Eastern / Southern of Africa
Overland Tours & Gorilla Safari Trek | |
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4 Days - The Kruger NP Tour (NJJ)
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INCLUDES: Johannesburg - Blyde River Canyon - God's Window - Bourke's Luck Potholes - Timbavati Concession - Kruger National Park - Traditional Cultural Village
Price: € 395
Single-Supplement: € 15
Meals: B, D x 3, L x 4
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
Start Point: Johannesburg
End Point: Johannesburg
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7 Days - Desert Explorer (NCS)
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COUNTRIES: South-Africa, Namibia HIGHLIGHTS: Cederberg Mountain Region - Orange/Gariep River - Fish River Canyon - Sesriem - Namib-Naukluft NP - Sossusvlei - Tropic of Capricorn - Walvis Bay Flamingo - Swakopmund Adventure Activities (optional) Price: € 545 Local Payment: N/A Single-Supplement: € 25 Meals: B, L x 6, D x 5 Accommodation: Twin Share Tents Start Point: Cape Town End Point: Swakopmund
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7 Days - Kruger & Swaziland (NAJD)
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COUNTRIES: South-Africa, Swaziland
INCLUDES: Blyde River Canyon - God's Window - Bourke's Luck Potholes - Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre - Kruger NP - Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary - Swazi Village - Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park - Durban
Price: € 745
Local Payment: N/A
Single-Supplement: € 40
Meals: B, x 5, L x 7, D x 6
Accommodation: 2 per Room / Permanent Tent
Start Point: Johannesburg
End Point: Durban
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7 Days - Swaziland & Kruger NP (NDJ)
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COUNTRIES: South-Africa, Swaziland
INCLUDES: Durban - Mlilwane Nature Reserve - Swazi Village - Kruger National Park - Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre - Bourke's Luck Potholes - God's Window - Blyde River Canyon - Johannesburg
Price: € 475
Local Payment: N/A
Single-Supplement: N/A
Meals: B, D x 6, L x 7
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
Start Point: Durban
End Point: Johannesburg
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8 Days - Okavango Expedition (NJV)
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COUNTRIES: South-Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe
INCLUDES: Scenic flight over Okavango Delta - Nature Walk in Okavango Delta - River Cruise and NP entry in Chobe National Park - Entrance into Mosi-Oa-Tunya NP
Price: € 545
Local Payment: US$ 295
Single-Supplement: € 20
Meals: B x 7, L x 7, D x 6
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
Start Point: Johannesburg
End Point: Victoria Falls
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8 Days - Delta & Chobe Trail (NWV)
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COUNTRIES: NAMIBIA, BOTSWANA, ZIMBABWE / ZAMBIA
INCLUDES: Windhoek - Bushmen Tribe (optional) - Scenic Flight over Okavango Delta - Nature walk and Mokoro Safari in Okavango Delta - River Cruise in Chobe National Park - Victoria Falls National Park Entrance
Price: € 545
Local Payment:US$ 295
Single-Supplement: € 15
Meals: B x 7, L x 7, D x 6
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
Start Point: Windhoek
End Point: Victoria Falls
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9 Days - Serengeti & Zanzibar (NND)
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COUNTRIES: Keny, Tanzania
INCLUDES: Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti NP, African Markets, Stone Town (optional), Zanzibar (optional), Dar es Salaam
Price: € 345
Local Payment: US$ 375
Single-Supplement: N/A
Meals: B, L, D x 6
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
Start Point: Nairobi
End Point: Dar es Salaam
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10 Days - Cultural Ethiopia (NETHS)
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COUNTRIES: Ethiopia
INCLUDES: Arba Minch - Turmi - Karkerte Mountains - Omorate - Caro, Dus and Murci Tribes - Arba Minch - Awassa - Dinsho
Price: € 950
Local Payment: US$ 455
Single-Supplement: € 80
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
Start Point: Addis Ababa
End Point: Addis Ababa
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10 Days - Historical Ethiopia (NETHN)
