallow alkaline lake is most famous for the large flocks of flamingos that congregate to feed on the blue-green algae, the National Park is also home to a further 450 species of birds and over 50 species of mammals. White Rhino inhabit the transitional savanna area surrounding the lake and if you are lucky you will get some great photographs.

Day 32 – Lake Nakuru to Kampala
Camp B,L,D

The drive from Lake Nakuru and across the border into Uganda travels through Eldoret – founded by the Afrikaner people at mile 64 (on the wagon route from Londiani). Uganda is hailed as ‘Africa’s friendliest country’ and on arrival it will soon become obvious how true this is. Kampala is the capital of Uganda and since 1986 the constantly improving economy and relative political stability have enhanced the attractiveness of Uganda as a tourism destination. When crossing the equator today there will be opportunity for photography.

Day 33 –Kampala Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Camp B

Although officially this day is set aside for everyone to explore Kampala most people use this day to take an optional day trip to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary of Ngamba Island. This non-profit eco-friendly project was set up in 1998 to care for the orphaned chimpanzees that are the sad result of the illegal bush-meat trade. Ngamba Island is situated 23 km from Entebbe (near Kampala) in Lake Victoria and is only accessible by boat. The Chimpanzee Sanctuary & Wildlife Conservation Trust (CSWCT) manages the project and as only one third of their operating costs are covered by visitors fees, all interested parties are encouraged to join ‘Friends of the Sanctuary’ if they choose to. Should the weather be unfavourable and the lake too rough for this excursion there are many other activities available in Kampala. Optional Activities: Ngamba Chimpanzee Excursion, Kampala Markets.

Day 34 – Kampala and Lake Bunyoni
Camp B,L,D

Lake Bunyoni is a small but attractive lake with steep sides and abundant birdlife. Ringed by mountains, Lake Bunyoni is best known for its dense otter population and beautiful scenery. On this tour we make use of this beautiful spot to relax and spend the night before the final drive to the Gorilla’s.

Day 35/36/37 – Gorillas
Camp B,L,D

The Gorilla is one of our closest living relatives with over 95% similarity in our DNA. The Mountain Gorilla is extremely endangered and while exact numbers vary it is widely assumed that there are only 650 left. Visiting the Gorilla’s is a great way to support their future on earth as the money spent on permits is used for their protection. An extremely important part of the future conservation of the remaining Gorilla’s rests in the community development work – as local communities change their attitudes towards wildlife and start to protect rather than poach the future of the Mountain Gorilla’s is assured.

As permits granting permission to visit the gorillas are extremely limited we require flexibility in both the tour itinerary and where we actually visit them. The home of the Mountain Gorillas is completely at odds with man-made borders and so their range encompasses Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo). Whenever possible we choose to make use of the National Parks in Uganda, but this depends on the availability of permits and any one of the following National Parks could be used: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Uganda), Mgahinga National Park (Uganda), Volcano National Park (Rwanda) and Virunga National Park (DRC).

The forest area that the Mountain Gorilla inhabits is split between two sections. The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park forms 330 square kilometers of forest area in Uganda. The Virunga Volcano region is located on the border between DRC, Rwanda and Uganda. The Virunga Volcano region is home to the other three National Parks – Mgahinga, Volcano and Virunga and is approximately another 300 square kilometers in size. The Gorillas themselves are split into two divided populations.

Should we not obtain permits to visit the Mountain Gorillas in either Bwindi or Mgahinga National Parks in Uganda then we will inform all passengers beforehand that the tour will travel to Rwanda or DRC. Visas for all nationalities are available on the DRC and Rwandan borders.

The Ugandan Wildlife Authority manages the availability and issuing of all permits to visit Uganda’s gorilla populations. Six (6) people are permitted per trek per day and a total of eighteen (18) people can be taken in to Bwindi, while six (6) people are allowed for Mgahinga. There are only four family-groups of gorillas that can be visited, three groups in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, (Mubare, Habinyanja and Rushegura) and only one (Nyakagezi) in Mgahinga National Park.

Day 38 – Queen Elizabeth National Park
Camp B,L,D

The Rwenzori Mountains rise majestically above Lakes Edward and George. In literature and during the explorative period of Africa these ‘Mountains of the Moon’ have stirred the imagination of many a prospective explorer. Many game species are to be found in this mainly wetland park including the (elsewhere elusive) giant forest hog, and the legendary tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha Sector. The 1995 square kilometers of exceptional bio-diversity contain over 600 species of birds and nearly 100 mammals. Game is best viewed from the water and we recommend a sunset river cruise on the Kasinga channel.

