- Your tour dossier is a guide only, this is Africa, the distances we cover are huge, things change frequently, for a number of reasons. Every change that is made will be done in the best interest of the group in mind.
- Respect your fellow travellers and get to know them. There will be a mix of different ages, nationalities and cultures and everyone has their own story – use this opportunity to get to know each other.
- Space inside the vehicle is limited. Don’t bring a suitcase (unless you have booked one of our small group tours)! Bring a soft pack duffel bag or backpack that will fit inside the lockers. We will leave your suitcase behind if it does not fit into the lockers as it cannot be stored anywhere else inside the truck as it becomes a safety hazard. It is unfair on your fellow travelers and your guides if you use more than your designated locker space.
- Tours by nature are not only about destinations, they’re about journeys. Prepare yourself for long hours in the vehicle on the road getting from A to B. Bring along some board games, cards or books to entertain each other.
- Don’t ever compare Southern Africa to East Africa, they are two completely different destinations!
- Our tours are high value safari tours, they’re not European coach tours – don’t get confused between the two! Continue reading if you’re not sure what that means.
- Our small group tours are offered in a north or south direction, or as a round trip. There are classic camping and lodge tours or premium lodge tours. On our classic camping & lodge tours, guests travel together on the same truck and meals are prepared by the crew.
- We have a tour linking system, where one tour ends, another begins. Your tour may be a section of a longer tour, a full core tour, or it may consist of a combination of tours – ask us if you’re unsure of what your tour is.
- We offer one set rate throughout the year and our tours operate throughout all seasons, prepare to be hot and prepare to be cold, in fact, prepare yourself for any eventuality!
- Switch off from the outside world. We stay in remote locations and the idea is that you enjoy your natural surroundings away from cities.
We’re confident that you have chosen one of the best tour companies in Africa and we will go out of our way to prove it. Nomad’s tours
have been enjoyed by thousands of people from all over the world. A great attitude, an open mind and being well-prepared ensures
that your holiday is a trip of a lifetime.
We will provide you with as much information about our tours as possible but please feel free to contact us directly if there is anything
specific at all that you’d like more information on. For specific route information refer to your tour dossier which you will find on our
website on the individual tour page in a block called “detailed itinerary” (www.nomadtours.co.za) – please be sure to read through your
dossier carefully before joining us on tour. Please also ensure that you download your tour dossier one week prior to your tour
departure date so that you are guaranteed to have the most up to date version of the dossier as we do frequently update our dossiers.
Tour dossiers should be seen as a guide only and are subject to change.
Keep in mind that you are in Africa. Standards and services should not be compared with first world countries. You came here to get
away from all that – to experience Africa as it really is. The unexpected is included in your tour – free of charge! Leave your computer,
iPad and phone at home and enjoy the surroundings of nature and your fellow travelers.
We make every effort to ensure that this document is up to date, but it should be noted that sudden changes in the operational
conditions might result in changes to this information. To the best of our knowledge all of the information is as accurate as possible,
however it must be accepted that various details are subject to change according to local conditions of which you will be informed as
soon as possible after Nomad Adventure Tours & Holidays PTY Ltd have been informed thereof.
A Nomad tour is a journey along a suggested route, which is aimed at the budget conscious traveller. It is an off the beaten track safari
and many of the areas that we visit will not have the infrastructure that the “package holiday tourist” may require. The route and
accommodation made use of on the route taken may also change from time to time due to unforeseen circumstances as conditions
change on the road very quickly. Nomad will always do what is in the best interest of the tour in these instances.
A Nomad tour is different from a package holiday (on a bus / coach liner for example). Instead of limiting the experience by providing
transport and accommodation only, our tours aim to provide a more inclusive experience. We include cultural, safari’s social interaction
and the opportunity to book more adrenaline based experiences such as white water rafting and skydiving.
Our belief is that it’s not about the arrival at a destination, but the total experience of the journey that is important. We travel together,
eat together, learn from each other’s cultures and form a strong, supportive team – so put all your electronics away, get off the
internet, leave home behind you, and take advantage of your chance to meet new people. Although our guides are professionals, they
are not “heroes” and won’t pamper you. Our guides are passionate about Africa, enthusiastic and will always do their best to get you
through any challenges with a smile. For a successful expedition, all we need is space under the stars and your willingness to join in and
expect the unexpected! A typical day on tour starts when the sun comes up – we live by nature’s timetable and use as many daylight
hours as possible. If you are camping, tents are set up by nightfall in most cases, kettles are boiled, the smell of cooking is in the air and
we sit around the camp, enjoying one another’s company and chatting about Africa. For those on the accommodated and small group
tours, the only difference is that you sleep in a bed. Every single trip is different – we like it that way!
