Chameleon Backpackers

Voight Street North

Windhoek

Ph: +264 (0)61 247 668

Fax: +264 (0)61 220 885

If you would like pre tour accommodation at Chameleon Backpackers, please contact Kumuka or your agent.

Windhoek, Swakopmund, Cape Cross Seal Colony, Brandberg, Otjitotongwe Cheetah Park.  Please note that there is no pre departure meeting for this tour.  The tour begins at 2pm on Day 1, where you will be collected from Chameleon Backpackers, Windhoek and transferred to Swakopmund by Town Hopper.  This journey takes approximately 4 hours. Please note that this is a shared transfer shuttle service, and you will meet your crew on arrival into Swakopmund.

The town of Swakopmund is situated on the Atlantic Ocean and is a German colonial town in the middle of a desert. It has some wonderful old German buildings of which one of the most beautiful is the prison (it is still used as a prison).

The town itself is generally cool as a mist created by the cold air off the Atlantic mixing with the hot air of the desert, covers it. This is why the Germans chose this area to build the town. 

There are lots of optional excursions to choose from in Swakopmund including venturing over the sand dunes in a beach buggy or on a quad bike, sand boarding, scenic flights, skydiving,  game fishing or you can take a fantastic cultural tour of the nearby township area. The town itself proves popular on our tours as it has lots of clubs, restaurants, casino and even an authentic German bakery.

You spend two nights here in dormitory or room accommodation and so we generally dine out for most meals.

Just north of Swakopmund there is the Cape Cross seal colony, home to 20,000 to 100,000 (depending on the season) cape fur seals. Regardless of the season, it is always possible to get a close look at lots of seals.

From Cape Cross we head north and spend a night at Otjitotongwe Cheetah Park. What makes this farm unique from other farms in the region is that this farmer has allocated 2,000 acres of the family property as a sanctuary for cheetah. This has not really endeared them to all their neighbours who view the cheetah as vermin and a real threat to their livestock; hence the area is fenced off. Although it’s not the optimum way to view these animals (through a fence) they do have 2,000 acres and it is rare to get so close to them.

Highlights include his over excitable son feeding them by hand (something that shouldn't’t be missed, while he still has a hand) and sitting amongst the few that are hand reared and therefore tame. These young tame cheetahs were abandoned when they were young and consequently cannot be let to run with the other cheetah. They usually allow us 30 minutes with these animals and it is quite an experience to have cheetah walking amongst us.

Okavango Delta And Chobe National Park.  From Etosha we will drive along through Northern Namibia across the Botswanan border to the town of Maun.  We will stop in town to restock and prepare for our trip into the Okavango Delta. 

The Okavango Delta is formed by the Okavango River, which flows into the desert and disappears as it fans out to form the Delta. We go into the ‘the Delta’ for 3 days (2 nights) and camp in the bush usually on the banks of one of the many fresh water channels that give life to the flora and fauna. Our method of transport is 4 wheel drive vehicles and Makoro (meaning ‘dug out canoe’ in Setswana). The Makoros are traditionally made of wood but as they come to the end of their serviceable life, fibreglass canoes are now replacing them. These are not quite as authentic but building the old canoes uses a whole tree and the environment is beginning to suffer. Each makoro is piloted by a ‘poler’, who helps set up camp & take guided bush walks…he/she will also always be ready for a chat and a cup of tea with you around the fire. We take all our own equipment and food and bring it all back out (including the rubbish), showing our understanding of the fragility of the Delta. The Okavango Delta region is one of the world’s last remaining true wilderness areas and is home to a vast amount of animals. It is possible to take some walks to try to see them or, if you are lucky, they will wander pass close to camp. As you retire to your tent for the night, the sounds and smells of the African bush will leave an indelible mark on your senses like no other.

From the Delta we continue to Kasane and the adjoining Chobe National Park in northern Botswana. At Chobe we usually go on a 3 hour sunrise game drive in open sided 4x4’s and a 3 hour sunset boat cruise. Both the boat cruise and the game drive (and the resident 50000+ elephants) give us great game viewing opportunities in one of the largest parks in southern Africa.

The tour will finish at the following hotel:

Tokkie Lodge
224 Reynard Road,
Victoria Falls,
Zimbabwe

Tel:  + 263 (0) 13 43306

Please contact Kumuka Worldwide or your travel agent to book post tour accommodation or airport transfers.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours. All clients MUST be insured to cover personal accident, medical expenses, cancellation, curtailment, repatriation, etc. Also, be aware that many activities such as trekking, bungy jumping or white water rafting may not be covered on your insurance policy. If you plan on doing any of these activities please purchase additional insurance. We recommend that you have a photocopy of this document, which you keep separate from the original. If you have not already arranged your own travel insurance then Kumuka can do this for you. Please visit http://www.kumuka.com/Travel-Insurance.aspx for more details or contact your nearest Kumuka office.

