PRE-DEPARTURE INFORMATION

BEFORE YOUR TOUR

If you only do one thing before coming on tour with us – please make sure that it involves sitting down, putting your feet up and reading through this pre departure information, it will change your experience! Our booklet is available to download in PDF format below...

THE 10 MOST IMPORTANT TOURING TIPS

GENERAL

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.

LIFE ON TOUR

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.

Both crew members have extensive experience in what they do, but only one may be tour leader (either the driver or the courier/cook). Although our guides are equipped for the work they do, please remember they are human too. Adventure tours place enormous demands on our guides due to the nature and duration of the tours. If you are unhappy or have any concerns we ask that you have a quiet conversation with your guide to address these matters. Guides do this job because they love Africa and want to share it with our guests, we request that they are treated with respect as this is how they treat their guests. It should also be noted that guests should not hold guides responsible for things that are out of their control. On occasion the tour leader and driver will need to make a decision with regards to health, safety, security and circumstances beyond their control. This may not always be a popular decision but as far as possible, your guide will take into account the wishes of the group as a whole, your understanding and patience at these times will be much appreciated. Sometimes both crew members will need to discuss the matter together, this means that you’ll not always have someone in the back of the vehicle to answer questions and remark on certain locations. For anything that you would like to know or have explained, please ask the guides so they may assist. In terms of the information that is provided on tour, some guests prefer more information, others prefer less, if you feel that you’re not receiving enough information, or that you’re receiving too much, please let the guides know so that they can do something about it. It is always easier to sort this out on tour than to complain about it afterwards. The Tour Leader has complete authority on tour and his/her decision is final however you are free to contact the Nomad office on the emergency contact number if you feel that you’d like to speak to one of our representatives. Each tour will always be accompanied by a Tour Leader who is responsible for the safety, mental and physical wellbeing of all guests and fellow crew members. On our classic tours, a courier (cook) is responsible for menu planning, shopping and food stock control and meal preparation. Our drivers are there to maintain and inspect the truck before all departures, before, during and after all tours. These roles are interchangeable whereby your Tour Leader could be your driver and/or a courier, however you will always be accompanied by a minimum of 2 crew members.

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.

In general tipping in restaurants is expected and is around 10% for good service, more if you have received exceptional service, and, feel free not to tip at all if you received poor service. Tipping taxi drivers etc is really at your own discretion and not always expected. If in doubt please ask your guides. It is expected to tip porters and car guards. Ask your guides how much is appropriate in local currency. Our crew can be tipped if you feel that they have done a good job and/or gone above and beyond the call of duty. The best way to arrange tips is to elect one person in the group to collect the money. We recommend USD2-3 per day per person, per guide as a fair tip. So if you have 3-crew on a tour, we would recommend that 3 envelopes are used and each crew member’s name written on one. Place what you feel is fair into each envelope and the elected person can give these to the crew at the end of the tour. If you do not feel that the crew deserves a tip, please, do not tip them. Please remember that tipping is only for exceptional service and is not at all compulsory or expected.
Travelling in a group offers many advantages and allows you to share the experience with like-minded fun-seekers! It’s also a more affordable and more secure way to explore an unfamiliar continent. Making friends with your fellow travellers will certainly help you make the most of your tour and an open mind may sometimes be necessary as we have a range of cultures and nationalities on our trucks. The guides are there to ensure that the tour runs smoothly and this includes the group dynamic. If you feel that someone is behaving in an unsociable way the right thing to do would be to mention this in a non-confrontational way to the individual. If you do not feel comfortable with this please speak to our crew. You are travelling in a vehicle together and the best way to avoid petty conflict is to follow the Guide’s schedule with regards to keeping the vehicle and environment clean and tidy at all times, the fastest way to lose friends on tour is to leave your smelly hiking boots all over the place. In all honesty, it is very rare that we have passenger conflict on tour and we feel very lucky that the Nomad guests have always been like-minded and considerate people and we hear far more stories about people making friends for life (as well as meeting future husbands and wives) than we do about the very rare unsociable passenger problem.
The days usually start early and end late, although a lot of time is spent travelling, we do include a lot into every day. Expect some frustrations, you are in Africa and things don’t work that well sometimes. Coming on tour with an open mind, flexible attitude and realistic expectations will ensure you have a great time. An average day on tour begins around 6am and departure is after breakfast at around 7am. There are some mornings that need a very early start to reach our next destination, or to photograph a spectacular African sunrise – it’s all part of the adventure. Prepare yourself for the worst, especially in winter when days are shorter. We lose approximately 5 hours of daylight in winter so it may happen that you’re setting up your tent in the dark or that some optional activities are not available then. Travellers will often request that a guide stops during the day for a bathroom break, shopping stop or photo stop. This means that every couple of hours the guides will stop somewhere for the guests to do this. Often they will choose a shopping mall or a fuel station to do this as these have a good selection of items for people to purchase and they also usually have the best ablution facilities. We usually take a lunch-break en route and depending on the distance to be covered, afternoons are often spent relaxing or exploring the lay of the land. Usually every few days, we will spend a couple of nights at one venue to break the travel routine.