For example, a core tour would be a Cape Town to Victoria Falls tour, however you can start or end this tour in Swakopmund or
Windhoek too. You could also combine our Cape to Victoria Falls tour with our Victoria Falls to Nairobi tour, thereby extending your
travel time and distance from Cape Town to Nairobi. When you get to Victoria Falls, you will find that you will be met with a new set of
crew and also a new truck which will accompany you on the journey from Victoria Falls to Nairobi. Your fellow travellers will also
change along the way, some will leave the tour and new ones will join.
We also have a two day transit from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg – this is the cheapest, but not the quickest way of getting between
the two destinations. If you see on your tour itinerary that it is going to take you two days to get from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg,
please remember that this is a transit from A to B and it is not a tour. For example, the Cape to Kruger includes a Cape to Victoria Falls
tour, a Victoria Falls to Johannesburg transit and a Kruger Big-5 tour. If you would prefer not to do a transit, extend your tour for a few
more days and do our Best of Zimbabwe tour instead. If you are not sure of what to expect on your tour, please ask us.
One of the few things we can guarantee about Africa is that not everything is going to run perfectly. Along the way there are sure to be
a few unexpected surprises! These include road closures, mechanical failure (it happens, but not often), accommodation changes or
having wild animals in the campsite! Anything can happen, the main thing to remember is that whatever happens, we are experienced
enough to handle the situation and make sure that you still have a fantastic adventure with Nomad!
In the past, the groups tended to be very young as the majority of travellers to Africa were backpackers. As Africa has become a
progressively more mainstream destination and is far more accessible than it was years ago, our guests have also changed. 25 years ago
the average age of our travellers was around 23-27 years old and now we have anyone from 6 – 80 years of age. Use this opportunity to
slip out of your comfort zone and learn about the people on your tour with you – there are so few opportunities in life that we have to
do this, take advantage of it!
The average age of our campers is approximately 20 – 45 and our accommodated guests are more variable between 35 – 65 years of
age. However, these indications are very general as each and every tour is different and campers and accommodated guests travel
together. When the University semesters end we do get younger travellers making up the majority of certain tours. Outside of
traditional holiday periods the age groups can be very diverse. Part of experiencing the tour is about meeting new people and what we
can confirm is that 99% of our travellers find that they get along very well. This is because the people that book a Nomad holiday in
Africa have similar values and interests. All of our tours have a maximum of 20 guests on our 24 seater trucks. All of our classic small
group tours have a maximum of 20 guests. Our premium small group tours have a maximum of 12 guests on a 12-seater mini bus or
custom built truck.
We have a large range of nationalities on our tours and although there are often couples and groups of friends who have booked
together, many travellers are single and the male / female ratio generally evens out. East Africa tours require a hardier and more
intrepid attitude to touring and if you are planning on trekking with the mountain gorillas, you will need to have a higher level of fitness.
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We do however accept people older than 65 years on trips because we believe it’s about being willing and able to join in. Suitability for
our trips is not just about fitness, it’s about being able to take the rough with the smooth – whether you’re up to your elbows in mud
rescuing your sinking truck, climbing the nearest tree in an attempt to escape from charging buffaloes or searching for the only bush in
the desert to squat behind – keep an open mind and remember that this is all part of being on holiday in Africa!
We do accept children on our tours and the following age policies will apply:
- 6 Years: No children under 6 years of age may travel on Nomad’s scheduled tours.
- 10 – 15 Years: Nomad will accept a maximum of four children between the ages of 10 to 15 years on any tour without requesting
permission from agents or clients. If more children want to join a tour once the maximum has been reached, this will be allowed
on a request basis. - 6 – 9 Years: Children between the ages of 6 – 9 years will be accepted to travel with Nomad on a request basis only.
- No children under the age of 12 permitted on our Kenya and Uganda tours
- Any traveler between the ages of 6 – 16 must be accompanied by a parent, unless specific authorization had been obtained from
Nomad. - 17 – 18 Years: Guests of this age may travel with us with a letter of permission from their guardian; they do not require a parent to
travel with them. - “On A Request Basis” means that Nomad will receive the child request from the agent and once Nomad has confirmed receipt of
the child request with the agent in writing, all other agents who have guests booked on the specific departure will be contacted to
request permission for the child / children to join the tour. The agents then have 48 hours to respond to the request. If no
response is received from any agent, the child/children will be accepted onto the tour. If the response is negative, we will have a
look at an alternative date or tour for the family. - Age restrictions may apply to certain items listed in the respective tour activities. It is important that you are aware of these
restrictions prior to confirming children on tour.
Age restricted Activities:
A child must be 15 years or older to partake in the Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking Activities - Drakensberg Hike – no children under the age of 12 permitted
- Nkambeni Morning Bush Walk – no children under the age of 12 permitted
- Hlane Game Drive – no children under the age of 13 permitted
When requesting that a child joins a tour, please ensure that you provide us with as much information as possible about the suitability
of the child for the tour. This will vastly improve the chances of the child being accepted by the other guests on the tour.