Please Note: You will not be permitted to join a Kumuka Tour without travel insurance.

The majority of visas for the countries we travel through can now be obtained on arrival at the border or point of entry. This applies for the following passports:

Australian, New Zealand, British, Irish, Canadian, American, Dutch and South African.

It is recommended that all passengers have at least 2 blank pages in their passport per country they are travelling to. This is very important for all nationalities entering into South Africa. All passports must be valid for 6 months AFTER the end of the tour, or 12 months for anyone going into Uganda.

Visas on average cost between US$50 - 70 with the exception of Irish into Tanzania which is now US$100. Visas MUST be paid in US$ Cash and it is recommended to have the correct amount for your visa as change is unlikely.

EACH CLIENT IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING ALL NECESSARY VISAS FOR THEIR TOUR.

Kumuka does not accept responsibility for changes in regulations or requirements for visas. The information provided is given in good faith.

Passengers choosing to pre-obtain visas must always double check that their visa covers the full time they are in the country and when the visa is valid from as some are valid from date of issue not date of travel.

Anti-malaria tablets are essential. Get professional advice from your GP or Travel Clinic about types of tablets, as resistant strains exist. These tablets may need to be taken at least 1 week before travelling to Africa, during your travels and sometimes for 4 weeks after leaving a malaria area. DO NOT forget to follow your prescribed routine. DO NOT CHANGE THE ROUTINE, once prescribed by your Doctor. As there is considerable resistance in parts of Africa, the only effective prevention is to NOT get bitten. Dusk till dawn is the time when mosquito's bite therefore, always protect your self with repellents and long clothing during this time. Malaria is the most common serious ailment that affects our clients; do not expose yourself to unnecessary risk.

Whilst all Kumuka Worldwide vehicles have secure doors and are fully lockable, it always pays to be cautious.

Do not bring any unnecessary valuables such as jewellery or electronic equipment with you.   Be aware of your surroundings and keep your personal belongings close to you at all times as pickpockets operate everywhere, particularly in built-up tourist areas.

A money belt or something similar worn close to your body is the best way to carry passports and other important documents.    DO NOT be overt about how much money you are carrying or walk around with your camera dangling around your neck, no matter where you are travelling on the globe, you will be a walking target for opportunistic thieves.

If staying in hotels, do not leave your valuables in the room, make use of the safety deposit boxes available.  Likewise, do not leave ANYTHING of value in your tent unattended, leave these onboard the truck in the safe.

Currency and how much to take is something that we’re always asked about.   We hope that the following information will assist with your budgeting. 

Please keep in mind that only YOU will know how much you’ll spend on souvenirs, drinks, meals off the truck, internet fees etc. It is always best to allow for more than you think you’ll need rather than go without.

Our recommendation is to allow for at least US$25 to US$30 per day for incidentals over and above the cost of optional excursions and visa fees which should be budgeted for separately.  There will be days when you will not spend anything and other days when you may blow your budget entirely on that souvenir that you have to have, or a round of drinks for your fellow travellers.

US Dollars CASH is the most widely accepted currency in most parts of Africa, except for South Africa and Namibia where you should travel with Rand. Please ensure that all notes are clean and printed AFTER 2001. Small denominations are best for changing into local currencies and tipping i.e. US$5, US$10 & US$20. Where visas are required (refer to our visa guide) you can pay with US$50 notes however keep in mind that it is ALWAYS best to have the correct denomination as you will find immigration officials rarely have change available.

When changing money from USD to local currency be aware that you will NOT be able to change back to USD or into another currency, what money you don’t spend will be useless after you’ve left that country.   It is also often a good idea to join forces with other travellers to do one large money change transaction, thus avoiding excess conversion fees. 

If you are travelling to South Africa or Namibia you can easily withdraw Rand from an ATM in South Africa or Namibia, just be mindful of security when doing this.  Please note that it is not necessary to travel with USD in South Africa or Namibia.

Other currencies accepted but not as popular are Pounds and Euros, however you will find the exchange rate is not as favourable as USD.

Do not rely on credit cards for payment nor the use of working ATM’s to withdraw money as it is very common for the card facility to NOT be working when you most need it.  There have also been instances of credit card fraud and many ATM’s have been tampered with in the major cities.  

Where credit cards ARE accepted you will find that VISA CARD is more widely known than Mastercard or Cirus

Traveller’s cheques are not widely accepted and when the facility is available often you will receive a much lower rate of exchange.   If you do wish to take traveller’s cheques, we recommend taking 10% to 20% of your overall budget to use in case of emergency.

NOTE: - For passengers joining or visiting Victoria Falls, please do not change any USD to local currency without speaking with your tour leader first.