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.

Our Purpose Built Nomad Trucks: The transportation on tour is a major component of all our tours. These tours are road trips and incorporate long drives, bumpy roads and possible mechanical problems, also, digging your truck out of mud is sometimes a considered a highlight. These setbacks are what you make of them so please be prepared and note that we have trucks and not buses. Your crew will be very unhappy if you call them bus-drivers. No bus or other vehicle is designed out the box to operate under the conditions in which our trucks run and this is why we build them ourselves. We run a strict maintenance program and all of the trucks are on a permanent rotation schedule. Unfortunately break-downs are not uncommon so if a problem occurs, please be patient as it can take time to resolve mechanical problems in Africa so make the best of the situation. The suspension system on adventure trucks is a spring pack system. These packs balance the weight of the truck and assist with lessening the impact of bumps in the road. This does feel different to your standard coach air shock system as it is a little harder, however the air shocks are not able to handle the conditions of the roads that we travel in these trucks. If an air shock fails, it prevents the truck from moving at all, the spring packs do not have this effect and would be able to get the truck to a place where it can be mended if there is a failure. I can guarantee you that your guides and our operations team will have any situation like this as top priority and will do all in their power to ensure that you get back on the road as soon as possible. Classic Camping & Lodge Tours: Nomad has the newest and most modern fleet around. Our vehicles are custom built in our workshop and conform to the highest safety standards. All our designs are approved by the South African safety regulator (NRCS) and built according to strict standards. While there are similarities between our vehicles, our camping/accommodated trucks have 24 seats (although we take a maximum of 20 guests) and additional packing space for camping equipment. In 2024, we acquired new trucks and upgraded their bodies, which consist of three main components: Body, Chassis, and Features (seats, lockers, equipment). Our small group trucks are 2018 models with internal components replaced in 2024 and ongoing upgrades for mechanisms and electricals. We performed minor refurbishments in 2021 and major ones in 2024. Most of our truck bodies were built between 2014-2017, and we introduced the current seat configuration during this period. Over the last three years, we replaced 13 seat cushions and added seatback padding in 2024. We conduct major body refurbishments every two years, including a full respray, and have started redoing floors with hardwearing paint. Our chassis cabs are mostly from 2016/17, with new ones from 2024. Trucks typically run for 7-8 years, but low usage in 2020-2021 extended their lifespans. We service trucks every 8,000-10,000 km, instead of the recommended 15,000 km. Tyres are replaced when the tread depth is 4-5mm for tar roads and 6-7mm for gravel, despite the legal limit of 1.6mm. Although tyres generally have a 5-year lifespan, we replace them sooner. We use new tyres on the front and virgin casing retreads on the back, using our own tyres for retreading to ensure we know their history. Ideal for small or large groups, we also have a club area, ideal for playing cards or socialising. We encourage seat rotation so that we can all get to know each other better. Please see the features below. Our camping and accommodated tours are not city to city coach liner trip and there is no air-conditioning or toilets on these trucks. Sub-Contracted Vehicles: During our peak season (traditionally July to end October), your tour might be operated on a subcontracted truck and / or vehicle. These subcontracted vehicles will be of a similar standard to the Nomad truck. Please note that Nomad makes use of 4×4 safari vehicles when entering certain National Parks to fulfil our safari drives (Khwai Conservation, Serengeti National Park, Masai Mara National Park etc). Premium Lodge Tours: Our 12-seater trucks have been designed with the more discerned traveller in mind. We offer ample leg room with air-conditioning and an on-board toilet as some of the features. These vehicles are for maximum 12 clients, but makes for easy travelling even when full. Please see the features below. Premium Mini-Bus Tours: Our 12-seater mini bus operates on 3 routes, namely the South African Explorer, Kruger and Mozambique and our Kruger Big-5 tours. These vehicles are fitted with air-conditioning and luggage is stored in a trailer.
All of our tours cover long distances on the roads of Africa as our passion is to show you the magnificent sights of this continent. This means that there will be many hours spent driving which cannot be rushed for the following reasons: You are in a truck and not a sports car so expect average speeds of approximately 80kph, however there are roads where we are forced to reduce to speeds of 30kph due to bad roads conditions or safety concerns. In some areas, such as Namibia for example, we will spend many hours driving on unpaved/gravel roads. The roads are maintained by local authorities who grade the roads for a smoother driving experience, however grading takes place sporadically and at times not at all. This means that your drive could be bumpier than usual and your truck will rattle. Please keep in mind that this is approximate only and could change drastically based on current road conditions as they do change frequently from day to day. The guides will always have your safety as their first concern. 14 Distances between highlights are often on a bigger scale than those at home, particularly in East Africa. Often there is absolutely nothing between focal points except vast open deserts. Most tours average approximately 350 km per day however there can be stretches of up to 650km in a single day and that’s a long way in a truck so be prepared. We will be travelling along winding dirt roads and your safety is of paramount importance, please keep this in mind when you are tired, hot and irritable. Our drivers are highly skilled and spend a lot of hours on the roads in Southern and East Africa. Their days are long however they do rest their legs at least every two hours on driving days.
