Rainbow Nation
The Best of South Africa
19 Days: Johannesburg to Cape Town
(18 Nights Hotel/Lodge/Chalet)
2008 R 13,230 LOCAL PAYMENT R 2,670 SGL SUPP. R 3,830
Other tours by same operator

PRE DEPARTURE PREPARATIONS

Rainbow Nation Tour:

INTRODUCTION

This pre- departure information has been designed to assist you in preparing for your trip. All the information contained herein is given in good faith and has been carefully compiled. It must be accepted that details will change from time to time.

BOOKING TERMS AND CONDITIONS WITH YOUR OPERATOR

All clients are responsible for reading and understanding this pre departure information, and also reading and signing the standard booking terms and conditions. Your participation in this tour is based on these terms and conditions.

INSURANCE

COMPREHENSIVE TRAVEL INSURANCE IS COMPULSORY FOR ALL PASSENGERS! All travellers are required to take insurance to cover cancellation and curtailment, baggage loss or damage, medical expenses, emergency travel, repatriation and personal accident before leaving their country. It is the passenger's responsibility to ensure that they are fully insured.

Most travel insurance policies have a restriction on compensation for loss, damage or theft of single valuable items (e.g. cameras). Please check your policy carefully and if necessary insure valuable items separately, (e.g. under a home contents policy with overseas extension). Please take your insurance policy with you on safari. Please also note that travel insurance provided with credit card payment is usually inadequate for travel of this nature.

INDEMNITY

Passengers may be required to complete and sign an Indemnity Form prior to joining the safari.

PERSONAL SPENDING MONEY

You should budget at least 350 – 400 US$, to cover all the optional activities you might like to try, as well as your drinks and the restaurant meals, crafts and souvenirs.

There are no other hidden expenses on this tour.

VISAS AND PASSPORTS

All travellers will require a full passport, and it is your responsibility to ensure that you have valid visas for all countries visited on your holiday, and / or sufficient blank pages for any visas and for entry/departure stamps. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of your holiday. If you have more then one passport, we recommend that you use one passport only for the entire journey, this will save problems and potential delays at border crossings. Requirements differ depending on your nationality - check with the appropriate Embassies for details.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of the correct visas for your holiday and onward travel. Your operator cannot accept responsibility for anyone who is refused entry to a country because they lack the correct documentation. Please check the actual Requirements with the necessary Embassy.

Please also do not assume that any inaccuracies within your documentation will be detected or can be rectified - you must ensure, that your "paper-work" is in order.

There will be times during the trip, when your passport will be collected e.g.: by your tour leader, hotel reception staff, or police.

ACCOMMODATION

Whilst we have been specific about which chalets, lodges or hotels we may use whilst on tour, please note that accommodation on tour could change from that stated in this dossier or in our brochures.

Your operator can book hotel accommodation before and after the tour ends on your behalf. Please contact us.

ROUTES AND ITINERARY

We make every effort to follow the intended route of the itinerary in our brochure, however changes sometimes need to be made due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control. This may result in missed areas and activities, diversions, and variations on night stops. Occasional operational uncertainties make it impossible to run adventure trips exactly to the intended itinerary, so when booking a trip you must accept that itineraries may differ from that published.

The company will not be responsible for accommodation costs, or liable for any airfares or any other compensation to the client.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

All of our trips are designed so that you can choose according to your own particular budget, which excursions you wish to partake in. Any activity marked ‘optional’ will be to the client’s expense. Your tourguides are able to assist with information of all the options on offer. Your operator can book these excursions as an extra service to our clients.

Remember these optional extras are operated by third party local companies and not by your operator. Some activities are adventurous with accompanying risk. All activities are undertaken at your own risk.

HEALTH AND FIRST AID

Any one participating in an adventure safari must be in good health. Please see our terms and conditions for further information on this. Please note that your operator is not qualified to give you medical advice and you must contact your own doctor for information.

clients are advised to bring a simple personal first aid kit. Malaria prophylactics are essential and must be taken prior to the trip and throughout its duration.