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COUNTRIES: Ethiopia
INCLUDES: Bahir Dar - Debre Marko - Lake Tana - Gonder - Simien Mountains - Axum - Mekele - Lalibela - Kombolcha
Price: € 875
Local Payment: US$ 455
Single-Supplement: € 120
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
Start Point: Addis Ababa
End Point: Addis Ababa
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12 Days - Best of Namibia Tour (NCW)
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COUNTRIES: South Africa, Namibia
INCLUDES: Cederberg, Orange/Gariep River, Fish River Canyon, Namib Naukluft NP, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Himba Tribe, Etosha NP
Price: € 795
Local Payment: N/A
Single-Supplement: € 45
Meals: B, x 11, L x 12, D x 10
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
Start Point: Cape Town
End Point: ?Windhoek
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14 Days - Masai Mara & Gorillas (NMG)
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COUNTRIES: KENYA, UGANDA / RWANDA
INCLUDES: Masai Mara NP, Lake Nakuru NP, Ngamba Island, Chimpanzee Sanctuary (optional), Lake Victoria, Lake Bunyoni, Bunyoni Impenetrable Forest, Mountain Gorilla (optional), Queen Elizabeth NP, Nile River, Great Rift Valley,
Price: € 695
Local Payment: US$ 595
Single-Supplement: N/A
Gorilla Permit: US $ 505/605
Meals: B, L x 13, D x 11
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
Start Point: Nairobi
End Point: Nairobi
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14 Days - Mozambique Tour (NJMJ)
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COUNTRIES: South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique
INCLUDES: Johannesburg - Hlane Royal National Park - Praia do Tofo - Vilankulo - Bazaruto Archipelago (optional) - Inhambane - Maputo - Kruger National Park - Blyde River Canyon - God's Window - Bourke's Luck Potholes
Price: € 825
Local Payment: US$ 270
Single-Supplement: € 45
Meals: B, D x 13, L x 14
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
Start Point: Johannesburg
End Point: Johannesburg
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14 Days - Desert & Delta Tour (NSV)
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COUNTRIES: NAMIBIA, BOTSWANA, ZIMBABWE / ZAMBIA
INCLUDES: Swakopmund, Spitzkoppe, Himba Tribe, Etosha National Park, Kavango River, Okavango Delta Excursion (optional), Caprivi NP, Chobe NP (optional), Victoria Falls.
Price: € 745
Local Payment:US$ 295
Single-Supplement: € 35
Meals: B x 13, L x 13, D x 11
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
Start Point: Swakopmund
End Point: Victoria Falls
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20 Days - CapeTown to Vic Falls (NCV)
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COUNTRIES: SOUTH AFRICA, NAMIBIA, BOTSWANA, ZIMBABWE, ZAMBIA.
INCLUDES: Cederberg, Orange/Gariep River, Fish River Canyon, Namib Naukluft NP, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Himba Tribe, Etosha NP, Kavango River, Okavango Delta Excursion, Chobe NP Activities, Victoria Falls NP
Price: € 1,095
Local Payment: US$ 295
Single-Supplement: € 55
Meals: B, L x 19, D x 16
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
Start Point: Cape Town
End Point: Victoria Falls
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20 Days - Sth African Explorer (NCJ)
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COUNTRIES: SOUTH AFRICA, LESOTHO, SWAZILAND
INCLUDES: Wine tasting, Cheetah Breeding Project, Cango Caves, Tsitsikamma NP, Addo Elephant NP, Hike in Hogsback Forest, Lesotho, Guided walk to Bushman paintings in Royal Natal NP, Game drive Hluhluwe/Umfolozi NP, St Lucia lagoon cruise, Traditional Swazi dancing, Kruger NP, Bourkes Luck Potholes, Gods Window, Blyde River Canyon, Wildlife Rehab Centre
Price: € 1,045
Local Payment: N/A
Single-Supplement: € 15
Meals: L x 20, B x 19, D x 18
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
Start Point: Cape Town
End Point: Johannesburg
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20 Days - Exploring Ethiopia (NETH)
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COUNTRIES: Ethiopia
INCLUDES: Bahir Dar - Debre Marko - Lake Tana - Gonder - Simien Mountains - Axum - Mekele - Lalibela - Kombolcha - Arba Minch - Turmi - Karkerte Mountains - Omorate - Caro, Dus and Murci Tribes - Arba Minch - Awassa - Dinsho.