When looking at some maps of Uganda it is possible to become confused as several of the National Parks and lakes have changed their names more than once since independence in 1962, and not all maps have been updated. Queen Elizabeth National Park was called the Ruwenzori National Park for many years until it returned to the colonial name. Meanwhile the Ruwenzori Mountains to the north of Queen Elizabeth N.P became Ruwenzori National Park in 1991. Optional Activities: Kasinga Channel Sunset Cruise

Day 39 – Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kampala
Camp B,L

This afternoon we return to Kampala where there is opportunity to dine out at one of Kampala’s many restaurants. There is a variety of different fare on offer and your guide will provide you with a choice of options. The next day the tour will leave early for Jinja – home to some of the best White Water Rafting in the world. As we need to pre book this activity our guide needs to know by the time we arrive in Kampala if you wish to participate in this optional adventure activity. Optional Activities: Meal out in Kampala

Day 40 – Jinja
Camp B,L,D

Jinja is Uganda’s second largest city and is famous as the point where the Nile (officially the Victoria Nile) flows out of Lake Victoria and begins the 6695 kilometre journey to Egypt and the Mediterranean. Many people feel quite moved - knowing that the river in front of you nourished the Egyptian empires thousands of years ago and continues to sustain people to this day. The longest river in the world, the Nile goes by many names as it makes its way though Uganda, Sudan and Egypt. The correct identification of Lake Victoria as the source of the Nile was made by John Hanning Speke who was part of the 1856-1858 expedition led by Richard Francis Burton.

If you do not want to go rafting why not volunteer for the day at Soft Power Education - a UK registered charity that is doing a wonderful job in the education of Jinja’s youth. Spending your day helping out will not only assist their projects, but will also allow you the opportunity to spend a day at grass-roots level helping Africa’s youth. Optional Activities: White Water Rafting, Soft Power Education Project.

Day 41 – Eldoret
Camp B,L,D

The tour returns to Kenya today and this time we spend a night in the town of Eldoret. Eldoret is the 5th largest city in Kenya and is currently the fastest growing. Moi University (named for Daniel Arap Moi, President of Kenya from 1978 to 2002) is located here and almost 11 500 students are educated every year. The Great Rift Valley is still the dominant geographical feature of this region with the altitude at Eldoret being 2100 metres above sea level.

Day 42 – Nairobi
Tour ends. Own arrangements, B

The city of Nairobi was originally founded as a camp for the Mombassa-Uganda railway in 1899 and had since become the largest city in both Kenya and the East Africa region, with a population of between 3-4 million people. Nairobi is a cosmopolitan African-European city with many immigrants from former British colonies. The number of churches, mosques, temples and gurdwaras within the city bear testimony to its multiculturalism.

Nairobi is not a prime tourist destination, but it does have several tourist attractions, the most well known being Nairobi National Park. The park contains many animals including lions and giraffes. Nairobi also has more species of birds than any other capital city in the world. There are also several museums in Nairobi including Nairobi Railway Museum and the National Museum of Kenya, which houses many artefacts including the full remains of a Homo erectus boy. Nairobi has the informal title "City in the Sun."
As this is the last evening together the group may choose to dine together at Nairobi’s famous Carnivore Restaurant where vegetarians are catered for, but not encouraged… Optional Activities: Meal out in Nairobi

NB: The itinerary is flexible and can be changed without notice in order to accommodate the best possible viewing of the Gorillas. The Permit price to visit the Gorillas can also change without notice.

Once you make a booking with Nomad we will send you a Tour Dossier and a Pre-Departure Information document. This is a brief overview of the information contained in these documents

FOOD AND MEALS
Included are three hearty meals a day, (unless otherwise specified). Vegetarians are easily catered for and they're always impressed by our varied menu. Our guides can produce miracles on a camp-stove. Special dietary requirements can be catered for, but only by special request. In East Africa it is more difficult to cater to certain requirements.

ACCOMMODATION
On our camping tours you will be staying in two-man dome tents. We supply a mattress and you supply your own sleeping bag. The accommodated tours stay in traditional huts, permanent tented camps and hostel-style rooms.

