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Namibia's Kaokoland Discoverer Escorted Group Tour
30 November 2015
The Epupa Falls
We are very proud to have received a number of awards over
recent years including Best Tour Operator in the latest
Telegraph Travel Awards, as voted by their readers. We came
joint top in the June 2014 Which? Holiday Companies survey
and have also won awards in the Wanderlust Readers’ Travel
Awards, The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, Condé Nast
Traveller and the Guardian and Observer in recent years.
These awards are widely recognised as being the most
respected in the travel industry as they are professional surveys
of the publications’ readerships. With over 500 travel
companies for you to choose from in the UK alone, we hope
you find these awards are an additional reassurance of the
quality of service you can expect from Audley.
Contents
Meet our specialists _______________________________ 4
Introduction to tour ______________________________ 5
Day by day summary of our Namibia's Kaokoland Discoverer
arrangements ___________________________________ 8
Price _________________________________________ 10
Why travel with us? ______________________________ 11
Introduction to the region _________________________ 12
Photographs of the region _________________________ 14
Itinerary in detail ________________________________ 16
Accommodation information _______________________ 27
Charity support ________________________________ 35
General information _____________________________ 37
Terms and conditions _____________________________ 40
Booking form _____________________________ back page
Meet our East & Southern Africa Specialists
4 Meet our specialists
The Africa Team at Audley is made up of twenty
Africa specialists each with bags of passion for and
experience of Africa and Safari. Many of us lived and
worked in Africa before joining Audley and our
knowledge of the different regions of South,
Southern and East Africa is unsurpassed. We return
regularly to our specialist countries, keeping up-to-
date with developments and discovering the best
safaris, lodges and beach hideaways for our clients.
Heading up the Africa team are Regional Managers
Zoë Siu for Southern Africa, Terry Moohan for East
Africa and Laura Bentley for South Africa.
Introduction to our Namibia's Kaokoland Discoverer tour
Introduction to our Namibia's Kaokoland Discoverer tour 5
Tour overview
This tour is specifically designed for those people that want to explore the remote Kaokoland area of Namibia that is
usually difficult to access. This area is home to stunning and varied scenery and geology, specialised fauna and flora and
iconic tribes.
We have set the tour date to enable clients to escape the cold British weather in December and step into the glorious
Namibian summer. It is at the end of Namibia's dry season when the plains and mountains are dry and dusty, the sky is
clear, animals are limited by water availability and are found in huge numbers around permanent water sources in Etosha.
Just out of peak tourist season the country is quiet, and you can enjoy exclusive game drives and the feeling that you have
the country to yourselves.
Starting in Windhoek and taking a circular route through northern Namibia, the tour takes in the best wildlife and cultural
experiences on offer. Etosha offers the opportunity to see big game against the stark backdrop of the vast Etosha pan. Lion,
rhino, cheetah and elephant are some of the specialities here. Travelling by road through the recently opened western side
of Etosha you will pass numerous waterholes, game watching along the way. Leaving Etosha you will enter Kaokoland, past
farming villages where goats and chickens wander over the road to Opuwo - a bustling, central hub for the semi-nomadic
Himba communities. You'll explore villages to gain an appreciation of these fascinating people and visit the stunning Epupa
falls before continuing into the Damaraland region to discover ancient rock art, weird geological formations and search for
the desert adapted elephant and rhino. The trip will end on the stark Skeleton Coast with two nights in the sleepy fishing
town of Swakopmund where you will cruise in search of dolphins and seals and enjoy fantastic fresh seafood.
During this trip there will be the chance to barter in local markets, have picnics beside waterholes and sundowner drinks at
the most stunningly scenic spots. With an expert guide throughout you will gain a true insight to both Namibia's wildlife and
cultural heritage.
Expert guides
The tour will be led by one of our expert Namibian guides. We work with a very small number of guides who are provided
by Ultimate Safaris, our partners in Namibia. Guides are selected for their infectious personalities, enthusiasm and
dedication, as well as their in-depth knowledge of the region. They are trained to the highest levels of professionalism and
expertise and have an incredible knowledge of Namibia and its flora and fauna. We invest in guide training, ensuring that
they are constantly updated and that they never cease adding to their encyclopaedic knowledge.
Vehicles
The group tour will travel around the country in one or two 4x4 air-conditioned safari vehicles. These vehicles have been
specially modified so that every guest has a comfortable window seat with good support. They also carry second batteries
for fridge/freezers, lights and camera battery charging, long range fuel tanks and plenty of water. Most also have VHF inter-
vehicle radios that allow vehicle groups to communicate with each other while 'on the road'. These radios also enable the
guide to communicate with local rangers in the eastern side of the Etosha National Park, ensuring that those special
sightings are never missed when you are in the area.
Early starts and logistics
There are a number of early starts in the itinerary. This is done invariably so as to capture the best part of the day for game
viewing. For this reason we have built in time at leisure, often in the middle of the day, when you can relax. There are also
long days in the vehicle, often on bumpy roads, due to the distances covered during this itinerary and the remoteness of the
areas visited. The vehicle will stop regularly for comfort breaks, but this tour would not be recommended for those who
find it uncomfortable to be seated for large periods of time.
Group size
The group size is between a minimum of four and a maximum of 16. The small size of the group ensures that the trip is a
more personal experience and that you can always hear and speak to your guides. The small group size also ensures that
your experience of a particular sight is not marred by the presence of too many people.
Single travellers
Although we welcome single travellers, due to the complicated logistics of this tour, the single supplement can make this an
expensive option. There are two options for single travellers; you can choose to share a room with another single traveller
on the tour and pay the standard tour price, or if you want to guarantee sole occupancy of a room, a supplement will be
payable. Please note that due to limited numbers of rooms at some of the lodges on the tour, we are only able to accept a
maximum of four single travellers unless you are prepared to share a room.
Introduction to our Namibia's Kaokoland Discoverer tour
6 Introduction to our Namibia's Kaokoland Discoverer tour
Extending your trip
You have the option to extend your trip, either before or after your tour. For example, some may want to go and see
Namibia's dunes and desert before starting the trip while others may like to fly to a beach in Mozambique or Mauritius at
the end of the trip. If you would like to extend your trip please just speak to one of our Namibia specialists.
Activity level - medium
The vast majority of this trip does not require any significant level of physical fitness or agility. However, there are elements
which involve getting in and out of boats and vehicles or walking on rough un-surfaced paths and so a certain degree of
physical dexterity will be required. Elephant and rhino tracking excursions can involve tracking on foot and may be over
some distance. Although speed is not required, a medium level of fitness is advisable. An experienced guide will be on hand
to help anyone should they need it. There is a lot of driving on rough, bumpy roads and game drives can last for four or five
hours at times. Finally, it may also be necessary for guests to carry their own luggage to and from vehicles and their rooms.
Tour health and fitness requirements
To ensure that all participants get the most out of the tour, it is important that you are fully aware of the level of activity
and fitness and medical health required to successfully complete this itinerary. Please read this dossier carefully prior to
confirming your place on the tour, and having established the facts, it is your responsibility to contact us with any concerns
regarding individual levels of fitness, health or ability. Please be aware that our tour leaders have the right to exclude clients
from the tour if they feel they are not sufficiently fit, healthy or able to complete the tour without affecting its safety,
comfort or smooth progress. If you would like to discuss any of these issues further please contact our Namibia team.
Luggage requirements
Luggage is restricted to 20kg per person (not including photographic equipment) in a soft, holdall type bag. Weight is
generally less important than volume as everything is carried with you on safari so you must be able to easily lift and move
your own baggage.
Weather in Namibia in December
December is Namibia's summer and the weather is sunny and can be hot with the occasional rain shower. Namibia receives
a great deal of sunshine with over 10 hours of sunshine in the summer and overcast days are the exception, rather than the
rule. Summer evenings are wonderfully warm and pleasant with temperatures in the low teens. Days are hot with
temperatures in the mid-thirties. December is just outside peak travel season and the land is still dry and animals are
clustered around the waterholes resulting in excellent game viewing. At Audley we believe that it is a great month to visit,
the country is becoming quieter with fewer visitors and you have it largely to yourself. Nearly all lodges have swimming
pools where you can cool off in the heat of the day.
Accommodation standard
The accommodation included in this group tour is of a medium standard. These hotels are typically comfortable and clean
but without all the bells and whistles associated with luxurious accommodation. The quality of food is usually good but
simply styled and with a lot of red meat on offer, so be sure to tell your specialist if you have any special dietary
requirements. The lodges and hotels have been selected due to their locations and the accessibility to unique experiences.
Visas
Namibia UK passport holders do not currently require a visa to enter Namibia. You will though require a minimum
of two clear pages in your passport. British nationals can enter Namibia for a holiday or private visit of up
to 90 days without a visa.
Driving licence
Please note if you are hiring a car in Namibia you must have a UK Drivers Licence with photocard. If you
have an old-style paper licence or a European Licence you must get an International Drivers Licence or
you will not be permitted to collect your car or drive. UK residents can obtain an International Drivers
Licence from major branches of the Post Office for a small fee. Overseas clients should contact their
country's Licensing Authority for information on how to obtain an International Licence.
Light aircraft luggage restrictions
Please note if you are using light aircraft on your itinerary that there is a strict luggage restriction of 20kg
per person including your hand luggage and you must use completely soft bags rather than hard-edged
suitcases. Exceptions to this are the Schoeman Skeleton Coast Safari where only 10kg luggage in soft bags
plus 2kg camera equipment is permitted.
Yellow fever
Introduction to our Namibia's Kaokoland Discoverer tour
Introduction to our Namibia's Kaokoland Discoverer tour 7
If you are travelling to Namibia from a country that is considered to have a risk of yellow fever by the
World Health Organization such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia or Uganda, then you may
be asked to provide proof of vaccination against the disease upon arrival. Please contact your GP or a
medical centre for advice on whether the vaccination is required for medical purposes. Please note that
GPs often advise against a yellow fever vaccination if you are over 60. We recommend checking this
before you book your trip. In this case, it is often possible to get an exemption certificate from your GP.
Important Note: We cannot under any circumstances guarantee that your visa application for any country will be accepted.
However, in our experience refusals are extremely rare. Visa information is given in good faith and is accurate to the best of
our knowledge.
Day by day summary
8 Day by day summary
1 Monday 30
November 2015
You`ll set off on your adventure with an overnight flight from
London Heathrow to Johannesburg.
In flight.
2 Tuesday 01
December 2015
On arrival in Johannesburg, connect with your onward flight
to Windhoek. Here you will meet the rest of the group and
your guide. You will then be driven to your guesthouse with
a short tour of Windhoek en-route. This afternoon will be at
leisure. This evening you will enjoy a welcome dinner at the
guesthouse.
Galton House, Windhoek
1 x Luxury room - Breakfast
and dinner are included
3 Wednesday 02
December 2015
Your tour will depart Windhoek today and you will be driven
north through the Central Highlands towards Etosha, calling
in at the Okahandja Craft Market en-route. On arrival in
Etosha you will enjoy an afternoon game drive in the park
before game viewing this evening at the camp`s floodlit
waterhole which is a real magnet for game.
Okaukuejo Rest Camp, Etosha
National Park
1 x Standard room - All meals
are included
4 Thursday 03
December 2015
Today will be spent exploring the central part of Etosha with
your guide. Your exact movements will depend on the recent
game sightings.
Okaukuejo Rest Camp, Etosha
National Park
1 x Standard room - All meals
are included
5 Friday 04
December 2015
Leaving Okaukuejo you will be driven west through Etosha
towards Dolomite Camp in the newly opened western sector
of the park. Until recently this was only accessible to park
rangers and researchers.
Dolomite Camp, Etosha
National Park
1 x Bush chalet - All meals are
included
6 Saturday 05
December 2015
You will continue west today through Etosha, leaving the
park through the Galton Gate and entering Kaokoland. Here
you will travel through beautiful scenery to your hotel for the
next two nights in Opuwo.