Recommended vaccinations and other health protection vary from country to country. We recommend that you contact your doctor and gain the correct medical advice about vaccinations.

All clients MUST have full medical and travel insurance cover before joining the tour. See booking terms and conditions for further information. Please inform your guide in confidence of any medical condition.

SECURITY

We do not advise that you bring highly valuable items with you on your trip. Use any hotel or lodge safes available. We suggest that at all other times you keep your money worn close to your body in a money belt or similar.

EXTRA EXPENSES

Sometimes political or civil unrest and other circumstances beyond the control of your operator will mean the group having to make alternative travel plans. We recommend that you bring emergency funds or have access to funds that you do not intend to use. Most insurance policies refund only after you have paid out.

LUGGAGE AND OTHER ITEMS

Space in the vehicle is limited and we request that you pay particular attention to the following guidelines.

We suggest your luggage is restricted to 15 kilos (so you can comfortably carry it).

We recommend that you utilise old or inexpensive luggage. Suitcases are NOT suitable. You may use a small/ medium sized rucksack, provided that it has no frame.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY EXCESS LUGGAGE OVER THE ABOVE SPECIFIED WEIGHT LIMIT WILL NOT BE LOADED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. EXCESS LUGGAGE WILL BE STORED AND ANY COSTS INCURRED WILL BE THE PASSENGERS RESPONSIBILITY.

A CHECK LIST OF SUGGESTED ITEMS FOLLOWS BELOW:

1 day pack, to contain money, travel documents, water and camera equipment, etc. This will be allowed inside the vehicle.

1 waist pouch or money belt.

CLOTHING & PERSONAL EFFECTS (PLEASE TAKE THE MINIMUM)

Most people make the mistake of taking along too much clothing. Take along comfortable, casual and semi-casual, "wash & wear" clothes. Bright colours and white are not suitable for game viewing. Please also avoid clothing resembling army uniform (i.e. army jackets, caps, and trousers).

This list below is purely a guideline:

1 pair of smart/casual trousers
3 pairs of shorts
7 shirts/T-shirts (any combination)
1 light cotton dress for the ladies
2 fleece / jersey for the cool evenings
1 wind-breaker / water proof jacket
1 warm jacket
1 pair of walking/running shoes
1 pair of sandals/ reef shoes (useful for showers)
Underwear and socks
1 swimming costume
1 sun hat
1 towel
toothbrush/toothpaste
shampoo & hair conditioner
deodorant
comb/hair brush
razor & blades (preferable battery operated shaver)
Suntan lotion/sun-block
Lip balm
Hand cream & moisturising cream
Insect repellent
Tissues or disposable moist tissues (e.g. Wet Ones)
Plastic bags (to pack wet/dirty clothing)
Sunglasses
Spectacles (if worn) – some people have trouble with contact lenses & dust
Pen for immigration formalities
Notebook

PERSONAL MEDICAL KIT

We suggest that you take along the following:-

Plasters/band aids
Aspirins/paracetamol
Anti-diarrhoea pills (consult your pharmacist for advice)
Throat lozenges
Antiseptic cream
Insect repellent
Anti-malaria tablets (refer to the MALARIA section)
Insect repellent (Jungle Formula)
Fungal infection powder
Rehydration powder
Eye drops
Sunscreen
Moisturiser

Any other medicines & toiletries you regularly use (e.g. tampons or condoms)

BANKING AND CURRENCY

There are full banking facilities available in the major towns and cities where one is able to change money and withdraw cash from your credit card. We do advise that you do bring some cash or travellers cheques in USD in small denominations to cover travel days where there are no banking facilities. Exchange rates at the time of printing are approximately:

1 USD = R 11.00

WEATHER

The itinerary occupies much the same climatic zone. Summer rainfall from November to March – hot and humid days, winter dry months means warm days and cold nights. The Cape Town area will experience winter rainfall where the nights are cold in winter. Summer in Cape Town is warm to hot in the day and warm at night.

BE FLEXIBLE!