“Become friends with people who aren’t your age. Hang out with people whose first language isn’t the same as yours. Get to know someone who doesn’t come from your social class. This is how you see the world. This is how you grow”
Our classic lodge and premium lodge small group tours are here to fill the gap between a camping experience and an expensive lodgetour while our camping tours allow you to have a truly African experience. On all of our classic tours we have both camping and lodge
guests travelling together whereas our premium tours only offer a lodge option. Other than the tent that you pitch or the bed that you
sleep in, everything else about these tours is exactly the same. On our classic camping and lodge tours, all meals are prepared by our
crew, you have the same guides and the travel times are all the same so that literally is the only decision that you have to make – a bed
or a tent. On our premium lodge tours, instead of having all the meals prepared by the crew, your breakfast and dinner will be served
in lodges (lunches will be for your own account).
Camping gives you the freedom to build your own little home every evening. We provide you with heavy duty canvas dome tents which
are standing height (unless you’re over 6 foot) and approximately 2.5 x 2.5m across the base. On a camping tour, you need to provide
your own pillow, sleeping bag and towel. The tents are easy to put up and have flexible self-supporting poles and there are no
unnecessary pegs to fight with. There is a flysheet provided for rainy weather and a built-in mosquito net which should be kept closed
at all times. Please make sure that you pay attention when the guides explain the correct way of putting up and taking down your tent
as the incorrect use can cause problems with the tent. We also provide everyone with a sleeping mattress.
Camping is more affordable and you don’t have to rely on anyone for anything – only on the heavens when you ask them very kindly
not to open up on your tent! If you choose the camping option, when the tour gets to a major city, we will put you up in twin
accommodation so that you can have the comfort of a bed for the evening. At most places we visit, there is the opportunity to upgrade
to accommodation if you’d like, but it is subject to availability. Please be sure to check the seasonal weather conditions when booking
your camping tour as we can’t be responsible for mother nature (tents that get put up and taken down in the rain have a bad habit of
being wet). The tents handle a fair amount of rain but if there is a consistent downpour, the likelihood is that you will get wet.
Most of the campsites we visit have good toilet and shower facilities, but hot water is sometimes a luxury. Fortunately, most places we
visit on tour are warm! Some places that we visit are bush camps where there are no facilities.
On our classic and premium lodge tours, we have done all that we can to keep our fantastic low prices on these tours so the
accommodation is not luxury but you can expect 2 – 3 star twin / double accommodation and the majority of it is en-suite. Twin beds
are not always guaranteed as some properties only have double beds. In some places, we also make use of permanent safari tents
which are considered “accommodation”. We have selected accommodation that is in line with the areas we visit so there is a good
variety. It is important to note that general accommodation standards are higher in Southern Africa than they are in East Africa. Please
bring along your own towel as these are not always provided. The truck will remain in the area where the campers are and one of the
guides will take you over to your accommodation – so please remember to pack light!
On camping tours, single supplements are optional however on lodge tours, single supplements are compulsory if you are travelling on
your own. If you have purchased the single supplement, you will receive your own tent / room for the tour. If you are on an lodge tour
and are interested to share a room with the same-sex guest, we will charge you the single supplement upfront and if successful in
pairing you up, will refund your single supplement upon completion of the tour. However, pairing up is not guaranteed.
Southern Africa (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mozambique) has adapted to its visitors needs and
most who are involved in the tourism industry put a lot of effort into ensuring that guests have an incredible all-round experience while
visiting. You will find most of your home comforts here and be very surprised at how easy it is to find your way around, – especially with
English being widely spoken throughout all Southern African countries. The infrastructure is sound and travelling in these areas is
“comfortable”. Accommodation is of a high standard and service levels are excellent.
East Africa (Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda) is more “rustic” and “basic” and relies heavily on the popularity of their
National Parks and the abundance of wildlife. It would not be uncommon to go without a hot shower, share a bathroom, spend many
hours on the roads, buy your own drinking water…etc, but once you’ve discovered the magic of the people and witnessed the
spectacular natural beauty of the herds of animals moving across the plains, everything else will become irrelevant.
If you have travelled with us in Southern Africa, please don’t expect your East African tour to be of the same standard, particularly
where accommodation is concerned. Accommodation standards vary dramatically between East and Southern Africa. Driving time and
distance is generally a lot more in East Africa than it is in Southern Africa due to the conditions of the road and the distance between
highlights. The two destinations are completely different and standards of service and products are not similar at all.
Medical insurance is compulsory and you will be asked for your policy number before embarking on tour. Please make sure that your
travel and medical insurance covers cancellation as well as being airlifted in case of a serious illness or injury as our tours often travel a
long way from good hospital facilities. If credit card insurance is taken out, this often does not provide sufficient cover therefore a
separate travel insurance policy is recommended.
Please settle any outstanding payments at least 30 days before your tour departs. We reserve the right to cancel a booking if payment
is not received in full and you will not be allowed to depart on tour unless payment is received.