Opuwo Country Lodge,
Kaokoland
1 x Standard - All meals are
included
7 Sunday 06
December 2015
Today you will visit a couple of Himba villages. There will be
the opportunity to talk with the villagers and learn about
their culture. These are not staged villages, just traditional
family settlements who are happy to welcome visitors. You
will then continue north to the Angolan border where you
will see the beautiful Epupa Falls before returning to Opuwo.
Opuwo Country Lodge,
Kaokoland
1 x Standard - All meals are
included
8 Monday 07
December 2015
From Opuwo you will head towards the Damaraland region
of Kaokoland where you will be staying at the first
community run lodge in Namibia - Grootberg Lodge. This is a
lovely little lodge, perched right on the rim of the Grootberg
Plateau and each room at this lodge has incredible views.
Grootberg Lodge, Damaraland
1 x Standard room - All meals
are included
9 Tuesday 08
December 2015
Today will be dedicated to searching for the desert adapted
rhinos that are found in this area.
Grootberg Lodge, Damaraland
1 x Standard room - All meals
are included
10 Wednesday 09
December 2015
This morning you will enjoy breakfast taking in the fantastic
views over the plateau before setting off south towards the
Twyfelfontein area. This afternoon you will, time permitting,
visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Twyfelfontein
famous for its ancient rock art. This excursion may also be
done tomorrow afternoon.
Twyfelfontein Country Lodge,
Damaraland
1 x Standard room - All meals
are included
11 Thursday 10
December 2015
After an early breakfast you will depart in search of the
desert adapted elephants found in this region. You will follow
the river course and will hopefully have good sightings,
although these animals can be very elusive!
Twyfelfontein Country Lodge,
Damaraland
1 x Standard room - All meals
are included
Day by day summary
Day by day summary 9
12 Friday 11
December 2015
Today your journey continues to the Atlantic coast with its
bleak and dramatic scenery. This afternoon will be at leisure
in the small coastal town of Swakopmund.
Swakopmund Guesthouse,
Swakopmund
1 x Luxury room - All meals are
included
13 Saturday 12
December 2015
Early this morning you will set off for Walvis Bay where you
will enjoy a catamaran charter. This is the perfect place to
view Cape fur seals, dolphins, sun fish and occasionally
whales. It is also the best spot for viewing an array of birdlife
including pelicans and flamingos.
Swakopmund Guesthouse,
Swakopmund
1 x Luxury room - All meals are
included
14 Sunday 13
December 2015
Unfortunately today makes the end of your Namibian
adventure as, after an early start, you will be driven east from
Swakopmund back to Windhoek. Lunch will be enjoyed at a
scenic spot en-route and your guide will leave you at the
International Airport. Here you will board your flights home
via Johannesburg.
In flight.
15 Monday 14
December 2015
Arrive home this morning.
Prices
10 Prices
Arrangements as specified per person ____________________________________________________ £4,895
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Please note the following supplements and/or upgrade options per person:
Single Supplement __________________________________________________________________ £480
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Per person deposit required to confirm these arrangements _________________________________ £735
Optional carbon off-setting for your flights per person (see General Information section for further details) ____ £23
The deposit required is detailed above and relates to the itinerary detailed in this quotation. In most cases the deposit is 15% of the
total cost or £200 per person (whichever is the greater), however in some instances a larger deposit is required in order to
secure particular services. Please refer to the Terms and Conditions section at the back of this booklet. Please note if you confirm
your booking within 60 days of your departure date, full payment is required at the time of booking.
How to book
If you have any questions regarding the tour or would like to
hold a no obligation option for a place on the tour, please
contact our Namibia specialists on 01993 838 525 who will be
delighted to assist you. To confirm an option, please send us
a completed booking form and the deposit specified above.
The deposit can be paid by cheque, bank transfer or credit /
debit card. Please make cheques payable to Audley Travel.
Payment by credit card
Please note that we do not charge a fee on deposit payments
by credit card, except when a deposit is more than 15%. In
this situation a charge will apply. Credit card fees are
detailed on the booking form. We charge a credit card fee
due to the high fees charged to tour operators by the credit
card companies. We have chosen to make this transparent
rather than including it within the trip price. You may
therefore wish to pay the balance by bank transfer, debit
card or personal cheque.
Included in the price
All flights as specified in the itinerary
Twin share accommodation as specified
All transfers and excursions as specified
Services of experienced local guides
Sightseeing and entrance fees
Meals as specified in the itinerary
Not included in the price
Meals not indicated within your itinerary
Where applicable, local airport departure taxes; payable
locally on departure in some locations
Items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks, etc.
Tips for your guide and driver (discretionary)
Any camera or video fees at any sites
Entrance fees and other costs when on 'free time’
Travel insurance (see general information section)
Why travel with us?
Why travel with us? 11
The New Mill, our offices on the outskirts of
Witney in west Oxfordshire
Reputation and quality
Well over 80% of our clients have
travelled with us in the past or have
had Audley recommended to them.
When you book with us you are
assured of quality arrangements if only
for the fact that we simply cannot
afford to risk our excellent reputation.
Our service has been recognised by
the readers of well-known publications
including the Guardian & Observer, the
Daily Telegraph and Wanderlust
magazine, where we have consistently
featured in their ‘best tour operator’
awards for a number of years.
Personal service
We are committed to offering you a
very personal service, with all your
arrangements being handled by one
country specialist. They will remain
your one point of contact and will take
responsibility for the smooth operation
of your trip. They are supported by a
team of specialists for that region and a
professional administration and
management team.
From the moment you contact us, we
are here to answer your questions
accurately and honestly, be they about
specific arrangements or any more
general queries you may have. We are
experienced travellers with a thorough
and in-depth knowledge of our
specialist destinations, and the benefit
of this experience is yours throughout.
When we do not know the answer to
a question we will endeavour to find
out and get back to you as soon as
possible.
Quality service when you are
travelling
We take a good deal of care when
choosing our travel partners overseas,
taking into account their quality of
service, guides and vehicles. We have
built up many long-standing
relationships, ensuring that they deliver
the level of service demanded by
Audley clients. Our local guides and
drivers, where appropriate, are the
people you will meet. In many cases we
know them personally, in all cases we
ensure that they are of the highest
calibre. They are there to do much
more than show you specific sights and
provide factual information. They will
be able to tell you about local life,
culture, cuisines and customs; and,
where applicable, act as translator. In
certain parts of the world a specialist
guide is more appropriate, for example,
a wildlife expert.
First class guides
A smooth journey
We have procedures in place for
dealing quickly and efficiently with
mishaps from minor flight time
alterations to more fundamental
changes. If problems do occur we will
rapidly rearrange your itinerary to
make best use of your time given the
changed circumstances, not simply
cancel part of your trip or leave you
sitting in an airport waiting for hours
for a rescheduled flight. Importantly, in
these situations we will do everything
possible to minimise any extra costs
involved – in the vast majority of cases
no extra charges will be made. If a
problem does occur while you are
travelling you can contact us on our 24
hour number. We will do everything in
our power to rectify the problem
immediately rather than allow it to
spoil your trip.
Detailed travel documents
Approximately two to three weeks
before you travel we will send you all
your travel documents presented in a
convenient travel organiser. As well as
your full itinerary and travel
documents, there will also be
additional information such as
recommended restaurants and
practical tips. A few days before you
travel your specialist will call you to
have a final talk through your itinerary
and answer any last minute questions
you may have.
Responsible travel
We have a firm commitment to
minimising the environmental and
social impact of travel, and strive to
ensure that a visit from an Audley
client has a positive effect on the
destination. We have a
firm commitment to the principles of
‘responsible travel’ and have been
awarded AITO 5 star status (the
highest achievable) for our policies and
practises. We continue to work with
AITO, and a number of other bodies,
to improve our policies. For more
details please refer to our website
(www.audleytravel.com/rt) where you
will find details of our responsible
travel policy and also our Travellers’
Code. If you are particularly interested
in these issues, your country specialist
will be able to tell you more.
Legal liability
We are a UK company and hence must
fully comply with English law. When
booking with us you can rest assured
that your arrangements are carefully
planned as we have a reputation to
maintain and are legally liable for any
omissions or negligent acts. You may
not find you have this level of
reassurance if you make your own
travel arrangements independently. [
Introduction to Namibia
12 Introduction to the region
Key facts:
Population: 2.06 million
Land area: 825.42 thousands square kilometres
Major languages spoken: English, Afrikaans, German
Currency: Namibia Dollar
Time difference: GMT+2 hours
Capital city: Windhoek
Introduction
Namibia is a country of vast blue skies and endless horizons. It contains one of the world’s oldest deserts, its highest dunes and
second-largest canyon. In the north of the country, Etosha’s silvery salt pans and surrounding plains teem with game.
Damaraland’s desert-adapted elephant and endangered black rhino roam freely and can be tracked on foot and open 4x4 safari
vehicles. Flying along the Skeleton Coast, you’ll find roaring dunes, huge seal colonies with hundreds of thousands of seals, and
flocks of pelicans and flamingos. Finally, perhaps the most spectacular scenery is found in the south. Climbing a dune at
Sossusvlei to watch the sunrise, it’s easy to see why Namibia is a photographer’s dream. The dunes are enchanting, unspoilt,
and – best of all – you have them all to yourself.
Swakopmund
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Avg Max Day Temperature (0C)
Avg Min Night Temperature (0C)
Avg Hours of Sunshine
Monthly Rainfall (mm) 2 3 6 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1
Windhoek
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Avg Max Day Temperature (0C)
Avg Min Night Temperature (0C)
Avg Hours of Sunshine
Monthly Rainfall (mm) 73 85 85 33 6 1 1 1 3 12 25 34
Introduction to Namibia
Introduction to the region 13
14 Photographs of the region
Top: Lion, Namibia
Left: Giraffe, Etosha National Park
Lower left: Desert elephant, Namibia
Photographs of the region 15
Top: Black rhino, Damaraland
Left: Elephant road sign in Damaraland
Right: Desert elephant in Damaraland, Namibia
Itinerary in Detail
16 Itinerary in Detail
Monday
30 November, 2015
London Terminal: 5 to Johannesburg British Airways - Flight No: BA57 - Dep: 20:45 - Arr: 09:40 - (next day); Class:
Economy Class; Non-stop flight
Tuesday
01 December, 2015
Galton House, Windhoek
Breakfast and dinner are
included
Christus Kirche, Windhoek
Johannesburg to Windhoek British Airways - Flight No: BA6275 - Dep: 12:00 - Arr: 14:00 - (same day); Class:
Economy Class; Non-stop flight
Northern Namibia introduction
Northern Namibia offers a variety of scenery, wildlife and experiences that are
hard to beat elsewhere in the world. The harsh landscapes of the Skeleton Coast
and Damaraland, with its desert-adapted flora and fauna, will leave a lasting
impression. Himba villages, rock formations, and the search for game, including
desert-adapted elephants which roam the vast area, add a unique dimension to a
visit. Thriving birdlife and seal colonies inhabit the shores around Swakopmund and
in the Walvis Bay lagoon. There are also excellent wildlife viewing opportunities
both in Etosha National Park and along the Caprivi Strip.
Windhoek introduction
Windhoek is located at an altitude of 1,646 metres in the country’s Central
Highlands. The Auas Mountains lie to the southeast, Eros Mountains to the
northeast and the hills of the Khomas Hochland to the west. Lying more or less in
the geographical centre of the country, the city and surrounding suburbs are spread
out over a series of picturesque valleys. Although small for a capital city by
international standards, Windhoek remains the political, economic and cultural
centre of the country.
Windhoek is certainly a place worth spending a day or two looking around before
setting off for the rest of the country. The wide streets are lined with cosmopolitan
pavement cafés. Look up and you’ll see old German architecture in soft colours
sitting alongside glittering office blocks. Street vendors cluster under palm trees
with arrays of wooden curios, shops have colourful displays of African art, twinkling
Namibian diamonds and books on every aspect of the country from the Himba of
the Kaokoveld to the ghost towns of Luderitz. People are busy but relaxed, and
stress seems unknown here. The traffic is minimal, the air is clear, and the skies
seem to be permanently blue.
