All of Our Guides Speak English As Well As Their Own Local Language/S

YOUR SAFARI

Our guests range in age and come from a variety of different backgrounds. You will often have communal dining and travel from the airport, between camps or on safari with other guests of NCS. To get the most from your safari it is essential that you respect others in camp and they do likewise for you. If any guest behaves in a way that affects the enjoyment or safety of anyone else in camp, they will be approached discreetly and if the behaviour does not cease, may eventually be taken out of camp (which of course we all hope never happens!).

All of our guides speak English as well as their own local language/s.

Safaris are conducted using open 4X4 vehicles and are designed for all guests to have a ‘window’ seat. As discussed previously, you will most likely be travelling with other guests on your walking or diving safaris, however if you would like a private vehicle and guide, we can arrange this for you at an additional cost and subject to availability.

A TYPICAL DAY AT AN NORMAN CARR SAFARIS CAMP

POWER

Zambia runs on 220 - 240 volts using British style square pin plugs.

Kapani Lodge and Chinzombo are on mains electricity.

All our Bush Camps run on SOLAR POWER; we have inverters so LIMITED 240 volt power can be provided for guests in the main bar/dining area ONLY. Solar power is obviously dependent on the sun and the ability to charge during the day. Cloudy days do occur meaning power on these days is limited to your room lights only.

It’s advisable to bring adaptors where necessary. Please bring PLENTY of battery back up – charging facilities can be limited in bush camps. There is NO facility to charge laptops in our bush camps.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

All of our properties are in the middle of the African bush. We therefore have no access to internet for guests at any of the camps and there is limited mobile phone reception available at Kapani Lodge and Chinzombo only. Of course if there is an emergency we are always able to get messages to and from guests.

We believe this is one of the beauties of visiting such a remote location on safari and keeping our environmental footprint to a minimum – you are on holiday so please try and enjoy it! We recommend that you leave your mobile phones, blackberrys and satellite phones in camp and on silent and if they must be checked, that you do so in the privacy of your room only.

Useful numbers and contacts

Kapani Lodge +260 216 246025

Out of hours emergency+ 260 97 7 209527

Proflight - Telefax: + 260 1 252 348

SAFETY

Africa’s wild animals can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous. Your safety is very important so whilst on holiday with us you need to be aware of your surroundings and their associated risks. You will most likely undertake both walking and driving safaris; please note these activities are taken at your own risk.

Safaris will be undertaken in an unfenced national park and game management area where the animals are wild. Your safari camps are also unfenced and dangerous animals are often found in and around the camps. Attacks by wild animals are rare, however, there are no guarantees that such incidents will not occur. Please respect the wildlife, never try to touch a wild animal and keep noise to a minimum whilst on the vehicle or on foot during your safari.

We will do our utmost to ensure your safety but you need to ensure you listen to the camp staff and guides and especially at night, don’t wander about after being escorted to your room after dinner.

Travel Recommendations

INSURANCE

We strongly advise that you take out comprehensive travel insurance before you depart for Zambia. Medical insurance with provision for air evacuation and repatriation is also strongly advised. NCS is insured to evacuate medical emergencies but clients’ own insurers will be invoiced for this.

Whilst Norman Carr Safaris carries public and passenger liability for all guests staying in our camps and travelling in our vehicles we cannot be held responsible for loss or damage to any personal possessions whilst guests are in our care. Potentially dangerous wildlife wanders freely through our camps and guests are urged to take note of all safety advice and read the safety information in all camps.

Cancellation and Curtailment

If for any reason you cancel a trip close to departure date, you could lose the entire cost of your trip. Should you have to leave before your holiday is finished, we cannot refund you the cost of the portion of the package you do not complete. In the eventuality of this happening, insurance may cover you, depending on the reason for cancellation and curtailment.

VISAS

It is necessary for most foreign nationals to have a visa for entry into Zambia and Malawi. Visas can be purchased in advance of travel from any Zambian Missions Abroad (or Malawian embassy for Malawi visas), however it is possible for some foreign passport holders to purchase visas at the point of entry to Zambia or Malawi. We recommend this course of action for those nationals able to purchase a visa on entry.

For updated information we advise you to check one of the following websites:

• The Zambian Department of Immigration
• The Zambian High Commission, London
• The Malawian Foreign Affairs Department
  

Visa Fees as at January 2015

Most foreign nationals can purchase on entry but we urge you to check if you are unsure as some nationalities need to apply for and be granted their visa before travel. NCS cannot accept responsibility for any disruptions caused by visa issues.