Although we do most of the work, the nature of these tours is not that of a beach holiday. A little assistance from the group can make a real difference as it means that the guides have more time for you and more time to make the tour amazing so getting involved definitely enhances the tour experience. This is an adventure, not a holiday. All Nomad classic camping & lodge tours are limited participation tours and what we would like your assistance with is:  Assist with washing up duties  Offer your help with the food preparation if time is pressing  Loading and unloading the truck  Loading and unloading your own bag  Help keeping the truck and cooler box clean (it is your home after all for the next days and weeks)  Help setting up camp  Putting up and taking down your tent. The first time is a challenge, thereafter it’s a breeze! Your tent and camping equipment and kitchen utensils are provided on your tour so please take care of our equipment, as anything broken or lost on tour cannot be easily replaced. Our guides do all the cooking, however you are welcome to ask the guides if you are 16 keen to share your culinary skills with the group. The more you get involved, the better the group experience and not doing your dishes is not a great way to make friends. On our premium lodge tours, loading and unloading your own bag is required, however our crew will offer assistance to ensure the safe storage of all baggage.
An enjoyable trip depends heavily on open and honest communication between yourself, the guides and your fellow passengers. Many problems have their root in a lack of communication, misjudgments and assumptions. Essentially, you have people from all over the world, taken out of their comfort zone, put in a box in the middle of Africa, shaken around and then expected to all get along. Not easy, so it does require a positive attitude because essentially, you are all there for the same reason! On Tour When on tour be sure to keep the communication channels open with your fellow passengers and the guides. This is the key to a successful trip. If you are unhappy, please discuss it because problems cannot be resolved if no one knows that there is a problem. Feel free to approach your guides at any time because the smallest problems can turn into big ones very quickly! Wifi Our vehicles are not fitted with wifi. There will at times be stops that do offer wifi, whether it be complimentary or paid, however, we cannot guarantee the availability of wifi, the signal strength nor the reliability on the various routes that we travel. How others can reach you The easiest option to keep in touch with your loved ones at home is to buy a SIM card of the respective country you are travelling in. Usually you can get sim cards rather easily in major cities and in some instances vendors might even sell them at border posts. Please keep in mind though that there might not be reception in a lot of the areas we travel through. Although you may not be able to contact the outside world easily while you’re on tour, we track you constantly and are always able to find you. Feel free to provide your family with our contact details and should there be an emergency of any kind at home we will be able to contact you almost anywhere. Please bear in mind that in certain instances there may be a charge for this (in some areas there are not even radio facilities) should we have to physically send someone by boat, road or air to your camp site, the person we send will expect to be compensated. Please inform your families that although we can find you – it must be a real emergency – as we will not be sending one of our local contacts 500km over terrible roads to remind you to change your underwear regularly! In an emergency your family can contact us on nomad@nomadtours.co.za or by calling our offices on +27 21 845 7400 and if the call is outside of office hours the emergency contact number is +27 (0)82 578 2199. We advise that you should also contact family and friends before leaving and tell them that you are on an adventure tour and that you will probably be out of contact for that time. There are telephones in some places but do not count on these being all that reliable! In East Africa you can expect to pay up to USD 3 per minute for a phone call. E-mail facilities can be found in major towns and city centres, but it is often very slow and expensive. Electricity Supply If you are travelling through South Africa, you may experience “load shedding”. Load shedding is an energy utility’s (Eskom) method of reducing demand on the energy generation system by temporarily switching off the distribution of energy to certain geographical areas and is only applied when the system has insufficient capacity to fulfil all energy demands. Load shedding is implemented in stages and depends on the extent of the shortage of electricity generation, with each stage requiring more energy to be shed. In the Western Cape, the scheduled electricity outages generally last for about 2.5 hours, while in other parts of the country outages can last up to 4.5 hours. As load shedding can be implemented at very short notice, you may experience this on your tour through South Africa at any point. Some activities are not able to open or operate during load shedding and while we will try our best to avoid missed activities, load shedding is beyond our control.

