In association with

Surreal Equestrian Safaris

Pre-Departure Information AFRICA TOUR 17thJuly-7thAugust!

Weather & Climate in Zimbabwe Zimbabwe has a very tropical climate, dominated by the wet and dry seasons. For both dry and wet season, you will need to bring outdoor clothing preferably neutral in colour as well as a hat and sun block; the sun can be very harsh to your skin. April-September: Dry Season Nights and early mornings can be very cold, especially during the winter months of May to August and can reach as low as minus 5°C while midday can reach up to 25°C. The season is very barren and dry, yet a perfect time for game viewing! If you are arriving during winter ensure you bring some warm jumpers, jackets, gloves, scarves and a warm hat. October-March: Wet Season Days and nights can get very hot and sticky. You need light clothes although there might be a day the temperature drops so ensure you also bring a sweater. It’s a time of heavy rain, especially between mid-November & mid February so bring a raincoat, waterproof shoes and plenty of clothes you can change into just in case you get caught in the rain! Everything turns green and you will find many young animals appearing. Note: Visas are your responsibility and the information provided below is to serve as a guideline only. We advise that you confirm this information with the embassy/consulate of the country that you will be visiting in your home country before departure. We recommend that you request a visa that is at least one week longer than you actually need in case you decide to travel in Zimbabwe for a few extra days or there is a change in your flight requiring you to be in the country additional time. If during your stay in Zimbabwe you intend to leave the country and return to it, it is cheaper to apply for a double-entry visa. There is a cost to obtain a visa, payable in cash (US, Pound Sterling, Euro or Rand) at immigration. Below are the details of the current prices for common countries, however, we ask that you check the visa prices yourself before leaving and that you have additional cash at hand as the visa rules change often and the price may have increased since this document was sent to you.

Zimbabwe – Visa Costs: Nationality Single Entry Double Entry American US$ 30.00 US$ 45.00 Canadian US$ 75.00 US$ 100.00 British US$ 55.00 US$ 70.00 EU Countries US$ 30.00 US$ 45.00 Australian/New Zealand US$ 30.00 US$ 45.00

O.R. Tambo International Airport luggage delays

Regarding baggage handling at O.R.Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, please be advised that South African Airways has opened a new terminal for all their flights and at this time, it is located too far from the existing baggage handling facilities to allow for timeous connections between flights. In most cases luggage is unfortunately not making connecting flights. This is applicable to International, Regional and Domestic Air - for example from London or Washington to Cape Town or from Durban to New York. It is strongly advised that all guests travelling on South African Airways through Johannesburg, should check-in their luggage as far as Johannesburg, take possession of their luggage in Johannesburg and then rebook it onto their connecting flight. In this way they can ensure their luggage arrives at their final destination. We would also recommend allowing for greater connection times – at least 3 hours.

Make sure that you have provided us with the correct arrival flight details to ensure that we can collect you at the right time. It is possible to obtain a visa prior to departing for Zimbabwe from your local Zimbabwean embassy, however it is usually easier to obtain the necessary visa at the airport on arrival in Zimbabwe itself. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after you arrival date in Zimbabwe, so please check the expiry date. It is vital that you apply for a holiday visa at immigration. If you are spending more than a few hours in transit at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, there is a lounge that you can use. This includes showers, internet, snack food and drinks as well as a comfortable place to sit and somewhere to leave your bags if you fancy a wander around the shops. It is well worth using this lounge if you are at the airport for more than a few hours, as generally, food within the airport is expensive. Once you have checked in, and passed through passport control, take a left and keep going until you find a Tax Rebate shop, Accessorize and escalators. Head up the escalators and go through the first door on your right, just before the smoking lounge. The address of where you will be staying in Zimbabwe is Antelope Park, PO Box 1218, Gweru. Victoria Falls - Where the fun begins!! We will pick you up at the Victoria Falls International Airport! You will be given available options of places to stay at varying price ranges if you arrive before the 17th of July. Please be aware that sometimes travelling through Johannesburg or Nairobi, luggage can get delayed, so it is advisable to pack some useful items in your hand luggage, just in case.