For most European, UK and US passport holders into Zambia.

- Single entry US$50.00

- Double entry US$80.00

- Multiple entry US$160.00

The Zambian Government requires all visitors’ passports be valid for at least six months beyond the intended departure date from Zambia.

Travellersobtaining a visa on arrival are recommended to check their passports after it has been stamped by the immigration officer to ensure that the correct number of days’ stay have been authorized to cover your whole stay in Zambia.

MONEY

The currency in Zambia is the Kwacha. You may need a small amount of ZMK or USD to pay for flight departure taxes if you are flying with a Charter Airline or on a seat rate with a Charter Airline. This does not apply if you are flying with Proflight as taxes are included in the cost. There are banks and Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) in Livingstone, Mfuwe and in Lusaka Airports. You cannot change USD in a bank in Zambia, unless you are an account holder; however there are some bureau de change facilities in LusakaAirport.

If you are changing USD be sure to bring notes of varying denominations since change is often a problem in Africa and all notes must have "large heads" - the old series notes with small heads are no longer accepted anywhere in Zambia.

Credit cards are accepted in many places but it is safer not to rely on any single card to get you through Africa. Authorisation usually needs to be obtained for larger purchases and this is sometimes difficult to obtain. Most credit card transactions will also attract a surcharge of around 5% of the total invoice amount. Visa is the easiest card to use in Zambia, followed by MasterCard and then American Express. At Norman Carr Safaris we are only able to process Visa and MasterCards, but due to unreliable telephone lines and difficulties in obtaining authorisation, it can be a very lengthy process to complete a transaction and it is definitely best to settle any outstanding bills well in advance of your intended departure time.

TIPPING

When staying in a hotel or camp or when eating in a restaurant in Zambia, it is a statutory requirement for a 10% service charge to be added to your bill (or, more usually, incorporated within it). This is passed onto the staff and is designed to replace the optional gratuity.

Having said this, it is customary to tip staff a small amount if you feel that service has been up to scratch. In a restaurant this would usually not exceed 10%.

In the camps we prefer guests not to tip staff during the course of their stay but rather, if you choose, to leave a tip at the end of the stay; there will usually be a communal tip box at the bar or at reception. This will then be divided amongst all the staff, both those you have seen and those you have not.

As a guideline we advise something in the region of $5 - $10 per guest per day but of course this is entirely discretionary. The safari guides and scouts are not included in this tip sharing system so if you feel you have been well taken care of then you can tip your guide and/or scout separately, either in person or through the camp manager at the end of your stay.

HEALTH

Whilst we are in no way qualified to give medicaladvice, what follows here are a few tips and guidelines.Medical insurance andpreferably insurance that includes air evacuation should be regarded as a prerequisite for any safari holiday.

You are strongly advised to consult your doctor prior to travel and get accurate and up-to-date advice on inoculation requirements and anti-malarial precautions.

INNOCULATIONS

Inoculations generally advised for Zambia include diphtheria, tetanus, polio, hepatitis A and typhoid. Inoculations sometimes advised include tuberculosis, hepatitis B, rabies, meningococcal meningitis and cholera. If you've travelled from another country where yellow fever occurs then you may be asked to produce an International Certificate of Vaccination when entering Zambia.This however is not usually enforced.

All Norman Carr Safaris camps have basic first aid facilities and staff on hand who have some form of training but it should be stressed that our camp staff are not trained or equipped to deal with serious medical situations.

COMMON MEDICAL CONCERNS WHILST ON SAFARI

Malaria: caused by a mosquito borne parasite and endemic in Zambia. There are many myths about malaria and most people you speak to will have an opinion. One can contract malaria at any time of the year and in virtually any area of Zambia. The best precautions are physical barriers in the early evenings and at night. Long trousers and sleeves with a liberal application of repellant will usually do the trick but we strongly urge malaria prophylactic.

The incubation period for the malarial parasite is 12 - 14 days so the time to watch for symptoms is often after you return home. It is important to get treatment very quickly if you've contracted malaria so if you develop flu-like symptoms you should have a quick and simple blood test without delay.

It is important to consult your doctor prior to your safari; they will prescribe a course of prophylactics. Currently the most popular and effective are Malarone or Doxycycline. Larium also works well but can cause side effects. It is not uncommon to have a slightly upset tummy when taking prophylactics. Tell your doctor that Zambia is chloroquin resistant.

Yellow Fever: As of 28th January 2015, South Africa (to align with the rest of the world) no longer requires travelers from Zambia to have Yellow Fever vaccinations.