HEALTH
All people who join an adventure tour need to be in good health. Medical facilities are not always available. If you have a specific medical condition it is compulsary for you to advise us before departure.

Malaria
Malaria is a real concern in many areas of Africa, especially during the rainy season. Our advice is simple, prevent getting bitten by using an insect repellent and use an effective prophylactic. Speak to your doctor before selecting your Malaria medication.

Vaccinations
Please ensure you have the relevant vaccinations. Proof of innoculation is required on certain tours.

TERMS & CONDITIONS
All travellers will be required to sign our indemnity form on departure. Any person refusing to do so will not be allowed on the tour.

CURRENCY, MONEY AND BANKING
This is covered comprehensively in the pre-departure dossier. South African Rand and Credit Cards work in Southern Africa. In East Africa (incl. Zimbabwe and Zambia) USD cash is best

AGE RESTRICTION
Passengers under the age of 18 must have signed permission from a parent or guardian. Passengers over the age of 65 require a medical clearance certificate from their doctor stating they are fit enough to travel.

WHAT TO BRING
A sense of fun and a flexible attitude! A full checklist of essential items is included in the pre-departure info document.

WHAT TO LEAVE BEHIND
Your watch, cellphone, laptop, work, stress, concept of time, pre-conceptions about anything and any attitude that is not pure adventure.

CHANGES TO ROUTES / SCHEDULES
Although we will do our best at all times to ensure that the tour remains on schedule we want to make it very clear that
this is not always possible. There is always something unexpected on a tour, sometimes the truck gets stuck in mud, or sand, sometimes it rains... Anything can happen, but nothing that a good sense of humour cannot overcome.

HOW CAN I MAKE A BOOKING?
Go to the travel agency where you collected this brochure (if applicable) and ask them to process the booking for you. This is the easiest way. You need to complete our booking form and pay a 25% non-refundable deposit to secure your seat. Full payment is due 28 days prior to departure. Please note we can also handle your bookings, see our contact form below.

DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE?
YES! Make sure your insurance covers being airlifted in case of serious illness/injury as good hospital facilities are often a long way from where our tours travel. Free credit card insurance is often insufficient, so a seperate policy is reccommended. As travel insurance is compulsory, you will be asked for the policy number before being allowed to board our vehicle. We recommend World Nomad Travel insurance (click here for more).

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON TOUR?
The average number of passengers on a tour is 18. On the camping tours there is a maximum of 24 and minimum of 4. On the Accommodated tour the minimum is 4 and the maximum is 18. The maximum number on Gorillas, Serengeti and Masai Mara tours is 18. Single Supplements are limited to 4 per tour on all tours.

DO I HAVE TO HELP WITH CAMP CHORES?
Of course not, but you will not make many friends! On our tours our guides do most of the work. On a camping tour your participation in camp chores is limited: taking turns to assist with washing-up duties, putting up and taking down your tent and loading your bags. On some of our accommodated tours we include a camp assistant.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MY VISAS?
You are responsible for your own visas. Please check the itinerary of your tour carefully and if you need a multiple entry visa be sure to get one. Your passport needs to be valid for 6 months after your departure date from Africa and you must have at least 3-4 blank pages available. Some countries will not allow you to enter without 2 blank pages in your passport.

WHAT ARE LOCAL PAYMENTS (LP) FOR?
The Local Payment is a USD cash portion of the tour payment that needs to be paid directly to your guide in Africa. This payment covers fluctuating expenses such as flights, National Park Fees, entrance fees etc and also ensures that we have a reliable amount of hard currency on each tour. Our Local Payment is not a kitty, your food and accommodation are included in the tour price. All Local Payment amounts are subject to change without notice. Changes are very rare and are normally due to a sudden or unexpected price increase by a local service provider or National Park.

WHAT IS A SINGLE SUPPLEMENT?
All of our tours are priced on twin share accommodation. The single supplement is not compulsory on our camping tours but if you want your own tent you need to pay the single supplement. If you are booking one of our accommodated tours alone you have to pay the single supplement. There are a maximum of 4 single supplements available on all tours.

WHAT DO THESE SIGNS OR SYMBOLS MEAN?
We have included these icons on every tour page (brochure and site) so that you can quickly see what key elements are included:

This tour has adventure activities available.

This tour spends time in Game Parks.

This tour spends time at coastal areas.