Victoria Falls, The cost of doing activities can be as much as US$1000 if a guest does everything, and is usually around US$500 minimum (seeing the Falls, a sunset cruise, the Boma restaurant and one other activity e.g Zambezi White Water Rafting, however we will be going during low season and there is a possibility that the river will be closed due to low water, as the water decreases the rapids become even larger and it is simply too dangerous!). Note:

DO NOT CHANGE ANY MONEY ON THE STREETS OF VICTORIA FALLS, IT IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS Please try and bring as much hard currency as possible, the best is US$. If you have Travelers Cheques please ensure that they are in US$ or POUNDS STERLING. (Please be advised that cash is recommended, as travelers cheques are not always accepted.)

Guideline prices for the most popular activities: US$ 45 Boma restaurant (almost all volunteers choose to do this – and love it!) US$ 35 – 45 Dinner cruise on the Zambezi US$ 110 half day White water rafting US$ 105 half day Gorge swing US$ 105 per jump Bungee Jump US$ 115 Helicopter Ride for 15 minutes US$ 85 Microlight Flight for 15 minutes US$ 20 Entry to Victoria Falls National Park You can be stamped out of and re-stamped into Zimbabwe, enabling you to take part in activities on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls. The Zambian border will charge US$20 for the day entry visa. There is no visa charge when visiting Botswana.

Antelope Park You will be staying at Antelope Park, a 3000 acre game reserve located a few kilometres outside the city of Gweru in the centre of the country. The camp nestles in shady trees next to a beautiful lake. Accommodation - we will be roughing it in our dome tents, same as Victoria Falls. Shared toilet & showering facilities located nearby. You have the option to upgrade to a River Tent, at US$45 per person per night, or a River Lodge, at US$55 per person per night. It is best to arrange this before arrival, but if accommodation is available can be done whilst you are there. If you are travelling with a friend, family member, or a partner, please make sure that we are aware whether you want to share a room with them so that we can make the necessary arrangements. Any valuables that you would like to keep safe, please give to management to keep in the main safe, or use the room safe where those are available. Please keep your room locked. Although our camps & lodges do not have crime problems, you are visiting an underprivileged country and it is unfair to put temptation in people’s way. A maid will attend to your rooms once a day. If you do not feel comfortable with this, please let your reception know and you can attend to your own room. We ask that you be considerate of our cleaning staff and keep your room as tidy as possible.

Antelope Park Office: +263 (0)54 250374, 253385, 251949, 250374 or 251923 E-mail:jonathan@africanencounter.org Postal Address: PO Box 1218, Gweru, Zimbabwe, Africa Physical Address: Ngamo Rd, Gweru, Zimbabwe, Africa Communication Postal: If people wish to send you mail, they can use the postal address listed above. However, please don’t send any valuables, as the postal service in Africa is not completely reliable and is generally slow. Also, please do not have packages sent to you while you are on the project. All packages have to be cleared by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and you will find that you will need to pay a very high customs charge on collection in Zimbabwe that is often much higher than the value of the goods enclosed. It also takes a minimum of 2 weeks for packages to be cleared. We strongly advise against having packages mailed to you from outside of Zimbabwe. E-mail: You will be able to write emails using our satellite broadband internet café at US$2.00 per 30 mins or US$4.00 per hour. We experience various power cuts, satellite malfunctions and server outages, so please be patient, and be aware that broadband in Africa is not nearly as quick as the equivalent first world standard. Telephones: You will be able to use the phones at certain times to call home, but calling out of Zimbabwe is not cheap at US$1 per minute, payable in cash locally. You can however have someone call you back. Mobile Phones: You will be able to use your mobile phone in Zimbabwe if you enable international roaming before you leave home, but coverage is very limited, especially out of the major towns & cities. Please note that reception is not good in camp so do not rely on this method of communication. So to summarize, advise your friends & family that contact may be limited whilst you are out in Zimbabwe.