We are more than happy to assist with booking accommodation and transfers for you before and after your tour. For a list of the
properties, visit our website https://nomadafrica.co.za/pre-post-accommodation/ and remember to add your request to
book these services along with your tour booking. As these services are provided by 3rd party operators, all bookings are subject to
availability at the time of your request. The properties that we use are generally at the tour departure point and we offer this service to
make life easier for you. If your transfer is not where they’re supposed to be, please contact Nomad on our emergency contact number
(+27 (0)82 578 2199) so that we can resolve this immediately – it does sometimes happen as communications are always difficult when
arriving in a new country. Please don’t let something like this affect the rest of your time on tour. Put it behind you and give the tour
the opportunity to show you the best of Africa.
Please ensure that your onward travel arrangements are made before you depart on tour as it is difficult to make these arrangements
while on tour. We offer a good value for money transit from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg which you can add to your tour. Please ask our reservations department about the options of onward travel with your tour and for names of low cost airlines if you want to fly to
your next destination.
Do not book your onward travel or flights on the day your tour is scheduled to end (unless the last day of tour does not involve any
travelling and ends after breakfast). We could be running late for a number of reasons. This also puts a lot of unnecessary pressure on
your fellow travelers and guides and turns the last day of tour into a rush. Nomad will not be held accountable if you have booked
flights out on the last day of tour and you are not able to get to the airport on time. We will also not rush to get to there as we can’t
jeopardize the safety and enjoyment of everyone else on the tour. Remember, expect the unexpected.
Although we intend to stick to the published itineraries it is critical to understand that the routing can and does change from time to
time. Africa is unpredictable and many variables may require changes to the itinerary, this cannot be stressed enough. If we are forced
to make a change to a tour we will ensure that we still provide what we specified in our brochure. If we can no longer provide what is
published in the brochure we will provide a comparable experience of the same value.
Your passport must have enough pages for all visas, at least 2 pages free for every country that you’ll be visiting. Please ensure that you
take your passport out from your hotel / backpackers safe the night before departure. We recommend that you also leave a copy at
home or with some friends. Another good idea would be to take a photo of your passport, and the contents, and email it to yourself.
Please note that South Africa insists having 2 clear pages available when you enter the country. Keep this in mind if you are going to fly
home from South Africa after completing a tour to multiple African countries.
Please ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months after your date of departure from Africa. You are personally responsible
for ensuring that passports, visas, vaccination certificates and other travel documents are in order and for all costs relating thereto.
Please note that it is not advisable to use more than one passport (to avoid visa payments) when travelling. When entering (for
example) Namibia, the immigration official needs to see the exit stamp for South Africa and it must be in the same passport in order to
allow entry.
As visa requirements vary considerably depending on your nationality, please contact the various embassies or visa service agencies to
re-check visa requirements at least four weeks prior to departing for your tour. Please note that visas are the responsibility of the
traveller and that Nomad Tours & Safaris will not be held responsible for clients being denied entry should they not be in the possession
of the relevant visas.
All travellers must be in possession of a valid onward/return air ticket or proof of other means of transport enabling the traveller to
leave the country in which your adventure tour terminates. Alternatively you must have proof of sufficient funds (e.g. credit card)
enabling you to purchase an air ticket to leave the country. Should the adventure tour you are joining be re-entering a country, be sure
to have a multiple entry visa that enables you to re-enter the country.
Visa regulations in Africa change from time to time. Please contact the embassies of the countries you plan to visit on your Nomad Tour.
Arranging VISAS is not our specialty and due to this we do not always have the most updated information as these regulations change
regularly.
If your itinerary includes Mozambique and you require a visa, please ensure that you apply for this before coming on tour with us as this
visa in particular takes a long time to process at the border. All visitors to Kenya are required to pre-apply for their visas online
http://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html. Please ensure that you have submitted your application online and are in possession of your visa prior to
embarking on a Nomad tour.
On our camping tours you will have to bring your own sleeping bag as we do not rent out sleeping bags. So it is very important that you don’t forget to pack or buy a sleeping bag before you leave on one of our camping tours. We often get asked what sort of sleeping bag is needed for our tours. There are many factors that you should consider when choosing your sleeping bag including, weather conditions, season and the minimum temperatures at night time. Each sleeping bag will have a temperature rating that will indicate either a Risk (weather colder than -3°C), Transition (2°C – 5°C), or Comfort (6°C – 10°C) rating. Also take into account what type of sleeper you are; do you like to layer, do you easily get cold or do you tend to heat up.
Nomad does provide mattresses, which are 5 cm thick, so you have a comfortable night’s sleep. Pillows are also not provided, so if you would like to use one, please make sure you bring one with you. Please refer to the section “travelling in our purpose built trucks “ to 9 see what our trucks look like. For this reason you need to be considerate about how much luggage you carry with you as anything that can’t fit inside a locker will impact everyone else’s space.
Premium Lodge Tours: Your luggage is limited to one suitcase and one day pack weighing no more than 23kg, per person. On our
premium lodge tours, we do allow hard suitcases but please take note of the dimensions (60cm deep x 30cm high x 80cm width).