Dehydration: in a mild form can be fairly common in the hotter months, it is not dangerous so long as you recognize the symptoms and react accordingly – symptoms are headache, upset tummy and fatigue. The key is to keep body fluids up by drinking plenty of water and keep your salt and sugar intake up. If nausea or vomiting result then medical attention should be sought. All Norman Carr Safaris camps carry supplies of rehydration salts. It’s advisable to drink AT LEAST 2 LITRES OF FLUIDS PER DAY.

Diarrhoea: a common problem when travelling anywhere in Africa. You will find that standards of hygiene in all Norman Carr Safaris camps are very high but it is not uncommon for individuals to react to a change in diet or water. The best bet is to be sensible about what you eat and drink and bring suitable medication just in case.

Tsetse Flies – occur in parts of Zambia where NCS operate its camps. In the South Luangwa they are seen as more of an irritant than a serious threat to health (they have a sharp sting when they bite and can be quite itchy).

Sunburn: The African sun can be very strong and sunburn can occur through clouds and even a light T-shirt. A bad sunburn can spoil your safari so be sensible, use cream and wear a hat.

Doctor – there is a doctor in the valley available for call out in emergency. The call out fee is $200. This fee goes towards funding a full time doctor at the local clinic.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS

Please notify us of any medical condition you may have prior to your arrival. This includes any allergies e.g. bee stings, nuts, shell fish etc.

DIETARY REQUIREMENTS

If you have specific dietary requirements please let us know before you arrive as we can then accommodate most reasonable requests for alternate dietary needs.

A Short Guide on What to Bring

This is not a comprehensive list, for further information before your departure please visit our website

GENERAL

• Hat
• Sunglasses
• High strength sun screen
• Moisturiser, lip salve
• Strong insect repellent
• Anti-histamine cream and tablets
• Binoculars - One pair PER PERSON is a must
• Torch - One PER PERSON is a must (with spare batteries)

CLOTHES

All camps have a daily laundry service, so you don’t need to bring too many. Bush coloured clothing is best (green/brown/dark khaki not pale beige/cream/white).

• 3 x shirts/t-shirts
• 3 x shorts/long trousers

• 2 x sets casual evening clothes (long trousers to reduce insect bites)
• 1 x medium weight sweater – for use especially in the cooler months of May to July
• 1 x good pair of covered shoes for walking (thick soled trainers are adequate and light walking boots for walking safaris)
• 1 x sandals or flip flops for wearing around camp/in your rooms
• don't forget your swimming costumes; some camps will have a pool

For green season safaris – from Nov to April.

There is always a chance of the odd tropical downpour! We provide waterproof ponchos. We recommend you bring a waterproof bag for binoculars and camera kit. If you do bring a shower proof jacket – bear in mind that the weather is still warm so don’t bring a heavy, thick jacket. It’s a good idea to bring a change of shoes as well.

GLASSES

• If you wear prescription glasses bring a spare pair
• If you wear contact lenses bring a pair of glasses as well since dust can be a problem.

CAMERA EQUIPMENT (for the enthusiasts)

• A telephoto lens (200/300mm)
• Flash) for night photography
• Spare memory cards for digital cameras
• Camera cleaning equipment and a good dust proof bag
• Bring spare batteries as although you may recharge your batteries at the camps, remember we are on solar power so charging capacity is limited

Seasons in the South Luangwa

January - March (the Emerald Season)

Max temp 31°cmin temp 20°c

Average rainfall 200mm per month

Kapani and Chinzomboare open throughout, Kakuli opens for Rivers & Rainbows safaris in the middle of January.

These are usually the wettest months of the year but it is important to know that game viewing activities, although they may be interrupted or delayed, are very rarely cancelled. Storms can be very dramatic with huge, impressive cloud formations but clear skies in between. The air tends to be very clear in these months and the bush at its most lush and verdant, photographic opportunities are excellent.

The Luangwa River itself becomes a central feature; usually running close to the top of its banks it can rise or fall by up to a meter in just a few hours. Kakuli is the only remote bush camp in the region which is open at this time of year and boating safaris from this camp offer guests a very special treat.

With the rain comes a time of plenty in the bush. Many of the herbivores are tending young and there are noticeably more young elephant in the breeding herds. Migrant birds have swelled the resident populations and many of them are in full breeding plumage and song.

April & May

Max temp 32°c, min temp 19°c

Average rainfall 100 mm in April 0mm in May