Please note that the itinerary is flexible and will depend on local conditions. Travelling in Africa is sometimes unpredictable. By the very nature of travelling in remote areas there are unforeseen challenges to overcome and passengers must have a taste for adventure. Unforeseen circumstances due to problems with road conditions; weather, mechanical breakdown or accidents can delay and change the performance of the safari. Please be prepared for long drives on certain days. Please come prepared and pack a sense of humour!

Whilst we will make every effort to stick to the itinerary given please remember we are in Africa and things do not always run to plan! On rare occasions it may be necessary to make changes due to weather, health and security. These changes will be made in conjunction with the group but your Tour leaders decision will be final.

ADVENTURE SAFARIS

These trips are for people who love life and want to embrace it with passion, who care about culture, people and wildlife.

ROOMING ARRANGEMENTS

Do not be concerned about coming alone, many of our clients will. Accommodation is arranged on a twin share basis and your tour guide will allocate you a room with another group member of the same sex. If you do not wish to share a Single occupancy supplement is available on most tours. Please ask for information when booking.

ECOTOURISM

The ultimate objective of eco-tourism is for clients to have a pleasant and enriching experience of nature, and at the same time, cause the least possible disturbance to ecosystems. Your guides have strict environmental policies which we endeavour to instill in all of our passengers; such as – Respect for people, fellow travellers and places we visit. A responsible approach to fauna and flora, effective waste management, considerate behaviour in game reserves.

MAPS & FIELD GUIDES

We recommend the following:-

Michelin Map No 995 – Africa Central & South Madagascar
Robert's Birds of Southern Africa – Kenneth Newman
Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa – Chris & Tilde Stuart
Southern Africa Mammals – Robin Frandsen.

LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS

We are guests in each country we visit and it is only good manners that we comply with their customs. All participants are required to obey the law and regulation of the countries visited and any passengers contravening such laws may be required to leave the tour immediately with no right to refund of the tour fare.

CONSERVATION

Most countries are members of CITES (Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Please do NOT purchase products made from ivory and skins. These may be confiscated by customs. Please be aware that the purchase of large wooden carvings places a strain on forest resources, and coral and shells are destructive to the reefs.

PROBLEMS ON TOURS

Please do not hesitate to discuss (in private) with the safari guide, any problem you may be experiencing on safari, in order that the leader can attempt to rectify the matter for you.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Please bring your own film, as sources can be expensive and unreliable in Africa. Please remember that taking photos of people can sometimes cause great offence and permission should be asked beforehand. In addition to this some African governments do not allow photos to be taken at any government, police or army post, borders, bridges or military roadblocks. If in doubt ask your guide.

A TYPICAL DAY

Generally clients will wake at 7:00 am on a travelling day and depart at approx.. 8:00 am after breakfast. Some days where the travelling distance is greater, an earlier rise is to be expected. Lunch if supplied will be at a stopover or restaurant decided by your guides. Free days are at your leisure.

SPECIAL Requirements

Any client with any special Requirements, dietary or otherwise, should notify our Head Office in writing at least one week prior to departure. We will do our very best to accommodate you.

COMBINATIONS AND CONNECTING TOURS

If you are looking for an extended visit to Africa or would like to try more then one adventure, you can. Our trips are scheduled so that you can connect with other departing adventures.

We can also tailor make any other combination for you any where in Africa. Please contact us for full details.

Enjoy Your Trip!

If you have any other questions about your tour or need any further advice please contact your agent or us.

CAPE TOWN

Table Mountain

The exhilarating ascent of Cape Town's Table Mountain is a must, and breathtaking views over the city and its beaches. The panorama stretches from Table Bay to False Bay and around the mountain to the Hout Bay Valley and Kommetjie. On a clear day one has a magnificent view across the Cape Flats to the Hottentots Holland Mountains.

The mountain is sculpted from sandstone and it rises 1086 metres above the bay. Its flat summit measures nearly 3 km from end to end. The mountain is home to approximately 1470 species of plants. Many of these are endemic, I .e. appearing nowhere else on earth. Included is the rare Silver Tree and the wild orchid Disa Uniflora.

