Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve put together a list of faq to help you better understand what a safari is all about and to help you prepare your trip.
We’ve put together a list of frequently asked questions to help you better understand what a safari is all about and to help you prepare your trip.
Climate : When To Travel
Seasons in Southern Africa are opposite to those in the northern hemisphere, mainly divided into a rainy season (summer) and a dry season (winter). Both have advantages.
Dry season (approx. May – September)
The high or dry season corresponds to the dry months where water access is limited as it hardly rains. Mornings can be a bit cool with temperatures ranging from 8-25˚C and warmer afternoon temperatures. It corresponds to summer holiday in Europe and the US. Game viewing is facilitated as trees shed their leaves and animals congregate around more restricted water sources.
The high season is consequently the most popular and accommodations’ rates are at their highest. This means that if you want to run a retreat or workshop in the dry season you need to plan well in advance. Lodges can be booked a year or more in advance.
Green season (October to April)
During summer, the temperature can rise to around 40˚C, especially around December-January. Rain does occur but it does not last for long. Vegetation is more abundant, greener and thicker. Consequently, game-viewing can be more challenging. However, this is also the time when most animals give birth so you might see many young animals, as well as much hunting activity by predators.
This is the ideal bird-watching season as it coincides with the return of the migratory birds. This season is less touristy, so reservations are more flexible and you can usually find special rates.
Climate : When To Travel
Seasons in Southern Africa are opposite to those in the northern hemisphere, mainly divided into a rainy season (summer) and a dry season (winter). Both have advantages.
Dry season (May – September)
The high or dry season corresponds to the dry months where water access is limited as it hardly rains. Mornings can be a bit cool with temperatures ranging from 8-25˚C and warmer afternoon temperatures. It corresponds to summer holiday in Europe and the US. Game viewing is facilitated as trees shed their leaves and animals congregate around more restricted water sources.
The high season is consequently the most popular and accommodations’ rates are at their highest. This means that if you want to run a retreat or workshop in the dry season you need to plan well in advance. Lodges can be booked a year or more in advance.
Green season (October – April)
During summer, the temperature can rise to around 40˚C, especially around December-January. Rain does occur but it does not last for long. Vegetation is more abundant, greener and thicker. Consequently, game-viewing can be more challenging. However, this is also the time when most animals give birth so you might see many young animals, as well as much hunting activity by predators.
This is the ideal bird-watching season as it coincides with the return of the migratory birds.
This season is less touristy, so reservations are more flexible and you can usually find special rates.
Dietary Requirements
Whether your retreat will take place in a private villa or a lodge, we’ll do the necessary to allow you to enjoy your specific diet requests.
Prior to any booking confirmation, you will receive a dietary requirement form that each participant of the retreat will be asked to fill in.
The main diets that we’ll be able to accommodate you with are vegetarian (meat-free), vegan, gluten, wheat or lactose-free. For other specific diets or nutrition/detox retreats, please send us an enquiry. Chefs can plan menus for the whole course of your stay.
Most destinations we select for you have access to a large variety of quality vegetables and fruits and free-range meat or venison. We support local organic food projects and farming.
Expect been pampered with yummy food wherever you’ll stay. Even the simplest bush camps will put extra effort into making the most basics products and ingredients very appealing.
Dietary Requirements
Whether your retreat will take place in a private villa or a lodge, we’ll do the necessary to allow you to enjoy your specific diet requests.
Prior to any booking confirmation, you will receive a dietary requirement form that each participant of the retreat will be asked to fill in.
The main diets that we’ll be able to accommodate you with are vegetarian (meat-free), vegan, gluten, wheat or lactose-free. For other specific diets or nutrition/detox retreats, please send us an enquiry. Chefs can plan menus for the whole course of your stay.
Most destinations we select for you have access to a large variety of quality vegetables and fruits and free-range meat or venison. We support local organic food projects and farming.
Expect been pampered with yummy food wherever you’ll stay. Even the simplest bush camps will put extra effort into making the most basics products and ingredients very appealing.
What to Pack ?
We have a great climate around here, rather warm with hardly any rain. Early mornings and late evenings in winter can nevertheless become chilly. So, what to pack to go on safari ?
- a small backpack for your daily excursions and walks in the bush
- some good walking shoes (closed shoes and walking sandals)
- a scarf and gloves for your cold weather and early game drives
- a sun hat and a warm beanie
- malaria and dust
- a few pair of shorts and long trousers
- a light raincoat for the rainy months or on a sleep-out platform
- your camera, electronic cables to charge your devices and a plug adaptor depending on which country you will visit
- swimwear if you travel during the warm season
- binoculars, a small notebook and your bush books if you have any
- personal medical kit (paracetamol/aspirin, anti-histamine cream, betadine, etc)
- malaria prophylactic and insect repellents
- for ladies, a sports bra might be very useful (dirt roads, game drives and extra activities can be bumpy)
- baby wipes – very useful, you’ll use them often !
- a reading head lamp and a night torch, especially when sleeping under a tent in a Big 5 area
What to Pack ?
We have a great climate around here, rather warm with hardly any rain. Early mornings and late evenings in winter can nevertheless become chilly. So, what to pack to go on safari ?
- a small backpack for your daily excursions and walks in the bush
- some good walking shoes (closed shoes and walking sandals)
- a scarf and gloves for your cold weather and early game drives
- a sun hat and a warm beanie
- malaria and dust
- a few pair of shorts and long trousers
- a light raincoat for the rainy months or on a sleep-out platform
- your camera, electronic cables to charge your devices and a plug adaptor depending on which country you will visit
- swimwear if you travel during the warm season
- binoculars, a small notebook and your bush books if you have any
- personal medical kit (paracetamol/aspirin, anti-histamine cream, betadine, etc)
- malaria prophylactic and insect repellents
- for ladies, a sports bra might be very useful (dirt roads, game drives and extra activities can be bumpy)
- baby wipes – very useful, you’ll use them often !