You should pack the following (this list is based on suggestions only):
Kit for all weather conditions including:
- 2/3 shorts/skirts
- 1 jacket/anorak
- Tracksuit/pullover
- 2 pairs of long pants/jeans
- 2 pairs of walking shoes/boots/trainers
- 1 pair of sandals
- 3 or 4 T-shirts/short sleeve shirts or sundresses
- 2/3 Long Sleeve Shirts
- Smart casual change of clothes
- Swimwear
- Underwear & socks
- Sun Hat – preferably that covers the back of your neck.
- Raincoat
- Kikoi/sarong
- Beanie and gloves if you’re travelling in Winter
Your clothing should be easy to wash and dry and should preferably not need ironing. Avoid synthetics, which can be very uncomfortable in hot weather. Many people underestimate how cold Africa can be – remember your jersey/jacket! There are also nights that are warm but you must still wear clothes that cover arms and legs from mosquitoes, or there are days that are warm but
nights that are freezing so plan carefully. Take a set of casual but smart clothes for the occasional evening out in a restaurant or a night club. If you wear glasses or contact lenses it is advisable to bring a spare pair along. Additional Items (suggested packing list only):
- Towel & facecloth
- Baby wipes/ wet wipes
- Personal toiletries
- Sleeping bag and pillow (if you are participating in a camping tour)
- Torch & enough spare batteries
- Camera & spare batteries and memory cards
- Water bottle. (our trucks are fitted with purified water filter for access to filtered water)
- Penknife
- Insect and mosquito repellent
- Suntan lotion, sun block & after sun lotion
- Sunglasses
- Watch
- Biodegradable laundry detergent
- Pair of gloves if you are gorilla trekking
- Vaccination certificates (if applicable)
- Money
- Small sewing kit
- Clothes line and pegs
- Small scrubbing brush
- A small padlock for your luggage locker in the truck
- Small basic First Aid kit (painkillers, band aids, after-sun lotion, eye drops, anti-diarrhea tablets.)
Accordion ContentPlease check the itinerary for your specific tour as generally you will need to take along a smaller day pack for excursions. For example on our Cape Town to Victoria Falls tour you will need a smaller bag, big enough to bring basic equipment (toiletries and clothes) for two nights – when we visit Khwai Conservation Area as we will be separated from the truck for 2 nights and space is limited it the 4 x4 open
safari vehicles. On our East Africa tours, where Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater is included as part of your itinerary, you will also require a smaller backpack to take only the essential items along.
It is very important to separate situations that you control from situations which Nomad controls. It is unreasonable to hold Nomad
responsible for things beyond our control. Understanding this will help you get some perspective and to have realistic expectations.
This is an adventure tour and we do our best to take you into remote areas and by definition we are attempting to remove ourselves
from the world as you know it.
Classic Explorer & Classic Lodge tours: On some of our tour departures we have German or Italian translators who are there to assist guests
who are not confident in speaking English. Please keep in mind that these translators are often foreign students and are sometimes not
acquainted with the tour. They are not guides and are only there to assist with the communication between the guides and guests.
They are not specialized in tour guiding nor are they professional interpreters. They will not do line by line translations directly from the
guide to the guest unless requested to do so by the guests. These tours are still conducted in English by an English speaking guide,
however the translator is there to assist with the general translations.
Comfort Tours: On selected departure dates we offer German Guided tours which have a qualified German Guide on board the
truck. These tours are different from the German Translated tours as these tours are for guests who don’t speak English.
Included in your tour are three meals a day (unless otherwise specified on your tour dossier). If you have any special requirements,
please inform us at the time of your booking. We unfortunately cannot cater for requests at the start of the tour.
Special Requirements
Please confirm to us in writing if you are a vegetarian or if you suffer from any allergies (i.e nuts, milk, fish). Where possible our guides
do try and accommodate clients with intolerances (i.e. gluten, lactose), however we cannot guarantee the availability of specialty foods
en-route and we therefore recommend you to bring these items with you or purchase them prior to departing on your tour. Likes and
dislikes in food preferences cannot be accommodated; only allergies and life threatening situations will be regarded. The below is a
guideline on is what we are and are not able to accommodate on our tours. It is important that you discuss your dietary requirements
with us during your booking phase so that we are aware of your requirements and can provide clarity on any topic.
– Celiac – accepted on tour
– Vegetarian – accepted on tour
– Pescatarian & vegan – accepted on tour, however as this is a dietary preferences, it is treated like vegetarians. Any special
preferences should be taken care of by the guest as we are not able to fully purchase or make all items available on tour.
– Halaal & Kosher – on request only prior to booking your tour
– Lactose intolerant – accepted on tour and will receive the same meal as other guests, with the exception that products that
may contain lactose will be excluded from the guests’ meals. Special cheese/milk etc must be purchased by the client and
brought along, should certain products be preferred.
