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We've given each of our tours a comfort rating and a tour pace, walking or cycling grade to give you a general idea about the level of activity on each tour and the standard of accommodation you will be staying in at the end of your day's adventure.
Often you'll stay in different styles of accommodation during your tour; so we make an average rating across the entire tour. For more information on where you'll stay each night, please refer to the day by day tour itinerary.
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Lake Naivasha - Boat Trip $10
Samburu - Village Visit $10
Lake Chamo - Boat Trip $15
Lake Tana - Boat Trip - $10
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Local Crew: Although entirely voluntary, tipping is a recognized part of life in this region of the world. Some local staff will look to members of the group for personal recognition of particular services provided. In order to make things easier for you, the Tour Leaders may organise a group’s tips kitty and if this is the case, they will account for it throughout the tour.
Back to topAccordingly you should allow between $80 for gratuities for local staff.
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Tour Leader: At your discretion you might also consider tipping your Tour Leader in appreciation of the efficiency and service you receive.
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Up-to-date information on global exchange rates can be obtained at www.oanda.com
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Local Currency: Ethiopia: Ethiopian Birr. Kenya: Kenyan Shilling.
Recommended Currency for Exchange: It is advisable to take your spending money in Sterling, Euros or US Dollars cash (high denomination notes usually get better exchange rates). Please note that any pre-2002 US Dollar bills are not accepted in Ethiopia. Please keep any receipts as you may be able to change back any unused local currency.
Where to Exchange: Your Tour leader will advise you.
ATM Availability: Very Limited.
Credit Card Acceptance: Limited.
Travellers Cheques: Very difficult to exchange and are not recommended.
Additional Information: In Ethiopia video recorders are not permitted at some sights and at those where they are, charges vary between US$10 and US$20 per visit.
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| UK | Ethiopia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tea/Coffee | £1.50 | £0.50 | $2.00 |
| Soft Drink | £1.50 | £0.50 | $2.00 |
| Bottled Water | £1.50 | £0.50 | $1.50 |
| Bottle of Beer | £3.50 | £1.00 | $4.00 |
| 2 Course Meal* | £15.00 | £3.50 | $15.00 |
| 3 Course Meal** | £20.00 | £6.00 | $25.00 |
| Bottle of Wine | £14.50 | £15.00 | $20.00 |
| Breakfast | £5.00 |
*Cheap local fare in a small cafe or restaurant.
**Typical food in a simple, reasonably comfortable mid-range restaurant.
It is a condition of joining any of our tours that you must have valid travel insurance. It must indicate that you have cover for (at least) medical expenses and emergency repatriation in the event of illness or injury. We also strongly recommend your policy includes cancellation protection as all deposit paid are non-refundable.
If you require travel insurance for your tour, Explore Worldwide is an appointed representative of Campbell Irvine Limited, who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services authority. Our travel insurance policy is specially tailored to the needs of the adventure traveller and will cover you for any included activity on any Explore trip. You can either purchase this at the time of booking or call us 0844 499 0901 after you have booked.
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Kenya: Entry visas are required for UK, NZ, AUS, USA and CAN. Although visas are available upon arrival, we recommend to obtain them before departure in order to avoid long queues.
Ethiopia: Visas for British citizens can either be obtained before departure or upon arrival, although this often changes at very short notice and you should check the latest advice with your embassy. Be also aware that you might have to queue for a long time on arrival in Ethiopia. If instead you decide to apply for a visa before departure, please note that a single entry visa will be valid for 30 days from the date of issue and this will require you to submit a visa application no more than two weeks prior to departure. If, for convenience, you require a longer application period we would suggest that you apply for a multiple entry visa valid for 3 months.
Visas are available through the Embassy or through Explore’s recommended visa service, Visa Swift www.visaswift.com/explore.aspx.
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All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related issues with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.
Back to topAn International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever is required. We recommend protection against malaria, hepatitis A, diphtheria, tetanus, typhoid and polio. Although the risk is low you may also consider immunisation against rabies and meningococcal meningitis. Consult your travel clinic for latest advice on different prophylaxis available against Malaria.
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The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at http://www.explore.co.uk/Travelhealth/ and from your local healthcare provider.
Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.
Back to topWe strongly recommend that you check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs, including advice re: the legality of and local attitudes towards same-sex relationships. For UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advice follow the link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/
Back to topKenya: Although Kenya lies astride the equator, annual rainfall over most of the country is surprisingly low and varies from year to year. Samburu is quite hot and described as semi-desert, but temperatures over much of Kenya are subtropical or temperate.
Ethiopia: Is generally pleasant and warm, but varies with altitude. The long rains usually arrive mid-June to early September and the short rains between mid-February and April, although this pattern has been completely erratic in recent times. After the rains, the highlands of northern Ethiopia are usually green and thus particularly scenic. The temperature all year round rarely falls below 18°C, though in the dry season can reach 30°C.
Back to topSeasonal weather patterns can be unpredictable. For up-to-date information on the weather worldwide please visit www.bbc.co.uk/weather.
Back to topTo assist with packing for your tour, we have detailed some of the essential items you should take with you.
