Safari Essentials
Travel Insurance:
Certain safaris carry a medical evacuation insurance. This is to the nearest suitable hospital and does not replace normal travel insurance. Other safaris carry a mandatory requirement of travel insurance. Please ensure that your travel insurance covers personal effects, personal accident, medical travel expenses, baggage, cancellation and curtailment prior to arrival.
General Safety:
As anywhere in the world, take standard security precautions such as not walking alone at night in the city, leaving baggage unattended at airports, and venturing into unfamiliar areas. Do carry a record of your passport number, air tickets, traveler’s checks and travel insurance.
Wildlife Safety:
The animals you will be seeing in the wild are not tame by any means. Do not be fooled by their relaxed attitude as it can change in an instant. Most safari lodges and camps are unfenced, and have potentially dangerous game wandering through. Do not go wandering off on your own without a guide, even to your room unless you have been advised otherwise. Do not leave your room after you have retired for the night.And most importantly, listen to the camp staff and guides as the safety precautions are there for your safety and need to be strictly adhered to.
Never approach or attempt to feed any wild animal, especially on foot. This is very important near lodges and campsites where animals have become accustomed to humans.
Money:
Most international airports have banks where money can be changed and facilities are usually available at lodges, hotels, shops and restaurants. ATM’s are widely available in South Africa and accept many international bank and credit cards. Major credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted in commercial establishments, whereas American Express and Diners Club are not accepted everywhere.
Tipping Guidelines:
At the end of your stay at a private game lodge, most guests will want to tip both the ranger and the tracker. Tipping guidelines vary from lodge to lodge, but plan to give the local equivalents of about US $5-10 per person per day to the ranger and not much less to the tracker; an additional tip of US $25 for the general staff would be sufficient for a couple staying two days. For porters it is US $1 per person, for waiters at lodges it is US $1-2 per person per meal.
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