This tour passes through / visits a World Heritage area.

This tour has cultural interaction with local people (Please see www.whc.unesco.org for full information.)

Nomad has, without doubt, the newest and most modern fleet of vehicles around. Our vehicles are serviced and maintained according to the manufacturer's specifications. Trucks are renewed on a regular basis once age affects reliability. Our equipment is checked and replaced on a regular basis with spot checks by our Operations Manager.
 

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OUR ADVENTURE VEHICLES - THE PRIDE OF NOMAD

Nomad operates two vehicle styles on the scheduled tours. Both are uniquely modified to suit the different tour requirements and are scheduled according to the prevaling conditions at the time of travel.

One thing that sets Nomad apart is that our trucks are standardised and uniform in design and condition. Currently we are in the process of replacing our entire fleet with vehicles similar to the one shown on the right. This is almost complete, but is an ongoing process.

Original Vehicle Design - for rugged terrain. The tough and simple construction of this type of vehicle makes it ideal for the unforgiving roads in East Africa and Mozambique. We were one of the first companies to, amongst other things, introduce freezers on all our trucks to keep food fresh in the African heat. Individual seats, ample leg-room and overhead luggage racks in the truck help make your time on the road as comfortable as possible. Our trucks are fully lockable and there's a safe for your money and documents. A well-stocked first aid kit is on hand for emergencies. Each truck has a radio,as well as informative reading material, games and recreational gear to keep you well entertained. The Kitchen is contained in the large side lockers and there is an easy access entrance. All our trucks have large slide down windows and you can enjoy the view towards the front.

The on-board camp kitchen is fully equipped with the following:

• Gas Stove,
• 150 - 250 L freezer
• Cooking Grill
• Food storage racks
• 200L Water Tank
• Cooler Boxes
• Food preparation and washing up facilities

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EAST AFRICAN SAFARI VEHICLES

Not all of our tours are operated on adventure vehicles. Some of our tours are operated in smaller vehicles. On some of our East African tours these vehicles are Toyota Land Cruisers (or similar) and on the Ethiopian and Madagascar tours the type of vehicle can vary - depending on the number of passengers.

Safari vehicles, such as the pictures below, are able to travel on much rougher terrain than the larger trucks. Unlike the trucks these vehicles are not built for long distance travel, but when it comes to game viewing, they really are ideal. Most of these vehicles are 4x4, but not all. It will depend on the tour that you are doing and you should not be surprised if some tours even make use of a combination of vehicles.

We will always make use of the best vehicle for the terrain that we are travelling on. The Safari vehicles are mainly used on our East African routes where shorter distances, and unpredictable weather mean that access to 4x4 vehicles is far more important than in Southern Africa, where your comfort during the longer distances we cover, takes priority.

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At the core of your tour are the guides. Our clients rave about their enthusiasm and commitment to Nomad, not to mention their dedication to service excellence. Although it is their job, it is also their passion for Africa that will ensure you get more than you expected from your adventure and experience genuine African hospitality on your trip.

GUIDE SELECTION AND TRAINING
Our screening process is stringent and we run a comprehensive in-house training course. Exams are based on the course content and the required pass rate is 75%. These modules cover absolutely everything to do with the running of successful adventure tours.

Guides are then apprenticed for months with senior tour leaders to gain the necessary knowledge and experience before they run tours themselves. Evaluation is continuous.

As a guide, training is never finished and we continue close monitoring of feedback results from our clients to continually improve and refine skills. Nomad operates a unique feedback system to identify problems and ensure that our tours are constantly improving. Guide salaries are heavily incentivised through this system. It is with pleasure that we can announce that, yet again, in 2007 we have managed to set new internal benchmarks for our tour feedback - having the best results since our inception.

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QUALIFICATIONS
All of our tours are accompanied by a minimum of 2 guides who are registered with DEAT (Department Of Environment, Agriculture and Tourism) and have valid First Aid certificates. Drivers also have their PDP's (Professional Drivers Permits). Many of our guides also have more specialised qualifications. On foreign language tours a translator will be provided that speaks English and German.

THE PERSONAL TOUCH
However, all the knowledge and experience in the world is not enough. The most important qualification of a good guide is their ability to work well with people. It is with this in mind that all potential candidates are carefully evaluated. No one goes further than Nomad to ensure that tours run as they should.