Miscellaneous

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.

Health & Safety

On each truck we have an insulated cooler box which guests are welcome to use to keep their drinks cool throughout the day. As this box is situated in the truck with the guests, it is up to them to keep the box clean and purchase ice if they would like the box kept cool. If guests have medication that needs to be refrigerated, this is the best place for them to store the medication. It should be stored in a hard plastic, watertight container to ensure that it doesn’t get wet or damaged as it will be in the box with the ice, water and drinks. We do have a freezer on board the trucks if the medication needs to be stored at a cooler temperature. There are instances when you will not be with the truck however (for example 2-nights in Khwai Conservation Area (Botswana), Serengeti National Park, Masai Mara, Mozambique Dhow Safari) and during these times there may be limited facilities available for storing medication in a cool environment.

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.

The guide has authority on tour at all times and this includes decisions regarding the safety of our guests on tour. Guests are not permitted to leave the premises of any overnight property without informing the Nomad Tour Leader and/or a member of the Nomad crew. It is important that you inform us of any medical conditions or prescription drugs that you are taking such as diabetes or asthma etc. as we are sometimes 300km or more from the nearest medical assistance. This is especially important if your medication has to be kept at a certain temperature, we must know about this beforehand. Please report to your tour leader immediately if you are feeling even slightly ill as they may need to make plans for you to get to medical assistance promptly. Many travellers can feel sick within the first two weeks of travelling and this is very common and due to your body reacting to germs and bacteria it is unfamiliar with. Keep this in mind, but do not take it lightly, keep your guides up to date with how you’re feeling. AIDS is an enormous problem in Africa. HIV estimates range between 20% and 50% of the population and in some areas it is even higher than this. Please be careful and practical, condoms are cheap and freely available. Nomad reserves the right to request that a police report be obtained, in the event that a criminal matter has been brought to our attention while on tour. A thorough investigation will be undertaken to ensure due diligence and non-biased facts are brought to the table.
Passengers are required to obey all laws of the countries through which we pass. This particularly applies to the smuggling of contraband and possession of narcotic drugs and firearms. Any passenger found contravening such laws or putting other passengers at risk may be required to leave the tour immediately with no refund. Please remember that we are guests in each of the countries we visit and it is good manners to comply with their customs. Travelling in any country has its potential dangers and in African countries you will find that it is no different. Due to massive levels of poverty, petty theft is rampant. Basic rules apply:  Do not bring unnecessary valuables along with you such as jewelry, expensive watches and electronic goods.  Do not leave your personal possessions unattended  Do not be reckless in your behaviour. Be careful  Always walk together as a group, especially at night  It is also suggested that you photocopy and photograph all your travel documents and belongings and store them separately to the originals. Security of the vehicle is part of the reality of tour life and you will be expected to assist when necessary. Although all care and attention will be exercised, Nomad Adventure Tours nor its agents and employees can accept responsibility for anything deposited in the truck safe or left on the vehicle. Travel insurance for personal belongings is also advisable, as you are not covered by Nomad for personal items such as clothes, cameras etc. You are responsible for your possessions at all times. It does happen from time to time that airlines lose luggage and this can be very frustrating for all parties concerned as the airlines then need to chase down the tour to reach the traveler, the traveler never really knows when they’re going to get their belongings and Nomad is expected to handle all of the ground operations for this. The process is immensely time consuming for everyone so please be assured that Nomad will do our absolute best to ensure that the airlines are able to get your lost luggage to you. Your guides and Nomad cannot be held responsible for any loss, damage or delay with luggage that has been lost or left behind by the airline.