Price: € 1,825
Local Payment: US$ 910
Single-Supplement: € 200
Meals: BD x 19
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
Start Point: Addis Ababa
End Point: Addis Ababa
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20 Days - DaresSalaam To Delta (NZJ)
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COUNTRIES: TANZANIA, MALAWI, ZAMBIA, BOTSWANA, SOUTH AFRICA
INCLUDES: Dar es Salaam, Iringa, Lake Malawi, Luwawa Forest, South Luangwa National Park, Lusaka, Livingstone, Chobe National Park, Okavango Delta, Johannesburg
Price: € 1,170
Local Payment: US$ 525
Single-Supplement: N/A
Meals: B x 19, L x 18, D x 18
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
Start Point: Dar Es Salaam
End Point: Johannesburg -» detailed itinerary
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20 Days - Vic Falls to CapeTown (NVC)
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COUNTRIES: ZIMBABWE, ZAMBIA, BOTSWANA, NAMIBIA, SOUTH AFRICA
INCLUDES: Victoria Falls NP (optional) Chobe NP Activities (optional) Okavango Delta Excursion (optional) Kavango River Etosha NP- Himba Tribe Swakopmund Sossusvlei Namib Naukluft NP Fish River Canyon Orange/Gariep River Cederberg
Price: € 1,095
Local Payment: US$ 295
Single-Supplement: € 55
Meals: B x 18, L x 19, D x 15
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
Start Point: Victoria Falls
End Point: Cape Town
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21 Days - East Africa Adventure (NVN)
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COUNTRIES: ZAMBIA, MALAWI, TANZANIA, KENYA
INCLUDES: Livingstone, Game Drive in South Luangwa NP, Tribal Textile and Village Excursion, Luwawa Forest, Lake Malawi, Iringa, Zanzibar Excursion (optional), Serengeti and Nogorongoro Crater (optional)
Price: € 1,095
Local Payment: US$ 605
Single-Supplement: N/A
Meals: B x 20, L x 17, D x 17
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
Start Point: Victoria Falls
End Point: Nairobi
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28 Days - East Africa & Sth Africa (NNJ)
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COUNTRIES: KENYA, ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA, MALAWI, ZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE, BOTSWANA, NAMIBIA, SOUTH AFRICA
INCLUDES: Overlanding from the hustle and bustle of Nairobi this tour stops at all the amazing sights and experiences on offer while steadily heading south. Take in the sights, sounds and smells of the real Africa. End the tour in Johannesburg.
Price: € 1,490
Local Payment: US$ 900
Single-Supplement: N/A
Meals: B x 26, L x 26, D x 23
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
Start Point: Nairobi
End Point: Johannesburg
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33 Days - CapeTown to Zanzibar (NCVD)
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COUNTRIES: SOUTH AFRICA, NAMIBIA, BOTSWANA, ZIMBABWE, ZAMBIA, MALAWI, TANZANIA
INCLUDES: The Cape to Malawi is the perfect version of the longer Cape to Kenya tour for those who want to spend either a lot or no time on Zanzibar. Covering six countries and unforgettable features like the Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls and Lake Malawi, it will ensure that your African vacation is an epic adventure of a lifetime.
Price: € 1,770
Local Payment: US$ 525
Single-Supplement: € 55
Meals: B x 31, L x 30, D x 27
Start Point: Cape Town
End Point: Dar es Salaam
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
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35 Days - East Africa & Gorillas (NVMG)
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COUNTRIES: ZAMBIA, MALAWI, TANZANIA, ZANZIBAR, KENYA, UGANDA
INCLUDES: Combining our popular East African Adventure tour with a trip to visit the Mountain Gorillas in Uganda is one of the most established combination tours that we offer. A trip to the Gorilla's is a unique and memorable experience and the perfect end to your African Adventure.