The Cableway was opened in 1929 and today conveys some 600,000 people to the summit annually. It provides safe access and the trip takes about six minutes.

On the summit there is a restaurant and a souvenir shop, from which letters bearing the Table Mountain postmark can be sent. Short walks may be taken from the cable-station, and the flora that may be seen in the different seasons, makes it an essential trip for nature lovers.

It is not advisable to climb the mountain without someone experienced who knows the route well. There are some 350 recognised paths to the summit, some not demanding and some extremely difficult. It is recommended that you contact Mountain Club of South Africa (021 - 4653412) before embarking on a hike or climb.

Kloof Nek is linked to the 669 metre Lion's Head which in turn is connected by a lion's body to a rump known as Signal Hill. Along the road are superb views over the city and Atlantic Seaboard. The spiral pathway up Lion's Head passes through silver trees and spring flowers, and typical endemic fynbos and vegetation. The view from the top is a breathtaking panoramic. Signal Hill was once used as a semaphore post for communication with ships at sea, and it is from here that the noon gun is fired each day. The scene from here at night, of the city lights with the backdrop of a floodlit Table Mountain, is an extremely romantic sight.

Cape Town's Victoria and Alfred Waterfront development has grabbed the imagination of Capetonian and visitor alike. With majestic Table Mountain as a backdrop and the unique interest of the 'working harbour', it is not surprising that the 'Waterfront' has become Cape Town's most popular attraction. Its success has largely been built upon local support and attracts over a million visitors a month, of which 70% are Capetonians.

For over a century The Dutch East India Company contributed to the development of the Cape of Good Hope. The arrival of their merchant ships, laden with spices and treasures, caused great excitement in the community.

Times have changed, yet the same spirit lives on at the Waterfront Craft Market, where craftsmanship and artistry of an ageless quality are captured in a market for the explorer at heart.

Shops offer gemstones, curios and fancy fashions to the silliest souvenirs. It is also well stocked with restaurants, taverns, cinemas, theatres and a variety of entertainment including boat trips and charters. Try the historical walks.
 

It is advisable to first visit the V&A Waterfront Information Centre. They are there to help you with friendly advice, directions and up-to-the minute information on activities and events. They will even arrange bookings for tours and taxis.

The Imax cinema is situated at the Portswood Road entrance to the Waterfront. The main feature of Imax is the super-realistic image on a screen five stories high. The Two Ocean Aquarium offers an exciting insight into the indigenous fresh and seawater creatures of South Africa.

Shopping in the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre is exciting and varied and a new extension has virtually doubled its size. It offers late night trading and has undercover parking for your convenience. King's Warehouse has a variety of fresh farm produce, fine food and take-aways. Shops around Market Square, the Pierhead and in the Alfred Mall have much to offer.

The South African Maritime Museum has the largest collection of model ships and some fascinating artefacts. There is also a floating exhibit, the S.A.S. Somerset.

Other items of historical interest are the Time Ball Tower, (which was once used by ships in the bay to set the time) and the Old Clock Tower, built in 1887. The topmost floor housed the clock mechanism, while the bottom floor housed the elaborate tide-gauge operated by a float on the water below.

Cape Fur Seals can be viewed by taking the century old Penny Ferry across 'The Cut'.

HERMANUS

The Right Whale was so named because it was considered to be the 'right' whale to catch. Rich in oil and baleen (the large food filter plates which hang from the roof of its mouth) This slow moving leviathan became one of the most ruthlessly hunted of all species of whales. Today, the northern right whale is virtually extinct. In the southern hemisphere populations show a slow increase since international protection in 1935. There are estimated to be about 3 000 - 4 000 southern right whales at present, with South Africa receiving the major percentage visiting its coasts annually. Present populations of Southern Right whales are a fraction of estimated initial numbers.

The Southern Right Whale has a circumpolar distribution and inhabits sub Antarctic water between about 30° and 55° south. The whales migrate south during the summer months when supplies of krill are more prolific, and north during winter and spring to mate, calve and rear their young. They appear around the South African coastline from August to December. They can be seen interacting in the sheltered bays and coves close inshore and near river mouths.

