Associated Sites
The following information is here to help you. But please remember that the best advice will normally be available from our highly knowledgeable staff. If you would like to find out more about them please click here.
IMPORTANT CONTACTS & INFORMATION
Consumer Protection:
Your holiday is properly and fully protected as required by the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992. As we tailor-make every single holiday we have bonding arrangements to cover flight-inclusive holidays as well as holidays where flights are not arranged by us.
A) Flight-Inclusive Bonding: We are licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority and hold ATOL Number 7159. This ensures that in the event of our failure your money will be protected; if you are on holiday at the time, arrangements will be made for you to complete your holiday and return home. We, or the suppliers of the services you have bought, will provide you with the services you have bought (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with the services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable).
B) Flight-Exclusive bonding: Your holiday is further protected by our membership of ABTOT (Membership Number 5197). As a member of the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT), African Explorations Ltd has provided a bond to meet the requirements of the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992. In the event of African Explorations Ltd’s insolvency, protection is provided for non-flight packages commencing in and returning to the UK and other non-flight packages excluding pre arranged travel to and from your destination. Please note that packages booked outside the UK are only protected when purchased directly with African Explorations Ltd. In the above circumstances, if you have not yet travelled you may claim a refund, or if you have already travelled, you may claim repatriation to the starting point of your non-flight package.
ATTA
Useful information for travelling to Africa ATTA
Foreign Office
Website details for latest information and updates from the Foreign Office. www.fco.gov.uk – and see NaTHNac below.
Travel Insurance
It is a condition of booking with us that you have current travel insurance at the time of travel. This should include repatration in case of emergecy and shold also be valid form the time of booking to cover any unforseen event that might incur a cancellation and loss of deposit or full holiday cost. Please always check inclusions and exclusions, maximum holiday cost limits, activity limits and other details before finalising your insurance – annual travel insurance and family policies can often be much cheaper than taking out more than one single trip policy in a 12 month period.
We have found Holiday Extras to be efficient and helpful as well as offering good levels of cover with excellent add-ons available. They can be found at the Holiday Extras link here. Otherwise call them on 0800 171 000 but please be sure to quote “African Explorations T6407″ in order to get the best rates.
Gold Cover Insurance Services has also been providing quality travel insurance for a long time. They have a range policies to suit most needs and can also provide cover for various types of activity holiday. Call Gold Cover on 01892 559532, stating that you are a client of African and Indian Explorations for an immediate quote and cover, or go to the Gold Cover website.
Visa Service
Please check whether you require a visa for the country that you are travelling to. We can offer advice but, as we are unable to actually obtain visas on our client’s behalf, we have an arrangement with CIBT/Visa Central, a visa facilitiation business with offices in 11 countires including the UK and USA, to assist our clients. Visa Central can be contacted as follows:
In the UK:
Website: www.visacentral.co.uk/africanexplorations
Telephone: 0844 381 4798
Email: info@visacentral.co.uk – please mention African Explorations to obtain any discount.
In the USA:
Website: www.visacentral.com/africanexplorations
Telephone: National Customer Service Center: 800-929-2428
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Central)
Email: customerservice@cibt.com – please mention African Explorations to obtain any discount.
In the past we have also found Action Visas, London, (www.actionvisas.co.uk ) or The Visa Service (www.visaservice.com) to be helpful.
Medical Information
First stop for information on travelling to any country ought to be the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNac).
Masta are able to give the most up to date information regarding Malaria. Telephone number 0207 631 4408 and website masta-travel-health.com.
Please refer to your General Practitioner for inoculations and vaccines.
Another helpful website is Fit For Travel, which is www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
World Weather
Supplied by Accuweather. www.onlineweather.com
Airport Information
Find out the latest details on hand luggage in particular. www.baa.co.uk
Luggage
Throughout Africa & India, when travelling by light aircraft, there are luggage restrictions anything from 10kgs per person to 20 kgs per person. We shall advise you accordingly. However, the most important thing is to have a soft, carryall bag which moulds in better in the pod of the aircraft. We recommend the following company which stocks the correct, good quality bags required for any safari as well as other safari-related products.
Safarigear www.safarigear.co.uk quoting African Explorations (we can send you a voucher) will obtain a worthwhile discount.
Bagman for Jeep bags – www.bagman.co.uk
Clothing
Travelling Light www.travellinglight.co.uk
Safarigear www.safarigear.co.uk we can give you a discount through our company.
Bookshops
We most recommend the following bookshops and indeed obtain our own books and maps from them:
Stanfords Map and Travel Bookshop, Covent Garden, London. We have arranged with Stanfords for you to get a 10% discount on all your purchases. Click on the Stanfords logo here:
And, to obtain the discount, be sure to put AFRICANEXPLORATIONS10 in the promotion box at checkout!
The Travel Bookshop. www.thetravelbookshop.co.uk
