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Tours and Holidays for the 50+ age group
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Home About Us Tours The Price Includes Traveller's Information ::Terms & Conditions Booking form Contact us Gallery Links |
IMPORTANCE OF RETURNING THE BOOKING FORM ENSURES AND MEANS THAT YOU HAVE READ AND AGREE WITH THE "TRAVELLER'S INFORMATION" AND AGREE WITH THE "TERMS AND CONDITIONS" UNDER WHICH WE WORK.
SNAKES: This form is an indemnity against snakes and animal bites: Snakes are ever present and are dangerous. We will prime you and remind you constantly to 'look before you leap'! We are advised NOT to carry anti-snake-bite serum by the Mountain Club of South Africa due to the risk of anaphylaxis from the serum itself. BEE STINGS: If allergic please carry anti-histamine (& cortisone) tablets and a bronchodilator pump. We will endeavour to get you to the nearest doctor for treatment. By signing the booking form you sign an indemnity that you acknowledge the 'conditions' under which we operate and participate at your own risk. Please make sure you sign and return this to: Meet Us in Africa CC, 407 AMBERGLEN, Private Bag X 004, HOWICK 3290, OR FAX TO (for UK clients) 0027 33 239 4607 PASSPORT & VISAS All passengers must be in possession of a full passport, valid for at least six months after the end of your tour. It is also recommended that you have several blank pages for official stamps at border crossings. Depending on your tour and nationality, you may require visas for certain countries you will travel through. Please ensure that you possess all the relevant documents before travelling, as it is your responsibility. Please keep a Photostat copy in your Hand Luggage or Suitcase, just in case. We would like to have a record of your passport number whilst travelling so please fax or post these numbers to us for extra security. Money belts are very useful and we suggest you carry your passports and money in this INSURANCE All clients must be covered by Travel Insurance. It is a condition of joining one of our tours that you must be insured against Medical and Personal Accident Risks. The policy should also include emergency repatriation. We also recommend insuring against possible Cancellation by you. An insurance covering safari travel is also a good idea. Have a look on our LINKS page. YOUR PARTICIPATION AND BIRDS, MAMMALS AND WILD FLOWERS The birds, mammals and wild flowers mentioned in any of our itineraries are a guide to what you might expect to see on the trip you have selected. Whilst many additional species will be seen, we are unlikely to see every species mentioned in our texts. However you should see a good proportion of them if you participate in the trip and have reasonable eyesight. A willingness to participate is fundamental to all our tours and despite your specific interest, be that birding or wild flowers or butterflies to name a few, you may have to share our time as guides with others in a 'good natured' way. Travellers may be asked to help load the vehicle, assist with a tea preparation and just generally be helpful to the guides. Travellers should have a sharing 'fun to be involved' attitude, you will get much more out of your trip by joining in. HEALTH, AGE LIMIT & DRIVING DISTANCES The tours are designed for people over fifty with a reasonable level of fitness. We do not hike distances, nor up mountains, but prefer shorter walks at a leisurely pace so that we can take in the natural history and stop to look at birds and wild flowers. Some tours cover greater distances than others and there may be one or more days of reasonable travel, to see more in a relatively short space of time, so be prepared for some travelling time. The conditions may be hot and the travelling, although comfortable, may require stamina, flexibility and a sense of humour. FELLOW PASSENGERS & YOUR SPECIAL INTERESTS Your group may well be majority from the UK and some European people. The tour will be conducted in English and the Latin names for the birds will not be used but the Common Names. The opposite will apply to the plants where common names can be confusing. If your primary interest is butterflies or insects we will try our best to accommodate you, 'asking questions' is part of the experience and is never frowned upon but encouraged. However if you do not ask we can only presume that you know or want to give whatever it is 'a miss'. However on a 'travelling day', when changing accommodation we may have time constraints to reach our destination. We like to reach our destination by at least 4.30pm to allow for a rest before supper SINGLE TRAVELLERS A single supplement is charged for private facilities, i.e. not sharing. Usually we are able to provide private facilities which is a double room