Price: € 1,790
Local Payment: US$ 1,200
Single-Supplement: N/A
Gorilla Permit: Between US$ 505/605
Meals: B x 31, L x 31, D x 28
Start Point: Livingstone
End Point: Nairobi
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
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36 Days - Cape, VicFalls to Mozam. (NCVM)
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COUNTRIES: SOUTH AFRICA, NAMIBIA, BOTSWANA, ZIMBABWE, ZAMBIA, SWAZILAND, MOZAMBIQUE
INCLUDES: Cederberg, Orange/Gariep River, Fish River Canyon, Namib Naukluft NP, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Himba Tribe, Etosha NP, Kavango River, Optional Okavango Delta Excursion, Victoria Falls (optional), Johannesburg, Hlane Royal NP, Praia do Tofo, Vilankulo, Bazaruto Archipelago Excursion (optional), Inhambane, Maputo, Kruger NP, Blyde River Canyon, God's Window, Bourke's Luck Portholes
Price: € 1,995
Local Payment: US$ 565
Single-Supplement: € 100
Meals: B, L x 33, D x 30
Start Point: Cape Town
End Point: Johannesburg
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
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42 Days - Delta to Gorillas Trek (NJMG)
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COUNTRIES: SOUTH AFRICA, BOTSWANA, NAMIBIA, ZAMBIA, MALAWI, TANZANIA, ZANZIBAR, KENYA, UGANDA
INCLUDES: One of our ultimate adventure tours, only for those with plenty of time and lots of things to see. There are so many highlights on this tour that this intro text cannot contain all of them! Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls, South Luangwa NP, Lake Malawi, Zanzibar, Serengeti, Masai Mara, Gorillas, Queen Elizabeth NP.
Price: € 2,335
Local Payment: US$ 1,495
Single-Supplement: € 20
Gorilla Permit: Between US$505 - $605
Meals: B x 40, L x 37, D x 32
Start Point: Johannesburg
End Point: Nairobi
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
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42 Days - CapeTown to Nairobi (NCN)
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COUNTRIES: SOUTH AFRICA, NAMIBIA, BOTSWANA, ZIMBABWE, ZAMBIA, MALAWI, TANZANIA, KENYA
INCLUDES: Cederberg, Orange/Gariep River, Fish River Canyon, Namib Naukluft NP, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Spitzkoppe, Himba Tribe, Etosha NP, Okavango Delta (optional), Chobe NP (optional), River Cruise in Chobe NP (optional), Vic Falls (optional), Livingstone, Lusaka, Luangwa River, South Lucangwa NP (optional), Luwawa Forest, Lake Malawi, Great Rift Valley, Iringa, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar Excursion (optional), Serengeti NP (optional), Ngorongoro Crater (optional), Nairobi
Price: € 2,190
Local Payment: US$ 900
Single-Supplement: € 55
Meals: B x 32, L x 35, D x 34
Start Point: Cape Town
End Point: Nairobi
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
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56 Days - Best of Africa (NCMG)
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COUNTRIES: SOUTH AFRICA, NAMIBIA, BOTSWANA, ZIMBABWE, ZAMBIA, MALAWI, TANZANIA, KENYA, UGANDA
INCLUDES: Truck-Travel Across the Amazing Sight of 9 Country's Camping Safari: - Cederberg - Namaqualand - Gariep River - Fish River Canyon - Sossusvlei Dunes - Swakopmund - Spitzkoppe - Himba Tribes - Livingstone - South Luwangwa - Lake Malawi - Lake Naivasha - Masai Mara
Price: € 2,885
Local Payment: US$ 1,495
Single-Supplement: € 55
Girilla Permit: Between US$ 500/600
Meals: B x 52, L x 52 D x 46
Start Point: Cape Town
End Point: Nairobi
Accommodation: Twin Share Tents
| The Following is an Original Style Truck-Travel Across North & West Africa to Southern of Africa |
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19 Days - West-Africa Overland (45a)
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COUNTRIES: Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali
INCLUDES: Voodoo festival in Ouidah, the animal kingdom of West Africa, the Pendjari NP, Ganvie, the Somba in Northern Benin or the Kassena in Burkina Faso. A countryside much less touched by tourism extraordinary journey.
Price: € 1,090
Tour Dates: Jan/08/2010 to Jan/26/2010
Start Point: Cotonou
End Point: Bamako
NighStay: Camp sites + hotel
camping 60% bush camping 40%
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22 days - Into Africa Water Castle (16a)
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COUNTRIES: Mali, Guinea, Casamance, Gambia, Senegal
INCLUDES: The wonderful Guinea "Switzerland of Africa" stunning mountain landscape, isolated waterfalls and wonderful, tropical landscape of the Casamance, the beautiful beaches of Senegal, boat trip to the island of Gorée.