The best rule for packing is to limit yourself to the airline limit of 15 to 20kgs. It will inconvenience you and your fellow passengers if you bring more. If your luggage does not arrive at the airport, please inform your crew at the Pre Departure Meeting.

A frameless or internally framed backpack is the best way to carry your belongings since it is easy to lift on and off vehicles. Please note that we do not recommend that passengers bring suitcases.

A small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) at hand when your main pack is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions. This can also be used for carrying 2 days of clothing so it is not always necessary to unload the large backpacks every night.
Other important items:-
• Sleeping Bag - (You will need a sub zero sleeping bag, if climbing Kilimanjaro).
• Inner Sheet - for your sleeping bag. Can also be used as a sleeping bag when it's hot.
• Sleeping Mat - A self-inflating mat. "Thermarest" is best, although a compressed foam mat is adequate.
• Mosquito Net -if you wish to sleep outdoors. All tents have built in mosquito nets. Nets can be obtained cheaply in Nairobi and other parts of Africa.
• We also recommend that you keep your passport, credit cards travellers cheques etc. on you at all times, preferably in a money belt worn under your clothes.

NOTE:-  You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!!

Personal Effects:
Torch (we recommend a head torch), camera & film OR spare memory card, spare passport photos, water bottle, money belt, sewing kit, sunhat/sunglasses, MP3 player, books, wet ones, tissues, soap to wash clothes, writing materials, army knife, calculator, personal toiletries, including tampons, contraceptives, insect repellent, sunscreen.

NOTE:- If you wear glasses, it is advisable to bring a spare pair since opticians are uncommon. If you wear contact lenses you may find that climatic changes and dust can create visual irritation, therefore, it is advisable to bring a pair of glasses.

Clothing:
We suggest that you take into account the time of year you will be travelling, and pack accordingly to the season. Quick drying clothes are recommended, and at many campsites there are laundry facilities. Your tour leader will advise where this is possible.

Contrary to expectations it does get cold in Africa. Southern Africa, particularly South Africa and Namibia get quite cold at night between June and August. Mount Kilimanjaro will be cold at night all year round, due to the extreme altitude. You will need to bring your warmest clothes.

A rough guideline follows:-
• underwear & socks
• 3-4 long sleeved & short sleeved shirts or t-shirts
• 2-3 long trousers / shorts
• polar fleece / waterproof jacket
• walking shoes or trainers / sandals
• a set of smart clothes & shoes

Africa has some of the most spectacular photographic opportunities in the world. To capture these scenes you will need to bring a camera with a good zoom lens. For game photography, a 200mm lens or higher is recommended. Tripods tend to be bulky and cumbersome and a versatile beanbag is a good substitute.

If you are using print film, all supplies plus any filters and other accessories should be obtained prior to departure. We do not recommend that you develop your film whilst in East Africa, as the standards vary considerably and are often unreliable.

NOTE:- Protect your camera from the elements, particularly dust, as getting your camera repaired will be impossible in most places.  A good idea is to use an old tea towel or t-shirt to wrap your camera up inside it’s dustproof camera bag when not in use.

Please remember, we are guests in the countries through which we travel and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs without first asking permission. It is absolutely forbidden by law to take photos at any borders, as they are all active military installations

We have put a lot of thought and effort into locating the most appropriate type of accommodation for each tour. Overland tours will spend the majority of time in campsites with facilities (bathrooms & bars etc.) and occasionally hotels/hostels where campsites are not available.

For many, tipping is a means of supplementing their wage and is a normal part of payment for goods and services. Be sure to keep small denomination notes or coins on you to avoid embarrassment. Sales and service taxes are imposed in some restaurants and bars.

Bargaining is also expected and in all markets prices are inflated to accommodate such a practice. Rule of thumb is to cut the offer in half and work upwards. This can sometimes be hard work but do not let yourself be intimidated by stallholders, you can always say no and walk away.

The tips below are purely given as a guideline. Poor service should result in lower tips; in serious circumstances a report should be lodged with local ground staff or on the feedback form. We recommend the following amounts are not exceeded except in special circumstances.

ALL prices are PER day PER GROUP (so split between the number of passengers each day) – generally paid as a total sum in USD at the end of each trip.

Suggested tipping for all routes on Kilimanjaro
Guide                  USD$ 15
Cook                  USD$ 10
Assistant Guide   USD$ 10
Porters               USD$ 7 – NOTE there will be at least 2 porters per trekker

Suggested tipping for all Gorilla treks
Guide                  USD$ 15
Assistants            USD$ 10

Suggested tipping for all driver/guides on lodge based and family tours
Guide                  USD$ 15-20

Tour Questionnaire - We would like to hear about your experiences on tour. One week after your tour ends you will automatically receive a feedback questionnaire via email. If we do not have your email address you can still complete a questionnaire by visiting www.kumuka.com/feedback

Email - If you have any specific comments about your tour then please write to us by email to operations@kumuka.com