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An enthralling country abounding with magnificent horizons and seemingly endless dunes of various shades, Namibia never fails to impress, charging the imagination of visitors. The vast naturally unspoiled areas possess multi-facetted grandeur and an arid splendour that is difficult to describe.
Located in the southwest Africa, Namibia shares borders with South Africa, Angola and Botswana to the south, east and north respectively, with the narrow panhandle of land, known as the Caprivi Strip, jutting from the northeast.
Almost 1300km (800 miles) of wild and uninhabited coastline extends along the west coast, possessing soaring sand dunes with plains of pastel colour, dramatic canyons, mountains and salt pans all making up the terrain to the east, all with incredible game viewing opportunities. Seal colonies, shipwrecks and abandoned ghost towns provide many striking photo opportunities, while quaint seaside villages with Bavarian influences and spring-fed oases provide wonderfully colourful places for relaxation.
The magnificently vast and pristine Etosha Pan (once a saline lake), is surrounded by grasslands with a large and varied array of wildlife, including lion, eland, elephant, giraffe, zebra and ostrich.
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A predominantly arid country, Namibia can be divided into four main topographical regions: the Namib Desert and coastal plains in the west, the eastward-sloping Central Plateau, the Kalahari along the borders with South Africa and Botswana and the densely wooded bushveld of the Kavango and Caprivi regions. Despite its harsh climate, Namibia has some of the world's grandest national parks, ranging from the wildlife-rich Etosha National Park in Northwestern Namibia, to the dune fields and desert plains of the Namib-Naukluft Park in Western Namibia. Windhoek, in the Central Highlands, is the country's geographical heart and commercial nerve centre, with an ethnic mix of people, while surfers and beach-lovers won't want to miss Swakopmund.
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Handy Hints for Namibia
Welcome! This information sheet is designed to help you prepare for your safari. It contains essential information, which will hopefully help you enjoy your holiday. Please contact your agent if you have any problems with any item mentioned in this sheet. Enjoy your safari.
HEALTH PRECAUTIONS
There are a few basic health matters that require care and attention. We are obviously not medical practitioners and the following are only recommended guidelines. Please consult your doctor if in doubt. Please, also, check with your health department prior to departure for any changes in health regulations.
MALARIA
Malaria is widespread and its control has become increasingly complex. Both chloroquine resistant and normal strains of malaria are in the northern region of Namibia. The rest of the country is generally malaria free and most people living in Namibia don’t see a mosquito! The only time that malaria comes to the fore in the north is after the rains - and as Namibia has very little rainfall, this is not often a problem. The peak malarial period is usually January to March.
With a few basic precautions, malaria is easily manageable. Malaria is transmitted by some female Anopheles mosquitoes, which are sometimes active at night, usually when one is sleeping or sitting around the campfire. With sensible behaviour, the problem can easily be managed.
Expert opinion differs regarding the best approach to malaria prophylaxis. It is important to bear in mind that malaria may be contracted despite chemoprophylaxis, especially in areas where chloroquine resistance has been reported. It is of utmost importance that it is inadvisable for non-immune, pregnant woman to visit malaria areas, as malaria infection during pregnancy can result in severe effects to the mother and the foetus.
An effective and safe drug is Proguanil [PaludrinÒ], where the dosage is two tablets per day with a meal. Proguanil should be taken in conjunction with Chloroquine [NivaquineÒ] and the dosage is two tablets per week also with meals. An effective alternative drug is Mefloquine, which is sold under the trade name LariumÒ. The dosage is one a week, beginning 7 days prior to entering a malaria area and continued for 4 weeks after leaving a malarial area. It is a long-acting preparation with some side effects, which can possible be minimised by taking a tablet called “Essential” – a tablet sold in South Africa to help the after-effects of too much alcohol. Larium should NOT be taken in conjunction with Proquanil or Chloroquine. It should not be used during pregnancy or lactation. People over 65 years of age, people with heart conditions, or people with tendencies towards depression should not use it. It should not be taken for longer than 3 months. If you suffer from a heart condition, it is essential that you consult your doctor regarding prophylactic regimes. The WHO recommends that drug prophylaxis be started 1 week prior to entering a malarial area (except Proguanil where 1-2 days beforehand are adequate). This is partly to confirm that a particular drug is well tolerated and partly to establish a prophylactic routine.