Windhoek is one of Africa’s nicest capital cities. We have always found it very safe and
easy to get around but, although it is rare, there have been incidences of petty theft from
tourists in Windhoek whilst outside their guesthouse or hotel so upon arrival it is advisable
to keep any valuables locked in your vehicle until you are within the property. We would
also recommend as a general precaution to lock your doors when driving around. If going
out to dine in the evening you should book taxi transfers with a reputable company and
your guesthouse or hotel will be able to help you arrange this. In the last few years the
Namibian economy has boomed and small boutiques and restaurants have sprung up
everywhere. You can eat out at fabulous restaurants for very good prices, explore at your
own pace and stay in some beautiful guesthouses that are full of character.
Itinerary in Detail
Itinerary in Detail 17
Namibia's roads have little traffic on them
Windhoek International Airport to Galton House Group tour transfer
After landing in Windhoek and completing immigration formalities you will collect
your bags. You will then be met and welcomed by your Ultimate Safaris guide who
will transfer you into town and to Galton House. You will be treated to a short
orientation tour of Windhoek en-route. On arrival at the hotel, the rest of the
afternoon is at your leisure to relax and settle in. Dinner will be eaten this evening
at Galton House's excellent restaurant where you will get to know the other group
members.
Wednesday
02 December, 2015
Okaukuejo Rest Camp,
Etosha National Park
All meals are included
Kudu, Etosha National Park
Windhoek to Okaukuejo Group tour excursion
After breakfast this morning you will be collected by your group tour guide who
will drive you north from Windhoek through the commercial farmlands of the
Central Highlands. You will stop off at the Okahandja Craft Market where you will
be able to get out, stretch your legs and buy a cold drink. If you would like to you
can try your hand at bartering for some of the many crafts on sale here. Following
a stop here you will continue north to Etosha, entering by the southern gate. You
will continue to Okaukuejo Restcamp, home for the next two nights.
Etosha National Park introduction
Etosha is one of Africa’s largest game parks. Much of it is covered by the silver
Etosha salt pan that shimmers in the heat. To the south of the pan there are open
grasslands and woodland and permanent waterholes that act as a magnet for game.
In the dry season the game congregate in their thousands around the water
sources, leading to some phenomenal game viewing.
On Etosha’s grassveld it is easy to find grazers, including Burchell’s zebra, blue
wildebeest, red hartebeest and black-faced impala. Kudu are found on the margins
of the woodland, while giraffe nibble the acacias and eland come to drink. Etosha’s
cats are thriving with large populations of lion, leopard and cheetah. Elephant occur
in hundred-strong herds while black and white rhino are found particularly in the
west of the park.
Etosha has over 340 bird species and it is common to see ostrich and secretary
birds on the open plains. There are over 35 species of raptor, including the yellow-
billed kite, steppe eagle and pygmy falcon. From black-faced babblers to the
crimson-breasted shrike, birders will not be disappointed.
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18 Itinerary in Detail
Elephant in Etosha National Park
Thursday
03 December, 2015
Okaukuejo Rest Camp,
Etosha National Park
All meals are included
Black face impala, Etosha
Exploring Etosha Group tour excursion
The whole day will be spent on an extended game drive in the central area of the
Etosha National Park to spot the many different animal and bird species that are
found here. Depending on the recent game movements you may travel north
towards Okondeka, south east to the pans of Gemsbokvlakkte, Olifantsbad and
Aus or east towards Homeb, Reitfontein and Halali. This evening you can relax at
the fantastic waterhole at Okaukuejo Camp, spotting game as dusk falls.
Elephants in Etosha National Park, Namibia
Friday
04 December, 2015
Dolomite Camp, Etosha
National Park
All meals are included
Okaukuejo to Dolomite Camp Group tour excursion
Leaving Okaukuejo you will enjoy an extended game drive west through the Etosha
National Park to Dolomite Camp. You will enjoy a picnic lunch en route with your
guide and fellow group tour members. This area is only accessible to guests staying
at Dolomite Camp plus a few Namibian tour operators. This will be a real contrast
to eastern Etosha which has public access - you will see very few other tourists!
You will arrive at Dolomite Camp in the late afternoon after what should have
been a fantastic day of game viewing.
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Itinerary in Detail 19
Saturday
05 December, 2015
Opuwo Country Lodge,
Kaokoland
All meals are included
Lion and ostrich on the Etosha pan,
Namibia
Dolomite to Kaokoland Group tour excursion
This morning will be spent game viewing in the western reaches of the Etosha
National Park before leaving the park through the Galton Gate and travelling on
into Kaokoland. For the next two nights you will be based at Opuwo Country
Lodge and from here you will explore this fascinating area with your guide. A picnic
lunch will be taken en route and your arrival in Opuwo will be in the late
afternoon. You may want to explore Opuwo a little this afternoon or alternatively
relax in the lodge.
Kaokoland introduction
The Kaokoveld is unexplored and will appeal to the adventurer. Big mountain
ranges such as the Etendeka, Tonnesen, Hartmann and Baynes are found here. To
the north you find the Kunene River, which separates Angola from Namibia.
Rainfall in the area is much lower than in the rest of the country and, when it rains,
all the roads get muddy. Even dry riverbeds hide soft traps of deep sand, while the
few that seem damp and hard may turn to quicksand within metres. This area is not
recommended without a guide.
The town of Opuwo is the administrative capital of Kaokoland. It has shops, a
bakery, several garages, a large school and even a short stretch of tarred road in
the centre of town. The town is spread over a low hillside and has no apparent
centre. The outskirts fade into groups of round Himba huts and irrigated maize
fields.
Epupa Falls is one of the highlights in this vast area. About 145 kilometres west of
Ruacana, the Kunene River threads its way through the Baynes Mountains, en route
to the Atlantic. It winds between arid hills and wild, rough-looking mountains on
both sides. As it meanders east, a thin strip of verdant palm-forest lines its path.
Makalani palms extend for about 30 metres from the river itself. Further from the
water the land reverts to its parched, dry state – the preserve of the Kaokoveld’s
semi-desert flora and fauna. The Epupa River widens to accommodate a few small
islands before plunging into a geological fault. This is 35 metres deep in places and,
as the river is sizable, it makes a lot of noise and some spray. Because it is in such
an arid region, it makes this waterfall much more striking than others.
The area has fascinating birds, including fish eagles, various bee-eaters, kingfishers
(ranging from the giant to the tiny malachite kingfisher), louries, bulbuls and
hornbills, as well as rollers, golden and lesser masked weavers, scarlet-breasted
sunbirds, and perhaps even a great white egret.
Dry riverbed, Kaokoland
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20 Itinerary in Detail
Sunday
06 December, 2015
Opuwo Country Lodge,
Kaokoland
All meals are included
Desert elephant in a dry river bed
Exploring Kaokoland, the Himba and Epupa Falls Group tour excursion
Today is spent exploring the area with your guide. You will visit traditional
settlements of the tribes that can be found in this area. The Himba, Tjimba and
other Herero people who inhabit this remote north-western Kunene region are
loosely referred to as Kaokovelders. Essentially Herero in terms of origin, language
and culture, they are semi-nomadic pastoralists who tend to move from one
watering place to another. Other cultures have left little impression on their
traditions and they were not involved to any noteworthy extent in the long
struggle for pasturelands between the Nama and the Herero.
The largest group of Kaokovelders are the Himba, semi-nomads who live in
scattered settlements throughout the Kunene Region, moving several times a year
to seek grazing for their cattle and goats. They are a tall, slender and statuesque
people, characterised especially by the women's intricate hairstyles and traditional
adornments. They rub their bodies with red ochre and fat, a treatment that
protects their skin against the harsh desert climate. The homes of the Himba are
simple dome shaped structures created from saplings bound together with leaves
and plastered with mud and dung. Men, women and children wear body
adornments made from iron and shell beads. With their striking designs, these
items have gained a commercial value and are being produced on a small scale.
The Himba are one of the last traditional peoples of Namibia and you will have the
opportunity to learn about their customs and traditions. You will gain an insight
into their beliefs, way of life and every day routine.
Following your visit you will continue north to the beautiful Epupa Falls (Herero for
'falling waters') on the Kunene River where it forms the northern border with
Angola. The falls are a series of cascades where the Kunene River drops a total of
60m over a distance of about 1.5km, dividing into a multitude of channels and
forming an array of rock pools. The greatest single drop of 37m is commonly
identified as 'the' Epupa Falls. With its richly coloured rock walls, variety of trees
including wild fig, baobabs and waving makalani palms, spectacular sunsets and
perennially flowing waters, Epupa Falls offers much to see, do and experience. Bird
watching is rewarding, especially for the rare rufous tailed palm thrush, as well as
bee-eaters, the African fish eagle, kingfishers (including giant and the beautiful
malachite), rosy faced lovebirds, paradise flycatchers, louries, bulbuls, hornbills and
rollers.
After an exciting day of activities you will return to your lodge in the late afternoon
and the rest of this evening will be at leisure.
The Epupa Falls
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Monday
07 December, 2015
Grootberg Lodge,
Damaraland
All meals are included
Black rhino, Damaraland
Kaokoland to Grootberg Mountain Group tour excursion
Today you will be driven south towards the Damaraland region via the old colonial
settlement at Sesfontein (meaning six fountains). You will have a picnic lunch en-
route at a scenic spot and will arrive at Grootberg Lodge in the late afternoon. The
remainder of the day can be spent at your leisure enjoying the stunning views over
the Grootberg Plateau.
Damaraland introduction
Damaraland has a wild and rugged landscape and is one of Namibia’s least
populated areas. In Southern Damaraland, attractions include the Gross Spitzkoppe
and Brandberg Mountain, both home to a wealth of rock art and best seen at
sunrise. Twyfelfontein has hundreds of paintings and engravings, mostly depicting
animals and their tracks, and perfect for a few hours’ exploration. Driving to and
from these places, you will often encounter donkey carts and tiny roadside stalls
selling gemstones and seed-pod mobiles.
In northern Damaraland there are thriving populations of wild game including
gemsbok, kudu, springbok, Hartmann’s zebra, desert-adapted elephant and the rare
black rhino. Here, tracts of land have been designated ‘concession areas’. These
areas are huge and villages are present but tourism is strictly limited. Operators
work in conjunction with the local communities, creating camps with local guides
and where a proportion of all income goes straight to the community.
Himba girl, Namibia
Tuesday
08 December, 2015
Grootberg Lodge,
Damaraland
All meals are included
Rhinoceros Tracking Group tour excursion
After an early breakfast you will embark on an exciting day of rhino tracking. You
will head out with your guide as well as experienced local trackers to search for
these highly endangered animals by identifying their tracks and tracing them to the
animals themselves. Typically you will set off in the game drive vehicle and once
located you will approach them on foot. The amount of time spent walking today
all depends on the terrain, wind direction and location of the rhinos.
Namibia is home to the larger of the two subspecies of black rhinoceros found in
southern Africa. This is the only population that remains in the wild, unfenced and
outside of reserves occupies this arid area of the western Kaokoveld. The animals
are internationally recognised as a desert adapted group and have large ranges,
favouring mountainous escarpments and ephemeral rivers into the northern Namib
as well, particularly after the rains. They typically walk and feed at night and rest
during the day.
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22 Itinerary in Detail
Desert elephant in Damaraland,
Namibia
Lunch will be had in the field during your excursion and you will return to the
lodge in the late afternoon.