for one person, however depending on group numbers we can only confirm this closer to departure. You may be required to share a bathroom at one stop on the trip. We will notify you at your time of enquiry. LUGGAGE We request that each passenger brings one small suitcase and one small piece of hand-luggage which could be a backpack for day items. Porters are not always available so try to avoid a heavy suitcase, as you may be required to carry your luggage at certain venues. WHAT TO BRING & DRESS CODE Casual for game reserves. Water-proof jacket (warm) and jersey. Good sturdy foot-ware, boots and trainers. Boots could save you from a snakebite and are necessary for insurance purposes. Smart casual for the evenings if restaurant is in itinerary. Most places have a lovely swimming pool, so a costume and small private towel is a good idea. (Most hotels do not allow their towels to the pool, but provide a 'swimming towel' at reception, waiting for one may take up time). LAUNDRY All/Most hotels do laundry for a small fee. Hand it in at reception or to room attendant in the morning and it will be ready late afternoon and is for your own account. PERSONAL ITEMS A Torch! Insect repellent application (Spray for ticks on legs and/or outside of trousers), Sunblock factor 30 (sunburn), hat, binoculars, camera with spare memory stick if digital and (Film) plus spare batteries for camera. Any medication you need should be brought with you, and clearly labelled in case a doctor in South Africa needs to read it. The container should be watertight. READING GLASSES Bring your old pair of glasses along in case yours break; also bring the prescription for the glasses in your wallet. YOUR HOTEL ACCOUNT: HOTELS/LODGES/HUTTED CAMPS Please make sure you pay your hotel account (for drinks/laundry etc) on the morning of departure and hand in the key to reception. CASH We do not carry cash for obvious reasons, most places we visit will accept a Visa-card (not a Master Card). We advise you to carry a small amount of cash money maximum £100:SA Rand 1 000) with you and carry this in your Money bag. Should you need more money we can find an ATM for you. It may be more convenient to keep your money, passport and jewellery on your person. Should you leave anything in the Hotel Safe, get a receipt for your "deposit", as hotel staff changes are inevitable. On no account leave money or Passports in your room - even if locked. You are advised to wear minimal jewellery and the less expensive the better. SMOKING POLICY We do not allow smoking in or near the vehicles for the comfort and safety of the everyone. However there will be ample chance for those who wish to smoke during the stops en route. FIRST AID All vehicles are equipped with a basic first aid kit. It is also advisable for you to carry a personal medical kit which is easily accessible. We do not carry snake-bite anti-venom due to the risk of anaphylaxis (Shock reaction from the anti-venom itself). We will endeavour to get you to the nearest doctor in this unlikely event. MALARIA Almost all of our tours do not travel in malarial areas, however we do get requests from people to travel through these areas, in which case we will warn you immediately. ZULULAND (north of the Tugela River in KwaZulu Natal) and Kruger Park are MALARIAL AREAS and you are STRONGLY advised to take precautions. Consult your Doctor or pharmacist. Also see our Links Page for malaria website for the different drug regimens for the Malaria prophylactics. Taking the tablets at the prescribed time BEFORE ENTERING THE AREA IS IMPORTANT AS YOU WILL NEED A GOOD BLOOD LEVEL FOR PROTECTION. (You may react adversely to the medicine and will spoil your holiday if you do not start soon enough!). VERY IMPORTANT! Report flu like symptoms to your doctor for up to and at least 3/4 months AFTER being in a Malarial area (i.e. after returning home). Please consult with Meet Us in Africa CC as to whether the areas you are travelling in or through are malarial areas. Insect repellent lotion/spray/stick should be applied to exposed areas all the time, especially at dawn & dusk to avoid bites. We cannot be responsible for the provision of mosquito nets at accommodation places, you are welcome to bring your own. Mosquito Coils which burn can be bought in South Africa. Light-coloured clothing with long sleeves and long trousers will help prevent bites. Also avoid perfumed deodorants, perfumes and aftershaves that will attract insects and mosquitoes. DISCLAIMER: We have attempted to give you information that will point you to asking your doctor or pharmacist for the ‘up-to-date’ drug regimens. We will not accept responsibility for any loss or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from the provided information whether verbal or written. Always confirm critical