There is a First Aid Kit on the truck which is available in case of an emergency. The guides will not use the kit as a dispensary and we strongly recommend that you take a personal medical kit. All of our guides are qualified in First Aid. Suggested contents of a personal First Aid Kit include:  Lip balm  Anti-histamine cream or tablets  Sunscreen and after sun balm  Pain killers  Anti diarrhea remedy  Moisturiser  Dehydration salts  Elastoplast/band-aids  Insect repellent  Sterile dressings  Antiseptic cream  Sanitizer for own personal use Personal hygiene is very important on tour as you are travelling together in warm to hot climates. Please be considerate and attentive to your personal cleanliness. Wash and sanitize your hands frequently, especially before eating and after using the restroom. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available (our vehicles do not stock sanitizer, you are required to pack you own) Being ill on tour is not fun and the enjoyment of the group as a whole depends largely on everyone being healthy. It is quite normal for some people in the group to have traveller’s diarrhea at some stage of the tour. This is generally not serious, usually being the reaction to the food, water and the anti-malarial tablets. If you suffer from this at any stage please inform your guide immediately. Please take extra care when washing dishes and cutlery, as this is the quickest way for the whole group to fall ill. Make sure that your plates are thoroughly cleaned. We provide anti-bacterial washing up liquid so please use it liberally. We also supply an anti-bacterial soap for the washing of hands. Please ensure that you use it regularly, especially before meals. We use metal plates on tour as they are the most hygienic option. In certain instances, if you require extended medical treatment whilst on tour, it may be required for you to sign off the tour. It is possible for you to re-join the tour at a later stage if you are fit to do so. You will be liable for all costs associated with signing off the tour (including any and all tour days missed) however we will be able to supply you with a letter of support for an insurance claim.
Please note that it is a condition of booking on any Nomad tour that you have adequate medical insurance. We require the details of your insurance policy for our records before you will be permitted to depart on tour so please keep these with you at departure. The medical insurance is so important in the case of an emergency in a remote area (which is most areas we travel to) you will have to be airlifted. If you do not have medical insurance, you will need cash (which means thousands of USD) or you will not be helped during this critical period where every minute counts. Please double check the small print of any ‘free’ credit-card insurance. Your insurance must cover you in the instance that you need to be airlifted to a hospital. As many public hospitals in Africa are below western standards you might have to be airlifted to South Africa for a simple problem. Many insurance policies do not cover adrenaline sports i.e. bungee jumping and skydiving – please check this before you book the activity. Medical insurance is usually relatively inexpensive and we recommend that you buy a separate policy in your country of origin. If you purchase insurance in Africa please note that it will not cover you to be returned to your own country in the event of an emergency, it will only return you to the country in which you purchased the policy. Mandatory Inbound Insurance Zanzibar As of 01st October 2024, Zanzibar requires all visitors arriving in Zanzibar to purchase compulsory insurance. It is essential that all foreigners make necessary arrangements to obtain suitable inbound travel insurance ONLY from Zanzibar Insurance Corporation by visiting www.visitzanzibar.go.tz. The cost of the policy is approximately USD44 per visitor.
