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Archive for the ‘Visa's and Passports’ Category

The Overland Trip Budget – Expenses of an Overland Trip

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

You went out and whipped up that amazing overland trip special discount quicker than you can say Cape Town to Victoria Falls. Good on you! But now what?

To help you plan your trip, we’ve put together a list of expenses you’ll need to plan your trip smoothly.

overland_trip_expenses_spreadsheet

1. Flights

Unless you are already in Victoria Falls before your Victoria Falls adventure begins, you’ll need to purchase flights to see your safe arrival at least a day before your trip commences in order to make the pre-trip meeting, if your adventure has one. Similarly, if your trip doesn’t end in the city you live in, you’ll need to book yourself a ticket home. If you want to go home.

2. Airport transfers

Once you have arrived at the airport in the country your overland trip commences from, you may need to book an airport transfer to your night’s accommodation if it is not included in your overland trip price. An airport transfer is the transport getting you to or from an airport.

3. Trip cost

This is the amount you paid to your OverlandingAfrica.com consultant for your overland trip in Africa. Luckily you raked up a great deal, so you end up saving on your total expense.

4. Local payment

The local payment is cash you hand over to your overland crew before you start your overland trip. This money goes towards expenses like National Park fees, activities and food. Local payment is usually required to be paid in US Dollars. The crew may kit our their overland trip with all things you could possibly need on a trip into Africa, but a credit card machine and bureau de change aren’t one of them. Cash is king.

5. Pre and post accommodation

Most trips have a pre-departure meeting the day before the overland trip commences. Some trips include a night’s accommodation in the overland trip price, some don’t. Unless you’re the kind of person who gets a thrill from last minute couch-surfing host hunting, we suggest you book accommodation in advance.

After your trip has come to an end, it is often recommended that you spend an extra two nights in the area. This gives you even more opportunity to explore the area and enjoy the destination at your own pace. A Cape Town to Victoria Falls adventure will leave you in the perfect place to explore more of both Zambia and Zimbabwe; something an extra two days can help you accomplish. Didn’t get time to do the elephant back safari? Now’s your chance!

6. Trip Activities

On your journey there will be a huge amount of optional activities available to you. Some overland trips include a variety of activity, where as others leave it up to travellers to decide whether they would like to experience something while they are travelling, and then pay for themselves when they are there. You will need to pay for these activities. Keen to go white water rafting, bungee jumping or on a scenic flight while on that Victoria Falls adventure? Kaching! You’ll need cash.

7. Health

You want to make sure you stay healthy when you travel in Africa. This will mean that you may need to get a yellow fever vaccination or take malaria prophylactics, depending on the areas your overland trip route takes you through.

8. Insurance

Travel insurance is oh-so important! You’ll need to pay a once off travel insurance premium to ensure that you are covered for every possible mishaps you could endure for the entirety of your travels. Missing luggage? No problem, you’re sorted! Flight changes? Book another! Broken ribs? That camel was higher than it looked! Getting comprehensive travel insurance will cover everything.

9. Spending Money

When you are travelling through Africa there may be curios you wish to buy, food you’d like to try or souvigniers you wish to purchase, you’ll need dough for all that. It is recommended that you take approximately $25 per day with you on your overland trip for these extra expenses. Trust me.

Now that you’re sorted to effectively plan your budget overland trip, good luck, and take loads of photos!

BOOK an overland trip now.

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Checklist image from Fanginhoon

Travel Documents for Africa

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

When packing your luggage for an overland trip, the rule of thumb is to pack light, however, when it comes to documentation, you can never be too prepared. Without packing the essential travel documents you may find yourself reaching for those emergency contact details because you may have to cancel your trip.

documentation-in-africa

Photo by Ove Tøpfer

What documents to pack on an overland trip to Africa:

1.  Visa

A valid visa grants you permission to enter a country, meaning you’ll need one depending on what country you are from and where you are travelling to. It’s best to check, nay DOUBLE-check, each country’s immigration information to see if you can acquire a visa on arrival or if you need to get one before you leave your home country.

Check out the African visa guidelines and be sure to confirm information with your travel consultant in case of industry updates.

2.  Passport

Make sure you are carrying a valid passport with you at all times… one with enough clear pages for all the stamps you’ll be collecting along the journey. No passport, no pass.

3.  Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance is extremely important. Don’t travel without it! When overlanding in Africa you will be visiting remote areas and may be embarking on adventure activities. If something goes wrong and you need to be air lifted, the last thing you want to hear is “You didn’t take travel insurance? Oh dear, you stay here and pray while I go find a tourniquet”.