Black rhino in Damaraland
Wednesday
09 December, 2015
Twyfelfontein Country
Lodge, Damaraland
All meals are included
Desert elephant, Damaraland, Namibia
Grootberg to Twyfelfontein Group tour excursion
After an early breakfast you will continue on your safari heading further south into
this wonderful and diverse region of Damaraland. The scenery around
Twyfelfontein is some of the best you will experience on the trip and is typified by
magnificent table-topped mountains, rock formations and bizarre looking
vegetation. The present day landscape has been sculptured by the erosion of wind,
water and geological forces which have formed the rolling hills, dunes, gravel plains
and ancient river terraces. This is one of Earth's true wildernesses.
You will arrive at Twyfelfontein Country Lodge in the early afternoon and if time
allows then you will visit the nearby attractions and geological sites of
Twyfelfontein rock engravings (recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site),
Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes. If you have stopped frequently en-route to
Twyfelfontein then these excursions will be done tomorrow.
Twyfelfontein: Strewn over a hillside amongst flat-topped mountains,
Twyfelfontein's boulders and slabs of red sandstone hold some 2,500 prehistoric
engravings that depict wildlife, animal spoor and abstract motifs. It is arguably the
largest and finest collection of petroglyphs in Africa. The drawings depict animals
such as giraffe, elephant, kudu, lion, rhinoceros, springbok, zebra and ostrich that
once used to drink from a fountain at the bottom of the hill. The abstract motifs
feature mostly circles. Stone tools and other artefacts discovered on the site
suggest that it was occupied over a period of around 7,000 years. During your visit
here you will be accompanied by a local guide and you will follow one of two
circular routes. The first loop takes around one hour of climbing, whilst the other
takes 40 minutes longer. The area of Twyfelfontein is one of Namibia's key
National Monuments and has recently becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Organ Pipes: The Organ Pipes are another geological curiosity in the area and
consist of a mass of perpendicular dolerite columns that intruded the surrounding
rocks around 125 million years ago and have since been exposed in a ravine due to
river erosion.
Burnt Mountain: A rounded hill located a few kilometres away from Twyfelfontein
and the Organ Pipes, known as the Burnt Mountain looks as though it is ablaze at
sunrise and sunset. These fantastic colours are due to a chemical reaction that took
place around 125 million years ago when molten lava penetrated organic shale and
limestone deposits, resulting in contact metamorphism. In ordinary sunlight it
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Itinerary in Detail 23
appears to be a dull black colour and blackened rubble lies to one side like cinders
from the original fire.
Damaraland Road Sign
Thursday
10 December, 2015
Twyfelfontein Country
Lodge, Damaraland
All meals are included
Himba woman in traditional dress,
Namibia
Elephant Tracking in Damaraland Group tour excursion
After an early breakfast you will set off on an exciting 4x4 adventure along the
ephemeral Aba Huab River valley to explore this remarkable region and to search
for game, and in particular the elusive desert adapted elephants if they are in the
area. Damaraland is home to a variety of desert adapted wildlife and hidden desert
treasures. You will return to the lodge for lunch and this afternoon you may visit
Twyfelfontein and the other attractions if you have not done so already.
Alternatively you can relax and enjoy some well deserved leisure time!
Elephant in Damaraland
Friday
11 December, 2015
Swakopmund
Guesthouse,
Swakopmund
All meals are included
Twyfelfontein to Swakopmund Group tour excursion
Today's journey takes you south past Namibia's highest mountain, the Brandberg,
and via the small mining community of Uis before heading west to meet the coast
at Henties Bay. You will then continue south to reach the coastal town of
Swakopmund where you can enjoy the pleasant seaside location and cooler coastal
air. There will be time this afternoon to wander around the town and along the
waterfront on foot if you feel like it, before heading off for dinner at the popular
Tug Restaurant on the jetty which specialises in fresh seafood.
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24 Itinerary in Detail
White pelican resting on a lamp post
Bushmans candle
Swakopmund introduction
The old town of Swakopmund perches between the sands of the Namib Desert
and the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. With misty morning fog it’s a contrast to the
interior, and very refreshing after days in the desert. The streets are wide and lined
with palm trees, the buildings fascinating examples of old German architecture.
There’s an array of curio and antique shops as well as some particularly good
seafood restaurants serving fresh crayfish and Skeleton Coast mussels.
A couple of hours’ drive north of Swakopmund you will find the seal colony at
Cape Cross. It’s certainly worth a visit as it is home to between 100,000 and
240,000 Cape fur seals at any one time. The sand and rocks are covered in seals,
while the sea is a mass of black heads. It’s fascinating to watch the interaction
between them. South of Swakopmund, and equally worth a day’s visit, is the lagoon
at Walvis Bay. Pelicans sweep over the dunes to the sea, while hundreds of
flamingos, avocets and other waders are found in the lagoon. It’s easy to explore
these areas by yourself; however, for some of the less accessible areas (such as
Pelican Point and Sandwich Harbour) a guide is essential.
Seals at Pelican Point
Saturday
12 December, 2015
Swakopmund
Guesthouse,
Swakopmund
All meals are included
Catamaran Charter - Seal and Dolphin Cruise Group tour excursion
This morning you will be collected from your guesthouse for a drive south towards
Walvis Bay. At the Walvis Bay Yacht Club you will board a Catamaran for a
morning's cruising in the lagoon. The morning will be spent exploring the bay
where you'll find a shipwreck, lighthouse and oyster platforms. The area boasts
enormous bird diversity including flamingos and pelicans whilst other sightings may
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Itinerary in Detail 25
Flamingos near Swakopmund
include three species of dolphin, seals, the rare and bizarre mola mola (sun fish),
occasional leatherback turtle and whale.
The journey then proceeds to Pelican Point to take a closer look at the lighthouse
and the resident Cape fur seal colony. The old supply railway lines can still be seen
from the years when the lighthouse was occupied by the coast guards. Moving
around the point, three different types of dolphins may be encountered. The
heaviside dolphins are the most important, as they are endemic to the coast of
Namibia but you may also see dusky dolphins and Atlantic bottle-nose dolphins.
The larger mammals like the Southern right whale and the humpback whale may
occasionally be spotted and with a bit of extra special luck, the mighty killer whales
(Orcas) might make an appearance. Sparkling wine, oysters, snack and beverages
are provided while on board and the trip makes for a wonderfully relaxing morning.
You will return to the jetty at around 12:30pm after which your group will return
to Swakopmund for an afternoon at leisure. You may spend your afternoon either
at your guesthouse or exploring the town under your own steam. There are no
activities pre-arranged or included for you this afternoon so you may also enjoy
one of the many other activities available in Swakopmund, such as a scenic flight or
quad-biking excursion in the dunes. Any of these additional activities can be
arranged and paid for through your guesthouse and your guide will advise you on
the suitability of each excursion.
Flamingos at Pelican Point
Sunday
13 December, 2015
Swakopmund to Windhoek Group tour excursion
After an early breakfast you will be collected from your gueshouse and will take a
drive through the countryside to Windhoek. You will stop off en-route for a scenic
picnic. On arrival in Windhoek you will be transferred to the airport in time to
connect with your international flights home. On arrival at the airport you will say
goodbye to your guide after what should have been a fantastic and memorable trip.
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26 Itinerary in Detail
Seals at Pelican Point
Evening in Swakopmund
Windhoek to Johannesburg British Airways - Flight No: BA6274 - Dep: 14:55 - Arr: 16:50 - (same day); Class:
Economy Class; Non-stop flight
Johannesburg to London British Airways - Flight No: BA56 - Dep: 20:15 - Arr: 05:15 - (next day); Class:
Economy Class; Non-stop flight
Monday
14 December, 2015
Arrive home this morning.
Important Notes
Flight times and the daily order of sightseeing are subject to change. Transfer times are approximate and subject to local conditions at the time of travel.
All flight times are local.
Accommodation
Accommodation 27
OUR ACCOMMODATION GRADING SYSTEM
Your accommodation is described on the following pages. Please do not
hesitate to call us if you require any further information about any of the
properties. We classify accommodation into the following categories. These
are for your guidance only, they are based on the opinions of our staff and are
therefore quite subjective.
Basic: Very primitive accommodation where we are not aware of anything
better in the region.
Simple: Clean and simple but limited facilities.
Medium: A good standard of accommodation, reasonable range of facilities.
First Class: A high standard of accommodation with a wide range of facilities.
Deluxe: Superb accommodation with facilities and service to match.
Opulent: The world’s most unashamedly luxurious hotels, resorts and lodges.
Accommodation
28 Accommodation
and dinners are available on request if
you don't feel like venturing into the
city.
GALTON HOUSE, WINDHOEK
Medium
This lovely new guesthouse is situated
on a hillside in the upmarket
neighbourhood of Eros. It has been
decorated in a modern, stylish way,
without being pretentious. There are
eight rooms, two of which are designed
for families. All rooms have ensuite
bathrooms as well as air-conditioning, a
digital safe, satellite TV, hair-dryer, and
international plug adaptors. The family
rooms are vast, with twin beds and
two additional beds. However, the
ensuite bathroom in the family room is
quite compact, which is worth being
aware of. The main areas are open plan
with plenty of sofas and areas to relax.
The facilities include an honesty bar,
coffee station, swimming pool, WIFI
internet, curio shop and secure off-
street parking. For early check-ins or
late check-outs, there is also a
dayroom where you can freshen up.
The food here is delicious, and lunches
Accommodation
Accommodation 29
are likely to see elephant, giraffe, zebra
and jackal, while lion and black rhino
often visit too. The waterhole is
separated from the camp by a low
stone wall, behind which there are high
wooden benches to sit on. We
recommend eating early and coming
down here in the evenings with a drink
or two, some warm jumpers and
something soft to sit on.
Our opinion: The accommodation at
Okaukuejo is fairly good but being a
government rest camp the service is often
slow and impersonal and the food pretty
uninspiring. It can be a little noisy with
people having barbeques and truck groups
camping on the campsite, but it is full of
life and you can walk around stretching
your legs. Despite its many flaws, we are
really fond of this historic camp and a real
highlight of many of our trips is sitting
through the evening with a drink at the
magnificent waterhole.
Please note all the rest camps in Etosha
now charge at N$500 (about £35) key
deposit payment for all guests. The deposit
is returnable after all the equipment in
your room has been checked on the
morning of your departure.
OKAUKUEJO REST CAMP,
ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK
Simple
Okaukuejo was the first rest camp to
open in Etosha and is situated at the
western end of the Etosha Pan. It is like
a small village with a hundred or so
rondavels, a shop, restaurant, camp
site, petrol station and swimming pool.
It is also the administrative hub of the
park and the centre of the Etosha
Ecological Institute. All of the rondavels
have been refurbished and they are
now of a good standard with modern
furnishings.
The big attraction of the camp is the
large, permanent, floodlit waterhole.
The animals have become accustomed
to both the light and noise from the
camp and come to drink throughout
the day and night. The light only shines
on the waterhole itself, not the
surrounding bush and animals appear
out of the dark to drink. It is very
exciting and during the dry season you
Accommodation
30 Accommodation
linens and large windows to maximise
the views of the surrounding area.
There is a small waterhole close by
which has regular visits of elephants
and zebra as well as other game. The
main lodge consists of a spacious
lounge, bar and restaurant and the
swimming pool has superb views
across the plains. In the evening you
can enjoy a drink around the fire pit
and during the day you can enjoy a self
guided or guided game drive around
the various waterholes.
Our opinion: This is the only property
on this side of Etosha and staying here will
allow you to visit a really untouched part
of the park. We recommend including a
stay in the central part of Etosha, too, and
if time permits driving right to the far East,
stopping for a night or two at each part of
the pan. During the summer months the
rooms can get quite hot, particularly
because they do not have either air
conditioning or a fan.
DOLOMITE CAMP, ETOSHA
NATIONAL PARK
First Class
Dolomite is the latest and one of the
most luxurious camps that belong to
the Namibian Wildlife Resorts group
(NWR). It offers the opportunity to
explore a previously inaccessible area
in the far west of Etosha National Park.