Electrical Appliances We have British (3 pin square) plugs in Zimbabwe. There is electricity at your accommodation and you will be able to use all normal electrical appliances such as hair straighteners; iPod; camera chargers, etc. Clothing Please make sure you bring comfortable clothes, as well as clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty (or with the occasional rip from a playful lion). Zimbabwe is a broad-minded country and it is acceptable to wear shorts and skirts, but the clothes you wear on your trip should not be revealing, especially for females. From May to August, nights can be very, very cold indeed, so make sure you bring some sweaters, scarf, gloves, warm hat and a coat. Medical Insurance Prior to your trip you will need to arrange medical insurance which will give you full cover for any medical requirements which may arise during your trip, including cover for full air evacuation in the unlikely event that this is necessary. Your medical cover also needs to include repatriation. Please ensure that you arrange adequate cover and send your insurance details to your Jonathan Conolly or Andrew Taylor Please be sure to check your policy carefully to ensure that it does cover activities which you are hoping / likely to participate in, as cover does vary from one country of residence to another. Vaccinations, Malaria, Sun Precautions & Dehydration Please consult your GP with regards to immunizations, as we cannot give advice. Below are details of what is likely to be recommended. Tetanus: A recent tetanus injection is highly recommended. Polio: Recommended. Hepatitis A&B: Recommended. Cholera: Given Zimbabwe’s recent problems, we would recommend getting immunized against cholera. (Please be aware that Antelope Park has its own borehole water which has been tested and is clean and drinkable. To be extra careful, we do also purify water specifically for drinking.) Malaria: Due to its altitude Antelope Park is not a malarial area, however the chance of getting malaria here cannot be ruled out. Also, if you travel around the country, either on your own or with our organized trip you will be entering malarial areas. We therefore advise you to bring an ample supply of anti-malarial tablets for your entire time in Zimbabwe. Ask your doctor to prescribe the best one available. N.B. We do not recommend Larium (sometimes known to cause hallucinations) or Doxycyclene (many people have bad reactions to the sun when they use this prophylactic). You will need an adequate supply of mosquito repellent cream or spray as well as the best sunscreen cream for the hot African sun - SPF 30 and above. Also, please bring a hat and a water bottle with you, as you will be in the sun at lot of the day. The sun is so strong here it is possible to burn through an apparently overcast sky, so please do not underestimate the chance of burning. Many Guests dehydrate during their time with us despite repeated assertions to drink lots of water and face some unpleasant symptoms. We do not want you to have to miss out on any of your experiences here because you got sick due to dehydration, so please, please, drinks lots of water, and bring a water bottle with you! Money Credit cards facilities are not available in Zimbabwe and where they might be, the exchange rate that you will be given will not give the best value for your money using your card, so it is VITAL that you bring ALL your spending money in US dollars cash which must be post 1993 issue. Please also bring your money in small denomination notes as change is not easy to come by. Please note that it is NOT POSSIBLE to go to an ATM to withdraw money whilst in Zimbabwe so it is imperative that you bring enough spending money with you for your entire stay. In emergencies, there is the option of having money ‘wired’ to you through Western Union but a service fee will be charged by them.

You will need money for: General expenses at AP such as drink bills, internet time, and telephone bills. Please note that NO ALCOHOL is sold on site at Antelope Park, but you will be able to purchase this on your visits into town. International calls are US$1 a minute and the net is US$4 an hour. As a rough average, Guests spend about US$40 a week on these things, although it can run up to US$60 a week. We also offer you the opportunity to get a DVD at the park of your lion walks, elephant swims etc (which almost everyone chooses to get). This DVD costs US$35 minimum (for one lion walk) and can add up to US$80 when all activities are included. So for a month at AP (not including the optional trip), a safe amount of US to bring would be about US$500. Meals Please let us know before you depart for Africa of any food allergies or specific requirements. We do everything we can to provide for any dietary requirements, but we may have to ask you to bring some things with you if what you need is not available locally. This applies especially to vegetarians, as alternative sources of protein are not always available and neither is soy or any non-dairy milk. NB. If you are a vegetarian please get in touch with your booking coordinator who can tell you what is best to bring with you. Laundry/Washing Your laundry will be washed, ironed and folded for you free of charge and you will be given a laundry bag to use for the duration of your stay. We recommend that you do not bring clothing that you are too concerned about being damaged as our facilities are basic by first world standards and we do not want to ruin your favourite clothes if the colours run. Expectations and Conditions of Stay Africa provides an ever-changing environment and power failures, water & fuel shortages, temperature fluctuations and other uncontrollable situations do occur. You will need to remain flexible, understanding and good humoured. “African time” can be difficult and frustrating for those used to a very structured life so this is something to keep in mind! Once you arrive in Africa, your care is the responsibility of African Encounter. We always aim to provide you with all your daily needs, keep you out of harm’s way and support you in your travels. In exchange We ask that you dress according to local norms while in public and to treat people with kindness and respect. In addition, S.E.S insists that guests avoid any contact with drugs and any culturally inappropriate activities relating to alcohol. We view the experience as a commitment that includes a willingness to overcome challenges of various sorts. In cases where Guests are experiencing difficulties, we strongly encourage creative, collaborative solutions. At the same time, we respect the ability and freedom of our guest to make their own judgments and understand that travellers really enjoy themselves if they retain the will to participate fully and energetically. Relationships & A.I.D.S AIDS is widespread throughout Africa and as such WE DO NOT ENCOURAGE ANY SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS WHILST ON YOUR TRAVELS. It is not only your own health you are risking, but also the health and safety of others around you. General Safety Tourists are always targets for pickpockets and thieves. Please educate yourself about Zimbabwe before you leave, so that you can be alert for all types of situations. General travel safety rules are below. • Avoid travelling alone, especially at night. • Find out where the unsafe areas are and avoid them. • When travelling keep all important documents & valuables in a safe place, like an inner hidden pocket or