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OUR WORKSHOP - THE BACKBONE OF NOMAD
Nomad runs a state of the art specialised vehicle workshop. Our facilities include a metal shop, spray-painting booth, storerooms, mechanical facilities and other demarcated zones for all manner of work. Our trucks are fully maintained and the bodies are lovingly built in our workshop. We are a registered body builder-approved by SABS (South African Bureau of Standards).

Your safety and comfort are our first priority. After all, most tours cover large distances and much time is spent in the trucks, more reason to ensure they are the best.

All vehicles are checked in after tours, job cards are made up and work is undertaken. Upon completion all vehicles are rechecked to ensure everything is perfect. All equipment is checked and tested as well.

OUR EQUIPMENT - THE NOMAD EXPERIENCE
Sleeping under African stars on your comfortable foam mattress, in a two-person Nomad dome tent (with built in mosquito net), is the best way to experience the thrill of bush camping. Sitting on your camp chair around a roaring fire is the perfect way to end your day's adventures.

All Nomad equipment is strong, durable and able to endure the great African outdoors.

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Also see:

Nomad Adventure Tours and Holidays cc, registration number 2007/111212/23 (“the Company”)

APPLICATION
• The terms and conditions contained in this document shall apply to the tour booking concluded between the Company and the undersigned client in respect of the tour, as more fully described in the tour dossier provided to the client on confirmation
of the booking.
• All references in these terms and conditions to “client” shall include references to an agent of the client, with such changes as the context may require.

APPLICABLE LAW AND JURISDICTION
• These terms and conditions shall be deemed to have been concluded in Cape Town, South Africa and shall be interpreted according to the laws of the Republic of South Africa.
• The client consents to the jurisdiction of the Magistrates Court of Cape Town in terms of the provisions of Section 45 of Act 32 of 1944 as amended but it is specifically agreed that Nomad at its instance will have the discretion to sue in the High
Court if it deems it is appropriate.
• Notwithstanding the aforesaid, the client must at all times comply with the laws, customs, foreign exchange and other regulations of all countries visited on the tour.

BOOKINGS
• The Company reserves the right not to confirm the booking until the full amount set out in the invoice received by client is paid and has been received by the Company and all the relevant documentation has been signed and completed in full by the
client.
• Any amendments to, or cancellation of the booking shall be subject to these terms and conditions.

NOMAD CHILD POLICY
• Children between the ages of 8 – 15 are welcome to travel with Nomad on a request basis and must be accompanied by an adult.
• Children between the ages of 16 – 18 are welcome to travel with Nomad but will require a letter of consent signed by a parent or guardian.

TOUR PRICE, DEPOSIT AND PAYMENT
• While Nomad has utilized its best endeavours to ensure the accuracy of the tour price, such price is subject to change as a result of factors beyond Nomad’s reasonable control, in which event Nomad shall utilize its best efforts to notify clients of
such change as soon as possible.
• The tour price includes only those services/items that are included as per the itinerary and the tour dossier, and the client shall be responsible and pay for any additional items where, as required by the Company from time to time, such payment is
made either directly to a third party service provider or to the Company for settlement with a third party service provider.
• The Company records that prices/charges/tariffs in respect of certain activities forming part of the tour are determined in accordance with the public regulations of a particular country and, accordingly, the Company has no control over any increases
in such prices/charges/tariffs, including where such increases are implemented during the tour. The Company accordingly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to increase the relevant prices/charges/tariffs to account for such increases and/
or fluctuations.
• A non-refundable 25% deposit is required to secure a booking in respect of the tour. This non-refundable deposit shall be set off against the tour price.
• The tour price must be paid by not later than 28 days prior to the departure date for the tour, failing which the Company reserves the right to deem the booking as having been cancelled, and to levy the cancellation penalties set out in these terms
and conditions.
• In the event that the client makes a booking within 28 days of the date of departure of the tour, he or she shall, in order to secure the booking, be required to pay the full tour price upfront.