Classic Camping & Lodge Tours: We are able to cater for specific dietary requirements to a degree, however please keep in mind that
you are travelling with a group and the guides generally prepare meals on two gas burners so it is not possible for them to prepare
regular meals, gluten intolerant, lactose intolerant and vegetarian meals all at the same time. Where possible, our guides will
accommodate clients who have indicated their dietary requirements prior to the tour departing.
If you are vegan, the guides will provide you with salads, vegetables, fruits, rice, beans, pasta, cereals and breads however their budget
and time does not allow them to shop for quinoa, seeds, nuts, tofu, soya milk and other protein substitutes. Please keep this in mind
when going to the supermarket so that you can supplement these foods for yourself, it will be at your own expense, the guides will
however store it for you in their fridge.
When travelling through Africa, the guides are briefed to shop at supermarkets as far as possible, as shopping at street vendors could
be a health risk to the guests as there is no indication as to where or how the vendors grow, harvest and transport their produce.
Guides have to be responsible and ensure that their produce comes from reliable sources and this can generally only be done by
shopping at the supermarkets. The prevalence of street vendors also means that there is thieving from local farms who support the
local industry, and this in turn means that the farms become unsustainable, leaving the community in a worse off position.
Breakfast: As breakfast is served very early in the morning (if there is driving or activities to be done) it is a simple but filling breakfast:
Tea and coffee, breads and spreads, cereals, yoghurts, fruits and on occasion, when there is time for a later breakfast, guides will serve
a hot breakfast of scrambled eggs, porridge, bacon or beans.
Lunch: Lunch is generally served at a picnic spot next to the road en route to a destination. As the guides only have approximately 45
minutes to get everyone off the truck, prepare lunch and then get everyone back on the truck again, lunches consist of sandwiches and
salads (rice salad, pasta salad, tuna salad and green salad) which are quick and easy to prepare but which are quite filling.
Dinner: This is when the guides get time to prepare a delicious meal and they focus on a substantial protein, vegetable and
carbohydrate dinner. We serve traditional campfire cuisine consisting of braais (BBQ), potjie (stew), bobotie (mince), spaghetti and fish
and chicken dishes. All meals (on both accommodated and camping tours) that are included as per the dossier are prepared at the full
service adventure truck. This is a unique adventure in itself where you get to dine under the stars with your new found friends and
experience the real sights and sounds of Africa!
Most evenings are spent at camp talking about Africa. Your tour dossier will have details of where you will be each night. After or during
dinner, guides will do briefings, please use this opportunity to discuss things with them. Standards of food in East Africa are not as high
as they are in Southern Africa as there is much less time for preparation (the days on the road are longer in East Africa), food is a lot
more expensive and there is not as much variety available.
Premium Lodge Tours: All meals (breakfast and dinner) on our premium lodge tours are served in lodges where we stay. We are able
to cater for specific dietary requirements to a degree, however these requests need to be made well in advance of the tour departing.
Please ensure that you are familiar with the exact weather conditions to be expected on your particular tour and be prepared because
the weather in Africa can be extreme. In the rainy season, prepare to get wet and in the dry season, prepare to get hot. The weather is
part of an African adventure but it can be a tough taskmaster.
KENYA AND TANZANIA
Home to one of wildlife’s most spectacular shows, the Masai Mara, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti National Park provide
dramatic scenes of mass animal migration. The wildebeest travel throughout the year in a clockwise directions, constantly in search of
food and water and a safe place to have their babies. From December to March the Ngorongoro Crater and the Southern Serengeti
have vast plains of grazing animals. This is also the calving season which attracts a large amount of predators. This is one of the best
times of year to be in these areas. From July to October the herds gather along the Grumeti and Mara Rivers and cross into the vast
plains of the Masai Mara. This is another time of year where game viewing is of epic proportions and you have an opportunity to
witness the wildebeest crossing the rivers and falling prey to the crocodiles.
UGANDA
Uganda can be visited throughout the year however tracking gorillas in the rainforest between the rainy months of March to April may
find you getting quite muddy! The best times to travel to Uganda would be between June and October and from December through to
March. The temperature averages 25 degrees celcius during the daytime
SOUTH AFRICA
Kruger and Safari in Kwa-Zulu Natal and Eastern Cape
The best time to experience a safari in South Africa is from June to October when it is dry and the animals move to the waterholes. This
is the best time to see game as the grass is low, the weather is temperate and the animals concentrate in areas where they are visible.
Cape Town
Our secret seasons are from September to November and January to March. For those wanting to stay away from the crowds, this is
your time to travel! If you’re keen to join in on the holiday festivities and be part of South Africa’s mass migration to the Cape,
December is for you! From April to September Cape Town goes crazy with winter specials and you can pick up accommodation and an
outstanding meal for almost half the price of what you would have paid in Summer.