The western gate of Etosha National
Park has been re-opened, allowing
guests staying at Dolomite camp to
explore the 15 waterholes in this
region and be able to explore the
Etosha pan more fully.
The camp itself is built on a dolomite
hill, making the most of the sweeping
views of the vast Etosha pan and
mopane forests below. There are
twenty rooms, made up of seventeen
standard bush chalets, and three
premier rooms, the latter of which
have a plunge pool. The rooms have
double or twin beds, tastefully
furnished with wooden floors, crisp
Accommodation
Accommodation 31
OPUWO COUNTRY LODGE,
KAOKOLAND
Medium
Opuwo Country Lodge is situated on
the outskirts of Opuwo Town with
breathtaking views to the North-West.
There are twenty eight luxury rooms
and twelve standard rooms, all of
which are en-suite. The main building is
a beautiful wood and thatch structure
and houses a lounge, wine cellar, bar,
dining room, curio shop and swimming
pool. Trips to the Epupa Falls,
Ovahimba villages and walking in the
Kaokoveld can all be arranged from the
lodge.
Accommodation
32 Accommodation
A number of activities are offered by
the lodge including trips to see the
Himba tribes and guided walks or
drives where it is possible to see both
rhino and the amazingly adaptable
desert elephants. Other wildlife
occasionally found in the area include
oryx, giraffe, lion and mountain zebra.
Grootberg is also a perfect place to
simply relax by the pool and take in the
magical setting and stunning views.
Our opinion: The views from the lodge
are truly breathtaking - this is a perfect
spot to break up the journey between
Etosha and Swakopmund. Pack a sweater
though as it can be a little windy up here.
GROOTBERG LODGE,
DAMARALAND
Medium
Grootberg Lodge is located at the top
of the Grootberg Pass, some 25kms
east of Palmwag. Unique in Namibia,
this is the first lodge to be entirely
owned by the conservancy thanks to
some financial support from the
European Union. At almost 1700m
above sea level the lodge offers some
of the finest views in the country
across the Klip River Valley below.
Each of the sixteen rooms is perfectly
positioned to take advantage of the
stunning views from the balcony. The
rock cottages are decorated with a
traditional African design thatched
roof, double or twin beds and ensuite
facilities with showers. There are also
two family rooms, which are exactly
the same as the standard cottages but
are joined together by the same roof -
please note these are next-door
rooms, but do not have an adjoining
door.
Accommodation
Accommodation 33
offers excellent value for money and is
good base from which to explore southern
Damaraland as well as being incredibly
convenient for visiting the rock engravings
next door.
TWYFELFONTEIN COUNTRY
LODGE, DAMARALAND
Medium
Twyfelfontein Country Lodge is
situated conveniently close to the
famous rock engraving site. The lodge
is run in partnership with the
community with some of the profits
going to help support local community
projects. It's a large lodge with 65
rooms built in blocks of four or eight
under thatched roofs. The rooms are
fairly simple in style, but cool and
comfortable each with en suite
bathroom. The main lodge is nestled
against the rocks and houses the dining
room, cosy bar, reception area and
curio shop. There is a good-sized
swimming pool and a deck area where
you can relax in the afternoons.
Activities from the lodge include guided
tours of the rock art, the Organ Pipes
and Burnt Mountain and nature drives
to search for desert adapted wildlife.
Our opinion: Although large, the lodge
Accommodation
34 Accommodation
stylish, without compromising on
comfort. A shuttle service is available
on request and excursions in or
around Swakopmund can be organised
for you
Our opinion: This is a stylish option
with a convenient location from which to
explore Swakopmund.
SWAKOPMUND GUESTHOUSE,
SWAKOPMUND
Medium
This small, upmarket guesthouse is
located right in the heart of
Swakopmund, only five minutes walk
from the main shopping streets and the
beach. It is owned and managed by the
Borg family, who have worked in the
tourism industry for many years and
ensure all of their guest's individual
needs are met.
There are twelve rooms, consisting of
four standard rooms, seven luxury
rooms and a family suite. The
atmosphere is peaceful and friendly,
with plenty of quiet areas in the garden
and main house to relax and read a
book. All of the rooms have been
individually designed and decorated,
with clean, crisp linens, large canvas
wall art and ensuite bathrooms
decorated with beach pebbles. Rooms
also include a minibar and television.
The overall effect is modern and
Charity support
Charity support 35
Audley has been supporting carbon reduction projects through Friends of Conservation since 2005 and in addition to this each
individual department also supports a charity of their choice with a yearly financial donation. This charity is one that is close to
their hearts and the team often chooses to fundraise to add to this amount. Please ask your specialist if you would like to find
out more as in most instances they will have visited the charity themselves, or one of their colleagues will have.
Children, Mara Rianda Charitable Trust © Richard Long
The Mara Rianda Charitable Trust
Our friend and former colleague Ariana Grammaticas left Audley in 2007 to return to her home country of Kenya. In early
2008 she wrote to us about The Mara Rianda Charitable Trust. Set up by Richard Long, who visited Kenya in 2004, it supports
the school and community in the wider Mara area. All the money Richard raises is used to provide this support, and he covers
administration costs himself. The Trust has installed a borehole to supply fresh water, built five new classrooms provided
bursaries for exceptional students to go to secondary school and paid the salary for one teacher. Most recently in 2013 the
Trust also opened the Mara Rianda medical centre, complete with three wards, consulting rooms and a dispensary. Though
much has been achieved, there is always much more that can be done!
The old Enkeriri school building
©Richard Long
Head teacher in front of the new Enkeriri school building
©Richard Long
Audley and The Mara Rianda Charitable Trust
We initially became involved with The Mara Rianda Charitable Trust to help with its aim to bring clean drinking water to the
children of Aitong Primary School, who were previously drinking from a muddy spring. Complications arose when it was
discovered that the spring that the trust had hoped to tap for clean water dried up for three months of each year. After several
meetings with the Maasai elders, it has now been agreed that the water can be taken from the main spring at Aitong village and
be pumped over 1 kilometre to the school. This project is now completed, aided by donations from Audley and other
organisations.
Charity support
36 Charity support
More recent achievements at the charity have included a new kitchen and dining room at the primary school – which is now
fully waterproof and the parents who help cook the meals there are delighted. The trust has also funded the building of a new
maternity unit at Mara Rianda, as women who had complications previously had to travel for three hours on a bus to the
nearest hospital. In addition to this they are working with a new school, Olipikdong’oe, which needed help to install electricity
so that the children who board could study after dark. In addition two new primary schools have been built – that allow light in
(unlike the original mud buildings made out of dung) and to provide a classroom for another school that was being taught under
a tree. As the maternity unit at Mara Rianda grows Audley is helping to support the installation of solar power to allow
continuous lighting throughout the night. In addition to this, the Trust is aiming to support a further twelve children through
secondary school.
If you would like further information please speak to your Africa specialist. Alternatively, if you are going to
Kenya and staying at any of the Governor’s Camps in the Masai Mara, do ask the staff to take you to visit!
General Information
General Information 37
Travel insurance
It is advisable to take out your travel
insurance at the time of booking your
trip as cover will commence for pre-
departure cancellation from the policy
issue date. This will, therefore, provide
cover should you have to cancel your trip
for an insured reason such as illness or
serious accident.
We strongly recommend that you and all
members of your party are adequately
insured, providing financial protection
against unforeseen circumstances. Cover
should include medical expenses and
repatriation in the event of accident or
illness. In addition, we strongly
recommend that you have cover for
personal belongings, delay at your
outward or homeward point of
departure, personal liability, overseas
legal expenses and cancellation. If you are
undertaking any sports or adventurous
activities, including trekking, on your trip
you should also make sure that your
policy covers these. Please also ensure
you read the policy conditions and
exclusions.
The type of trips we create and the
requirements of Audley clients vary
greatly. We have therefore listed below a
number of companies who offer policies
which may suit these varying
requirements. You can find links to the
companies' websites, at
www.audleytravel.com/insurance. Other companies and policies are also
available. We are unable to provide you
with more detailed information and you
should contact the company concerned
directly for this. Please note this is
general information only. We are not
providing any specific advice on travel
insurance or recommending any
particular policy or insurer.
Trips of up to £5,000 pp
A large number of companies offer
insurance policies which include cover for
cancellation charges of up to the full
holiday cost.
Trips over £5,000 pp
It can be more challenging to get
insurance which includes cover for
cancellation charges of up to the full
holiday cost for higher value trips. A
number of companies do, however, offer
such policies. Thomson (in partnership
with AXA) (0845 366 2212) offer
cancellation cover up to £20,000 per
person, American Express (0800 232
277) offer cancellation cover up to
£12,500 per person and Insure and Go
(0844 888 2787) offer cancellation cover
up to £7,500 per person.
This information can also be found on our
website www.audleytravel.com/insurance
with links to the insurers’ websites.
Clients over 65 years of age
Many companies now offer cover to people
over 65 years of age. However, if you are
finding it difficult to get cover you could try
Age UK (0845 600 3348) or Saga (0800
015 0757) both of whom currently have no
upper age limit on their policies. See also
the companies referred to under pre-
existing medical conditions below. This
information can also be found on our
website www.audleytravel.com/insurance
with links to the insurers’ websites.
Pre-existing medical conditions
If you have a pre-existing medical
condition, there are a number of
companies that may be able to help you. P J
Hayman / Free Spirit (0845 230 5000) will
consider most pre-existing medical
conditions and they have no upper age limit
on single trip policies. Age UK (0845 600
3348) and Insure and Go (0844 888 2787)
will also consider a number of pre-existing
conditions and may be able to help. Cancer
Travel Insurance Services (0845 880 0163)
specialise in travel insurance for people
with non-terminal cancer and have no
upper age limit on their policies. This
information can also be found at
www.audleytravel.com/insurance
with links to the insurers’ websites.
Non-UK residents
If you are not a UK resident you will
usually need to get insurance in your
country of residence. Some insurance
companies, such as Columbus Direct (0845
888 8893), will consider policies for non-
UK residents. This information can also be
found on our website
www.audleytravel.com/insurance
with links to the insurers’ websites.
Once you have a travel insurance policy in
place, please let your specialist know who
your insurance company is and your policy
number.
The above information is provided in good
faith and is correct to the best of our
knowledge. No liability is, however,
accepted for any errors and all information
must be checked directly with the
insurance company.
Financial security
We hold an Air Travel
Organiser's Licence (ATOL)
issued by the Civil Aviation
Authority (ATOL number
4817). All the flight-inclusive holidays* that
we provide are financially protected by the
ATOL scheme. When you pay, you will be
supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please
check to ensure that everything you
booked is listed on it. Please see our
booking conditions for further information
about financial protection and
www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate
for further information on the ATOL
Certificate.
*The flight inclusive holidays we arrange
are ATOL protected providing they are
made available in the UK. For further
information, visit the ATOL website at
www.atol.org.uk
Not all holiday or travel
services offered and sold by
us will be protected by the
ATOL scheme. Those
package arrangements which
are not protected by our
ATOL are covered by ABTOT, the
Association of Bonded Travel Organisers
Trust. This insurance means your money
will be refunded or you will be returned to
the starting point of your contracted
arrangements if already abroad in the
unlikely event of our being unable to
provide your holiday due to our insolvency.
(For more details please see Section 12 of
the Terms and Conditions.) In these
instances you will not receive an ATOL
certificate with your invoice.
Health
It is essential that you see your GP or a
travel clinic before booking your trip and
before travelling to make sure that you
have taken all the necessary health
precautions. Some vaccinations require
more than one visit with a period of weeks
between injections. You should visit your
GP at least six weeks before departure. For
up to date medical advice you may wish to
use the Medical Advisory Service for
Travellers Abroad (MASTA).
MASTA Traveller’s Health Brief
Before travelling abroad, you can visit
www.masta-travel-health.com to obtain a
‘Health Brief’ specifically tailored to your
journey. Your brief will give information
about immunisations and malaria as well as
any Foreign Office advice and the latest
health news.