Price: € 1,150
Tour Dates: Jan/30/2010 to Feb/20/2010
Start Point: Bamako
End Point: Dakar
NighStay: Camp sites + hotel
camping 30% / bush camping 60% Hotel or Mission 10%
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14 Days - Dakar/SN to Marrakech/MA (14a)
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COUNTRIES: Senegal, Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco.
INCLUDES: Boat excursion to the island of Gorée, the thermal bath in Abeinou, travel through a beautiful Sahel landscape to the historic town of St. Louis, pass by fertile flood lands of the river Senegal. Cross the western part of the Sahara, camp right on the beach, see the unforgettable evenings on the "Djamaa-el-Fna" Plaza
Price: € 630
Tour Dates: Feb/23/2010 to Mar/08/2010
Start Point: Dakar
End Point: Marrakech
NighStay: Camping ground 50% - bush camping: 50%
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23 days - CapeTown to Victoria Falls (62)
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COUNTRIES: South Africa, Botswana, Zambia.
INCLUDES: Cape Peninsula, along the Route 62 to Little Karoo and Great Karoo, reach through the Northern Cape Province and the North-West Province to the spectacular Victoria Falls
Price: € 1,290
Tour Dates: April/28/2010 to May/20/2010
Start Point: Cape Town
End Point: Victoria Falls>
NighStay: Camping grounds/farms 80% Bush camping 20%
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18 Days - Fascinating Namibia Overland (65)
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COUNTRIES: Namibia
INCLUDES: the dinosaur foot prints, Hoba meteorite, the Museum in Tsumeb, Ojikoto Lake, 2 days in Ethosha-Nationalpark, rock art engravings and paintings of Twyfelfontein, the "Petrified Forest", Cape Cross, Namib Naukluft Park (Soussuvlei)
Price: € 1,120
Tour Dates: Jun/09/2010 to Jun/26/2010
Start Point: Windhoek
End Point: Windhoek
NighStay: Guest farms 70% - camping grounds 30%
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21 Days - Angola Namibia Overland (51)
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COUNTRIES: Angola, Namibia
Please Note: We cooperate with an Angolan travel agency that helps us with the procurement of visas. Nonetheless, it is complicated and time-consuming to obtain a visa for Angola.
For these reasons, we must set the registration deadline for this trip at 15/04/2010.
Price: € 1.320
Tour Dates: 02/July/2010 to 22/July/2010
Start Point: Windhoek
End Point: Windhoek.
NighStay: Campgrounds/hotel camping 30%, Bush camp 70%
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15 Days - Vic Falls, Botswana, Namibia (63)
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COUNTRIES: Zambia, Botswana, Namibia.
INCLUDES: Wildlife & Nature Paradises in Southern Africa: Victoria Falls, Botswana national parks, Moremi Park, Tsodilo Hills, Tsodillo Hills.
Price: € 1150
Tour Dates: May/22/2010 to Jun/05/2010
Start Point: Livingstone
End Point: Windhoek
NighStay: Campsites 70% Bush cam 30%
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8 Weeks - the heart of Africa - Congo (71)
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UNIQUE JOURNEY: A country completely unaffected by the tourism (expects us). Nearly 1800 miles we will conquer the 3rd biggest country in Africa, from Lubumbashi to Kinshasa. Separated by a huge rain forest from the unrest provinces in the eastern part, this journey becomes everything else than a relaxing vacation trip through Africa. We won’t find any infrastructure, miserable tracks, a very doubtful network of river ferries and bridges.
Price: € 2800 ? 3200
Tour Dates: ? 1.Jun.2011 ? 31.Aug.2011
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16 Weeks - Experience West Africa (1)
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INCLUDES: Mountain regions in Morocco and Guinea. Travel through parts of the Sahara and see desert crocodile in Mauritania. On the prowl to the desert elephants of Gourma and visit the northern Sahel. Famous places and regions such as Timbuktu and Dogonland. Ganvie, the stilt village on the Nokoue Lake. The Voodoo festival in Ouidah. This trip teaches you to understand West Africa - and to love it.