CANCELLATIONS
• Where the booking is cancelled at any time up to 29 days prior to the date of departure of the tour for any reason, the client shall forfeit the non-refundable deposit.
• Where the booking is cancelled less than 29 days prior to the date of departure of the tour for any reason, the client shall be liable to pay the following penalties to the Company –
– cancellation between 28-15 days prior to the date of departure, a cancellation penalty equal to 50% of the tour price;
– cancellation between 14-7 days prior to the date of departure, a cancellation penalty equal to 75% of the tour price; and
– cancellation less than 7 days prior to the date of departure or “no shows”, a cancellation penalty of 100% of the tour price.
• The Company shall be entitled to apply any portion of the non-refundable deposit paid by the client toward any cancellation penalty payable in terms hereof.
• The Company reserves the right, at any time and for any reason, to cancel the tour on notice to the client. In such event, the Company shall refund the tour price (which includes for the avoidance of doubt, the non-refundable deposit) to the client. It
is recorded that refund of the tour price as aforesaid shall be the Company’s sole responsibility to the client, and no claim for any damages, howsoever arising, shall accrue against the Company by reason of a cancellation of the tour.
• The client acknowledges that the tour is subject to a minimum booking of 4 passengers (including the client). If the minimum booking is not obtained, the Company reserves the right to cancel the tour and refund the tour price to the client, in which
event the client shall (for the avoidance of doubt) have no claim for any damages against the Company.

AMENDMENTS TO BOOKINGS
• In the event that the client joins the tour after the departure date, or leaves before the completion thereof for any reason whatsoever, the client shall not entitled to any refunds or rebates whatsoever from the Company.
• Where the client wishes to change tours (that is, to move from the tour confirmed herein to another tour), such amendment is subject to –
– the Company being able to accommodate the client on the substituted tour;
– payment by the client of an administration fee of R1000 and
– the change being made by not later than 28 days prior to the departure date of the original tour, failing which the cancellation penalties set out in these terms and conditions shall apply.
• In the event that a tour is changed, these terms and conditions shall apply to the substituted tour, with the necessary changes having been made.

PASSPORTS, VISAS AND OTHER TRAVEL PAPERS
• It is the client’s sole responsibility to ensure that passports, visas, health certificates, proof of vaccinations and any other required documentation are all in order for the countries to be visited during the tour.
• The Company shall not be held liable for any consequences, damages or claims if the client prior does not correctly attend to the client’s documentation and related matters as contemplated herein.

INSURANCE
• Comprehensive travel and cancellation insurance is mandatory on the tour. It is the client’s responsibility to ensure that he or she has such insurance in place (together with the required paperwork to prove such insurance) before embarking on
the tour.
• Should the client be unable to present proof of such insurance to the Company (on request therefore by the Company), the Company may, in its sole discretion, exclude the client from the tour, and the client shall be liable for the cancellation penalty
payments set out in these terms and conditions.
• The client acknowledges that the travel insurance must include comprehensive medical insurance including provision for air evacuation, and that the Company shall not be liable for any consequences, damages or loss as a result of the client failing
to have the necessary cover.

BAGGAGE
• The client shall be responsible for all baggage and personal effects brought by him or her on the tour, and the Company shall not be liable for any loss or damage to such baggage or personal effects, howsoever arising.
• The client shall be entitled to one bag (being a backpack or soft bag, and not a suitcase) that weighs not more than 20 kilograms, and a daypack. Should the client require a larger baggage allowance, this may be arranged with the Company against
payment of a fee that the Company may levy in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the aforegoing, the Company reserves the right to refuse excess baggage.

HEALTH
• The client accepts that to participate in the tour requires a measure of physical fitness and health and it is the client’s obligation to ensure that he or she is medically fit to embark on the tour.
• Where the client is over the age of 65, the Company requires a medical certificate or doctor’s letter confirming that the client is medically fit to undertake the tour.

AUTHORITY ON TOUR
• The client must at all times comply with the laws, customs and foreign exchange regulations of all countries visited during the tour.
• In addition, the client acknowledges that any disruptive, dangerous or potentially dangerous behaviour during the tour shall not be tolerated and that the Company, its employees, representatives, agents and/or contractors being so authorized, reserve
the right to exclude the client from the tour at any point therein in such circumstances.
• The Company shall not be liable for any costs and/or expenses for the client resulting from exclusion as aforesaid, and the client shall not be entitled to a refund or rebate of the tour price or any additional compensation in such instances.

MARKETING
• The Company reserves the right to use any photographs and video taken during the tour for use in marketing or any other advertising material, and the client hereby consents to such use.
• The client further agrees that the Company shall retain copyright over any such photographs and videos taken during the tour and/or used in its brochures and, to the extent necessary, the client hereby assigns copyright in such photographs and/
or videos to the Company.

