Preparing for your Tour / On Tour / Money / Booking your Tour:
Q. How many people will be on my
tour?
A.
Africa:
The African overland tours take a maximum of 24/26 people. The trucks carry on average 8
to 15 people except in High Season when they usually depart will a pretty full
vehicle. The small group tours carry 9 passengers in the mini van or 16 in the Safari vehicle. The Over 40's Africa overland tours carry a maximum of 20 in the overland vehicles and 4 in the Land Rovers.
South America:
The South American overland tours carry a maximum of 23 and the Local Transport tours are maximum 15 passengers.
Middle East and Egypt:
The Middle East overland tours carry a maximum of 24 passengers and the Egypt tours have a maximum of 20 passengers.
Morocco:
The Morocco overland tours carry a maximum of 24 passengers and the mini-van itineraries have a maximum of 12 passengers.
Central Asia:
The Central Asia overland carries a maximum of 24 passengers.
New Zealand:
The New Zealand overland tours carry a maximum of 24 passengers.
Q. What sort of people travel on the tours?
Is there an age limit?
A. We
have people from all walks of life and from all parts of the world book with us on the Overland tours. The passengers range in age; a large number are solo
travellers along with couples and friends travelling together. There is a general 'open' age range of 18 to 55 (up...). We have had passengers in
their early 60's who have had a blast. If you are fit and healthy (but
you do not have to be super-fit..), have a spirit for adventure, are
able to put up your own tent, are able to 'muck in' and help with the
cooking etc then you are able to enjoy these tours. But you must be
aware that this is not luxury touring; you camp, you eat from the truck, you do not stay in luxury hotels. For
travellers over the age of 60, we request a doctors certificate. We do
not take people under the age of 18 on our tours. The dedicated Over 40's
overland departures in Africa are for travellers over the age of 40. These tours do not carry passengers under the age of 40.
Q. Am I suited to group travel?
A. Some
of our passengers have never been on a group tour before. The trips
allow plenty of free time for you to do your own thing - within the
framework of the itinerary. Even though this is 'group travel' your needs as individuals are recognised. On nights where you stay in hotels,
you can opt to go out as a group, or simply do your own thing. As long
as you are there in time for departure... We appeal to people who want the fun, freedom and flexibility of
independent travel, but want to make the most of their time and prefer that
someone else takes care of the hassles and organisation.
Q. Does it matter if I am travelling on my own?
A.
Absolutely not! There is no single supplement charge for solo
travellers on the overland tours as we will team you up with a travelling companion of the
same sex for hotel stays; and for camping, if there are enough tents
you can have your own. For Local Transport tours if you do specifically request single
rooms in hotels, then you will need to pay the extra
for that.
Q. What should I
pack?
A.
A backpack or duffel bag is the most suitable type of luggage to bring.
We do not not recommend suitcases (or wheelie bags) as they are
difficult to carry and take up a lot of space on the truck. Each
passenger is responsible for their own bag so pack what you can carry -
most airlines allow only 20Kgs in weight. On the Overland tours, we also recommend you bring a
day bag to use on a daily basis - saves dragging your big backpack from
the truck every night stop.
Q. Do I need a sleeping
bag?
A. Yes, on the Overland tours. We would suggest a 3 season
sleeping bag as there will be some cooler nights. The small group camping departures in Africa do offer the service of renting sleeping bags for the duration of the tour. For hotel based tours, you do not need a sleeping bag.
Q. Are your tours physically
demanding?
A. It depends on how many activities you want to do! Some activities are a little
more strenuous, however the majority of what is available en-route is well within the
capability of any healthy person.
Q. Can I charge my digital camera or other batteries
on my trip?
A.
You should bring your own adaptors and spare batteries. The overland trucks do
have facilities for charging cameras and phone batteries, but you will
not always be on the truck. When you are in Lodges / Hostels / Motels
you can of course charge your equipment if you have the necessary
adaptor.
Q. Do I need travel insurance?
A. Travel
Insurance is compulsory for all tours. All passengers must be insured
to cover personal accident, medical expenses, cancellation, curtailment
and repatriation. No passenger will be allowed on tours without
suitable insurance. Please produce this at the pre-departure meeting
and give details to your tour leader. If you are considering optional
excursions such as Bungy jumping, white water rafting, or diving etc please
ensure your policy covers such activities.
Q. Can I get more detailed information about my
tour?
A. We
have detailed dossiers / itineraries on all our trips that you can request from us. We do not have printed brochures.
Q. What facilities do the trucks
have?
A.
Please look at the Travel Information section and link to the area you are travelling to. This will give you further information on what the trucks have equipment wise.
Q. What facilities are at the campsites?
A.
The campsites used vary from basic to well equipped. They are mostly chosen for their location and
facilities. The shower blocks are generally well maintained and you can always upgrade to a 'chalet' or room if there is
one available. This is an optional upgrade so you will need to pay for
this.
Q. What accommodation can I expect on the tours?
A. The following types of accommodation are used: you camp, you use hostels, hotels, lodges and the occasional farm stay. It just depends on which country you are travelling in. The Travel Information section will give further information. If you are by chance the
only single male / female traveller on the tour, you will not be given
a single room unless you wish to pay for the upgrade. If there are enough tents, you can have your own if you
wish or you will be paired with a same sex traveller if you are
travelling alone. Some of the campsites have 'chalets' or bungalows you
can upgrade to. These are booked en-route and / or upon
arrival. These are booked on a first come first served
basis, and we do not pre-book them before the actual tour starts.