General Information
38 General Information
Other health information services are
available, including www.nathnac.org and
www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
The majority of international airlines now
issue advice on how to lessen the risk of
DVT, however, if you have any concerns,
we recommend that you consult your
doctor.
Pre-existing medical
conditions/Disabled passengers
It is essential that you advise us before
booking if you have any disability or pre-
existing medical condition which may
affect your holiday, or any special
requirements as a result of any disability
or medical condition (including any which
affect the booking process) so that we
can assist you in considering the
suitability of the arrangements and/or
making the booking. It will also enable us
to make sure you receive the relevant
level of assistance when you fly.
Full details must be confirmed in writing
at the time of booking and whenever any
change in the condition or disability
occurs. You must also promptly advise us
if any medical condition or disability
which may affect your holiday develops
after your booking has been confirmed.
The nature of many of the destinations
we travel to means that in the majority of
cases they are unsuitable for those who
are wheelchair-bound or have a lack of
mobility. We will be delighted to discuss
the feasibility of creating a tailor-made
itinerary for you that takes into
consideration your level of mobility.
On our escorted group tours the Tour
Leader is, unfortunately, unable to offer
additional assistance to passengers with
limited mobility and all such assistance
will need to be provided by whoever the
passenger is travelling with. We may
request that you provide a letter from
your doctor confirming your fitness to
travel.
High altitude
Your itinerary may include sections
where the altitude exceeds 10,000 feet
(3,048 metres). If you suffer from
circulation, heart or respiratory problems
we advise that you consult with your
doctor before confirming your booking.
Smoking
Airlines do not permit smoking on the
aircraft. At the request of the majority of
our clients we do not allow smoking on any
form of transport used for our escorted
group tours. Stops are regularly made
where you will be able to smoke. For
smokers travelling on a tailor-made tour
we request that you check with your driver
or guide whether smoking is permitted in
the vehicle.
Health and safety standards
Each country has its own regulations and
enforcement levels relating to health and
safety standards. These do not always
match the very high standards we are used
to in the UK. We therefore recommend
that you follow a few precautionary safety
procedures. Always check where the
nearest fire exit is and how to raise the fire
alarm. Do not enter a swimming pool
before checking the water depth first. For
more suggestions please see the Important
Information section in your Travel
Organiser.
Passport and visa information for
British Citizens
Passengers must hold a passport which is
valid for at least six months following the
return date of your holiday. British
passport holders (full British Citizens)
currently require visas, in advance of travel,
for the following destinations featured in
our brochures and on our website:
Australia, Bhutan, Burma, China, Cuba,
India, Kenya, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea
(also available on arrival), Russia, Tanzania,
Tibet, Uganda, the USA*, Uzbekistan and
Vietnam**.
Visas may be required for other countries
but can be arranged on arrival.
* British Citizens travelling to the USA
require an ESTA – please speak to your
specialist for more information
** Visitors to Vietnam can obtain a visa on
arrival but require a letter of authorisation
from ourselves – please speak to your
specialist
We are normally able to obtain visas on
your behalf, please ask for details at the
time of booking. Non-British passport
holders should check with the relevant
embassies as visa requirements may be
different to those of British passport
holders. It is your responsibility to ensure
you have the correct documentation and
visa stamp(s) for all sectors of your
journey. Failure or inability to obtain all
required visas for whatever reason does
not entitle you to cancel without paying the
applicable cancellation charges.
Travel advice
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Travel Advice Unit monitors all overseas
destinations and offers advice to British
travellers. In order to be fully informed of
safety issues, crime rates, political stability
and local customs you can view the advice
at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
Flights and airlines
The difference between a direct flight and a
non-stop flight can cause confusion. To
clarify, on a direct flight no change of
aircraft is scheduled but touchdowns will
be made en route either to refuel or to
board or disembark passengers. On non-
stop flights no change of aircraft is required
and no stops are made en route. Exact
details of your route will be given in your
itinerary.
Premium Economy, Business and
First Class
If you require business or first class flights
these can be arranged on most airlines at
very competitive rates. Premium economy
can be arranged on certain airlines, please
call us for details.
Specific seat requests
We will do all we can to try to reserve a
specific seat for you, if you have a
preference. However, whilst airlines may
allow us to request seats, they will not
guarantee any specific seat reservation. If
this is important to you, it is always best to
arrive for your flight early, regardless of
having made this request in advance. Please
make it clear on your booking form if you
have a specific request.
Flight amendments
We generally use special ‘inclusive tour’
fares when we purchase your air tickets
from the airlines. While these fares are
very good value they are inflexible in terms
of changes and offer no refunds once the
tickets are issued. Once your flight is
confirmed the airlines will charge an
amendment fee or insist on the purchase of
a completely new ticket if you make
changes.
Internal flights
Smaller local airlines are often more likely
to change their schedule at short notice.
We will endeavour to inform you of any
changes in advance of travelling but this
may not always be possible.
General Information
General Information 39
Frequent Flyer Clubs
If you collect points through any of the
airline frequent flyer clubs please provide
your membership details on the booking
form and we will ensure that these are
recorded against your flight reservation.
Please note that on some of our specially
negotiated ‘inclusive tour’ fares points are
not always awarded.
Carbon offsetting
Please let your specialist know if you
would like to carbon offset your flights.
We work with Friends of Conservation
(FOC) and all offsetting payments are
donated through them. For more details
visit www.audleytravel.com/offset. The
suggested contributions are based on the
approximate levels of CO2 expended on
an average flight, with the cost per tonne
of carbon taken from industry averages.
Flight information previously provided by
TICOS, now part of Beyond Carbon.
UK airport hotels, car parking and
lounges
We are able to arrange airport hotel
accommodation, car parking, meet and
greet services and airport lounge access
in the UK, subject to availability. To
arrange any of these services please call
us on 01993 838 051.
Hotel information
There is often confusion over the
terminology used for bed arrangements
in hotel rooms. A ‘double’ is recognised
as meaning a room with a double bed,
this may be two single beds pushed
together. A ‘twin’ is a room with two
single beds. Please note that all rooms
are allocated at the discretion of the
hotel and cannot be guaranteed.
Single rooms
Single rooms tend to be smaller than
double or twin rooms, however, many
hotels do not have single rooms, in which
case you will be allocated a twin or
double room.
Special dietary requirements
Special diets should be requested on the
booking form; however, it is unrealistic
to expect special diets to be catered for
in some of the destinations we feature.
We will advise the hotels and airlines of
your request but we cannot guarantee
their availability. If you have an airborne
nut allergy you must make us aware at
the time of booking as most airlines
require this information in advance of
travel.
Accuracy of information
We thoroughly check all the information
that is included within our brochures,
website and individual tour itineraries,
however, changes do occur and errors are
occasionally made. Airlines may change
their schedules, roads may close and
government regulations may alter. Should
there be any changes to the travel
arrangements you have booked we will do
our best to keep you informed of the
situation prior to departure.
Travel in the developing world
Many of our destinations are in the
developing world where attitudes,
infrastructure, priorities, lifestyles and
cultures are very different from our own.
This is often the very reason to visit the
destination but certain aspects may be
frustrating. We always advise that the first
thing you should pack is your sense of
humour. This can prove invaluable when
travelling over rougher roads, waiting for a
delayed aircraft and communicating with
hotel staff whose first language is not
English.
Data Protection Act
We will hold your name, address and any
other details you supply us with on our
database. This information will be used to
make your travel arrangements and to send
you information about Audley Travel. In
order to make your travel arrangements
we will need to pass your details to
companies and individuals outside the EU
where less stringent data protection
controls may be in place. We will not pass
on your details to third parties for any
other purposes.
AITO Quality Charter:
The Association of Independent Tour
Operators
AITO is the Association for independent and specialist holiday companies. Our member companies, usually owner-managed, strive to create overseas holidays with high levels of professionalism and a shared concern for quality and personal service. The Association encourages the highest standards in all aspects of tour operating.
Exclusive membership AITO sets criteria regarding ownership, finance and quality which must be satisfied before new companies are admitted to membership. All members are required to adhere to a Code of Business Practice which encourages high operational standards and conduct.
Financial security An AITO member is required to arrange financial protection for all holidays and other arrangements (including accommodation only) booked by customers with the member under the AITO logo. This financial protection applies to customers who are resident in the UK at the time of booking and to most overseas customers who have booked directly with the member. In doing so, the member must comply with UK government regulations. Members are required to submit details of their financial protection arrangements to AITO on a regular basis Accurate brochures and web sites All members do their utmost to ensure that all their brochures and other publications, print or electronic, clearly and accurately describe the holidays and services offered.
Professional service and continual improvement All members are committed to high standards of service and believe in regular and thorough training of employees. Members continually seek to review and improve their holidays. They listen to their customers and always welcome suggestions for improving standards. Monitoring standards AITO endeavours to monitor quality standards regularly. All customers should receive a post-holiday questionnaire the results of which are scrutinised by the Association.
Sustainable tourism All Members acknowledge the importance of AITO’s Sustainable Tourism ethos, which recognises the social, economic and environmental responsibilities of tour operating. Customer relations All members endeavour to deal swiftly and fairly with any issues their customers may raise. In the unlikely event that a dispute between an AITO member and a customer cannot be settled amicably, AITO’s low-cost Independent Dispute Settlement Service may be called upon by either side to bring the matter to a speedy and acceptable conclusion. Audley Travel is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. To contact the Association, visit www.aito.com or call 020 8744 9280.
Terms and conditions
40 Terms and conditions
Please read the following conditions carefully. All holidays are sold by us subject to these conditions and the other general information in this booklet, our brochures and quotations.
Audley Travel Group Ltd (whose administrative offices are at New Mill, New Mill Lane, Witney, Oxon OX29 9SX) are members of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. Audley Travel Group Ltd (hereafter referred to as ‘we’, ‘us’, ‘our’) offers a number of products and the trading names we use are ‘Audley’, and ‘Audley Travel’. In these Terms & Conditions, ‘you’ and ‘your’ means all persons named on the booking, or any of them as applicable (including anyone who is added or substituted at a later date).
Your contract with us and all matters arising out of it are governed by English law. We both agree that any dispute, claim or other matter which arises out of or in connection with this contract or your holiday, will be dealt with by the AITO Arbitration Scheme - see clause 9 or the Courts of England and Wales only unless, in the case of Court proceedings, you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland. In this case, proceedings may be brought in the Courts of your home country. If proceedings are brought in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you may choose to have your contract governed by the law of Scotland/Northern Ireland as applicable. If you do not so choose, English law will apply. 1. Paying for your holiday (i) The procedure for making a booking is shown in your itinerary quotation and on our website. All bookings are subject to these terms and conditions and by asking us to confirm your booking, and by paying a deposit, the person who makes the booking is taken to have accepted these booking conditions on behalf of all persons named on the booking. Once we have received the applicable payment(s) due at the time of booking (see below), we will, subject to availability of the requested arrangements, send you your invoice. It is at the point when we issue this to you that a valid contract will come into existence between us. Please check your confirmation/invoice and all tickets/documents carefully as soon as you receive them and contact us immediately if you think any details are incorrect. We regret we cannot accept any liability if we are not notified of any inaccuracies (for which we are responsible) in any document within ten days of our sending it out (five days for tickets).We will do our best to rectify any mistake notified to us outside these time limits but you must meet any costs involved in doing so.