FORCE MAJEURE
• Unforeseen circumstances including but not limited to war, mechanical breakdowns, weather, riots and other unforeseen reasons beyond the control of the Company may cause delays or alterations to the tour. The Company shall not be held liable
in any way for any of these possible occurrences or any consequences, which may arise as a result of these.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
• On booking, the client shall be issued with our tour dossier and pre-departure information documents. It is the responsibility of the client to read and understand these documents before travelling.

INDEMNIFICATION AND EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY
• The client accepts that the tour is of an adventurous nature and involves an element of personal risk.
• The Company and its respective directors, officers, employees, representatives and agents shall not be liable for any loss or damage of whatsoever nature and howsoever arising ( including, but not limited
• to, the client’s or any other person’s injury or death, or any loss of or damage to the client’s or any other person’s property) which the client or any such other person may incur or suffer as a result of or arising from the clients participation in the
tour and any other activities undertaken on or during the tour, and the client irrevocably and forever releases and discharges the Company and its respective directors, officers, employees, representatives and agents from any and all such liability.
• The client furthermore indemnifies and holds the Company and its respective directors, offices, employees, representatives and agents harmless from and against any land all loss, damage, actions, proceedings, claims, demands and legal and other
costs and expenses (including legal costs on an attorney and own client scale) of whatsoever nature and howsoever arising (including, but not limited to, the client’s or any other person’s injury or death, or any loss of or damage to the client’s or any
other person’s property) which the client or any such other person may incur or suffer as a result of or arising from the clients participation in the tour and any other activities undertaken on or during the tour.

Click here to download our booking form

View our: Booking terms & conditions

When you are ready to submit your booking please submit by fax our booking form with your details.

Download our 2011 booking form (103 kb)

Instructions:

1. Download and print our Booking Form (PDF)
2. Fax the completed form to us: Fax Number: (+27 21) 422 1175
3. Require assistance? Click here or email:  websales@nomadtours.co.za


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WHAT’S INCLUDED AND WHAT’S NOT (OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES – IT’S YOUR CHOICE)
It’s your tour – Make it work for you
Years of experience have shown us the best way to navigate Africa. An organised tour allows you to take full advantage of our knowledge, experience and, of course, superb guides. And while the sum total of group travel with most companies is limited to the friendship, fun and security side of Overlanding – we keep all of these elements and still allow you your individuality to discover Africa your own way. We let you structure our tours around your needs. Nomad’s tour price does not dictate what you spend on activities. It’s like pizza, we provide the base and you add the toppings!

What’s in, What’s not and Why
Let’s face it, there is no such thing as an ‘all-inclusive tour’, there are always extra activities that you can do. We choose to let you take advantage of this; don’t pay for activities that you would not choose to - just because a company decides they think you want them. Nomad gives you the real Africa: adventure, animals, famous landmarks and exotic locations. The sights, smells and tastes. You don’t have to spend anything more than the cost of the tour price, the odd meal out, beers and souvenirs. You choose the rest.

Doing What You Want
When you require an additional adrenalin injection you are free to choose and the list of activities on offer gets longer every day. Make it your tour; choose what you want because “it’s up to you”. Not everyone wants to do all the activities. We’re not throwing you out of a plane if you’re scared of heights!

Doing What You Can Afford
Unfortunately, not everyone can afford all of the activities. We keep the tour price as low as we can without compromising quality so you have choices. Let your budget dictate what you spend not your tour operator! The optional experiences and activities are carefully and strategically selected to give you a break from the routine of travelling overland style. They enhance your holiday and give you an adrenaline rush when you need one! These are selected for their value for money, enjoyment factor and the feedback from clients.

Optional activities are not included in the price of the tour for three simple reasons:
* Not everyone can afford to do them all
* Not everyone wants to do them all! (No point in throwing you out of a plane if you can’t bear heights!)
* We leave the running and safety of these specialised activities to the people who do them best. We take you there and then let the professionals take care of you in pursuit of your thrills and spills!

All Optional Activities are listed in Rand and USD, to indicate the approximate value. Optional Activities are payable locally in Rand, USD or EUR.
Rand areas are marked "R". All others are payable in USD. Please note that this list contains only the most popular activities and all prices are
subject to change. Tour Dossiers contain comprehensive lists of Optional Activities and actual pricing.

2011 PRICES LISTED BELOW