Price: € 4,200
Tour Dates: 28.10.2010 to 19.02.2011
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 It is also possible to compose your circuit as you wish, or modify an existent one... Click Here |
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Pre Departure Information
15 days - Gorilla Trek Kenya - Uganda & VV
Accommodation general - all accommodation and transfers should be paid locally, not to the AFTours office. The rates advertised below are subject to change at a moment's notice and must be used as a guide only.
Accommodation - Trips departing from Nairobi, Kenya
We depart from Karen Camp, Marula Lane, off Karen Road, Karen Nairobi. Tel. +254 (0) 733 703510, +254 (0) 723 314053, +254 (0) 20 883475 e mail: booking@karencamp.com or wayn1821@karencamp.com. If you would like to stay at the Karen Camp, we can book it for you. Ensuite -s £15; Shared facilities room - £12; dorm bed £3.
Airport pick up in Nairobi to Karen Camp - If you would like the security of an airport pickup provide us with your flight details at the time of booking - cost US£ 25 per person, payable locally. After immigration and customs are exchange bureaus. Turn right and on the right hand side you will see Planet Safaris at whose counter you will meet the driver. You pay for the taxi when you arrive at camp. For your safety and convenience use this service. Make sure you reach the Planet counter ignoring taxi touts who will over charge and may not know where you want to go.
Seeing the Gorillas and Gorilla permits - We see the gorillas in either; Uganda, Rwanda or DR Congo. The gorilla permits are payable on the spot and can only be paid in US dollars cash. The cost of the permit is: $500 payable to the park authorities. There is also a small charge to get up to the gorilla viewing area. The price of the gorilla permits can change without notice. Seeing the gorillas may involve you having to get extra visas on the borders, this changes with each trip and with the country we see them.
Pre Departure Information
Included in the trip price & Local Payment - The tour cost and local payment includes transport in a fully equipped expedition vehicle, road taxes and tolls, services of the driver-leader, use of camping and cooking equipment, campsite fees, entrance to gameparks as specified, and two meals a day while on the truck. So in towns or places where the vehicle will be parked up, although the kitchen will be available for you to cook with, food during this time will not come out of the Local Payment. Generally at lunchtimes we eat at small cafes or restaurants where you can try cheap and tasty local food. If no local food is available we eat on the truck.
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 the driver for the rate. Please pay this to the driver on departure. Travellers cheques, cards or other forms of payment are not accepted.
Not included in the trip price and local payment - The price does not include flights, visas, side trips, lunches and meals out. There are a number of optional side trips that you can choose from and pay for on the route.
Deposit and balance & Insurance - Please be aware that once you are booked, your deposit and balance (within two months of trip departure) is non refundable. Insure yourself when you book for the full duration of the trip and your whole time away.
Buying your Flight - when you buy your flight don't go just on price alone, check conditions and flexibility. Take into consideration that you may be buying your flight well ahead of time and the nature of your trip you are doing. It may be worthwhile paying more to have a flexible flight with a better airline that flies frequently to your destination.
Return Flight - Although it is our intention to finish the trip on the finishing date, in case of delays en route you should allow a couple days at the end of the trip before you fly out.
Visas - Please see the
Visa page
Insurance - 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 or family reasons, for example). 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. The medical coverage is the most important part of the insurance policy, loss of belongings less so. For UK, Australian and NZ residents, we can point you in the right direction for insurance if you contact us. For other nations, it is best to search online - there are some good online insurance companies catering for US, Canadian and European residents.
Inoculations - You have to be vaccinated against Yellow Fever and will need an International Vaccination Certificate to prove this when we cross 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. Medical centre with their own travel educated Doctors can supply up-to-date medical advice and also administer vaccinations.
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 - 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. When you get to Africa buy a can of fly/bug repellant to clear 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.
Your Electrical Equipment – Mobiles, Cameras, Laptops - In most camps you can charge from the mains, so bring a travel adaptor plug, as outlet power points are of different types. Most countries run on 220 or 240 volt current. To increase your battery time get a spare battery. You can charge off the truck if you have a 24 volt in-car charger but charging from the vehicle will reduce the life of your batteries.
Mobile Phone - It will work abroad if you have roam facility enabled on a dual band phone. Coverage is generally good. Although convenient for outgoing calls, incoming calls can cost a lot. An option is to buy a local number in each country we go through and use that for to keep in contact with home.