The Southern Right Whale can be distinguished from other whales by its V-shaped 'blow' and the callosities, which appear on and around its head. Although many people mistake these callosities for barnacles and although barnacles and other sea life live on these patches on the whale's head, the callosities are actual outgrowths of tough skin which form different patterns on each individual and which are a useful form of identification. To hear a whale 'blow' is like hearing the breath of life. The blow is a cloud of vapour produced largely by condensation when warm breath comes into contact with cooler air. It also contains oily mucus from the respiratory tract of the whale. Whales are large brained and sensitive creatures. Strong bonds exist between females and their calves. In normal circumstances they are non-aggressive and gentle towards man. As yet, knowledge about whales and the role they play in the marine ecosystems is fragmentary.

OUDTSHOORN

The ostrich-feather capital of the world, Oudtshoorn, with its sheltered position between the Swartberg and Outeniqua Mountains, and pleasant climate – warm and sunny in winter – makes for a most interesting visit. A stop at Highgate, Safari, Cango or Oudtshoorn Ostrich Show farm is an absolute must – if you're daring enough you can ride an ostrich. The well known Cango Caves 30 km to the north, with spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. The Cango Caves complex includes a restaurant, coffee shop and bar, curio shop and museum. The Cango Wildlife Ranch, set in beautiful surroundings, has a crocodile farm and a 200m timber walkway, suspended over mesh camps containing lions, cheetah's and jaguars.

TSITSIKAMMA NATIONAL PARK

Tsitsikamma, Africa's first national marine park, comprises a narrow coastal plain bounded by cliffs and beaches and extending five kilometres out to sea. Beautiful and wild, the park encompasses 80 km of rocky coastline featuring quiet tidal pools, deep gorges and evergreen forests. The name Tsitsikamma is derived from Hottentot words, tse-tsesa, meaning clear, and gami, meaning water, probably referring to the clear water of the Tsitsikamma River.

Fynbos, small mammals and a prolific bird life add to the enchantment of the region. From Storms River Mouth, nature trails meander into the forest and along the coast. One of the most scenically rewarding, the five-day Otter Trail follows the shoreline for most of its route.

For an experience with a difference, a snorkelling and scuba trail will introduce you to an underwater world inhabited by fascinating marine creatures. But if you only want to relax and soak up the sun, two exquisite beaches provide the setting.

ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK

Deep within the shadows of the dense valley bushveld of the Sundays River region of the Eastern Cape lies the Addo Elephant National Park. Here, the evenings are punctuated by the strident howl of the black-backed jackal, and the francolin's call heralds each new dawn. Safe from relentless persecution in the past, the grey leviathans of the bush now roam in peace. The park was proclaimed in 1931, when only eleven elephants remained in the area – today this finely tuned ecosystem is sanctuary to over 200 elephants, Cape buffalo, a variety of antelope species, as well as the unique flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo.

BLYDE RIVER CANYON

The Blyde River Canyon ('river of joy') lies within the 26000 hectares of the Blyderivierspoort Nature Reserve, a 57 km narrow belt, which runs north from Graskop along the Drakensberg Escarpment. Owing to the variations in altitude, temperature and rainfall, a great diversity of vegetation occurs; there are ferns, cycads, creepers, cabbage trees, wild figs, mobola plums, proteas, orchids, ericas, and many other trees and flowering plants. The Blyde River is dammed in the gorge by a 72-metre-high wall, creating a lake that serves as a picturesque home for many hippos and crocodiles.

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

The world renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this national park of nearly 2 million hectares, is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies.

Truly the flagship of the South African national parks, Kruger is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. Man's interaction with the Lowveld environment over many centuries - from bushman rock paintings to majestic archaeological sites like Masorini and Thulamela - is very evident in the Kruger National Park. These treasures represent the cultures, persons and events that played a role in the history of the Kruger National Park and are conserved along with the park's natural assets.