Buy your Flight
Ticket
Before departure, you will be required to buy an appropriate
flight ticket to and you're your tour destination. Double check
your flight departure and arrival day, time and flight number
and ensure that we are supplied with these details well in advance.
These details will be very important to facilitate your arrival
meet and greet service.
Get reliable health and vaccination
advice
All visitors to East Africa are
required to produce health records. It's therefore very important
for you to get health advice before you depart. Malaria is endemic
to certain areas of Kenya, notably by the coastal region and
western Kenya. However, visitors to Nairobi and the higher altitudes
should also be taking prophylactic treatment. Treatment should
start one week before entering the country and continue throughout
the duration of the visit and for six weeks thereafter. Anti
malaria tablets and any over the counter drugs can be purchased
in chemists and pharmacies in major centers. Other medication
should include panadol (or any other effective pain reliever
as headaches can be caused by the glare of the sun and tiredness).
Anti-diarrhea medication such as Imodium (loperamide), throat
lozenges, band-aid, insect repellent and antibiotic cream for
cuts and scratches. The appropriate tanning or sunblocking lotion
is also essential. Main towns have good hospital care and Nairobi
has excellent medical facilities.
Before you leave
* Double-check your airline reservation;
make sure there have been no changes.
* Get vaccinations six weeks in
advance if possible, a Yellow Fever certificate is necessary
when visiting Zanzibar (you don't need the actual shot) - be
sure to ask for one at the travel clinic.
* Some clinics prescribe malaria
prophylactic pills (e.g. Lariam) however, you will have less
risk of side effects if you simply wear long sleeve shirts and
pants at dusk - and use an insect repellent containing DEET
(e.g. Off, Deep Woods).
* Fill personal prescriptions if
necessary.
* Buy trip insurance (for medical/dental)
from an independent trip insurance agency; be sure to get trip
cancellation and medical evacuation coverage.
* Make sure you have flight insurance
coverage (for lost luggage, delay, or cancellation) many credit
card companies offer flight insurance if you purchase your ticket
with the card.
* Personal effects (clothes, camera,
etc) are normally covered on your renter's or home insurance
- they will not be covered by trip or flight insurance - be
sure to verify that you have coverage.
*Get entry Visas at least one month
in advance, ensure passport is valid until the end of your trip.
US/UK/EU/Canadian citizens can purchase visas at the border
or airport of most African countries, other nationalities should
make sure they have their visas in advance.
* Make 2 copies of passports, visas,
tickets & immunization records (hide one copy in suitcase
somewhere and leave other copy with friend or relative to hold
in case of emergency).
* Take about one hundred dollars
in cash ($20 bills or smaller) for driver, guide, and porter
tips, visa fees, airport tax, and mad money.
* You may want to rent a powerful
zoom lens for safari photos - 300-500mm lens is standard when
taking game viewing photographs (1000mm and tripod needed for
good bird pictures), also a good pair of binoculars and/or good
zoom digital video camera if you wish.
Tipping guidelines
Packing:
carryon bag
Packing: toiletry
bag
Packing: clothes
Packing:
toiletry bag
Safety
Currency and banking
Shopping
and bargaining.
Photography
Communications
Please be punctual for all departures,
game drive and schedules so as to make maximum use of your holiday
time. Departure transfers for international flights are usually
two and half-hours prior to flight times. Day rooms are reserved
till 6.00pm