MOZAMBIQUE AND MALAWI
The dry, Winter months of May to November are the most comfortable times to visit these tropical countries. In December to February
there are tropical downpours that may lead to a very hot and steamy holiday. Don’t miss out on these destinations, they are some of
the most magical and underrated places in Africa!
BOTSWANA
The Delta is fed by rains which fall in faraway countries and the area that the water will cover will expand from approximately 9 000
square kilometres to 16 000 square kilometres. The arrival of the water will take place between December and July. The rains in the
Delta are generally between November and April, this is a good time for the area if you are a bird enthusiast or are interested in the
vegetation. When the vegetation in the Delta dries out, the animals start concentrating in areas where there is still water available for
them, they are much easier to view and the best time of year for game viewing is May to October.
NAMIBIA
Namibia is just always amazing! No matter what time of year you visit, the wide open spaces and spectacular big skies and scenery are
otherworldly. The cold Benguela Current cools down the coastal areas and the desert bakes inland, this is Mother Nature’s
masterpiece! Nights tend to get chilly while the days are warm to hot.
SWAZILAND
The dry winter months of May to October are the best times to visit Swaziland in terms of the weather but there are also two festivals
that are held in Swaziland which offer a great display of traditional African culture. The Reed Dance which is usually held in August or
September and the First Fruits festival which is normally in January, are two events that should be on the top of your bucket list.
ZIMBABWE
If you want to see the falls in full force, and the smoke that thunders, make sure you visit Victoria Falls in April or May. Be prepared to
don your poncho and witness the world’s largest curtain of falling water. If you visit a little later in the year, usually between September
and December, the water is lower and you are able to sit in The Devils Toilet Bowl which is a rock pool at the top and on the edge of the
falls. If you’re keen to try your hand at white water rafting, the water is normally low enough between August and December. For game
viewing in Hwange, the dry Winter months of May to September are optimal.
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The African sun is fierce, especially in Namibia and Botswana and we suggest a factor 50 sunscreen and that you wear a hat. From
October until April you can experience extremely hot temperatures and during the winter months the nights can be extremely cold,
even dropping down to below zero, but the days are generally warm to hot. In Southern Africa, the short rains are from October to
December, but the main rainy season begins in February and can last until April, Cape Town on the other hand experiences a cold
winter with lots of rainfall from April to September.
In Central and East Africa the rainy season is from December to around April while Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia experience low
average rainfall, usually during the summer months from October to April.
Please note that this is only a general indication and the weather is not within our control and sometimes the rains start earlier or finish
later, or don’t come at all. Local conditions also prevail, for example if you’re camping on the rim of a crater or close to the seaside,
conditions can be affected by the geography of the area so prepare for all seasons.
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The vehicle has a safe for passports, money, credit cards. Please use this facility as lost passports and money cause delays and may
result in you having to leave the tour. The vehicle safe is not large enough for cameras, cell phones, ipods and other digital equipment
and these items should be kept in your day pack and your day pack should be kept with you at all times. On our premium 12-seater
trucks, each guest will have his/her own key safe for small, personal items. These safes are installed next to your seat.
The camps that we use are generally safe but please be aware all the time as tourists are easy to spot targets in Africa, as well as in the
rest of the world! Make copies of travel documents and keep separate from the originals. Also photograph all documents and serial
numbers of your items and email a copy to yourself.
Your possessions are your responsibility at all times and Nomad will not take responsibility for damaged, lost or stolen personal items. It
is advised that you take out comprehensive travel insurance if you are planning on bringing expensive items like digital cameras, ipads,
ipods and laptops on tour. We strongly suggest that you leave computers at home.
Although all care and attention will be exercised, neither Nomad Adventure Tours & Holidays CC, it’s agents, employees or operators
will be liable for any damage or loss caused due to the storage of valuable items or money in the truck safe or inside the vehicle.
Although our trucks do have USB ports for the charging of devices – please make sure that your device is compatible with USB charging
before plugging in your device.
Please ask the guide to stop if you would like to take photos at any time as everyone’s photo requirements are different. Please stock
up on memory cards and spare camera batteries before departure as these can be difficult to find en route and there are not always
charging facilities available. If you are going on a tour to the Serengeti National Park, Khwai Conservation Area or Kruger National Park
you may find that you take a lot of pictures trying to get that perfect shot. Please take care of your photographic equipment in the
dusty areas we pass through. At some camp sites power points to recharge batteries for video/digital cameras are available, but you
will have to provide the necessary connections and adaptors.
Each country we travel to has their own specific conditions and regulations when it comes to the flying of drones. These regulations are
governed by Civil Aviation Authority and include (but not limited to) the acquisition of permission to fly over properties. Drones are
banned in National Parks and game reserves and in most cases, permits are required. We therefore recommend that drones are not
brought along on tour unless you have all your paperwork and permits authorized upfront by the relevant parties/authorities.
Please refrain from taking pictures at border crossings, government buildings, and military installations and avoid photographing army,
police or anywhere else if your guide advises against it.
