BECOME A RESPONSIBLE AND ORGANISED TRAVELLER
Travel Advice
Weather and Climate
Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe are all relatively close to the equator, meaning that there will usually be two wet and dry season per year. This trip focuses on exploring the African wildlife and landscape, meaning that physical activities such as climbing and trekking will be taken place. Therefore, it is advised for tourists to come during the drier seasons of the year to avoid rainfall and maximize the experience. Furthermore, when travelling for such great distances, it is preferable that you may want to come at a cooler time of the year.
Wet Season: November - March
Dry Season: May - August
Hottest time of Year: Wet Season
Coolest time of Year: Dry Season
The best time to travel would be around May to August as it is within the dry season, and the temperature decreases to around 20°C.
Passports and Visa
​In order to travel around Africa, you must have a valid visa along with you. The requirements for obtaining a visa may vary depending from where you're from, and where you're visiting. It is expected that your passport has 6 months validity, and you may need to present return tickets as evidence of staying where you intend. The rules for applying for a visa will change, so it is important that you check before you are going on the trip. To do so, you can consult your travel agent or the relevant embassies in the country your visiting.
Visas for Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa are required by most nationalities, so make sure to check if this applies to your countries. If you plan to purchase your visa on arrival, you will need to bring USD with you, and the cost is approximately $30-45 USD. Visas for Namibia is not required for most nationalities, but you should check with a relevant visa office before departure to insure that this still applies.
Travel Insurance
When travelling with Intrepid Travel, it is required that you purchase travel insurance for all trips. You must be covered for medical expenses, and it is strongly recommend that it also covers personal liability, cancellation, loss of luggage and personal effects. If you do not fulfill these requirements, you won't be permitted to join the group. You must also provide your group leader with evidence of travel insurance, and the insurance company's contact number.
If you have purchased credit card insurance, it is recommended that you send the details of the insurer, level of coverage, policy number and contact number instead of the bank's name and credit card details. Please retrieve this information from your bank before travelling abroad.
Our website provides links for various insurance companies:
Health and Vaccinations
When travelling with Intrepid, you need to be in good physical health in order to fully participate in our trip. Ensure that you read through the itinerary carefully before selecting your trip, as you may not cope with our style of travel. Take note that any traveler that is unable to complete the itinerary without facing risks, will be excluded from parts of the trip without refunds. Therefore, you should checkup with doctors for medical travel information or necessary vaccinations before departure. It is also recommended that you carry a first aid kit and other personal medical requirements at all times as they may not be easily obtainable at the locations of the trip. Take note that our guides and leaders are prohibited from managing drugs including headache tablets for legal reasons, so ensure you are adequately prepared.
​
Drinking Water:
You should never consider drinking tap water, even in hotels. This is because the level of minerals are a lot higher than the water from where you live. If you see local people drinking tap water, it is because their body is used to the high level of minerals. However, if you are not used to the level of minerals in the water, it will generally result in illness. Stomach pain is the only symptom, but it is enough to ruin a few days of your "relaxing" holiday. If you are in need of water, your leader will recommend safe alternatives when available. You should consume about 3 litres a day to prevent dehydration, and you can purchase re-hydration salts at local pharmacies if necessary.
Yellow Fever:
When travelling to South Africa, you will need a valid international certificate or vaccination against yellow fever. It is absolutely crucial as you will be unable to enter the country if you do not present a certificate. This must be presented either when you arrive at the airport, or cross the border.
Typhoid:
It is also recommended that your Typhoid vaccinations are up to date when travelling to Zimbabwe, specifically Harare. There was an outbreak of Typhoid in 2011, with over 1500 cases reported in the city. Taking the Typhoid vaccination will diminish any chance of you catching the fever.
Safety Hazards
When travelling to Africa, ensure that you are educated about the safety issues in the countries you are visiting. You can find websites that regularly provide updated advice on the internet, or ask people who have recently visited the countries you are visiting. It is also recommended that your insurance covers all areas of the trip's itinerary. It is also recommended that you bring a neck wallet or money belt when you are travelling, as you may want a safe place to keep your passports, air tickets, cash or any other valuables. You should leave any valuable jewellery at home, as it will not be necessary when travelling. The hotels that we are travelling will have safety deposit boxes, and it is advised that you store your valuables in them. You may also want to use a lock to secure your luggages and belongings from being stolen.
You will be accompanied by your leader for all included activities, but you will also receive free time where you are able relax, explore or pursue your own interests. Please keep in mind that our company is not responsible for the safety and standards of the activities you may participate in, so you must use your own judgement when selecting activities in your spare time. You should also understand that you leader has the authority to cancel or amend any activities in the trip itinerary if it necessary due to safety concerns.
For more details about the standards and conditions to expect on your trip, please visit our safety policy in the website below:
Fire Precautions:
Take note that the not all accommodations we will stay at have fire exits, fire extinguishers or smoke alarms
Traffic and Driving:
Please be aware that the drivers in this region may drive on different sides from where you live, and traffic may be more chaotic than what you are used to.
Theft and Personal Safety:
You should always be aware of pick-pocketing and petty theft, which generally occur in more populated cities. It is recommended that you avoid walking alone and night, and you should always walk with company and only in well lit areas. You should be cautious when travelling on public transport as it is easy to be pick pocketed in crowded places. You should also carrying your day back on your front, and always hold onto your bag instead of leaving on a chair or the floor.
Swimming Pools:
Please be aware that some hotels you mat stay at may have unfenced pools or no life guards on duty
Unfenced Camp Sites:
Some camp sites that you may stay at are located within national parks. Although this is a fantastic experience, please be aware that it is important to listen to advice regarding responsibility and safety given by your leaders.
Scams:
Please be aware of 'helpful' locals gathering outside of our starting point hotels, as previous travelers have been approached by people claiming to be Intrepid employees or selling Intrepid trips. These people are not Intrepid employees and they will try to get as much money from you. You should decline all offers and advise your leader about the person so they can be reported to authorities.
Seat Belts:
Please be aware that not all transportation will provide seat belts as transportation safety laws may differ from those in your home country.
