How (beijing travel service) To Prepare For Your African Safari

February 28th, 2010 admin Posted in travel |

By Lance Rush

If you are planning on going on an African safari, the last thing you would want to do is spoil the trip right out of the chute by forgetting some essential things. Make yourself a list of things to do and check everything off as you go along. There are some important things to consider before you head to Africa.

You will want to wear comfortable, but protective clothing on your safari. Long sleeved shirts help protect your arms from the sun, and long pants will help protect you from mosquitoes. Wearing neutral colored clothing will help you blend in with the surroundings while you are admiring the wildlife, and will help to reflect the sun, keeping you cooler.

Remember, your transportation may not allow you to carry a lot of luggage, so be conservative. You may have to travel by a small plane or boat and not be able to carry more than a few pounds worth (maybe 20 or 25). Be sure your gear and clothing is packed in something waterproofed like a duffel bag. Most safari guide services recommend only 2 or 3 days worth of clothing be taken as there will be facilities to do laundry in most camps and lodges. If you are planning on being in any of the larger African cities with restaurants, they may require more ‘dressy’ attire, so take something appropriate.

Here are a few items you might want to take along on your African safari:

Clothing - sweater and jacket, raincoat, jeans, dress pants or skirts (if you plan on going into the city; you might even want to take a tie and some dress shoes), t-shirts, underwear, sports bra, sun protecting hats, socks, hiking shoes

Miscellaneous - large handkerchief or headband, oral hygiene supplies, hair care supplies, shaving gear, sun glasses, wash rag, plastic storage bags, sunscreen and insect repellent, medications for allergies, colds and headaches, flashlight, pocket knife, camera and film (this is important - don’t count on getting it there), batteries, small first aid kit, eye drops, lip balm

You should plan on visiting your doctor several weeks before your trip to make sure you have the vaccinations and medications you may need. There are some things you may be susceptible to in Africa that you want to guard against.

A Yellow Fever Vaccination Card is required for entry into Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Malaria prophylactics are advisable before entering into a malaria area (particularly Kruger). Malaria is spread by mosquitoes, so take other precautions, too. Avoid Bilharzia (caused by tiny parasites) by not swimming in stagnant rivers or streams.

If you are a non-resident of Africa, you will need a passport that does not expire for at least six months after your return home. Visas which are acquired before you travel are required in Egypt, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Visas can be obtained upon arrival in Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Also, plan on getting at least the minimum amount of travel insurance.

Many places outside of the African cities accept American currency as well as local currency. Also, take travellers cheques in small denominations for incidental expenses. Many establishments in the cities also accept international credit cards. Some banks have ATM machines where you can use an international credit card to obtain local currency. You will need to ensure you have some American cash for visas, airport departures, taxes, tipping, etc. Carry small denominations like $10 - $20 USD and plenty of $1 USD for tipping.

So, getting ready for your African Safari is a job in itself, but if you arrive prepared you will certainly have a much more enjoyable and hassle free trip.

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Importance of purchasing travel and medical insurance when you go on a trip

By Raza Shah

Every once in awhile we all feel the need for a trip or just a relaxing vacation after dedicating all or our time to our careers. Most of us don’t even consider buying a travelling and medical insurance, because we’re way too busy with finding the best offer for travel and accommodations, as well as the perfect location. So, before you make those long desired reservations, think about getting insurance for yourself and your loved ones while you’re away on vacation.

Face reality’s risks and take precaution measures
There are many risks that come together with a trip. No matter where you go, you’re in the positions of facing medical or financial issues (maybe even both) if you don’t take serious precaution measures. This issue won’t be resolved by taking some extra money with you because extremely bad accidents can happen, even though you haven’t had any issues other time you’ve been on vacation. There can be earthquakes, floods, plane crashes, terrorist attacks and many other more risks and the danger is even greater because you’re not on known territory. This is not meant to scare you nor to make you want to cancel your trip, these issues are only stated here so that you can face reality. And yes, reality is cruel and harsh sometimes.

Why the travelling insurance policy is a great option
If you want to have the best trip ever and avoid your vacation to turn into a nightmare, then consider getting travel and medical insurance when booking a reservation. If you do this, your chances of having a great trip increase exponentially. Recent pandemics of swine flu have opened our eyes a little bit more, thus more and more people get medical insurance for travelling purposes. On the other hand, if your flight gets cancelled or delayed, you might lose your reservation, and booking agencies won’t give you your money back. This is another issue that can be covered by insurance, but you need to make sure if your contract policy stipulates the country coverage that you need. Some insurance companies only offer coverage for USA territory and some only for European countries. So make sure you know what your policy covers before taking that wonderful vacation.

Types of travel insurance policies and special offers
There are a few types of insurance from which you can choose. The cancellation insurance makes sure that you’ll get your money back if your flight or reservation gets cancelled last minute or is interrupted for some reason. The medical insurance for travelling is an extremely important type of insurance that covers your medical services and/or hospitalisation or surgery bills while you’re away on your trip. You should purchase a medical insurance that covers a variety of possible risks, from small injuries that need medical attention to serious illnesses and surgeries. Another type of insurance policy is the comprehensive insurance that is usually bought for its coverage of emergency medical transportation.

Some insurance companies have special offers for parents and kids or students, hitchhikers and backpackers, single travel, multi-trips etc. If you want to make sure that your trip is totally safe, you need to analyze carefully your destination. If you plan a trip in a country that offers winter sports, you should know there are special offers of insurance policies that cover a wide range of risks which come together with this hobby.

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