Please remember that the best insurance against contracting malaria is to try to prevent oneself from being bitten. 95% of malarial infections take place between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. so use mosquito repellents liberally. Wear long sleeved shirts and trousers/slacks in the evenings. If staying in a bungalow or tent, spray with an insecticide like DOOMÒ or equivalent [ozone friendly] to kill the mosquitoes. Use bed nets where supplied or available. Most of the tented camps have rooms that are easily sealed and can be kept bug and insect free. Zip up your tent at night. Mosquito coils are also effective and we recommend that you bring some along if you are travelling up north.
If you become ill on your return, whilst still on prophylaxis or even once you have stopped, make sure that your doctor does everything necessary to establish that your illness is not malaria. It is essential to seek specialist advice – a delay of even 48 hours can be dangerous. Prompt and proper treatment of malaria should always be successful. Six/seven days is the minimum incubation period. We recommend that everyone travels with standby malaria treatment such as FansidarÒ, which is ONLY to be used as treatment and not as a preventative. If you are allergic to sulphur-based drugs, you should rather consider quinine tablets for treatment.
Please note that we are not medical practitioners and therefore these recommendations should be treated as a guideline only. If you are in any doubt at all, please consult your doctor.
WATER
It is very important that you drink plenty of water. In Namibia, all water from taps is generally safe to drink anywhere (unless otherwise specified – and there are very few places where this will happen). However, as constitutions differ, you may prefer to drink bottled or treated water. It is generally recommended that one drink at least 2 to 3 liters of water (depending on temperatures) per day to limit the effects of dehydration. This excludes tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages (which all help to dehydrate the body).
LUGGAGE
As there are no places where formal clothes are needed, we recommend that you keep your luggage down to the basics. White colors are not recommended and army camouflage uniforms and hats are forbidden. However, khaki and neutral colors are fine.
For safety and space reasons on charter aircraft, we have a strict 12-kg limit. On safaris where there are no air charters and you are flying on large Air Namibia planes, then the limit is increased to 20 kg.
If you exceed this limit, you could cause the aircraft to exceed its safety limit. This 12-kg does include camera equipment. We insist on a soft carryall, instead of a suitcase, with the following maximum dimensions: 80 cm long by 35 cm wide. Solid suitcases cannot fit into the charter aircraft. Passengers who bring baggage exceeding the above specifications must buy a bag which does, If you come with extra weight, we will have to charter an aircraft for excess baggage at considerable extra cost and delay to you. One set of smart-casual clothes is recommended for those trips staying in cities and towns. A clothing list is attached for your information. Please note that a laundry service is offered at most of the hotels and camps so there is no need to bring lots of clothing.
INSURANCE
Please ensure that you have yourself and your belongings adequately insured before your departure.
a) Health Insurance
Before you travel anywhere it is advisable to have fully comprehensive medical and accident insurance, which covers you while you are away for everything, including emergency evacuation and repatriation.
b) Cancellation Insurance
You might have to cancel your safari due to unforeseen circumstances, If you cancel a trip close to the departure date for any reason, you will lose all that the safari was going to cost you. Dependent on the reason, cancellation insurance should cover you for this eventuality.
c) Baggage Insurance
Airline liabilities with respect to your baggage are limited. It is advisable to take out insurance if you are carrying expensive and valuable camera equipment. You should always carry such equipment as ‘carry-on’ luggage. Do not put anything of value in your checked baggage!
d) Claims
If you anticipate an insurance claim upon your return, be sure to document as accurately as possible any accident, injury or loss. Doctors’ notes and police reports will aid any claim.
