All Money Matters Explained

Gemsbok in Kalahari Desert		Walking in Uganda		Zanzibar Island

Information About Overland Payment

We at OverlandingAfrica.com believe that there should be no hidden costs when you are going on an overland tour. We provide you with all information necessary to budget for your tour properly. Below you will find a clear explanation of all money matters, from paying for your overland tour to the local payment to any optional activities available on your tour.

Tour Highlights

Tour Optional Highlights

Africa Tour Payment

Please note that due to exchange rate fluctuations the prices of our overland tours could vary. However, your overland consultant will quote you the updated price for your overland tour.

We are avid supporters of responsible tourism and try to do everything via the internet, which allows us to avoid using paper, thereby saving a small part of the world’s rainforest. However, the one bit of paperwork we cannot avoid is that you will have to print out our bookingform, fill it in, sign it and fax it back to us.

At the same time we will need you to pay us a non-refundable deposit. This deposit is part of your over-all payment.

Methods of Payment

• Credit Card. Your overland consultant will send you a credit card authorization form which you will need to print out, fill in, sign and fax back to us. Or alternatively scan it and send it back to us.
• Bank transfer. Your overland consultant will provide you with all the necessary details.

You can pay us in Euro/GBP/Aus $/NZ $/ RSA Rand/USD. Your overland consultant will quote you the amount in your local currency.

Please note that we can only guarantee you a seat once we have received your non-refundable deposit, together with a signed booking form.

You will need to send us your outstanding balance at least 60 days before the departure of your overland tour. If we haven’t received the balance at the stipulated time, your booking will lapse.

Africa Overland Local Payment/Kitty

Most tours work with a system of a local payment or kitty; a few include the local payment in the overall tour price. You will find the amount of the local payment stated alongside your tour price.

The local payment is a communal fund which pays for accommodation, meals, entrances into National Parks & Reserves and certain highlights. Operating a local payment system ensures that a major portion of your tour price goes directly into the country you are visiting, benefiting local communities and contributing to the conservation of the area.

The local payment needs to be paid to your crew at the beginning of the tour, who will manage this fund for the duration of the tour. Please note that the local payment is payable either in USD or GBP. Alongside every tour price you will find the currency required for your particular local payment. It generally works out much cheaper if you bring the cash from home instead of trying to arrange it in Africa.

Cash

Although Traveller’s Cheques are definitely the safest way of bringing your money out, most of our past passengers have found that bringing USD cash for optional highlights is very handy. Visas obtainable at borders need to be paid for in USD cash too.

On your tour it might come in handy to do a bit of wheeling & dealing with your fellow passengers. For instance, it might benefit all involved if you are able to draw local currency out of an ATM on your card and you exchange part of it with your fellow travellers, they receive local currency, you receive USD cash.

Make sure you change or spend all your local currency before leaving a country and definitely do not take it home, expecting to change it at your local branch. It will then only be good as a souvenir.

Don’t forget to save some of your USD cash for departure tax, payable locally at the airport when leaving.

If you are going to East Africa, make sure any USD notes are post 1993.

Personal spending

It is advisable to bring both Traveller’s Cheques and cash when you bring your own personal money with. Only buy Traveller's Cheques of a known brand and make sure you bring your purchase receipt with you. Keep a record of any Traveller's Cheques bought and cashed in. According to the terms & conditions of your Traveller's Cheques, you should keep your receipt separate from the actual Cheques and everyting separate from your passport.

Please make sure that you always have an accessible emergency fund, in case of emergencies.

So, How Do You Budget for Your Tour?

Local payment + optional activities + personal spending money + emergency fund = trip of a lifetime!