Common Questions - Frequently Asked Questions

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.)