JOINING THE SAFARIS
Please ensure that you have all the details for your flights as far as departure times, check-in times etc., are concerned and from which airport you will be departing. Windhoek has two different airports – Hosea Kutako International, which is 40 km out of town and Eros, which is in town. Please check if you are flying from International or Eros, as the transfer times differ greatly.
VERY IMPORTANT FOR ALL FLIGHTS
Please check in early at all airports for your flights, as the flights are often overbooked, especially in peak season. PLEASE CHECK IN AT LEAST 90 MINUTES BEFORE DEPARTURE FOR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS and 60 MINUTES FOR DOMESTIC FLIGHTS. Please ensure that all your onward flights are reconfirmed al least 72 hours prior to departure.
Please be aware that during peak season, delays are occasionally encountered on scheduled flights. Remember you are on holiday … relax and enjoy the African ambience which sometimes has no sense of urgency at all!
CURRENCY
The currency in Namibia is the Namibia Dollar, which is fixed to and equals the South African Rand on a one-to-one basis. Notes are issued in the following denominations: N$100, N$50, N$10. Coins are issued as N$5, N$1, 50 cents, 10 cents and 5 cents. The Namibia dollar and SA Rand are the only legal tender in Namibia and can be used freely to purchase goods and services in the country. The Namibia Dollar is, however, not legal tender in South Africa. Travellers’ cheques and foreign currency can be exchanged at any of the commercial banks, which are well represented throughout the country. International Visa and MasterCard credit cards are generally accepted throughout Namibia, whilst a Speedpoint facility assures a quick and efficient service. Holders of other cards are advised to clarify with a commercial bank whether their card is acceptable in Namibia. Visitors may bring any amount of foreign currency into the country. Further information and assistance can be obtained from any commercial bank in Namibia.
TIME
Summer From the first Sunday in September to the first Sunday in April: 2 hours ahead of GMT.
Winter From the first Sunday in April to the first Sunday in September: 1 hour ahead of GMT.
TAX AND CUSTOMS
VAT in Namibia is 15% on goods services.
COMMUNICATION
Obtainable at dealers, post offices and teleshops, the telecard is easy to use at any card phone for local calls to all automatic exchange areas. The value of the telecard is N$10.00, representing 50 units of 20 cents each. IDD is available. Some accommodation establishments and businesses in Windhoek offer telephone and fax services, while these businesses have photocopy facilities as well. The postal service assures that airmail to, for example, Europe, takes from approximately four days to two weeks.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Twelve public holidays are celebrated in Namibia:
1 Jan New Year’s day
21 Mar Independence Day
Mar/Apr Good Friday and Easter Monday
1 May Workers day
4 May Cassinga Day
May Ascension Day
25 May Africa Day
26 Aug Heroes Day
10 Dec Human Rights Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Family Day
TIPPING
10% is customary in a restaurant, but only if you are satisfied with the service.
We often get asked what to tip the guides and camp staff, so this is put out as a recommendation only. For your guides, we would recommend about US$ 5 – US$ 10 per day, and for the camp staff, a communal tip of US$ 3 per day would be perfect – on condition that the staff have performed!
PHOTOGRAPHY
The choice of the correct camera equipment and film will determine the quality of your photographs on the trip. For good photography of birds and animals, a good SLR camera and telephoto lens is necessary. The minimum size is 200 mm and a zoom lens can be extremely useful on safari. Consideration should be given before traveling with any lens bigger than 400 mm, as most interesting shots are taken using hand held equipment.
Colour reversal film (slides), will give far greater quality than prints. The guides on these safaris have found that they are getting the best results using Fuji film. Fuji have brought out a new range of emulsions, including an excellent high speed film, which gives good colour with very little grain (less so than any of their competitors). This is especially useful when using a big lens in low light situations. The guide’s personal preferences are slower films, either 50 or 100 ASA, as this gives almost perfect quality for normal light. The only disadvantage with the low ASA film is that you need a tripod for the early morning and evening shots.
