Safari Travel Guide
Planning your journey with Desert Tracks Bookings & Safaris? This guide will help you prepare so your safari is smooth, safe, and memorable.
Travel Insurance
Comprehensive travel insurance is essential. It should cover cancellation, emergency evacuation and repatriation, medical expenses, loss or damage of luggage and valuables, as well as missed flights or delays. Arrange this before departure and carry both printed and digital copies.
Emergency Contact Details
Please share the contact information of a next of kin or trusted person in case of emergency. Include their full name, phone number, and relationship. These details can be submitted on the Booking Form we provide.
Passports, Visas, and Vaccinations
While we provide guidance, travelers are responsible for ensuring their documents are valid and complete.
Visas: Many African countries offer e-Visas or visas on arrival. Common requirements include a passport valid for at least six months with three blank pages, proof of accommodation and travel arrangements, travel or medical insurance, and proof of sufficient funds. If traveling with children, additional documents such as birth certificates and parental consent letters may be required.
Vaccinations: No special vaccinations are required for entry unless you are arriving from or transiting through a Yellow Fever area. We recommend consulting your doctor or travel clinic for the latest advice, especially regarding malaria prevention.
Luggage and Local Flights
On charter or fly-in safaris only soft-sided bags are allowed. Weight limits are generally 15–20 kg including hand luggage. Extra or oversized baggage may result in additional costs or may not be accepted.
Self-Drive Guidelines
If you are driving yourself, keep headlights on at all times, obey speed limits, and be cautious of wildlife and livestock, particularly at dawn and dusk. Refuel often as distances between stations can be long, and never drive under the influence of alcohol.
Connectivity
Share your phone number with your consultant, ideally with a local SIM card. SIM cards are affordable and widely available in Namibia, Botswana, and Tanzania. Wi-Fi is offered at most lodges and hotels but may be limited in remote areas.
TravelKey App
Download the TravelKey App to access your itinerary digitally, even offline. It is available for both Android and iOS, and we will provide you with a unique code to log in.
Traveling with Minors
Strict rules apply when traveling with children under 18 in Southern and East Africa. Required documents usually include a valid passport, a full birth certificate, and in some cases notarized consent letters from parents or guardians. We will advise you on the specific requirements for your route.
Additional Tips
Keep printed and digital copies of all important documents. Carry some cash in local currency or South African Rand for remote areas. Tipping is customary: about USD $1–2 (or local equivalent) for porters and USD $5–10 per person per day for guides and drivers. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Electricity supply is 220V, using South African-style three-prong plugs.
Assistance
For any questions or emergencies, contact us at bookings@desert-tracks.com or +264 (0)81 867 0705.
This unique, peanut-shaped country, once known as Northern Rhodesia, offers visitors an authentic African experience complete with adrenalin pumping adventure sports, a variety of fascinating cultural activities, and an abundance of indigenous wildlife, which finds refuge in Zambia’s vast national parks. Spend your evenings enjoying the spectacular site of the world’s largest waterfall, the Victoria Falls, while sipping on sundowners after an exhilarating day of whitewater rafting down the rapids of the mighty Zambezi River. If that sounds a little too adventurous for your taste, take a houseboat cruise along the exquisite Lake Kariba while watching wild elephants drink at the riverbank as you try your hand at catching the elusive tiger fish. However you choose to spend your time in this unique country, you are bound to leave with a heavy heart and a desire to return again soon to this exceptionally beautiful Southern African country.