(ii) The deposit is part payment of the holiday. The deposit required will be shown on the quotation page of your itinerary. In addition to the deposit, full or part payment of certain elements of your holiday (such as flights) may be required at the time booking or at some point between booking and balance due date. Also see clause I (iv). The deposit and all such additional payments are non-refundable except as set out in clause 4. The balance must be paid not later than the date specified on the invoice. This is normally no less than 8 weeks before the departure date. However, there are a few destinations or trip components that require payment no less than 90 days before the departure date which will be specified on your invoice and quotation. Please note if we do not receive all payments due (including any surcharge where applicable) in full and on time, we are entitled to assume that you wish to cancel your booking. In this case, we will be entitled to keep all amounts paid or due at that date. If we do not cancel straight away because you have promised to make payment, you must pay the cancellation charges shown in clause 3 depending on the date we reasonably treat your booking as cancelled. (iii) Full payment is required at the time of booking for all bookings made after balance due date as above. (iv) On occasions, we may be asked by suppliers to make payment to them earlier than normal. Such requests may, for example, be made in order to secure accommodation and other services during periods of peak demand. Whilst suppliers may have no contractual right to make such requests, failure to comply with them may result in the loss of confirmed arrangements. Where this situation arises, we reserve the right to ask you to make payment of the requested sum within a stipulated period and prior to balance due date. We will of course endeavour to avoid doing so if we can. Any such early payment will be non refundable except as set out in clause 4. (v) If you are booking your holiday through one of our authorised travel agents the balance must be paid to the agent two weeks prior to the applicable balance due date as specified on the invoice and quotation. All payments made to one of our authorised travel agents for the arrangements
we have contracted to provide will be held by them on our behalf. If you book your holiday through a travel agent who is not a member of ABTA, all payments must be made to us directly and not your travel agent. 2. If you change your holiday If, after the contract between us has come into existence, you want to change your holiday we will do our best to pass your request to the relevant supplier, however we cannot guarantee that such changes can be made. Where a change can be made, we will charge for any additional costs incurred including any costs imposed or incurred by any of our suppliers, and including for example cancellation charges that may be incurred for sectors cancelled. You should note, for example, that a change of name on or other alteration to an airline ticket will usually incur a 100% cancellation charge and full rebooking fee. 3. If you cancel your holiday If you have to cancel part of the booking or cancel the entire booking once it has been confirmed by us, written notification must be sent to us by recorded delivery post or by email. As proof of receipt by email of your notification to cancel you must receive and retain written acknowledgement from Audley Travel. Charges will be applied from the date the letter is received, or the email is acknowledged by Audley Travel, according to the scale below. The charges are applied as a percentage of the total holiday cost excluding any amendment charges and any amounts paid in addition to the deposit at the time of booking or before balance due date (see clauses 1(ii) and I(iv)) which are non-refundable in the event of cancellation. The following cancellation charges apply if your final balance due date is 8 weeks prior to departure. Please note, different cancellation charges apply in relation to certain products – please see your quote for details. Period before departure Cancellation date within which written Charge notification is received at Per Person our offices Up to balance due date Deposit only Balance due date-43 days 30% 42-29 days 60% 28-3 days 90% Within 2 days 100% Alterations or cancellations by you after commencement of travel and unused services We will do our best to implement any changes to your arrangements you request once they have commenced, but we cannot guarantee this will be possible. In the event of such amendments being made you will be liable for any cancellation charges that may be levied for the services originally booked, and for the cost of booking the revised arrangements and the arrangements themselves. As a basic principle, no refunds will be paid to clients who do not complete a tour. However where we ourselves are able to obtain a refund from hotels or principals for services not used, we will pass this on to you, less any reasonable administration charges. THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAVEL INSURANCE If you have taken out holiday insurance you may, depending on the detail of your policy, be able to recover the cancellation charges, check your policy for details. Never travel without insurance, the unexpected can always happen. It is your responsibility to ensure you are adequately covered by insurance for all elements of your trip. Please read your policy and take it on holiday with you. 4. If we change your holiday We start planning the holidays we offer many months in advance. Occasionally, we have to make changes to and correct errors in itineraries and other details both before and after bookings have been confirmed and cancel confirmed bookings. Whilst we always endeavour to avoid changes and cancellations, we must reserve the right to do so. However, we promise we will only cancel your confirmed booking after balance due date where you have failed to comply with any requirement of these booking conditions entitling us to cancel (such as paying on time) or where we are forced to do so as a result of ‘force majeure’ as defined in clause 5 below. We will not cancel after this date for any other reason. Most changes are minor. Occasionally, we have to make a ‘significant change’. A significant change is a change made before departure which, taking account of the information you give us at the time of booking and which we can reasonably be expected to know as a tour operator, we
can reasonably expect to have a major effect on your holiday. Significant changes are likely to include the following changes when made before departure; a change of accommodation to that of a lower official classification or standard for the whole or a major part of the time you are away*, a change of accommodation area for the whole or a major part of the time you are away, a change of UK outward departure time or overall length of time you are away of twelve or more hours, or a change of UK departure airport to one which is more inconvenient for you (except as between Gatwick and Heathrow). *Please note: A change affecting a stay in a hotel during a tour where the hotel itself is not the focus of the tour, does not constitute a significant change. If we have to make a significant change or cancel, we will tell you as soon as possible. If there is time to do so before departure, we will offer you the choice of the following options:- (a) (for significant changes) accepting the changed arrangements or (b) purchasing an alternative holiday from us, of a similar standard to that originally booked if available. Please note: Due to the original and individual nature of our holidays it frequently may not be possible to offer you a comparable holiday to that originally booked. (c) cancelling or accepting the cancellation in which case you will receive a full and quick refund of all monies you have paid to us. You must advise us of your decision within 7 days of the date on which we notified you of the significant change or cancellation. Please note, the above options are not available where any change made is a minor one. A minor change is any change which, taking account of the information you have given us at the time of booking or which we can reasonably be expected to know as a tour operator, we could not reasonably expect to have a significant effect on your confirmed holiday. If we have to make a significant change or cancellation we will pay you the compensation set out below subject to the following exceptions. Compensation will not be payable and no liability beyond offering the above mentioned choices can be accepted where (1) we are forced to make a change or cancel as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care or (2) we have to cancel because the minimum number of bookings necessary for us to operate your holiday has not been reached - in this case we will notify you no less than 60 days before departure. Please note: all escorted group trips are based on group arrangements involving a given minimum number of passengers. No compensation will be payable and the above options will not be available if we cancel as a result of your failure to comply with any requirement of these booking conditions entitling us to cancel (such as paying on time). Period of notification of Compensation change before scheduled per person departure date More than 60 days Nil 60-43 days £10 42-29 days £20 28-15 days £30 14-0 days £40 In the unlikely event that we become unable to provide a significant proportion of the services you have booked after you depart, we will make alternative arrangements for you at no extra charge, or, if this is impossible, or you do not accept these alternative arrangements for a good reason, we will provide you with transport back to the point where your holiday arrangements with us commenced. If we are forced by ‘force majeure’ (see clause 5) to change or terminate your holiday after departure but before the scheduled end of your time away, we regret we will be unable to make any refunds (unless we obtain any refunds from our suppliers), pay you any compensation or meet any costs or expenses you incur as a result except as set out above. 5. Force majeure Except as set out in these terms and conditions, we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of our contractual obligations is prevented or affected, or you otherwise
Terms and conditions
Terms and conditions 41
suffer any loss or damage (as more fully described in clause 7 (i) below) as a result of circumstances amounting to ‘force majeure’. In these terms and conditions ‘force majeure’ means any event or circumstances which we or the supplier of the services in question could not foresee or avoid even with all due care. Such events and circumstances may include, whether actual or threatened, war, insurrection, riots, strikes, civil action, decisions by governments or governing authority, technical or maintenance problems with transport, changes of schedules or operational decisions of air carriers, terrorist activity, industrial action, natural or nuclear activity, epidemics/pandemics, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events outside our control. 6. Surcharges Once the price of your chosen holiday has been confirmed at the time of booking, we will only increase or decrease it in the following circumstances. Price increases or decreases after booking will be passed on by way of a surcharge or refund. A surcharge or refund (as applicable) will be payable, subject to the conditions set out in this clause, if transportation costs (e.g. fuel, scheduled airfares and any other airline surcharges which are part of the contract between airlines (and their agents) and the tour operator) or dues, taxes or fees payable for services such as landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports or airports change. Even in the above cases, only if the amount of the increase in our costs exceeds 2% of the total cost of your holiday (excluding any amendment charges), will we levy a surcharge. If any surcharge is greater than 10% of the cost of your holiday (excluding any amendment charges), you will be entitled to cancel your booking and receive a full refund of all monies you have paid to us (except for any amendment charges) or alternatively purchase another holiday from us as referred to in clause 4 ‘If we change your holiday’. Please note that travel arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no impact on the price of your travel due to contractual and other protection in place. A refund will only be payable if the decrease in our costs exceeds 2% as set out above. Where a refund is due, we will pay you the full amount of the decrease in our costs.
You have 14 days from the issue date printed on the surcharge invoice to tell us if you want to cancel or purchase another holiday where applicable. If you do not tell us that you wish to do so within this period of time, we are entitled to assume that you will pay the surcharge. Any surcharge must be paid with the balance of the cost of the holiday or within 14 days of the issue date printed on the surcharge invoice, whichever is the later. We reserve the right to make changes to and correct errors in quoted prices at any time before your holiday is confirmed. We will advise you of any error of which we are aware and of the then applicable price at the time of booking.
7. Our responsibility (i) We promise to make sure that all parts of the holiday we have agreed to arrange, perform or provide as part of our contract with you are arranged, performed or provided with reasonable skill and care. This means that, subject to these booking conditions, we will accept responsibility if, for example, you suffer death or personal injury or your contracted holiday arrangements are not provided as promised or prove deficient as a result of the failure of ourselves, our employees, agents or suppliers to use reasonable skill and care in making, performing or providing, as applicable, your contracted holiday arrangements. Please note, it is your responsibility to show that reasonable skill and care has not been used if you wish to make a claim against us. In addition, we will only be responsible for what our employees, agents and suppliers do or do not do if they were at the time acting within the course of their employment (for employees) or carrying out work we had asked them to do (for agents and suppliers). We will not be responsible for any injury, illness, death, loss (including loss of enjoyment), damage, expense, cost or other sum or claim of any description whatsoever which results from any of the following:- (a) the fault of the person(s) affected or any member(s) of their party or
(b) the fault of a third party not connected with the provision of your holiday which we could not have predicted or avoided or
(c) an event or circumstance which we or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not have predicted or avoided even after taking all reasonable care (see clause 5) (d) the fault of anyone who is not carrying out work for us (generally or in particular) at the time. In addition, we will not be responsible where you do not enjoy your holiday or suffer any problems because of a reason you did not tell us about when you booked your holiday or where any problems you suffer did not result from any breach of our contract or other fault of ourselves or, where we were responsible for them, our suppliers or agents or where any losses, expenses, costs or other sum you have suffered relate to any business. Please note: we cannot accept responsibility for any services which do not form part of our contract. This includes, for example, any additional services or facilities which your hotel or any other supplier agrees to provide for you where the services or facilities are not advertised in our brochure and we have not agreed to arrange them as part of our contract and any excursion you purchase during your holiday. (ii) The promises we make to you about the services we have agreed to provide or arrange as part of our contract - and the laws and regulations of the country in which your claim or complaint occurred - will be used as the basis for deciding whether the services in question had been properly provided. If the particular services which gave rise to the claim or complaint complied with local laws and regulations applicable to those services at the time, the services will be treated as having been properly provided. This will be the case even if the services did not comply with the laws and regulations of the UK which would have applied had those services been provided in the UK. The exception to this is where the claim or complaint concerns the absence of a safety feature which might lead a reasonable holiday maker to refuse to take the holiday in question. (iii) We limit the maximum amount we may have to pay you for any and all claims or parts of claims which do not involve personal injury, illness or death. Except where loss of and/or damage to luggage or personal possessions is concerned or a lower limitation of liability applies to your claim, the maximum amount we will have to pay you for such non personal injury claims if we are found liable to you on any basis is twice the price (excluding any amendment charges) paid by or on behalf of the person(s) affected in total. This maximum amount will only be payable where everything has gone wrong and you have not received any benefit at all from your holiday. Where we are found liable for loss of and/or damage to any luggage or personal possessions (including money), the maximum amount we will have to pay you is £150 per person affected as you are assumed to have taken out adequate insurance at the time of booking. Please also see clause 7(iv) below. (iv) Where any claim or part of a claim concerns or is based on any travel arrangements (including the process of getting on and/or off the transport concerned) provided by any air, sea, rail or road carrier or any stay in a hotel, the maximum amount of compensation we will have to pay you will be limited. The most we will have to pay you for that claim or that part of a claim if we are found liable to you on any basis is the most the carrier or hotel keeper concerned would have to pay under the international convention or regulation which applies to the travel arrangements or hotel stay in question (for example, the Warsaw Convention as amended for international travel by air and/or for airlines with an operating licence granted by an EU country, the EU Regulation on Air Carrier Liability for national and international travel by air, the Athens Convention for international travel by sea and COTIF, the Convention on International Travel by Rail). Please note: Where a carrier or hotel would not be obliged to make any payment to you under the applicable International Convention or Regulation in respect of a claim or part of a claim, we similarly are not obliged to make a payment to you for that claim or part of the claim. When making any payment, we are entitled to deduct any money which you have received or are entitled to receive from the transport provider or hotelier for the complaint or claim in question. (v) You must provide ourselves and our insurers with all assistance we may reasonably require. You must also tell us and the supplier concerned about your claim or complaint as set out in clause 9 below.