One of the most common ailments on tour is dehydration. You should be drinking a minimum of 2 liters of water per day, and even more during the hot summer months. The tap water in the destinations we visit is not always fit for human consumption so your guides will advise you when not to drink the local water. All our trucks are fitted with water filtration systems so you will have access to filtered water throughout your tour. However you can buy bottled mineral water at most camp sites, keep in mind that this can be expensive. Your guides will point out where drinking water can be purchased if you prefer bottled water. (i.e at local shops / supermarkets).
Malaria is a serious problem in Africa however it does not have to be a problem for you as long as you are vigilant about using your mosquito repellent and you take your malaria tablets. Malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes and is more prevalent where there are high concentrations of people and water. The main points to keep in mind about malaria:  Prevent getting bitten by wearing clothes that cover your bare skin. Long shirts, socks, shoes and long pants after dark – most mosquito bites occur below the knee.  Keep your mosquito net closed and be vigilant at sunset as this is when the mosquitoes are most prolific.  Use an effective prophylactic and speak to your doctor about options for antimalarial tablets.  Insect repellent is the single most important line of defense. Make sure you bring enough of an effective (preferably stick or lotion) repellent and that you use it liberally and frequently! You need to look for the active ingredient (DEET) on the bottle. Malaria prophylactics do not prevent Malaria, but do treat it if you come down with the disease. They also prevent you from getting seriously ill. It is not true that Malaria cannot be cured.
We recommend that you have the following vaccinations for Africa: Hepatitis A (Havrax), Cholera, Yellow Fever, Tetanus Booster Shot, Rabies. Please note this guide is for information only – you should consult your doctor or travel clinic for the latest requirements. If you have entered a Yellow Fever infected area, you will be required to have a vaccination before entering into other countries. If travelling further north of Vic Falls, then you will definitely require proof of a Yellow Fever vaccination. Travel Clinics provide vaccinations and Malaria tablets.
At Nomad we do not run booze-cruise tours. We want you to enjoy yourselves and it is great to sit around the fire exchanging stories enjoying your favourite tipple, but the attitude of drinking from early morning until late at night makes for unpleasantness and you dehydrate even quicker when you are consuming alcohol. Most camp sites have bar facilities, we simply ask that drinking is kept to a reasonable level for your enjoyment. We have a firm policy about drugs on tour. We do not tolerate them! Police regularly inspect our trucks and camp sites and we make numerous border crossings. If you are caught in possession of illegal substances we cannot help you. You do not want to add a stay in a local jail to your on tour experiences!
When you are on a safari drive, no matter if it is our Nomad truck or an open 4×4 vehicle, please be as quiet as possible at all times and don’t make sudden movements – this will ensure the biggest success on your game drive. Also, bring along some binoculars if you can. It’s very important to keep in mind when you go on a game drive or walk that you are not in a zoo and no one can ever guarantee which animals we will see and how many animals we will see. All our Nomad guides and all our local partners know where to best spot animals and do have an extensive knowledge about where and when to see wildlife however there is simply no way anyone can ever guarantee to see animals.

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THANK YOU FOR TRAVELLING WITH NOMAD

At the end of your tour you will be provided with feedback forms. These forms are confidential and should be given to your crew in a sealed envelope. If you are not sure of the confidentiality of the feedback form please feel free to email us as well on nomad@nomadtours.co.za. Please make sure to also complete the feedback form as we use the answers on these forms to improve and maintain our service levels. Accommodation providers are subject to change without notice, the accommodation listed in this dossier is our preferred supplier, but sometimes due to availability, we are unable to make use of the property listed in this dossier. If we cannot use the accommodation provider as listed we will substitute another property of similar standards, however, en-suite facilities are not always guaranteed. Have a wonderful tour and see you on the road!
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