- a reading head lamp and a night torch, especially when sleeping under a tent in a Big 5 area
Malaria
Malaria is a serious disease transmitted by the bite of the Anopheles mosquito. Summer (October-April) is the time were malaria is more present. It is endemic in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces of SA and in Botswana. We recommend that you consult with your doctor about a possible prophylactic treatment before your departure. Mosquitoes are mainly active during the evenings.
A few good habits to get from day one:
- wear long sleeves shirts and pants before dusk and closed shoes with socks
- take a prophylactic medicine
- apply mosquito repellent on your skin and clothes regularly before dawn and dusk (Deet products, citronella)
- sleep under a mosquito net (most lodges provide them)
Malaria
Malaria is a serious disease transmitted by the bite of the Anopheles mosquito. Summer (October-April) is the time were malaria is more present. It is endemic in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces of SA and in Botswana. We recommend that you consult with your doctor about a possible prophylactic treatment before your departure. Mosquitoes are mainly active during the evenings.
A few good habits to get from day one:
- wear long sleeves shirts and pants before dusk and closed shoes with socks
- take a prophylactic medicine
- apply mosquito repellent on your skin and clothes regularly before dawn and dusk (Deet products, citronella)
- sleep under a mosquito net (most lodges provide them)
Costs
We create tailor-made retreats or workshops that are priced according to your budget and list of activities.
How to pay ?
You can pay by bank transfer (EFT) or credit card. All trips are priced in rands (ZAR), dollars (USD) or euros (EUR).
How do we get remunerated ?
We are remunerated by the establishments we select for you and get a fee on the exclusive organisation of your retreat.
Ready to go ?
Please fill in our retreat planner form. That way, it will already give us some guidelines on the event that you would like to create and how much you would like to spend per participant. There are many options available with lots of flexible activities.
We recommend that you stay in lodges or private bush villas in true wilderness, where average prices range around $450 per person per night (sharing), all included. For this, you get a good level of comfort while enjoying an authentic safari experience far from civilisation.
A cost-effective and flexible alternative is to accommodate participants in establishments, tented camps or guest houses adjoining national parks or game reserves; some can be booked out solely for your event. Costs are in the region of $200 per person per night. This option allows you to partially include in your programme any activities or attractions offered in the area (e.g. safaris, cultural visits, community projects).
When booking a self-catering bush villa or exclusive use of a guest house, we can provide you with a chef to cook for the group at an extra cost.
If you wish to experience ultimate luxury, we also offer high-end venues starting at around $800 per person per night all-inclusive in the most remote parks and mind-blowing safari lodges/camps.
As a general rule, estimate the following rates, based on a fully inclusive option (excluding flights):
- Economy $400
- Medium $600
- High-end $800 +
Example of budget for a typical eight-night retreat
An all-inclusive medium-priced retreat ranges between $2500-$3500 per participant (excluding flights). This includes a mix of accommodations:
- Three nights in a beautifully located 4-star private bush villa (focused on game drives and bush walks).
- Three nights walking trail, sleeping in a camp under canvas, enjoying a full immersion in the African savannah – walking among Big 5 a first !
- Two nights in a privatised 4-star guest house, to enjoy extra activities, visit the surrounding attractions, communities, etc.
Costs
We create tailor-made retreats or workshops that are priced according to your budget and list of activities.
How to pay ?
You can pay by bank transfer (EFT) or credit card.
All trips are priced in rands (ZAR), dollars (USD) or euros (EUR).
How do we get remunerated ?
We are remunerated by the establishments we select for you and get a fee on the exclusive organisation of your retreat.
Ready to go ?
Please fill in our retreat planner form. That way, it will already give us some guidelines on the event that you would like to create and how much you would like to spend per participant. There are many options available with lots of flexible activities.
Visas
- Please check with your consulate about your visa entry requirements and that you get those visas before your day of departure.
- Make sure also that your passport is valid for at least six months and has a few blank pages (6 blank pages for Zimbabwe entering from SA).
- A three-month visa is delivered to visitors in South Africa and Botswana, a month visa is delivered for Mozambique.
- If your trip is extended after your retreat or workshop with us and you’ll be self-driving, make sure that you are in possession of a valid international driving license or a translated version in English of your driving license.
Visas
- Please check with your consulate about your visa entry requirements and that you get those visas before your day of departure.
- Make sure also that your passport is valid for at least six months and has a few blank pages (6 blank pages for Zimbabwe entering from SA).
- A three-month visa is delivered to visitors in South Africa and Botswana, a month visa is delivered for Mozambique.
- If your trip is extended after your retreat or workshop with us and you’ll be self-driving, make sure that you are in possession of a valid international driving license or a translated version in English of your driving license.
Cancellation Policy
Most safaris, transfers and internal flights are booked many months in advance due to the high demand. When a cancellation occurs, we have to pass on substantial cancellation charges to the relevant lodges and suppliers. The closer the date of the safari, the higher those charges will be.
Please read carefully our Terms and Conditions for more information on our cancellation policy.
Cancellation Policy
Most safaris, transfers and internal flights are booked many months in advance due to the high demand. When a cancellation occurs, we have to pass on substantial cancellation charges to the relevant lodges and suppliers. The closer the date of the safari, the higher those charges will be.
Please read carefully our Terms and Conditions for more information on our cancellation policy.