Please remember we are guests in the countries we visit and respect local customs and feelings. Certain tribes in Southern and Central
Africa do not allow their picture taken so please ask your guides before photographing whether it is permissible or not. You may also
have to pay a nominal fee to take photos of some local people (especially Masai).
Nomad is committed to the principles of responsible environmental tourism and it would be appreciated if you would respect the
customs, laws and environment of the countries and areas we visit. Please be ‘green-minded’ and dispose of rubbish in the appropriate
manner. We do have a dustbin on board and we ensure that we have cleaned up everything before leaving our camp sites.
While we do include all meals (as outlined in your tour dossier), access to filtered water in the truck and a wide variety of activities and
included highlights – there are other expenses such as, tips, souvenir shopping, snacks, drinks, optional activities and bottled water you
have to budget for yourself.
Optional Activities: We provide you with a great tour however there are always additional optional activities that you can do en route,
below you will find a selection of Optional Activities that can be booked on the tour you have chosen. Please keep in mind that in the
winter months, we lose five daylight hours, so it may happen that not all optional activities are available during these months. Also, if
there are circumstances that mean we arrive later at camp than expected, an optional activity may not be available. The reason that
these activities are optional is because they cannot be guaranteed. There are of course more Optional Activities than are mentioned,
feel free to participate in whichever you prefer.
Your guide will also help you choose what is best for you. If you want to go white water rafting or bungee jumping we will make sure
you book this with the safest and most professional operator. Some optional activities operate concurrently so the group may have to
decide as a team which optional activities they’d prefer to do.
Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to do all of the activities on offer. We keep our tour price as low as possible without
compromising the quality of the tour so that you have choices as to what you’d like to do. The optional experiences and activities are
there to give you a break from the routine of travelling adventure tour style. They enhance your holiday and give you an adrenaline
rush when you need one! These are selected for their value for money, enjoyment factor and feedback from our guests, however, they
are not endorsed by Nomad and Nomad carries no responsibility for the activities. It is completely up to the guest and their own
discretion as to whether they’d like to participate in an optional activity or not.
Optional activities are not included in the price of the tour for a few reasons:
Not everyone can afford to do them all
Not everyone wants to do them all! (No point in throwing you out of a plane if you can’t bear heights!)
Optional Activities are not always available and are time, season and weather dependent
We leave the running and safety of these specialised activities to the people who do them best. We take you there and then let the
professionals take care of you in pursuit of your thrills and spills! If you are trekking with gorillas, please be aware that there is an
additional payment required for the Gorilla and Chimp Permits. This is a conservation fee and a non-refundable prepayment in US
Dollars is required to secure your permit. Passport details are also required in order to confirm your permit.
Money can make or break a tour so make sure you have enough and tailor your trip to fit your pocket. Africa is not cheap so spend
wisely and note the prices of the optional activities in your tour dossier when planning for your tour.
In Southern and East Africa, both local currencies and US Dollars are accepted. The conversion rates for local currencies do however
fluctuate quite regularly so if you plan on using local currencies in the countries you visit, please check the exchange rate before you
depart on tour. An example of a website that you can use to check a currency against your own is www.xe.com.
Cash
If you are carrying US Dollars, always make sure that they have been printed after 2008 and if possible, request that your bank provides
you with notes that are not torn or severely creased as you may find that the bills will not be accepted if they are not in a good
condition. Request that your bank provides you with a range of bills so that you can use the smaller ones for tipping and the larger ones
for settling bills if required. Carry your cash in a flat money belt on your body however always keep a small amount in a more easily
accessible place so that you can access it easily if required.
Credit cards
Most of the major Southern and East African cities do have credit card facilities available, however they may charge you a surcharge to
use the facility. Visa and MasterCard are the two most widely accepted credit cards in Africa, while Diners and American Express may
not always be accepted. Cards should have a chip and pin if you plan to use them to withdraw money from ATMs. Please be sure to
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advise your bank before you travel that you will be using your card in a different country as they may block access to your card if they
do not know that you are travelling.
ATM / Debit Cards
ATM cards are a good way to withdraw local currency on arrival in a new country. This may not always be possible but it is an option in
most cases. Cards should have a chip and pin. The amount that you withdraw depends on how long you will be in the country for and
what you plan to spend your money on while you’re there.
Street Vendors
You may encounter black market traders on arrival in countries who will offer to exchange your USD’s for a more favourable rate than
the banks. Please don’t be tempted to do this, it is not worth the risk or the hassle and it is not good practice to display your foreign
currency.
A constant, reliable electricity supply cannot always guaranteed when travelling in Africa. Some remote places reply on generating
units that often switch off at certain hours of the day/night and do not supply a constant flow of power. We also make use of remote
areas such as Khwai conservation area (Botswana) where there is no access to electricity or any power source. Certain countries such
as South Africa practice a method of “load shedding” to curb the usage of high electricity demand. This could result in power cuts of up
to 2 hours per day, sometimes more.