Back to topUnfortunately it does occasionally happen that luggage does not always reach its destination on the same flight as its owner, or possibly it may be damaged in transit. If you are unlucky enough for this to occur, it is important that you file a PIR (Property Irregularity Report) with the airline before leaving the airport. This is essential when you come to make a claim either against the airline or from your travel insurance company
Back to topTake a tough soft bag or holdall (or rucksack with detachable frame). Total allowance: 33lb/15kg maximum (due to weight restrictions on our vehicle). Also take a daypack for items needed during any short walks and game drives (20-30 litre). The limit does not include your camera equipment.
Back to topClothing should be lightweight but a warm sweater is also advisable, as nights at altitude can be cold, even in summer. Game drives are often done at dawn so bring a windproof jacket and warm clothing. A scarf is also recommended as protection against dust whilst driving in the drier areas.
Please note: Some areas we travel through have Muslim influences and people may be offended by shorts or revealing dresses, which can attract unwelcome attention. Therefore you should dress with respect for local sensibilities. Women should also cover their heads when entering a sanctuary, though in general, mosques are forbidden to non-Muslim.
Back to topComfortable shoes or lightweight boots, trainers or sandals for relaxing/travelling. Ankle support is strongly recommended if going on the mule trek in Lalibela.
Back to topBring a torch, towel, sleeping bag liner, sunhat, suncream, insect repellent and a personal water bottle. Binoculars are useful as is a telephoto lens for game viewing. Take supplies of photographic film with you, as supplies available locally are unreliable. Please note a sleeping bag will be provided for the camping part of the trip. You may wish to bring a scarf for the drives along dusty roads.
Then we suggest you contact Nomad Travel, our equipment partner, who specialise in kitting people out for adventurous travel. You receive a special 10% discount in-store or online. Visit one of their stores, phone 0845 260 0044, or visit their website www.nomadtravel.co.uk/explore for further information.
Back to topFasting Days
During the 55 days preceding Easter and 40 days preceding Christmas (Genna), Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia abstain from eating animal products. During this time, therefore, local restaurants predominantly serve vegetarian food, though meat is usually available in some larger establishments.
Back to topThe infrastructure in this area of Africa is in a formative stage. Hotels, specifically in Southern Ethiopia are very basic, with limited water supplies, if any running at all, and are very far from western standards. Power cuts are common. The nature of this trip is rugged, with some early starts and necessarily long travelling days on rough and often unsurfaced roads. While our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day route printed below, a degree of flexibility is built into the itinerary. Overnight stops may vary from those suggested. In Ethiopia we stay at some government hotels which at times can be commandeered by government officials at short notice this means that night stops may vary as a result.
Back to topThis trip takes you to an incredibly interesting area of Africa. Nevertheless, you should bear in mind that the nature of the trip is rugged, with some early starts and necessarily long travelling days on often rough and unsurfaced roads. If you have an open minded approach, you will find it extremely rewarding as we have the privilege to see some incredible highlights and too meet some truly fascinating people!
Although infrastructure can be poor in this area, the dip in comfort levels is more than compensated for by the wonders of the remote region we are travelling in. Some hotels are very basic but they are the best in the area and allow us to visit certain tribes. There can be many issues with electricity and water which are precious commodities in Southern Ethiopia so you will at some stage find yourself without electricity and only a bucket of water to shower with, but these experiences are what Southern Ethiopia is about and if you are able to adopt a flexible attitude this is likely to be one of the most authentic adventures you have ever experienced!
Please also note that while it is our intention to adhere to the day-to-day route detailed on these Tour Notes, a degree of flexibility is built into the itinerary and nights stop may vary, especially in Ethiopia where we stay at some government hotels which at times can be commandeered by government officials at short notice.
Village visits can be an memorable experience for both us and the people we visit. However, in line with our Responsible Tourism policy, in order to show the necessary respect and to help us better understand the diversity of the cultures in the region, we would ask you to follow your tour leader’s recommendations regarding village visit requirements, which may vary drastically from place to place.
Some of the areas we visit have been described as a ‘living museum’ and tribes are now very used to tourists. Please be aware that there are likely to be other tourists in the area and you will not always be the only group present during some tribal visits.
You are welcome to take photos but note you are expected to pay for every photo you take, each time you press the shutter. Please respect this as this is the local people’s main means of gaining currency. With this transaction both parties are benefitting; you get the photo and they get a source of income! Fees vary from village to village so your tour leader will be able to advise.
If you bring gifts with you such as pens etc. please consult with the tour leader as to the best way to distribute them to be sure this is done in a fair way. It is not responsible to give things from the jeeps; children have been knocked over in the road and also children will stop going to school as they find it more lucrative to chase tourist jeeps in the hope of bottles, money and sweets. In the long run it is not good to give directly to children and the elders of the tribes would like this to cease if possible.
The best way of putting back into the local economy is to buy handicrafts etc from the local tribes. Remember not to haggle too much, but to pay a reasonable price. As we use locally owned hotels too, we are putting money back into the local economy.
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For comprehensive information regarding voltages and plug types in use in the countries visited, follow the relevant link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/
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