Travel advice of the decade: Insure. Insure. Insure.

4.  Money

Regarding money, most African countries accept USD, EUR, GBP and Namibia and South Africa largely accept South African Rand. Remote areas in Africa only accept cash and do not have credit card facilities so it is a good idea to carry cash with you. If you are worried about carrying cash on you, opt for traveller’s cheques. If traveller’s cheques are lost or stolen they can be replaced if you still have the receipt issued to you when you bought them.

5.  Vaccination Documents

For some areas, vaccinations for malaria and Yellow Fever are essential. Make sure you are aware of any risks and get all required vaccinations before travelling. Once you have received your vaccinations for an area, you will receive a vaccination certificate which you will need to carry with you on your journey through Africa.

It’s a good idea to write a list of your allergies in your vaccination certificate booklet so that in the unlikely event of you not being able to speak for yourself, your booklet will offer your medical information and requirements.

Read more about health and safety tips for visitors to Africa.

6.  Contact Numbers

When travelling, you should keep the telephone number of your travel consultant with you. This is just a safety net, so that if you get sick, lost or need to make new bookings while in another country, your travel consultant will be able to help you with advice and resources to get you out of a pickle.

7.  Copies

So you’ve packed your visa, passport, travel insurance, traveller’s cheques, vaccination certificate booklet and contact numbers. Now make sure that you have certified copies of these documents made. One set to leave at home and one set to take with you on your journey. Just in case.

So now that you know what documentation to pack on a trip to Africa, its time to browse through a selection of African overland trips and pick your adventure.

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You Ought To Know Before You Go!

Friday, January 28th, 2011

There are MANY things to consider and prepare for before heading off on your overland trip to Africa.

Here is some to-the-point information to help to make sure your holiday runs as smoothly as it can, from start to finish.

Money101. Visas and Passports

Visas are a hugely important part of your travel plans as it can effect where you might be able to go, and when. Make sure that your passport has enough clean pages for all the stamps you will be collecting and double check each countries immigration information to see if you can get your visa’s on arrival – or if you have to get them approved BEFORE you leave your home country.

02. Travel Insurance

I cannot emphasize the importance of travel insurance enough. You will be travelling in remote areas and could need to be evacuated by air if anything happens to you. Please make sure you have adequate insurance which covers all the activities you want to try as well as full medical and repatriation cover. Your credit card insurance is not enough!

03. Money

You will be travelling through many countries and needing lots of different currencies. Most African countries will accept USD, EUR and GBP at varying exchange rates and it is best to have smaller denominations with you. Daily spending money is not something anyone can advise on as it differs from person to person.

04. Health and Vaccination

You need to be in average to good health when deciding to join an overland trip as you would be exposing your body to elements it’s not use to. I suggest stocking up on some vitamins before you go. Vaccinations for malaria and Yellow Fever are essential for some areas. Please make sure you are aware of any risks and get any required vaccinations before travelling.

05. What to Pack

You are likely to get dirty on an average overland trip so leave the Sunday best at home and pack only what you need. Then divide it in half and take that with you. :) You will need to leave some space for everything you would be bringing back with you from your awesome holiday!

For more overland travel info or overland trips in Africa and the middle East contact OverlandingAfrica.com or post your comments below.

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Zimbabwe Visa – Day Visa Stopped

Monday, October 26th, 2009

We hear that with immediate effect, Zimbabwe is no longer offering a day visa for travelers wishing to do activities on the Zambian side of the Zambezi.

All travelers leaving Zimbabwe will need to purchase a new visa on their return to the country.

If you plan to take part in Victoria Falls adventure activities based in Zambia, or wish to pay a visit to the Zambian side of the Falls, I suggest you purchase a multiple entry visa on arrival into Zimbabwe to allow you to come and go as you wish.

Contact OverlandingAfrica.com or post your comments below.

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Zambia Visa Price – for now….

Friday, September 18th, 2009

After numerous price changes and much fluffing around the Zambian government has finally settled (for now) on the following Zambia Visa prices.

Single Entry for all passport holders   -  $50 US
Multiple Entry for all passport holders   -  $80 US
Day Visa’s from Zimbabwe   -  $20 US

The lucky Irish and many African countries are still visa exempt! Nice for some!

Any questions – contact OverlandingAfrica.com, or share your comments in the space below.

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The History of Surfers