Time Zones - East & Southern Africa are on the same time up to 3 hours ahead of GMT or UK time.
Language - English is the predominant administrative languange but generally the spoken is Swahili in East Africa.
Security in General - There is a lockable safe bolted onto the floor of the truck for your money belts; however, we take no responsibility for such or for any belongings. If you lose your passport or travellers cheques it is not always possible for the expedition to wait for you. So when you’re off the truck 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 a passenger roster will be drawn up to guard the vehicle during the day. Don’t take items of value that are not essential for your journey, ie. jewellery.
Spending Money - For side trips and visas you need $US cash. Not having enough US$ cash is normally the biggest spending money problem people face on the trip. The dilemma been that though cash is easiest you risk losing your money with no chance of getting it back.
For general spending £10 - £30 a day is a good start excluding side trips. Depending on how much you drink, eat out and the souvenirs you buy. The best way to bring your money for of ease of exchange and safety is 1/3 cash in US$, 1/3 Travellers cheques in either US$ or Pounds sterling and 1/3 in money on your credit card.
Credit cards - bring at least two credit/debit cards as one might be rejected by the cash machine. Tell your bank before you travel to stop them blocking your card. In East and Southern Africa ATM machines are available about every three days - ATM machines only pay out local currency.
Visa credit and debit cards are better than MasterCard/American Express/ Maestro/Cirrus for acceptability.
Money Gram and Western Union - If you’re concerned about carrying cash and knowing the pain travelers cheques are to cash get someone to MoneyGram or Western Union funds to you as you travel on your trips. On their websites are the locations of their offices in Africa.
MoneyGram International - moneygram.com or Western Union - westernunion.com
On most borders you can change excess left over currency for the next country's money.
Side trips & optional excursions - Are paid for on the spot. Please see the separate page - Side Trips & Extras
Maps - It's good to have your own map to follow the trip as you go. In Africa use the Michelin 955 of Africa, central and south.
Washing - Most of the time you can wash every day and at camp sites you can do your laundry or often have it done for you quite cheaply.
E-mail - Can be collected three times a week to every week or two (some campsites have facilities).
Drinking Water - Though we have drinking water on the truck to ensure you good health we advise you drink bottled water which is cheap and readily available.
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 airbed. Get a mosquito net in Africa if you want to sleep outside of your tent, these are quite cheap.
All campsites have good ablution facilities & bars, and some have restaurants, shops and internet facilities. Also, about half the campsites we visit offer the facility to upgrade to hut or cabin accommodation for an extra charge.
Camping equipment – if you start your trip in Nairobi or South Africa you can buy most of the camping gear you need; sleeping bag, sleeping mats etc, at the local department stores.
Discman/iPods/MP3's & 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/iPod 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.
Accommodation at the end of the trip - Accommodation at the end of the trip - There are numerous cheap backpacker hostels so no need to book. Your driver can help with this.
Suggested list of clothing and equipment - The less you take the less you have to pack, wash, lug home and you'll always pick up extras along the way. You'll be travelling in the heat and camping in the cool, so bring clothes for all climates, rough stuff is best. The best type of carrier is a rucksack (with an internal frame) or a kit bag.
- Sleeping bag & sleeping mat
- Medical kit - Bring your own simple kit
- Re-hydration sachets available from any chemist
- Insect repellent containing Deet e.g. Jungle Juice
- Sun cream
- Headache tablets
- Plasters
- Malaria tablets
- Toiletries - You can buy most basic toiletries easily in Africa
- Toothbrush and toothpaste, dental floss
- Soap in a container & razors
- Towel & shampoo
- Tampons/condoms; enough for the trip
- Clothes
- Socks
- Shirts
- Jeans/long trousers
- Underwear
- Sweatshirt/jumper
- Shorts, T-shirts, swimsuit
- Skirt
- Sandals/flip flops/jandals/thongs
- Walking shoes
- Small day-pack or bag to carry your daily items
- 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
- Travellers cheques
- Books, personal CD player and CD's
- Torch & spare batteries
- Water bottle at least 1.5 litres, any old water bottle is fine and these are available in most shops 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.
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