FAQ

Money is accessible from ATM’s in most places. American dollars are the easiest medium of exchange. Most Bureau de Changes and banks will also take Euros and English pounds. Credit cards (preferably Visa) are accepted in most places.

Visas are usually required for each country you visit. Some countries, like Kenya, expect you to apply for a visa in advance and others, like South Africa, allow you to obtain a visa upon arrival. These requirements change regularly therefore it is necessary to check with the embassies of each country you are visiting, IN ADVANCE, to see if a visa is required for your country of origin.

The most important items to ensure you bring are your passport and necessary visas. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months and has a couple of blank pages.
We suggest you pack about 4 days worth of clothes and dress in layers as temperatures fluctuate throughout the day.

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Please check with your local doctors, travel clinic or government equivalent of the US’s CDC or Center for Disease Control for up to date information on what vaccinations are required for each African country. Zanzibar does requires proof of a Yellow Fever vaccination. It is necessary to get all your vaccinations before your trip. TIA Safaris does recommend that you have all your doctor recommended vaccinations including your Tetanus vaccination.

Please check with your local doctors, travel clinic or government equivalent of the US’s CDC or Center for Disease Control for up to date information on if you need to take anti malaria pills. Please note that Larium or Mefloquine, an anti malaria medication, carries some very serious side-effects including nightmares, paranoia, and even irreversible psychosis. Especially for those who suffer from mental-illness. The most popular and effective anti-malarials are Doxycycline and Malarone.

Optionals are activities that one may enjoy that are not included in the trip price. These can be taste/ability specific and not everyone will want to participate. TIA Safaris will provide you a list of optionals available for each safari. The Gorillas, rafting on the Nile or Zambezi, Chobe Overnight, Swakopmund activities, ballooning in the Maasai Mara, Zanzibar activities, and Vic Falls are paid in US dollar.

These are otionals that usually last a few days and are priced separately for people who want to extend their trip. TIA Safaris will let you know if there is a pre/post trip planned and remember we can always customise your safari experience.

Our chefs do accommodate dietary requirements. We often have vegetarian, vegan. gluten and lactose free clients. Africa enjoys a rich cultural heritage and a varied food culture for those who can afford it. Most of our clients enjoy the food and say that they gained weight because they were so well fed.

Yes! You will have a place to put your passport and valuables so that you will not need to carry them on your person.

While not recommended by TIA Safaris as this will incur additional expenses and risk for you, we attempt to accommodate our clients. You will not be reimbursed for any part of the trip missed. You will also have to pay for expenses to rejoin. It is necessary to sign a release form stating your intention to leave the trip, to meet up with us at a later destination, and that TIA Safaris is not responsible for anything that may happen to you while away.

There are medical facilities in cities and bigger towns. However our adventures are often in remote locations. It is necessary to pay for medical expenses at the time of treatment. You can then file a claim with your insurance company when you return home from your travels.

It depends on the safari. There is no age limit for bespoke safaris. Children and teens must be accompanied by an adult. TIA Safaris considers age and health related limitations to plan the best route and locations possible. Depending on the safari, those 65 years or above may need to provide letter of health from their doctor.

We will stop every two hours or as needed. When possible, we stop at gas stations and souvenir shops, etc. to use their facilities. One should be prepared, however, to use the Great Outdoors to utilize the “Facilitrees”.

It is actually better to get things for charity in Africa rather than bringing items from home. This supports the local economy and charity programs. Anything brought for charitable reasons is of course appreciated and helpful. Sweets, should not be brought for children due to the lack of affordable dental care.

Most places we stay have have shower facilities. However it depends on the safari. But 95% YES. On camping trips, the only places that do NOT have showering facilities are the bushcamps on the Southern Africa route at Spitzkoppe, The Delta, and the Chobe Overnight. That being said, as this is Africa (TIA), we cannot guarantee there will be hot water or water at every campsite. The same applies for electricity and charging facilities.

Depending on the safari, there are some very early mornings. On average in Southern Africa, we have breakfast at 6:30 and leave at 7:30. In East Africa, the average would be breakfast at 6:00 and leave at 7:00.

On average 20 passengers on a truck capable of seating 30. It is possible there will be 29 passengers.

It is helpful to be “fit” for an African safari, but not necessary. There are optional hikes requiring a relative degree of fitness. For example, on the Okavango Delta excursion, one may hike for up to four hours on flat terrain. In Sossusvlei, the desert walk takes up to two hours on the dunes and in the sand, possibly in the heat.

There are places with reception and others without. Unless you have international roaming, you will have to buy a different SIM card for each country in Africa. In East Africa, the company ZAIN, covers Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya with the same SIM card.

The Big Five are the elephant, black rhino, leopard, lion, and buffalo. They were so named by hunters as they were arguably the most dangerous animals to hunt in Africa and perhaps the world. Now the term is simply used to denote these flagship species.

There is never a guarantee to see wildlife when one comes to Africa and goes on Safari. Some places, like the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti, however, one may see all the Big Five in one day. As there are less than 2800 black rhino left and they like to live in the thick bush, they are quite difficult to spot as are leopard. It really depends on luck when making sightings. The more game parks one visits and safaris one does, however, the greater the chances to see Africa’s animal wonders.

Generally the great herds of wildebeest and zebra leave the Maasai Mara for the Serengeti in March and return in November. However the migration can begin or end earlier than the usually “scheduled” months. From November to May, the herds are in or heading toward the Serengeti. From May to November, the herds are in or heading toward the Maasai Mara.

Trekking with the Mountain Gorillas costs $600 USD in Uganda for the permit and $750 USD in Rwanda. There can be an additional fee up to $200USD for permit processing and transportation to the allotted trekking locations. There are three countries where gorilla trekking is possible: Uganda (our most common location), Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The processing and transportation fees are dependant on which country the limited trekking permits are available. This money not only allows you the privilege of trekking gorillas, it also funds the 24/7 anti-poaching patrols, scientific research, habituation of gorillas to humans (a process that takes up to a year), and perhaps, most importantly, supports the communities around the mountain gorilla habitat with much-needed commerce. There is also an additional fee if you are unable to trek and prefer to be carried on a pallet. Though expensive, the money is going a long way to do a great deal of good ensuring these critically endangered Primates survive.

Generally clients are responsible for organising their own transportation to the safari starting and ending destination. TIA Safaris does NOT book these flights and transfers. Please do contact us with questions regarding flight bookings. Contrary to what many think, Africa is very accessible, especially the places we arrive and leave from.

A) Once the Booking and Conditions forms are received, a non-refundable deposit of 33% is required to reserve a place on the trip. This deposit may be made by check or money order but not by credit card. The deposit will only be refunded in the unlikely event that the trip has to be cancelled because it did not receive the minimum number of registrants by the trip’s confirmation date.

B) Once the trip is confirmed, the remaining balance is due two months before departure. It can be paid by check, money order, or credit card. There will be a 3% extra charge on the remaining balance for the use of a credit card. Since these payments are non-refundable, TIA Safaris recommends traveler’s insurance in case unforeseen events prevent you from joining us.

Potable water is provided for you in the truck/jeep. You are charged an additional fee for bottled water at lodges.

Drinking alcohol in the vehicle is illegal so forbidden. There is a cooler on the vehicle to store alcohol.

TIA Safaris plans excursions in areas that are stable and currently free from political strife. If that changes we will change our itinerary to insure our clients safety.