WILD ANIMALS
Many of the animals and reptiles we will see are potentially dangerous. Attacks by wild animals are rare. To date we have had an unblemished record, but no safari in Africa can guarantee that such incidents will not occurneither Wilderness Safaris, Namib Wilderness Safaris, Namibia Tracks & Trails, their staff members, associates, agents, nor their suppliers can be held liable for any injuries caused during an incident involving the behavior of wild animals.
LOSS OF ARTICLES
Please note that we cannot accept any responsibility for the misplacement of any articles whilst in our camps or lodges. Naturally, we will do all possible, but the logistics of inter-camp communication and the availability of charter flights for the period, may not be favourable for the returning of articles on time.
RESPECTING WILDLIFE
· Observe the animals silently and with a minimum of disturbance to their natural activities. Loud talking on game drives can frighten the animals away.
· Never attempt to attract an animal’s attention.
· Don’t imitate animal sounds, clap your hands, pound the vehicle or throw objects.
· Please respect your driver-guide’s judgement about our proximity to lions, cheetah and leopard. Don’t insist that he take the vehicle closer so you can get a better photograph. A vehicle driven too close can hinder a hunt or cause animals to abandon a hard-earned meal.
· Litter tossed on the ground can choke or poison animals and birds and is unsightly.
· Never attempt to feed or approach any wild animal on foot. This is especially important near lodges or in campsites, where animals may have become accustomed to human visitors.
· Refrain from smoking on game drives. The dry African bush ignites very easily and a flash fire can kill animals.
· At night, always walk with a flashlight and do not leave the confines of the camp.
SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT LIST
Maximum of 12 kg in one soft sports bag inclusive of camera equipment (if the safari is using charter flights), or a maximum of 20 kg for safaris using scheduled flight services (plus camera equipment within reason)
Winter Winters are usually mild to warm, which calls for light clothing in the middle of the day. As it can become cold at night and in the early morning, a warm sweater and jacket MUST be brought along. Weather conditions at the cost can be cold and windy, for which warm clothing, including a windbreaker, are necessary.
Summer Cotton clothing, which is cooler than synthetic clothing, is recommended for the hot Namibian summers and can be bought at shops in Windhoek, which specialise in lightweight safari garments.
General
v Bush hat
v Comfortable walking shoes
v Swimsuits are required for public beaches or swimming pools
v Camera and plenty of film
v Binoculars
v Bird reference books
v Sun hat
v Dark glasses (preferably good quality, polarised with UV protection)
v Sunblock ointment
v Bathing towel
v Moisturiser
v Lip ice
v Mosquito repellent (e.g. Tabard, Jungle Juice, etc.), malaria tablets and ‘Essential’
v Tissues / ‘Wet-Wipes’
v Flashlight
v Basic medical kit (aspirin, Elastoplast, antiseptic cream, Immodium, antihistamine cream and tablets etc.
v Soap (biodegradable, please!)
v Personal toiletries
v Visas, tickets, passports, money
v If you wear contact lenses, we recommend that you bring along a pair of glasses as well.
Points for electric shavers (electric current 250 volt AC) are available at major hotels and most state-owned rest camps and resorts. It is advisable to bring battery operated or conventional razors if visiting remote areas.
International Travel & Tours Emergency Land Line & Mobile Phone numbers
Office Hours (Monday – Friday 08.30 – 17.00). +27 313037810 Local: 0313037810
Mobile 1 (Rung) +27832896806 Local: 0832896806
Mobile 2 (Nicola) +27 761352095 Local: 0761352095
Please note: In the unlikely event that you encounter any problems with any services booked whilst in South Africa, please notify ITT immediately so that we can try to rectify any problems. Please note that we will not entertain any complaints from clients who return to their home country and then bring the problem to our attention, without informing us whilst they are here in South Africa
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