8. Flights and your responsibility The flight details shown in your itinerary quotation are for guidance only and are subject to change. Final details will be confirmed on your travel documentation, sent approximately 14 days prior to departure. The times shown on all tickets are local times and check in for both outward and return flights is at least 3 hours prior to the departure times on the travel documents. It is possible that flight times may be changed even after tickets have been dispatched - we will contact you as soon as possible if this occurs. In accordance with EU Directive (EC) No 2111/2005 Article 9, we are required to bring to your attention the existence of a “Community list” which contains details of air carriers who are subject to an operating ban within the EU. The Community list is available for inspection at http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/air/safety/ flywell_en.htm. In accordance with EU Regulations we are required to advise you of the actual carrier(s) (or, if the actual carrier(s) is not known, the likely carrier(s)) that will operate your flight(s) at the time of booking. Where we are only able to inform you of the likely carrier(s) at the time of booking, we shall inform you of the identity of the actual carrier(s) as soon as we become aware of this. Any change to the operating carrier(s) after your booking has been confirmed will be notified to you as soon as possible. If the carrier with whom you have a confirmed reservation becomes subject to an operating ban as above as a result of which we/ the carrier are unable to offer you a suitable alternative the provisions of clause 4 will apply. Any change in the identity of the carrier, flight timings, and/or aircraft type (if advised) will not entitle you to cancel or change to other arrangements without paying our normal charges except where specified in these conditions. We can accept no responsibility if you arrive late for the check in and miss your flight as a result nor can we accept responsibility for any loss by you of your holiday/flight travel tickets, vouchers or coupons. Air travel is subject to operational decisions of carriers and airports which may result in delays and diversions. Please note that minor carriers sometimes change the departure time of short-haul or domestic flights at short notice, and in some instances, schedules shown in the computers of intercontinental carriers differ from those actually flown by smaller local carriers. We advise you that it is your responsibility to be meticulous in locally reconfirming directly with the carrier operating the flight. We accept no liability for the consequences of flights missed owing to the passenger’s failure to reconfirm. Clients flying in economy class to long-haul destinations should be aware that flights are often full and you may not be able to get seats together. We also recommend that you check in early for a long flight, and in any case not less than 3 hours before the scheduled departure time. If your flight is cancelled or delayed, your flight ticket is downgraded or boarding is denied by your airline in circumstances which would entitle you to claim compensation or any other payment from the airline under EC Regulation No 261/2004 - the Denied Boarding Regulations 2004, you must pursue the airline for the compensation or other payment due to you. All sums you receive or are entitled to receive from the airline concerned by virtue of these Regulations represent the full amount of your entitlement to compensation or any other payment arising from such cancellation, delay, downgrading or denied boarding. This includes any disappointment, distress, inconvenience or effect on any other arrangements. The fact a delay may entitle you to cancel your flight does not automatically entitle you to cancel any other arrangements even where those arrangements have been made in conjunction with your flight. We have no liability to make any payment to you in relation to the Denied Boarding Regulations or in respect of any flight cancellation or delay, downgrading of any flight ticket or denial of any boarding as the full amount of your entitlement to any compensation or other payment (as dealt with above) is covered by the airline's obligations under the Denied Boarding Regulations. If your airline does not comply with these rules, you should complain to the Air Transport Users’ Council on 020 7240 6061 www.auc.org.uk We cannot accept liability for any delay unless it has a material effect on your holiday arrangements. See clause 4.
Terms and conditions
42 Terms and conditions
You undertake to behave with propriety and in such a manner as in no way causes or is likely to cause distress, danger or annoyance to other clients and/or any third party or damage to property. If, in the view of ourselves, our employees, agents or suppliers, you are in breach of this clause, we reserve the right to terminate your contract and neither we nor the providers of any of the services in question will have any further contractual obligations to you either in respect of covering any expenses, paying any compensation or refunds, or arranging for your return home. When you book with us, you accept responsibility for any damage or loss caused by you. Full payment for any such damage or loss (reasonably estimated if not precisely known) must be paid direct at the time to the accommodation owner or manager or other supplier. If the actual cost of the loss or damage exceeds the amount paid where estimated, you must pay the difference once known. If the actual cost is less than the amount paid, the difference will be refunded. If you fail to do so, you will be responsible for meeting any claims subsequently made against us (together with our own and the other party’s full legal costs) as a result of your actions. You must ensure that all your travel documents, full passports, visas, vaccination certificates, currency and travellers cheques are in order and valid for travel. All costs incurred in obtaining such documentation must be paid by you. We regret we cannot accept any liability if you are refused entry onto any transport or into any country due to failure on your part to carry correct documentation. We are able to give general advice on these matters for British citizens holding a British passport. However, non-British citizens and non-British passport holders should check with their embassy or consulate vis-a-vis current requirements. See also our General Information section. If failure to have any necessary travel or other documents results in fines, surcharges or other financial penalty being imposed on us, you will be responsible for reimbursing us accordingly. The name on your airline tickets must be the name that appears on your full passport. Please note that if you believe that we have stated orally that a particular facility or service should be available, but is not in the brochure or in writing from us, please make reference to it on the booking form so that we may confirm it to you when accepting your booking. 9. Complaints Should you have any complaints about any aspect of your holiday arrangements, you must inform our local representative or tour leader immediately and the supplier of the arrangements concerned. Problems can most easily be dealt with on the spot. Please note, if you do not report a problem or complaint which, if it had been reported at the time it occurred could have been resolved there and then we cannot accept any liability in respect of that problem or complaint. It is sensible to expect a client travelling in the developing world to be reasonably resourceful if things go wrong. If you experience any difficulties, contact us in the UK on our 24 hour emergency telephone service. The number will be found on your pre-departure information and with your tickets. In the unlikely event that an acceptable solution cannot be found, you should then write to us within 28 days of your return with full details of your complaint. If you fail to follow this complaints procedure, your right to claim the compensation you may otherwise have been entitled to may be affected or even lost as a result. If we cannot reach an amicable solution to any dispute you do have the right to refer the dispute to the Association of Independent Tour Operators which operates an Independent Dispute Service (details on request) for resolution of the dispute by a mediator provided the claim does not involve personal accident, injury or illness. 10. The brochure and quotation We have taken every care in ensuring that the information in the brochure and given in quotations/itineraries is correct at the time of publication. However we are sure you will appreciate that subsequently minor alterations may arise. We reserve the right to change any of the prices, services or other particulars contained in this brochure or any quotation at any time before we enter into a contract with you. If there is any change we will notify you before we enter into such contract. Where we state that additional information, a fact sheet or a dossier is available
on a particular itinerary or programme, this information should be regarded as a term of the contract. The hotel classifications given on our website, in our brochures, quotations and dossiers and fact sheets are for guidance only. They are not based on any national or international classification system, they are the opinions of our staff or agents and are quite subjective. The photographs that appear in the accommodation section of your quotation are indicative only and may not be of the exact room you have been quoted for. 11. Special requests If you have any special request, you must advise us in writing at the time of booking. Although we will endeavour to pass any reasonable requests on to the relevant supplier, we regret we cannot guarantee any request will be met. For your own protection, you should obtain confirmation in writing from us that your request will be complied with (where it is possible for us to give this) if your request is important to you. Confirmation that a special request has been noted or passed on to the supplier or the inclusion of the special request on your confirmation invoice or any other documentation is not a guarantee that the request will be met by the relevant supplier. All special requests are subject to availability. We regret we cannot accept any conditional bookings, i.e. any booking which is specified to be conditional on the fulfilment of a particular request. All such bookings will be treated as ‘standard’ bookings subject to the above provisions on special requests. If you have any medical problem or disability which may affect your holiday, please tell us before you confirm your booking so that we can advise as to the suitability of the chosen arrangements. In any event, you must give us full details in writing at the time of booking. You must also promptly advise us if any medical condition or disability which may affect your holiday develops after your booking has been confirmed. If we reasonably feel unable to properly accommodate the particular needs of the person concerned, we must reserve the right to decline their reservation or, if full details are not given at the time of booking, cancel when we become aware of these details. 12. Your financial protection We hold an Air Travel Organiser's Licence issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL number 4817). When you buy an ATOL protected flight-inclusive holiday* from us, you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists the flight, accommodation, car hire and/or other services that are financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you, and who to contact if things go wrong. We, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL Certificate, will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable). If we, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL certificate, are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme. You agree that in return for such a payment or benefit you assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of or relating to the non-provision of the services, including any claim against us, the travel agent (or your credit card issuer where applicable).You also agree that any such claims may be re-assigned to another body, if that other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme. *The air inclusive holidays and flights we arrange are ATOL protected providing they are made available in the UK. For further information, visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk Not all holiday or travel services offered and sold by us will be protected by the ATOL scheme.
The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust
Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under the
Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours
Regulations 1992 for Audley Travel (ABTOT Membership
number 5297) and in the event of their insolvency,
protection is provided for the following:
1. non-flight packages commencing in and returning to
the UK;
2. non-flight packages commencing and returning to a
country other than the UK; and
3. flight inclusive packages that commence outside of
the UK, which are sold to customers outside of the
UK.
1, 2 and 3 provides for a refund in the event you have not
yet travelled. 1 and 3 provides for repatriation. Please note
that bookings made outside the UK are only protected by
ABTOT when purchased directly with Audley Travel. 13. Excursions Please note that we do not provide or arrange excursions other than those listed in your itinerary and forming part of the arrangements booked and paid for in the UK. Our local representatives or guides may put you in touch with local organisers of excursions if you request but we can have no liability for such excursions, as your contract for such excursions will be with a local company providing the services and not with us. 14. Prices and Brochure Accuracy Please note, the information and prices shown on our website, in our brochures and/or quotations may have changed by the time you come to book your holiday. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the website, brochures, quotations and prices at the time of printing or when they are given to you, regrettably errors do occasionally occur. You must therefore ensure you check all details of your chosen holiday (including the price) with us at the time of booking. 15. Honeymoon Gift Service All honeymoon bookings and use of Audley's Honeymoon Gift Service are subject to our Terms & Conditions. It is important to note that in the unfortunate event of the cancellation of your booking you will be responsible for all cancellation charges as detailed in our Terms & Conditions. Audley also reserve the right to charge a £150 administration fee to cover refunding all monies to your guests. These refunds will only be made once all cancellation charges have been paid. As the client, you will take on the responsibility for the full payment of the booking as the amount of your guest contributions cannot be guaranteed. Audley Travel Group Limited. Registered Address: New Mill, New Mill Lane, Witney, Oxfordshire OX29 9SX. Registered in England with Company Reg. No. 3190720. VAT Reg. No.125454721. September 2014.