information such as visas, health and safety, customs, crime and transportation before travel. THE TOUR PRICE This is based on per person sharing and an added extra for S/S (Single Supplement) We shall state this on enquiry. Single supplements are organised on request and are an extra charge (30-35%) added to tour price. Please confirm published prices at time of booking. Price INCLUDES transportation in South Africa, accommodation, meals (except where indicated), entry fees. The accommodation is a twin or double bedded room with private bath or shower at the named hotels or substitutes. Price EXCLUDES porters (usually R5-R10 a case) and tips (usually R20 per table for 2 night stay), (Room service domestic R20 for 2 night stay for 2 people). All drinks including Spring Water, wine, curios, film and items of a personal nature. Dinner is excluded for both Cape Town Tours (5 day add on and 14 day tour). A transfer from the airport is excluded where clients are not starting a tour with Meet Us in Africa CC or ending it. Game drives and guided walks unless with Meet Us in Africa CC. Robben Island Boat trip ALTERATION OF PRICE (See Terms and Conditions) Prices are subject to alteration with reasonable notice. Prices are subject to exchange rate fluctuations and may be recalculated according to the rate of exchange on the date of payment of first deposit and/or subsequent deposits or payments. We reserve the right to cancel any booking for which the total amount has not been paid by the due date retaining the 10 % (of the total price of tour) non-refundable deposit. SA CURRENCY We strongly suggest guests bring a minimum of £100 in SA Rands as spending money. We did a quick check on all hotels and the response was negative in their handling foreign exchange AND TRAVELLERS CHEQUES. As the tour schedule is quite full we ask you to get your money at the airport, and if you run out ask us in good time so that we can make a stop. TRAVELLERS CHEQUES As our time in towns is non-existent, change your travellers cheque at a facility usually at a South African Airport on arrival. Hotels generally do not take travellers cheques. Cash can be drawn on your visa card at the airport from an ATM or along the way when we pass through a town. WATER USAGE AND CARRYING We advise you not to drink water from the taps in the hotels even if it "looks" perfectly clean, unless you personally have boiled it. You may brush your teeth, but do not swallow it, although there are varying opinions! Tea will be provided at every opportunity some free and some for your own account, however it is a very good idea to carry your own water for excursions. We usually provide a complimentary "easy to carry" small 500mls bottle of 'Spring Still' water for you which you may find convenient to carry in your rug-sack. (The fizzy type may leak!). To top this up you may wish to purchase the larger bottles. These can be bought in 1,5 litre or 5 litre bottles from the hotel in the evenings at supper or latter at a Supermarket we may pass. For larger tours - The fridge cannot carry the larger bottles so only place your small bottle in the fridge if you would like nice cold water whilst travelling (or walking). You can top it up whenever you like. We notice that at some restaurants Bottled Spring Water is put out on the table. Sadly this is not free and will be added to your 'drinks' bill. It's a bit naughty but at least we have made you aware of it. STAMPS Stamps for your postcards can be purchased at most hotels. We will stop to post en route. GETTING LEFT BEHIND - CELL/MOBLIE PHONE NUMBERS If you get separated or left behind at anytime our mobile/cell-phone numbers are:
AIRPORT ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE We can arrange airport pick ups and drop offs for a nominal fee. ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE POINTS Where & when to meet/join the tour and departure points will be detailed in your ITINERARY by email or post. Your 'intended' flight dates must be discussed with us before payment of the 10% deposit so that we can make a reasonable decision as to whether the tour will go ahead or not as bookings in South Africa can be at a premium in holiday time. EXTRA TIME IN SOUTH AFRICA Its nice to start a holiday without feeling tired. A number of our clients come out a few days earlier to relax on the Indian Ocean or at another venue inland. We can book this for you and arrange airport transfers to a hotel of your choice. Alternatively if you want to stay on longer we would do likewise. Generally for this purpose we use hotels. BOOKS
We look forward to being of service to you. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask us, we have high regard for your comfort, confidence and safety. |
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