Q. What is expected of me on your overland tour?
A. All passengers are expected to participate. 'Duties' can include cooking and
truck/camp cleaning; your Driver will organise a roster at the
beginning of the tour so that everyone does their fair share.
Flexibility is key; you are travelling with a group - either large or
small - and each person will have a different idea of what they want
from the trip. An open mind will allow you to enjoy your surroundings
so much more. You have chosen to travel to some extraordinary places to experience the
country, meet the people and relish the awesome scenery - and of course indulge in some
incredible activities. You should enjoy where you are. Simple.
Q. How safe are my belongings and valuables whilst
on tour?
A. The trucks are fitted with lockable safe's, where
money belts and passports etc can be stored when travelling. Most hotels have safes either behind
reception or in the rooms. Please note that all items placed in these safe boxes
are done so at your own risk, and that we take no responsibility for such
belongings. When travelling in Africa, South America, the Middle East, Egypt, Morocco and Central Asia, you need only be as conscience as you are at home.
Q. Can you cater to my dietary and medical
requirements?
A. Yes. If you have any food allergies / intolerances or if you are a
vegetarian / vegan please inform us at time of booking. Please also inform us when booking
your tour of any medical conditions that you may have, so that we can cater to
any requirements this entails and advise your crew.
Q. What food and drink can I expect on tour?
A. 2 or 3 meals a day while camping - breakfast will usually be cereals, toast, tea and coffee, fresh fruit and the
occasional cooked breakfast. Lunch eaten off the truck is
cold; salad and sandwiches; Dinner will depend on what local ingredients have
been bought and will be a mix of eating off the truck or at
local restaurants.. Drinks provided are tea, coffee, water and
cordial. Soft drinks and alcohol can be purchased separately from Liquor stores or pubs. On Local Transport tours, meals are cafe/restaurants and are included as per itineraries. In the Galapagos and Antarctic, all meals are included whilst cruising.
Q. What will the weather be
like?
A. Visit
the 'Travel Information' pages of the website some info and links to a climate website.
Q. What does the tour cost include?
A. The 'Details' link on each tour page will let you know what the Tour Cost does and does not cover.
Q. What does the local payment cover and what is it?
A.
The Local Tour Payment is given to your crew at the beginning of your
tour. This is used to cover the cost of meals while camping, camp
grounds and some hotels when not camping. This payment is part of your total
tour cost and is non-refundable. Local Payment is subject to change
without notice although changes are very rare and are normally due to a
sudden or unexpected price increase by a local service provider. Local
Payment is not payable by Credit card, it is to be paid in cash only.
Q. How much spending money should I expect to take
with me?
A.
We suggest you budget for personal expenses,
including souvenirs, evenings out, snacks and alcoholic drinks etc.
Also budget for any optional excursions you wish to do on tour. A
combination of cash, Credit and Debit cards are the best way to carry
your spending money. There are ATM's everywhere these days, so you will never be out
of range of money being available. Each country section goes further in the spending money suggested for the tours.
Q. Do I need to tip the crew / guide(s)?
A. Your Driver / Leader works really hard to ensure you have a great trip, so please don’t
hold back if you feel they have earned a tip for their efforts. If you would
like to reward your crew for his / her / their services, you can choose to do so
individually or make a group presentation at the end of the tour. Your crew will also let you know the policies for tipping Local Guides.
Q. How long before hand should I book?
A. In South America, the tours that travel into and depart from Rio for Carnival book up very early, so it is best to get in as soon as possible. Middle East tours that include Anzac Day are booked up quickly, and Christmas in Morocco is popular. In Antarctica, December and January can be booked up months in advance. The most popular period for New Zealand holidays is from November till March / April for the summer season - when our tours
tend to fill quite quickly. If you are booking from the UK / Europe it
would be advisable to book relatively early to ensure you get flights
into NZ over this period. We can take bookings for most of the
tours right up until the departure date if there are spaces left, so
have a look at the availability, and if there’s still space we’ll
gladly take your booking!
Q. Do you sell flights?
A.
No. Depending on where in the world you are, what time of year you are
flying and your route affect flight prices quite differently. Students
can obtain 'Student Fares' and younger people can buy 'Youth Fares'.
Deals do come up all the time, but summer time in New Zealand
really needs to be booked in advance for the best prices and options.
Q. How can I make a booking
A. You can use the Booking Form on this website. This site is designed to make booking as easy as possible, but we
do appreciate that sometimes it’s nice to talk to someone in person, so just give us a call!
We can talk you through the whole booking procedure over the phone.
A. How do I know which trips
are available?
Q.
Have a look at the dates box of each trip, the right hand column is the
availability column. In this 'availability' column, 'L' (Limited) means
that there are only a few places left on the tour but by booking
immediately, you stand a good chance of securing a place on the trip, but we will need to confirm with you.
'A' (Available) means that there are several places left on the tour, 'F' of
course means full.
Q. Are there deals you offer?
A.
Absolutely! Our front page has all the latest specials and deals.