money belt. • Carry only as much cash as you think you will need for the day. • Don’t wear expensive jewellery or watches. • Be wary of people who seem too friendly too fast. • Keep cameras out of sight. Always keep bags and purses in your sight. • Before swimming, ask how safe the area is.

In addition,please respect your GUIDE and the local rules and customs AT ALL TIMES PLEASE! Packing Checklist Please be aware that your clothes are going to get dirty! In addition, it can get very cold during the evenings, particularly in the dry season (April-September) so please bring a warm jacket/fleece and long trousers. Passport, insurance certificates & personal documentation, including some certified copies stored separately. Spending money in US$ – small denomination notes Camera with enough batteries for the duration of your placement (you will be able to re-charge batteries) Notebook; pens and a WATCH for when you are out in the bush and doing activities Personal medical first aid & hygiene kit (including anti-diarrhoea, anti histamines & headache tablets) Proof of recommended inoculations Sunscreen & lip salve; Sun Hat Trainers & sandals Personal torch, preferably head torch, spare bulb & batteries Sunglasses Pocket knife is handy but not a priority (not in your hand luggage) Lightweight waterproof jacket for the Wet Season (November – April) Fleece type pullover (it can get quite cold at night) Warm clothing: jacket, jumpers, gloves, woolly hat, scarf for Winter (May – August) Khaki, or similar neutral coloured lightweight bush wear (Note: Not with a camouflage design) Long trousers Swimwear; Beach Towel Mosquito & insect repellent Binoculars Water bottle Daypack to carry: fleece, personal medical kit, binoculars, camera, sunscreen, and water bottle One soft kit bag for main packing Waterproof & secure bag for documents & money Positive attitude! What you can bring that would help! • Books – wildlife, insects, birds, trees, etc. and novels for our library • Padlocks – medium and large for lion enclosures • Bin liners for lion waste collection • Large plastic bristle brushes to clean water troughs • Paint brushes -ranging in sizes from very small for sign making to medium sized for painting enclosure poles • DVD’s – to add to our DVD library for volunteers to enjoy during their time off • Office supplies - pens, note pads, paper clips, rulers, other office equipment • Medical supplies – pain killers, antiseptic creams/wipes, gauze dressings, rehydration sachets, bronchial cough syrup, cotton balls etc • Horse supplies e.g. Double rein bit, range of bits, hoof oil, numbnahs, dubbin, stirrup leathers • Cards & games • Old clothing that you no longer need that can be given to a local orphanage • Football/pump for staff/volunteer lunchtime football games • US$1 notes which we will reimburse you in larger denominations – this will help us with change If you are able to bring any of the above items, please just hand them to your Guide on arrival who will pass them onto our Sister Company, AFRICAN IMPACT. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any last minute queries. Surreal Equestrian Safaris Contact details zimbo1980@yahoo.co.uk jonathan@africanencounter.org andrew@africanencounter.org awc@africanencounter.org